Fire Damages Cottage Hill Home
March 9, 2016
A Tuesday night kitchen fire and small attic fire damaged a Cottage Hill home. The 7:15 p.m. fire on Cottage Park Drive was quickly extinguished by Escambia Fire Rescue. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Warm Today, Thursday; Rain Moves Into Forecast
March 9, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Today Is Deadline To Request Absentee Ballot By Mail
March 9, 2016
Today is the final day to request that absentee ballots be mailed.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford is reminding voters who wish to be mailed an absentee ballot for the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary to request their ballot no later than today. Voters can make their request by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, fax (850) 595-3914, or e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address.
Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.com. lections offices were notified by the United States Post Office that their standard for local delivery of First-Class Mail would change from 1.8 days to 2.1 days. Although this change may seem minimal, it could affect voters who cast their ballot by mail. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office (not at a polling location) no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 15.
After Wednesday, a voter may still pick up an absentee ballot in person from the Elections Office through Monday, March 14.
For further information on absentee ballots, early voting, or precincts and polling locations, please contact us at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
NHS Defeats Tate 7-6
March 9, 2016
The Northview JV baseball team rallied from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Tate Aggies freshmen by a score of 7-6.
The Aggies scored 2 runs in the 1st and 2 runs in the 3rd to go ahead 4-0. The Chiefs cut the score to 4-3 heading into the 7th inning. Tate scored two runs in the top of the 7th to go ahead 6-3, but the Chiefs answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th to secure the victory.
Leading the Chiefs at the plate were Sam Stott (3-4, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 1 run), Jackson Moore (2-3, 1 RBI, game-winning run), MJ Jones (2-4, 1 run), John Chivington (1-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run), Wesley Hardin (1-1, 1 RBI), Cade Allen (1-4, 1 run), Andrew Sharpless (1-3, 1 RBI) and Heath Sheldt (1-3, 1 run). Trevor Singleton drew the game winning walk in the bottom of the 7th inning with the bases loaded. Alex McMinn also scored a run for the Chiefs.
MJ Jones was the winning pitcher, throwing 2 innings, giving up 4 hits and striking out 4. Jason Fischer threw 5 innings, giving up 8 hits while striking out 3 batters.
The JV Chiefs improved to 7-1 on the season and host West Florida on Thursday at 5:00 at Northview.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Dejuana Lenese Lail
March 9, 2016
Dejuana Lenese Lail “Sally” of Flomaton, passed away Monday, March 7, 2016, after fighting a battle with breast cancer. Sally was born on May 23, 1967, in Brewton to J.D. and Mary Bradley. She was a lifelong resident of this area. Sally married her soul mate and best friend, Jerome on August 16, 1985. Sally accepted Jesus in her heart during her young adult years and was baptized. Sally had a strong faith and lived life to its fullest. This faith she had and the support of her family and friends is what got her through this fight with cancer. Sally didn’t win her fight here on earth but she is now in heaven. A place we can only imagine about with a perfect body with Jesus fellowshipping with family and friends that have gone on before.
Sally is survived by her loving husband, Jerome; her precious daughter, Jessica; brother, Roland (Tammy) Bradley, brother, Chris (Erica) Bradley; sister, Sonya (Rodney) Greer, brother, Charlie Bradley, sister, Francis Bradley, brother, Jonathan Bradley; in laws, Kenneth and Maggie Lail; brother-in-law, Lewis Lail; 12 nieces; six nephews; six great-nieces; nine great-nephews; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and her lifelong friend, Cindy Brittingham as well as many special friends, and the family dog, Tigger.
Sally is preceded in death by her parents, J.D. and Mary Bradley,and brother Anthony (Bo) Bradley.
A special thank you to the staff of Covenant Care for your care and support.
Visitation will be held at Jay Funeral Home Thursday, March 10, 2016, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The family will meet at 5 p.m.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. at the Jay Funeral Home with Pastor Earl Green officiating.
Pallbearers will be Cody Bradley, Keith Bradley, Danny Higdon, Brad Solomon, Allen Dunn, Robbie Warren, Darrell Ford and Logan Dean.
Burial will be at Pine Level Baptist Church Cemetery.
Steve Smith
March 9, 2016
Steve Smith passed away unexpectedly at his residence in Pensacola on March 1, 2016. He was born March 23, 1959, in Warrenton, VA (Manassas, VA) to Peggy Joyce Langston and Douglas Ray Smith. He lived in Virginia and Maryland before moving to Pensacola in 1973 and he attended W. J. Woodham High School and Pensacola Jr. College. He joined the US Army in 1977 and afterwards did tree service work and also worked as a taxi driver as well as owning his own taxicab. Steve loved music and played the guitar and harmonica equally well. He was quite the storyteller, enjoyed stamp collecting and writing poetry. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and was very devoted to his pets. Steve made friends everywhere he went and his friendships have endured throughout his lifetime.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Peggy Joyce Langston; and his son, Alexander Raymond Smith.
Steve is survived by his sons, Nicholas Smith, Michael (Julie) Smith, Steven (Jamie) Crumpler; grandchildren,Kayleigh Crumpler, Alexander Crumpler, Alicia Crumpler, Austin Crumpler and Summer Smith; father, Douglas Ray Smith; brother, Danny Smith; sisters, Kim Williamson, Cindy (Ernie) Boardwyne; nieces, Jennifer Boardwyne, Jamie (Tyler) Thompson, nephews; David (Nichole) Boardwyne, Benjamin Williamson, Justin Williamson, Brandon Williamson; great-nephew, Samson Boardwyne and his beloved pets; Oggie and Suzy. He is also survived by a special friend Marylda Alves.
