Lightning Sparks Fire That Destroys Large Storage Shed In Bratt
July 14, 2011
A fire believed to be sparked by lightning destroyed a large storage shed in Bratt this evening.
The 20 x 30 foot shed was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived in the 5700 block of Dortch Road just after 6 p.m. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby home. The fire was reported to be out about 7:05 p.m.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
Pictured: Fire destroyed a 600 square foot storage shed on Dortch Road in Bratt Thursday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man In Custody In Connection With Brewton Shooting
July 14, 2011
An Atmore man is now in custody, charged with a shooting earlier this week in Brewton.
Ricki Tolbert, age 18, has been charged with first degree assault in connection with shooting an 18-year old Brewton resident at a party at the Brewton Masonic Lodge. The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Pictured: Shooting suspect Ricki Tolbert of Atmore. Photo provided the Brewton Police Department, click to enlarge.
Strong Winds Cause Minor Damage At Two Flomaton Businesses
July 14, 2011
Strong winds caused minor damage in Flomaton Thursday afternoon at two businesses at the intersection of Highway 113 and Highway 31.
A roll up door was blown in at Rowland’s Tires, and two large pieces of sheet metal were ripped from the side of the building. At a nearby McDonald’s, a portion of a sign was blown away.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured top: Contractors work to finish repairs at Rowland’s Tire in Flomaton after sheet metal were blown off the building Thursday afternoon. Pictured left: A portion of the “Golden Arches” was missing after the store. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Male Charged As Adult In Sexual Assault Of Young Boy
July 14, 2011
A 17-year old Century male has been charged as an adult for the alleged sexual assault of another male under 12.
Michael Alexander Dubose of West Highway 4, is charged with two felony counts of sexual battery on victim under 12. He remains in the Escambia County Jail.
The victim told investigators at the Gulf Coast Kids House that Dubose had sexual relations with him over a one year period at two different units at Century Woods Apartments, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Plan Includes $51 Million For North Escambia Roads And Bridge Projects
July 14, 2011
A five-year transportation improvement plan for NorthHighway Escambia includes five new bridges, a major resurfacing project, widened shoulders and a safety study— over $51 million in projects.
The most significant project is the $8,476,181 maintenance resurfacing of Highway 29 from north of Pine Barren Road to the Alabama line during the next fiscal year, followed by a more permanent resurfacing of the roadway in 2015-2016 for $25,058,597.
The 2011 Florida Department of Transportation Rural Work Program report for Escambia County identifies the projects to be completed, estimated costs and funding sources. The report is much like a wish list — inclusion in does not guarantee that a project will be funded.
Totaling $51,418,956, the North Escambia area projects included in the five-year plan include:
- Highway 29 — Maintenance resurfacing from north of Pine Barren Road through Century to the Alabama state line (15.5 miles) in 2011-2012. Total cost: $8,476,181.
- Highway 29 — Resurfacing from north of Pine Barren Road through Century to the Alabama state line in 2015-2016. Total cost: $25,058,597.
- Highway 97 — Bridge replacement over Little Pine Barren Creek (near Wiggins Lake Road) by 2014-2015. Total cost: $3,202,283.
- CR 99 South — Safety study on South Highway 99 from Barrineau Park Road north to Highway 97 during 2013-2014. Total cost: $302,500.
- Brickyard Road — Bridge replacement over unnamed branch by 2013-2014. Total cost: $2,501,428.
- Fannie Road — Bridge replacement northeast of Century by 2013-2014. Total cost: $3,167,912.
- CR 97A — Bridge replacement west of Bay Springs over western fork of Boggy Creek, 2012-2013. Total cost: $4,217,728.
- South Pineville Road — Bridge replacement over Brushy Creek by 2013-2014. Total Cost: $2,966,259.
- Crabtree Church Road — Pave shoulders from Sunshine Hill Road to Highway 97 by 2014-2015. Total cost: $1,527,068.
