Warning: Be Careful With Space Heaters
January 14, 2018
Here are some space heater safety tips from the National Weather Service:
Marilyn Edwards Branch
January 14, 2018
Mrs. Marilyn Edwards Branch, 68, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2018 in Fairhope, Alabama.
Mrs. Branch was a native of New Orleans, LA, former resident of Bratt, FL and has resided in Atmore, AL for the past 48 years. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She was the bookkeeper at the Presbyterian Church of Atmore and was a member of the Bratt First Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, T.J. & Lizzie Edwards, one sister, Sharon Zettlemoyer and two brothers, Alfred Edwards and James Edwards.
She is survived by her two sons, Travis (Tina) Branch of Daphne, AL and Michael (Julie James) Branch of Atmore, AL; three brothers, A.J. (Willie Jean) Edwards of Bratt, FL, Carlie Edwards of Bratt, FL and Bernie (Debra) Edwards of Bratt, FL and six grandchildren, Christian, Amy, Sarah, Hagan, Jaxson and Zachery.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Delbert Redditt officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 16, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Wade Edwards, Robie Edwards, Chris Edwards, Josh Edwards, Cary Jordan and Christian Braden.
Woman Airlifted After Motorcycle Crash In Bratt
January 13, 2018
A motorcyclist was airlifted to the hospital Saturday afternoon following a crash on Highway 4 in Bratt.
The motorcycle rider had reportedly pulled out of a muddy driveway when she lost control and was thrown from her Suzuki motorcycle. She came to rest in the eastbound travel lane of Highway 4 just east of Bratt Road. She was flown by LifeFlight helicopter from the nearby Travis Nelson Park to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert”.
A man riding with the woman on a second motorcycle was not involved in the crash.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Elderly Woman Killed In Escambia County Traffic Crash
January 13, 2018
An elderly Pensacola woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash Friday night in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 90-year old Mary Alfreda Brink was traveling southbound on Blue Angel Parkway south of Highway 90 about 9 p.m. when she crossed into the northbound lanes with her Chevrolet Trailblazer and struck a 2002 Mercedes driven by 48-year old Robert Landis Gill of Pensacola.
Brink was pronounced deceased following the crash.
Gill and passenger Betty Stearns, 39, were transported to Baptist Hospital in critical condition. Two additional passengers — Sarah Stearns, age not provided, and Scott Stearns, age 9 — were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
No charges were filed in the crash.
Boil Water Notice Lifted After E. Coli Bacteria Warning
January 13, 2018
The Bratt Davisville Water System has lifted precautionary boil water notice that was issued after a well tested positive for E. coli bacteria.
The boil water notice was put into place for customers in extreme northwestern Escambia County late Wednesday night after one raw sample taken at Bratt Davisville Well 2 tested positive for the presence of E. coli bacteria.
A bacteriological survey now shows the water is safe to drink, according to the utility, after “the return of chlorination to the water system”.
The now-rescinded boil water notice covered the areas below:
Nokomis Rd. from Rockaway Creek Rd. traveling West to North Pineville Rd., Rockaway Creek Rd. from Nokomis Rd. traveling North to Alabama Line, Gibbs Rd., Circle Rd., Shady Oak Dr., Miller Rd., Jakes Rd., Jones Rd., Reynolds Rd., Flowers Rd., Albritton Rd., Barlow Rd., Tullis Rd., North Pineville Rd. from Nokomis Rd. North to Alabama Line, Hollingsworth Rd., and three customers immediately south of Hollingsworth Rd. on North Pineville Rd.
ECUA Seeks To Take Cantonment Property By Eminent Domain For Sewage Lift Station
January 13, 2018
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is seeking to exercise its power of eminent domain to acquire property on Well Line Road for a sewage lift station.
ECUA has been unable to reach an agreement with the owner of unimproved land at 400 Well Line Road. The property is needed to replace and upgrade ECUA’s “Lift Station 143″. In order to take the property under eminent domain, ECUA must first obtain the approval of the Escambia County Commission.
The ECUA lift station on Well Line Road near Watson Avenue is outdated and deteriorated, in need of replacement and upgrades, according to ECUA. Plans call for it to potentially become a regional lift station.
ECUA said the property is not large enough to accommodate a regional lift station and emergency storage tanks which may also be placed next to it.
A letter from ECUA Board Chair Lois Benson states that ECUA has been unsuccessful in negotiations to acquire the property.
“Although ECUA intends to continue to negotiate with the property owner, it feels compelled to initiate those steps necessary in order to take the needed property by way of eminent domain, should that become necessary, as ECUA’s Lift Station 143 needs to be upsized, upgraded, and replaced in order to protect the public interest,” the letter states.
