Mayor: Company Moving Gas Pipeline Route Into Century Residential Neighborhoods
March 7, 2018
The company constructing a new underground natural gas pipeline wants to change their route and route the pipeline through several residential neighborhoods in Century, according to Mayor Henry Hawkins.
Florida Public Utilities is constructing the pipeline through North Escambia from Century to Nine Mile Road. Plans originally presented to the Century Town Council in April 2017 showed the pipeline along Fannie and Old Flomaton roads to Highway 4, then south on Highway 29 to Pensacola.
However, Hawkins said the company is abandoning plants to bore and place the pipeline under Highway 29 from Highway 4 south through the town. Instead, the mayor said the company plans to bury the 12-inch natural gas pipeline on the right of way on Jefferson Street to Salter’s Lake Road.
The Century Town Council will hold a special meeting at 2:15 p.m. Thursday to discuss the alternative pipeline route. Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said Tuesday that he expects a county representative to attend the meeting; Salters Lake Road is a county road outside the town limits.
The pipeline continues south from Century along Highway 29 right of way from Century to Old Chemstrand Road. From there, an eight-inch line will follow Old Chemstrand Road to Ascend, while another eight-inch line will continue south on Highway 29 to Highway 95A in Cantonment to West Roberts Road to Pine Forest Road to West Nine Mile Road where the project will connect to an existing gas system.
Pictured below: Plan originally submitted to the Town of Century shows natural gas pipeline along Highway 4 then south on Highway 29.
UPDATED: Male Bitten By Dog Near McDavid; Deputies Forced To Put Down Dog
March 7, 2018
[UPDATED 9:30 a.m.] A young adult male was bitten by a dog at home near McDavid Tuesday afternoon. The 19-year suffered injuries that were not considered serious.
The incident happened inside a residence in the 700 block of North Pine Barren Road, near Lambert Bridge Road. The owners of the dog reported that their child was eating popcorn when their 2.5-year old dog began charging toward their younger child. The victim grabbed the dog’s collar, and the dog turned and bit his arm, according to an Escambia County Animal Control report.
“The residents were laying on top of the dog that was reported as being highly aggressive when a responding deputy shot the dog in the head inside the home,” the report states.
The owners told animal control that the dog was properly vaccinated. Rabies testing was not possible due to the gunshot.
The victim refused transport by Escambia County EMS. The county report states that the parents were going to transport their son directly to the hospital.
The breed of the dog was not specified in the report.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wreck Of USS Lexington Found After 76 Years; Ship Was Predecessor Of Pensacola’s Lady Lex
March 7, 2018
Wreckage from the USS Lexington has been discovered by the expedition crew of Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel, which is owned by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen. The Lexington was found 3,000 meters (approximately two miles) below the surface, resting on the floor of the Coral Sea more than 500 miles off the eastern coast of Australia.
“To pay tribute to the USS Lexington and the brave men that served on her is an honor,” Mr. Allen said. “As Americans, all of us owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who served and who continue to serve our country for their courage, persistence and sacrifice.”
As one of the first U.S. aircraft carriers ever built, the Lexington became known as “Lady Lex” and went down with 35 aircraft on board.
“Lexington was on our priority list because she was one of the capital ships that was lost during WWII,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Mr. Allen. “Based on geography, time of year and other factors, I work together with Paul Allen to determine what missions to pursue. We’ve been planning to locate the Lexington for about six months and it came together nicely.”
The USS Lexington was originally commissioned as a battlecruiser but was launched as an aircraft carrier in 1925. She took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) along with the USS Yorktown against three Japanese carriers. This was the first carrier versus carrier battle in history and was the first time Japanese forces suffered a permanent setback in its advances on New Guinea and Australia. However, the U.S. lost the Lexington and 216 of its distinguished crew.
The Lexington had been hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs on May 8 but it was a secondary explosion causing uncontrolled fires that finally warranted the call to abandon ship. The USS Phelps delivered the final torpedoes that sank the crippled Lady Lex, the first aircraft carrier casualty in history. With other U.S. ships standing by, 2,770 crewmen and officers were rescued, including the captain and his dog Wags, the ships ever-present mascot.
During the Battle of the Coral Sea the Japanese navy sank USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Sims (DD-409), and USS Neosho (AO-23), and damaged the USS Yorktown. The Japanese lost one light carrier (Shōhō) and suffered significant damage to a fleet carrier (Shōkaku).
