No Injuries In Hwy 29 Crash
July 12, 2013
There were no injuries in a two-vehicle accident late Friday morning in Bluff Springs.
The accident happened about 11:40 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road. Everyone involved in the accident refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Eleven Children Injured In Molino Hayride Accident
July 12, 2013
Almost a dozen children were injured Thursday night during a hayride accident at the Camp o’ the Pines near Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 11 children were transported to Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals following the 8:55 p.m. accident. None of the injuries were considered serious or life threatening. Twenty-seven children and an adult tractor driver involved in the accident were not transported.
Officials said there were 38 children on a trailer being used for the hayride when the arm attaching the trailer to the tractor broke. The trailer collided with the rear of the tractor, causing the tractor driven by 26-year old Andrew M. Reynolds of Pensacola to overturn. The trailer with the children was sent into a wooded area.
Multiple ambulances from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties responded to the accident, along with the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Camp o’ the Pines is operated by Youth Outreach Ministry, Inc., and provides “wholesome fun and recreation for campers” ages 8-12, according to its website.
Rain Chances Continue
July 12, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Community Members Tour Century Correctional Institution
July 12, 2013
The Century Correctional Institution held a Community Partnership Event Thursday, inviting a wide ranging group of community stakeholders inside the prison.
The group was able to tour the facility and observe operations. Following the tour of the facility, the attendees watched a video and took part in a question and answer session. The event was designed to open avenues of communication between the facility and the community and provide feedback on the facility’s operations and programs.
The group attending the event included state representatives, state and local governmental officers, law enforcement representatives, members of the local education community, state officials and more.
Coming up Monday on NorthEscambia.com, we’ll begin a special series and take readers inside Century Correctional Institution for the tour that will include the medical unit, educational facilities, the chapel and prisoner dorms — including a dorm where the worst of the worst inmates are housed.
We’ll talk numbers and see how much it all costs, learn about life behind bars for prisoners and those that watch over them. And we’ll answer the age old question: Do they have air conditioning?
Pictured top and bottom: A diverse group of community members and governmental representatives toured Century Correctional Institution Thursday morning. Pictured inset: The group is seen via a security mirror. Pictured below: Warden John Whitehurst explains a prison dorm to group members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Attorney: Chamber Must Operate Under Sunshine Law
July 12, 2013
The State Attorney’s Office says the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce is the type of private entity that is subject to Florida’s Sushine Law.
In a letter from State Attorney Bill Eddins to Chamber President Jim Hizer, Eddins said the “Chamber is a private organization that must comply with all requirements of the Sunshine Law”. The letter came after concerns were raised in the community about the chamber’s status under the law.
The Chamber is subject to the Sunshine Law, Eddins said, due to the level of public funding provided to the private organization and whether the private entity is performing a public function.
The Pensacola Chamber receives over a half million dollars from the City of Pensacola and Escambia County to provide economic development services, plus $270,000 from the city and county through the Pensacola Economic Development Council.
“It is clear the Chamber receives a substantial level of public funds to provide economic development services,” Eddins wrote.
Eddins noted that the Greater Pensacola Chamber received more than $5.7 million from Escambia County in 2012 and 2013 for tourism promotion and operation of the Visitors Information Center.
Escambia Man Gets 35 Years For Choking Girlfriend
July 12, 2013
An Escambia County man was sentenced Thursday to 35 years in state prison for choking his girlfriend to death last year.
Kristopher Shawn Silas, 36, pleaded guilty in April to second degree murder for killing 40-year old Tammy Lynn Bigham. The two were arguing in their apartment at the Carlton Palms condominiums at Alcaniz and Garden streets when their disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation.
Silas called 911 to report that he choked his girlfriend.
Silas will serve his 35 year sentence with no chance for probation.
Century Set To Consider New $55 Million Bond Issue For UWF Expansion
July 12, 2013
The Town of Century is set to consider a bond issue up to $55 million to fund expansions at the University of West Florida. A previous $40 million bond issue for the project essentially collapsed late last month to due to unfavorable changes in the bond market.
