Deputies Seek Suspects In Burglary Of Nine Mile Target Store
January 30, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two suspects in the burglary of Target on Nine Mile Road.
The suspects were caught on video using a brick to destroy the glass front doors of the business during the early morning hours of January 26. Anyone having information on the identity of the suspects is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The Big Thaw Now, 70 By Sunday
January 30, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Calm wind.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 8am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then rain likely after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Pictured top: A cold sun glistens on an icy field in Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Frozen: Stay Off The Roads
January 29, 2014
Every major bridge and roadway in Escambia County is either closed or experiencing major issues, according to Escambia County Emergency Management.
Every roadway in the North Escambia area has ice on the roadway, and that at ice will not melt today with a high expected only in the 20’s. Highway 29 is impassable; there have been numerous accidents, vehicles into ditches (including an Escambia County EMS ambulance) and jack-knifed 18-wheelers. Highway 97 is practically impassable due to ice. Vehicles are unable to travel up a hill near Wiggins Lake Road.
Highway 29 is closed for the night from Bluff Springs Road to Cox Road. Highway 97 is closed from Arthur Brown Road to Kansas Road in Walnut Hill. There are no detours; drivers should avoid the area altogether.
The smaller county roads in the North Escambia area are in even worse condition.
It’s no better in Pensacola, with many roads closed and most of the area impassable.
“Traveling local roadways at this time can be a life threatening decision,” according to Escambia County Public Safety.
Air travel is also shutdown at the Pensacola International Airport. The airport has ceased all aircraft operation.
Pictured top: Two jack-knifed 18-wheelers on Highway 29 south of Century. Pictured below: An impassable Highway 97 near Davisville. Pictured bottom: An iced-over Delta plane at Pensacola International Airport. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Woman Critically Injured In Wreck Blamed On Winter Conditions
January 29, 2014
A Jay woman was critically injured in a wreck Tuesday afternoon that was blamed on winter road conditions.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 21-year old Kasey Jean Brown of Jay was traveling east on Highway 4 near Market Road about 4:58 p.m. when her 2000 Ford Focus lost traction and began to fishtail. The vehicle rotated across the center line and into the path of a westbound 2002 Jeep Cherokee. The driver of the Cherokee attempted to avoid an accident, but both vehicles collided just off the north side of the roadway.
Brown was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition.
The driver of the Jeep Cherokee, 52-year old Larry M. Wiebel of Illinois received minor injuries. His passenger, 51-year old Sherry Lynn Hergert, also of Illinois, was seriously injured. Both were transported to Santa Rosa Medical Center.
The accident remains under investigation by the FHP.
Train Derails In McDavid, Tanker Cars Into Creek
January 29, 2014
A train derailment in McDavid Tuesday night ended with chemical tanker cars submerged in a creek, but resulted in no injuries and just a short evacuation for a small number of families.
FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE>
Twenty-three cars of a 69-car CSX train derailed about 6:20 p.m. on a north-south track almost behind the McDavid Sawmill . Reports from the scene indicated that a bridge and railroad tracks in the area were totally destroyed by the derailment.
There were no injuries to the CSX crew or anyone else in the crash.
Two tanker cars of phosphoric acid were submerged in Fletcher Creek with other cars landing on top of them.
“After hours of close inspection, Escambia County crews have found no evidence of any chemical leaking from the derailed cars,” Escambia County PIO Bill Pearson said early Wednesday morning.
Units from the Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the county’s Hazmat team responded to the incident.
A small number of homes on Cotton Lake Road were evacuated as a precaution, and an emergency shelter was opened by the America Red Cross at the Molino Community Complex. Just one family took advantage of the shelter before officials gave the all-clear for residents to return to the homes.
Pearsons said a crash investigation would be conducted by CSX. He said it may take crews several weeks to make repairs to tracks at the bridge at that location.
Hard Freeze Tonight
January 29, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Wind chill values between 5 and 15 early. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 29. Calm wind.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 69.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
Pictured: Sleet falls and accumulates Tuesday night in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Ice 2014
January 29, 2014
For a photo gallery of Tuesday night ice storm and snow photos, click here.
For photos from earlier in the day, click here
To submit your photos, visit our NorthEscambia.com Facebook page, or email news@northescambia.com
Frozen Cityscapes: Atmore, Flomaton
January 29, 2014
Here’s a look at a frozen downtown in Flomaton (above) and Atmore (below) Tuesday night. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winter Weather Shelter Open
January 29, 2014
In coordination with Escambia County Emergency Management, the American Red Cross opened a winter weather shelter Tuesday night to provide safe, warm lodging for area residents affected by power outages and frigid temperatures.
The shelter opened at East Brent Baptist Church at 4801 North Davis in Pensacola.
Disaster Program Specialist Doug Watson asks that those needing shelter bring their personal items and any special dietary products. For families with children, it’s always a good idea to bring a special blanket or stuffed animal to help them feel more at home. In addition, you may want to prepare a go-bag and include the following:
- Medications
- Glasses
- Important personal paperwork
- Cell phone and charger
- Warm clothing
- Sanitation/ personal care products
- Flashlight and batteries
Road And Bridge Closures
January 29, 2014
The major road and bridge closures in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are listed below. Almost all other roads in the North Escambia area are covered in some combination of ice, sleet or snow. Travel is not advised.
- Boggy Creek Bridge on County Road 97A . This is the temporary metal bridge near Enon, about 10 miles from Walnut Hill.
- Highway 97 is closed from Arthur Brown Road to Kansas Road in Walnut Hill. There are no detours; drivers should avoid the area altogether.
- Highway 29 is closed from Cox Road to Byrneville/Bluff Springs Road.
- I-10 closed from Scenic Highway to Highway 87 (including Pensacola Bay Bridge)
- Theo Baars Bridge (Perdido Key Drive) to Perdido Key – Despite the bridge closure, medical and rescue crews are available on Perdido Key for emergency situations
- Three Mile Bridge
- The Barrancas Bridge over Bayou Chico
- Main Gate bridge at Pensacola NAS. Use the back gate.
- The Bayou Texar Bridge
- I- 10 bridge over the Perdido River is down to one lane from Alabama to Florida
- I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay leading into Santa Rosa County has been closed in both directions
- I-10 Bridge at Blackwater in Santa Rosa County.
- I-10 Bridge over Perdido River from Alabama to Florida is down to one lane