Century Kitchen Fire Causes Minor Damage
November 1, 2017
Fire caused minor damage in a Century home Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to a smoke alarm at a home on Hilltop Road and found smoke coming from the brick house. The fire was contained to the kitchen area and quickly extinguished.
The fire reportedly began when an unattended pot on the stove boiled dry and melted a plastic item of some sort that was being heated in the pot. There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
November 1, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
· Nine Mile Road (State Road (S.R.)10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road- Eight Mile Creek Road, south of Nine Mile Road, will be reduced to one lane from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 as crews install drainage pipe. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct.31 through Thursday, Nov. 2 as crews perform construction activities:
· Alternating lane closures east and westbound I-10 and north and southbound U.S. 29.
· Intermittent closure of the U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp and the U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound ramp. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
· Intermittent closure of the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south ramp (Exit 10A). Traffic will be detoured to Exit 10B.
· Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 north ramp (Exit 10B).
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge-This week drivers will continue to encounter alternating east and westbound lane closures between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17) and on Scenic Highway near the I-10 interchange from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities. In addition, I-10 eastbound will be intermittently reduced to two lanes during the day as crews perform paving work.
· U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as follows:
· Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: The nightly eastbound traffic shift onto the westbound inside travel lane continue as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck.
· U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage operations.
· S.R. 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway– Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. continue as crews perform milling and paving operations, curb replacement, sidewalk repairs, and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Alternating lane closures continue Untreiner Avenue as crews perform jack and bore operations.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures on Bayfront Parkway between 14th Avenue and the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. this week through Saturday, Nov. 4 as crews work on drainage improvements. On Tuesday, Oct. 31, westbound lane restrictions will be in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
· S.R. 292 (Pace Boulevard) Driveway Construction- Northbound traffic on Pace Boulevard can expect lane closures at Jordan Street from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 to 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 as crews perform activities associated with driveway construction.
· I-10 at W Nine Mile Road Utility Work Pacing Operations- Utility crews will perform work on the Navy Federal Reconductor project over I-10 at Nine Mile Road Thursday, Nov 2. Motorists may encounter minor delays from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 to 1 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3 as law enforcement assist with two 15-minute traffic pacing operations.
Santa Rosa County
· I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) – Widening efforts on I-10 and reconstruction of the Avalon Boulevard overpass continues. Alternating I-10 lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Friday, Nov. 3. Drivers can also expect lane restrictions on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB Boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary will remain restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide through completion of the project in late 2018.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Thousands Attend Fall Festivals, Halloween Events (With Gallery)
November 1, 2017
Thousands of people attended fall festivals and Halloween events across the North Escambia area Tuesday night.
One of the largest was the annual community-wide fall festival at Victory Assembly of God on Highway 29 near Molino. The event was designed to provide a safe activity for attendees from across the community. The festival featured a variety of games, a bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food and candy.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from the annual community-wide fall festival at Victory Assembly of God in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jennifer Luker Named Ernest Ward Middle Teacher Of The Year
November 1, 2017
Jennifer Luker has been named Teacher of the Year at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Luker is a 2001 graduate of Northview High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of West Florida in 2006 and started the first of her 12 years teaching. She taught at the elementary level for four years, obtaining her master’s degree in educational library media. She started teaching at Ernest Ward in 2010, where she has taught math, science, language arts and history.
Luker and her husband Jonathan have one son, Noah.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Football Playoff Point Standings Released
November 1, 2017
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released current projected football playoff point standings for local schools:
District 1-Class 6A
Escambia 37.88
Pine Forest 34.38
Tate 33.38
Washington 29.22
District 2-Class 6A
Navarre 37.50
Gulf Breeze 33.38
Milton 31.63
Pace 27.50
District 1- Class 5A
West Florida 39.75
Mosley 32.00
Arnold 29.44
Pensacola 28.38
Bay 27.78
Region 1-1A
Baker 40.22
Chipley 37.56
Holmes County 35.89
Vernon 34.38
Jay 33.67
Bozeman 32.13
Freeport 31.30
Graceville 27.75
Northview 26.11
Beginning this season, district play has been eliminated in Classes 1A-4A, with teams making the playoffs based on a points system. Classes 5A-8A retain districts, with the district champion receiving an automatic playoff bid.
For Classes 1A-4A, no region or district play is required, with each school controlling its own schedule. Four teams from each region (16 total statewide) will make the playoffs based on the new points system.
District play for Class 5A-8A remains, with 32 teams qualifying for the playoffs in each class. District champions will receive an automatic bid to the playoff and will receive a 1-4 seed based on the new points system. Four wild cards will be taken from each region based on points following the conclusion of Week 11.
For more information on the points system, click here for a informative pdf.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Facing 40 Years For Hammer Attack
November 1, 2017
An Escambia County man is facing up to 40 year in prison after attacking a female victim with a hammer.
Charles Clark was found guilty of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felony battery, assault and criminal mischief.
The charges arose from a domestic incident that occurred on February 13. Clark waited outside the victim’s home for her to arrive. When the victim arrived, Clark attacked the victim by striking her with a hammer multiple times. Clark threatened and punched another victim on scene before fleeing the victim’s residence.
Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford remanded Clark on no bond and scheduled sentencing for December 20. Clark qualifies for sentencing as a habitual violent felony offender and is facing up to 40 years in prison.
Clerk Childers Returns $914K To Escambia County
November 1, 2017
Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Pam Childers has returned $914,107.81 to the Escambia County Commission.
