Storms Cause Power Outages, Flooding
April 15, 2014
A line of storms created flooding, power outages and sparked a fire that destroyed a Molino home Monday night in the North Escambia area.
Gulf Power reported as many as about 700 North Escambia customers without power following the worst of the storms, including 246 customers in the dark in the Tate Road area. Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported a large, weather related outage of customers served by their Jay and Bratt substations.
The intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 was completely underwater and closed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, for a short period of time. At least two vehicles were disabled by rising flood waters.
Lightning sparked a house fire near Molino that injured on person. Read more…
Pictured top: cars partially submerged in the parking lot of Ensley Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard Monday night. Reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Intersection Now Open
April 14, 2014
The Highway 29, Highway 97 intersection in Molino is now open.
The intersection was closed about 9:20 Monday night after the Florida Highway Patrol reported the intersection was underwater.
At least two vehicles stalled and became disabled in the flooding.
Flash Flood Warning In Effect
April 14, 2014
There is severe thunderstorm warning and a flash flood warning in effect for tonight. Here is your official North Escambia area forcast:
- Tonight Showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 49. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
- Tuesday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7am, then a slight chance of showers between 7am and 10am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 61. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Monday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Developer Plans New Dollar General For Cantonment
April 14, 2014
Plans for a new Dollar General store in are in the works for Cantonment.
Teramore Development, LLC, of Thomasville, GA, is planning the 9,026 square foot store for a 1.03 acre lot on Woodland Street at Highway 29 — adjacent to the Cantonment Fire Station.
According plans filed with Escambia County, the new store would not have any vehicular access directly to Highway 29; all driveways would connect to Woodland Street. Plans call for the lot to contain 31 parking spaces and an adjacent storm water holding pond.
The plans have been presented to the Escambia County Development Review Committee during a pre-application meeting. The DRC has not made any ruling or recommendations on the store. It will be up to the property owner or the developer to decide if they will move forward in the permitting process.
Traffic Crash Claims The Life Of A Woman And Her Baby
April 14, 2014
A single vehicle crash Saturday night claimed the life of a young woman and her baby.
Schintai Eberhart, 18, of Pensacola was ejected from the front passenger seat of a 2006 Lexus during a wreck on Brent Lane. She died at a local hospital after undergoing an emergency C-section, and her baby died soon after birth, according to Pensacola Police Officer Jason Browning.
Browning said the crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. Saturday. Lindsey Eberhart was driving the vehicle westbound on Brent Lane from Ninth Avenue when she lost control and the
vehicle hit a curb near Evergreen Road. It then struck a power pole and flipped a couple times before stopping on its left side. The power pole broke from the impact.
Lindsey Eberhart was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The left rear passenger – Deven Heflin, 12, of Pensacola – was also hospitalized with minor injuries. Deven is the brother of Lindsey and Schintai Eberhart, police said.
The right rear passenger was Tristan Horne, 18, of Pensacola. He received a minor hand injury, Browning said.
Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation; seatbelt usage on all occupants has not yet been determined.
Wesley Graduates From Basic Training
April 14, 2014
Army Pfc. Garbell S. Wesley has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Wesley is the daughter of Bertha Floyd and granddaughter of Annette Wesley, both of Century.
She is a 2009 graduate of Northview High School.
Escambia Meetings Planned On Updated Zoning Ordinances; Molino Tuesday
April 14, 2014
To reflect changes at the state level, Escambia County is in the process of rewriting its Land Development Code (LDC) to create an efficient and rational document to guide expansion within the county.
As part of this rewrite, the county will attempt to condense its current 36 zoning classifications into 14 new classifications, the first full overhaul of the zoning ordinance since its original adoption in 1996. Rewriting the LDC is intended to simplify and modernize the document to include mixed-use and “live, work play” zones, an increasingly popular option within the county, as the original zoning map was not parcel-based and created many split-zoned properties.
Public meetings will be held in the coming weeks to address citizens’ concerns regarding this issue.
Upcoming community meetings will be held as follows:
Tuesday, April 15 – Planning Board Workshop: LDC Rewrite, 8:30 a.m.
Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola
Tuesday, April 15 – Public Workshop: Zoning Consolidation, 5:30 p.m.
Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
Thursday, April 17 – Public Workshop: Zoning Consolidation, 5:30 p.m.
Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola
Monday, April 21 – Public Workshop: Zoning Consolidation, 5:30 p.m.
Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment
Tuesday, April 22 – Public Workshop: Zoning Consolidation, 6 p.m.
Bellview Baptist Church Auditorium, 4750 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola
Wednesday, April 23 - Public Workshop: Zoning Consolidation, 5:30 p.m.
Lexington Terrace Community Center, 700 South Old Corry Field Rd
Thursday, April 24 – Public Workshop: Zoning Consolidation, 6 p.m.
Olive Baptist Church, Passmore Hall, 1836 East Olive Road, Pensacola
No changes will be made to zoning classifications on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, so no public meetings will be held in those areas.
Log-A-Load Bass Tourney Results, Over $13K Awarded
April 14, 2014
Over $13,000 in prize money was awarded Saturday in the 18th Annual Charity Log A Load for Kids Bass Tournament held at Live Oak Landing in Stockton, Ala.
