Boil Water Notice Lifted For Becks Lake Road, Stone Boulevard
June 15, 2011
Effective immediately, the precautionary boil water notice issued for ECUA customers residing on all of Becks Lake Road and all of Stone Boulevard in Cantonment has been lifted and is no longer in effect.
For more information, contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
Escambia Crash Claims One Life
June 15, 2011
A Pensacola man died a in three vehicle traffic crash Wednesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Robert T. Lee, 46,, was killed in the crash about 1 p.m. on Gulf Beach Highway near Tifton Avenue when he crossed the center line in his 1974 Volkswagen, striking two other vehicles.
The driver of a 2003 Ford pick, Corroll J. Moore, 64, of Pensacola received minor injuries. A passenger that vehicle, 12-year old Autumn C. Moore, was not injured. The driver of a 2009 Honda van, Traci D. High, 31, of Pensacola was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. A passenger in her van, 4-year old Maximilan P. High, received minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart by ambulance.
Pollard McCall School Library Destroyed By Fire (With Photo Gallery)
June 15, 2011
Fire destroyed the media center at Pollard McCall School east of Flomaton this morning.
The fire was reported about 8:40 a.m. and was contained to the media center. The media center, including books and computers, was totally destroyed. The roof of the building collapsed into the library, while a classroom located in the same building suffered major smoke and water damage.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
The final cause of the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, but authorities tell NorthEscambia.com that it was likely electrical. Local volunteer fire departments responded to the school earlier in the week for a report of a smell of smoke in the media center’s attic. Firefighters were unable to find anything at that time.
Adjacent structures, including the main school building, were not damaged.
There were about 30 students and 15 employees at the school while the fire started. Very few were in the library, and all were evacuated without incident. There were no injuries reported.
The media center was constructed in 1998.
Firefighters responded to the blaze from across the area, including Flomaton, Friendship, McCall, Lambeth, Jay, Century, McDavid and Molino.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and inset: These exclusive photos from inside the Pollard McCall School Media Center shows extensive damage as firefighters work to extinguish remaining hot spots. Picture below: The fire was contained to the media center building. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chad Jeter Guilty Of Robbing Atmore Bank
June 15, 2011
An Atmore bank robbery suspect has pleaded guilty to all charges against him in federal court.
Chad Floyd Jeter entered the plea and was found guilty on charges of bank robbery with a weapon and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime in violence in connection with the May 19, 2009, armed robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in downtown Atmore. Tuesday, Chief United States District Judge William H. Steele set Jeter’s sentencing for September 13.
In May 2010, a government psychiatric evaluation determined Jeter was paranoid schizophrenic and not competent to stand trial. He was admitted to the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina for treatment and evaluation, with the examination determining that he was once again competent to stand trial.
An independent psychiatric exam was then arranged by Jeter’s attorney in February. In April, Steele ruled that Jeter was competent to stand trail.
Jeter allegedly robbed the Atmore bank using a .22 caliber rifle, taking about $6,289. He was arrested a few days after the robbery after a manhunt in Levy County, Florida, following an attack on a Levy County officer with a “ninja throwing star”. Levy County authorities dropped an attempted murder of police officer charge against Jeter after a psychological evaluation there found him to be incompetent to stand trial.
Jeter reportedly drove up to the downtown Atmore bank in a white pickup with a camper shell and entered the bank dressed in a dark colored trench coat and the rifle. He ordered bank employees to fill a U.S. Army backpack with cash, while he stood with the rifle pointed at the floor. He reportedly threatened a teller with the rifle during the crime.
Within a few hours of the robbery, investigators identified Jeter as their suspect. Officials searched his trailer on Highway 31 near Canoe. Inside, they found troubling evidence that Jeter might be planning to attack a military base. He said in letters and notes that he was being watched by helicopters that circled his home. Police found maps with the locations of several military bases circled, including Pensacola NAS, Eglin Air Force Base, Whiting Field and Alabama’s Ft. Rucker. The notes indicated that he planned to kill military personnel and police. Military bases were alerted to the possible threat.
Jeter’s burned-out camper shell was found in the woods after the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire on a secluded section of Pine Barren Road near Breastworks Road early on the morning after the robbery.
While on routine patrol at 4:15 Eastern time two days after the robbery, an Inglis (Fla.) Police Department officer, Tim Swigget, located a blue GMC pickup trucked parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown, Florida, neighborhood. Inside the vehicle that was nearly 400 miles from Atmore, he found Jeter sleeping. After the officer determined that Jeter is wanted for the bank robbery, Jeter attacked the officer with a Ninja star.