The Escambia County Commission will consider ECUA’s eminent domain request on January 18.
Under eminent domain, Florida law allows a governmental entity such as ECUA to seize property for the public good and provide full compensation to the owner.
SWAT Standoff Ends When Suspect Turns Gun On Himself
January 13, 2018
A SWAT standoff with a suspect in a motel room on Nine Mile Road came to an end late Friday afternoon when the man reportedly shot himself.
The armed man was inside a ground-level room at the Budget Inn. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT and a negotiation team responded with other law enforcement to the motel across from the John R. Jones Athletic Park. Deputies were attempting to arrest the man on three felony domestic abuse warrants including battery with a firearm when he barricaded himself inside the room with a weapon.
Deputies made contact with the man through the door, but he refused to come out for over an hour.
About 5 p.m., deputies heard a single gunshot from the room and made entry. The man was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital suffering from a single self-inflicted gunshot would.
The man’s name and condition have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Bee Association To Hold Annual Meeting
January 13, 2018
The North Escambia Beekeepers Association will hold its annual seminar on February 24 at the Molino Community Center from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m..
There will be both a beginner’s course and an advanced course. The advanced course will feature lectures from Dr. Dennis vanEnglesdorp from the University of Maryland, Jeff Willard from Milton, Johnny Thompson from Mississippi and Andrew Finch, the area’s state apiary inspector.
To continue to increase the number of beekeepers in the area the association will also offer a beginner’s course. It will be a very condensed and thorough course on how to start in the hobby/career. Participants will learn basic bee biology, the tools and equipment necessary to begin, best practices, pest management, bee installation, honey processing, and state laws regarding bees and honey. Weather permitting there will also be open hive demonstrations.
In the advanced course, vanEnglesdorph will provide informaton on the Varroa mite. In addition, he will also teach a course on Best Beekeeping Practices. Thompson will explain what Varroa Sensitive Hygienic bees are and how they are changing the beekeeping industry.
Finch will offer information about the blooming cycle of plants in the area. YouTube sensation Willard will present his independent research and demonstrate how to build hive beetle barriers. There will also be lectures on catching swarms, splitting hives, and, in the advanced course only, and “ask the experts” for audience members. Weather permitting there will also be open hive demonstrations in the course.
“The only way to save our bees is through education. By educating both the public and beekeepers we have seen an increase in the amount of hives located in our area. More hives means more bees to pollinate crops, small gardens, trees, and flowers. A win for the bees and a win for the residents of both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Each year we try to bring in top research scientists in the field to keep our local beekeepers up to date on the very best beekeeping practices. By doing this we hope to keep more hives alive and more people and families interested and excited in the hobby,” said Danielle Ochsenreiter of the North Escambia Beekeepers Association.
Tickets are $25 per person with lunch included before February 14 and can be purchased through Paypal at www.northescambiabees.com. At the door and after January 14, tickets will be $35. Tickets for children under 18 are $8. For more information, contat Danielle Ochsenreiter at (850) 777-0087 or Tim Ashby at (850) 380-2268.
EREC Members: Apply Now For Scholarship Awards
January 13, 2018
Escambia River Electric Cooperative will award scholarships to graduating seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties whose parent or guardian is a member of the cooperative. Two $4,000 scholarships – awarded in honor of former director Herman D. Johnson – will be offered. Students must show proof of enrollment and maintain a grade-point average of 2.5 to continue to receive the funds each year.
For scholarship applications, seniors should check with their high school guidance counselors; contact EREC’s Marketing and Communications (850) 675-4521 or (800) 235-3848; or go online at www.erec.com. The deadline to submit applications is March 1. Winners will be announced at EREC’s Annual Meeting on April 28.
This is EREC’s 21st year offering scholarships. In the past, capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed had to be turned over to the state. Legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships for graduating seniors in EREC’s service area.
Pictured: Previous EREC scholarship winners Oliva Britt from Jay High School (top) and Bethany Reynolds from Northview High School (below). NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
A Little Friday Night Snow, Cold With More Snow Forecast For By Tuesday Night
January 13, 2018
Light snow flurries were reported across the North Escambia area Friday night, and that may not be all of the snow we see within the next week. Our official North Escambia area forecast is calling for the possibility of snow for Tuesday night, with up to one inch accumulation north of I-10. We’ll keep you updated.
Here is your North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 21. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Calm wind.
M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 57. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Light north wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain before midnight, then a slight chance of snow between midnight and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 37. North wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 47.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.