Three Injured In Kingsfield Road Crash
January 16, 2020
Three people were injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday night.
The collision occurred just after 8 p.m. on East Kingsfield Road at Tate Road. The vehicles came to rest facing opposite directions in a ditch.
The injured were transported by Escambia County EMS with injuries not considered life threatening. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Did You Know Escambia County Has A Veterans Service Officer?
January 16, 2020
Escambia County Veterans Service Officer Andy Huffman is available to assist veterans and their families in Escambia County.
His primary duty is assisting veterans file for disability and non-service connected pension claims and obtain health care benefits with the VA. Assistance is also provided to widows who may be entitled to survivor and/or burial benefits.
Huffman works by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call (850) 595-2409.
Huffman is retired from the Coast Guard after service as a criminal investigator for over 30 years.
Pictured: Escambia County Veterans Service Officer Andy Huffman (right) meets with veteran James Borham. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Remains Closed To The Public
January 16, 2020
NAS Pensacola, including the museum and lighthouse, remain closed to the general public.
Base access remains available to DoD ID cardholders and veterans with a Veteran Health identification Card (VHIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs only. The Trusted Travelers Program is still in effect and DoD ID cardholders can escort guests onto the installation and to the museum and lighthouse.
The base has been closed to the public since the December 6 terrorist attack.
Local Student Musicians Perform At All State
January 16, 2020
Eleven student musicians from Escambia County middle and high school music programs successfully auditioned for a position in the 2019-2020 All State bands and choirs. These students traveled to Tampa recently for several days of rehearsal.
This year’s high school participants were:
- Sarah Bryan, Tate High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Symphonic Band playing the piccolo. Her instructors are Jakob Wisdom and Chris Snyder.
- Brandon Mitra, Escambia High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State High School Symphonic Band playing the clarinet. His instructors are Doug Holsworth and Dustin Hicklen.
- Alyssa Pascoe, Pensacola High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State High School Honor Band playing the oboe. Her instructor at PHS is Armand Navarro.
- Jeremiah D. Fortune, Booker T. Washington High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State TTBB Choir. His instructor is Micah Roland.
- Nathaniel Holzknecht, Booker T. Washington High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Concert Choir. His instructor is Micah Roland.
- Jack Lloyd, Booker T. Washington High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State High School Symphonic Band playing the clarinet. His instructors are Lawrence Young, Jr., Michael Young and Jennifer Smith.
This year’s middle school participants were:
- Lily Bullard, Jim Bailey Middle, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Middle School Honor Band playing the flute.
- Kailee Norris, Brown Barge Middle, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Middle School Honor Band playing the trumpet. Her instructor is Angela Nass-Hillman.
- William Walley, Ferry Pass Middle, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Middle School Honor Band playing the trombone. His instructor is Russell L. Bertles.
- Thomas Glasser, Ransom Middle, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Middle School Concert Chorus. His instructor at Ransom is Angela Horne.
- Andrew Walker, Ransom Middle, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Honor Band playing the trombone. His instructor is Janie Walker.
Pictured: Sarah Bryan, Tate High, auditioned and was selected to perform in the All State Symphonic Band playing the piccolo. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Youth Basketball: Atmore Grizzlies 16, Century Magic 14
January 16, 2020
Submitted.
After being down 16-7 in the fourth quarter Kimora Davis hit a 15 foot jump shot to spark the magic with 2 minutes remaining in the game. Later Vincent Longmire and Keyunta Ewing followed with a jump shot and a layup respectfully to bring the Magic within 3, 16-13. Ewing then made a steal and was fouled while going for a layup with 2 seconds remaining in the game.
Ewing then made the first free throw to make the score 16-14 and intentionally missed his second attempt. Longmire then rebounded the missed free throw and layed it in tying the game 16-16 with 0.3 seconds on the clock and apparently forcing overtime as the crowd erupted.
After a 5 minute discussion the referees determined there was a lane violation by the Magic and removed the 2 points by Longmire. The game ended 16-14 as the Century Magic fell short to the Atmore Grizzlies in a spectacular game in Atmore.
Century Continues To Find ‘Missing’ Natural Gas, Accounts Not Billed Due To Faulty Meters
January 15, 2020
The Town of Century is continuing to make strides to get its natural gas billing on track.
The town could not account for 31.6% of the natural gas it purchased for resale in December 2019, a big improvement over 58% in August 2018.
The town has taken a systematic approaches to auditing natural gas accounts and replacing meters. The audits have uncovered at least a half dozen locations that were not in the billing system and over two dozen meters that had stopped working. Additionally, locations have been turned off that were not being billing, and a handful of new customers have signed up for service.
There were 20 stopped meters replaced December 23-27 and eight stopped meters replaced December 30-January 3. A total of 142 gas meters system wide have been changed out by city staff.
“…these activities do not address every possible metering issue in the gas system,” Veron Prather, interim city manager, wrote in a memo to the town council. “There is still the possibility of slow or out of calibration gas meters. These will require additional testing and corrective action to resolve.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia Man Gets 76 Months In Federal Prison For Firearm Possession By Convicted Felon
January 15, 2020
An Escambia County man has sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Charleston Pierre Wiggins, 32, was sentenced to 76 months.
On April 29, 2019, the Pensacola Police Department responded to a shots fired report. As a result of its investigation, PPD learned that Wiggins, a convicted felon, and another individual with whom he had a dispute, exchanged gunfire. During the exchange, Wiggins was shot in the leg. The PPD officers who located Wiggins followed a blood trail that led them to the pistol witnesses saw Wiggins carrying as he attempted to flee the area. The officers determined that the firearm, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was stolen.
“We will vigorously prosecute those whose actions recklessly endanger the public,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “This convicted felon chose to arm himself with a firearm and now he will pay the heavy consequences for his actions.”
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws..
Once Again, Littleton Street At Nine Mile Road Closure Extended
January 15, 2020
Once again, the temporary closure of Littleton Street at Nine Mile Road has been extended.
The road will be closed at the Milestone Subdivision through January 23. The closure, which began January 7, was due to end January 11, with that date later extended to January 18.
Crews are performing drainage work. Traffic is detoured to Milestone Boulevard and Oldenburg Boulevard. Signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and direct traffic to the alternate routes.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Man Wanted By Flomaton Police
January 15, 2020
The Flomaton Police Department is searching for a Pensacola man for cashing a forged check.
Michael Patrick Horgan is wanted for theft by deception second degree and possession of a forged instrument. Flomaton Police said he went to a local bank with a forged check and obtained an undisclosed amount of currency.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Flomaton Police at (251) 296-5811.
Century Community Development Agency Sets 2020 Meeting Dates
January 15, 2020
The Century Community Redevelopment Agency has set meeting dates for 2020.
The CRA will hold quarterly meetings at 6 p.m. before regular council meeting on February 3, April 6, July 20 and October 5.
The redevelopment area will receive 95 percent of the property tax generated in excess of the frozen base value as property values rise. It is estimated that will amount to about $10,000 the first year for the beginning in 2020.
The CRA funds will be used to improve conditions in the 510 acres, bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King.