A Memorial service is being held in celebration of Steve’s life on Sunday, March 13, 2016, with visitation from 2 p.m. until 3p.m. with the Memorial Service following at 3 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment, is in charge of arrangements.
Wildfire Burns 1.5 Acres In Walnut Hill
March 8, 2016
Firefighters battled a wildland fire in Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon. The fire burned over about an acre and a half near the dead end of Juniper Street. It burned near several homes, a church and cemetery, but no structures were threatened by the blaze.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to the fire. Forestry used a bulldozer to create a line around the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Broken Down Train Blocks Crossings In Cantonment, Cottage Hill – Again
March 8, 2016
A CSX train blocked crossings from Becks Lake Road in Cantonment north to McKenzie Road in Cottage Hill Tuesday morning, leaving numerous residents unable to enter or exit their neighborhoods for hours.
According to CSX officials, the train was stopped due to a warning light. The train was on the move a little after 9 a.m.
“First responders have access to the impacted neighborhoods through a private road should the need arise,” Escambia County spokesperson Joy Tusbooka said while the train was stopped.
An similar incident occurred on January 28, blocking many of the same crossing for an entire morning.
Pictured top: An aerial view of the train blocking crossings in Cantonment. Image courtesy Eric McCowan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The train blocks Becks Lake Road in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Traffic To Switch Today To New Highway 97 Bridge In Walnut Hill
March 8, 2016
Traffic on Highway 97 over Little Pine Barren Creek in Walnut Hill will encounter intermittent lane restrictions today as crews make preparations and transition traffic back onto the new bridge and begin demolition of the temporary detour structure.
The work is part of a $2.5 million contract to replace the existing 75-year old Highway 97 bridge over Little Pine Barren Creek, milling and resurfacing, guardrail, drainage, new signs and pavement markings.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Final work late Monday afternoon on a new Highway 97 bridge over Little Pine Barren Creek in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Budget Deal Reached, Session To End On Time
March 8, 2016
House and Senate leaders announced a deal on the state budget during a late-night meeting Monday, pumping more than $120 million in last-minute projects into the spending plan and setting the Legislature on course to end its annual session Friday, as scheduled.
The final negotiating session between the budget chiefs for the two chambers — House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon — included agreements on tens of millions of dollars in education spending along with the additional projects.
The full House and Senate are expected to vote on the proposal Friday, after a required 72-hour review period.
Simply reaching a deal on the roughly $80 billion spending plan for the year beginning July 1 was a victory. Last year, a conflict over hospital funding led to the contentious implosion of the regular session and prompted a rare June meeting where lawmakers finally hammered out their differences.
But despite criticism last year of last-minute additions to the budget, Lee and Corcoran once again agreed to three lists of projects that spread another $123.1 million throughout the spending plan, with money going to everything from a construction project at a state university to an infusion of cash for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Items on the so-called “sprinkle lists” are often projects that appeared in earlier versions of one of the chamber’s budget plans, but dropped out during negotiations. The lists themselves, however, are not publicly vetted until one of the last meetings of the House-Senate conference committee that reconciles the competing proposals.
The Senate spent almost $71.8 million on its list, formally referred to as “supplemental funding initiatives.” The House offered $30.3 million on its version, along with nearly $21 million more in a list of additional water projects.
For example, the Senate poured another $24.8 million into the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, has focused on people with disabilities as one of his priorities this legislative session. The chamber also used $11 million to fund a building at the University of North Florida, the only one of the 12 state universities that didn’t receive construction money in a previous list of education facilities.
The House, meanwhile, used $7 million to replace radio equipment for state law enforcement agencies, something the Senate had strenuously opposed and that had been dropped from spending plans during a public meeting on Sunday.
“Our only concern was that it not go into a spreadsheet that included any indication that the Senate bought into that notion at the subcommittee level,” Lee said, referring to negotiations that took place before he and Corcoran began discussions. ” … It needed to come late if it was going to happen.”
At the same time, he left little doubt that the Senate was still skeptical about the need for the equipment from a third-party vendor.
“There was no request from the agencies for these radios,” he said. “They don’t want them, but they’re going to get them anyway. We’ll see if they take them.”
Asked why the radios were important enough to the House to push them back into the plan at the last minute, Corcoran essentially said the House did so because it was the chamber’s prerogative.
“We have the power of the purse,” he said. “We’re going to make the decisions and the executive branch has the power of vetoes.”
The two men defended the budget process in general and the sprinkle lists specifically. Corcoran pointed to the decision to put money back into the budget for the project at the University of North Florida, which has been approved by the Florida Board of Governors.
“That’s why we have a supplemental list, so that we can make sure that we can correct those mistakes, and we did,” he said.
Lee also suggested that the spending plan could have been even worse.
“The things you see in this budget don’t tell the whole story,” he said. “There are a good number of things you don’t see in this budget that, but for Chairman Corcoran and myself, would be in here, and they wouldn’t be good government.”
As for the education budget, Corcoran and Lee agreed to spend more than $40 million on the “Best and Brightest” bonus program, which awards up to $10,000 in extra money to teachers who scored in the top fifth of all students on their college-admissions tests and are rated highly effective. The House then folded another $4 million into the program through its sprinkle list.
The two sides also agreed to $36.9 million in funding for high-performing universities, and increased the amount of existing money that universities would kick into a performance funding formula to $275 million, the share favored by the House.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida