No License, No Seat Belts In Crash That Injured Four Teens Saturday Night, FHP Says
May 20, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol says teens injured in a crash Saturday night in Century were not wearing seat belts, and the driver did not have a driver’s license.
The vehicle crashed into a tree just before 10 p.m. in the 1100 block of Fannie Road, just north of Campbell Road.
Troopers said Monday afternoon that a red 2010 Dodge Charger was traveling south on Fannie Road when the driver failed to maintain control of the vehicle, collided with a guardrail. Subsequently, the vehicle bounced off the guardrail and traveled southbound in the northbound lane until colliding with a tree on the northbound shoulder.
The driver was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS. The front right passenger and the rear left passenger were flown to Sacred Heart Hospital by two separate helicopters. The other passenger
remained on scene and was turned over to a parent.
FHP said all four occupants were not wearing their seatbelt during the collision.
“Originally, the driver and front passenger gave false official statements to Troopers but then told the truth,” FHP said, adding that the driver, a 16-year-old, female rom Perdido, Alabama, did not have a driver’s license.
The driver was issued citations for driving without a valid license and not wearing a seatbelt and careless driving. The front passenger was also cited for not wearing a seatbelt.
The passengers in the vehicle were two 16-year-old males from Flomaton and a 15-year-old male from Century.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore Splash Pad Now Open
May 20, 2024
The City of Atmore Splash pad opened for the summer on Monday. It will be open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The Atmore Splash Pad is located at 600 South Trammell Street.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Recognizes National Public Works Week
May 20, 2024
Escambia County is recognizing National Public Works Week May 19-24, celebrating the hardworking men and women who make up Escambia County’s Public Works Department.
Monday, the county commissioners adopted a proclamation for the week, recognizing staff for their contributions to Escambia County.
National Public Works Week is celebrated each year on the third full week of May. This year’s theme is “Advancing Quality of Life for All,” emphasizing Public Works’ role in maintaining and improving infrastructure and services that are vitally important in providing a high quality of life for Escambia County residents.
The Escambia County Public Works team works diligently every day to maintain the county’s network of roads and stormwater drainage systems, including right of way mowing, road resurfacing, street sweeping, holding pond mowing and maintenance, sidewalk maintenance, dirt road grading, tree trimming and removal, pothole patching, ditch cleaning, sign maintenance, and the repair and construction of drainage infrastructure. Public Works often responds to calls after hours and on weekends, including natural disaster events such as hurricanes and our recent severe weather.
In addition, Escambia County Public Works includes the Pensacola Beach Public Works and Fleet Maintenance Divisions. Pensacola Beach Public Works maintains the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk and supports the many events that take place on the beach, such as Bands on the Beach and the Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, working countless hours to clean the beach and ensure it is free of trash and debris. The Fleet Maintenance Division assists county departments in vehicle and equipment acquisition, manages the GPS monitoring program for all departments, oversees fuel distribution for county vehicles, and is also responsible for the county’s surplus vehicle and equipment program.
“I’m excited to take this week to recognize our department,” said Public Works Director James Higdon. “Our Public Works team is a great group of folks who work hard to maintain and improve Escambia County’s infrastructure. They dedicate each day to bettering the lives of our residents, from patching potholes and trimming trees to keeping Pensacola Beach clean. We’re grateful to the board and County Administration for the recognition and support in our mission.”
Bratt Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty For Horses That Allegedly Had No Food Or Water
May 20, 2024
A Bratt woman is facing animal cruelty charges for the alleged mistreatment of horses, one of which was euthanized last year.
Lois Adams Hall, 63, was charged with misdemeanor unlawful confinement or abandonment of animals and felony causing cruel death, pain or suffering of animals. She was released on a $15,000 bond after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail.
On September 26, 2023, Escambia County Animal Control spoke to the property owner who stated that his ex-daughter-in-law owned two of the horses and his granddaughter owned the third, according to investigative reports. The horses were being kept in a fenced yard on the back side of the property.
