FWC Presents Draft 10-Year Plan For Lake Stone
April 11, 2019
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff presented a 10-year draft land management plan for the Lake Stone Fish Management Area during a public meeting Wednesday night in Century.
Lake Stone is managed through a cooperative agreement between the FWC and Escambia County to conserve natural communities and use lake management techniques to maintain healthy fish habitats. The area features a man-made lake stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and channel catfish. The impoundment, managed and maintained by FWC, was constructed in the late 1960s to provide additional freshwater fishing opportunities in an area where these opportunities are limited.
Escambia County maintains public camping facilities and a fishing pier, along with roads, trails and parking facilities in the area. In addition to fishing opportunities, the lake provides recreational opportunities such as wildlife viewing, hiking, paddling and camping. Gasoline boat motors are prohibited from use on Lake Stone; however, the use of electric trolling motors is allowed.
“This draft management plan provides conservation-based management for healthy terrestrial and aquatic habitats, cultural resources, along with fish- and wildlife-based outdoor recreation opportunities for public use,” said Dylan Imlah, FWC land conservation planner.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE DRAFT PLAN.
There is about $148,000 in the first year and an additional $428,000 over the 10-year life of the plan for capital construction.
About 15 campsites have been paved so far, and another 50 to 60 will be paved with county funding, according to Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes. The county also hopes to replace the playground and the office/caretaker trailer.
“We are also looking towards potentially building a new open pavilion, kiosk and new gate near the dam for the area, however these items have not yet been approved or vetted for funding,” said Imlah.
There are also two full-time employees in the plan.
“Currently, we have several employees from both the FWC and Escambia County assisting in managing the area. The two employees listed in the plan is based off of our proposed budget, showing that we would need at a minimum of two full time employees dedicated to the area in order to manage optimally. Currently, we have an FWC manager along with several other staff who help maintain the lake and fish populations. We also have FWC staff who monitor wildlife species and exotics that may occur on the upland areas. Additionally, the county pays a caretaker to live on the area and manage the recreational facilities. Not to mention county staff that assist in campsite reservations, facility development improvements,” Imlah told NorthEscambia.com.
There are no plans, she said, to change the public’s current use of Lake Stone, only improve access as funding allows.
Pictured: Lake Stone near Century, and a Lake Stone Management Plan meeting Wednesday night in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mother Charged With Manslaughter After Toddler Found Dead In Vehicle
April 11, 2019
An Escambia County mother has been charged with the death of her 2-year old.
Jessica Lynn Monell, 36, is charged with negligent manslaughter, child neglect, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was being held without bond.
Her two-year old child was found dead Wednesday afternoon inside a van at the Aqua Porta Apartments on Meadson Road in southern Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Aqua Porta Apartments on Meadson Road just before 4 p.m. where they found that the child had been left inside a vehicle. Maj. Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the child was left in the vehicle for about eight hours.
Monell allegedly forgot the child was in the vehicle and went inside to sleep.
Hobbs said crystal methamphetamine and prescription narcotics without a valid prescription were found inside the apartment.
The investigation into the death is continuing by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.
A record high of 88 was set on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Tate Freshmen Beat Gulf Breeze; Northview Baseball, Softball Reschedule Games
April 11, 2019
Tate 7, Gulf Breeze 3 (Freshmen)
The Tate High Freshmen beat Gulf Breeze 7-3 Wednesday night to improvie to 9-0-1 on the season.
Conner Wright pitched the win, going four innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out five. Chase Lombardo came in for the save.
Tucker Griffin, Dagan Guy and Warren Henke each had a couple of hits to lead Tate at bat.
The Tate Freshmen will be in action next Monday in a home game against Navarre.
NORTHVIEW SCHEDULE CHANGES
Northview Softball
Thursday, April 11 – Away at Paxton 4pm JV, 6 pm Varsity
Friday, April 12 – Home vs. Jay 4pm JV, 6 pm Varsity
April 22 — Home vs. Paxton 4pm JV, 6 pm Varsity (senior night)
Northview Baseball
Northview will play at Baker on Tuesday, April 23, and Baker will be a Northview on Thursday, April 25. Both games are at 6 p.m. and are varsity only.
