Dust Storm Before The Rain; Drivers Blinded, Power Lines, Trees Downed
May 13, 2011
A dust storm of sorts struck in portions of North Escambia Friday afternoon as strong southerly winds picked up large amounts of dust from newly plowed fields. The strong winds before approaching rain also downed power lines and trees.
In Walnut Hill, the winds created thick dust clouds the cut visibility on Highway 97 to near zero around fields for a short period.
The strong winds also downed trees and power lines in the 100 block of Byrneville Road, near Highway 29. The roadway was blocked by a downed tree about 2:35 p.m. and was cleared by about 4 p.m.
A tree was also reported down (photo below) across Highway 31 just west of Flomaton.
Pictured above: This photo shows a large dust devil spinning through a Walnut Hill field. Pictured below: This photo (courtesy Katie Fowler) shows a tree downed on Highway 31 near Old Atmore Road west of Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Pedestrian Pushing Wheelchair Dies
May 13, 2011
A pedestrian pushing another man in wheelchair died after an early Friday morning accident near Walmart in Pensacola.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 50-year old McNoel Davis was pushing another person in a wheelchair across Highway 29 just north of Hood Drive. About 12:24 a.m., a 1993 Oldsmobile driven by 54-year old Arthur Merle Eliason struck the McNoel. McNoel was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition where he later died.
The occupant of the wheelchair, Edward Robinson, 51, of Pensacola was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol originally stated in a news release that McNoel was from Cantonment; however, an update stated that the man was from Pensacola.
Man Guilty In DUI Manslaughter Of Cantonment Motorcyclist
May 13, 2011
A Pace man has been found guilty in the death a Cantonment motorcyclist last year and now faces up to 45 years in state prison.
Ronnie Lamar Henley was found guilty of DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis by a Santa Rosa County Jury.
On April 5, 2010, Henley was driving on Highway 90 in Pace with a blood alcohol level of .24 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.
Henley will be sentenced by Judge David Rimmer on June 14.
Cantonment Man Killed When His Truck Crashes Into Escambia Bay
May 13, 2011
A Cantonment man was killed when a pickup truck crashed into Escambia Bay Thursday night in Santa Rosa County.
Rodney W. Faircloth, 25, was pronounced dead following the crash at about 8:15 p.m. at the Highway 90 bridge over the Escambia River. The Florida Highway Patrol said Faircloth was westbound on Highway 90 in a 1994 Ford pickup. when he ran into the median and partial into the eastbound side of the roadway. He attempted to correct the vehicle and traveled westbound in the median before striking a guardrail and overturning into the bay.
The vehicle was completely submerged when first responders from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties arrived on scene. Emergency crews searched for hours for any other victims, using a helicopter, numerous boats and a dive team. No other victims were found; Faircloth is believed to have been alone in the vehicle.
Pictured above and below: A 25-year old Cantonment died in this crash on Highway 90 Thursday night when his vehicle plunged into Escambia Bay. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Overnight House Fire Under Investigation
May 13, 2011
An overnight fire that destroyed a Cantonment home is under investigation.
Fire ripped though the home at 1500 Britt Road just west of County Road 97 about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters were called back to the home about 7:30 Friday morning to extinguish a few spots that had rekindled.
The home was reported to be abandoned; there were no injuries reported.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley, Ferry Pass and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire.
Pictured top: Firefighters returned to this home on Britt Road in Cantonment to extinguish a few hot spots that had rekindled after the overnight blaze. Pictured below: An investigator with the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office watches as firefighters sift through the debris. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Florida Senator Views Osama Photos; ‘No Doubt’ He’s Dead
May 13, 2011
Florida U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says that he has viewed the classified photos of Osama bin Laden and there’s no doubt that he’s dead.
While supporting the decision to keep the photos of bin Laden’s body classified for now, Nelson called for them eventually to be released to the public.
As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Nelson, a Democrat, was one of the members of Congress shown the photos at the Central Intelligence Agency.