“The field that they’re being kept in has no grass,” the Animal Control sergeant wrote in her report. “It is nothing but dirt. Water trough is empty.”
“I expressed my concern about these horses being in the Fence line in the back of this property with no grazable land. No shelter for the animals to get under. Fence is tore up and animals have been loose recently.”
“This family was asked several times to take these horses to the Veterinarian to be checked out. They avoided doing anything to help the animals. Horse known as Ajax was euthanized on October 23, 2023 at 9:06am. Ajax was so emaciated that when he went down he could not pick his body back up. We did not want him to suffer any more so we ordered to have him Euthanized,” the report states.
On October 2, Animal Control returned to Still Road where they contacted the owner’s daughter, who was very argumentative, according to the report. The daughter claimed one horse was 40 years old, not 30.
“I don’t think the horse is near 40. I asked for the horse to be taken care of by a veterinarian. She stated that she’s told her mom to do this multiple times and her mom hasn’t done it, I explained to her that it needs to be done by this Friday or animal control will step in and remove the horse,” the sergeant wrote.
On October 10, a neighbor told Animal Control that they had been feeding and watering the horses. The sergeant called Hall, who thanked her for removing the horses. Hall’s other comments were redacted from the report.
As she awaits trial, Judge Simon has ordered that Hall cannot own, care for, or be in the custody of any animals.
Northview High Names 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
May 20, 2024
Northview has named their Class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian.
They are valedictorian: Sarah Bailey (pictured left) and salutatorian Maggie Godwin.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Virginia Snyder Named County Math Teacher Of The Year
May 20, 2024
Virginia Snyder from Tate High School was named the High School Math Teacher of the Year by the Escambia County Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Joint Beulah Master Plan, Frank Reeder Road Improvements Meeting Is Thursday
May 20, 2024
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and Escambia County staff will host a joint meeting to discuss the Beulah Master Plan and Frank Reeder Road improvements on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Beulah Middle School, 6001 West Nine Mile Road.
This joint meeting will showcase the Frank Reeder Road design improvements and findings from previous Beulah Master Plan public outreach efforts. Sigma Consulting Group will also present the first draft of the Beulah Master Plan. Representatives from Consor Engineers and Sigma Consulting Group will hold a question-and-answer session following the presentations, and county staff will be in attendance to answer any additional questions from residents.
The Beulah Master Plan is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the RESTORE Act program.
Sunny Start To The Week
May 20, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 65. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Memorial Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Three Tate Aggies Track And Field Athletes Place At State
May 20, 2024
Three Tate High School track and field athletes placed in the FHSAA 4A state championships Saturday in Jacksonville.
In women’s shot put junior Tina Lett placed third in Florida with a distance of 12.30 meters.
In men’s javelin, senior Ward O’Brien placed third in the state with 55.76 meters.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, senior Lattrell Dukes placed 10th in the state with a time of 55:58.
Pictured top: Tate High School held a send-off for Lett, O’Brien, and Dukes on Friday. Photo by Tate High School Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Inch Lower Ahead Of Memorial Day Travel
May 20, 2024
Florida gas prices increased six cents early last week, but those gains were quickly erased by the weekend. Sunday’s state average of $3.45 per gallon is the same as a week ago.
“Pump prices are drifting lower as a record-setting 2.5 million Floridians prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, public relations manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, ongoing geopolitical tensions could prevent pump prices from falling below year-ago levels, during the holiday weekend.”
Florida gas prices averaged $3.41 per gallon on Memorial Day 2023. This year, nearly 2.3 million Floridians are forecast to take a road trip for Memorial Day weekend. That’s a new all-time record and nearly 106,000 more Floridians on the road than last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was at $3.25. A low of $2.93 could be found Sunday at a station on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, a low of $3.08 was available at a station on South Highway 29 in Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.