One Injured In Ensley House Fire
July 9, 2016
One person was injured in an Ensley house fire Friday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to the fire in the 8600 block of Figland Avenue just before 5 p.m. The fire was contained mostly to a kitchen of the concrete block home and was quickly extinguished.
The resident of the home was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
The Ensley, Belleview, Brent, Ferry Pass, Myrtle Grove and Osceola stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the blaze.
Pictured top and inset: Firefighters extinguish a fire inside a Figland Avenue home in Ensley Friday afternoon. Pictured below: An Escambia County EMS crew rolls a smoke inhalation patient toward an awaiting ambulance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Joins Century In Asking FDOT To Prevent Hwy 29 Truck Rollovers
July 8, 2016
Escambia County is joining the Town of Century in asking the Florida Department of Transportation to address a North Century Boulevard curve that has seen multiple semi-truck rollovers.
Twice last month, semi-trucks rolled over in a curve on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street. City and county officials believe the curve is badly designed with a slope in the outer lane that is difficult for semis to negotiate at the posted 35 mph speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo above and at the page bottom.
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission voted to approve a letter to FDOT requesting that immediate improvements be made — including signs to warn trucks and motorists of the tipping hazard, advance warning signage with flashing beacons and perhaps advance warning signage advising trucks to use the inside lane.
In the long term, the county is joining Century in asking that the elevation of the roadway be changed “on the approach to and through the curve is greatly needed to counteract lateral acceleration produced by the curve and should be implemented as soon as possible”.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall met Michael Lewis, FDOT traffic safety program engineer, at the curve last month so he could see the dangers first hand. Lewis agreed signage should be installed in the next few months and that a long term fix would include a change to the road elevation and slope.
Pictured page top and bottom: These photographs demonstrate how much a semi-truck leans in curve on North Century Boulevard. Pictured below: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (blue shirt) meet with Florida Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Engineer Michael Lewis (yellow vest) and FDOT Traffic Safety Specialist Matt King about a dangerous curve on North Century Boulevard last month. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hot And Humid, Slight Chance Of Afternoon Rain
July 8, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light south in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Resident: Burglar Kicks In Door Of Molino Home With Someone Inside
July 8, 2016
Molino residents say a burglar kicked in the back door of a home on Crabtree Church Road Thursday afternoon.
It happened around 2 p.m. Two people arrived at the home in a SUV that was champagne in color. One entered the home, while the other stayed with vehicle, which was backed up to the end of the driveway.
Residents say the burglar was scared away when he opened a bedroom door inside the home and woke a male that was sleeping.
Further information was not available.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century Cancels Budget Workshop
July 8, 2016
Century’s first scheduled budget workshop of the year set for Thursday afternoon was canceled due to the lack of quorum.
Additional budget workshops are set for 4 p.m. each remaining Thursday in July and the first Thursday in August. In addition, the Century Town Council has regular meeting set for Monday at 7 p.m., rescheduled from the Fourth of July.
All meetings are open to the public and will be held in the council chamber at the Century Town Hall.
Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission Seeks Members
July 8, 2016
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission. The EPHRC was established by an Interlocal Agreement between the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Pensacola in April 1974. The purpose of the Commission is to be “responsible for the promotion of fair treatment and equal opportunity to all citizens of the local community.” Commission members, who are called Commissioners serve a two-year term of office.
Commissioners meet once a month for one hour. The Commission meetings are held to discuss the previous month’s day-to-day activities and to insure that the Interlocal Agreement between Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the EPHRC are in compliance. Additional meetings may be held for special discussion, workshops, training sessions or community activities.
Escambia residents interested in serving on the Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve on the Commission by the close of business on Thursday, July 14, 2016. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, Florida 32502.
Florida Supreme Court Takes Annual Break, Continues Mulling Hot Issues
July 8, 2016
The Florida Supreme Court moved quietly into an annual summer break Thursday.
Releasing its last regular batch of opinions until Aug. 25, the court did not drop any bombshells. That left unresolved questions about issues such as the constitutionality of the state’s death-penalty sentencing laws.
The Supreme Court moves at its own pace. Even with the summer break, it could dribble out opinions before Aug. 25 — a process known as “out of calendar” opinion releases. Regardless, justices go into the break facing a pile of high-profile cases.
Here are five examples of issues pending in the court:
— DEATH PENALTY: Justices have been inundated with arguments in recent months about Florida’s death-penalty sentencing system. The arguments are rooted in a January U.S. Supreme Court ruling that essentially said the state’s system was unconstitutional because it gave too much power to judges, instead of juries, in sentencing inmates to death.
The Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott scrambled to approve changes to address the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which came in a case known as Hurst v. Florida. But in cases involving numerous Death Row inmates, the Florida Supreme Court is trying to sort out questions such as whether the changes approved by the Legislature and Scott meet constitutional tests.
— SLOT MACHINES: The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments last month in a case that has major implications for the gambling industry and for communities in various parts of the state. The case centers on whether Gretna Racing, a pari-mutuel facility in rural Gadsden County, should be able to offer slot machines without the express approval of the Legislature.
The ultimate ruling likely will come down to how justices interpret a 2009 gambling law. Gretna Racing contends the law permits counties to hold referendums to allow slot machines — an argument Gov. Rick Scott’s administration and Attorney General Pam Bondi have disputed. The outcome will affect at least six counties where voters have approved slot machines in referendums. Those counties are Gadsden, Brevard, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach and Washington.
— ABORTION: More than a year after lawmakers and Scott approved a measure requiring women to wait 24 hours before having abortions, the Supreme Court in the coming months will decide whether the law is constitutional.
Justices have not heard arguments in the case but in April temporarily blocked the waiting-period requirement from taking effect. Lower courts have been divided on the constitutionality of the measure. A Leon County circuit judge last year issued a temporary injunction against the law, but a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in February overturned that decision.
— MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: In the latest chapter in a battle that goes back to the days of former Gov. Jeb Bush, the Supreme Court is weighing the constitutionality of limits on “non-economic” damages in medical-malpractice cases. Such limits were a centerpiece of a 2003 law, approved by Bush and the Legislature, that sought to lower malpractice-insurance costs.
The Supreme Court is weighing the constitutionality of the limits in a Broward County case involving a woman who went into surgery for carpal-tunnel syndrome and ended up with a perforated esophagus because of tubes inserted into her mouth and esophagus during the anesthesia process. Justices, who heard arguments last month, struck down damage caps in 2014 in a wrongful-death malpractice case involving a woman who died after giving birth in a Panhandle hospital. Details of the cases differ, however, including that Broward County lawsuit is a personal-injury case instead of a wrongful-death case.
GUNS: Amid a heated debate in Florida and across the country about gun laws, the Supreme Court is mulling the constitutionality of a state ban on people openly carrying firearms in public.
Florida allows residents to get licenses to carry concealed weapons, but it has long barred them from openly displaying guns. The Supreme Court last month heard a challenge to that restriction in a case that stems from the 2012 arrest of a man in Fort Pierce for openly carrying a gun in a holster. Gun-rights groups argue that the restriction violates the Second Amendment, but lower courts have upheld the law.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Atmore Police Investigate Business Burglaries
July 8, 2016
The Atmore Police Department is investigating two business burglaries discovered Thursday morning.
About 4:30 a.m., an officer patrolling North Main Street heard the burglar alarm going off at Earle’s Jewelers at 119 Main Street. The officer discovered damage to the front door of the building. Officers entered the building but did not find anyone inside. A short time later, the business owner arrived and verified that several jewelry items were missing.
About 9 a.m., the owner of Marty’s Furniture on Howard Street arrived at work to find that it had been burglarized. The owner told police that it appeared the suspect made entry into the building and damaged the alarm control panel. No furniture items were taken.
Atmore Police have not said if they believe the two burglaries to be related.
Donald William Howard
July 8, 2016
Donald William Howard, 63, of Molino, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. He was the son of the late Arthur William and Vivian Howard.
He served his country in the United States Marine Corp, having served in the Vietnam era. Mr. Howard was a retired postmaster.
He is survived by his daughter, Amanda (Dewayne) Barlow; son, Jason Howard; granddaughter, Hailey Harigel; grandson, Elijah Harigel; and sisters, Susan Black and Debroah Howard.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Friday, July 15, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. with the memorial service at 9 a.m.
Inurnment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Foster Baker Patrick
July 8, 2016
Mr. Foster Baker Patrick, 60, passed away on Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Atmore.
Mr. Patrick was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mr. Patrick was a Little League coach for years and he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore. He is preceded in death by his parents, B.F. and Edythe Patrick; wife, Kathy Patrick; and one sister, Pat James Hall.
He is survived by his wife, Sara Transou Patrick of Atmore; two sons, Anthony Patrick of Atmore and Matthew Patrick of McGargel, AL; one daughter, Amy Evans of Ocean Springs, MS; one brother, Benny Patrick of Bratt; two sisters, Frankie Donald of Atmore and Manell Cox of Foley; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11, 2016, at 10 a.m. at the Atmore First Baptist Church with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 8, 2016, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Billy Wayne Donald, Morton Cox, Patrick Cox, David Ragan, George McGhee and Billy Donald.
Honorary pallbearers will be Hal Johnson and Larry Forney.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.