John Deere Tractor Ride-on Modified For 4-Year Old With Cerebral Palsy By UWF Engineering Students
July 18, 2019
Four-year old Jack Carroll is ready to ride is his new kid-sized John Deere tractor, thanks to an engineering program at the University of West Florida.
Born prematurely with a form of cerebral palsy, Jack can’t enjoy the electric toy vehicles on the market. But a new program at the University of West Florida helps young children with physical disabilities move around independently.
The first vehicle of its kind in the “Argotots” program, the John Deere tractor was modified and outfitted for Jack. A three-point harness was added to the tractor since he has trouble sitting upright unassisted and the steering wheel was adjusted for easier one-arm operation. The vehicle comes with a remote control so others can control its movement when necessary.
“This is going to be great because he has balance issues and he loves to explore and be outside,” said Danielle Carroll, Jack’s mother.
“Seeing the positive impact of the ‘Go Baby Go’ program, a national program for children with limited mobility, inspired me to start our own program at UWF,” said Dr. Brad Regez, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. “I realized there was great need and opportunity for a program of this kind in the area.”
Mechanical engineering majors Fred Anderson, Selena Beasley, Isaac Brunet, Phillip Mitchell, Cody Sewell and Shane Smith worked on the project. The design, materials testing and calculations took months of preparations, while the implementation of the design and planned modifications took less than a week. During the fall semester, students documented in detail each step of the build and modification process. They conducted rigorous testing and inspection after each modification and were required to give multiple presentations on their progress or any issues during the build.
“Having the opportunity to apply the engineering knowledge that I’m learning for my degree in a way that can impact a child’s life for the better is very encouraging,” Brunet said. “It has reminded me that engineering is not all about steel beams and bridges, but about making an impact on people’s lives.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Accused Of Capital Sexual Assault Of Young Girl, Possibly Other Victims
July 17, 2019
A 77-year old Molino man has been accused of sexually molesting a young girl over the course of several years, and prosecutors say there may be additional victims.
Daniel Durwood Edmonson, age 77 of 461 Molino Road, was charged with sexual battery on a victim under 12-years old and lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under age 12.
“Capital sexual battery carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. “All of the charges are for one victim. As the investigation continues, there may be additional charges filed for that victim or other individuals.”
The female victim told investigators that Edmonson had molested her for nine years at his residence, when she was between the ages of 5 and 12. At times, he would allegedly give the child liquid Benadryl so she would fall asleep early, telling her it was for mosquito bites, before molesting her.
At least two additional victims may have been identified, according to an arrest report, including one that is now married with children of her own.
Where’s Wally? Century Council Upset Their Gas Superintendent Skips Meetings
July 17, 2019
The Century Town Council is asking “where’s Wally?” after their gas superintendent has skipped multiple council meetings despite his required attendance.
The council instructed Wally Kellett to attend two council meeting per month to keep them updated on a gas department that is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. But so far this year, Kellett has missed numerous required meetings.
“If he want to be an an employee, then he needs to be at these meetings,” Council President Ann Brooks said this week after Kellett failed to attend a council meeting.
A grand jury report in March 2019 found the gas system lost over a half million dollars in just two years, customers were receiving gas without ever being billed, the prison and other commercial customers were being undercharged due to faulty meters, nearly half the gas purchased for resale was unaccounted for, and the system was plagued with billing errors.
The town has taken multiple steps to rectify some of the gas department problems — purchasing hundreds of new residential and commercial meters, including a new meter for the prison and billing system training for employees.
The council requested Kellett keep them updated on the progress of new meter installations, back billing the prison and other issues concerning the department. But with few updates, the town’s governing body has been in the dark on strides made with their natural gas department.
“Our gas superintendent won’t come to these meetings. We need this vital information,” Brooks said.
When Brooks asked Town Clerk Kim Godwin why Kellett did not attend this week’s council meeting, Godwin simply said Kellett sent a text that he would be off for the day.
Pictured: Century Gas Superintendent Wally Kellett attended a town council meeting on April 15. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Happy Ending: Flomaton Police Return Stolen Bicycle
July 17, 2019
Here’s a happy update on a story NorthEscambia.com first reported back in December.
The Flomaton Police Department on Tuesday returned a bicycle that had been stolen to a local family.
The bicycle was taken from the Martin Luther Kings Drive area in Flomaton in December. The suspect rode the bicycle to the Texaco gas station on Sidney Manning Boulevard at Highway 31 where the suspect alltedly stole a Chevrolet Tahoe. The bicycle was left behind but was held as evidence in the case until Tuesday.