Tate Drama Presents “All’s Well In Roswell” Friday And Saturday Nights
April 11, 2019
The Tate High School Drama Department will present “All’s Well in Rosell” Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the school cafetorium. The comedy is about the “events” surrounding the claim that a UFO with alien life crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.
Tickets at the door are $7.
Wahoos Homer Their Way To A Home Opener Win
April 11, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos picked up a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Wednesday evening, using three home runs and seven extra-base hits in the opening game of the newly-announced Seafood Buffet Series.
Jorge Alcala started on the mound for Pensacola and provided a strong outing, going 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four.
The Blue Wahoos took an early lead on a towering home run by Drew Maggi to left leading off the second inning. Following the homer, the next two hitters, Brian Schales and Jimmy Kerrigan, each doubled to put Pensacola up 2-0.
The Wahoos extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a solo shot by Schales to left.
Jacksonville battled back into the game in the fifth, using a double, sacrifice, hit by pitch, RBI groundout, and RBI single to score twice and cut Pensacola’s lead to 3-2.
The Blue Wahoos answered in the bottom half of the inning with their third home run of the game, a solo shot to left by Jaylin Davis.
The two teams traded runs in the seventh. Jacksonville loaded the bases against reliever Jovani Moran, who then hit a batter to plate a run and pull the Shrimp within one. With the bases still loaded and just one out, manager Ramon Borrego turned to Jeff Ames out of the pen, who proceeded to strike out the next two hitters to escape the jam.
It was Schales again in the bottom of the seventh helping Pensacola to answer, drilling a two-out double to score Davis from first and put the Wahoos up 5-3.
With one out in the eighth, Jacksonville put runners on the corner with just one out against Ames. The Wahoos turned to Ryan Mason, who retired the first batter he faced on a ground out while a run scored, making it 5-4.
With a runner on second, the following batter Bryson Brigman knocked a single to left that looked like it would tie the game, but Pensacola leftfielder Ernie De La Trinidad made a perfect throw home from the outfield to gun out the runner at the plate and save Pensacola’s lead.
Mason set the side down in order in the ninth, striking out a pair, to earn his first save of the year and give Pensacola a 5-4 win in their home opener. Alcala (2-0, 1.80 ERA) earned the win while McKenzie Mills (0-1, 7.20 ERA) was saddled with the loss.
The two team’s will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Thursday.
Wednesday Was Gopher Tortoise Day
April 10, 2019
Florida celebrated Gopher Tortoise Day on Wednesday.
Gopher tortoises are found in all 67 counties and are frequently encountered in neighborhoods, along roadways, and in many of Florida’s public parks and forests. The goal of Gopher Tortoise Day is to increase awareness and appreciation for these long lived, gentle reptiles.
A gopher tortoise strolling across a road or through a backyard or field is a common sight during spring in the North Escambia area. Yet as tortoises become increasingly active this time of year, they are vulnerable to being struck by vehicles and injured or killed.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is urging residents to look out for these slow-moving reptiles with their bony-plated shells and elephantine legs. They leave their burrows in search of green plants to eat and a tortoise to become their mate. From now through May, females will be laying eggs the size of ping-pong balls in the sandy apron outside their burrows.
FWC is also encouraging drivers to slow down on highways to help protect the state’s gopher tortoises. If a gopher tortoise is crossing the road, it is OK to pick it up and move it to safety — but keep it pointed in the direction it was heading and do not put this terrestrial animal into the water.
People also can help by downloading and using a smartphone app to report to the FWC when and where they spot gopher tortoises. The free “Florida gopher tortoise” app recently became available on iPhone and Android. When users of the app take a photograph of a tortoise or its burrow, the photo and its GPS coordinates will be sent automatically to the FWC.
App-generated data collected by citizen scientists will help guide conservation of this threatened species. Biological information and a quiz testing the user’s knowledge of the only tortoise east of the Mississippi River also are included in the app.
Harming a gopher tortoise, its burrows or eggs is against the law.
T.C. Venom, Pensacola Jets Suspended By League After Century Shooting
April 10, 2019
As the investigation continues into shots fired following an adult football game in Century, both teams have been suspended by their league.