“There is no doubt in my mind – nor should there be in anyone else’s – that we got the terrorist who orchestrated the insane and murderous acts that took place on September 11, 2001,” Nelson said. “I’ve said already that I agree with President Obama’s decision not to release these pictures right now. Satisfying skeptics and conspiracy theorists isn’t worth inflaming radicals or putting our troops in even more danger. Still, I personally believe the free flow of information is tantamount to our democracy. Thus, these pictures should eventually be made part of the public record.”
Updated Forecast
May 13, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Patchy dense fog through the night. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny. Isolatedshowers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph becoming 10 to 15 mph in theafternoon. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. West wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 55.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Florida Foreclosures Drop 59 Percent
May 13, 2011
Foreclosures in April were a whopping 59 percent lower in Florida than a year ago, but observers say the drop is not necessarily a sign that Florida’s moribund housing industry is turning the corner.
According to statistics compiled by RealtyTrac, a national service that’s been tracking foreclosures since 2005, 19,649 Florida properties received a foreclosure filing in April. That’s still second highest in the country, but represents a significant improvement from April 2010.
Florida’s overall foreclosure activity in April was still up marginally from a 46-month low set in February, the Irvine, Calif.-based company reported.
Nationwide, foreclosure proceedings in April dropped 34 percent from April 2010 and were 9 percent lower than March, a decline that RealtyTrac officials say may be more about longer processing times and less about a systemic housing recovery.
“Foreclosure activity decreased on an annual basis for the seventh straight month in April, bringing foreclosure activity to a 40-month low,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “This slowdown continues to be largely the result of massive delays in processing foreclosures rather than the result of a housing recovery that is lifting people out of foreclosure.”
To back up the assertion, Saccacio points to national figures that show it took an average of 400 days from the initial default notices to completion in the first quarter of 2011. That’s up from 340 days a year ago. In 2007, it took an average of 151 days to complete a foreclosure.
In Florida, where courts in some jurisdictions have set up expedited “rocket dockets” to get through foreclosure cases, the average foreclosure still took 619 days to complete during three months ending March 31. To put that in context, that’s more than three times higher than the 169 days it took in the first quarter of 2007.
In April, the ACLU joined in a lawsuit challenging the expedited hearings, saying the procedure systematically denies homeowners a fair opportunity to defend their homes against foreclosure.
The so-called “rocket docket” system has been in place since December 2008 and operates under special rules to speed up the process. Critics, however, contend many Florida homeowners don’t have the chance to prepare their cases.
Sean Snaith, economist at the University of Central Florida, told the News Service on Thursday that the bottleneck of cases in the court system is likely the reason Florida’s numbers are down. The state still has a huge backlog of distressed properties that have to be dealt with before true growth can occur.
“The moratorium slowed the process down,” Snaith said. “It may have delayed the inevitable but it’s a process that has to work itself out.”
Nevada still leads the nation in the percentage of homes in foreclosure, a spot it’s held for 52 straight months. One in every 97 homes was involved in some type of foreclosure filing in April, down 27 percent from April 2010. Las Vegas led the nation’s cities, with one in 82 housing units in foreclosure.
Ten states accounted for 70 percent of U.S. foreclosure activity in April, led by California with 55,869 properties receiving a foreclosure filing during the month. No Florida cities were among the nation’s top 10.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Festival At Ole Mill Pond Today In Century
May 13, 2011
Century Care Center will host a Festival at the Ole Mill Pond this afternoon and everyone is invited.
The event, located at the pond behind the facility, will include entertainment by The Sensational Tones of Joy. Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to as they enjoy the music and festivities.
For more information, contact Mae at (850) 256-1540.
1,100 Lose Power In Cantonment; Crews Battle Brush Fires
May 12, 2011
About 1,100 Gulf Power customers in Cantonment were without power for over four hours Thursday afternoon following a traffic accident that started a brush fire
The outage was caused when a semi-truck pulling mobile home hit a utility pole nearr Muscogee Road and Robinson Street about 12:15 p.m. The downed power lines then sparked a brush fire that consumed about two acres. Firefighters also responded to fires on Andalusia Road in the Cantonment area.
Power was restored by for most customers by about 4:30 p.m.
Pictured above: A downed power line cause a brush fire along Muscogee Road in Cantonment Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Crews from Brighthouse worked into the late afternoon to restore cable service. Submitted photos by Ashley McDaniel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