The suspect was arrested in Century on December 28, and the vehicle was recovered behind a church at 8300 Alger Road in Century and returned to the owner at that time.
Pictured: Flomaton Police return a stolen bicycle on Tuesday. Pictured below: A suspect was seen riding the bicycle just before allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Flomaton gas station. Pictured bottom: The bicycle was taken into evidence. Photos for North Escambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dates Set To Shift Traffic To New Pensacola Bay Bridge
July 17, 2019
Highway 98 eastbound traffic (from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the Pensacola Bay Bridge on Sunday evening, July 28, and Highway 98 westbound traffic (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will shift on Thursday, August 1.
From 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28 to 6 a.m. Thursday, August 1, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
With all traffic shifted to the new bridge, construction crews will demolish the current bridge, complete the new westbound structure, and reconstruct the 17th Avenue interchange. All work is currently estimated for completion in mid-2021.
The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
The Heat Is On: High In The Middle 90s
July 17, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87.
Greenberg Named New Principal At Pine Meadow Elementary
July 17, 2019
Elizabeth Greenberg has been named the new principal at Pine Meadow Elementary School.
Her appointment was approved Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board. She was previously the assistant principal at McArthur Elementary School.
Pictured: New Pine Meadow Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Greenberg addresses the Escambia County School Board Tuesday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP’s Whitney Fike Selected for Leadership Florida Connect Class
July 17, 2019
Whitney Fike, communications manager at International Paper in Cantonment, has been elected as a member of Leadership Florida Connect Class 10.
Leadership Florida Connect is the premier statewide resource for educating, engaging and inspiring Florida’s top emerging leaders.
Connect selects a diverse class of 46 Florida leaders – corporate CEOs, business owners, educators, elected officials and non-profit executives to participate in an eight-month learning experience that will take them to communities across Florida. Each programming session focuses on key issues and opportunities that are specific to Florida while intertwining leadership skills, development, and the goal of becoming educated, engaged and inspired to make Florida a better place while forming lifetime connections and bonds among classmates.
Pictured: Whitney Fike, communications manager at International Paper in Cantonment. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Part Of Five State Speeding Crackdown
July 17, 2019
Florida is part of a five state speeding crackdown effort.
The Florida Highway Patrol is joining other law enforcement agencies in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina in “Operation Southern Shield”, a weeklong speed enforcement campaign.
“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to providing highway safety with our law enforcement partners,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “FHP Troopers continue to remain highly visible on Florida’s state highways to enforce speeding and dangerous driving behaviors that lead to unnecessary and sometimes deadly crashes.”
According to NHTSA, in 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities nationwide, killing more than 9,000 people. One of the primary reasons that speed-related crashes have such detrimental effects is that the increased velocity and force of impact works against the usefulness of safety equipment, such as seat belts and airbags.
Alice Ruth Gates
July 17, 2019
Mrs. Alice Ruth Gates, age 74, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama.
Mrs. Gates was a native and former resident of Atmore, AL and had resided in Walnut Hill, FL for the past 40 years. Her home was open to all; her favorite was cooking and raising babies. She was a member of the Antioch Free Will Baptist Church in Nokomis, AL. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Alice Davis; son, Martin R. “Buddy” Lassitter; three sisters, Eloise Isaacks, Joyce Osborne and Catherine Davis; and two brothers, Roy Davis and Jesse Davis.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Robert Lee Gates, Jr. of Walnut Hill, FL; two daughters, Rebel Gates of Walnut Hill, FL and Linda Lassitter Hamilton of Panama City, FL; three brothers, Jimmy Davis of Century, FL, Emmette Davis of Montgomery, AL and Billy (Diane) Davis of Monroeville, AL; seven grandchildren, Lauren Peabody, Tabitha Nelson, Russell Lassitter, Tosha Lassitter, Hannah Hamilton, Haden Howard (he was a caregiver and always by her side) and Martina Howard; 14 great-grandchildren, Olivia, Kolen, Konner, McKinzie, Bentley, Asaisha, Kylie, Brycen, Summer, Russell, Reese, Bowen, Riley and Rosa Lee; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 13, 2019, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Alan Chase officiating.
Burial was at the Antioch Free Will Baptist Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Haden Howard, Johnny Robb, Van Skelton, Ricky Burkett, Mark Burkett and Kyle Enfinger.
Honorary pallbearer was Salvator Botello.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.