The $40 million was to come from the Capital Trust Agency, a bond conduit partnership between Century and Gulf Breeze, for a hotel, conference center, new student housing and more at the Davis Highway entrance to UWF. The college’s development arm, University of West Florida Business Enterprises, Inc., had previously entered into an affiliation agreement with Vieste, LLC, for the project.
Capital Trust Agency is set to ask the Century Town Council next Monday night to approve a $55 million bond issue with a different developer — Provident Resources Group, a Georgia non-profit. Vieste is no longer involved in the project.
The increased financed amount — from $40 to $55 million — is due to a different planned relationship between the developer and the university, according to Matt Dannheisser, attorney for both Century and Gulf Breeze. He said that while the project bottom line may come in at $47-48 million, $55 million will be requested. Vieste was to have contributed about $7 million to the project and shared in the profits for the next 50 years, while Provident will not. The bond issued for Provident will be tax-free.
Once Century approves the CTA funding for the UWF project, it will be presented to Gulf Breeze with a projected closing date of August 1. Provident Resources is still considering the proposal and has not signed a formal contract, Dannheisser said, but going ahead and obtaining Century’s approval for the project will speed the process along.
If all $55 million is issued, Century will receive a fee of $19,250.
The $55 million UWF project will include 356 student housing beds plus 54 beds dedicated to guest housing, a conference and academic center and parking amenities. The 18 acres at the east entrance of the campus on Davis Highway will also include space for retail development. The expansion has a target opening date of August 2014.
Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA. Century has received over $650,000 in fees since the inception of CTA. The approval of a $40 million bond issue for UWF would have earned Century about $14,000 in fees upon closing.
The CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities, according to Dannheisser. The funds used for the bonds are from the CTA’s coffers, not from Century or Gulf Breeze.
An additional development project at the University of West Florida also moved forward Thursday. Click here for details.
Pictured top: Development plans for the east entrance of the University of West Florida. Pictured inset: Attorney Matt Dannheisser explains the project to the Century Town Council during a June special meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Make It Two Straight With 7-2 Win Over The Biscuits
July 12, 2013
For the second straight game the Blue Wahoos had five players with multi-hit games as Pensacola cruised to a 7-2 win over the Montgomery Biscuits for their second consecutive win on Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium. Corey Wimberly (2-for-4), Donald Lutz (2-for-5), Tucker Barnhart (2-for-5), Travis Mattair (3-for-4) and Brodie Greene (2-for-4) all had multiple knocks aiding the 13 hit effort by the Wahoos.
Ryan LaMarre got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Greene tripled a batter later and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wimberly to make it 4-0. That proved to be all the Blue Wahoos would need behind more solid pitching. The Biscuits scattered six hits against Blue Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe (W, 4-7) over his six shutout innings on his way to his fourth win of the year. Jim Patterson (L, 0-2) took the loss after allowing all four Blue Wahoos runs in the fourth. They were the only four runs he allowed over his three innings out of the Biscuits bullpen.
Both teams traded runs in the seventh. Pensacola scored one when Barnhart singled home Lutz. In the bottom of the frame, Todd Glaesmann doubled home Cameron Seitzer before scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield a couple batters later for the Biscuits two runs. Both runs were scored off reliever Jamie Walczak in his only inning of work.
Pensacola extended the advantage and put the game away with two more runs in the ninth off Austin Hubbard. Wimberly homered to right for his first of the season with Pensacola, before Barnhart singled home Lutz for the second time in the game making it 7-2 Wahoos. Josh Ravin and Loek Van Mil both worked scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to cap off the win.
The five-game set rolls on Friday night at Riverwalk Stadium. LHP Ryan Dennick (4-10, 3.77) takes the ball for Pensacola against Biscuits RHP Mike Colla (3-1, 3.29). First pitch is slated for 7:05 in Montgomery, Ala.
NOTES: Former Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph made his Major League debut on Thursday afternoon for the Kansas City Royals against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The lefty worked 0.1 innings allowing just a hit and a walk. Joseph was traded to Kansas City with former Wahoo J.C. Sulbaran near last year’s trade deadline in exchange for Jonathan Broxton.
story by Kevin Burke
Developer Picked For UWF BEI Project
July 12, 2013
Business Enterprises Inc., the for-profit business division of the University of West Florida, announced a developer Thursday for projects known as University Park and Northwest Village.
Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions was named the master developer for the project University park will possible include such possible football stadium, parking garage, bell tower, new student union and plaza. Northwest Village will be an active adult community for residents age 55 and up on the west end of the campus. It will provide housing for retired employees and those interested in the community.
Balfour was chosen by a committee that included representatives from Baskerville Donovan Engineering, Caldwell and Associates, Architects and Interiors and the Morette Construction Company — all of which will work with BEI to create facility plans.
The entire project will be spread over a period up to 10 years.
BEI is currently working to secure a developer and financing for a second $55 million project for a hotel, conference center, new student housing and more at the Davis Highway entrance to UWF. Read more…
Theda Cheryl Bray
July 12, 2013
Theda Cheryl Bray,age 54, of Allentown passed away on July 11, 2013, after an extended illness. She was surrounded by friends and family as she went to be with the Lord.
Cheryl was born in Brewton to J.D. and Theda Bray. She was raised in Jay along with her siblings Debbie and Stewart. She graduated from Jay High School in 1976. Cheryl played saxophone in the Jay High School Band and was a member of the color guard. She enjoyed sports and lettered in volleyball. After graduation she attended Troy State University and played in the ‘Sound of the South’ under the direction of Dr. Johnny Long. In the summer of 1977 she was selected as a member of the American Music Ambassadors and toured Europe promoting music and goodwill on behalf of the United States. She later moved to Tallahassee and attended Florida State University. In 1980 she returned to Jay and attended Pensacola Junior College Police Academy. She began her career as a Corrections Officer with the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office and attended PJC Corrections Academy. She was promoted to Deputy Sheriff in 1982 and later became an investigator responsible for working Crimes against Children and Sex Crimes. Cheryl returned to the Patrol Division where she worked her way up the ladder. She was a member and supervisor of the first patrol K-9 unit and enjoyed working with K-9 Wesson. In 2010 she retired from the SRSO as a District Lieutenant after serving 28+ years.
Cheryl’s was a diehard DIY-er and an avid woodworker. She read constantly and believed you should learn something new every day. She liked to work in the yard and in her home on numerous projects. She dearly loved her children (pets) Holly, Max and Katie. Cheryl was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Jay. She also was instrumental in the creation of ‘Christmas in Allentown’ where each year the public is invited to view over 300,000 Christmas lights.
Cheryl is predeceased by her father, J.D. (Mayor) Bray, her paternal grandparents, H.H. and Alice Bray, her maternal grandparents, Burie and Lucy Warrick. She is survived by her mother Theda W. Bray of Jay, her sister Debbie (Michael) Gilley of Vienna, Austria, her brother Stewart Bray of Jacksonville, Fl. nephew, S.J. Bray and niece, Meghan (Bug) Gilley. She is also survived by her extended family Paulette Allen (best friend), Walker Allen, Glenn (Esther) Allen, Sheila Ware, Burt (Chellie) Allen and their children, her godchildren, Christina, Ryan, Cody, Ashley, Brittany, Garrett, Amber and one great God child Neveah.
Visitation will be held at the Lewis Funeral Home in Milton on Sunday, July 14, 2013, from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services and OES service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Jay First Baptist Church with Pastor Danny Carnley officiating. Burial will be at the Jay Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Capt. Jim Spencer, (Ret.) Lt. Steve Barnes, (Ret.) Lt. Chuck Sloan, Lt. Joe McCurdy, (Ret.) Sgt. Ed Johnson, and Sgt. John Thompson.
Honorary pallbearers will be past and present deputies, correction officers and staff of the Santa Rose Sheriff’s Office.
Special thanks for excellent care go to Dr. Thomas Meese, Dr. Dissanayake, Dr. Boatwright, Dr. Marcus, Dr. Rinaldi, Dr. Chicola, the Sacred Heart Cancer Center and Gulf Coast Radiation Center.
Flowers are welcome. Cheryl was very fond and active with children. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to donate to the Boy Scouts please send your donations to the attention of of Troop 490 at 5700 Forest Hills Lane, Milton FL 32570.