“As we look back on our Navy throughout its history, we see evidence of an incredible amount of heroism and sacrifice. The actions of Sailors from our past inspire us today,” said Sam Cox, Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command and retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. “So many ships, so many battles, so many acts of valor help inform what we do now.”
The Battle of the Coral Sea was notable not only for stopping a Japanese advance but because it was the first naval engagement in history where opposing ships never came within sight of each other. This battle ushered in a new form of naval warfare via carrier-based airplanes. One month later, the U.S. Navy surprised Japanese forces at the Battle of Midway, and turned the tide of the war in the Pacific for good.
Based on some initial success with his M/Y Octopus, Mr. Allen acquired and retrofitted the 250-foot R/V Petrel with state-of-the-art subsea equipment capable of diving to 6,000 meters (or three and a half miles). Since its deployment in early 2017, the ship was active in several missions in the Philippine Sea before its transition to the Coral Sea off the Australian Coast.
Allen-led expeditions have also resulted in the discovery of the USS Indianapolis (August 2017), USS Ward (November 2017), USS Astoria (February 2015), Japanese battleship Musashi (March 2015) and the Italian WWII destroyer Artigliere (March 2017). His team was also responsible for retrieving the ship’s bell from the HMS Hood for presentation to the British Navy in honor of its heroic service. Mr. Allen’s expedition team was permanently transferred to the newly acquired and retrofitted R/V Petrel in 2016 with a specific mission around research, exploration and survey of historic warships and other important artifacts.
Photos courtesy Paul G. Allen for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
County Receives 77 Applications For Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Job
March 7, 2018
There were 77 people that applied for the Escambia Fire Rescue chief job to replace former Chief Patrick Grace who was relieved of duties in late January.
Local applicants include Molino District Fire Chief Anthony Manning, Ferry Pass District Fire Chief Michael Aaron, current Pensacola Fire Chief David Allen, former Pensacola Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and former Pensacola Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Glover (a current part time ECFR employee), and current ECFR lieutenants Daniel Akerman and Richard Bode.
Applicants are, in alphabetical order:
- Aaron, Michael A.
- Adams, John D.
- Akerman, Daniel Augustus
- Allen, David E.
- Anderson Jr, Paul
- Banta, Oral W.
- Baskett, Burney K
- Beaty Jr, William D.
- Blackwell, Marion F.
- Bode, Richard C.
- Boudreaux, Richard Paul
- Brewer, Wesley R.
- Brinson, Derrick P.
- Brown, Melvin
- Buckley, Craig Nelson
- Bumgarner, Hal K.
- Collins, Larry L.
- Costo, Henry J.
- Cox, Stephen F.
- Davis, Michael Paul
- Demeter, Stephen L.
- Dickson, Patrick N.
- Dixon, Joseph W.
- Dyer Jr, Al G.
- Ferris, Robert C
- Fields, Thomas H.
- Fullenlove, Bruce. 0
- Gilcrease, Gavin C.
- Glover, Joseph A.
- Green, Bradley Terrance
- Guidry, Dennis Michael
- Harshburger, Daniel B.
- Horton, Don J.
- Hudson, Steven C.
- Hume, Robert K.
- Hussey, Jeff A.
- Johnson, Jeffrey S
- Kane, Michael P
- Keith, Craig L.
- Knowles, David L.
- Kolommt, Richard
- Lewis, Allen G.
- Long, Alan James
- Manning, Anthony P.
- Manuel, Kevin Blaine
- Marrison, Jerry L.
- McBride, Stephen W.
- Mitchell, Keith T.
- Mullen, Lonnie R.
- Nail, Russell Clark
- Naylo, Merrill
- Perry, Troy F.
- Priggemeie, Bryce Adam
- Reilly, Dennis P.
- Riley, Richard D.
- Risen, A Michael
- Rodriguez, Ronald A.
- Samarelll, James Sr.
- Sanchez, Richard L.
- Schmitt, Matthew J.
- Shutts, Ronnie L.
- Slayman, Donald R.
- Smith, Edward W.
- Smith, Paul Randall
- Smith, Stephen G.
- Soule, Timothy H.
- Stillwagon II, James A
- Swan Jr, Richard C.
- Swanson, Derrick E.
- Swartout, Brian R.
- Taylor, Vance A.
- Thomas Ill, Thomas A.
