Summer Reading Program Continues At Your Local Library
June 28, 2019
Library patrons enjoyed juggling, magic, plate spinning and more fun during this week’s Summer Reading Program at the West Florida Library.
The series will take a break next week due to the Fourth of July holiday and will return the following week with Animal Tales — up close and personal with animals in a fun learning experience. The schedule is as follows:
– Tuesday, July 9, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch (held at Big Lagoon Park)
– Tuesday, July 9, 3 p.m. Tryon Branch Library
– Wednesday, July 10, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
– Wednesday, July 10, 3 p.m. – Pensacola Library
– Thursday, July 11, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
– Friday, July 12, 11 a.m. – Tryon Branch Library
Pictured: Maksat “Maks” Annaev performed this week at the Century Branch Library. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Head To Washington For Youth Tour
June 28, 2019
Three local students took part in the Washington Youth Tour.
Keaton Brown of Northview High School, Hannah Morris of Jay High School and Kylie Schwarz of Central High School joined more than 1,800 youth leaders representing electric cooperatives from across the country for a weeklong tour of the nation’s capital.
Highlights of the tour for delegates included the World War II, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, Martin Luther King, Jr. and FDR memorials; Arlington National Cemetery; Holocaust Museum; and visiting many other places of interest in Washington
Youth Tour delegates also met with Congressman Matt Gaetz and visited the U.S. Capitol, where they learned more about how government works. During the Rural Electric Youth Program, they were able to gain a better understanding of rural electric cooperatives’ history and their importance in the communities they serve.
Man Gets 15 Years For DUI Manslaughter
June 28, 2019
An Escambia County man was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in state prison for DUI manslaughter.
On August 4, 2018, Blake Jordan Shull was driving his 2002 Saturn L200 at a high rate of speed westbound on Michigan Avenue in Pensacola at approximately 2 a.m. The defendant struck the deceased victim’s vehicle from behind, near the intersection with Memphis Avenue. The collision caused the victim’s vehicle to strike the curb, overturn and impact a traffic signal pole on the corner of the intersection. The victim passed away at the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation revealed Shull was traveling over 80 miles per hour at the time of impact. A blood test determined Shull to have a .12 blood alcohol content. He also had cannabis and cocaine in his system.
he court also ordered he pay a $10,000 fine. There is no parole in Florida and so Shull will be required to serve at least 85% of the 15 year sentence.
Century Releases Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
June 28, 2019
The Town of Century has released their 2018 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.
The town did not report an contaminants in excess of allowed standards.
Town of Century water customers will receive a copy of the report in their water bill. To download a copy, click here.
Arch Placed On Pensacola Bay Bridge
June 28, 2019
A 800,000-pound steel arch was placed atop the new eastbound Pensacola Bay Bridge Thursday.
Barge-mounted construction cranes lifted the 375-foot long by 83-foot tall arch into place above the navigational channel of the new bridge. Installed, the top of the arch stands approximately 150-feet above the waters of Pensacola Bay. The arch is a signature architectural element for the new bridge that will also provide structural support for the multiuse path included on the bridge.
Completion of the eventual eastbound bridge is currently estimated for later this summer. At that time, two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic will be moved to the new bridge while the existing structure is demolished and the new westbound bridge is constructed.
The new Pensacola Bay Bridge will consist of two, parallel structures, each equipped with three travel lanes, adjacent inside and outside shoulders, and 10-foot multiuse paths for pedestrians and bicyclists. Final completion of the new bridge, and the adjacent 17th Avenue interchange in Pensacola, is currently estimated for mid-2021.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Pleads Guilty To Selling Fake Contact Lenses
June 28, 2019
An Escambia County woman has pleaded guilty to selling fake contact lenses.
Son Chu Gilliam, 52, entered the plea in federal court Thursday to misdemeanor charges of receipt of adulterated and misbranded devices, and sale of prescription devices without a prescription — those devices being contact lenses.
In May 2015, law enforcement seized approximately 600 counterfeit contact lenses that were being imported from China by Gilliam to her place of business, All about Ink, a tattoo shop in Pensacola. A number of the contact lenses seized were tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and determined to contain microbial contamination. FDA has determined that the types of bacteria found in the contact lenses can be hazardous.
