Updated: Jay Pipeline Leak Locks Down School; DEP Completing On Site Assessment
February 2, 2015
Schools in Jay were placed in emergency mode and Highway 89 was shut down Monday afternoon for a brief period after a brine leak from a pipeline about a mile from Jay High School.
A resident of Watermill Road reported hearing an explosion just before 1:30 at or near an oil well on nearby Escambia Avenue. Responding Jay Volunteer firefighters, from a distant staging area, could see the leak flowing from the ground upon their arrival.
Quantum Resources was notified and the leak area was immediately shut down. The the situation was quickly resolved, according to Sarah Whitfield, a spokesperson for Santa Rosa County, and no threat remains.
The lockdown at the schools was lifted and Highway 89 reopened with a matter of minutes. There were no injuries reported.
Staff from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection responded to the site. Initial assessments indicate less than two barrels of brine was spilled. There have been no impacts to surface waters. There was no explosion, but due to high pressure flow lines, a loud noise may have been heard at the time of the leak, according to Dee Ann Miller, spokesperson for the Florida DEP.
The flow line has been depressurized until repairs can be made and DEP inspections are complete.
Pictured: A file photo aerial view of a Quantum Resources facility on Escambia Avenue near Watermill Avenue in Jay. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Overturned School Bus Crash
February 2, 2015
A school bus driver that crashed into a guardrail before his bus overturned this morning in Escambia County said he was avoiding another vehicle.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 63-year old Leroy Jenkins was driving a 2001 school bus with no students on board eastbound on Burgess Road. he was he steered to avoid an oncoming unknown vehicle with one headlight that entered his travel lane. The front of the bus struck a guardrail and overturned onto its right side.
Jenkins suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment.
No charges were filed in the crash.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six More Weeks Of Winter? North Escambia Weather Ducks See Shadow
February 2, 2015
On this Groundhog Day, Puxatony Phil, the world famous groundhog, and the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks have both predicted six more weeks of winter.
Forklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks. And just like their more famous Pennsylvania weather buddy, our weather ducks also saw their shadow this morning at our Walnut Hill office.
This was only the second time in the history of our weather ducks that they have predicted more winter. For those that might be a little unsure as the weather ducks’ ability, we offer the two photographs below showing the weather ducks predicting six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day 2010 and 10 days later with their snowman in Atmore.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Residents Urged To Get Vaccinated Against Measles
February 2, 2015
The Florida Department of Health is working with other state and federal officials to monitor individuals who may have been exposed to measles cases across the state. In the past two weeks, four cases of measles have been identified and reported among travelers with unknown or no measles vaccinations who visited Florida. Two cases involved international travelers.
“It’s important all Floridians make sure they have received the measles vaccination because those who are fully immunized have very little risk of developing the disease,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “The department is prepared to deal with any potential emerging infectious disease threat and is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors in Florida. Out of an abundance of caution, it is important for those who think they may have been exposed to measles to contact their health care provider for guidance right away.”
While there are no confirmed cases among Florida residents at this time, people who may have come into contact with infected individuals are being notified and counseled. The department continues to work closely with the medical provider community in an effort to maintain its current level of readiness to identify cases and respond to any diagnosed cases of measles in Florida.
“The smartest step any resident can take to protect themselves against this growing health threat is to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Alan Pillersdorf, President, Florida Medical Association. “Vaccines are available at your local doctor’s office and at all Local County Health Departments at a minimal cost or free. These vaccines are safe and play a vital role in creating a barrier between the human population and this virus.”
The most effective form of protection from this virus is through vaccination. Children should be immunized against measles with the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) and should receive two doses, with the first at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second at four to six years of age. People with underlying health conditions should discuss with their health care provider to determine the need for additional booster doses. The department encourages all Floridians who have not been immunized to get vaccinated immediately.
“In Florida, more than 93 percent of kindergartners are vaccinated against this potentially life threatening virus,” said Dr. Tommy Schechtman, President, Florida Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. “But in a time when vaccines are readily available and safe, every child who can be, should be vaccinated. It’s our best defense against this re-emerging healthcare threat and one any responsible parent or guardian should want for their child to keep them healthy.” Measles is very rare in countries and regions of the world where vaccination coverage is high. There are still sporadic cases of measles in the United States because travelers who are not fully immunized can become infected before or during travel abroad and spread the infection to those who are not protected by the vaccine.
Measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing and is highly contagious. It can be transmitted from four days before the rash becomes visible to four days after the rash appears. The symptoms of measles generally begin approximately seven to 14 days after a person is exposed to someone with measles, and include the following.