Winners were as follows:
- Keith Deese & Jim Smith – 11.69 pounds; $3,000
- Bryan Ward & Zach Lawshe – 11.63 pounds; $2,000
- Morgan Grainger & Randy Speights – 11.46 pounds; $1,000
- Sterling Johnson & Tim Taylor – 11.39 pounds; $950
- Mark Ross & James Roete – 10.40 pounds; $900
- Darrell Bryan & Gavin Webb – 10.32 pounds; $850
- Logan Marston & Keith Marston – 10.32 pounds; $800
- Eddie Knowles & Wayne McDade – 9.73 pounds; $750
- Tommy Parker & Steve Williamson – 9.37 pounds; $700
- John Bailey & Jeremy Baltzell – 9.36 pounds; $650
- Matt Carpenter & Carl Rowell – 9.27 pounds; $500
- John Taylor & Kim Taylor – 9.11 pounds; $400
- Matt Lemon & Mike Swoboda – 9.10 pounds; $300
- David Foshee & Larry Foshee – 9.00 pounds; $200
- Robbie Stanley & Jacob Hollingsworth – 8.93 pounds; $100
The tournament and events raise funds for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Log-A-Load is sponsored by the Florida Forestry Association and the Florida Loggers Council.
Jay Girls Track Takes District 1-1A Crown; Boys Finish Fourth
April 14, 2014
The Jay High School girls track team won the District 1-1A championship, while the Jay boys finished in fourth place.
Top Jay finishers were:
- Girls High Jump – Kolby Copeland, 4th; Jessica Thornton, 5th, Kourtney Smith, 8th.
- Boys High Jump – Aurhur Fraley, 5th; Jacob Madden, 6th.
- Girls Long Jump – Carissa Mulford, 4th; Kayla Flowers, 6th; Kourtney Smith, 7th.
- Boys Long Jump – Roger Mishoe, 4th.
- Girls Triple Jump – Kourtney Smith, 2nd; Carissa Mulford, 4rd; Kayla Flowers, 4th; Carsen Arrant, 6th.
- Girls Discus Throw – Brianna Hawthorne 5th; Jenna Thornton, 6th.
- Boys Discus Throw – Tucker Harrington, 2nd; Cody Hitt, 4th; Colby Diamond 6th.
- Girls Shot Put- Brianna Hawthorne, 6th; Jennifer Lowery 8th.
- Boys Shot Put – Tucker Harrington, 2nd; Colby Diamond, 4th; Jarred Hunt, 8th.
- Girls 100 Meter Dash – Amber Cross, 3rd; Kayla Flowers, 5th.
- Girls 200 Meter Dash — Amber Cross, 3rd; Autumn Ates, 5th.
- Boys 200 Meter Dash — Braden Cross, 2nd.
- Girls 400 Meter Dash - Kristen Pike, 2nd; Savannah Brown, 4th.
- Girls 100 Meter Hurdles – Carissa Mulford, 3rd; Jorja Agrait, 5th; Kelly Hoover, 6th; Alyssa Chavis, 8th.
- Boys 100 Meter Hurdles – Mason Bridges, 3rd.
- Girls 300 Meter Hurdles – Jorja Agrait, 3rd; Carissa Mulford, 5th; Kelly Hoover, 7th; Alyssa Chavis, 8th.
- Boys 300 Meter Hurdles — Roger Mishoe, 1st; Mason Bridges, 5th.
- Girls 4 x 100 Meter Relay — Jay High School, 4th.
- Boys 4 x 100 Meter Relay – Jay High School, 2nd.
- Girls 4 x 400 – Ana-Grace Smith, Savanna Brown, Jenna Thornton, Jessica Thornton – 1st.
- Boys 4 x 400 – Austin Gibson, Roger Mishoe, Brandon Poley, Braden Cross – 4th.
- Girls 4 x 800 -Ana-Grace Smith, Savanna Brown, Jenna Thornton,, Jorja Agrait – 1st.
- Girls 800 Meter - Jessica Thornton, 1st; Ana-Grace Smith, 3rd; Jenna Thornton, 4th.
- Boys 800 Meter – Cody Wolfe, 3rd; Casey Zylstra, 7th.
- Girls 1600 Meter – Jessica Thornton, 2nd.
- Girls 3200 Meter – Carsen Arrant 5th; Kendra Weekes, 8th.
- Boys 3200 Meter – Micah Kemp, 3rd
For complete event results, click here.
Pictured: The Jay High School Lady Royals track team. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charles Lewis Fuqua
April 14, 2014
Charles Lewis Fuqua, Sr., 82, of Walnut Hill, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2014, at his residence. He was born in Escambia County, Ala., on March 19, 1932, to the late David Talmadge and Rachael Mae Belle Ware Fuqua. He served in the U.S. AirForce during the Korean War, retiring from N.A.S. Pensacola as an air craft mechanic with over 25 years experience. He was also a member of Nokomis Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by a brother, Julian Fuqua.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Jones Fuqua of Walnut Hill, one son, Charles Lewis (Cindy) Fuqua, Jr., of Summerdale; two daughters, Deborah (Xavier) Ritchie of Pelham, AL and Cathy (Glenn Dick) Varallo of Birmingham; one stepson, Lavon (Cindy) Ledkins of Foley; two stepdaughters, Susan (Jim) Hamby of Elberta and Helen (Neil) Howard of Granite Falls, WA; one brother, Ronald (Linda) Fuqua of Brewton; two sisters, Wilma Lambert of Brewton and Virginia Waller of Dothan; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at 2 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James Hill officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.