Century Man Arrested On Felony Warrant
December 6, 2009
A suspicious person call at Century Woods Apartments landed a Century man in jail Saturday night.
As Escambia County deputies investigated the suspicious person report, they discovered that Timothy Maurice Mitchell, 40, had an outstanding felony warrant for aggravated battery.
Mitchell was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Jail where he remained on $15,000 bond Monday afternoon.
Molino Celebrates With Annual Christmas Parade (With Photo Gallery)
December 6, 2009
Hundreds of people attended the annual Molino Christmas Parade Saturday afternoon. The parade featured a variety of floats and other entries, including “Elvis”. All proceeds from the parade will benefit needy children in the Molino community.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Molino Christmas Parade, click here.
Pictured above and below: Scenes from Saturday afternoon’s Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pharmacy Holds Open House
December 6, 2009
Century Pharmacy held their annual 11th Annual Open House Saturday, giving away several prizes. Santa Claus was also on hand for photos and visits with the children and several adults.
“The 11th Annual Open House at Century Pharmacy had an excellent turnout. Hundreds of folks and dozens of children came to see Santa and to take part in the drawings for free ’stuff’,” said Jack Moran of Century Pharmacy. “Some of the parents and grandparents wanted photos with Santa too – proving you are never too old or too young to get into the Spirit of Christmas.”
The pharmacy awarded a $100 shopping spree to Georgia Square.
Pictured above: Daisy Netters of Century visits with Santa. Pictured left: Eli Jackson won the Century Pharmacy drawing for a boy’s 20-inch bicycle. Pictured below: Walter King of Century won the drawing for a giant teddy bear. Pictured bottom: The Century Pharmacy staff poses with Santa. Not pictured: Kayla Lewis won the drawing for a girl’s bicycle. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tis The Season: Flomaton Holds Christmas Parade (With Photo Gallery)
December 6, 2009
Hundreds of people braved a cold wind Saturday morning for the annual Flomaton Christmas Parade.
The Flomaton High School band, several floats, multiple twirl groups, local fire departments and more took part in the parade with ended with a special guest direct from the North Pole — Santa Claus.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Flomaton Christmas Parade, click here.
Pictured top: The Flomaton Christmas Parade featured several floats and lots of candy. Pictured inset: Santa Claus made a special appearance in the Flomaton parade Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tennessee Man Charged After Highway 97 Wreck
December 6, 2009
(Updated) A Tennessee man that received minor injuries in a Highway 97 wreck Sunday morning now faces charges from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Marty L. Johnson, 42, of Elizabethton, Tennessee, said he was trying to dodge a deer when he ran off the road , through a fence and into a tree with his 2001 Chevrolet pickup. There was a freshly killed coyote in the road at the scene of the accident on Highway 97 just south of North Highway 99 about 6:50 Sunday morning. Johnson was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
Johnson was charged with careless driving and driving with a suspended license, according to the FHP.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
Pictured above: A Tennessee man was injured in this Highway 97 crash Sunday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Alabama Joins Florida With ‘Move Over’ Law
December 6, 2009
Alabama will soon join Florida in enforcing a “Move Over” law that requires motorists to move over when approaching emergency vehicles that are stopped on the side of the road with their emergency lights activated.
Alabama’s law formerly applied just to law enforcement vehicles and was dubbed the “Blue Light” law. But now the law has been expanded to include all emergency vehicles with flashing lights, including wreckers.
The law is effective now, and Alabama State Troopers will begin full enforcement with tickets on January 1. The law requires drivers to move over one lane on a four lane highway when approaching emergency vehicles. If it is unsafe to move over, drivers should slow at least 15 mph below the speed limit. On a a two lane highway, drivers are required to move over as far as possible without leaving their lane and slow down to a speed at least 15 mph below the posted speed limit. If the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less, drivers should slow to 10 mph.
Florida’s move over laws is a little bit different:
- On a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.
- If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.
- If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
Pictured above: An Alabama State Trooper in Dallas County was seriously injured in this crash last year. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Christmas Parade Winners Named
December 5, 2009
Float winners have been named from Friday night’s Poarch Creek Indian Christmas Parade. First place went to the Creek Indian Enterprise Development Authority (CIEDA) for “Snoopy ” (above). Second place was awarded to the Housing Authority for their float “Beauty and the Beast” (below). Third place was awarded to the Public Works/Utilities Authority for “Peter Pan” (below middle) and the Poarch Creek Fire Department received honorable mention for their float “Lil’ Abner” (below bottom). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Going Up: New Water Tower Assembled Friday In Walnut Hill
December 5, 2009
Like a giant erector set, a new water tower in Walnut Hill was assembled Friday.
The 40 foot tall, four-leg base for the tank was constructed over the past few weeks next to the Escambia River Electric Cooperative office on Highway 99-A, across the road from the Ernest Ward Middle School gym.
Friday, the remainder of the 118-foot high tower was constructed, and the 200,000 gallon, 24-foot high tank was assembled on top of the tower. The new storage tank is in addition to the current 40,000 gallon water tower nearby at the intersection of Arthur Brown Road and Highway 97, according Andrew Peters, a certified operator for the Walnut Hill Water Works.The new elevated storage tank will replace a 40,000 gallon Walnut Hill Water Works elevated tank currently located in Enon.
