Early Morning Brickyard Road Accident Knocks Out Power
April 18, 2010
An early morning accident on Brickyard Road left a small number of Molino area residents in the dark after a driver knocked down a power pole.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Sheldon Flowers was northbound on Brickyard Road in a 2004 Dodge Ram when lost control and hit a power pole, sending it to the ground. The 12:05 a.m. accident Sunday knocked out electricity to an unknown number of Gulf Power customers in the area. The accident caused and estimated $11,000 in damage to the truck, pole and power lines.
Flower was charged with careless driving, and alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash, according to the FHP. He was not injured in the accident.
Pictured above and below: This accident on Brickyard Road took down a power pole and knocked out power to small number of Gulf Power customers. Pictured inset: Gulf Power works to restore electricity. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Are You Headed To A Ballgame Today?
April 17, 2010
Are you headed to a North Escambia little league ballgame today? We want your pictures.
Email pictures to news@northescambia.com for inclusion in a photo gallery. Please send us photos of your child or grandchild, but don’t forget to snap photos of other team players too.
Barrineau Park Clean Up Is This Morning
April 17, 2010
Residents of the Barrineau Park Community are invited to take part in a Community Clean Up on Saturday.
Residents on the west side of Hwy 29 along Molino Road, Barrineau Park Road, Crabtree Church, Chestnut, Schifko, Sunshine Hill, Highway 99 (south of Luth Rd), Barrineau Lane and adjacent areas are invited to meet at 8:30 at the Barrineau Park Community Center, 6055 Barrineau Park School Road to pick up trash bags, safety gear and area assignments close to your residence).
The residents will then fan out across the community, trash bags in hand, to clean up the roadsides around Barrineau Park.
Volunteers will return to the Community Center at 11:30 to drop off their trash and join in a lunch hosted by the Barrineau Park Historical Society and Honeysuckle Garden Club. Residents in the area that are unable to attend are invited to just pick up litter in front of their property and leave it in a plastic bag. Volunteers in the area will pick up the plastics bags.
The fifth annual Community Cleanup is sponsored by the Barrineau Park Historical Society, Clean & Green, The Honeysuckle Garden Club and Fran’s Diner.
State Attorney Completes Consolidation Study Commission Probe
April 17, 2010
A review of the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission will not lead to criminal charges, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
The State Attorney’s office reviewed a complaint alleging that certain members of the Escambia ounty Consolidation Study Commission violated the Florida Sunshine Law by discussing commission business by email. In addition, the SAO reviewed an allegation that two commission members violated the Sunshine Law by meeting with the editorial board of the Pensacola News Journal.
“While we are troubled by the use of emails in this matter, we have determined that no crime was committed,” according to a report issued by Assistant State Attorney Gregory Marcille.
The consolidation student commission was created by the Florida Legislature to study and potentially develop a governmental consolidation plan for Century, Escambia County and Pensacola. According to the legislative act, the actions of the committee were subject to Florida’s broad Sunshine Law.
During the study process, a number of emails were exchanged between members of a draft subcommittee — Ken Bell (pictured), Janet Landers and Ed Fleming. They were charged with developing a draft document that was to be presented to the entire committee.
During the drafting process, a number of emails were exchanged between the committee members. Those emails, according to Marcille, were primarily one-way exchanges that did not involve any substantial discussion.
“Those emails that do involve an exchange of information are minimal and do not involve any discussion where an ultimate decision is made,” Marcille’s report stated. In addition, the committee met in public on at least eight occasions where the issues mentioned in the emails were discussed. “These actions would cure any possible violation,” the SAO’s report stated.
The State Attorney’s Office also investigated a January 12, 2010, meeting between the Pensacola News Journal Editorial Board. The primary purpose of that meeting was to introduce a consultant to the board. Consolidation committee members Ken Bell and Rick Harper attended that meeting.
