Wildfire Evacuations, Road Closures Lifted
May 25, 2013
Latest Update From Escambia County on the wildfire situation in Escambia County:
ALL MANDATORY EVACUATIONS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FOR RESIDENTS OF AILERON AVENUE, RUDDER LANE, FOSTER MILLS LANE AND RUSTIC ROAD HAVE NOW BEEN LIFTED. RESIDENTS MAY RETURN HOME. HOWEVER, RESIDENTS ARE STILL BEING ASKED TO BE VIGILANT. FIRE RISKS ARE STILL HIGH. The shelter for evacuees – Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, located at 13660 Innerarity Point Road – has now been closed.
The wildfires still encompass 80 acres on the both sides of Blue Angel Parkway and are 60% contained. The fires began early this morning on the east side of Blue Angel. Dry conditions and high heat caused the embers to jump the roadway and spread the fire areas. All roads have reopened.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Perfect Weekend Weather: Lows In 50’s
May 25, 2013
Here is official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Memorial Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
FCAT Writing, 3rd Grade Reading, Math Results Released
May 25, 2013
Friday, the Florida Department of Education released FCAT 2.0 writing results, along with third grade reading and math scores.
Escambia County overall results, along with results from individual schools in District 5, were as follows:
THIRD GRADE READING
In Escambia County, 55% of third grade students were proficient in reading, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Jim Allen Elementary, 52%
Bratt Elementary, 48%
Byrneville Elementary, 90%
Lipscomb Elementary, 66%
McArthur Elementary, 62%
Molino Park Elementary, 74%
Pine Meadow Elementary, 57%
Byrneville Elementary, with 90% proficient in third grade reading, was at second in the district to only Pensacola Beach Elementary.
THIRD GRADE MATH
In Escambia County, 52% of third grade students were proficient in math, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Jim Allen Elementary, 44%
Bratt Elementary, 63%
Byrneville Elementary, 95%
Lipscomb Elementary, 57%
McArthur Elementary, 50%
Molino Park Elementary, 76%
Pine Meadow Elementary, 54%
Byrneville Elementary, with 90% proficient in third grade math, was at second in the district to only Pensacola Beach Elementary.
FOURTH GRADE WRITING
In Escambia County, 47% of fourth grade students were proficient in writing, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Jim Allen Elementary, 78%
Bratt Elementary, 85%
Byrneville Elementary, 80%
Lipscomb Elementary, 77%
McArthur Elementary, 55%
Molino Park Elementary, 66%
Pine Meadow Elementary, 91%
EIGHTH GRADE WRITING
In Escambia County, 41% of eighth grade students were proficient in writing, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Ernest Ward Middle, 81%
Ransom Middle, 80%
Both Ernest Ward and Ransom were among the top scoring middle schools in the county.
TENTH GRADE WRITING
In Escambia County, 54% of tenth grade students were proficient in writing, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Northview High, 88%
Tate High, 83%
Northview High was second best, and Tate was third, in the county behind West Florida High at 94% in tenth grade writing.
FDLE: Accused Murderer May Be In Escambia Area
May 25, 2013
Law enforcement believes an accused murderer may be in the Escambia County area.
Ernest Larry Grandison, 43, is wanted by the Lake City Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on charges of felony homicide. Grandison is a habitual violent offender and citizens should not approach this individual, according to FDLE.
On Friday, April 27, 2012, the A&M Discount Beverage in Lake City, Florida, was robbed and the owner, Rajnikant Kantilal Pate was shot and killed during the robbery. Arrest warrants were obtained for James Leonard Johnson, Jr., and Ernest Larry Grandison. Johnson was arrested; however, Grandison still remains at large.
He is a black male, about 5-foot 11-inches tall, 240 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He may be driving a 2005 white, four-door Toyota with Florida tag D911NV, or a 2009 black Nissan Versa.
Burglar Shot By Homeowner Now In Escambia Jail
May 25, 2013
A week after being shot by a Walnut Hill homeowner, a Century man is now jailed in Escambia County.
Ricky Dewayne Taylor, age 33 of Front Street, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Friday afternoon on charges of burglary, larceny, criminal mischief property damage and battery. He was being held without bond as an out of state fugitive due to an outstanding warrant with another agency.
On May 17, a resident of the 3900 block of Rockaway Creek Road reported a burglary in progress at his home. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he arrived home to find two intruders inside of the residence.
The homeowner held the suspects at gunpoint while he called the Sheriff’s Office. As the victim was speaking with dispatcher Taylor lunged toward him. The homeowner fired a .38 caliber revolver, striking Taylor in the leg. Taylor was alert and conscious when he was transferred to LifeFlight to be airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
After Taylor was released from the hospital, he was arrested the evening of May 21 in Escambia County, Ala., and then extradited to Florida to face outstanding warrants.
The female suspect, 35-year old Teresa Dianne Sunday, received a minor injury on her face from a ricochet; she was taken into custody at the scene and charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft. She remained in the Escambia County Jail early Saturday morning with bond set at $12,500.
