Escambia Man Charged With DUI After Crash
September 16, 2013
An Escambia County man was charged with DUI after a Sunday night wreck on the Scenic Highway overpass above I-10.
About 8 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Bradley Wolf of Pensacola was northbound on Scenic Highway in a 2001 Ford Expedition when he veered across the center line into southbound traffic and into the path of a southbound Dodge Neon driven by 18-year old Alexandra O’Brien of Pensacola.
O’Brien and her passenger, 18-year old Jaclyn Lynch of Pensacola, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Wolf received only minor injuries.
Wold was charged with DUI serious bodily harm, DUI property damage, careless driving, no proof of insurance and failure to display registration, according to the FHP.
Search Warrant Leads To Arrest Of Walnut Hill Man On Drug Charges
September 16, 2013
A Walnut Hill man is facing multiple felony charges after a search warrant was served at his residence by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Narcotics Unit.
Curtis Tucker, 49, was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance (Xanax and Roxicodone) with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance (bath salts).
The search warrant was served by the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit in the 7000 block of Highway 97 as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation. The residence was secured by the SWAT team, which reported Tucker and two other individuals inside the home.
During a search of the brick home, investigators reported finding about $3,197 in cash, crack cocaine, 89 Xanax in an unlabeled pill bottle, a quantity of crack cocaine, over 20 grams of marijuana, one roxicodone pill in a plastic container, a baggie containing methylenedioxypyrovalerone (commonly known as a type of bath salts), and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
They also located a .22 caliber rifle in the den of the house, and 17 bags of a white powdery substance in a front yard shed. The substance was sent to a lab for testing; additional charges are pending those results.
Tucker was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy enters the home of Curtis Tucker on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Investigators reported finding 17 bags of a white powdery substance in this front yard shed. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
George Stone Adult Academy Offers GED, ESOL Classes
September 16, 2013
The Adult Academy at George Stone Technical Center has several opportunities throughout the community to prepare for the GED test. All of the classes have open entry/open exit, which means you can enroll at anytime and exit when you are ready to take the GED exam.
The first step of enrollment is to take the TABE Assessment (Test of Adult Basic Education) to identify areas where improvement is needed prior to the exam. The assessment is given on Fridays at 8:00 a.m. at the George Stone Technical Center. There is a $10 fee and a photo identification is required. For more information about the TABE test, contact the George Stone Assessment department at (850) 941-6200, ext.2160.
Tuition for all adult education programs is $30 per term for students with verifiable Florida residency for the previous 12 month period or $120 for out-of-state tuition.
Classes are available at the following sites:
- Molino Community Center – (850) 587-5334, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
- Pathways for Change Family Center – (850) 637-1429, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Sacred Heart Hospital – (850) 416-6361, Thursdays 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- East Brent Baptist Church – (850) 475-7883, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Frist Baptist Church Warrington – (850) 456-8420, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
- George Stone Technical Center – (850) 941-6200, ext.2110, Monday – Friday 8-11 a.m. and 11:30-2:30 p.m. and Monday – Thursday 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
For online GED preparation, email jwolfe@escambia.k12.fl.us.
An English As a Second Language Class is available at La Costa Latina, Hispanic Resource Center, 5465 N. Pensacola Blvd., (850) 494-7899.
For more information visit www.georgestonecenter.com or contact Lydia Henderson (850) 941-6200, ext. 2121 or lhenderson@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Banana Spiders Make Big Local Comeback
September 16, 2013
The golden orb weavers are back in greater numbers this year. More commonly called banana spiders, they seemed to have taken a break the past few years, only to return to our woods, trails and around homes with a vengeance this summer.
“That’s a cause for justifiable arson,” a commenter wrote on a local’s Facebook photo of a banana spider under the eaves of house, blocking a family’s entire kitchen window.
They can grow to several inches across, which can be scary if you don’t know that they really won’t hurt you physically (mentally is perhaps another story).
Because of its size, people sometimes assume that the banana spider is dangerous to people. The body of the female is 1 to 1 ½ inches long, plus an inch or two more when the legs are included in the measurements. The bodies of the males are much smaller, about ¼ inch, and are dark-brown. They are often found in the webs of females.
In reality, it is a shy spider (as nearly all spiders are). Just know this species is considered medically harmless to humans.
There is little danger to a healthy adult from an encounter with the banana spider. It will only bite if held or pinched and the bite itself will produce a localized pain with a slight redness, which quickly goes away. On the whole, the bite is much less severe than a bee string. It is best avoided, but it won’t kill you.
The banana spider preys on a wide variety of small to medium sized flying insects, which include mosquitoes, grasshoppers, stinkbugs, leaf-footed bugs, bees, butterflies, flies, small moths and wasps. Banana spiders have even been seen feeding on beetles and dragonflies.
The banana spider’s other name, the golden orb weaver, stems from the golden yellow color of their strong silk. Their large webs can typically be found in trees, along trails, under the eaves of houses, or other places where they’re likely to catch a lot of insects.
