DeSantis Signs State Budget With $1.257 Million To Replace Century’s Freedom Road Bridge; $628K Toward Failed Prison Water Well
June 16, 2023
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state’s $117 billion budget Thursday that included funds for replacement of the Freedom Road Bridge in Century and half the money needed to replace a failed town water well serving the Century Correctional Institution.
The spending plan included $1.257 million for the bridge and over $628,000 for the water well.
Freedom Road Bridge
The 2023-24 Florida budget includes $1,257,000 to replace a Town of Century bridge on Freedom Road.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured above).
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
According to the legislative funding request by Rep. Michelle Salzman, replacing the bridge will improve emergency vehicle access, provide a shorter and more direct route to the nearest hospital in Jay for some residents, and provide better access for residents in the area.
It is anticipated that the $1.297 million will cover construction and other costs like engineering and surveying. No matching funds are required from the town, and it is estimated that the project could be complete by the end of 2024.
Town of Century Well No. 3
The budget includes $628,500 to replace the Town of Century’s Well No. 3, which exclusively serves Century Correctional Institution, half of the $1.297 million that was requested.
After multiple problems, the well suffered a catastrophic failure during the summer of 2022 and no longer provided water to the prison for staff and inmates. A shaft shattered into a dozen or more pieces and fell to the bottom of the well.
Water service was restored through a permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system that was completed in late May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison. The interconnect was installed after the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the prison suffered a repairable failure in early May 2020. That forced the town to use two-inch fire hoses from a Central Water Works fire hydrant on the south side of Tedder Road to the prison on the north side of the road until a permanent solution was in place and the well was repaired.
A temporary pump provides some water, but it must be supplemented by water from the two wells that supply the town’s citizens or from the Center Water Works interconnect. “Operation of these additional
supplies is manually controlled and subject to interruptions,” according to Rep. Michelle Salzman’s funding request.
Pictured top and inset: The failed Freedom Road bridge in Century. Pictured bottom inset: The Town of Century water tower above the failed water well that serves the Century Correctional Institution. Pictured below: At one point, water flowed across Tedder Road through these fire hoses to provide service for the prison. An interconnect under the roadway now provides a backup water supply. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First Deer In Florida Confirmed With Chronic Wasting Disease. Here’s What To Know.
June 16, 2023
The first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said road-killed 4.5-year-old female white-tailed deer in Holmes County sampled during routine surveillance activities has tested positive. It is the first known case of CWD in Florida, a contagious disease of the brain and central nervous system that is fatal to deer.
The FWC and its agency partners take CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
The FWC has been monitoring free-ranging deer since 2002 to detect CWD. During that time, the FWC has tested approximately 17,500 hunter-killed, road-killed and sick or diseased deer for CWD.
The FWC and its agency partners said they are taking CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
The FWC has been monitoring free-ranging deer since 2002 to detect CWD. During that time, the FWC has tested approximately 17,500 hunter-killed, road-killed and sick or diseased deer for CWD
“Working with FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) and our other partners, I’m hopeful that our combined efforts will limit the effects this will have on Florida’s deer population and preserve our exceptional hunting opportunities for future generations statewide,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young.
The FWC is asking anyone who sees a sick, abnormally thin deer or finds a deer dead from unknown causes to call the CWD hotline, 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282) and report the animal’s location.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans or livestock under natural conditions. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend consuming meat from animals that test positive for CWD or from any sick animal.
“We take very seriously our responsibility to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health issues in Florida – all to safeguard our agriculture industry and our world-renowned wildlife and natural resources,” said FDACS Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Ensuring the health of Florida’s deer population is a team effort, and we will continue to work diligently with our state and federal partners to respond.”
CWD is a contagious disease believed to be caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. It is a fatal disease for all members of the deer family and is currently documented in white-tailed deer, mule deer, sika deer, elk, moose and caribou. Signs of the disease usually appear 1.5 to 3 years after initial exposure and can include extreme weight loss and abnormal behaviors such as listlessness, lowering of the head, inattentiveness toward people, walking in circles, staggering and standing with a wide stance.
Controlling the spread of CWD is difficult once it becomes established in a natural population. Because prions shed by infected deer persist in the environment, the best chance for controlling CWD is acting quickly after it’s been detected to prevent more animals from becoming infected. CWD can be transmitted directly – from animal to animal – or indirectly from the environment. Multiple management strategies will be employed to control the spread of the disease.
The FWC along with its partners – the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study – will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.
More Rain And Storms Likely For Friday Afternoon And Evening
June 16, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Juneteenth: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 88. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Escambia Man Gets 35 Years, $1 Million In Fines For Trafficking In Fentanyl, Meth, Heroin
June 16, 2023
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison on drug charges.
Circuit Court Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Adrian Kiwane Hale for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer with lights and sirens activated, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors said 25 years of the sentence must be served day for day as a statutory minimum mandatory for trafficking in heroin and trafficking in fentanyl.
The judge also imposed over $1 million in mandatory fines under Florida’s drug trafficking laws.
During the early morning hours of September 14, 2022, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted a routine traffic stop on a white Volkswagen Passat, but the vehicle fled. Deputies were able to visually identify the driver as Hale.