Once the tank installation is completed — including a paint job — it will be put in service after an 8-inch water main is installed from the intersection of Highway 99-A and Highway 97.
The tank will be served by existing wells as located at the current water tower at Arthur Brown Road and Highway 99, one on Highway 97 near Wiggins Lake, and one in Enon.
The $2.4 million project will include the tank, plus repairs to existing well houses and operating equipment and the replacement and looping of existing lines to increase water pressure.
A new water main loop is being installed along Tungoil Road to connect water mains on Highway 97 and South Highway 99. Another line will be installed from Lambert Bridge Road, down Velor Road, and along Highway 164 to Green Village Road. Another section of pipe will be installed from Morgan Road to Eicher Road on South Highway 99. In all, about 16 miles of new water main will be installed, Peters said.
The water system, which serves 699 connections, has received a $866,000 grant toward the project. The remaining $1,621,000 will come from a USDA Rural Development loan.
In 2005, the water system began to experience problems when the well at Arthur Brown Road and Highway 97 began to fail. That well house and the one at another well located on Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road are both in need of physical and mechanical repairs, according to EREC. which owns the Walnut Hill Water Works. They say the system operates with a 19 percent loss due to leaks and inefficiencies.
Click here to a photo gallery of the water tank being completed Friday in Walnut Hill.
Pictured above and below: The construction of a new water tower in Walnut Hill Friday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Fires In Escambia In Two Days; One Leads To Child Abuse Arrest
December 5, 2009
Escambia County has had four residential fires in just two days, replacing four green bulbs with four red bulbs in the “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday safety campaign. One of the Friday fires resulted in a Pensacola woman being arrested for aggravated child abuse.
At 9:10 Friday morning, a fire was reported in the 700 block of Truman Avenue at Oakwood Terrace Apartments. When Ladder 12 from the Osceola Fire Station arrived on scene, they found smoke coming from an apartment on the second floor of the complex. At 9:25 a.m. the fire was reported out, with major damage to one bedroom in just one apartment and smoke damage to the rest of that unit.
A six month old child suffered minor burns after being left alone in the apartment. Officials with the fire department told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that power had been disconnected to the apartment on Thursday. According to the officials, several candles were used to illuminate a back bedroom when one fell from a windowsill onto the bed starting the fire. A six month old infant was lying on the bed and suffered burns to her scalp before being removed from the bed by an unidentified relative.
The infants mother, identified as Caroline Bramlet, 21, told firefighters that she had left the infant there while she was outside speaking to neighbors, according to Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department.
The infant was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and treated for her injuries. Firefighters also located drug paraphernalia in the apartment and turned that evidence over to deputies. The Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted and took custody of the infant.
Bramlet was then arrested for aggravated child abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia. Upon taking her into custody deputies found marijuana on her person which resulted in the additional charge of possession of marijuana, less than 20 grams, Welborn said. Early Saturday morning, Bramlet remained in the jail on $2,000 bond.
An infant in the apartment received minor injuries and was transported by Escambia County Emergency Medical Services to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Three Other Escambia Fires
At 10:13 Friday morning, a fire was reported in the 900 block of Artesian Avenue. When Engine 3 from Brent Fire Station arrived on scene, they found heavy fire coming from two windows at the rear of the house. At 10:26 a.m. the fire was under control. There was major damage to one room and moderate damage throughout the rest of the house. There were no injuries reported as the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
At 11:44 Thursday night, a fire was reported in the 300 block of Vera Street. When firefighters from Ensley Fire Station arrived on scene, they found a working fire in a two-story house. At 12:19 a.m. the fire was out, with major damage to approximately half of the house and smoke and heat damage to the rest. There were no injuries reported.At 12:05 Thursday afternoon, a fire was reported in the 4900 block of Ravenswood Avenue. At 12:07 p.m., Engine 17 from West Pensacola arrived on scene and found a heavy fire on one side of the house. At 12:37 p.m. the fire was reported out, with major damage to half of the house and smoke damage to the rest. There were no injuries reported as the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire, but three adults and three children live in the home. The fire was caused by an electrical space heater that was left unattended too close to combustible materials.
Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department will continue the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign throughout the holiday season. This year, the fifth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
Photos: Byrneville Elementary Holds Annual Christmas Carnival
December 5, 2009
Byrneville Elementary School held its Christmas Carnival Friday night at the school.
The annual event, sponsored by the school’s P.T.O., featured a special guest from the North Pole. Santa Claus was on hand for photos and Christmas wish lists.
The carnival also included a host of games, including a ring toss, cake walk, football toss and more. The evening’s festivities ended with a gift basket auction, with proceeds going to the P.T.O.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Byrneville Elementary Christmas Carnival, click here.
Pictured above: Hailey Smith (left), 4, presented her written Christmas wish list to Santa Claus Friday night at Byrneville Elementary School. Her sister, Ciara Smith, 7, looks on as Santa reads the list. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.