Florida Senate Passes Texting While Driving Ban
April 17, 2013
Texting while driving in most cases would be illegal in Florida under a bill passed Tuesday by the Senate and sent to the House. The measure has some exceptions that would allow drivers to text or email while stopped, such as at a red light.
The bill would make the infraction a secondary offense, meaning police officers would have to stop drivers for something else before ticketing them for sending or reading texts or emails while operating their car.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously, a remarkable amount of support for a measure that while proposed in recent years had never gotten through a Senate committee.
Its sponsor, Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said the bill has overwhelming support among the public, and noted that Florida is one of only five U.S. states that doesn’t have some sort of ban on texting while driving.
“We lose about 11 teenagers a day (nationally) thanks to texting while driving,” said Detert.
“This bill is long overdue, we’ve lost too many young people, and too many people in general on the streets of Florida,” added Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale.
A penalty for a first violation of the prohibition would be a $30 fine, plus court costs that vary around the state. A second violation within 5 years of the first would result in 3 points o the driver’s record plus a $60 fine plus court fees.
The bill is backed by AAA.
“In the last three years alone, more than half of all states have enacted text messaging bans for all drivers,” said Kevin Bakewell, vice president of the auto club. “AAA is encouraged by the recent and rapid progress toward our national campaign goal of passing texting bans in all 50 states.”
A similar bill has also moved through the House this year, in contrast to previous years when it was bottled up in committee. The House bill is on the floor calendar for that chamber.
By The News Service of Florida
Area Mourns Sudden Death Of Retired Assistant Fire Chief (With Arrangements)
April 17, 2013
Atmore and surrounding communities are mourning the loss of a longtime fireman who passed away suddenly Tuesday afternoon.
Atmore Fire Department retired Assistant Chief Mike Staples began his three decade career as a fireman and worked his way up through the ranks to assistant chief. He retired in August 2012.
He is survived by his wife and his children.
A wake will be held Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Mayberry Funeral Home in Atmore. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Fellowship in Atmore, with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Pictured: As assistant fire chief, Atmore fireman Mike Staples supervises a live burn exercise. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Moye, McCall Named Northview Prom King And Queen
April 17, 2013
Seniors Blake McCall and Maranda Moye were named the 2013 Junior-Senior Prom King and Queen last Saturday night for Northview High School. Courtesy photo by NHS Tribal Spirit for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Area Remembers, Prays For Boston
April 17, 2013
Residents across the area remembered Boston Tuesday and the tragic bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday. Pictured top: The 17th Avenue train trestle in Pensacola, commonly known as “Graffiti Bridge”, was painted with the message to “Pray for Boston”. And flags across the area were lowered to half staff upon an order from Gov. Rick Scott, including the Byrneville Community Center (pictured below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Falls In District Tourney; Jay Advances To Finals
April 17, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell in the District 1 Class 1A softball tournament Tuesday, while the Jay Lady Royals advanced to the finals Thursday night.
Northview lost 7-1 to Chipley, a team the No. 1 seed Lady Chiefs had defeated twice during the regular season.
The Jay Lady Royals beat the Lady Gators of Baker 6-1. Syndney Lowery allowed jut three hits in seven innings on the mound. Taylor Moore went 4-4, Ashlynn Geck went 3-3, Olivia Wright was 2-3, and Camille Driver was 1-4 for Jay.
The Lady Royals will play the Baker Gators at 6 p.m. Thursday for the District 1 Class 1A championship.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
April 17, 2013
An Escambia County man is jailed for the DUI manslaughter death of a Milton man Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 23-year old James William Barclay was northbound on Hollywood Avenue when he failed to stop for a stop sign at Blount Avenue. His 1999 Jeep Cherokee struck a 1989 Honda Civic driven by 28-year old Charles Allen Snow of Milton. The impact forced Snow’s vehicle into a utility pole before overturning. After the initial impact, Barclay’s Jeep continued north and vaulted over Snow’s Civic.
Barclay climbed out of his Jeep and fled the scene on foot. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Carr and his K-9 tracked Barclay and took him into custody nearby. He was transported to Baptist Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Snow was pronounced deceased following the crash. A two-year old toddler in his vehicle was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
After being released from the hospital, Barclay was arrested on multiple charges including DUI manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving with no driver’s license resulting in a death. Barclay was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $903,000.
Pensacola Wahoos Snap Skid With 6-3 Win Over Suns
April 17, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos offense awakened from its nearly weeklong slumber by pounding their way past the Jackonsville Suns 6-3 on Tuesday night in front of 3,358 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to score six runs in their first three at-bats. In the last of the first inning, Donald Lutz launched a laser over the right field wall for a two-run homer, scoring Brodie Greene who had singled earlier in the frame. The blast was Lutz’s fourth of the season, the most in the Southern League in the young 2013 campaign, and it knotted the game at two apiece.
The Wahoos added to their lead with a four-run third inning against Jacksonville starter James Leverton. With one out, Ryan LaMarre and Greene singled before scampering home on a two-run opposite-field double from Bryson Smith to give Pensacola a 4-2 lead. Lutz was then hit by a pitch and after a lineout and a pitching change, Devin Lohman dropped a double down the left field line to score Smith and Lutz to give the Wahoos a four-run advantage.
That was more than enough for Pensacola starter Josh Smith (1-2) who had his best start of the season by giving up two runs on six hits over five frames. Smith’s lone mistake was yielding a two-out, two-run single in the first to Mark Canha to give the Suns a brief 2-0 lead. Smith was also able to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth by forcing Chris Gutierrez to pop up in foul territory to the catcher.
Jacksonville scored a run in the ninth on a single from Daniel Pertusati and brought the tying run to the plate with one out, but Lee Hyde struck out Derek Dietrich and Curtis Partch came on to earn his third save of the year by punching out Chris Gutierrez.
Leverton (0-1) picked up the loss in his first start of the season after his first three appearances of the year came out of the bullpen. The southpaw went just 2.2 innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits. Jordan Conley, Scott McGough and Rett Varner kept Pensacola at bay the rest of the contest, limiting the Wahoos to just three hits over the final 5.1 frames.
The series continues on Wednesday night as Tim Crabbe looks for his second win of the season for Pensacola against Jacksonville southpaw Adam Conley. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke
Pictured top: Donald Lutz smacked his league-leading fourth home run of the season on Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Emmele Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mary Ann White
April 17, 2013
Mrs. Mary Ann White, 70, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, in Century.
Mrs. White was a native of Evergreen, Ala., and a resident of Century for the past 49 years. Mrs. White was known for her beautiful flowers and her caring and giving spirit. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God. Her parents, Terry & Edna Lee; sister, Mildred Earl Lee; and brother, Terry Ceylon Lee, precede her in death.
Survivors include her husband of 50 years, John W. White, Jr. of Century; one son, Matt (Melissa) White of Crestview; two daughters, Angie (Brenton) Kelley of Century and Kimberly (Craig) Burkett of Byrneville; five brothers, Leon (Carolyn) Lee of Port St. Joe, Fla., Bobby Lee of Century, Paul Lee of Century, Thurston (Kathy) Lee of Moss Point, Mississippi and Lincoln (Bobbie) Lee of Moss Point, Mississippi; two sisters, Linda (Lee) White of Century and Darlene Lee of Byrneville; five grandchildren, Daniel (Nikki) Kelley, Trent (Konner) White, Jill (Jeffery Steadham) Kelley, Jonathan Burkett and David Burkett.
Funeral services will be Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God with Rev. Shelton Kindig, Rev. Eric Bryan and Rev. Mike Daniels officiating.
Burial will follow at the Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God.
Pallbearers will be Alton White, Darrel Simpson, Jimmy Flannigan, Burley Townson, Randy Murph and Monte Crabtree.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Teen Crashes Into Circle K
April 16, 2013
A teen crashed into the Circle K on Nine Mile Road at University Parkway early this morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 18-year old Amber Cashman of Pensacola was in the parking lot of the store when she hit the gas instead of the brake and collided with the building. Her 1996 Jeep Cherokee traveled partially into the building before coming to a stop. There were no injuries inside the store.
Cashman and her passenger, 19-year old Rena Stackpole of Pensacola, also were not injured. Cashman was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
Century Takes Steps Forward To Repair Gas Leaks Under Highway 29
April 16, 2013
The Century Town Council took a step forward Monday night toward repairing an on-going natural gas leak under Highway 29 in the town.
It’s been over a year since the problem was first publicly revealed as a potential “major public safety issue”, but the leak has not gotten any worse according to the town’s engineering company. Routine checks are performed to ensure the problem does not worsen.
Monday night, the Century Town Council voted to give Mayor Freddie McCall and the council president the authority to negotiate and obtain the right-of-way easements that will be needed to install replacement pipe to eliminate the leak.
About 6,515 feet of 4-inch steel natural gas line was buried beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 29 when the road was widened to four lanes. Now, over 45 years since the almost 1.25 mile long pipe was put into the ground, the town believes the steel is corroding and leaking somewhere between West Highway 4 and McCurdy Street.
In April 2012, Century signed off on a $1.4 million USDA Rural Development loan to cover the cost of replacing the pipe. But, according to town officials, the town received the wrong form from the USDA, and as a result advertised the meetings incorrectly.
That meant heading back to the drawing board and starting the loan process again.
In March, the Century Town Council gave preliminary approval to a bond issue for just over $1.4 million. Once it is approved by the state, it will be sent back to the council for final approval. The total time until work might begin on the project should be about three months, according to town engineer Dale Long.
A new 4-inch pipe will be placed on the west side of Highway 29, while a new 2-inch pipe will be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install pipes under the road to service natural gas customers.
The pipe will be installed where existing easements exist or can be obtained at no cost, otherwise, it will be installed under existing sidewalks.
Pictured above and below: Natural gas is leaking under Highway 29 in Century. Pictured inset: Century Mayor Freddie McCall signs documents in April 2012 for a $1.401 million USDA Rural Development loan to repair the leaky gas lines. The loan was later invalidated by the USDA due to the use of an incorrect form. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
