One Airlifted After Jacks Branch, Highway 196 Wreck
January 19, 2024
One person was flown to the hospital following a single vehicle crash Thursday night.
The crash was reported about 6:45 p.m. near the intersection of Jacks Branch Road and Highway 196. A pickup truck left the roadway and came to rest in the wood line.
The driver was airlifted to an area hospital. An update on their condition was not available.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Cancel February 7 Early Release Day
January 19, 2024
Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard has announced that schools and district offices will operate on a normal, full-day schedule on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
The announcement comes after students began this semester with two weather days at home — one for storms, one for cold temperatures.
“In order to do our best to ensure there is no question about meeting our state-mandated instructional minutes requirement, we will change Wednesday, February 7 from a half-day for students to a full day for all students and staff,” said ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “All normal school activities and extracurricular activities will proceed, as well.”
All district offices and services, including Transportation and Food Services, will operate on a normal, school-day schedule.
Tate Ag Department Needs Old Small Engines, Mowers, Nuts, Bolts, And More Donated (With List)
January 19, 2024
The Tate High School Ag Department is looking for items to enhance hands-on teaching in their Ag Mechanics Shop.
If you have any of the following items, contact Mr. Courson or Mr. Coleman or drop them off at Tate.
- Old Push Mowers (Oil and Gas must be removed)
- Old Engines (Oil and Gas must be removed)
- Briggs and Stratton Small Engine Parts
- Scrap Metal
- Lawn Mower Blades
- Nuts
- Bolts
- Washers
- Horse Shoes
- Rebar
- Old Propane Tanks (large not small)
- Rail Spikes
- Metal Gears
- Metal Chains (Heavy Duty)
- Car Coil Springs
- Metal Forks, Knives, Spoons
- Spark Plugs
Pictured: Students in Tate’s Agricultural Mechanics program are working on small engines. This module provides technical applications of using small gas engines. Students are learning practical skills in measurements, troubleshooting, documenting an engine tear down and assembly, completing work/repair orders, and reading service manuals and schematics. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Michigan Man Gets Life Without Parole For 2022 Flomaton Murder
January 19, 2024
A Michigan man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering a Flomaton man in August 2022.
Caleb Scott Anderson pleaded guilty in Esambia County, Alabama to killing 52-year old Dwight Dixon in Flomaton. He was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to Dixon’s family.
Anderson is accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year old woman in Michigan and killing a man in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is still awaiting trial in both cases.
Investigation Continuing After Man Found Died From Hypothermia
January 19, 2024
Police say a man that died after beeing found in the bushes along Davis Highway Thursday morning died from hypothermia and pre-existing medical issues.
“The male had several injuries, the Pensacola Fire Department performed CPR before he was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the Pensacola Police Department said.
He has beeen indentified as Timothy Emmanuel, 61, of Pensacola.
Police said they did not believe he was hit by a vehicle. According to the preliminary autopsy report, Emmanuel’s death is weather-related (hypothermia) and his pre-existing medical issues.
The man was found between Hewitt and Ditmar streets, south of Brent lane
Anyone that was in the area betwen 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. is asked to call the PPD at (850) 35-1900 or call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP with any information.
Ascend Reports Pinhole Phenol Release Due To Freezing Weather
January 18, 2024
Ascend Performance Materials on Old Chemstrand Road reported a phenol leak Thursday.
A pinhole leak in piping caused by freeze-thaw cycles resulted in approximately 410 gallons of phenol to leak onto the ground, according to a report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The material was frozen and was to be cleaned up in place.
No danger to residents or the surrounding area was reported.
ECUA Conducting Controlled Burns At CWRF Near Gonzalez
January 18, 2024
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will be conducting prescribed burn operations on ECUA property in the vicinity of the Central Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF) in Gonzalez this week, weather permitting.
Conditions will be evaluated each morning and ECUA’s burn-certified contractor will conduct the burn operations, which are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 each morning. These burn activities are a part of ECUA’s management plan for the ecological restoration of forest lands at the CWRF site.
The ECUA’s CWRF property is in the Gonzalez community and mostly lies south of Becks Lake Road, west of the Escambia River. A small amount of ECUA’s property north of Becks Lake Road will be included in this prescribed burn operation. Although every effort will be made to ensure smoke will not affect roadways, drivers should exercise caution in the event that smoke does lead to reduced visibility on the area’s roads.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
January 18, 2024
Byrneville Elementary recently named their December Students of The Month. They are:
- Kindergarten: Manny Gifford and Brooklynn Tamondong
- 1st Grade: Arayah McCall and Liam Steadham
- 2nd Grade: Kase Calloway and Baylee Gafford
- 3rd Grade: Marley Schoonover and William Maxwell
- 4th Grade: Tatum Godwin and Coraline Pope
- 5th Grade: Shaleigh Wesley and Cohen Linton
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Grocery Story Employee Charged With Pushing His Manager Into A Cooler
January 18, 2024
A Century Food Giant employee is charged with allegedly pushing his supervisor into a store cooler.
Steven Peter Sanfilippo, 64, was charged with battery. He was later released on a $2,500 bond.
The Food Giant night manager told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he asked Sanfilippo to remove trash from shopping carts retrieved from the parking lot.
“Sanfilippo then became confused and erratic,” an arrest report states, before getting involved in a verbal argument with the manager. Sanfilippo then grabbed the night manager by his throat and pushed him into a cooler, the report continues. The manager refused medical treatment.
Two witnesses and store surveillance video corroborated the manager’s accusations, the arrest report states.
Escambia County National Flood Insurance Program Rating Improves
January 18, 2024
Escambia County has improved its rating in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, resulting in an additional discount on flood insurance premiums for Escambia County residents.
Through an extensive review process and significant documentation provided by county staff, Escambia County has successfully earned a Class 6 CRS rating, improving from a Class 7 CRS rating.
Since 2019, Escambia County residents have received a discount of up to 15% on flood insurance premiums due to the county’s Class 7 CRS rating, which will increase to a discount of up to 20% when the improved Class 6 rating takes effect on Oct. 1, 2024.
“This is a major accomplishment for Escambia County that will directly benefit our residents through additional flood insurance discounts,” Escambia County Building Official Tim Tolbert said. “The standards required for this program have increased dramatically since our last evaluation, so I am especially proud of staff for their hard work to achieve this improved rating.”
The National Flood Insurance Program’s CRS has 1,520 communities throughout the United States that participate in the program by implementing local mitigation, floodplain management, and outreach activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. A points system is used to create the class structure. Ratings from class 10 (lowest) to class 1 (highest) are possible within CRS.
Under the CRS, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reward community actions that meet the three goals of the CRS: reduce flood damage to insurable property, strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.
Each year, Escambia County must re-certify or re-verify that the activities being credited by the CRS are continuing to be performed. Under the management of Floodplain Administrator Jennifer Hampton, who achieved her Certified Floodplain Manager designation in 2016, county staff spent several months preparing for the CRS visit and review in November 2023. County staff held meetings to review and obtain all documentation needed for the CRS review, including the Local Mitigation Strategy Plan, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and more.