Driver ID’d In Alcohol Related Crash That Leaves Part Of Century In Dark; Leads To Helicopter Search
May 13, 2008
An alcohol-related one vehicle accident in Century Monday night shut down Highway 29 for several hours and left the north part of the town in the dark, while the Sheriff’’s Department helicopter searched from overhead.
A Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Vinita M. Hertz, 33, of Milton struck a power pole along North Century Boulevard just before 8:30 Monday night. The passenger door of the truck struck the pole, breaking the pole and sending power lines down across Highway 29. The accident happened near the intersection of Henry Street, just south of Radio Shack.
Hertz reportedly told authorities that she was a passenger in the vehicle, not the driver. That prompted a search by rescue crews and then by dogs from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Sheriff’s Department helicopter for a possible second victim. Another person was not located after an extensive search. Hertz was transported from the scene by ambulance to Jay Hospital in serious condition.
Hertz was headed south on North Century Boulevard when she passed out at the wheel, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, and rotated into the utility pole.
The FHP crash report indicates that alcohol was a factor in the crash and that charges are pending. The FHP says Hertz was not wearing a seatbelt.
The broken power pole and downed lines cut power in Century from the power substation at Howard Street and North Century Boulevard, north to the Alabama state line. That left 156 customers without power, according to Gulf Power. Power was fully restored by 3:21 a.m. Tuesday.
By 10:30, traffic on Highway 29 was once again flowing both north and south with some delays as Gulf Power worked to replace the broken pole.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
For more photos from the crash scene, click here.
Pictured above: This truck crashed into this power pole Monday night in Century, plunging the north part of the town into the dark. Laundry is seen scattered around the truck. Pictured below: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Department dog arrives on scene to search for a possible second person from the truck. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Red Flag Warning Issued, Brush Fires Occur Around North Escambia
May 13, 2008
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a red flag warning for North Escambia and surrounding areas until 7:00 tonight.
Afternoon relative humidities will fall below 35 percent over the western Florida Panhandle until late this afternoon. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions will occur. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
At least three brush fires have been reported in the North Escambia area over the past two days.
Sunday afternoon, the Molino volunteer fire departments responded to a brush fire near Chestnut Road and Molino Road. A short time later, the McDavid and Century volunteer fire departments responsed to a brushfire on Backwoods Road. The Florida Division of Forestry was called in to assist with the Backwoods Road fire.
The Molino and Century volunteer fire departments responded to another brush fire in the 100 block of Elm Street just off Hilltop Road in Century about 4:55 Monday afternoon.
NWE Panhandle Cafe Cooks Jay Shell
May 13, 2008
Northwest Escambia beat Jay Shell by a score of 7 to 1 Monday night.
EWMS and NHS Bands Hold Their Annual Spring Concert
May 13, 2008
Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High school bands held their annual Spring Concert Monday night at Northview.
The concert included performances by both the beginning and advanced band students from Ernest Ward. Musical arrangements included When the Saints Go Marching In, Monmouth Overture and Go Big Blue, the EWMS Fight Song.
The Northview High School third period chorus group entertained the audience in the NHS theater with their rendition of The Music of the Night by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Colors of the Wind.
The Northview High School Color Guard for 2007-2008 performed to Crazy In Love. The new Color Guard for 2008-2009 gave the audience a glimpse of what they have to look forward to when they take to the field in the fall with a performance that included songs from The Lord of the Rings; Jump, Jive and Wail and China Grove. The NHS Majorettes had fun performing to the Meet the Flintstones theme song.
Also performing Monday night was the Percussion Ensemble with The Elmhurst Quintet; the Clarinet Ensemble to the music of Mozart’s Allegro and the Brass Ensemble playing Three Renaissance Dances by Susato.
The Northview High School “Tribal Beat” Band closed the evening with Devonshire Overture under the direction of Charles Tucker with Assistant Director Joe Wright.
Pictured above: Band Director Charles Tucker leads the Ernest Ward Middle School Beginning Band to start Monday night’s annual band concerts at Northview High School. Pictured below: Tucker takes a bow. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Soar To New Record High Monday In North Escambia
May 13, 2008
On Monday, gas prices once again hit a new record across the North Escambia area.
The Tom Thumb in Molino, traditionally one of the cheapest gas stations in North Escambia, was selling a gallon of regular unleaded for $3.75 late Monday afternoon. Monday night in Century, that same gallon of gas was at $3.79. Meanwhile, diesel in Molino climbed to a new high of $4.29 per gallon.
A barrel of oil closed up at $124.23 on Monday. The national price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.71, the highest average price ever recorded by AAA.
