Photos: Fire Destroys Vehicle Near Bratt
October 16, 2018
Fire destroyed a vehicle near Bratt Monday afternoon after driver of a Toyota Highlander pulled the vehicle off the roadway along Highway 168 near North Pine Barren Road.
The fire was extinguished by the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured above and below: A vehicle fire Monday afternoon in Bratt before it is extinguished by firefighters (bottom). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Thousands Of Florida Prison Inmates Evacuated After Michael
October 16, 2018
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has announced evacuations of inmates following structural damage to facilities caused by Hurricane Michael.
The following facilities were evacuated:
- Bay Correctional Facility*; 959
- Gulf Correctional Institution and Annex; 2,618 inmates
- Portion of Calhoun Correctional Institution; 595 inmates
Gulf Correctional Institution and Annex, Gulf Forestry Camp (evacuated prior to the storm) and Panama City Work Release Center (evacuated prior to the storm) are closed until further damage assessment can be completed.
The evacuated facilities sustained significant damage to roofs and security infrastructure. Staff and inmates at these facilities were not injured during the storm. All inmates were secure and had access to food and drinking water through the duration of the storm.
Evacuations took place as soon as the roads leading to the facilities were passable and safe for inmate transport.
Inmate locations are updated on www.dc.state.fl.us within 24 hours of relocation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Wraps Up Undefeated Season With Win Over Atmore
October 16, 2018
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles wrapped up an undefeated season Monday night with a 22-0 win over the Eagles of Escambia County Middle School (Atmore).
The EWMS Eagles outscored opponents 176-12 in five games. Only Saraland scored against Ernest Ward, the only middle school football team in Escambia County, FL.
Ernest Ward was scheduled to meet Saraland again Thursday night, but that game has been canceled.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward SGA Accepting Donations For Hurricane Michael Victims
October 16, 2018
The Ernest Ward Middle School SGA is hosting a drive for Hurricane Michael victims.
Donations can be made in EWMS front office, or sent with students through October 26. Items accepted include:
Cleaning:
- Mr. Clean Magic Erasers
- Clorox
- Windex
- Pledge
- Dawn Dish Soap
- Detergent
- Clorox Wipes
Food:
(nonperishable, most victims are without a microwave/heat source)
- Canned Food
- Can Openers
- Gallons and bottles of water
- Crackers
- Trail Mix
- Bread/Tortillas
- Instant Grits
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Canned Nuts
- Canned Meat and fish
- Powdered Milk/Shelf Milk
- Granola bars
- Gatorade/Powerade
- Instant Oatmeal
- Instant Rice
- Cereal
Entertainment:
- Coloring Books
- Crayons/Colored Pencils
- Reading Books (all age
- levels)
- Board Games
- Card Games
- Dominos
- Word Search/Crossword
- Puzzles
- Sudoku Books
Hygiene:
- Deodorant
- Toilet paper
- Soap
- Floss
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Face Wash
- Lotion
- Hand Sanitizer
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Ponytail Holders, Bobby Pins
- Hair Brushes/Combs
- Baby Wipes
- Mosquito Repellent
Joseph Warren “Joey” Huss, Jr.
October 16, 2018
Mr. Joseph Warren “Joey” Huss, Jr., age 55 of Wolf Log Road in Flomaton, passed away Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Junction Texas.
Mr. Huss was born in Odessa, TX and was a long-time resident of Flomaton. He worked as a welding inspector for a number of years. He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Huss was preceded in death by his step-father, Charlie Kilgore; and a step-brother, Ryan Shultz.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene Huss of Flomaton, AL; his mother, Daphne Kilgore of Perdido Key, FL; his father and step-mother, Joe and Bert Huss of Franklin, AL; a son, Josh (Kristen) Huss of Flomaton, AL; one brother, Todd (Janet) Schultz of Brewton, AL; and a sister, Sandy Jones of Perdido Key, FL.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 19, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Dorsey McDonald officiating. Interment will follow in Catawba Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 P.M. until 9 P.M.