The plan was presented to the Century Town Council Monday night and will be presented on Thursday to the Escambia County Commission. A final report is due to the Florida Department of Transportation by September 1.
Pictured top: The Little Pine Barren Creek Bridge on Highway 97 (near Wiggins Lake Road) is tentatively set for replacement in fiscal year 2014-2015. Pictured inset: The bridge was constructed in 1941. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Town Hall Meetings: Sen. Evers In Jay; Rep. Broxson In Century
July 14, 2011
The North Escambia area’s state senator and representative are both holding town hall meetings in the coming days.
Senator Greg Evers will hold a town hall meeting Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Jay Community Center, 5259 Booker Lane.
Evers plans to provide information on recent legislative changes, and discuss key issues facing Northwest Florida communities and the state going into the 2012 Legislative Session.
Representative Doug Broxson will hold a town hall meeting next Tuesday in Century.
Representative Broxson plans to listen to the specific concerns of constituents in the area and hear their priorities for the next legislative session. The meeting will take place at the Century Chamber of Commerce, 7811 North Century Boulevard, beginning at 1:30.
Search Continues For Suspect In Century Double Shooting
July 14, 2011
The investigation is continuing into a Century double shooting a month ago that injured a 31-year old woman and her 16-year old boyfriend. So far, there have been no arrests in the case.
The shooting happened about 8:30 p.m. June 11, in the 7500 block of Jefferson Avenue in Century. Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were told by a 31-year-old female victim that she and her 16-year-old boyfriend were shot as they were sitting in a vehicle in front of a residence.
The victims said that another vehicle, possibly a dark colored Hyundai, pulled in behind them and blocked them in. One of the occupants then exited the suspect vehicle and began shooting, injuring both the male and female.
The suspect was described as a black male of medium height with a thin build and wearing a red ball cap.
The victims left the area and drove to the 9500 block of Ivey Street to call 911. The male victim was transported by private vehicle to Jay Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The female victim was transported by ambulance after being questioned by deputies. Her injuries were also non-life threatening.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Local Boy With Cystic Fibrosis Gets To Be A Pilot For A Day
July 14, 2011
Like many 12-year olds, Patton Goetter of Christian Home wants to be a military pilot, a “dream come true”, he says.
But there’s a huge obstacle standing in his way — cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease that affects the lungs and digestive tract. It’s a relatively rare condition that claimed the life of Patton’s older brother Tyler about 10 years ago.
Patton had the chance this week, thanks to Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Sacred Heart Hospital, to be a “pilot for a day”.
“I got some badges for my shirt and stuff, and I got my name tag, and I got boots and a whole suit and a helmet – an awesome helmet. It’s just been really cool,” Patton. He had the chance to climb into the cockpit of a training aircraft, take a helicopter simulator for a high tech spin and use night vision goggles.
Patton’s case of cystic fibrosis is not as severe as his brothers, and mom Abby Goetter says she hopes that a new drug on the horizon will be a cure. In the meantime, she’s not going to hold her son back.
“I’m not going to say he can’t do anything. I’m not going to set any limits,” Abby Goetter said.
For Patton — who will be a fifth grader this year at Byrneville Elementary School — the sky’s the limit despite cystic fibrosis.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Patton Goetter said.
WALA FOX 10 contributed to this report. The FOX 10 video is below.
Pictured top: Patton Goetter gets a hug from his mother Abby during his “pilot for a day” experience at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Pictured inset. Patton Goetter. Images courtesy WALA FOX 10 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Citizens Insurance Chair Wants To Sell Off Policies
July 14, 2011
Admonishing lawmakers for making a shaky insurance pool even more precarious, the chairman of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Wednesday said the insurer should be allowed to sell off a large chunk of its business to private interests to reduce its exposure while continuing to cover the state’s riskiest property.
Such a move, which would likely raise rates dramatically for hundreds of thousands of policyholders, is needed as the state-backed insurer expects to eclipse 1.4 million policies within the next week, Citizens Chairman James Malone told governing board members.