Between July 2015, and October 2015, law enforcement made a number of undercover purchases of contact lenses from Gilliam and others working for Gilliam at All about Ink. Following the undercover purchases, a federal search warrant was executed at All about Ink, and approximately 200 pairs of contact lenses were seized. Samples of both the contact lenses purchased by undercover agents, and the contact lenses seized were tested by FDA, and a number of those also contained microbial contamination. In addition to agents determining that a number of the contact lenses were counterfeit and FDA determining that a number of the contact lenses were contaminated and that none of the contact lenses should have been sold without a prescription.
“American consumers rely on FDA oversight to ensure the safety of their medical devices, including contact lenses. Selling counterfeit contact lenses without a valid prescription puts patients’ health – and their vision – at risk,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, H. Peter Kuehl, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “The FDA is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep such products out of the U.S. marketplace.”
“This criminal was selling substandard, dangerous counterfeit contact lenses with no regard for the health and safety of consumers,” said HSI Tampa Deputy Special Agent in Charge Kevin D. Sibley. “Our agents are committed to collaborating with partner agencies, like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Florida Department of Health, to conduct aggressive investigations into the distribution of fake goods that threaten the safety of our public.”
Gilliam’s sentencing is set for September.
Tree Falls On Man Mowing Grass; Firefighters Free Him With Jaws Of Life
June 27, 2019
A man was trapped under a tree that fell on him Thursday evening in Flomaton.
The man was cutting his grass on Pecan Leaf Lane just before 7 p.m. when high winds brought down a tree. The tree fell across his legs, according to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton. Flomaton firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free the man.
The man refused transport to the hospital.
A weather station 10 miles away at Northview High School in Bratt recorded a wind gust of about 50 mph as an outflow boundary due to several thunderstorms moved through the area.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shots Fired At Pensacola Police Officer
June 27, 2019
An investigation is underway after someone fired shots from a vehicle early Thursday morning while a Pensacola Police officer was working traffic enforcement.
The officer was not injured. The incident occurred around 3:08 a.m. near the intersection of North J and Garden streets. At the time, Officer Sarah Barbosa was monitoring traffic from her vehicle on the north side of Garden Street between I and J streets.
Barbosa said a red two-door Chevrolet Camaro with tinted windows traveling westbound on Garden Street slowed down as it crossed I Street. She then saw an individual reach their arm out the driver’s side window and shoot approximately four to five rounds from a firearm before speeding up to leave the scene. There were no other vehicles or pedestrians in the area at the time.
The officer activated the blue lights on her patrol car in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver kept going and fled on several streets. The last time she saw the vehicle it was headed eastbound on Cervantes Street and then possibly south on H Street.
The car is believed to be a 2016-2018 model Camaro with fog lights.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Lisa Alverson at (850) 435-1971 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Pensacola Man Killed In I-10 Crash Near Pine Forest Road
June 27, 2019
A Pensacola man was killed in a wreck Wednesday night on I-10 near Pine Forest Road.
Jeffery Strong, 38, was eastbound in the inside lane of I-10 just east of Pine Forest Road when he lost control of his Toyota GT about 9:15 p.m. He crossed the grassy median, entered the westbound lanes and collided with a vehicle driven by Natalie Weber, 51, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Strong was pronounced deceased after the crash. Weber suffered minor injuries.
Century’s Gas Fund Continues To Lose Cash; General Fund Shows Unanticipated Gain
June 27, 2019
Financial reports show that the Town of Century gas department is continuing to bleed cash, while an unanticipated windfall has pushed the general fund into the black for the first eight months of the fiscal year.
The gas fund had a loss of $114,610 from October 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, according to a financial report obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
The garbage fund showed a net income for the period of $8,305 after a transfer of $26,000 to the gas fund.
The gas fund, however, only showed a $10,000 transfer from the garbage fund as income on the balance sheet presented at the most recent Century Town Council Meeting. A $16,000 transfer from the garbage fund does not appear in the gas fund for the month of May. Town accountant Robert Hudson was unable to immediately explain why when asked during that meeting.
The general fund showed income to date $71,862 greater than budgeted due to $118,000 more income that budgeted from the Capital Trust Agency (CTA).
CTA is an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA, certifying that the projects meet a public purpose under IRS rules and regulations.
The water and sewer department had income of $48,369, or about $2,300 greater than anticipated to date.
Century’s fiscal year ends on September 30.