Sheriff Presents Animal Control Officer With Medal Of Commendation
October 10, 2016
Sheriff David Morgan recently awarded Escambia County Animal Control Sergeant Stephanie Nowlin with the ECSO’s Medal of Commendation. Nowlin was presented the award for her service and assistance to the ECSO, particularly with livestock cases in North Escambia.
The award read:
“Sergeant Nowlin’s knowledge and experience in regards animal cruelty cases makes her an asset to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She has successfully implemented procedures for Escambia County relating to livestock operations.
Sgt. Nowlin will respond to any issues that may arise at any time. She has put numerous hours into training and can handle any situation encountered in animal cruelty investigations. She is the “go to” person for livestock issues in the north end of the county. She provides guidance and assists deputies on a daily basis.
Stephanie investigates and presents animal cruelty cases directly to the state attorney for prosecution. She has developed a working relationship requiring little assistance from the sheriff’s office.
Sgt. Nowlin is passionate about her profession and the well-being of animals. For her assistance to the ECSO, and her service to the citizens of Escambia County, Stephanie Nowlin was awarded the Commendation Medal on this 6th day of October, 2016.”
No School Today For Escambia County Students
October 10, 2016
Escambia County School District students have the day out of school on Monday for a teacher planning day. Teachers and school staff members will work a regular day, participating in various professional development opportunities. Escambia students will return to class as usual on Tuesday.
The next day out of school for Escambia County students will be Veteran’s Day on November 11, following by a week for Fall Break/Thanksgiving November 21-25.
Wrecked Vehicle Found Abandoned On River Annex Road
October 10, 2016
Firefighters responded to this single vehicle accident about 12:45 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of River Annex Road to find the vehicle empty and abandoned. There was no word on the whereabouts or condition of the driver. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Nice Days, Cool Nights
October 10, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Calm wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Calm wind.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Florida Mops Up After Hurricane Matthew
October 10, 2016
President Barack Obama has made Florida eligible for disaster aid in eight counties as the state continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Matthew.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved aid to the state and local governments for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Brevard, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Nassau, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Volusia counties. A request for additional federal disaster aid for individuals and businesses and federal aid to repair roads and other public structures is pending.
“While we are blessed that Hurricane Matthew did not make landfall in Florida, there has been significant damage all across Florida’s east coast,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement Sunday.
Scott, who viewed storm damage in Jacksonville Beach on Sunday, said he has been traveling Florida’s east coast, from Brevard County to the Florida-Georgia state line, for the past three days. The governor said he has “seen homes wiped out, severe beach erosion, flood damage and down trees and power lines.”
“While the state is helping our communities any way we can, I am going to continue to fight for every available resource from the federal government so our families and businesses can rebuild and get back to normal,” Scott said. “We are going to continue to submit requests to the federal government until they fulfill our entire disaster declaration.”
The lingering impact of Hurricane Matthew has resulted in public school closings in seven districts on Monday, meaning approximately 360,000 students will be delayed in returning to their K-12 classrooms. The Monday closures include Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Clay and Brevard counties.
Volusia and Flagler County officials reported they expect their schools to remain closed through Tuesday.
“Although district and school staff have already deep cleaned schools that were used as shelters and are removing fallen trees from pickup and drop-off areas, over a dozen schools remain without power,” said a statement from the Duval school system, which has 128,000 K-12 students.
“We also have street lights near schools that are not working with downed power lines. Additionally, we have heard from a number of our employees and families regarding the challenges of returning to their homes after the evacuation, including ongoing power outages,” the school system said.
Scott said he spoke Sunday morning with school superintendents in the counties impacted by the storm, asking them “to make sure all schools are able to quickly reopen.”
“We have to do all we can to get every school to reopen because we have to keep our students learning,” Scott said.
The governor said he has offered “the full resources of the state,” including help from members of the Florida National Guard if requested, to make sure the schools open immediately.
Students in many districts missed school days last week as the storm approached Florida, and students in seven districts will miss at least one day in the coming week. The students will have to make up the lost academic time.
For instance, Orange County has announced students will make up two lost days from last week on Oct. 28 and April 28.
