ECUA’s Water Selected As ‘Best Tasting’ In Region
April 5, 2013
ECUA’s drinking water was selected as the “2013 Best Tasting Water” winner in a taste-test competition held recently in Destin. The annual event was sponsored by Region IX of the Florida Section/American Water Works Association (FS/AWWA).
Region IX is comprised of all water utilities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The FS/AWWA is divided into 12 Regions, each hosting their own regional competition. Participation in the Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest is open only to water providers within the geographical region who have not experienced any violations in the federal or state safe drinking water regulatory requirements. Destin Water users hosted the event and provided a panel of impartial judges. Each water sample was evaluated for taste, odor, color, and clarity.
“ECUA water has been recognized as the best-tasting water in the Florida Panhandle for the fourth time in seven years. Our Water Department staff have done us all proud,” said ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker.
As a four-time winner of the Region IX competition, ECUA will now compete against the other 11 FS/AWWA Regions’ winners in the state-wide competition later this month in Orlando at the Florida Water Resource Conference.
Pictured: One of ECUA’s 32 water wells located on Tate Road in Cantonment. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Christens New Fire Boat
April 5, 2013
The Pensacola Fire Department christened a new fire boat Thursday morning.
“The City of Pensacola is very proud of our first-class fire department,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As we look to continue developing our downtown waterfront and growing business at our Port, this new amenity and the enhanced protection it provides is invaluable.”
The 36-foot “Fire Boat One” was purchased with $612,000 from the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program. The boat will allow the Pensacola Fire Department to provide firefighting as well as medical and rescue services across Pensacola’s waterfront and Pensacola Bay, as well as to surrounding communities like Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach if necessary. “This fire boat is truly a regional asset,” said Mayor Hayward.
Over the years, the City of Pensacola has had several serious waterfront fires. In the 1940s and 1950s, a series of fires destroyed many of Pensacola’s waterfront docks and port facilities. More recently, in 2008, the popular Oar House restaurant on Bayou Chico caught fire.
Fire Boat One has a top speed of 45 miles per hour and a maximum pump capacity of 2,000 gallons per minute.
Pictured: The Pensacola Fire Department’s new Fire Boat One was christened Thursday morning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Pine Forest, Longleaf Crash
April 4, 2013
There were no serious injuries in a Thursday morning wreck that tied up traffic near Pine Forest and West Florida high schools, and Longleaf Elementary.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Timothy L. Wilson was southbound on Pine Forest Road at Longleaf Drive about 7:35 a.m. when he turned in front of a 2004 Cadillac Deville driven by 31-year old Toccara S Shine-Dees. Wilson’s Ford Explorer overturned onto its left side, while the Cadillac struck a pedestrian control signal.
Wilson and his passenger, 15-year old Dylan J. Shepherd, were not injured. Shine-Dees suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
Wilson was cited by the FHP for turning left in front of approaching traffic.
Atmore School Placed On Lockdown During Police Standoff
April 4, 2013
An Atmore elementary school was placed on lockdown this morning due to a nearby law enforcement standoff.
An Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pick up Clarence Shoemaker on mental commitment papers on Poplar Street near Presley Street, just a couple of blocks from A.C. Moore Elementary School. He had reportedly threatened his mother with a gun Wednesday night.
Shoemaker remained in the house for about 30 minutes as it was surrounded by sheriff’s deputies and Atmore Police officers. He was eventually talked out of the home by his mother and surrendered to police without incident.
A.C. Moore was placed on lockdown as a precaution during the incident.
One Arrested After High Speed Chase That Led To School Lockdowns
April 4, 2013
A high speed chase involving a suspect believed to have an AK-47 ended with three schools on lockdown this morning.
Deputies responded to Village Mobile Home Park on Highway 29 about 10 a.m. after a report of an armed disturbance. The suspect, 33-year old Ellis Roy Clark, had threatened the victim several times over the past two days and had returned this morning and begin to violently beat upon the victim’s door, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sena Maddison said.
The victim had observed a handgun in Clark’s possession and also indicated he believed that he carried an AK47 in the trunk of his 2006 Ford Taurus. Clark fled the mobile home park before deputies arrived.
He returned 15 minutes later, and the victim called law enforcement again. The suspect fled upon seeing arriving officers and was pursued to Longleaf Drive just east of Wymart Road where he lost control of the vehicle and was taken into custody. There were no injuries to officers or Clark.
Nearby Pine Forest High, West Florida High and Longleaf Elementary schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Clark has been charged with aggravated stalking, knowingly driving while license suspended/revoked, driving with an expired license, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing and eluding an officer and reckless driving.
Clark is facing additional charges of reckless driving, leaving the scene with injuries, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop for stop sign in connection with a traffic crash at Highway 29 and Ensley Street during the pursuit.