The suspension for the T.C. Venom, which plays in Century, and the Greater Pensacola Jets, is “until further notice,” the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday night.
After the Pensacola Jets beat the host team T.C. Venom at Anthony Pleasant Park, a brawl broke out and at least three shots were fired by someone on the field Saturday night at Anthony Pleasant Park in Century. There were no injuries. [Click here for more details, shooting video ...]
“The Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any and all types of violence no matter how big or small it may be. This is and has always been reflected in our leagues rules and bylaws,” APDFL President Anastasia Hunt and Commissioner Bernard Hunt said in a statement. “As this most recent event has been brought to our attention, we feel it necessary to acknowledge that neither the Greater Pensacola Jets nor TC Venom, are present active members of the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League.”
“We expect more of ourselves and I demand more than that from TC Venom. We are not done. We will be back sooner than many expect,” Venom head coach and owner Luis Waters said after the suspension announcement. ” … my guys deserve to play football. And we will. I stick to my word about more security at our home games. It’s my duty to assure that our fans are protected and I will do that from now on. That’s a promise.”
If the suspension is lifted, the Venom’s next scheduled game is April 27 at the South Alabama Dolphins in Mobile.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Facing Numerous Drug Charges After Traffic Stop For Speeding
April 10, 2019
A Cantonment man was charged with multiple drug offenses after a traffic stop in Escambia County.
Jerry Wayne Floyd, Jr., was charged with possession of a controlled substance (Ecstasy), possession of a controlled substance (heroin), trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of a drug paraphernalia.
An Escambia County deputy stopped Floyd, 26, for driving 62 mph in a 40 mph zone in the area of Fernwood Avenue and Yonge Street.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted on the vehicle. During a search, deputies found 27 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 2.5 grams of heroin, 15 grams of marijuana, over 50 Ecstasy pills weighing 13.5 grams, a digital scale and $568 in cash, according to an arrest report.
Floyd was also ticketed for speeding. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $56,000.
County Reacts To Public Safety Director’s Resignation; EMS Union Speaks Out
April 10, 2019
Escambia County administration is reacting to Tuesday’s resignation of Escambia County Public Safety Director Mike Weaver as the local EMS union also speaks out.
“We are extremely saddened to receive Mike Weaver’s letter of resignation. Mike has served the county as an EMT, paramedic, fire battalion chief, deputy fire chief, EMS division manager, in addition to his role of public safety director. We are losing almost 30 years of valuable knowledge, an exceptional employee, coworker and manager. However, we understand his personal choice to resign. It takes a very honorable person who can put the needs of Escambia County residents first, by not wanting to let differing agendas distract from the core of public safety,” Interim County Administrator Amy Lovoy said in a prepared statement.
In his resignation letter, Weaver said he resigned because “false accusations about my work performance and character are being made by an employee union.” He said the “slanderous comments can only distract others from the true needs of their Public Safety Department.”
“I have always held myself that the needs of my neighbors are always paramount to those of my own,” Weaver wrote.
Lovoy said Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin will take on the day-to-day duties of public safety director, and Deputy Fire Chief Paul Williams will serve as interim fire chief after Chief Rusty Nail departs. Last week, Nail announced his resignation effective June 1.
The Escambia County Professional Firefighters held a no-confidence vote on Weaver and called for his resignation last week. [Read more ...]
And Tuesday, the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics, representing Local 325, also announced they had unanimously approved a vote of no confidence in Weaver. The union represents Escambia County EMS employees.
In a letter, IAEP National Director Philip Petit cited a poor atmosphere and poor management by Weaver.
“All of these factors have severely damaged the relationship between the County’s first responders and those tasked with leading, protecting and managing the department,” Petit said. He blamed Weaver for the Nail’s resignation.
“Morale in the EMS Department remains at an all-time low. Retention of experienced employees is abysmal and recruitment of qualified new candidates remains difficult at best,” the union boss wrote.
Below: Mike Weaver’s resignation letter.
Escambia County Makes School Zone Improvements At Byrneville Elementary
April 10, 2019
Escambia County recently made school zone safety improvements at Byrneville Elementary School, including a new paved lane on Byrneville Road to facilitate student drop-offs and pick-ups. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