Up to 900,000 Citizens policies are likely uninsurable in the private market because they cover older homes, mobile homes, and residences along the coast.
Malone estimated that the remaining policies could be marketed to some private entity because they involve billions of dollars in assets and a widely dispersed premium base, envisioning a return to Citizens’ roots as the true insurer of last resort.
“That has a value someplace in this open market,” Malone said. “The state of Florida needs money and this could be turned into an asset that had a value that people were willing to purchase in the private sector.”
Created as the insurer only for those who couldn’t get policies from private companies, Citizens has gone beyond that role to become the largest property insurer in the state.
The insurer continues to charge rates that are actuarially too low, many say. Coupled with carrier insolvencies and private market decisions to reduce books of business, Citizens adds about 1,000 policyholders every day. Because taxpayers back the company, critics say the addition of so many policies leaves the state a major hurricane away from financial fiasco.
“If the right decision had been made politically, let’s say five years ago… we wouldn’t have this exposure,” Malone said. “We could have (had) a huge event and everybody in this state could feel comfortable that resources were available to take care of the loss.”
Malone made the comments at the second to last board of governors meeting before all board members are removed from office July 31. After Aug. 1 a new governing board will be seated.
Florida officials have been trying to depopulate Citizens for years. With premium rates that have been restrained by lawmakers, the gap between what Citizens and private insurers charge customers continues to widen. So far, lawmakers have tried to provide financial incentives for private insurers to take Citizens policyholders from the pool.
“Today we use depopulation as a method to try to use the carriers that are currently in the market to have them take on our exposure and remove it from Citizens,” said Christine Ashburn, Citizens spokeswoman. “It sounds like what (Malone) is talking about is a bit different. ”
Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples and chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, said Malone’s idea should be given serious consideration. After years of unsuccessful efforts to reduce the number of Citizens’ policyholders, Richter said lawmakers will be receptive to anything that works toward that end.
“All our efforts to deal with this issue have so far been unsuccessful,” Richter said. “I respect the chairman’s intellect and business acumen and will approach the idea with an open mind.”
Malone said he was skeptical that lawmakers will be able to accomplish much on the issue next year. Despite a strong push by Gov. Rick Scott and a cadre of new lawmakers swept into office in November, legislators were unable to reverse growth in the company’s customer base this past year.
Legislators did pass a law that will make it easier for private insurers to raise rates to meet their obligations, but Citizens was not given the ability to significantly to reduce its exposure.
“If they weren’t willing to take a tough vote in this cycle, I can’t imagine anyone is going to take a tough vote during an election year,” Malone said.
Malone’s comments come a day before Citizens finalizes a $900 million pre-event financing deal to shore up the fund’s liquidity for the remainder of the 2011 hurricane season and beyond. The sale is expected to conclude Thursday. A Citizens financial consultant said the sale went better than expected. Not only did the state receive more favorable rates, but the market was willing to purchase bonds of longer maturity.
“Financing by any measure was extremely successful,” said John Forney, consultant with Raymond James. “It enabled Citizens to meet its liquidity goals for the 2011 hurricane season and beyond at very attractive interest rates while expanding the investor universe and taking advantage of the excess demand that is here to lower those rates even further.”
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Learn About 4-H During Saturday Fun Day In Molino
July 14, 2011
The Northview 4-H Club will sponsor an informational Fun Day this Saturday. The event will take place at Aldersgate UMC on Highway 29 in Molino from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
4-H is a youth development program facilitated by the Escambia County Extension Office, offering programs that support the “learn by doing” philosophy. Some of the activities, done individually or in groups, include shooting sports, public speaking, photography, youth legislature, cooking and animal husbandry. All activities are done with an emphasis on personal responsibility and safety.
All school age children are eligible to participate, and there is no cost to join.
Students are invited to stop by the free event Saturday, learn about 4-H and stay to play.
For more information, contact Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or click here.