The Florida Highway Patrol said deputies were few blocks behind Clark he ran a stop sign from Ensley Street to Highway 29 and slid into a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 36-year old James B. Williams of Pensacola. Williams was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 23-year old Madeline Kathleen Gonzalez was a passenger in Clark’s vehicle during the pursuit. She was not injured in the crash. There were no charges filed against Gonzalez.
Pictured top: A high speed pursuit ended on Longleaf Drive not far from Pine Forest High School this morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Firing Rifle At Couple Picking Up Cans Along Hwy 164
April 4, 2013
A Century man has been charged with opening fire with a rifle near an older couple alongside a highway in the Christian Home community in late January.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators said a husband and wife were picking up cans from the shoulder of the road on January 29 when a vehicle stopped and Akino Jama Jackson exited armed with a semi automatic rifle.
He confronted the couple, reportedly demanding that they return his property — drugs that were allegedly tossed at the location from a passing vehicle earlier in the day. Jackson then fired the rifle “into the ground several times in the vicinity of the victims” before fleeing in the vehicle, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. No one was struck by the gunfire, and there were no injuries.
The couple then drove about six miles to their home before calling for help. Deputies recovered multiple shell casings alongside Highway 164, consistent with the couple’s story. Jackson was positively identified by one of the victims.
Jackson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, firing a weapon in public, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
Pictured: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator January 29 at the scene of a shots fired incident along Highway 164 near Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
DUI Manslaughter Charge Filed In Connection With Death Of Century Man
April 4, 2013
A Milton man has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a January accident that killed a Century resident.
Charles Terry Griffis, 50, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 9:20 p.m. crash January 9 on Highway 87 about seven miles north of Milton. Griffis was a passenger in a car driven by 47-year old William Samuel Stapleton, Jr., of Milton.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Stapleton was northbound on Highway 87 when he lost control and struck a tree. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in serious condition.
The FHP said Wednesday that they have completed their traffic homicide investigation, charging Stapleton with DUI manslaughter, driving while license suspended causing death and failure to use due care. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $20,000.
Amber Alert Issed For Two Florida Children
April 4, 2013
Florida and Alabama have issued an Amber Alert for two boys who where kidnapped by their parents from their grandmother’s home in Tampa
The Amber Alert has been issued for Cole Hakken, a white male, 4-years old, 3 feet 9 inches tall, 44 pounds, brown hair, with brown eyes and Chase Hakken, a white male, 2-years old, 3 feet tall, 33 pounds, brown hair, with brown eyes.
The children may be in the company of Joshua Hakken, a white male, 35 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 175 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes and Sharyn Hakken, a white female, 34 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 150 pounds, brown hair and hazel eyes. They may be traveling in a 2006, black GMC Sierra, FL tag number U95KT.
Both suspects are anti-government and have attempted a previous abduction at gun point in Louisiana, according to police. Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of these children contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department at (813) 247-8200 or dial 911.
Single St. Luke Church Road Property Rezoned, Neighbors Want More Zoning Changes
April 4, 2013
The Escambia County Commission has approved rezoning 1.91 acres on St. Luke Church Road near Century. The zoning was changed from VAG 2, which allows one dwelling unit per five acres, to V-2 which allows for for two dwelling units per acre.
The surrounding properties on St. Luke Church Road were already zoned V-2.
The property, located northeast of the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, is owned by Van G. Hibberts of Shoreline Drive in Gulf Breeze.
During an Escambia County Planning Board meeting, Elbert L. Dixon of Backwoods Road said he was not against the rezoning, but he wanted to see zoning changes in the entire area.
“We as a community out there we have been down trying to get our area rezoned,” Dixon, a member of the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, said. “I have a problem with zoning just one particular area, but we as a whole, as a neighborhood out there, we’ve got members from the church and we’ve got neighbors that’s been there a lifetime and on each side of that road you’ve got one side — on the left side you can only put trailers on. On the right side you can only put houses on.
“We have a lot of land out there laying out and we have been trying to get it rezoned and everything. So this is my purpose down here to see what is 10 our next option. If you can adjoin a fellow that’s going to build wherever he wants to build, I figure that we should have the same right,” Dixon continued.
Dixon was informed that he and his neighbors can apply to the zoning board to have their properties rezoned.
Special Election Set For Ford’s House District 2 Seat
April 4, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday scheduled a May 14 special primary election and a June 11 special general election to replace Rep. Clay Ford, a Gulf Breeze Republican who died last month after a battle with cancer.
The elections will be in House District 2, which includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Perdido Key and the remainder of the southern area of Escambia County.
For the May 14 primary election, registration books will close April 15, and early voting for the seat will be held Saturday, May 4 through Saturday, May 11.
Pictured top: This graphic shows House District 2.