No Serious Injuries In ECAT Bus Crash
March 9, 2015
There were no serious injuries in a three-vehicle crash involving an Escambia County Area Transit bus this morning at West Detroit Boulevard and Untreiner Avenue. There were three passengers on the bus at the time of the crash; all were uninjured. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Unrestrained 5-Month Old Seriously Injured In Crash; Driver Charged
March 9, 2015
A 5-month old infant was seriously injured in an accident Sunday night that left a driver facing multiple charges.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 33-year old Alan Wiggins was traveling southbound on Highway 29 near W Street when his 2011 Chevrolet Camaro collided with a 2013 Toyota van driven by 65-year old Sadie Alexander of Pensacola.
An unrestrained 5-month old in Wiggins’ Camaro was seriously injured and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. A total of 10 other people involved in the crash received only minor injuries or were not injured.
Wiggins was charged with felony driving with a license that was suspended or revoked, careless driving and no child restraint by the FHP. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
Rainy Week Ahead
March 9, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 71.
- Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Firefighters Kept Busy With Brush Fires
March 9, 2015
Firefighters battled multiple brush fires Sunday afternoon, including two fires near Walnut Hill.
The fires near Walnut Hill were about 15 miles apart and unrelated, but both were reported at nearly the same time, stretching firefighter resources between the two. One fire was an apparent controlled burn that jumped a fire line on Deer Lake Road near Pine Forest Road. The other was along South Highway 99 near Leandras Lane, burning along both sides of the highway and into a wooded area. The fire also burned several railroad ties on tracks parallel to the highway.
Firefighters from Walnut Hill, Molino, McDavid and Century were dispatched to the fires.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to a quarter-acre fire in the 7500 block of Brickton Road Saturday afternoon. A resident advised the fire was sparked by his string trimmer.
And 7:15 Sunday night, the McDavid, Molino, Walnut Hill, Century and Flomaton stations were dispatched to a wildfire up to about half acre in size at the railroad tracks on Bluff Springs Road. That fire was extinguished in a matter of minutes.
Pictured: Firefighters battle a brush fire along South Highway 99 and adjacent railroad tracks Sunday afternoon near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia, AL, Receives $85K Grant To Help Domestic Violence Victims
March 9, 2015
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded an $85,500 grant to help victims of domestic violence in Escambia County obtain justice and access professional assistance.
The grant to the Escambia County (AL) Commission will help continue funding a domestic violence unit established by the district attorney’s office and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Department. The unit investigates and prosecutes domestic violence cases and coordinates assistance and services like counseling to victims.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the Justice Department under provisions of the STOP Violence Against Women Act. Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the act, which devotes funding to help protect women from abuse and to impose harsher punishments for abusers.
Alabama Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash Near McDavid
March 9, 2015
[Update 8:45 p.m.] One person was killed in a single vehicle motorcycle crash on Highway 29 north of McDavid Sunday afternoon.
The accident happened about 3:15 p.m. at the Canoe Creek Bridge on Highway 29, near the intersection of North Canoe Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 51-year old Shawn Thomas of Chelsea, AL, was northbound on Highway 29 on his 2012 Harley Davidson when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. He entered the grassy median where the motorcycle began to overturn. Thomas was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Thomas was not wearing a helmet, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Downs Navarre To Remain Unbeaten; Northview JV Splits Miller Double Header
March 9, 2015
Tate 3, Navarre 0
Trace Penton pitched a one hit complete game shutout Saturday as the Tate Aggies beat Navarre 3-0. With the win, the Aggies are now 7-0, 3-0 in the district. . Sawyer Smith was 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI. Branden Fryman was 2-3. The Aggies next
travel to Fort Walton Beach on Tuesday. The junior varsity will play at 4:30, and the varsity will play at 7:00.
Northview 4, T.R. Miller 2 (JV)
T.R. Miller 3, Northview 2 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs split a double header with T.R. Miller Saturday in Brewton. Northview’s JV beat Miller 4-2, and Miller got past Northview 3-2. Northview’s JV next travels to West Florida High on March 12 for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch.
Photos: ‘A Turtle Convention’
March 9, 2015
Turtles on Jernigan’s Lake lined logs Sunday afternoon to enjoy the warm sunshine. Jernigan’s Lake, sometimes called Wiggin’s Lake, is located just east of Century off the Escambia River. Reader photos by Howard Stanton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Write A Letter For An Absolutely Incredible Kid
March 9, 2015
Celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, Camp Fire’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day will honor our nation’s youth by asking adults to write simple letters of encouragement and inspiration to the incredible kids in their lives and community. It is a simple, meaningful way to let youth know how much they are appreciated. Lives are changed by this simple act of love and kindness. Letters are
“We know about Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Women’s History Month. We celebrate adults on special days, but why not youth?” said La-Vonne Haven, executive director of Camp Fire Gulf Wind Inc. “We ask every adult to join us. Take five minutes and write a letter to a child, tell them they matter, that they always will. If a youth hears it enough and believes it, he or she will be more prepared to face the complicated issues confronting them every day.”
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day was developed by Camp Fire, a national youth organization and will be celebrated across America. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is celebrated annually on the third Thursday in March. This year, Camp Fire Gulf Wind, will celebrate on Thursday, March 19, 2015.
“The students were so excited to receive the special letters and shared them with friends,” said Coach Julie Madison-Tompkins, teacher at Warrington Middle School. “It meant so much to see the smiles on the student’s faces.”
Anyone can participate—parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers, coaches, executives, etc… The goal is for every kid in America to receive a letter. Just imagine the impact of encouraging letters in lunch boxes, left on pillows, tucked into backpacks and placed on desks.
To participate, visit http://www.campfirekids.com/ to get the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day letterhead and wonderful ideas to write an encouraging letter to a child, or call (850) 476-1760 to have the letterhead mailed to you. Letters received by March 12 will be delivered to K-6th grade students in our local schools.
Ag Saves Workshop Series – Securing Your Farm’s Financial Future
March 9, 2015
Escambia County Extension and the University of Florida IFAS will host an Ag Saves Workshop Series, and the registration deadline is Tuesday. This four-session series of interactive workshops will focus on the basics of securing your farm’s financial future and will be offered locally at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97. In addition to learning from featured speakers, participants will receive a Farm Journal Legacy Project Workbook to help walk their family through the succession planning process.
The four workshop sessions, held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., will cover the following topics:
- Tuesday, March 24 – Preparing for retirement and other goals
- Tuesday, June 23 – Trimming the fat, how to manage and reduce your debt
- Tuesday, July 21 – Securing your family’s and your farm’s future, part 1
- Tuesday, August 18 – Securing your family’s and your farm’s future, part 2
The cost of the class is $55 per family (up to four members) and pre-registration is required by Tuesday, March 10. For more information or to register contact Libbie Johnson or Dorothy Lee at Escambia County Extension (850) 475-5230. or visit bit.ly/AgSavesSeries.