No Injuries In Highway 29 Rollover Wreck
April 21, 2019
A driver escaped injury early Saturday morning in a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 29 near Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Area Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly
April 20, 2019
The latest job numbers released by the state show a decrease in the unemployment rate in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped slightly from 3.5 percent in February to 3.3 percent in March. There were 4,743 people were reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 3.7 percent.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.2 percent in February to 3.1 percent in March. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,477 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 3.4 percent.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in March 2019, unchanged from the February 2019 rate, and down 0.3 percentage point from a year ago. There were 360,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,346,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in March.
The jobless numbers released by the state do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Licenses Issued In Alabama Industrial Hemp Program Including Seven In Escambia County
April 20, 2019
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has licensed 152 growers, 59 processors, and 5 universities to grow, cultivate, process, and research industrial hemp in 2019 — including seven licenses in Escambia County, AL.
2019 Grower License Holder List
- F.M. Nalty Timerlands LLC
- Hemp Ag Group, Inc.
- Phytoleum Hemp Development of Alabama
- Brad Ward
2019 Processor License Holder List
- Phytoleum Hemp Development of Alabama
- Sothern Star Farms Inc
2019 University License Holder List
- Alabama State University
Individuals and businesses must be licensed by the ADAI to grow or process industrial hemp in Alabama. Under Alabama and federal law, it is unlawful to possess any raw or unprocessed hemp, hemp plants, or hemp seed without a license from the ADAI.
Camp Fire Kids Attend Easter Egg Hunt At Century Health And Rehab
April 20, 2019
The children at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center recently attended an annual Easter Egg Hunt with the staff and residents at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scientists Officially Upgrade Hurricane Michael To Category 5
April 20, 2019
Scientists at the National Hurricane Center have officially upgraded Hurricane Michael to a category 5 storm.
They have made the final determination that the wind speed of the storm was 160 mph, 5 mph over the original estimate, at the time of landfall on October 10, 2018, near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base.
Michael is the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States as a category 5 since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and only the fourth on record. The others are the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Michael is also the strongest hurricane landfall on record in the Florida Panhandle and only the second known category 5 landfall on the northern Gulf coast.
The real-time operational intensity estimate was 155 mph. The final best track intensity estimate of 160 mph was determined by a review of the available aircraft winds, surface winds, surface pressures, satellite intensity estimates and Doppler radar velocities – including data and analyses that were not available in real time. The 5 mph increase in the estimated maximum sustained wind speed from the operational estimate is small and well within the normal range of uncertainty, according to the National Weather Service.
Category 5 winds were likely experienced over a very small area at and near the coast, and the change in estimated wind speeds is of little practical significance in terms of the impacts associated with the storm. Michael produced devastating winds and storm surge and was directly responsible for 16 deaths and about $25 billion in damage in the United States. Before hitting the United States, the cyclone brought hurricane-force winds to the western tip of Cuba when it was a category 2 Hurricane.
Along with wind speed, atmospheric pressure is a measure of storm intensity. In general, the lower a storm’s central pressure, the higher the winds. Michael’s central pressure of 919 millibars (mb) at landfall is the third lowest on record for a landfalling U. S. hurricane since reliable records began in 1900, trailing only the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 (892 mb) and Hurricane Camille of 1969 (900 mb).
Pictured: Mexico Beach just days after after Hurricane Michael. NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Split Doubleheader In Biloxi
April 20, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoo split a doubleheader in Biloxi Friday. Pensacola took game one 9-1, and fell in game two 4-3.
Game One
The Blue Wahoos came out swinging in game one of their Friday night double header in Biloxi, using a pair of home runs and another brilliant outing from Griffin Jax on their way to a 9-1 victory.
Pensacola scored four times in the third inning. Brian Navarreto led off the inning with a double and Mark Contreras followed by reaching on a walk. A fielding error by Biloxi pitcher Alec Bettinger on a Jordan Gorec comebacker allowed Navarreto to score. Brian Schales followed with a three-run home run to make it 4-0.
With the lead, Jax was brilliant. The Air Force grad entered the game with the best ERA in the league and delivered 6.0 stellar innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five. Major League rehabber Gabriel Moya added a scoreless inning of relief after Jax’s strong outing.
Navarreto was 3-4 in the game with 3 RBI, including a three-run home run in seventh and a double. Mark Conteras was 2-3 with an RBI.
