FDOT Closes Nokomis Road Bridge Due To Failed Inspection
December 6, 2017
The Florida Department of Transportation has closed Nokomis Road Bridge over Reedy Branch in Nokomis, effective immediately due to a failed inspection. The closure is between Albritton Road and Jakes Road.
No opening date has yet been projected.
The detour from the west is: Nokamis Road to Albritton Road to Jakes Road
The detour from the east is: Jakes Road to Albritton Road to Nokamis Road
ECSO: Cantonment Man One Of Seven That Beat Victim At Gas Station
December 6, 2017
A Cantonment man has been arrested for allegedly being part of a group of males that attacked two people outside a Pensacola Boulevard gas station.
Levaski D’Angelo Prim, 28, was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and batter causing bodily harm.
The victims told deputies that seven males approached the driver’s side of their vehicle and began to beat the driver outside the Kangaroo station at 7950 Pensacola Boulevard. They allegedly used bats and knives. One victim received multiple injuries and was barely conscious as deputies arrived on scene, according to an arrest report.
The entire incident was captured on gas station surveillance video, and deputies reported finding a video of the incident posted on social media.
Prim was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $8,500 bond, according to jail records.
Additional arrests are expected.
Hello Winter Weather! Falling Temps And A Cold Rain
December 6, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Rain likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday: Rain. High near 43. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: Rain. High near 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 30.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Gun Bills Silenced In Florida Senate Committee
December 6, 2017
With the 2018 legislative session still more than a month away, gun-related measures might have died Tuesday in the Senate.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, which has been a stumbling block in recent years for Second Amendment-related bills, narrowly rejected proposals that sought to allow Floridians with concealed-weapons licenses to carry firearms up to the entrances of courthouses (SB 134); inadvertently display handguns (SB 148); and pack heat at religious institutions that include private schools or day-care facilities (SB 274).
Also, committee Chairman Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who sponsored two of the proposals, said after the meeting he has no intention of reviving some more-controversial measures from past years. Those measures sought to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry firearms and to carry guns into airport terminals and on university and college campuses.
“You saw what happened here today,” Steube said.
Tuesday’s votes came as lawmakers hold committee meetings to prepare for the 2018 session, which starts Jan. 9. Opposition on the Judiciary Committee to the gun-related bills came — as it has in the past — from Democrats and some South Florida Republicans.
Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, said he couldn’t support gun-related measures that fail to address mental-health issues. Also, he said the Senate should stick with a compromise it reached during the 2017 session on guns at religious institutions. The Senate compromise was rejected by the House.
“It’s not about the policy, but the process, and about what I think we as a Senate should be standing up for and holding our position,” Garcia said.
The Senate version during the 2017 session would have allowed people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns at religious institutions outside of school hours or when school activities weren’t occurring.
After Tuesday’s meeting, Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, agreed with Garcia that the compromise language should have been maintained.
Flores, who voted against all three bills, also said a change was needed on the bill dealing with allowing the inadvertent display of handguns. Such a change would indicate the temporary display was conducted in a “non-threatening manner.”
“Right now, the way that bill reads is, it allows temporary and openly displaying, that would allow brandishing, and that is a concern of mine,” Flores said.
National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, who called the religious-institution proposal a private property-rights measure, said with 2018 an election year it’s important to know who isn’t being truthful in their support of Second Amendment issues.
“We had Republicans who joined the Democrats as obstructionists last year, and bills would be (temporarily postponed), which was a type of protectionism for Republicans,” Hammer said. “This year, thankfully, they voted. They’ve been outed, and now we can report it.”
Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Rockledge, argued in support of the religious-institution measure to prevent a repeat of carnage that occurred last month at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
“What we have in place right now, people are getting killed and there is no one there to stop them,” Mayfield said.
On Nov. 5, 26 people were killed and 20 others were injured when a gunman started firing into a Baptist church from across the street, before making his way into the building. The gunman, who later died of a self-inflicted wound, was shot twice as he exited the church.
Sen, Kelli Stargel, a Lakeland Republican who sponsored the religious-institution proposal, said the two sides in the debate might never come to an agreement.
“The real compromise we’re looking for is between two very different schools of thought,” Stargel said. “One is, having less guns in the community is going to create less crime and less violence. And the other school of thought is my school of thought, which is personal responsibility, which is I don’t want to designate to somebody else my responsibility to protect myself and my family.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Northview, Tate Release Semester Exam Schedules
December 6, 2017
Northview and Tate High Schools have released semester exam schedules for next week, December 12-15.
