Escambia County Weekly Meeting Schedule
July 31, 2017
The following Escambia County meetings are planned for the week of July 31 – August 4:
Tuesday, August 1
Planning Board – Rezoning, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 8:30 a.m. (Agenda)
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 1:30 p.m. (Agenda)
Wednesday, August 2
Contractor Competency Board Exam Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 8:30 a.m.
Contractor Competency Board Regular Meeting-Public Hearings, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 9 a.m.
Sick Leave Pool Committee, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 11 a.m.
Development Review Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1 p.m.
Thursday, August 3
Attorney/Client Session, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 8:30 a.m.
Board of Adjustment-Administrative Appeal, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 8:30 a.m. (Agenda)
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review Session, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 9 a.m.
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 4:30 p.m.
BCC Regular Meeting, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 5:30 p.m.
Rare July Cold Front Brings Better Weather
July 31, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
District Grant Allows Jay To Upgrade Water System
July 31, 2017
More than $160,000 in grant funding from the Northwest Florida Water Management District helped the town of Jay upgrade its water system with more than 4,500 linear feet of waterline.
The funding, part of the District’s Water Supply Development Grant program, allowed the town to eliminate a number of dead-end water lines and create a looped system that will improve water quality, water system capacity, and water pressure.
The new looped system will also reduce water loss for the town, located in Santa Rosa County.
“Our Water Supply Development Grant program has made positive impacts in so many smaller communities in northwest Florida,” said District Governing Board member Gus Andrews. “The District is proud to work with the community leaders in Jay to not only improve water quality for the residents but to also protect our area’s natural resources.”
The new waterline was installed along Booker Lane, Spring Street, School Street, and Max Lane. Total cost of the project is $162,955.88.
“I am extremely excited to see the Town of Jay be named a grant recipient again this year,” said Representative Jayer Williamson, whose district includes part of Santa Rosa County. “A quality water supply is essential for a higher quality of life and I am thankful for the water management district’s commitment to rural communities across northwest Florida.”
This marks the second project the town of Jay has completed with funding from the Water Supply Development Grant program.
In February 2016, the District provided $687,024 to upgrade more than 10,000 linear feet of water mains throughout the town’s water system. The upgraded water mains improved water quality and water pressure within the system while also reducing water loss.
“The Water Supply Development Grant program came in extremely handy for the town to help us replace all those lines and increase our water volume,” Jay mayor Kurvin Qualls said. “It was very important to us and we are appreciative.”
‘Team Imported’ Wins Softball Tournament
July 31, 2017
“Team Imported” took first place in the First Annual Northview Baseball Softball Tournament at Bradbery Park in Walnut Hill. All proceeds from the coed tournament will benefit the baseball program at Northview High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Traffic: Nightly Traffic Shift On Nine Mile At Highway 29
July 31, 2017
East and westbound traffic on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass in Escambia County will be reduced to one lane from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Sunday, July 30. Eastbound traffic will be shifted to the inside westbound travel lane as the contractor prepares the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck. Traffic control officers will be on site to help direct traffic.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Wahoos Fall To Birmingham
July 31, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos center fielder Gabriel Guerrero smacked a line drive over the center field wall to tie the Birmingham Barons in the seventh inning.
But the Barons scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead, 4-2, and overcame the Blue Wahoos in front of 5,399 at Regions Field.
Birmingham catcher Brett Austin scored on a line drive single by shortstop Danny Medrick for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Then, DH Nick Basto singled to left field to drive in Medrick.
Pensacola fell to 18-18 and remain tied with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for first in the Southern League South Division in the second half. Pensacola is 58-48 overall and won the first half title. They are the first Southern League team since the Tennessee Smokies (2009-2011) to win a Southern League record four straight halves.
Birmingham got back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead, 2-1, when center fielder Hunter Jones and left fielder Courtney Hawkins, who both clobbered the ball over the left field wall. It was Jones sixth homer of the season and the seventh for Hawkins.
Pensacola scored first in the fourth inning to go up, 1-0, when Josh VanMeter singled to center and stole second base — his 12th steal in 14 attempts. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored when Blue Wahoos first baseman Brian O’Grady bounced into a force out.
Pensacola starter Keury Mella pitched six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, and he struck out five.
Pensacola reliever Tyler Rainey made his first Double-A appearance and got the loss, giving up two runs, one earned on three hits and struck out one in his one inning of work Sunday.