A short time later, Hale was apprehended on foot and carrying a backpack. The backpack contained over 150 grams of heroin, over 39 grams of fentanyl, over 14 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and numerous plastic baggies, according to prosecutors. The keys to the Volkswagen were also recovered, and the vehicle was found less than 1,000 feet away.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Hale guilty as charged on all counts.
“Drug traffickers who further put the community at risk by brazenly fleeing from police warrant a substantial prison sentence,” prosecuting attorney Christopher Patterson argued at the sentencing hearing.
ECSO Sgt. Greg NeSmith Honored For 30 Years Of Service
June 16, 2023
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons recognized Sgt. Greg NeSmith for 30 years of service to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos, Braves Suspended Due To Weather
June 16, 2023
Thursday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mississippi Braves was suspended due to rain with the score tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning.
The game will be resumed at 5:05 p.m. Friday with no fans admitted.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for Friday’s regular game scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m.
Wreck, Vehicle Fire Slow Morning Commute At I-10, Pine Forest
June 15, 2023
A wreck and resulting vehicle fire slowed traffic for commuters Thursday morning.
Escambia County Fire Rescue and EMS responded to a vehicle fire at the on-ramp from Pine Forest Road to I-10 about 7:50 a.m. where they found a car fully engulfed in fire.
“The vehicle on fire appeared to be in a rear-end type of collision,” said Davis Wood, Escambia County Public Safety spokesperson.
Two people were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
“At this time, it’s unknown what specifically caused the fire,” Wood said.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Man Critical, Boy Serious After Van Rear-Ends Dump Truck On Highway 29
June 15, 2023
Two people were seriously injured in a crash between a passenger van and a dump truck Thursday on Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the northbound van collided with the rear of the dump truck as it was slowing to make a U-turn across the median near a produce stand on Highway 29 just south of Power Boulevard and the Central Commerce Park.
The 29-year old man from Fort Worth, Texas, was extricated from the van and airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition. His 11-year old male passenger was transported by Escambia County EMS in serious condition. The dump truck driver, a 50-year old woman from Milton, was not injured.
Northbound traffic on Highway 29 was at a complete standstill for over two hours due to the crash.
Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Stealing Wire; GPS Leads Deputies To His Yard
June 15, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of stealing wire from a local business before later taking it to his own house — with a GPS unit attached.
Brian Phillip Avirett, 33, was charged with multiple counts including burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief.
On May 18, Avirett allegedly entered a secured fenced area at a business on Stone Boulevard in Cantonment and stole copper and aluminum shielded wiring and bare wire that was stored in crates, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The ECSO said he returned and stole more wire on June 7.
On June 11, the company received a GPS alert from a device that was attached to the wire. The GPS signal led deputies to Avirett’s home on Pace Parkway where they found the wire in a burn barrel with the GPS device still attached, an arrest report states. Deputies said additional wiring and cable was located on the property.
Avirett told deputies that the wire was brought to his home by a person known only as “Heath” who lives in a tent near the Cantonment ballpark. Deputies were unable to located “Heath”.
A tattoo on Avirett’s leg matched the tattoo on surveillance video from the original theft, the ECSO said.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $21,000 bond.
Jay Man Accused Of Hanging Dead Coyotes On Billboard, Calling Them ‘Yard Decoration’
June 15, 2023
A Jay man is accused of hanging two dead coyotes from a billboard near his home.
Lonnie Michael Hutchinson, 41, was cited for littering and two second degree misdemeanor deer depredation permit violations.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers launched an investigation after receiving a photograph of two coyotes that were killed and hung up by the legs on a billboard on Highway 89 at Dusty Trail in Allentown. An FWC office arrived to find that the freshly killed coyotes were recently cut down and were in the grass below the billboard with rope still around their feet.
FWC said Hutchinson and his wife approached in a golf cart.
“He asked me if I was entertained yet,” the FWC officer wrote in his report. “I asked if he knew why I was there and he replied ‘for the yard decoration’.”
FWC said Hutchinson made conflicting statements about the coyotes, first saying he did it before suggesting that it might be young kids but he could not provide their names. The billboard is located 544 yards from his property and can clearly be seen from his property, officers noted. The photograph also showed “LH” spray painted on the billboard, which matches Hutchinson’s initials, officers said.
He was charged with littering for “leaving and displaying the dead animals on the billboard off of the right of way”.
During the conversation, Hutchinson mentioned that shoots deer on a local farmer’s property. FWC depredation permits “authorize the lethal take of deer causing damage to crops, where less lethal means of control are either ineffective or not feasible,” according to FWC. The permits come with multiple restrictions and are issued only to landowners or authorized lessees of property with agricultural rights.
FWC officers contacted the farmer who stated that Hutchinson sent him a text message stating that he killed three deer and two coyotes.
According to the FWC report, Hutchinson failed to provide officers with a full copy of the deer depredation permit with written landowner permission and failed to report deer taken under the permit.
Pictured: A reader submitted photo shows two dead coyotes hanging from a billboard on Highway 89 near Jay. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.