Mud Forces Ernest Ward Middle To Change Student Arrival, Dismissal Procedures
April 15, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School has made changes in how students arrive and depart the school each day due to recent rains.
In the mornings, buses will drop-off on the paved ramp as they arrive. Parents dropping off students should use caution — buses and cars will be using the same gates.
At dismissal, about one-half of the school’s buses will be loaded at a time on the paved ramp outside the current school entrance/exit. Once those buses are properly loaded and depart, the remainder of the buses will be loaded on the same paved ramped. As a result, some buses will arrive at their destination slightly later than normal.
Due to car rider vehicles using the same gates as the buses at dismissal time, all car rider vehicles must now turn left (away from Highway 97) on Highway 99A when exiting the school, or otherwise follow the instruction of a deputy or school official directing traffic.
Due to construction, buses had previously been loaded and unloaded in a dirt area behind the school. With the recent rains, that area has become an unusable mud pit, according to school officials.
Rain, Rain Won’t Go Away; Flash Flood Watch In Effect
April 15, 2015
A flash flood watch continues in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday
Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 78. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Softball Districts: West Florida Wins, Northview Out
April 15, 2015
The West Florida Lady Jaguars beat Marianna in a late game Tuesday night in the first round on the District 1-4A playoffs. Weather permitting, the Lady Jags will play for the district championship at 6 p.m. Thursday against Walton. Walton is coming off a 6-2 win over Catholic Tuesday.
For West Florida, Breana Rogers was 1-2, Kayla Miller was 2-4, Kristin Gunter was 2-12 with a double and two RBI, Meagan Freeman was 1-3 with a double and two RBIl, Emily Loring was 2-3, and Lauren Carnley was 2-3.
District 1-4A
Tuesday (at Marianna)
Walton 6, Catholic 2
West Florida 4, Marianna 2
For a photo gallery from West Florida over Marianna, click here.
Thursday
West Florida at Walton, 6 p.m.
District 3-1A
Tuesday (at Freeport)
Holmes County 5, Baker 3
Freeport 4, Northview 3
Wednesday (at Freeport)
Chipley vs. Holmes County, 4p.m.
Jay vs. Freeport, 6 p.m.
Friday
3-1A Championship Game, 6 p.m.
Pictured: West Florida beats Marianna in Marianna late Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Post Office Open Later For Tax Returns
April 15, 2015
One local post office will be open later than usual today for those last minute tax filers on this April 15 tax deadline. The Walnut Hill Post Office, located on Highway 99A adjacent to Ernest Ward Middle School, will be open until 6 p.m.
According to the U.S. Postal Service, other area post offices will close today as follows:
- Century, 4 p.m.
- McDavid, 4 p.m.
- Molino, 4 p.m.
- Cantonment, 4:30 p.m.
- Gonzalez, 5:00 p.m.
- Pensacola – Jordan Street, 5:30 p.m.
- Pensacola – Downtown, 4:30 p.m.
- Jay 4 p.m.
- Flomaton, 4:15 p.m.
- Atmore, 4 p.m.
The U.S. Post Office in Walnut Hill is a contract facility operated by Escambia River Electric Cooperative. It normally closes at 3:30 p.m on weekdays.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Brawl Outside Bar Ends With Five Arrested, Injuries, Deputy Hit With Beer
April 14, 2015
Five people were arrested after a brawl in the parking lot of a Cantonment bar that injured two people and a deputy.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was on patrol and in the parking lot next to Mustangs North in the 600 block of Highway 95A North about 11:30 Saturday night when he observed a large fight involving approximately 30 people in the bar’s parking lot.
He arrived to find two victims down and bleeding from their injuries. The situation quickly grew out of control as more intoxicated individuals exited the bar into the the parking lot, causing the deputy to call for multiple backups units.
Deputies said they placed 38-year old Billy Monroe Edwards under arrested after he began cussing them and became aggressive, followed by 45-year old Lorraine Cassady Fox who was also aggressive and would not follow orders.
Then an intoxicated 36-year old Amanda Ginette Rutherford ran toward a deputy, throwing a full can of beer and hitting him hard enough in the face to cause the can to “explode”, the report states.
Witnesses said the fight started when 30-year old Jenni Marie Michanowicz and an unknown male subject attacked and injured a male and female in the parking lot. She told deputies she was first attacked by the female victim.
A fifth suspect, 49-year old Darren Nelson Kersey, was arrested after deputies said he continued to argue with them about arresting Michanowicz.
At the Escambia County Jail, detention deputies reported that they found powered cocaine, a clear bag containing methamphetamine, a glass pipe for smoking meth and an Adderall tablet in Michanowicz’s purse. Michanowicz was charged with two counts of battery, resisting an officer without violence, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $29,000 bond.
Rutherford was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer, felony aggravated battery on an officer, felony resisting an officer with violence, felony inciting or encouraging an affray or riot and disorderly public intoxication. She was released from jail on a $23,000 bond.
Edwards, Kersey and Fox were charged with disorderly pubic intoxication and resisting an officer without violence. Each was released from the Escambia County Jail after posting a $1,000 bond.
The male victim who was knocked unconscious in the parking lot refused medical treatment. The female victim was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital with multiple injuries, including a possibly broken nose.
Showers, Thunderstorms Continue
April 14, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.
Saturday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Monday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Pedestrian Dies Week After Crash
April 14, 2015
An Escambia County pedestrian struck by a vehicle a week ago has passed away.
Robert Nigel Johnson, 53, was walking south across Highway 98 near Chiefs Way at 11:53 a.m. on April 6 when he stepped into the path of a 2001 Saturn driven by 46-year old Todd Howard Johnson of Pensacola. Robert Johnson passed away at Baptist Hospital on Monday.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation.
Editor’s note: No known relationship between the driver, Todd Johnson, and the victim, Robert Johnson, was specified by the FHP.
Driver Uninjured When Car Flips Into Ditch
April 14, 2015
A driver escaped injury Monday night when she flipped her car into a ditch near Bratt.
The woman lost control of her vehicle and overturned, with the car coming to rest upside down about 9:30 p.m. in a ditch on Pine Barren Road just south of Highway 168. She refused medical treatment at the scene.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash. The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol; further information has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bigfoot Monster Truck Visits Local Company That Keeps It Running
April 14, 2015
Bigfoot monster truck “Trick Flow” made a stop by sponsor Alto Products in Atmore Monday afternoon. The truck achieves its superior power from Atmore-made Alto Red Eagle clutches. Alto has provided the transmission clutch plates for the Bigfoot vehicles for the past 15 years.
“The most fun is the kids. I can remember being a little kid and looking up to the truck drivers. When they come up to see the truck and they light up, that just makes my day,” Trick Flow driver Darron Schnell said. He has been a part of the Bigfoot team for seven years.
The truck is also sponsored by Trick Flow, a division of Summitt Racing.
Pictured: Bigfoot monster truck “Trick Flow” at Alto Products in Atmore, where the vehicle’s transmission clutch plates are manufactured. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
House To Consider Online Voter Registration
April 14, 2015
The House on Wednesday is expected to take up a bill that would lead to online voter registration in Florida.
The bill is one of about four-dozen measures the House could consider during an all-day floor session. Under the proposal, the state Division of Elections would be required to develop a secure website that could be used to register first-time voters and update existing voter registrations.
Wednesday’s House agenda also includes a proposal that would make a series of changes involving the Florida Public Service Commission. As an example, the bill would limit commission members to three consecutive terms. Also, the bill would prevent power utilities from charging customers higher rates because of increased electrical usage stemming from extended billing cycles.