A manhunt involving several agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard followed after Jeter fled the scene. Jeter was taken into custody in a swampy area and transported to the Levy County Jail.
Pictured top: Jeter after being taken into custody in Levy County, Florida. Pictured top inset: Chad Floyd Jeter’s booking photo taken mid-January at the Baldwin County Corrections Center. Pictured middle inset: Jeter’s truck at the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore. Pictured lower inset: Surveillance video of the bank robbery in progress. Pictured bottom: Jeter’s truck is searched after he was found in Levy County, Florida. NorthEscambia.com files photos, click to enlarge.
Drought And Wildfires: State Of Emergency, But No Burn Bans
June 15, 2011
There are no burn permits being issued right now in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties, but there is no burn ban in effect.
Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Monday in Florida for 60 days due to the extreme drought and wildfires, but local leaders have not issued a burn ban. The Florida Division of Forestry, however, is not currently issuing any burn permits in either county.
“Santa Rosa County encourages residents to delay any burning activity until the area receives significant rainfall. With below normal rainfall expected to continue through June and temperatures significantly above normal, Santa Rosa County Emergency Management is working closely with the local division of forestry officials to daily monitor our wildfire risk. If conditions change, the board of county commissioners can take action quickly to enact any necessary burn ban,” Santa Rosa County Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka said.
Escambia County has taken a similar stance also without issued a burn ban for yard debris.
In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley has issued an outdoor burning ban in all 67 counties.
Man Gets 20 Years For DUI Death Of Cantonment Man
June 15, 2011
A Pace man will spend 20 years in prison for the DUI death of a Cantonment motorcyclist last year.
Ronnie Lamar Henley was sentenced Tuesday by Santa Rosa County Circuit Judge David Rimmer for DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash and marijuana possession. He was found guilty in a jury trial in May.
On April 5, 2010, Henley was driving on Highway 90 in Pace with a blood alcohol level of .24 — three times the legal limit — when he abruptly turned in front of a motorcycle driven by Matthew Christopher Harrison, 29, of Cantonment.
Henley struck and killed Harrison before fleeing the scene. Two witnesses, including an off-duty Santa Rosa County deputy, followed Henley until he was apprehended by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Sacred Heart Hospital Announces 5-Story, $57 Million Expansion
June 15, 2011
Sacred Heart Hospital announced plans Tuesday for a major expansion that will include a new five-story tower containing 112 private patient rooms. The tower will be constructed on top of the hospital’s existing Heart and Vascular Institute building.
The vertical expansion on Sacred Heart’s campus at Ninth Avenue and Bayou Boulevard will take place over a four-year period. Construction will begin in the spring of next year, with the first 68 beds becoming operational in 2014. Another 44 beds will be added in 2015-16.
“This expansion will bring more than 150 new healthcare jobs to our community and the additional private-room capacity we need in order to accommodate the demand for healthcare services in the decade ahead,” said Laura S. Kaiser, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System. “We have pressing needs right now for additional beds, especially for critically-ill patients and other adult patients with acute-care needs.”
An additional job-creation benefit for the local economy will be the project’s use of area construction contractors and design companies.
After months of study and planning, leaders at Sacred Heart and its parent healthcare system, Ascension Health, approved the $57 million expansion based on multiple factors:
- The aging of the “baby boom generation” will mean a large increase in the numbers of people reaching 65 and older who will need more healthcare services.
- The anticipated growth of Northwest Florida’s population in all demographic groups.
- The need for more beds for critically ill patients – a need driven in part by the hospital’s status as a regional Trauma Center and a regional Stroke Center. Of the 112 beds in the new tower, 40 will be for critically ill patients.
- While Sacred Heart has greatly expanded its outpatient facilities over the past 15 years and added a Women’s and Children’s Hospital in 1996, its main, five-story hospital for adult patients has not been expanded for almost 30 years.
In addition to the five-story addition, the expansion plan also calls for more parking spaces and replacement of key systems such as heating and air conditioning that support the hospital plant operations.
“The construction of the new tower and patient-care facilities is exciting news for our patients, our physicians and associates, and for the local economy,” Kaiser said. “The new facilities and the talent they will attract will improve healthcare and add to Pensacola’s status as the healthcare center for all of Northwest Florida.”
Have Extra From Your Garden? Food Pantry Seeks Donations
June 15, 2011
A local food pantry is asking those with an ample harvest from their gardens to help those that are less fortunate.
The Allen Memorial UMC Fred Lacy Memorial Food Pantry in Cantonment has joined with AmpleHarvest.org to help provide the pantry with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Anyone with excess produce that they would like to donate, call Katrina Williamson at (850) 968-6213 or (850) 777-9666. The church can pick up the items if needed.