- Venegas, Edmundo
- Vinyard, William D.
- Voge, Michael “CJ”
- Woodworth, Steven P.
- Young, Christopher Kenneth
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Lawmakers Will Need To Go Overtime On Budget
March 7, 2018
Florida lawmakers will need to go into overtime because of an impasse about hospital spending in final negotiations over a new state budget.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, told House members Tuesday night that lawmakers will have to extend the session, scheduled to end Friday, or hold a special session.
“Make preparations because that’s kind of where we are headed,” Corcoran said after a day of behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Senate.
Corcoran (pictured) said a “best-case scenario” would be finishing the session Saturday. But he also said it was possible the session would be extended to Monday or that Gov. Rick Scott could call a special session that might start as soon as Monday.
It will mark the second year in a row that the Legislature was unable to complete its annual session in the allotted 60 days.
Last year, lawmakers extended the session for three days to vote on the budget and then had to return for a special session after Scott vetoed the public-school portion of the budget, which he deemed inadequate.
Corcoran did not detail the reasons for being unable to reach agreement.
But earlier, Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R- Fleming Island, said the House and Senate were continuing to negotiate payments to Florida’s hospitals. At least part of the issue involves whether to scrap a long-standing payment system for a new system that would increase base Medicaid rates paid to every hospital, regardless of Medicaid patient load.
Late Tuesday morning, Bradley said it was “too early to tell” whether lawmakers would be able to reach agreement on an $87 billion-plus spending plan by midnight. Meeting the deadline would have given lawmakers enough time to adhere to a mandated 72-hour cooling-off period before a final budget vote on Friday, the last scheduled day of the 2018 session.
But when Corcoran spoke to House members about 8:15 p.m., he made clear the budget wouldn’t be done in time.
The House’s proposed spending plan for hospitals in the upcoming year is essentially a continuation of the current year’s budget. But the Senate has proposed redistributing $318 million in Medicaid “automatic rate enhancements” currently paid to 28 hospitals with large Medicaid caseloads and use it to increase the rates paid for all hospitals.
The Senate budget also includes $50 million to offset the recurring effect of the current year’s budget cuts on hospitals. The Senate plan has been endorsed by some rural hospitals that say the additional $50 million in the Senate plan is what they need.
But the Senate proposal would reduce Medicaid payments to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami by as much as $58 million and Orlando Health by nearly $9 million. House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said the House would not let safety-net facilities such as those face steep reductions.
HCA Healthcare, a for-profit chain that owns 43 facilities in the state, could see nearly $40.5 million in Medicaid increases under the Senate plan. Tenet, which owns nine hospitals in Florida, would see a nearly $4 million increase in Medicaid payments under the Senate plan, and Community Health Systems, which owns 23 hospitals in Florida, would see as much as a $7.7 million bump in Medicaid payments.
The Senate budget also includes an additional $130 million increase in Medicaid payments for nursing homes that aren’t included in the House budget.
Bradley said Tuesday that once the chambers agree on the hospital spending they will discuss nursing homes.
Negotiations have been completed on a $21 billion public school budget and a $7.9 billion budget for state universities and colleges, including financial aid, Bradley said. But as of Tuesday evening, lawmakers had not released the details of the agreement.
Based on earlier public negotiations, lawmakers will not increase state performance funding for universities and state colleges. That funding would remain at $245 million for the universities and $30 million for the 28 state colleges.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Monday night he expects the university system to receive an additional $20 million that would be shared by schools that have reached “pre-eminent” status, including the University of Florida and Florida State University. The University of South Florida is also expected to achieve that status in the coming year and would share those funds.
Negron also said he expects a $20 million increase in the “world class” program, which is money shared by all the universities to attract top-level professors and researchers. Another $10 million increase would go to rewarding high-performing medical, law and professional schools.
In the public-school system, lawmakers have agreed to roughly a $500 million increase in the funding formula for the 67 school districts, which should yield a per-student increase in the range of $100 in the new academic year.
School funding was impacted by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, with lawmakers agreeing to spend an additional $400 million on school-safety and mental-health initiatives.
School-safety legislation (SB 7026) debated Tuesday in the House includes a $97.5 million increase for the “safe schools” program in the funding formula. It would boost the program, which helps the 67 school districts hire school resources officers, to $162 million in the 2018-2019 academic year.
The legislation also would provide $67 million to the school districts in a new mental-health category in the funding formula.