“There was no discussion between Harper or Bell and Wilkes simply explained and answered questions posed by the News Journal about how the charter would work. As there was no discussion of any issue that was likely to come before the Consolidation Commission, no violation occurred,” according to the State Attorney’s Office report.
“While we find that no violation occurred in this matter, we continue to be concerned by the use of emails by members of organizations that are subject to the Florida Sunshine Law. While the emails between the members of the Draft Committee did not contain an exehange of information as contemplated by the Sunshine Law, they do raise concerns in the mind of the general public,” the State Attorney’s Office report concluded.
Pictured above: Escambia Consolidation Study Commission Chairman Ken Bell. Pictured below: The only Escambia Consolidation Study Commission meeting held north of Ten Mile Road was held in Century last October. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Stolen Truck and Trailer Found, Backhoe Still Missing
April 17, 2010
The 18-wheeler stolen from a Flomaton business last month has been recovered, but a backhoe worth thousands is still missing.
The burglary occurred between 5 p.m. March 4 and 5:45 a.m. March 5 at CharCo, Inc. on Highway 31 in Flomaton, according to Flomaton Police Chief Terri Tolbert. The business reported about $250,000 worth of equipment missing, including a 2003 Peterbuilt truck pulling a 1996 blue Fontaine lowboy trailer with a yellow John Deere wheel loader backhoe. According to police, someone had cut a chain and lock to enter a fenced area where the equipment was located.
The big rig was located recently in Sheffield, Alabama, by Alabama State Troopers and returned to Charco.
Anyone with information on the crime or the still-missing backhoe is asked to contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured: These photos, provided by the Flomaton Police Department, are representative of the equipment stolen from a Flomaton business. Submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Today: Atmore YMCA Offers Healthy Kids Day
April 17, 2010
As part of a nationwide effort to encourage kids to get moving, the Atmore Area YMCA will host YMCA Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, part of the nation’s largest health day for kids and families.YMCA Healthy Kids Day will be filled with fun, engaging and creative activities that foster healthy living, and is a part of the YMCA’s larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the public from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
YMCA Healthy Kids Day at the Atmore Area YMCA will provide resources to help educate grown-ups about making healthy choices for their families every day. There will be activities including obstacle course and fitness challenge, face painting, the Mix n Mold snack bar and a whole lot more.
“Keeping kids healthy is at the core of what the Atmore Area YMCA stands for,” said Loretta Berry, child care director at the Atmore YMCA. “The word ‘exercise’ doesn’t sound very enjoyable to many people, especially kids, but getting them to move more through play that requires physical activity is the key to building healthy habits that last a lifetime. On YMCA Healthy Kids Day, both kids and grown-ups will have the opportunity to get moving, to play and to have fun.”
Experts recommend that kids engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity, including active play, each day. Studies show that kids who consistently engage in play are happier and healthier, and develop and enhance a variety of skills including motor skills, social skills, problem solving, and creativity. Kids who get 60 minutes of physical play also tend to have higher self-esteem and perform better academically.
To make more time for physical activity, the Atmore Area YMCA offers simple ways to put more play in kids’ day, and to get the family moving more, too!
- Make physical activity a regular part of family playtime – the more active kids are the more likely they are to continue being physically active later in life.
- Allow kids to have unstructured playtime. All play is not created equal – kids need different types of play, including indoor and outdoor, active and inactive.
- Reintroduce your child to the basics of active play: play hopscotch or basketball, jump rope, or enjoy games such as Duck, Duck Goose, Red Light, Green Light and Simon Says.
- Limit screen time and use of electronic media to allow more time for play.
“The goal of encouraging kids to play more is to build a lifetime of love for physical activity,” said Berry. “Play should not seem like a chore – it is an activity that is fun and brings joy, and allows a kid to just be a kid.”
More than 700,000 kids and families are expected to participate in YMCA Healthy Kids Day events at nearly 1,500 YMCAs nationwide. For more information about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, call Atmore Area YMCA at (251) 368-9622 or email ymca@frontiernet.net.