Molino Park Student Awards List
June 15, 2011
The following kindergarten-fourth grade students received end of the year academic awards at Molino Park Elementary School.
(Fifth grade and more third grade awards will be published Thursday.)
Mrs. Sapp:
Citizenship-
Ashley Allen 3rd grade
Danny Antrim 2nd grade
James Holzapfel 3rd grade
Ethan Petras 2nd grade
Arianna Rudd 2nd grade
All A/B’s-
Anna McPherson 2nd grade
Most improved behavior-
Austin Teachey
Most improved in academics-
Shadonavon Young
Mrs. Fountain:
Perfect Attendance-
Tyshe-on Brown 5th grade
All A/B’s-
Sierra Slay 4th grade
Special Recognition-
Jacob Ward 3rd grade
Albert Roberts 5th grade
Accelerated Reader-
Gabriel Hamm 3rd grade
Sierra Slay 4th grade
Blake McAnally 5th grade
FIRST GRADE
Mrs. Findley:
Citizenship-
Jillian Gulledge
Michayla Kent
Trevor Kinnamon
Jaden Lewis
Kileigh Lundy
Lashara McBride
Melody Patterson
Kaden Pendleton
Chase Petras
Makayla Ramsey
Michael Roloph
All A’s-
Jaden Lewis
Kileigh Lundy
Melody Patterson
All A/B’s-
Trevor Kinnamon
Lashara McBride
Handwriting improvement- Devin Creamer
Reading improvement- McKenzie Rudd
Mrs. Lowery:
Citizenship-
Reagan Daniels
Alyssa Day
Serenity Harvell
Lindsey Kimmons
Shelby Prince
Hannah Ratcliff
Brystal Rhodes
Shayle Slay
Logan Thompson
Kailyn Watson
All A’s-
Reagan Daniels
All A/B’s-
Sereity Harvell
Wesley Johnson
Lindsey Kimmons
Brystal Rhodes
Chandler Rogers
Shayle Slay
Kailyn Watson
Special-
Most improved Academics & Behavior-
Josiah Delarosa
Most improved Reading- Bryson Love
Accelerated Reader-
Reagan Daniels 169,967 words read
Sunshine Math-
Reagan Daniels
Wesley Johnson
Lindsey Kimmons
Mrs. Ellis, Kindergarten
Citizenship:
Kendall Little
Briana Ragen
Shelby Lashley
Cameron Partrick
Ethan Collier
Ryan Collier
Ryan Andrews
Rustin Pope
Tony Antrim
Asa Schlobohm
Raven Brigman
Karson Brown
Weston Bishop
Freddy Carnley
Bailey Danielson
Ethan Scull
Blake Dunn
All S’s:
Shelby Lashley
Kendall Little
Cameron Partick
Briana Ragan
Ethan Collier
Ryan Andrews
Asa Schlobohm
Raven Brigman
Karson Brown
Tony Antrim
Freddy Carnley
Bailey Danielson
Rustin Pope
Most Improved Students:
Jesse Milstead
Ethan Scull
Mrs. Bodiford, 1st grade
Citizenship:
Divine Abrams
Melanie Danforth
Dylan Green
Hannah Hassebrock
Chelsi Lashley
Makayla Levins
Madelyn McAnally
Sarah Sconiers
Mackenzie Sims
Addison Spurlock
Bryant Walters
Jordan Wilson
Perfect Attendance:
Tanner Bailey
All A’s:
Addison Spurlock
All AlB’s:
Divine Abrams
Madelyn Mc Anally
Makayla Levins
Dylan Green
Sarah Sconiers
Mackenzie Sims
Bryant Walters
Special:
Most Artistic: Drew Hatcher
Hard Worker: Shelby Lowery
SECOND GRADE
Citizenship
Teagan Andress
Danny Antrim
Chase Arnette
Tayler Bridges
Kaelin Brinker
Kenley Brown
Kaitlyn Burkett
Jessica Conti
Hunter Cook
Joshua Coonrod
Harleigh Crumbley
Nathan Danforth
Tanner Davidson
Gyanna Edmonson
Torrie Edmonson
Jadon Fryman
Brentley Garrett
Julia Knight
Bryce Korinchak
Kaley Lashley
Brayden Mickel
Justin Miller
Lainey Pace
Kellie Parsons
Ethan Petras
Ashley Ragsdale
Ashleigh Ratcliff
Scott Skidmore
Clay Smith
Natalie St. Cyr
Morgan Taylor
Ariel Ward
Ben Ward
Michael Whitmire
Madelyn Zylstra
Perfect Attendance
Harleigh Crumbley
Leia Grantham
Julie Ann Keith
All A’s-
Kaelin Brinker
Jessica Conti
Joshua Coonrod
Nathan Danforth
Jadon Fryman
Leia Grantham
Brayden Mickel
Clay Smith
All A/B’s-
Chase Arnette
Tayler Bridges
Treyton Daughtry
Tanner Davidson
Brentley Garrett
