One Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash After Avoiding Deer
December 31, 2018
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Monday afternoon on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road. The driver reportedly attempted to avoid a deer, according to witnesses. Escambia County EMS and the Molino, McDavid and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, and the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad, UWF Student Continues Tonight On ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire’
December 31, 2018
Tate High School’s 2017 valedictorian and current University of West Florida student Samantha Brown will return to “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” tonight with $10,000 in her bank and her sights set on a million dollar win.
“Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” airs at 6:30 p.m. on our news partner WEAR 3.
Pictured: Samantha Brown from her Monday night appearance on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.” Photo courtesy Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four People, Including Two Children, Injured In Bratt Head-on Collision
December 31, 2018
Four people were injured in a head-on collision Sunday night in Bratt.
According to a witness, the driver of a Ford Taurus crossed the centerline of West Highway 4 near Still Road and into the path of a Mercedes-Benz SUV occupied by two adults and two young children about 6:15 p.m.
The driver of the Taurus along with an adult female and the two children from the Mercedes were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The mother and two children were treated and released, according to family members.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Troopers have not released additional information.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Honored During Tournament Of Roses Parade
December 31, 2018
Bryan Herrington, an organ and tissue donor from Escambia County, was honored on the 2019 Donate Life Rose Parade float on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. He is being featured among the float’s 44 floragraphs — a portrait made of organic materials such as seeds, spices and crushed flowers — that honor organ, tissue and eye donors from across the country.
“Bryan was all about being a servant and helping people,” said Terri Herrington, Bryan’s wife. “He would never have guessed that one decision could help so many people.”
Bryan was a husband and father of five, one son is currently a freshman at Tate High School. He was the owner of a family roofing business. In July 2004, he slipped while repairing a damaged roof, resulting in a terrible fall. Bryan never regained consciousness from that injury. Many years prior, he had registered as an organ and tissue donor. Because of Bryan’s generous gifts, he has helped save and restore the lives of 16 people through organ and tissue donation.
“Bryan made a life-changing difference for many people with his gifts,” said Rony Thomas, president and CEO of LifeNet Health, which nominated Herrington to be on the float and is sponsoring his family’s attendance at the parade. “We are proud to honor his legacy and hope he inspires others to make the selfless decision to register.”
The Donate Life Rose Parade float serves as a memorial to organ and tissue donors and a platform for donor families, living donors and transplant recipients to inspire the world to save and heal those in need through the gift of life. Today, more than 115,000 men, women and children are waiting for life-saving organ transplant. One organ donor can help save the lives of eight people and restore the health of more than 150 through tissue donation.
Pictured: Family members of Bryan Herrington finished a floragraph in his honor during a local ceremony. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Night House Fire Victim Passes Away
December 31, 2018
The victim of a Christmas night fire in Escambia County has passed away.
He was identified by family as Ronnie Owens, according to our news partners at WEAR 3.
Owens suffered burn injuries in the fire about 11:30 p.m. December 25 in the 900 block of Rentz Avenue in Warrington.
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 11:34 p.m. reporting the residential structure fire.
Crews arrived on scene at 11:43 p.m. to find light smoke coming from the residence, with a report of an occupant still inside. Firefighters were able to locate the adult male occupant, who was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in trauma alert condition and later transferred to a burn unit in Mobile.
The fire was called under control at 11:59 p.m., with major damage throughout the home.
Smoke alarms were present in the residence, but it is unknown if they alerted the occupant, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Showers, More Thunderstorms
December 31, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy dense fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
New Year’s Day: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 63. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 37.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 40.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
ECUA Collections One Day Later Than Normal This Week; Christmas Tree Disposal Too
December 31, 2018
All ECUA sanitation collections in Escambia County (garbage, recycling and yard trash) will be made one day later than normal this week due to the New Year’s holiday.
And if you are looking to get rid of a Christmas tree, ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties may place real wreaths and Christmas trees at the curb with their regular yard waste collection. Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees before placing them at the curb, and to ensure that trees, or portions thereof, are no more than 6 feet in length. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash and should not be placed in the recycling cans or green garbage containers.
Report Details Growth Of Medical Marijuana In Florida
December 31, 2018
Despite a bumpy rollout that has drawn lawsuits and criticism from legislators, a new report shows the number of Floridians using medical marijuana continues to grow.
In the first nine months of 2018, more than 136,000 patients across the state received certifications from 1,070 physicians to receive medical marijuana.
