Nicholson Drive Paving
July 11, 2011
A paving project on Nicholson Drive in Molino is nearly complete, about six months after the county moved forward with obtaining necessary easements.
In January, the Escambia County Commission voted to move forward to obtain rights of way and easements for the paving and drainage project. Nicholson Drive is a county maintained road that extends north off Molino Road for approximately 4,000 feet. The southern 2,000 feet, between Molino Road and Bet Raines Road, was unpaved.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Injured in Flomaton Hit And Run Crash
July 10, 2011
A pedestrian was injured in a hit and run crash this afternoon in Flomaton.
The 26-year old male was struck near the intersection of Palafox and Poplar streets just after after 1 p.m. He was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital in stable condition.
Preliminary information indicated that he was struck by the side mirror of an unknown make and model red pickup truck that continued north on Palafox Street toward Highway 31.
The accident remains under investigation by the Flomaton Police Department. Escambia County (Fla.) EMS and the Flomaton Fire Department also responded to the accident.
Pictured above and below: A pedestrian was injured in a hit and run crash in Flomaton Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Alisa Hart, click to enlarge.
Escambia Murder, Attempted Suicide Under Investigation
July 10, 2011
Escambia County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a murder and attempted suicide in West Pensacola today.
Deputies responded to an apartment at the Hunters Oaks Apartments, located at 7591 W. Highway 98, at about 9:33 a.m. Sunday following a report of a disturbance involving gunfire.
When deputies arrived they were told that a man and woman were arguing in their apartment and the woman ran away after the man shot at her. The woman was seen running into another nearby apartment, chased by the armed man. When the residents of that apartment fled they heard several gunshots from inside.
“Our patrol deputies were unable to make contact with the suspect or victim inside the apartment, said sheriff’s office spokesman Chris Welborn. “Our SWAT and Hostage Negotiations Teams were then called out.”
SWAT deputies made entry into the apartment at around 11:00 a.m. and they found a 33-year-old Teva Davon Bradley (pictured) suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and a 27-year-old woman also with serious injuries.
Escambia County EMS paramedics were called to the apartment and pronounced the woman dead at the scene.
Bradley was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
The initial investigation found that Bradley killed the woman before shooting himself. The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of the victim’s relatives.
Still Wait And See On Century Lumber Industry, Jobs
July 10, 2011
Things have been pretty quiet around the old Alger Sullivan Lumber Company property in Century since a ribbon cutting back in October 2010 for a group of new businesses including Century Lumber and Land. According to the town’s mayor, financing delays stalled a real opening date.
But there’s still a glimmer of hope that Century Lumber and Land will bring new jobs to the Century area, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, who said he met with the company’s leaders last week.
“It all sounded very encouraging,” McCall said, “but it was nothing I can take to the bank at this time. It’s still wait and see.”
Century Lumber and Land unofficially announced a venture with several other companies at a September 2, 2010, meeting of the Century Chamber of Commerce. Century Lumber and Land Manager Jim Craft said at that meeting that the operations would eventually employee 300 to 500 people within a 36 to 42 month period.
A ribbon was cut for the companies in October — before the company actually owned the Alger-Sullivan property.
In early April 2011, Craft told a meeting of the Century Chamber of Commerce that “we now own the property”. But as of this week, records indicate that the property was last sold in 2006 to DMT Holdings, Inc. of Navarre and still belongs to that investment group.
As of April, over 3,000 people had already applied for one of just a few hundred jobs expected to be available initially at Century Lumber and Land, according to Catharine Jeter of Workforce Escarosa.
Pictured top: A group hoping to apply for a job gathered during the ribbon cutting for Century Lumber and Land last October. Pictured below: The old Alger Sullivan Lumber Company, and the planned future home of Century Lumber and Land, sits idle. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Forestry Officials: There’s Still A Drought And Burn Ban
July 10, 2011
Officials with Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are reminding residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties that the area still is in the depths of an extreme drought and that both counties are still are under county-issued burn bans.
Even though parts of the district have seen moderate rainfall, 75 percent of the area is between 600 and 700 on a scale of 0-800 the standard drought index scale. Fire danger index ratings for the region have dropped to the “Moderate to High” levels.
“Despite improving conditions, Forest Service crews are maintaining a high level of fire readiness and have been busy recently,” according to Joe Zwierzchowski, information officer for the Blackwater Forestry Center.