Wesley Hart
Parker Hassebrock
Kaley Lashley
Anna McPherson
Justin Miller
Jeremiah Morris
Lainey Pace
Kellie Parsons
Natalie St. Cyr
Morgan Taylor
Ben Ward
Special Recognition-
Hunter Cook – Best Effort (Venable)
Logan English – Most Successful in Successmaker (Sims)
Jozzlynn Oppenhein- Most Improved (Venable)
Ashleigh Ratcliff- Most Improved in Reading (Daniels)
Madalin Roberts -Improvement in Reading (Solchenberger)
Lad Smith – Most Improved (Sims)
Austin Teachey – Most Improved Citizenship (Sapp)
Shadonavon Young – Most Improved Academics (Sapp)
Sunshine Math -
Chase Arnette
Kaelin Brinker
Jessica Conti
Joshua Coonrod
Connor Crisco
Jadon Fryman
Jeremiah Morris
Ryan Pendleton
Ariel Ward
FOURTH GRADE
Mrs. Garrett:
Citizenship-
Cade Allen
Kendall Enfinger
Taryn janes
Aubree Love
Grace Petras
Claire Roberson
Brandon Santos
Courtney Smith
Austin Smith
Leo Solano
Julie Stanton
Perfect Attendance:
Cade Allen
All A/B’s-
Cade Allen
Taryn Janes
Aubree Love
Hannah McGahan
Claire Roberson
Brandon Santos
Austin Smith
Julie Stanton
Special-
Most Improved:
Grace Petras
Courtney Smith
Top Acc. Reader-
Hannah McGahan
Austin Smith
Brandon Santos
Aubree Love
Sunshine Math-
Ryan Joseph
Mrs. Robinson:
Citizenship-
Maddie Campbell
Crystalyn Daly
Rose Flowers
Kaylin Glenn
Shelby Kizer
Elyssa McQuaid
Perfect Attendance-
Logan Barrett
Cornelius Purifoy
All A/B’s-
Dalton Brown
Nikoal Creamer
Bradley Edgar
Kyrha Shisk
Spencer St. Cyr
Special-
Most improved/effort:
Shelby Kizer
Wyatt Oliver
4th Accelerated Award- July Solchenberger
Mrs. Madril:
Citizenship-
Kennedy Bellard
Dillon Conti
Hannah Ellis
Braden Garrett
Savannah Hart
Jenna Hassebrock
Morgan Lathan
Meredith Morgan
Chase O’Connor
Christian Taylor
Hayley Walker
Perfect Attendance-
Savannah Hart
All A’s-
Cillon Conti
Jenna Hassebrock
Meredith Morgan
Chase O’Connor
All A/B’s-
Kennedy Bellard
Hannah Ellis Taylor Finney
Savannah Hart
Morgan Lathan
Christian Taylor
Hayley Walker
Special:
Most improved- Steven Krohn
Highest AR in class- Dillon Conti
KINDERGARTEN Ms. Cristofoletti
Citizenship-
Aaron Adams
Clay Allen
Kameron Enfinger
Carsen Ferguson-Perkins
Nicklas Fowler
James Hicks
Kacy Knable
Waylon Langford
Miah Massey
Alex Page
Ty Smith
Terrance Stallworth
Corey Bolton
Takayla Chiles
Jeremiah Nettles
All S’s-
Aaron Adams
Clay Allen
Micaela Bolton
Kameron Enfinger
Nicklas Fowler
Miah Massey
Alex Page
Ty Smith
Takayla Chiles
Most Improved-
Wyatt Milstead
ECUA Unveils New Website
June 15, 2011
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has rolled out a new website that includes easy access to bill paying information.
The new site — www.ecua.fl.gov — welcomes visitors with bold new colors, a clean uncluttered design, and moving images with featured content that is centered on the ECUA’s mission to inform, educate, and inspire new environmental concepts, according to Executive Director Stephen Sorrell.
“We have completely overhauled the ECUA’s outdated website format by putting the customer first with clear, easy-to-find information,” Sorrell said.
About a third of visitors to the ECUA website seek bill paying information. To address this need, a new user-friendly interactive navigation tool, “My Bill” section was created, allowing users to view their bill. An option to pay a bill online is also available for a $1.95 fee.
The new site also includes road and traffic information, boil water advisories and an interactive meeting and events calendar.