Pallbearers will be: Chris Hoomes, Chris Griffin, Steve Turner, Gary Maher, Gary Lawson, Donnie Lasko.
Patricia Ann Turner
October 16, 2018
Patricia Ann Grimes Turner was born on May 7, 1942 in Byrneville, Florida, to her beloved parents, Jack and Daisy Grimes. She was delivered by Mrs. Callie Shaw, neighbor, and the mother of her future lifelong best friend. She married the man of her dreams, love of her life, father of her five children, and husband of 60 years, Melvin ‘Cowboy’ Turner in June of 1958. After her marriage, she moved to Flomaton, Alabama where she spent years raising her children into kind, and caring people, who in turn gave her fifteen beautiful and sweet grandchildren. Her house was a home that was never completely neat and tidy like she always longed for it to be. Instead, it was always a home full of children running, and playing; neighbors, family, and friends eating talking, and always laughing. Her home was a favored gathering place of nieces, nephews, and neighborhood kids alike because there they always felt welcomed, and unconditionally loved, and besides she was a wonderful cook. She was an excellent listener of teenage drama, referee to arguing children, and soother of crying babies. Her favorite pastimes included teaching her children and grandchildren an appreciation of the great musical oldies, especially Elvis, shopping with her daughters, cooking for large crowds, and rocking her grand, and great-grandbabies.
Because of Patricia’s sweet and gentle spirit, she left this world a better place than she found it. She died on Monday morning, October 15, 2018 after suffering from a long ugly illness that robbed her of her very essence and precious memories. In the hours prior to her death, she was surrounded by the presence and love of her husband, children, and grandchildren.
She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her husband, Melvin Turner of Flomaton, Alabama; her three sons and daughters-in-laws, Roger and Tammy Turner of Flomaton, Alabama, Michael and Debbie Turner of Bay Minette, AL, Burt and Deborah Turner of Flomaton, Alabama; her daughters, Kimberly Gafford of Flomaton, Alabama, and Cassie and son-in-law, Luke Daffron of Millport, AL; her grandchildren, Cody Turner, Ashley Knowles, Brett Gafford, Allison Mulder, Olivia Turner, Jacob Turner, Amelia Turner, Thomas Turner, Tabitha Hendricks, Rebekah Turner, Nick Turner, Stephanie Turner, Cooper Daffron, Kate Daffron; her great-grandsons, Grayson and Garrison Knowles, and Emmett Mulder and Brayden Hendricks who will miss their Maw Maw’s love and presence more than they will ever truly know. Patricia also leaves behind her only surviving sibling her baby brother, Johnny Grimes of Byrneville, Florida. The rest of Patricia’s survivors include her sister-in-law’s family, brothers-in-law and their families, her brothers’ and sisters’ families, and two of the best friends a woman could ask for, Alice Faye Chavers, and Lily Ruth Graves.
Patricia experienced deep and mournful sorrow in her life with the passing of her parents, Jack and Daisy Grimes; her three brothers, Ed, Joe, and Jerry Grimes; her four sisters, Luverne Smith, Tommie Campbell, Sylvia Moore, and Emma Fay Bell, and her oldest and precious grandson, Lee Turner.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 to 9 P.M.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 2 P.M. with Rev. Johnny W. Lambeth officiating.
Interment will be in Pleasant Home Holiness Church Cemetery, Flomaton, AL.
Pallbearers will be Mrs. Turner’s grandsons.
North Highway 99 Repaving Set To Be Fast Tracked
October 15, 2018
Escambia County is set to fast track a planned resurfacing of North Highway 99 from Walnut Hill to the Alabama State line.
The project was planned for 2024-25, but the Escambia County Commission will vote Thursday on advancing $1,726,325 available in Local Option Sales Tax to this fiscal year and begin the construction solicitation process.
The 8.2 mile roadway runs from Highway 97, past Highway 4 in Bratt and continues to the state line. It is a major north-south transportation corridor for the area. In addition to the school buses that serve Bratt Elementary on North Highway 99, buses travel the road twice-daily between Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
The asphalt is in poor condition due to high traffic volume, and heavy truck traffic, according to county officials.
