American Legion Auxiliary Donates To Kingsfield Elementary Autism Units
December 18, 2018
The Christmas elves from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 340 donated loads of needed supplies to the autism units at Kingsfield Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Choir Performs At Winterfest
December 18, 2018
The Molino Park Elementary School Melodic Minors performed Saturday at Winterfest in downtown Pensacola.
With their performance of “Candy Cane Lane”, the choir won the chance to perform in a contest on Soft Rock 94.1.
Photos by Kathryn Hiscutt for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blackwater Deer Dog Hunting Case Shot Down By Florida Supreme Court
December 18, 2018
Rejecting arguments by some Northwest Florida residents, the state Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a lawsuit aimed at reining in “deer dog” hunting on property around the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area.
The justices involved in the decision — Chief Justice Charles Canady and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Jorge Labarga — unanimously declined to review a decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal.
The lawsuit, filed against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, contended that “deer dog” hunting infringed on the residents’ property rights and created a nuisance.
“Deer dog” hunting, as the name implies, involves hunters using dogs to flush out deer and has long been allowed in the state’s Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. But the legal battle stems from hunters and dogs trespassing on adjoining private land.
Property owners filed the lawsuit seeking to prevent deer-dog hunting in the wildlife-management area. The lawsuit included what is known as a “takings claim” — essentially arguing that the deer-dog problems were so serious that they were depriving the owners from enjoying their property.
Also, the lawsuit sought an injunction to require the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to “abate” the nuisance on the private property.
Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers issued an injunction requiring the commission to abate the problem. But the majority of a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected the injunction and sent the case back for entry of summary judgment in favor of the commission on the takings and nuisance claims.
The residents then asked the Supreme Court to weigh in.
“Imagine it is Thanksgiving morning and you are enjoying the outdoors with your family, when suddenly hunting dogs chasing deer at high speeds invade your private property from the adjacent state-managed lands, sending your family and grandchildren running inside and causing your livestock to injure themselves by breaking through fences while running from the hunting dogs,” attorneys for the residents wrote in a September petition to the Supreme Court. “Then imagine gunshots ringing out around your property.”
But attorneys for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation wrote in an October brief that there wasn’t a legal basis for the Supreme Court to take up the case.
by The News Service of Florida
Body Found In Shallow Grave East Of Jay At Home Where Deputies Shot Man In October
December 17, 2018
Human remains have been located at a residence east of Jay, where deputies shot a man that threatened them with a crossbow in October.
The remains were located Sunday in a shallow grave in a wooded area behind a residence at 7796 Highway 4. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said Monday that the remains are believed to be those of Felecia Kuswandy, who was reported missing May 28.
“The last spot she was seen alive is the spot where we are executing the search warrant right now,” Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson. He said the woman did not live at the address, but may have stayed there.
On October 20, deputies responded to the home where they were forced to shoot 26-year old Glen Dillon Phillips who pointed a crossbow at them. Johnson did not discuss the incident during a Monday afternoon press conference, but documentation from the State Attorney’s Office confirms the address is the same as that where the body was found.
Phillips is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, but he has not been named a suspect in connection with the discovery of the body.
The October incident began when the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Officer received a call from a man that said Phillips was threatening to kill him with the crossbow. Phillips refused to exit the Highway 4 residence for over an hour after deputies arrived.
Officers eventually made entry into the residence where they found Phillips naked and armed with a crossbow, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report. He then pointed the crossbow at the deputies, with a deputy firing a single shot that struck Phillips under the right armpit.
Three days later, Phillips told investigators that he was naked on the floor, praying to his “Earth and native God.” He advised that he pointed the crossbow at deputies, but once they identified themselves as law enforcement he threw the crossbow onto a couch before he was shot.
He said “that he believed that people or aliens may be coming to take a meteorite he had previously located because he believed it was worth a lot of money,” the FDLE report states.
