Brush Fire Damages Walnut Hill Mobile Home
February 23, 2011
A Wednesday morning brush fire caused minor damage to a Walnut Hill mobile home.
A burn pile reportedly got out of control on Garrett Road just after 11 a.m., spreading to a couple of large grassy yards and a wooded area. The fire spread under a mobile home, sparking a minor fire inside an exterior wall of the home. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire in the wall under control.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue battled the brush fire, along with the Florida Division of Forestry.
Pictured above: An out of control brush fire caused minor damaged to a mobile home in Walnut Hill Wednesday morning. Pictured inset: A firefighter surveys the damage to an exterior wall of the mobile home. Pictured below: A Forestry bulldozer moves into the woods to plow a line around the brush fire. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Seriously Injured In Palafox Crash
February 23, 2011
A Milton man was seriously injured in a traffic crash Wednesday morning at Palafox Street and 10 Mile Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Justin Wise, 27, of Pensacola was southbound on Palafox Street in a 2007 International truck when he turned into the path of a 1997 Jeep driven by Jerry Hendrix, 53, of Milton at about 6:55 Wednesday morning.
Hendrix was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition. Wise was not injured.
Charges are pending against Wise, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Chambers Name Businesses, Citizens And Students Of The Year
February 23, 2011
Citizen, business and students of the year were named Tuesday night at the Flomaton and Century Joint Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet.
The Century Chamber of Commerce named:
Student of the Year – Sarah Killam, Northview High
Business of the Year – Escambia River Electric Cooperative
Citizen of the Year — Edsol Smith
The Flomaton Chamber of Commerce named:
Student of the Year – Anthony “AJ” Odom, Flomaton High
Business of the Year — Weaver’s Monuments
Citizen of the Year — Joe Thomas
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: (Front, L-R) Flomaton Student of the Year Anthony “AJ” Odom, Northview Student of the Year Sarah Killam, (back, L-R) Frank Weaver of Flomaton Business of the Year Weaver’s Monuments, Flomaton Citizen of the Year Joe Thomas, Century Citizen of the Year Edsol Smith and Sabrina Owens of Century Business of the Year Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Submitted photos by Cesar Gonzalez for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Septic Tank Inspection Repeal Advances
February 23, 2011
The Senate Health Regulation Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would repeal new septic-tank inspection requirements, despite questions about whether the repeal goes too far.
Committee members voted 8-4 to approve the bill which stemmed from a law passed last year requiring inspections of septic tanks every five years.
Backers of the law said it was necessary to protect springs and other waterways from pollution, but opponents argued it would drive up costs for homeowners.
Lawmakers delayed the start of the inspection program during a November special session. That gave time to address the issue again during this year’s regular session. Questions from panel members on Tuesday centered on whether the the law should be totally repealed, with Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, calling the bill “extreme.” But Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said last year’s law overreached.
The bill next goes to the Senate Environmental Preservation Committee.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week
February 23, 2011
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events.
Tuesday, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program. On Monday, students prepared refreshments for bus drivers.
For a photo gallery from both events, click here.
FFA week activites include:
Monday: Bus Driver Refreshment/ FFA T-Shirts
FFA members prepared refreshments for all bus drivers to give to them in the morning as they arrived at school.
Tuesday: Teacher Breakfast
All teachers, staff and invited guests were invited to eat a home cooked breakfast before school started that was prepared by FFA officers and members.
Wednesday / Ag Olympics
All agricultural classes will participate the Ag Olympics program with several events.
Thursday / Coke Float Day
Members are invited to have a coke float in the Agriculture department during the student’s lunch.
Friday / Dirty Truck Contest
All students of Northview High School, FFA members or not, will be allowed to participate in the Dirty Truck Contest.
Saturday: Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction
FFA members will assist with the Walnut Hill Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction Saturday as a community service project.
Gov. Scott Pulls Funding For Splash Pad, Walking Trail, More At Park
February 23, 2011
There’s some bad news out of Tallahassee for the Town of Century’s plans for enhancements at the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex.
The town voted last September to apply for a $200,000 grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund the park improvements.
“I’ve got some sad news on that,” Mayor Freddie McCall said. “The governor has pulled all the money we were going for.”
Without the state grant, Century will be forced to shelve plans for a splash pad water feature, lighting for the football field, a walking trail about one mile in length that would connect to Showalter Park, and improved handicap parking.
Pictured top: The Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex is to the right of the wooded area in this aerial photos. Showalter Park (with the softball/baseball fields) is to the left. Courtesy Google. Pictured inset: Century little league football action at Anthony Pleasant Park. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Thousands Of 8th Graders Take Career Expo Field Trip
February 23, 2011
About 2,000 eighth graders attended the first annual SkillsUSA Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo Tuesday and Wednesday at Pensacola State College.
About 50 Ernest Ward Middle School students attended the expo. “It’s a great opportunity for them,” said Gayle Hanks, EWMS guidance counselor.
The goal was to engage students with hands-on, interactive experiences in the worlds of energy, construction, information technology and communication, hospitality and tourism, health care, aviation, public service and safety.
The event was presented by Pensacola State College, the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Pensacola, TEAM Santa Rosa, Gulf Power Co., Associated General Contractors and local school districts.
The Florida SkillsUSA state competition will be held in Pensacola in 2012 and 2013.
Bills Aimed At Reducing High School Athlete Head Injuries
February 23, 2011
A coalition advocating for efforts to reduce brain injuries – including traumatic brain injury survivors – is backing legislation in Florida to boost education of athletes, coaches and parents about the warning signs of concussion. The bill would also require doctors to check out players with head injuries before they can go back in a game.
Bills sponsored by Sen. Anitere Flores and Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart would require the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt policies keeping youth athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion in a game or practice out until they get cleared by a medical professional to return to action.
Alabama Joins Florida In Banning ‘Bath Salts’
February 23, 2011
Tuesday, Alabama joined Florida in making the synthetic drug “bath salts” a controlled substance, making the possession, manufacture, or distribution of the substances illegal.
“The emergency rule is effective immediately,” said Alabama Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson. “These powdered stimulants pose a serious health threat and have a great potential for abuse.”
“Attorney General Luther Strange said, “Alabama is working with the local law enforcement and local district attorneys to protect the public from the dangers of these synthetic substances. These substances are illegal drugs, and those who sell or make them will be prosecuted.”
The bath salts, often sold over the counter in convenience stores or online, create a methamphetamine-like high and sometimes violent behavior in users.
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an emergency order in January making the bath salt chemicals illegal in Florida. The Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit seized about $13,000 worth — 164 bags — of the substances the day after the ruling.
Bath salts are also illegal in two 0ther states — Louisiana and North Dakota.
Escambia Elections Boss Stafford Speaks To Congress
February 23, 2011
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford spoke before Congress last week on Military and Overseas Voting: Effectiveness of the MOVE Act in the 2010 Election.
“Florida has been at the forefront of military and overseas voting for decades,” Stafford said, adding that Florida has altered its election calendar several times to provide for more time to mail ballots. Oversees voters with an email address on file also receive email materials, including a list of candidates no later than 30 days before an election.
Stafford also said his office is will pursue a technology grant to make a to make electronic ballot delivery and completion a reality. Ballots now must be returned by mail or even fax, which he termed a “dying technology” that is difficult for many overseas voters to access.
“Many younger…voters don’t understand why they can fax a ballot but not return a ballot via secure e‐mail, which most of them use every day,” he said. “Relying on essentially the same system of returning ballots used in the Civil War is no longer acceptable.”
For Stafford’s complete statement, click here.