Game Two
For the fifth time this season, the Blue Wahoos played in a game that ended with a 4-3 final score, this time ending on the losing end in game two.
Biloxi took an early 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the home half of the first on a throwing error, stolen base, and three consecutive singles.
Pensacola answered with two of their own in the top of the second. Mitchell Kranson opened the inning with a solo home run. Caleb Hamilton followed with a triple and scored on an RBI ground out by Taylor Grzelakowski.
A single, balk, and subsequent RBI single by C.J. Hinojosa gave Biloxi the lead back in the third inning against Blue Wahoos starter Andro Cutura, but the Blue Wahoos again answered the following inning, using a double by Brian Schales, a ground out to move him over, and a wild pitch to tie the game.
Jeff Ames entered in relief of Cutura (3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) in the bottom of the fourth. A pair of walks and an RBI single by Michael O’Neill gave the Shuckers the lead back at 4-3.
The score held there as Biloxi relievers Angel Perdomo (W, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 5 K) and Nate Griep (S, 1.0 IP, 0 R) combined to close out the game and preserve the win for the Shuckers.
Death Of Pollard Woman Ruled As Accidental Drowning
April 19, 2019
The cause of death has been released for the Pollard, AL, woman who went missing days before her body was found in the Escambia River.
The autopsy report says 74-year old Eva McBride accidently drowned.
McBride was last seen at her home on November 23 on McBride Circle, east of Flomaton and very near the Alabama/Florida line. Her home is located less than a mile from the Conecuh River, which becomes the Escambia River in Florida.
Her body was found December 9 in Santa Rosa County about a mile south of the Terrell’s Landing boat ramp off Oil Plant Road, upriver from Fischer Landing in Century.
The autopsy report also states she also suffered from dementia.
Florida House Approves Lower Minimum Age For Corrections Officers
April 19, 2019
The Florida House has unanimously passed a bill that allows 18-year old corrections officers in Florida.
The minimum age for a corrections officer in Florida is currently 19. The 18-year old minimum, if it becomes law, would apply not only to the state prison system, but also to county jails in an effort to solve staffing issues.
A similar bill is moving through the Senate. The effort is backed by the Florida Department of Corrections.
The bill also would keep drones away from prisons in an effort to crack down on contraband.
Pictured: Inside a prisoner dorm at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Man Gets Three Life Sentences For Attempted Murder Of Three Deputies
April 19, 2019
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the attempted murder of three Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Demetric Denario Carter was convicted of three counts of attempted first degree premeditated murder with a firearm on a law enforcement officer. A jury also found Carter to be in actual possession of a firearm and that he discharged the firearm. The conviction carries a mandatory life sentence. The case was tried in front of Circuit Judge Jeff Burns and sentencing is currently set for April 17.
On October 27, 2017, Carter entered the Warrington Bank on Barrancas Avenue. He approached one of the tellers and told her to call the police. He then stated he did not want to take it out on them and to tell the police to meet him behind the bank. Law enforcement responded and made contact with Carter and it was discovered he had a firearm in his back pocket. After repeatedly telling Carter to get on the ground and to keep his hands visible, a taser was displayed. when carter reached and grabbed the firearm, the taser was deployed. carter then fired several shots in the direction of three deputies who returned fire.
Carter has several prior convictions including convictions for aggravated assault by threat with a firearm, domestic battery by strangulation, fleeing or attempting to elude a leo in an agency vehicle with siren and lights activated, sell, manufacture, deliver or possess a controlled substance with intent, possession of controlled substance (over 20 grams of cannabis), possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with no valid driver’s license, possession of prescription drugs without prescription, resisting an officer without violence, battery, and possession of a controlled substance (less than 20 grams of cannabis). He had just been released from prison 10 months prior to this incident.
Northbound Highway 29 Ramps At Nine Mile Road To Close Through Monday
April 19, 2019
The northbound Highway 29 off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road in Escambia County will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, April 19 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 22 to provide safe work zones for crews to construct partial segments of the future off and on-ramps. The following detour will be in place:
- Nine Mile Road to Highway 29 northbound - Palafox Street, 9 ½ Mile Road, to U.S. 29.
- Highway 29 northbound to Nine Mile Road – W. Hood Drive, Palafox Street, to Nine Mile Road.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers should use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone, and watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.