He told officers that he had not used narcotics before the incident. However, his hospital records indicate that he tested positive for amphetamines, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines. During a subsequent television interview with WEAR 3, Phillips said he had been using methamphetamine before the incident.
Gonzalez UMC Provides Christmas Toys In Area Hit Hard By Hurricane Michael
December 17, 2018
A North Escambia church led the charge to make Christmas special for dozens of children impacted by Hurricane Michael.
“The young adult RISK group at Gonzalez United Methodist Church had a burden for the children that had been effected by hurricane Michael. So they teamed up with Lynn Haven Elementary to allow the parents to come and get toys for their children to have Christmas,” said Tammie Penegar.
The event was no small undertaking. There were many toy drives and collections boxes, along with multiple sponsors and volunteers, that made the toy distribution possible.
In addition to Gonzalez Methodist Church, sponsors were Molino Park Elementary School, Ransom Middle School, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Pine Meadow Veterinary Clinic, Tate High School Band, Palm Beach Tan, Nails Envy, The Floor Store, Sew Haven, Miles Antique Mall, Cross Metropolitan Community Church, Bad Boys Rod and Customer car clubs, Step 2 Company Eastern Star, and Lifeway Christian Bookstore.
Pictured: Toys for Christmas were distributed to parents at Lynn Haven Elementary school through the efforts of United Methodist Church. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Claus Visits Century Library (With Photo Gallery)
December 17, 2018
Santa Claus paid a special visit to the Century Branch Library to read a story and hear special Christmas wishes.
For a photo gallery, click here.
One young boy asked for a watch and a kitty cat. After Santa reminded him to be good, Santa handed him a treat bag. A big smile came over his face as he went back to his parent.
“Is this a watch?” he asked.
Other wishes included bicycles, ballet lessons, a microphone “to sing a song,” Lego sets, an Xbox, dollhouse, puppies and a 4-wheeler.
“Are you sure you are big enough for a 4-wheeler?” asked Santa.
“I know how to ride my bike without training wheels,” he said.
Another child also asked Santa if he likes peanut butter cookies.
“They are pretty good,” Santa Said. “But you can’t beat a good chocolate chip.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weather: Not Bad For December
December 17, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers. Low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
FDOT Weekly Traffic Alerts
December 17, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 20.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Paving operations continue from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 20.
- · U.S. 98 (East Chase Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway – There will be paving operations from Palafox Street to the I-110 ramps from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Sunday, Dec. 16.
- · Crary Road Bridge Replacement - Crary Road will be temporarily closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road.
- · Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek during construction. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road.
- · S.R. 727 (Fairfield Drive) Drainage Improvements from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place- The south entrance to Usher Circle from Fairfield Drive will be closed to traffic Friday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 20 as crews install pipe across the roadway. Those seeking access to Usher Circle may utilize the north entrance off Fairfield Drive.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 20.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard the week of Sunday, Dec. 16 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange from Monday through Thursday.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, Sunday through Friday, as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic pattern(s) on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) –Traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Winner Collects $38K For Lottery Ticket Sold In Century
December 17, 2018
We now know who purchased a winning Fantasy 5 ticket in Century earlier this month.
The Florida Lottery says the December 4 ticket worth $38,766.98 was sold to Timothy L. Bailey of Brewton who purchased the “quick pick” ticket at Becky’s Mini Mart on North Century Boulevard. Other winning tickets were sold in Hallandale, Fleming, Sarasota and Brandon.
The 277 tickets matching four numbers in the drawing won $112.50 each. Another 8,926 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9.50 each, and 86,050 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The winning numbers were 5-12-24-27-29.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
December 17, 2018
Monday, Dec. 17
Escambia County Legislative Delegation Public Hearing – 5:30 p.m., Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission Board of Directors – 10 a.m., 418 W. Garden St., Room 307
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Part-time Bus Operator Interviews – 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Escambia County Area Transit Administrative Offices, 1515 W. Fairfield Drive
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place