Pictured top: Burglary suspect Ricky Taylor, shot in the leg, is loaded into an ambulance on Rockaway Creek Road Friday afternoon. Pictured inset and bottom: Taylor is transferred to LifeFlight. Pictured below: The scene of an alleged burglary that ended with the suspect being shot Friday afternoon in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive file photos, click to enlarge.
Taylor Roberson Becomes Third Chief To Sign With Jeff Davis Volleyball
May 25, 2013
Northview High School’s Taylor Roberson signed a volleyball scholarship Friday with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Roberson became the third Chief to sign a volleyball scholarship this year with Jeff Davis, joining teammates Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne.
Pictured top: (bottom, L-R) Mom Tammy Ashcraft, Taylor Roberson, dad Wayne Roberson, (top) NHS volleyball coach Barbara Luker and Jeff Davis coach Allen Gainer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Sentenced For Convenience Store Robbery
May 25, 2013
Two Escambia County men were sentenced Friday for the 2012 robbery of a convenience store on Mobile Highway.
William Cody Latner and Dylan Michael White, were sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Jole Boles. William Cody Latner was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for robbery with a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and Dylan Michael White was sentenced to 11 years in state prison as a youthful offender for the armed robbery of a convenient store, as well as unrelated burglary charges.
The conviction stemmed from an armed robbery of Benn’s U-Save Foods on July 10, 2012. Defendants Latner and White entered the store and confronted the clerk with a firearm and demanded money. The suspects fled the area and were later identified as suspects on August 3, 2012. Days later both suspects were arrested following an interview by law enforcement.
Wahoos On Short End Of Pitchers’ Duel
May 25, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts broke a scoreless deadlock with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Joc Pederson singled home Rafael Ynoa giving the Lookouts all they needed in a 1-0 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday night at AT&T Field.
Ryan Dennick allowed the run in the sixth, but it was his only blemish in an otherwise stellar start. The Wahoos lefty was strong through six innings allowing just the one run on six hits while fanning five. He retired 10 Lookouts in a row following a leadoff double by Blake Smith in the second inning. The next Chattanooga hit came in the sixth when Ynoa singled with a man out before he eventually scored.
Offensively the Wahoos were stymied by Lookouts pitching all night. The Blue Wahoos mustered just three hits, including back-to-back singles by Travis Mattair and Devin Lohman in the second inning. A strikeout and an inning-ending double play left the Wahoos without a tally following the threat. Pensacola’s only other opportunity came in the seventh when a single from Ryan LaMarre and a hit by pitch of Lohman put two on with one out. Despite a double steal, Pensacola was held off the board in the inning.
Dennick (L, 2-4) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos, while Rob Rasmussen (W, 3-2) earned the win out of the Lookouts bullpen. Rasmussen, normally a starter, worked two innings in relief of Chris Reed who pitched five scoreless innings for Chattanooga. Jose Dominguez (S, 1) shut out the Blue Wahoos in the ninth to earn the save.
The loss extends the Blue Wahoos losing streak to a franchise high six games.
The series continues from AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday. The Blue Wahoos will start RHP Daniel Renken (1-3, 4.37) against Lookouts RHP Andrew Santiago (2-5, 6.31). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT.
story by Kevin Burke
Dorothy Elaine White
May 25, 2013
Mrs. Dorothy Elaine White, 81, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2013 in Atmore.
Mrs. White was a native and life long resident of Perdido. Mrs. White attended the Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church. Her parents, Leon and Eva Coleman and husband, George H. White (Hamp), precede her in death.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Mike Eady, Joseph Leon Eady, Monica Buckhault, Audie Coleman, Tammy Burns and Ronnie Coleman all of Perdido; one brother, Leon Coleman, Jr. of Perdido; and one sister, Juanita Edmondson of Perdido.
Funeral services will be Monday, May 27, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Bubba Rolin officiating.
Burial will follow at the Pine Grove Freewill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, May 27, 2013, from 9 a.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Joey Eady, Ronnie Coleman, Mike Eady, Levi Eady, Audie Coleman and Darrell Hicks.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Cottage Hill Water Works Issues Precautionary Boil Water Notice
May 24, 2013
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for Cottage Hill Water Works System customers in the following area:
1759- 1999 Hwy 95A , of if f you experienced low water pressure on these streets — Williams Ditch Road, Clymil Dr, Gainey Ln, Glenna Ln, Elna Rd, McKenzie Rd, Chavers Rd , Parker Rd, Hollow Point, Cottage Park, Handy Rd, Smyers Rd, Stacey Rd, BuckHead Trace, Elna Rd, Eastman, Danielle Lane, Heathrow Dr. and Wendy Drive.
This notice is being issued following a water main break. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use 6 drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
Crews have repaired the main and is flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the break and flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes.
If you have questions, contact the Cottage Hill Water Works office at (850) 968-5485.