Under state law, her office is required to return excess revenue at the end of each fiscal year.
“The first is the savings of the finance budget, and the second is the effect of additional revenues generated in the official records function..the savings in the Finance department totals $429,042..the Official Records department has excess funds of $485,065 which is predominately the impact of an upward turn in the economy,” Childers said in letter to the board.
The commission will decide at a future date where the funds will be allocated.
Florida Looks At Fuel Reserves For Future Storms
November 1, 2017
Florida could be moving closer to stockpiling fuel for future hurricanes or other disasters.
Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, filed a proposal (SB 700) Tuesday that would establish a task force within the state Division of Emergency Management to come up with recommendations for a strategic fuel reserve.
The proposal, filed for the 2018 legislative session, doesn’t outline costs or how much fuel could be stored for a rainy day, but it would require the recommendations to be completed by April 30, 2019.
“It is our obligation to ensure the safe and timely evacuation of our citizens and guests who are in harm’s way leading up to a natural disaster,” Farmer said in a statement. “In the days prior to Hurricane Irma, it became readily apparent that our fuel supplies could simply not keep up with the demand for gasoline. This created a situation where many Floridians were unable to travel to safety, or to properly prepare for the storm.”
The measure was filed as the House Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness has included among its charges the exploration of a centralized state gasoline reserve.
“Gas wasn’t readily accessible,” House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said Sept. 19, when creating the committee. “Having a committee that looks at why does a state, in the richest country in the world, the third largest (state), why don’t we have a significant gas reserve in the central part of the state so that’s not an issue moving forward for our citizens?”
Select Committee Chairwoman Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami, said last week she expects bills to come out in mid-December that could include fuel depots or distribution points.
“I think the onus is on the state to prepare for the worst-case scenarios,” Nunez said Thursday.
Florida strained to keep up with fuel demand as Hurricane Irma neared the state in early September.
As 6.5 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes, others scrambled for last-minute hurricane supplies. Motorists reported spending up to 12 hours on routes that typically are covered in six or seven hours.
The situation grew worse as ports, where fuel is delivered to the state, were closed due to storm winds.
Rushing fuel to South Florida before the storm, the Florida Highway Patrol served as escorts for tanker trucks.
A month later, when Hurricane Nate threatened the Gulf Coast, Gov. Rick Scott acknowledged that Florida was better prepared for Nate than Irma because there weren’t concerns about fuel shortages.
“With regard to Irma it was right after (Hurricane) Harvey, the refineries were shut down, so going into Irma we were low on fuel,” Scott said on Oct. 6. “We were worried that we wouldn’t have enough fuel to make sure everybody could evacuate.”
On Thursday, Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to determine how to increase fuel capacity during emergencies.
Scott gave the transportation agency until January to complete its findings.
“Increasing the availability of fuel for evacuations at Florida gas stations is a top priority,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Wrong Way Driver Crashes Into Semi On I-10
November 1, 2017
A crash involving a wrong-way vehicle on I-10 left an Escambia County woman in critical condition early Wednesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 27-year old Chasidy Nichole Peace was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of I-10 for several miles when she collided with a semi-truck and trailer driven by 53-year old Mario Juan Vazquez Olive of Hileah, FL. Troopers said she drove under the trailer being pulled by Olive, causing semi and trailer to flip.
Troopers said Peace reportedly drove the wrong way on I-10 from Davis Highway to Mile Marker 3 near Beulah where the 4:01 a.m. accident occurred.
Peace was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Olive was not injured.
Any charges against Peace are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
Tara Cheyenne Hammond
November 1, 2017
Ms. Tara Cheyenne Hammond, 23, went to her eternal home on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, in Flomaton, Alabama.
Cheyenne was a native of Pensacola, FL and a lifelong resident of Flomaton, AL. She was a 2012 graduate of Flomaton High School and a 2014 graduate of Pensacola State College as a Massage Therapist. She is preceded in death by her great- great-grandmother, Rhoda Sapp; great-grandfather, Joseph Gray, Jr.; special friends, Cody Johns, Allen Spears and Jonathan Ray Wilson.
She is survived by her father, Glenn F. and Danielle Hammond II of Walnut Hill, FL; mother, Lisa Watkins of Flomaton, AL; maternal grandparents, Marty and Ann Gray of Flomaton, AL; paternal grandparents, Glenn F. Hammond, Sr. (Wanda Dunlap) of Cantonment, FL and Dorothy “Dee” and Cecil Counts of Dayton, OH; one brother, Israel Hammond of Walnut Hill, FL; uncle, Aaron Hammond of Pensacola, FL; aunt, Rhonda and Scott Lassiter of Flomaton, AL; cousin, Hunter Lassiter of Flomaton, AL; best friends, Felicia and Patrick Perdue and God-children, Colton, Kadahlyn and Bristol of Flomaton, AL, Kalanea Fore of Flomaton, AL; and big brother, Corey “Buzz” Busbee of Flomaton, AL.
Funeral services will be Sunday, November 5, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Patrick Perdue officiating.
Burial will follow at the Rock Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 4, 2017, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Steve Stanton, Kenny Higdon, Justin Nash, Bricen Iannone, Josh Bondurant and Jason Jones.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donation to J.M. Tate FFA Foundation at 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Cheyenne was involved with and always participated in J.M. Tate Foundation’s Special Needs Rodeo, which was near and dear to her heart.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.