The McDavid Hard To Find Serious Accident That Wasn’t Serious
May 13, 2008
Two area fire departments spent about 15 minutes searching for a reported serious accident on Highway 29 Monday afternoon, only to find a very minor accident and a person that may have been suffering from a medical problem.
Authorities say a 911 caller reported about 6:40 that they had been involved in a one vehicle accident on the northbound side of Highway 29 just north of the sawmill and Champion Drive in McDavid. The caller reported that they had struck a utility pole or a tree, and that they were trapped in their vehicle unable to open the car’s doors. The McDavid and Molino volunteer fire departments were dispatched to the area along with Baptist Hospital’s LifeFlight helicopter.
After about a 15 minute search of the area, the firefighters were unable to locate the accident north of the sawmill. They did, however, locate a vehicle matching the caller’s description about a mile and a half south of the sawmill on the southbound side of Highway 29.
The vehicle had lightly struck a fence post at a low speed, causing only very minor damage to the Pontiac Gran Prix’s front bumper. The caller was not trapped.
Since LifeFlight had already arrived over the scene at the time the vehicle was located, officials made the decision to transport the victim to Baptist Hospital by helicopter. The southbound lanes of Highway 29 were shut down for a short time while LifeFlight landed.
Authorities say the female victim did not appear to have been seriously injured in the accident, but she was possibly suffering from a medical condition.
Mailing A Letter? It Will Now Cost You A Penny More
May 12, 2008
The cost of mailing a letter jumped a penny to 42 cents on Monday, the latest in what are expected to be annual price adjustments by the U.S. Postal Service.
A new law regulating the post office makes it easier to raise rates as long as the agency doesn’t exceed the rate of inflation. Rates are to be adjusted each May.
But the post office also has introduced a way for people to save money when the price goes up, the Forever stamp, which remains valid for first class postage regardless of any increases.
With the rate increase approaching, sales of the Forever stamp reached 64 million a day in April, postal officials said.
Forever stamps sold for 41 cents until midnight Sunday night, but can be used after the rate increase without any additional postage. But now that the postal rate is up a penny, so was the price of Forever stamps that are 42 cents Monday.
Unlike the Forever stamps, other 41 cent stamps will require additional postage under the new rates, and postal officials said they printed an additional 1.5 billion one cent stamps in anticipation of the demand.
A set of five 42 cent stamps honoring pioneering journalists went on sale in April, as did a set of four stamps featuring the American flag flying at different times of day.
A 42 cent stamp featuring singer and actor Frank Sinatra (pictured left) was released Tuesday morning.
The cost to mail a post card also went up a penny Monday, to 27 cents.
But, the Postal Service said that overall prices for Express Mail, its overnight service, will be lower at the weights and in the delivery zones used by most customers.
And Express mail and Priority mail customers can save money simply buying postage online, the agency said. Express mail customers will receive three percent off the published retail prices and Priority mail customers will save an average 3.5 percent.
The new 42 cent stamps, as well as penny stamps to go with your old 41 cent stamps, are available online at usps.com or at post offices across the area, including the post offices in McDavid, Molino, Century, Walnut Hill and Cantonment.
Rollover Accident Injures One Sunday Afternoon
May 12, 2008
One person was injured in a single vehicle rolloever accident about 3:40 Sunday afternoon near the Gandyville community.
Jennifer Lowe, 16, lost control of her westbound pickup truck on Highway 4A near Broomes Road. Her truck apparently left the highway, traveled a short distance on the shoulder of the road before skidding across the road, down the opposite shoulder and then back across the road again. The truck struck a ditch embankment, became airborne and crashed through a metal gate before striking a small hill and a tree. The truck landed upside down.
Lowe told authorities that she swerved to avoid another vehicle in that was in her lane when she rounded a curve on Highway 4A
Bystanders say she crawled out of the truck and walked to a nearby house before calling 911. Lowe was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Drive-thru? Pickup Truck Hits Flomaton Pizza Hut
May 12, 2008
A pickup truck struck the Pizza Hut in Flomaton Saturday afternoon. The truck apparently struck the restaurant before spinning around and landing in a wooded area near the drive thru window. There were no major injuries reported.
The Flomaton Fire Department and Escambia County (FL) EMS responded to the scene.
Submitted photos by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com , click to enlarge. Scroll down for more photos.
Hundreds Attend Molino Park Carnival Saturday
May 11, 2008
Hundreds attended Molino Park Elementary School’s carnival Saturday.
Students, and many adults, enjoyed games like Plenko, skeeball, go fish, needle in the haystack and much more. There was also a cake walk, plant walk, stuffed animal walk, bingo and edible sugar sand art. Small baby bottles filled with drink were an especially popular item with the kids.
There was also plenty of food, music and basket auctions.
