Police Searching For Bank Robbery Suspect
October 4, 2016
No one was injured this afternoon when a man robbed a Penscola bank of an undisclosed amount of cash.
The incident occurred just after noon at the Centennial Bank, 2200 Airport Boulevard. The suspect walked up to a teller and handed her a note demanding cash. He said he had a gun but didn’t show one. The suspect then left the bank possibly in a dark green full-sized GMC truck with tinted windows.
The suspect was a black male, possibly in his early 30s and about six feet tall. He had a mustache, and was wearing a long-sleeved yellow shirt with a patch on the left shoulder sleeve, rolled up dark jeans, dark hat, and sunglasses.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Fire Damages Home Near Century
October 4, 2016
Fire damaged a single family home outside Century Tuesday afternoon.
The residents were reportedly cooking when the fire started and got out of control, reaching the attic. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control and save the home. There were no injuries reported.
The fire was reported just after 1 p.m. in the 2800 block of Highway 4A. The Century, Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Quiet Night For Century’s Town Council
October 4, 2016
Monday night’s regular meeting of the Century Town Council was over quickly, with ordinary business and one zoning variance quickly handled.
Only three of five council members — Ben Boutwell, Ann Brooks and Gary Riley — were present for the meeting. Sandra McMurray Jackson and Annie Savage were absent. Mayor Freddie McCall was also not present; he is attending a Gulf Power Annual Economic Symposium at the Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Panama City.
The council approved a variance request by Megan Carroll to the town’s requirement for a five-foot setback for a side yard on Upton Road. She requested a 3.5-foot setback for a new home construction due to the slope of her property. The adjoining property owners, her parents, were agreeable to the variance.
The next regular scheduled meeting of the Century Town Council is Monday, October 17 at 7 p.m.
Pictured: Town Clerk Leslie Howington and council members Gary Riley, Ben Boutwell and Ann Brooks conduct a Monday night meeting of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
First Step: Signs, Lowered Speed Limit To Reduce Highway 29 Truck Rollovers
October 4, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed their step to address a problem with a North Century Boulevard curve that has seen multiple semi-truck rollovers.
A FDOT contractor has installed warning signs both north and southbound approaching a curve near Jackson Street, and north and southbound near a curve just north of Burger King.
The Florida Department of Transportation has acknowledged the the signage is a temporary fix. FDOT is working to identify a design and construction project to correct the slope of the roadway. Century and Escambia County have both pressed FDOT to eventually fix the elevation problem with the roadway.
Twice this year, 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 at page bottom.
Slight Chance Of A Shower Today
October 4, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Scott Declares Emergency For All Of Florida Due To Hurricane Matthew
October 4, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for all of Florida as a major hurricane threatened to churn up the East Coast later in the week.
Hurricane Matthew was southeast of Jamaica on Monday but was predicted to head north and likely produce “devastating impacts from storm surge, extreme winds, heavy rains, flash floods, and/or mudslides in portions of the watch and warning areas in Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas,” the National Hurricane Center said in a 5 p.m. advisory.
While the path remains unclear as the storm goes further north, the Hurricane Center said direct hurricane impacts are possible in Florida later in the week.
Scott said the declaration of emergency will help the state prepare.
“Hurricane Matthew is a life-threatening Category 4 hurricane and we must all take it seriously,” Scott said in a statement. “If Hurricane Matthew directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven’t seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992. That is why we cannot delay and must prepare for direct impact now.”
At this time, Hurricane Matthew is not expected to have any significant impact on Escambia or Santa Rosa counties
.
by The News Service of Florida
North Escambia’s ‘Donut Boy’ Takes His Mission To Oregon To Thank Cops
October 4, 2016
Tyler Carach of Bratt is continuing on his mission to thank every police officer in the U.S. with a doughnut.
He flew across country late last week in his first plane ride ever to thank law enforcement in Oregon. Tyler, 8, met and shared doughnuts with the Eugene (OR) Police Department, the Springfield (OR) Police Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police, thanks to radio station 94.5 Mix FM.
“Way to go Tyler and thank you for continued support,” Oregon State Police tweeted. He also received a special thank you proclamation from the Eugene (OR) mayor.
NorthEscambia.com first introduced the world to Tyler, AKA “Donut Boy”, back in the summer when he decided to spend his own money to buy doughnuts for Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that were inside Gilley’s Store in Bratt. From there, he created the “I DONUT need a reason to THANK a cop” program after providing over 400 Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the entire Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He also recently paid a visit to the Flomaton (AL) Police Department. [Read more in a previous story...]
A doughnut shop in Springfield, OR, provide the donuts needed for Tyler’s Oregon trip, while an Oregon credit union contributed toward the airfare and a hotel chain provided the room for Tyler and his mom, Sheena Carach.
Tyler’s good deeds were covered by several Oregon newspapers and television stations, and on Monday his story was picked up by the nationally syndicated program Inside Edition.
Pictured: “Donut Boy” Tyler Carach of Bratt thanked police officers across the country in Oregon with doughnuts late late week. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Showband Earns Straight Superiors At Blackwater Classic Festival
October 4, 2016
Tate Showband of the South scored straight superiors at the Blackwater Classic Marching Band Festival last Saturday at Milton High School performing their show “Home Sweet Home”.
For additional photos, click here.
Photos by Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Holds Open House
October 4, 2016
The annual open house was held Saturday at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment.
Visitors had the opportunity to stroll through the center’s butterfly garden, hike trails into a bog, meet owls from the Wildlife Federation of Northwest Florida, peer through telescopes from with the Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association, meet the resident reptiles, and bid on artwork and other items in a silent auction.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is at 1300 Tobias Road, Cantonment.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gitmo Families Evacuated To NAS Pensacola
October 4, 2016
Approximately 700 spouses and children are evacuating from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba during preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew.
U.S. Transportation Command provided four C-17 and two C-130 aircraft as military airlift traveling to Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Relocating family members allows the installation to minimize operations during the storm, expediting recovery operations after the hurricane has passed. NSGB has approximately 5,500 residents living and working aboard, including families. The remaining 4,800 personnel remain behind in order to quickly begin recovery efforts, and will shelter in place.
The installation expects winds above 60 mph for several hours as Hurricane Matthew passes. U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Fleet Forces, Navy Installations Command, and Navy Region Southeast are providing the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay support and will continue to do so through the recovery efforts following the storm.
Pictured: Families settle into their seats aboard a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft for evacuation from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) to Pensacola ahead of Hurricane Matthew. Pictured inset: Naval Air Station Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin and his wife, Catherine (left), greet Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Commanding Officer Capt. David Culpeper’s wife as part of the first lift of Hurricane Matthew evacuees. Approximately 700 spouses and children of Guantanamo personnel are being housed on Naval Air Station Pensacola until the storm passes and it is safe to return. U.S. Navy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.