No Injuries In Mobile Home Kitchen Fire In Century
July 8, 2019
Firefighters responded to a reported kitchen fire in a Century mobile home Sunday evening.
The fire was reported minutes before 7 p.m. in 9500 block of Ivey Street. The cause of the fire was a pot on the stove, and any damage was confined mostly to the kitchen.
There were no injuries reported.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Jay Fire Department, Flomaton Fire Department and Escambia County EMS were dispatched to the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Summer Program Continues At Your Library With ‘Animal Tales’ This Week
July 8, 2019
After taking a week off for Fourth of July, the Summer Ready Program returns this week at the West Florida Library.
This week, the program is Animal Tales with up close and personal experiences with animals in a fun learning environment. 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 in late June at the Century Branch Library as part of the Summer Reading Program. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tree Falls Across Mobile Home Near Flomaton
July 8, 2019
For the second time in 10 days, high winds downed a tree and caused damage near Flomaton.
Sunday evening, a tree fell across a mobile home and power lines were downed on Pecan Grove Lane, according to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton. There were no injuries reported.
On June 27 a man was trapped under at tree that fell on him as he mowed grass on Pecan Leaf Lane. The tree fell across his legs, and Flomaton firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free him. He refused transport to the hospital. (For photos, click here.)
Pictured: A tree was downed by high winds Sunday on Pecan Grove Lane near Flomaton. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-County 8-10 Softball Takes Second In The State
July 8, 2019
The Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Star Team came in second place in the state Sunday in the Florida Little League tournament in Lehigh Acres. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots
July 8, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – Nine Mile Road will be closed at the U.S. 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 11 and from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 14 through Thursday, July 18 as crews drive piles for the new southbound bridge deck. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to U.S. 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
U.S. 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29 – Cove Avenue north of 9 Mile Road will be closed from 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 to perform drainage improvements. Traffic will be detoured to West 9 and a Half Mile Road and Fowler Avenue. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 9 through Sunday, July 16:
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- S.R. 291 (Davis Highway) at Brent Lane Turn Lane Construction- Motorists will encounter southbound, outside lane restrictions on Davis highway at Brent Lane from 8 p.m. Monday, July 8 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 9 as crews construct a right turn only entrance.
- I-10 over Perdido River Pavement Testing- There will be alternating east and westbound, outside lane closures on I-10 over the Perdido River at the Florida-Alabama line from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10 as crews perform pavement testing operations.
- I-10 over the Choctaw River Relief Routine Bride Inspection- Drivers will encounter alternating east and westbound lane restrictions on I-10 over the east and west Choctaw River Relief Bridges from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 9 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- State Road (S.R.) 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Traffic on Fairfield Drive from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place was shifted from its current alignment to the west Tuesday, June 18 to allow crews to complete the installation of the box culvert under the roadway. The north entrance to Usher Circle will also be temporarily closed to traffic during the drainage operation. Residents will utilize the south entrance of Usher Circle. The temporary lane shift and road closure is anticipated to take place for approximately three weeks.
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Traffic was shifted onto a temporary bridge Wednesday, July 3 and the existing roadway will be closed to traffic and the temporary diversion will remain in place throughout the construction of the new bridge. Activities associated with the bridge replacement project continue and are anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 9 through Sunday, July 16:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Monday, July 8:
o Alternating lane closures, Tuesday through Thursday, on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews perform construction activities.
o Alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22), Tuesday through Thursday, as crews work to place final striping and to finish work list items.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday until Thursday, July 30 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
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- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road– All north and southbound travel lanes on State Road (S.R.) 87, between County Road (C.R.) 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and two miles south of the Yellow River are now open and the speed limit is now 65 mph. Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews complete construction activities and the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the active work zones.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Wahoos Can’t Break Losing Streak With Birmingham
July 8, 2019
The Blue Wahoos held leads three times Sunday in effort to break a losing streak against the Birmingham Barons.
In each case, prosperity was short-lived.
For the third time in this series, the Blue Wahoos suffered a walk-off loss, but the one Sunday occurred in the most bizarre way, after reliever Zack Weiss’ two out, wild pitch in the 10th inning caromed down the left field line, allowing two runs to score in the Barons’ 6-5 win at Regions Field in Birmingham.
It became the fourth consecutive loss for the Blue Wahoos (9-9 second half), after they entered the road trip on a six-game win streak.
The Barons (13-5 second half), who had the Southern League’s worst record in the first half, won their eighth consecutive home game, their 11th overall in the past 12 games.
Birmingham’s eight-game home win streak is the club’s longest in six years. The Barons and Blue Wahoos will play again Monday and Tuesday as part of a six-game series.
The Blue Wahoos loss continued their recent struggles on the road. They have now lost 12 of their last 14 road games.
They seemed in position for a breakthrough Sunday. Trailing 4-2 in the ninth, they tied the game with singles. Mark Contreras led off the ninth with a base hit. Joe Cronin followed with a single. Aaron Whitehead moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Jordan Gore grounded out to first, allowing Contreras to score. Travis Blankenhorn came through again with a big hit, this time his two-out, RBI single to right field tied the game.
After Blue Wahoos’ reliever Hector Lujan, who pitched two scoreless innings Sunday, retired the Barons with a double-play after two batters reached on singles, the game went extra innings.
In the 10th, Alex Kirilloff began on second base in the MILB extra-inning format. Lewin Diaz drove him home with a double. But Birmingham reliever Hunter Schryver retired the next three batters to keep it a one-run game.
Weiss started the bottom of the 10th in relief of Lujan. He walked Joel Booker, after Luis Gonzalez was placed on second base. Blake Rutherford singled to load the bases.
