Man Killed In Highway 4 Wreck In Santa Rosa County
February 17, 2014
A Santa Rosa County man died in a single vehicle accident Sunday night in Berrydale.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 36-year old Marcel Edward Gauthier of Pace was traveling east on Highway 4 near Reeder Road about 10:20 p.m. when for unknown reasons he drifted across the highway and into a ditch. His 2006 Chevrolet Silverado struck a cement culvert and rolled several times.
Gauthier was later pronounced deceased at Jay Hospital from injuries sustained in the crash. Gauthier was not wearing a seat belt, according to the FHP.
Man Turns To Facebook, $1,000 Reward To Solve Local Burglary
February 17, 2014
A North Escambia man is turning to a reward and Facebook in hopes of catching whoever burglarized his mother’s home in Cantonment on Valentine’s Day.
“My mom is safe, and that is the most important thing to us,” Craig Morgan said on his newly created “Cantonment Fl. Break ins” Facebook page after the burglary on Filly Road. By Sunday night, the page had over 460 likes.
“My hope with this page is to make a stand against these cowards who are breaking in to all our homes in our community,” he said. “Never accept being a victim. It’s what they want you to do. Just accept. Not me. I will never rest until these cowards are brought to justice.”
The burglary occurred between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. last Friday, with the thieves forcing their way into the home, ransacking a bedroom and stealing jewelry belonging to his mother, as well as jewelry and other items from his father. Morgan’s dad, who retired from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in 1989, passed away three years ago.
On his Facebook page, Morgan has reached out to the community to identify several vehicles unusual to the neighborhood caught on video in front of the home on the day of the burglary. So far, all but one has been identified.
He intends for the Facebook page to be a place for others in the Cantonment area to share information about the burglaries in the Cantonment area — a virtual neighborhood watch of sorts.
Morgan is also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the burglary. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: A ransacked bedroom at a home on Filly Road in Cantonment following a burglary last Friday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fog Overnight, Low 52
February 17, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 10 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 73. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph.
- Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Florida Posts Record 2013 Tourism Numbers
February 17, 2014
Florida attracted an estimated 94.7 million tourists last year, about a 3.5 percent increase over 2012. The figure marks the third consecutive year the state has posted a record number of visitors.
Visit Florida, the state’s tourism arm, estimated there were 91.4 million visitors in 2012 and 85.9 million in 2011.The bulk of the visitors are from the other states and U.S. territories, with the total growing 2.5 percent in year-to-year comparisons. Visit Florida also estimates that there were 3.7 million Canadian visitors, a 4.1 percent increase, and 11.5 million visitors from overseas, a jump of 11.1 percent.
The tourism number doesn’t include the projected 20.1 million in-state trips taken by Floridians in 2013.
Gov. Rick Scott, who has requested a $35 million increase in state funding for Visit Florida next year, to $100 million, announced the annual tourism figures during an appearance at Universal Orlando Resorts. Universal said the company will add nearly 3,500 new jobs this year as it expands in Central Florida. The company is constructing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, a new onsite hotel and expanding the CityWalk Entertainment complex.
Pictured: Pensacola Beach at sunset. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Washington’s Birthday Closures
February 17, 2014
Below is a listing of offices and departments closed on Monday for the President’s Day holiday in Escambia County. Normal operations resume on Tuesday, February 18.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- West Florida Public Library System
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
Exceptions:
- 911 Dispatch, EMS and Fire Services will all be open
- Perdido Landfill, excluding the administrative offices, will be open
- Escambia County Clerk of the Court & Comptroller:
o Only Clerk’s Finance, Official Records and Clerk to the Board will be closed
o All other court clerk offices and operations will be open
- Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT):
- Administrative offices closed
- UWF Trolleys will run regular weekday service
- Buses will run modified holiday service – Saturday Schedule, service will run every two hours
- Route 59A and 64 Beach Jumper – No Service
- Route 58 – last bus departs downtown at 3:30 p.m.
- Routes 2, 42, 50 and 55 – last bus departs ECAT at 4 p.m.
- Route 59 Express- last bus departs NATTC at 5:15 p.m.
Local School Districts Could Get Final Say On Textbooks
February 17, 2014
Contending that school districts have a “constitutional duty to decide what materials best suit their classrooms,” a Senate Republican filed a bill that would revamp the way textbooks and other materials are approved in Florida.
Bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said the bill would eliminate the statewide adoption of textbooks and other materials and give the responsibility to school districts.
Also, the proposal would set up a process for local committees to review and recommend materials to school boards and also would create an appeals process for the public.
“Local school districts, not the state or federal government, are the most qualified to determine what textbooks are appropriate for Florida’s classrooms,” Hays said in a prepared statement.
by The News Service of Florida
Library’s Bookmobile Out Of Service
February 17, 2014
The West Florida Library’s Bookmobile is currently out of service. The library says they are currently investigating short and long term resolutions for the lighting and heating of the Bookmobile. For more information, call (850) 436-5060. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Anna Fischer Named Miss NHS 2014 (With Photo Gallery)
February 17, 2014
Anna Fischer was crowned Miss NHS 2014 Saturday night at Northview High School.
First Runner-Up was Jessica Amerson, Second Runner-Up was Danielle Scott, Third Runner-Up Olivia Neal, and Fourth Runner-Up was Julie Hester.
Other awards presented were:
- Self Expression Award – Anna Fischer
- Talent Award – Danielle Scott; Morgan Digmon (tie)
- Physical Fitness Award – Danielle Scott
- Creative Costume Award – Jessica Amerson
- Scholastic Award – Jessica Amerson
- Judges Award – Olivia Neal
- Distinguished Young Woman Award – Morgan Ward
- Spirit of Miss NHS – Brianna Smith
For a pageant photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Third Runner-Up Olivia Neal, First Runner-Up Jessica Amerson, Miss NHS 2014 Anna Fischer, Second Runner-Up Danielle Scott and Fourth Runner-Up Julie Hester. Pictured inset: Anna Fischer is crowned Miss NHS 2014 by Miss NHS 2013 Ariel Holland. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kimberly Lynn Shearer
February 17, 2014
Kimberly Lynn Shearer, age 40, of Pensacola passed away February 14, 2014. She loved her family and friends with all of her heart. Kim was a trained computer technician. For about five years she lived in Philadelphia, PA and learned to love the City of Brotherly Love very much. Going to the beach or lounging by the pool with her friends were among her favorite things to do.
She was preceded in death by her father, Tom Shearer, retired captain with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and her grandparents, Papa and Nannie Shearer.
Survivors include her mother, Wanda Marie Shearer; grandmother, Bernice Morgan; uncles, Jody Morgan and Carl Shearer; and her best friend, Sherry Moody Livingston.
Visitation will be Wednesday, February 19, 2014, from 10 a.m. until funeral services at 11 a.m. at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Delays On Hwy 4 Escambia River Bridge
February 16, 2014
Crews will perform a routine bridge inspection on State Road 4 over the Escambia River in Escambia County on Tuesday. Eastbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to travel with care through the work zone and to watch for construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.