The recommended improvements include repair of road base failures, leveling of existing asphalt, installation of a geogrid over widened joints, paving the entire roadway, and restriping 12-foot travel lanes.
The Escambia County Commission will vote on the proposal Thursday evening.
Pictured top: North Highway 99 in Bratt near Highway 168. Pictured below: A closer look at asphalt conditions. Pictured below: North Highway 99 at Highway 4 and (bottom) Highway 164. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ground Zero: ‘Unimaginable Destruction’ In Mexico Beach (With Gallery)
October 15, 2018
This is ground zero.
Hurricane Michael made landfall in Mexico Beach about about 12:30 last Wednesday afternoon as one of the strongest hurricanes on record to hit the United States. The high-end Category 4 hurricane was the third-strongest by pressure, the fourth most powerful by wind speed.
The 155-mph maximum sustained winds with a 9 to 14 foot storm surge caused what Gov. Rick Scott called “unimaginable destruction”. Lives were lost; many are still unaccounted for in Mexico Beach.
Mexico Beach was a quiet little town of just over 1,000 people. It was not a huge tourist destination with the hustle and bustle of Panama City Beach. There were no traffic lights. It was the “Forgotten Beach” a little seaside community, a quiet vacation spot.
But now it’s gone.
House after house was either blown or washed away. In may areas, nothing more than a foundation remains.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Mexico Beach, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Sheena Carach, click to enlarge.
State Freezes Property Insurance Rates After Michael
October 15, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday directed the state’s top insurance regulator to freeze any potential property-insurance rate increases for 90 days as homeowners and businesspeople grapple with massive damage from Hurricane Michael.
Scott also directed Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier to require rescinding for 90 days all policy non-renewals or cancellations that had been issued in the days leading up to Michael to give policyholders more time to find coverage. In another move, insurance policyholders will be given an extra 90 days to provide required information to insurers.
It was not immediately clear how many policyholders could be affected by the directives. But state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, in a statement released by Scott’s office, pointed to the massive damage caused by Michael, which made landfall Wednesday in Mexico Beach as a Category 4 storm and pounded Panama City and other areas of the Panhandle and the state’s Big Bend.
“Entire communities have been wiped off the map,” Patronis, a Panama City native, said in the statement. “I can’t say this enough: The damage is catastrophic. As our neighbors and communities assess the damage and start recovering, the last thing they need to worry about is if their insurance coverage will be dropped for non-payment. Our focus is saving lives, restoring power and repairing communications system. I’m calling on insurance companies to keep that at the front of their minds and not take advantage of this disaster.”
It remains too early to pinpoint the amount of damage caused by Michael. But as an indication, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America issued a preliminary estimate Thursday that said insured losses could total $2 billion to $4.5 billion.
The state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has set up temporary centers in Panama City and Tallahassee to help policyholders with claims. The centers will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a Sam’s Club at 1707 West 23rd St. in Panama City, and at a Walmart Supercenter at 4021 Lagniappe Way in Tallahassee.
Insurance claims will be part of the recovery from Michael that will take months to play out.
Shorter term, state and local officials are focused on issues such as restoring electricity, with utility crews converging on Northwest Florida from various parts of the country. As of noon Sunday, 191,361 utility customers lacked power, according to Scott’s office.
Gulf Power, which serves hard-hit areas including Bay County, released a schedule Sunday that showed gradual power restoration expected in its service territory over the next 10 days.
Areas of Panama City Beach, for example, were expected to be restored Sunday and Monday, but downtown Panama City and communities such as Callaway and Lynn Haven are estimated to be restored by Oct. 24. Areas of Washington, Jackson and Holmes counties are gradually expected to be restored by Friday.
“We know that our customers are counting on us, so they can begin rebuilding their lives,” Stan Connally, chairman, CEO and president of the Pensacola-based utility said in a prepared statement. “We are working safely and aggressively around the clock to get the lights back on.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Higher Humidity, Chance Of Showers Return
October 15, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.