- Blotchy rash
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Feeling run down, achy (malaise)
- Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)
Anyone who has these symptoms should contact his or her healthcare provider
Search And Rescue Volunteers Work Through Super Bowl To Find Missing Man
February 2, 2015
When an 84-year old Alzheimer’s went missing Sunday afternoon, the volunteers of Escambia Search and Rescue were called to assist in finding him as most area residents turned their attention to the Super Bowl.
Five K-9 teams and 26 volunteers spent their night assisting in the search Joaquim Prates, who last seen on Spring Creek Circle off Chemstrand Road — an area that backs up to the vast Gulf Power Crist Plant property. About 11 p.m., ESAR notified the media that Prates had been found safely due to a citizen’s tip.
For ESAR, it was a chance to put their new command center to good use. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan donated his agency’s former command center to ESAR because of their on-going partnership responding together in searches and natural disasters. The Sheriff’s Office purchased a new command center last year using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
ESAR volunteers assist emergency responders with search and rescue operations in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. They were working out of an aging and outdated command center.
Pictured: Inside Escambia Search and Rescue’s new command center Sunday night as volunteers scour the area for a missing Alzheimer’s patient. Pictured below: The command center was recently donate to ESAR by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Woman Killed In I-10 Crash; Two Children Injured
February 2, 2015
A Milton woman was killed and two children injured in a single vehicle crash on I-10 Sunday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 44-year old Wendy Fisk of Milton was westbound in the outside line of I-10 near the 9th Avenue overpass when she drifted off the roadway, over-steered to the left and then the right. Her 2008 Nissan Titan then rotated, traveled across the paved shoulder and struck a guardrail. The vehicle then traveled through the guardrail and overturned off the roadway.
Fisk was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS. Passenger Brenden Fisk, 6, was critically injured, and passenger Johnathon Fisk, 6, received minor injuries. Both children were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Top photo by Kristi Price for NorthEscambia.com, and below courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Freezing Cold Tonight
February 2, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 29. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
- Wednesday A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 58.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
- Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
No Injuries In Old Chemstrand Road Crash
February 2, 2015
There were no injuries when a driver lost control and hit a pole on Chemstrand Road Sunday night. The accident occurred about 8:35 in the 2200 block of Old Chemstrand Road, near Longbranch Drive. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
New Ernest Ward Opens: New Traffic Pattern For Drop Off, Pick Up
February 2, 2015
Now that students have moved into the new Ernest Ward Middle School today in Walnut Hill, there is a new traffic patternt for student drop off and pick up.
Parents will enter the campus at the Highway 99A gate at the old blue gym and take an immediate left into the school parking lot. Parents will continue through the parking lot to the drop off/pick up point at the school’s entrance. Then parents will exit the parking lot, turning left and exiting back onto Highway 99A.
Parents entering or exiting the school building (such as to check out a student) will parking the pictured parking lot and use the door marked with the red arrow.
Editor’s note: This traffic pattern for parents and buses will change once the old Ernest Ward building is demolished.
Pictured: The yellow arrows represent the parent line pick up and drop off at the new Ernest Ward Middle School. The entrance and exit to the school is marked with a red arrow. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Matilda Shockley Smith
February 2, 2015
Mrs. Matilda Shockley Smith, 83, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2015, in Pensacola.
Mrs. Smith was a native of Red Boiling Springs, TN and a resident of Byrneville, for most of her life. Mrs. Smith was retired from Vanity Fair after 22 years of service. She loved her six kids and wanted them all to graduate high school. She was a member of the Poplar Dell Baptist Church. The father of her children, Clyde Smith, precedes her in death.
Survivors include her three sons, Claude S. (Cheryl) Smith of Wawbeek, Clarence S. Smith of Pensacola and Clinton O. (Carrin) Smith of Tallahassee; three daughters, Claudia (Tommy) Williams of Jay, Clara (Jerry) Gulsby of Byrneville and Teresa (Frank) Lambeth of Flomaton; two brothers, Virgil Shockley of Indianapolis, IN and Daniel Shockley of Como, IN ; four sisters, Velma Bennett of Pensacola, Bonnie White of Liberty, TX, Barbara Brake of Pensacola and Joy Albright of Perry, GA; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, February 2, 2015, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Mitch Herring officiating.
Burial was in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Claude Sidney Smith, Jr., Matthew Covan, Benjamin Covan, Barry Morton, Josh Lambeth, Shawn Gibson and Tommy Tomlinson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.