Another lingering impact from Matthew are power outages, with the governor’s office reporting some 374,000 homes and businesses remained without power as of mid-afternoon on Sunday.
The highest number of outages was in Duval County, where 120,000 homes and businesses lacked electricity, and Volusia County, with 112,000. The power outages were the most widespread in Flagler County, where 62 percent of the county — about 36,500 customers — was without power.
But progress has been made since the peak of the storm’s impact Friday, when some 1.2 million Florida homes and businesses were without power, with the current outage figure meaning about two-thirds of those outages have been restored.
Scott talked to utility companies late Sunday afternoon for an update on their efforts to restore power, according to his schedule.
It also became clear on Sunday that Florida would avoid a “double whammy” from Matthew, as the latest projections from the National Hurricane Center show the storm will be well northeast of Bermuda by Monday night, heading out into the North Atlantic Ocean.
Scott and other officials had fretted about earlier projections showing the storm could turn south and potentially impact Florida a second time.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Fish Fry Benefit For Byars Today At Northview
October 10, 2016
Northview High School will hold a benefit Fish Fry Lunch today for Kay Byars, cancer patient and wife of Northview teacher and FFA sponsor Perry Byars.
Plates will include two fish fillets, cole slaw, baked beans hush puppies and a dessert for $7. The Northview High School cafeteria will be open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. for pick up.
Manhunt Underway For Escaped State Inmate From Atmore Prison
October 10, 2016
A manhunt is underway for a state prisoner that escaped from an Atmore facility Monday evening.
Jerry Lynn Hilburn, 40, escaped from the J. O. Davis Correctional Center, an annex facility of Fountain Correctional Facility, about 5:30 p.m.
Hilburn is described as a white male that is 6-foot, 2-inches tall, 214 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing his state-issued white prison uniform.
He was three years into a 20 year sentence out of Mobile for possession of controlled substance. He was a minimum in-custody inmate, not work release.
Anyone with information on Hilburn’s whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.
Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested
October 10, 2016
A man wanted on an attempted murder charge in in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday has been arrested.
Ray Charles Bullard, 24, of Pensacola was taken into custody around Monday in the 500 block of East Fairfield Drive. He also was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. October 8. An officer found the victim lying on the ground on the southwest side of a home in the 400 block of East Scott Street.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment and remains in critical condition. A motive remains under investigation.
The victim’s name is not yet being released because of the on-going investigation.
Anyone having information on his location or the incident is asked to contact Detective Gilbert Galloway at (850) 435- 1974 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Matthew: EREC Provides Bunk Trailer Housing For Utility Crews
October 10, 2016
EREC has sent five bunk trailers and a shower trailer to Okefenokee Rural Electric Cooperative in Nahunta, GA, one of the co-ops in Hurricane Matthew’s path, to be used by electric co-op crewmen during power restoration.
One of the biggest challenges facing electric utilities during power restoration after disasters such as hurricanes is lodging.
“It is difficult at best to find housing for hundreds or even thousands of workers in an area whose infrastructure has been devastated. For this purpose, EREC acquired trailers and renovated them into bunk housing,” said Clay Campbell, EREC general manager/CEO.
EREC has five trailers which will sleep 33 people each and a shower trailer with 10 showers and sinks. The trailers are self-contained, each equipped with its own generator. The sleeper trailers have central heat/air and individual lockers for each occupant. Each bunk has overhead lighting and electrical outlets for cell phone charging. The bottom row of bunks has nighttime floor lighting as well.
Pictured top: EREC crewmen Mark LeFlore, Philip Gandy, Jordan Jackson and Ken Blair will set up the bunk trailers and shower trailer for use by restoration line crews. Wesley Clark and Danny Duncan are also delivering bunk trailers for use by Okefenokee Rural EC but were unavailable of the time of the photo. Pictured inset: Bunk trailer. Pictured below: Each bunk trailer will sleep 33 people. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bonus Gallery: Tate Vs. Pace
October 10, 2016
For a bonus gallery from Friday night’s Tate vs. Pace game, click here.
For a story and photo gallery from Markus Baxley’s touchdown, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