For the Northview High School exam schedule, click here.
For the Tate High School exam schedule, click here.
Escambia County Legislative Delegation Sets Public Hearing
December 6, 2017
Members of Escambia County’s state legislative delegation will hold a public hearing on Monday 11, December from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pensacola State College Jean and Paul Performance Studio. 1000 College Boulevard Pensacola.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities, and take public testimony on proposals for the 2018 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend. The Escambia County Legislative Delegation consists of Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Clay Ingram, and Representative Frank White.
To request an appearance form to be placed on the meeting agenda, individuals should contact Senator Doug Broxson’s office at (850) 595-1036, or email: brown.kevin@flsenate.gov no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 6.
Santa To Visit The Century And Molino Branch Libraries
December 6, 2017
Mark your calendar…Santa Claus is coming to the Century and Molino branches of the West Florida Library.
Santa will be at the Century Branch Library this Thursday, December 7 at 6 p.m. Children can visit with Santa, enjoy a Christmas story, treats and snowflake crafts.. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera for photos with Santa.
Santa will visit the Molino Branch Library on Tuesday, December 12 at 6 p.m. for a special Pajama Story Time with Santa. Children invited to wear their comfy, cozy pajamas, brink a blanket and join the library staff for a stories, milk and cookies along with a very special visit from Santa Claus. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras.
Ernest Ward Football Players, Cheerleaders Recognized At Banquet
December 6, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School recently held their annual Football and Cheerleading banquet.
The following awards were presented:
EWMS FOOTBALL
Offensive Player of the Year- De’Marion Finley
Defensive Player of the Year- Noah Harigel
Most Improved- Luke Bridges
EWMS CHEERLEADING
Best Attitude-Carsyn Dortch
Most Improved-Elianna Morales
Most Determined-Megan McGhee
Best All-Around-Anna Adams
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Seeks Grant For Water, Wastewater Improvements
December 6, 2017
The Town of Century is applying for a USDA SEARCH (Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households) grant.
The grant allows financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and wastewater disposal projects.
Grant funds must be used to pay predevelopment planning costs including, feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or wastewater disposal projects; preliminary design and engineering analysis; and technical assistance for the development of an application for financial assistance.
The town will develop and submit an application to USDA Rural Development for financial assistance to fund proposed water and wastewater disposal improvements for the town.
UWF’s Pete Shinnick Named AFCA Region Coach Of The Year
December 6, 2017
UWF head coach Pete Shinnick has been named the Region 2 Coach of the Year as announced by the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday.
Shinnick has led UWF to a 10-3 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Semifinals in just the second year of the program’s history. The Argonauts have gone 6-1 away from Pensacola this season, marking the second-most road wins in the country.
Shinnick was hired at UWF on February 6, 2014. After 18 months of building the program from scratch, UWF opened play in 2016 and went 5-6, marking the most wins by a first-year Division II program in a decade. The Argonauts also collected the school’s first win over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 16 Florida Tech at home before a sellout crowd on national television. UWF played before capacity crowds at Blue Wahoos Stadium three times and ranked 18th in the NCAA with a 6,328 average.
2017 has been even more impressive. UWF went 7-3 in the regular season and tied for second in the Gulf South Conference at 5-3. The team earned votes in the top 25 on two occasions for the first time ever and became the fastest Division II start-up program to qualify for the postseason when the Argonauts grabbed the No. 6 seed in the Super Regional 2 bracket. Since that announcement, UWF has won three-consecutive road games over ranked opponents to win the Super Regional 2 Championship.
UWF will play at No. 1 Indiana University of Pennsylvania this Saturday in the national semifinals at 11 a.m. Central Time.
This marks the first time he has won the award. Shinnick has a career record of 118-55 and is 15-9 at UWF. He spent eight years – seven playing seasons – starting the program at UNC Pembroke prior to arriving in Pensacola and seven years as the head coach at Azusa Pacific.
The AFCA will announce the 2017 National Coaches of the Year winners in FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA at the American Football Coaches Awards, presented by Amway, broadcast live on the USA TODAY Sports Facebook page on Tuesday, January 9, at 8 p.m. EST. The Regional winners in each division are finalists for the National Coach of the Year.
The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year award. Prior to 1960, the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain had sponsored the program, which recognized one national Coach of the Year.