Birmingham starter Jordan Stephens rebounded from allowing five runs in 5.2 innings in his last start against Chattanooga, to pitch seven innings and give up two runs to Pensacola on six hits and four walks and struck out six. He is 2-3 with a 2.10 ERA this season.
Escambia District Child Care Registration
July 31, 2017
The first day of school in Escambia County this year is August 10. As parents get ready for the kids to return to school, many also need to make their arrangements for after-school child care.
Some of the schools offer their own program on-site, while many others work with Campfire, Childhood Dreams, Creative School Age Child Care, the YMCA, or Angel’s Aftercare.
Registration for all on-site child care begins Wednesday, August 2, 2017.
“Our mission is to assist families by providing affordable, high quality child care on-site,” explained Aisha Adkison the ECSD School-Age Child Care Coordinator. “Our schools’ points of contact, as well as the other agencies who work with us on our campuses, will be available to help families with the registration process starting next week. We all urge parents to make contact as early as possible, to help everyone plan for a smooth transition on the first day of school.”
Contact numbers for each childcare program are listed below.
Escambia County School District School-Age Child Care Registration Information
Mission: Quality, Affordable, On-site, School-Age Child Care
Registration Begins: August 2, 2017
District-Operated Programs (school and POC):
Bellview Elementary School, Joanne Windham, 850-941-6064
Bratt Elementary School, Brandy Pierce, 850-327-6154
Ensley Elementary School, Sylvia Purifoy-Herbert, 850-474-5336
Global Learning Center, Adrienne Green, 850-430-7594
L.D. McArthur Elementary School, Angela James, 850-494-5628
Contracted Sites:
Camp Fire Gulf Winds: 850-476-1760
Longleaf Elementary School and Scenic Heights Elementary School.
Childhood Dreams: 850-572-1131
Brentwood Elementary School, Myrtle Grove Elementary School, and Pleasant Grove Elementary School.
Creative School Age Child Care: 850-479-7814
Jim Allen Elementary School, Beulah Elementary School, Blue Angels Elementary School, Cordova Park Elementary School, Hellen Caro Elementary School, Lipscomb Elementary School, Molino Park Elementary School, Pine Meadow Elementary School, A.K. Suter Elementary School, Ransom Middle School, and N.B. Cook Elementary School.
YMCA: 850-478-1222
Ferry Pass Elementary School, Holm Elementary School, Sherwood Elementary School, Bellview Middle School, Brown Barge Middle School, Ferry Pass Middle School, Woodham Middle School, and Workman Middle School.
Angel’s Aftercare: 850-288-5356
Navy Point Elementary School
Preteen Dies From Sunday Morning House Fire
July 30, 2017
Update: De’Anah East, 12, has passed away as the result of house fire Sunday morning, according to family members. She was said to be the only person home Sunday morning at the time of the fire.
A preteen was hospitalized after a house fire this morning in Escambia County.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the home in the 6600 block of Westmont Street about 7 a.m. Sunday after 911 received multiple calls reporting a structure fire with flames and smoke showing.
The first crew arrived on scene at 7:05 a.m. to find flames coming from the single family home. Crews from Ensley, Bellview, Brent, Ferry Pass, Cantonment, Osceola and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire REscue responded. The fire was extinguished at 8:22 a.m. The home was a total loss with four residents displaced.
A preteen female was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital. An update on her condition was not available.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Fire officials found no evidence of a working smoke detector in the home. If you do not have a smoke detector in your home and need assistance, both the county and the city have programs to help. For more information, contact Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376). Residents within city of Pensacola limits may call 850-436-5200 for smoke detector installation assistance.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: Suspect Captured After Crashing Into Alabama Deputy
July 30, 2017
UPDATE: This suspect has surrendered to Baldwin County authorities.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect they say intentionally crashed into a deputy following a chase early Saturday morning.
About 1 a.m. a deputy watched as a white Ford truck ran a four-way stop at County Roads 32 and 87. A chase ensued with the suspect wrecking just north of Highway 98.
“As the Deputy approached the vehicle attempted to head north and then rammed the Deputy head on. The suspect jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot,” a press release stated. The deputy was treated and released at South Baldwin Hospital for head and shoulder injuries.
The suspect has been identified as 21-year old Dennis Coburn. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.
Motorcyclist Ejected On To Utility Trailer In Crash
July 30, 2017
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash Saturday on Highway 95 at East Roberts Road.
The motorcyclist apparently collided with a pickup and utility trailer. He was ejected from his motorcycle and came to rest on the utility trailer, according to witnesses. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital as a possible “trauma alert”.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