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service contributed to this story.
Pictured: A banana spider at a Bratt home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Applies For $50K To Renovate Showalter Playground
September 16, 2013
The Town of Century will follow a recommendation from the Century Recreation Advisory Committee and submit a grant application to renovate the existing playground area at Showalter Park.
The town is submitting two grant applications to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. FRDAP is a competitive program which provides grants to local governments for outdoor recreational projects. The grants are administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In in addition to the Showalter renovation grant, the town is applying for a grant to install a splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex.
The Showalter grant, if awarded, would be for $50,000, and the Splash Pad grand would be for $125,000. Grant applications are due September 30. The 2014-2015 FRDAP grants are contingent upon approval of an annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature.
Pictured: Showalter Park in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
CDC: Floridians Should Eat More Fruits And Vegetables
September 16, 2013
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control, a large number of Floridians can take an important step to improve their overall health simply by changing their dietary habits.
The agency strongly recommends increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Nearly 38 percent of all adults in Florida do not eat at least one fruit serving per day, while nearly 23 percent do not have at least one serving of a vegetable daily. Adolescents in Florida even less vegetables than their parents. About 42 percent do not consume at least one vegetable per day.
A diet rich in such foods, notes the report, “lowers the risk of many chronic diseases and can also help with weight management.”
The average fruit and vegetable consumption here matches that for most of the nation, with the exception that Florida adolescents eat fewer vegetables, on average, than their counterparts in other states.
For the complete report, click here.
NHS Dig Pink Volleyball Among Tops In State, Latest Matches Today
September 16, 2013
The Northview High School volleyball team’s Dig Pink fundraising has been named one of the top programs in Florida, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association. Each year, Northview plays Flomaton in a Dig Pink game to raise funds for breast cancer awareness programs. In 2012, Florida high school volleyball teams were ranked No. 9 in the country for their Dig Pink fundraising.
This year’s Dig Pink matches will be a trimatch at Flomaton this afternoon. The junior varsity will play in the old gym and the varsity in the new. The first match begins at 4:00.
Northview at Jay
JV results: 16-25, 12-25 with Jay winning. Leah Fischer had 1 ace, 1 block, and 2 digs
Varsity results: 12-25, 26-24, 20-25, 24-26 with Jay winning. Lily Townson had 1 ace, 4 kills, 11 assists, 10 digs. Rebecca Grim had 1 ace, 1 kill, 10 digs.
Pictured: Last October’s Dig Pink volleyball game at Northview High Schoool. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
SNAP Food Stamp Cards Are Working Again
September 16, 2013
Floridians receiving SNAP benefits on EBT cards can once again use their cards to purchase groceries at participating Florida retailers. Their EBT vendor transition was successfully completed this afternoon.
The program that provides food assistance — formerly known as food stamps — to low-income people was temporarily offline today as the Florida Department of Children and Families switched to a new vendor.
DCF has been working since July on the switch to the new vendor, e-Funds, which will provide electronic-benefits transfer services. It says the switch will lead to $21 million in savings over three years in the food-assistance program known by the acronym SNAP.
Now that the transition is complete, SNAP recipients can continue to use EBT cards. No action is required on the behalf of recipients.
High School Football Standings, Upcoming Schedule
September 16, 2013
Here is a district by district look at last Friday night’s high school football scores and this week’s schedule. District play begins this Friday night for 5A and 6A teams, while 1A and 7A teams in the area either have an off week or will not play district games.
Michael Bryan Hart
September 16, 2013
Michael Bryan Hart, 53, went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 13, 2013.
He was born in Tacoma, WA. Formerly a resident of Foley, Michael served as an officer with the Foley Police Department and as a deputy with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department. After 12 years he left his law enforcement career to service Christ as a missionary in Mexico. He most recently served in Veracruz, through Good Samaritan Baptist Church under the auspice of Baptist International Missions, Inc.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Teresa (Dawson) Hart; their children: Bryan (Hannah) Hart of Killeen, TX, and Kayln Rochelle of Havelock, NC; grandson Bradley and granddaughter Kallianne. He is also survived by his mother Barbara Hart of Fole; brother Bill (Sandra) Hart; sisters: Bonnie (Mike) Davis; Brenda (Buck) Steadham; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The visitation will be Monday, September 16 from 5-7 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment. The funeral service will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, September 17, 2013, from the chapel of Enon Baptist Church, 7121 Highway 97A, Walnut Hill, with Pastor Rick Hopkins officiating. Burial will follow in Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Bryan Hart, Bill Hart, Mike Davis, Buck Steadham, Gary Dawson and Dan Mahone. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Iglesia Bautista de la Fe building Fund through BIMI, a missionary of your choice, or to Covenant Hospice. Thank you to the doctors and staff at Sacred Heart Oncology and Covenant Hospice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment as been entrusted with arrangements.