Escambia County crews recently responded to a late night wildfire near Sorrento Road and Nighthawk Lane near Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park. The 15-acre fire was sparked by lightning and did not threaten any structures.
In Santa Rosa County, Wildland Firefighters responded to a wildfire in Holley by the Sea subdivision. Three homes were threatened by the three-acre blaze and one outbuilding and a privacy fence were damaged. The fire was started by two young adults, 18 and 19 years old, shooting fireworks in a backyard.
Learn To Preserve Fresh Fruits And Vegetables At Workshop
July 10, 2011
Escambia County Extension and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will present a “Preserving the Essence of Summer Food Preservation Workshop.”
The workshop is Tuesday, July 26th, from 10:00 a.m. until noon, at the Langley Bell 4-H Center, 4810 W. Nine Mile Road.
Organizers say it is easy to preserve your juicy, ripe, fresh fruits and vegetables, and home canning is a wonderful way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden or the local farmers’ market.
The workshop will teach the simple ways to save the season’s bountiful harvest and capture the fresh flavors of summer. The cost is only $5, but you must pre-register to
ensure adequate supplies.
To register or get more information, please contact Colethia Lewis, Escambia Extension, at (850) 475-5230 or colethia@ufl.edu.
Escambia Committee Meeting Agendas Now Available Online
July 10, 2011
Agendas for several Escambia County committees are now available online.
The committee agenda page of the county’s website (click here) currently includes meeting agendas for the following:
- ID Inspections Fund Advisory Board
- Board of Adjustment
- Community Redevelopment Agency
- County Investment Advisory Board
- Development Review Committee
- Extension Council
- Marine Advisory Committee
- Planning Board
- Public Safety Coordinating Council
- Contractor Competency Board
Seven more committees will post their agendas online prior to their next meeting. They are:
- T Governance Council (no date set)
- Environmental Enforcement (no date set)
- Tourist Development Council (no date set)
- Animal Services Committee July 19
- Board of Electrical Examiners July 21
- Mass Transit Advisory Committee July 13
All Santa Rosa Libraries Have A New Phone Number
July 10, 2011
Each Santa Rosa County library now has a new phone number.
The new number (850) 981-READ (7323) is the only number residents will need to reach any of the five Santa Rosa County libraries or library administration office. The phone system allows residents to request renewals, account information, and library service information by dialing one number. The new system not only provides enhanced customer service for library customers, but also provides a savings of almost 40 percent per year, according to Santa Rosa County.
Consolidating the six separate systems into one allows staff to transfer calls throughout the system and simplifies the process of changing recorded service messages like holiday closures and special announcements. To help in the transition, the current phone numbers will have a recorded message of the phone number change as well as announcements posted in each library and provided on bookmarks to take home.
Citizens Insurance Builds Reserve For Hurricane Claims
July 10, 2011
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has lined up another $900 million to help pay claims if a major hurricane hits Florida.
The Citizens board recently heard a presentation about the sale of bonds, scheduled to close July 14, that will give the state-backed insurer about $6 billion to cover claims in coastal areas.
The insurer also will have about $3.1 billion that has accumulated to pay claims in other areas of the state, spokeswoman Christine Ashburn said.
Citizens is the largest property insurer in Florida, with 1.358 million policies as of May 31.
Featured Recipe: Pork Blade Steak Piccata
July 10, 2011
Pork Blade Steak Piccata, from Food Network star Guy Fieri’s new book “Guy Fieri Food” is an off-the-hook take on a classic, and it’s sure to light your creative fires.
Pork Blade Steak Piccata
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
4 1-pound pork blade steaks
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Marinade:
1⁄4 cup garlic cloves, smashed (about 12 cloves)
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1⁄2 cup white wine
1 1⁄2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly cracked
1 1⁄2 tablespoons lemon zest, grated
3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
In medium bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Add blade steaks, cover and marinate for 30 minutes (or up to 3 hours) at room temperature.
Preheat grill to high.
Remove steaks from marinade, brushing off any large pieces. Bring marinade to a boil in a saucepan for 3 to 4 minutes, and set aside to baste while you grill.
Grill steaks while basting with reserved marinade. Remove from grill when well marked on both sides, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes.
To serve, slice and season with the salt, pepper, lemon juice, capers and parsley.