Great Weekend Weather
April 17, 2010
We are in for a dry, sunny weekend. We’ll continue with warm temperatures and just afternoon pop-up showers for next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. North northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. North northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 78.
Get Free Admission To National Parks, Include Gulf Islands National Seashore
April 17, 2010
In celebration of National Parks Week, Gulf Islands National Seashore will join with other National Park Service sites around the country and offer fee-free entry into the park beginning this weekend.
The fee-free week, including the weekends before and after, was announced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar who said last month, “We are rolling out the red carpet and inviting everyone to visit a national park and help celebrate National Park Week. Parks are fun and affordable destinations and great places to engage in healthy, outdoor activities, whether for a few hours or a few days.”
At Gulf Islands National Seashore, all entrance fees will be waived for visitors to the park from Saturday April 17 through Sunday April 25. At this time of the year, entrance fees are collected at two of the park’s units: Fort Pickens and Perdido Key. Loop A of Fort Pickens Campground is currently open with full RV hook-ups and restroom facilities. The remainder of the campground is expected to reopen next month, upon completion of a sewer construction project. Visitors may check campsite availability and make reservations by visiting www.recreation.gov or by phoning (877) 444-6777. Campsite rates are $20 per night, or $10 for seniors. Weekend lifeguard coverage will be provided at Langdon Beach beginning this weekend and at Johnson Beach beginning the following weekend. Full daily coverage shall begin next month. Picnic pavilions are also currently available for use and reservation at Opal Beach and Johnson Beach.
Acting Park Superintendent Nina Kelson states, “This is such a good opportunity to reconnect with all the natural and historic features of the national seashore as well as its ranger led programs.” Park entrance stations will have Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them. Kelson points out that faster moving lines makes this an excellent time to acquire annual passes for those visitors wanting to take advantage of what the park offers year-round. For a full description of the facilities and programs currently available, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/guis or contact the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center at (80) 934-2600.
Pictured: Fort Pickens in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Fishing Clinic For Kids
April 17, 2010
There will be a free kids fishing clinic Saturday in Pensacola.
Sponsored by the Pensacola Recreational Fishermen, the free clinic will be held at Plaza de Luna in downtown Pensacola (at the foot of Palafox Street) from 8 a.m. until noon. The clinic is for children ages 4 to 14. All participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Children will receive t-shirts, fishing rods, tackle boxes and more. They will learn how to tie knots, cast, proper fish handling, enjoy touch tanks and more. Older kids will learn about fly fishing and cast net throwing.
Florida Offers Rebates On Appliance Purchases
April 17, 2010
Florida residents can purchase certain news ENERGY STAR appliances and receive a 20-percent rebate from the state, plus another $75 for proving that an old appliance was recycled.
Select ENERGY STAR refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, gas water heaters (tank-less), and room air conditioners are eligible for a rebate of 20 percent off the retail price and $75 for recycling the old appliance, up to $1,500 per household.
“Now is the perfect time to replace old appliances with energy-efficient ones that will save consumers money for years to come, and the opportunity for a rebate gives Floridians the incentive to buy this month,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “I applaud Florida’s retailers for their efforts to assist Floridians as they select appliances that will qualify for the rebate.”
Florida residents can begin reserving their share of $17.5 million in rebate funds by obtaining a priority number on a first-come, first-served basis at www.rebates.com/florida. While a Priority Number is not required, applications with a priority number will be processed prior to those without one.
The Florida ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program will provide rebates on approximately 68,000 ENERGY STAR appliances purchased from Florida retailers, pumping at least $62 million into Florida’s economy, in addition to generating at least $4 million in tax revenues. Retailers must provide a sales receipt that includes the retailer’s name and address, purchase date, and product information that includes the type of appliance, model number and price.
All applications must be postmarked on or before Monday, May 10, 2010; however, because rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis, the first applications to be processed will be more likely to receive rebates.