In all, those patients received 174,254 certifications — some could have received multiple certifications — for a host of medical conditions that qualify them to use marijuana. That included 41,143 certifications, or nearly 24 percent of the overall total, for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The report, issued by the Physician Certification Pattern Review Panel, also shows that physicians in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties accounted for more than 30 percent of the certifications between January and Sept. 30.
The average medical-marijuana dose ordered was 372 milligrams per day, according to the data. But in Highlands County, where 470 patients were certified to receive the drugs, the average dose was 3,956 milligrams.
And in Nassau County, where two patients were reported as being certified, the average dose ordered was 17 milligrams.
While the report provides insight into how Florida physicians are responding to Florida’s burgeoning medical-marijuana market, panel co-chair Sandra Schwemmer, an osteopathic physician in Tavernier, said the information needs to be further analyzed before drawing conclusions.
Moreover, members of the panel agreed that the report doesn’t provide a full picture of Florida’s market because it doesn’t capture information from dispensaries. They have asked the Legislature to authorize the collection of the data.
Thirty-one states allow patients to use medical marijuana, including nine states that also have approved marijuana for recreational purposes.
Florida lawmakers first authorized the limited use of non-euphoric, low-THC marijuana in 2014, but Gov. Rick Scott’s administration drew criticism and legal challenges for the way it implemented the law. Voters in 2016 overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.
The following year, lawmakers passed legislation to implement the 2016 constitutional amendment, though that law also faces legal challenges.
The law required Florida’s two medical boards to form a joint committee that examines and analyzes the ordering patterns for physicians who certify patients. The panel is required to annually submit a report to the governor and legislative leaders. The new report is the first time such a document has been produced and submitted to the Legislature.
The report must include data by individual physician and information in the aggregate by county and statewide.
Data is taken from two sources: the state’s physician licensure database program and the statewide medical-marijuana use registry, which houses a variety of information about issues such as physician certifications, qualifying medical conditions and average maximum daily doses ordered.
Florida patients who suffer from a variety of ailments can receive medical marijuana. Specific diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease and glaucoma qualify patients. Also, patients who require pain management or suffer from similar conditions to the specific ones listed in the law can qualify if certified by physicians.
While medical-marijuana advocates have long touted the benefits of the substance for cancer patients, the data indicate that less than 10 percent of all medical-marijuana certifications, or 17,133, were for cancer patients.
Broward County led the state in the number of certifications for post-traumatic stress disorder, with 4,597. PTSD accounted for 35 percent of all certifications for medical marijuana in the county, according to the data.
Steven Rosenberg, a West Palm Beach physician who chairs the certifications review panel, said the PTSD certifications caught his attention and that he wanted to make sure nothing was afoul.
“If there are people who are taking advantage of the law by using a broad condition, I have some concern about that,” he said.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
One Injured In Escambia House Fire; Six People Left Without Home
December 31, 2018
One person was injured in a house fire Sunday night in Escambia County.
One adult female was transported to West Florida Hospital. Four adults and two children were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross following the blaze in the 6900 block of Gulley Lane.
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 7:56 p.m. reporting the residential structure fire. Crews arrived on scene at 7:59 p.m. to find light smoke showing from the front door of a single-story residence. Upon investigation, crews found a working fire in the kitchen. The fire was called under control at approximately 8:07 p.m.
The kitchen received moderate fire damage, and there was smoke damage throughout the home. There were no smoke alarms present.
The fire represents the seventh red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath campaign, an Escambia County collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 in the city of Pensacola.
Dalton Orie Morgan
December 31, 2018
Mr. Dalton Orie Morgan, age 84, passed away Thursday, December 27, 2018, in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Morgan was a native of Baldwin County, AL and had resided most of his life in McDavid, Florida. He was a farmer raising cattle until his death; a member of the Florida Cattleman’s Association and was of the Baptist Faith. He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert Orie and Maggie Maude Morgan; son, Ricky Morgan; daughter, Gwen Morgan Carter; grandson, Josh Eubanks; three brothers and four sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carolyn E. Morgan of McDavid, FL; two sons, Keith (Barbara) Morgan of McDavid, FL and Rodney (Charlotte) Morgan of Daleville, AL; two daughters, Debbie Morgan Smith of Gulf Shores, AL and Sharon Morgan Robbins of Pensacola, FL; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 30, 2018 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Ernie Calhoun officiating.
Burial was at Godwin Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Hardin, Pat McCauley, Len Palmer, Larry Gibson, Mike Gibson and Alan Lowery.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.