Weiss then got Gavin Sheets, the Barons’ hottest hitter, to ground into a double play that began with a force out at home.
One out away from a win, calamity ensued. Weiss’ pitch got away from catcher Ben Rortvedt and the ball bounced down the line allowing Booker to score, then Rutherford, who kept running and beat the throw to the plate.
The game began three hours earlier with Kirilloff blasting a first-inning, solo home run, his second in three days.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Charlie Barnes held that lead until Birmingham tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sheets hit a solo homer, his 11th HR this season. It also extended his on-base streak to 25 games. He is rated the No. 17 prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization by MLB Pipeline.
The Blue Wahoos regained the lead in the fifth inning when Joe Cronin’s double was followed by Jordan Gore’s one-out double.
But in the sixth inning, the Barons knocked Barnes out of the game after Booker and Rutherford singled and Sheets hit a run-scoring double. Alex Phillips replaced Barnes and got the first out, but gave up an RBI signled to Damek Tomscha, then a ground ball out that scored Sheets with the third run of the inning.
It stayed 4-2 until the eventful ninth and 10th innings.
Four Blue Wahoos players had multiple hits among the team’s 12 for the game. Blankenhorn, Kirilloff, Contreras and Cronin all had two hits. Eight of the Blue Wahoos batters reached base at least once in the game.
The vital statistic again was the Blue Wahoos finishing the game 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
The series continues Monday with the Blue Wahoos’ Jorge Alcala (5-5, 5.81 ERA) going against Birmingham’s Matt Tomshaw (3-4, 3.29).
The good news for the Blue Wahoos is their road woes haven’t cost a big drop in the standings. Jacksonville (10-8) leads the South Division, but the other four teams are within three games. Pensacola and Biloxi are tied for second with 9-9 records.
Girlfriend Charged With Murder After Man Found Stabbed In Cantonment
July 7, 2019
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A man was found stabbed late Saturday night in Cantonment, and his girlfriend has been charged with his death.
Ja’Quoia XiaXiana Collins, 24, stabbed her boyfriend in the chest outside the Wild Oak Farms Apartments in the 800 block of North Highway 29 shortly before midnight, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The approximately 21-year old male was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later died.
The victim’s name and further details have not yet been released as the investigation continues.
Collins is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Temporary Closure Of Cove Avenue At Nine Mile Road
July 7, 2019
Cove Avenue north of Nine Mile Road will be closed from 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 9 until 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 for drainage improvements.
Traffic will be detoured to West 9 1/2 Mile Road and Fowler Avenue. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Individual Dies Shortly After Arrest In Santa Rosa County
July 7, 2019
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after an individual died at the hospital a few hours after his arrest.
About 9 p.m. Friday, Santa Rosa deputies located and arrested a suspect in a felony grand theft, burglary and criminal mischief investigation. Shortly after being taken into custody, the suspect began to have an unspecified medical emergency and was transported to the hospital by Lifeguard EMS. Just after midnight, the individual was medically cleared and was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Back at the jail, the individual had another medical emergency and was transported once again to a local hospital. The Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office later learned the person had died at the hospital.
The name of the individual is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Industrial Hemp Growing In Florida First Time In Decades, Planting Seeds For New Crop
July 7, 2019
The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) industrial hemp pilot project has passed a critical milestone towards understanding the potential of growing hemp throughout Florida.
Hemp plants have been planted at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead Florida and at the UF/IFAS Agronomy Forage Research Unit in Hague, Florida — the first hemp plants to be legally grown in the state since the 1950s. Multiple UF/IFAS sites are actively participating in the pilot project. Researchers are looking to identify hemp varieties suitable for planting in Florida, develop industrial hemp management practices for growing hemp in the state’s diverse growing environments and also assess the risk of hemp being an invasive plant that could potential pose a risk to Florida’s landscapes.
“Industrial hemp is a diverse multi-use crop with applications in bioplastics, building material, food, textiles and forage,” said assistant professor of agronomy Zachary Brym, who is leading the University of Florida Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. “Early Americans grew hemp and used it to make clothing, paints, ink, paper, rope, wagon covers, the list just goes on.”
One aspect of UF/IFAS research aims to produce plants with a high level of Cannabidiol extract, or CBD, not only to meet growing market needs but also to find suitable cash crops for Florida farmers. Additional aspects include identifying plants that will have food and fiber uses.
Industrial hemp is a Cannabis sativa plant with less than 0.3 percent of THC, which is the psychoactive chemical that, at a higher level, defines marijuana. Currently, authorization for hemp production is limited to the University of Florida and Florida A & M University. The project requires approval at multiple levels including federal and state agencies, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the university boards of trustees.
The UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) in Apopka is propagating plants in a greenhouse environment. “Given its versatility, industrial hemp could be a crop of exceptional potential for Florida farmers,” said Roger Kjelgren, UF/IFAS MREC director. “We are excited to be at the forefront of the university’s research efforts and are excited for the opportunity to contribute to this project.”
A total of eleven researchers from seven departments and the College of Pharmacy are engaged in the pilot project. Research activities include three outdoor production locations in Homestead, Hague and Quincy. These locations will conduct a replicated trial of more than 40 varieties of hemp, including grain, fiber, and CBD types. The goal is to gather the most basic information necessary for the initial design and economic assessment of hemp growing systems for regions across the state of Florida. The UF Gainesville campus is involved in assessing the invasion risk that the plant has for Florida’s natural environment. Work to screen hemp for nematode and mildew susceptibility has begun at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma.
Expanding the scope of research to additional research objectives has been facilitated by private industry donations and internal IFAS support.