But one of the impacts of shifting more state funding to school safety may be Gov. Rick Scott’s call for an $18 million increase in funding to help teachers buy classroom supplies. The increase sought by Scott would have boosted the annual support to $350 for each teacher, although it appears the program is likely to remain at its current level of $45.3 million, which provides $250 a year.
Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $100K Sold In Molino
March 7, 2018
Someone is over $100,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Molino.
The ticket sold at the Molino First Stop on Highway 95A was one of two winning tickets sold for Tuesday night’s drawing and is worth $103,970.74. The other winning ticket was sold in Merritt Island.
The 277 tickets matching four numbers won $121 each. Another 9,006 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and 92,072 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Tuesday’s Fantasy 5 winning numbers were 2-4-13-19-33.
Ernest Ward Journalism Students Tour WEAR 3 TV Studio
March 7, 2018
Journalism students from Ernest Ward Middle School recently visited the WEAR 3 studios in Pensacola. They were able to tour the station and watch a live “Dayside” news broadcast from behind the scenes. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Senate Approves Year Round Daylight Savings Time
March 7, 2018
Northwest Florida took a big step toward year-round daylight saving time after a Senate vote Tuesday.
Floridians will change their clocks forward on Sunday, but that could become a thing of the past under a proposal that cleared the Legislature on Tuesday. The Senate voted 33-2 to give final approval to a measure (HB 1013) intended to eventually keep Florida on daylight-saving time throughout the year. Sen. Doug Broxson, whose district includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, voted in favor of the bill.
The next stop is the desk of Gov. Rick Scott, whose office said he will review the proposal after formally receiving it. If Scott signs the bill, Congress would ultimately be responsible for approving the proposed change.
If approved, Northwest Florida would be one hour ahead of neighboring Alabama during part of the year, including winter. For example, on Christmas Day if it were 10 a.m. in North Escambia, it would be 9 a.m. in Atmore.
The idea of year-round daylight-saving time has been promoted as a way to help the state’s tourism industry, as people would be able to stay out later with the additional sunlight.
Hawaii and most of Arizona currently don’t participate in switching from standard time to daylight-saving time and back. They stay on standard time throughout the year.
by The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com
Pictured: This clock in Flomaton, AL, would be one hour behind neighboring Century, FL, several months out of the year if year-round daylight saving time is implemented in Florida. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Big Softball Wins For Northview, Tate Aggies
March 7, 2018
The Tate and Northview softball teams recorded big wins Tuesday night:
Tate 15, Washington 3
The Tate High School Aggies beat the Washington Wildcats 15-3 Tuesday night.
Avery Beauchaine got the win for the Aggies in six innings, allowing four hits, three runs and two errors, while walking two and striking out eight.
For Tate: Belle Wolfenden 1-3, 3B, R; Kayliegh Cawthon 1-1, R; Shelby McLean R; Hannah Brown 2-2, 3B, 3R; RBI; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, R; Ashley Lunquist 1-2, RBI; Bailyn Murdy 2-4, 3B, 2RBI; Madisen Nelson 1-3, R, RBI; Kyndal Bray 1-1, R; Ryleigh Cawby 1-2, 2B, R, RBI; Katie Synder 1-1, 2R; Sydni Solliday 1-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI; Amber DeCoux 2R; Avery Beauchaine 1-4; Taylor Hedgepeth 1-2, RBI
Northview 17, Baker 1
Tori Herrignton had eight strikeouts in five innings for the Lady Chiefs while driving in a homerun at the plate.
For Northview:
Ashley Ragsdale 2-4, 2RBI; Kendall Enfinger 3-4, RBI; Tori Herrington 3-3, 4RBI, HR; Aubree Love 2-4, 2RBI; Lydia Smith 2-4, 4RBI; Heather Knowles 1-2, RBI; Rylee Huskey 1-2, RBI; Sullivan 1-3, RBI.
Tate 22, Washington 0 (JV)
Lilly Locke homered over the right centerfield wall as the junior varsity Tate High School Aggies shut out the Washington Wildcats 22-0 Tuesday.
Flag Football: Northview Falls To Pensacola High
March 7, 2018
The Northview Chiefs flag football team opened their premiere season Tuesday afternoon with a 37-0 loss at Pensacola High School. The Lady Chiefs will travel to Pine Forest High School to take on the Lady Eagles next Monday at 5 p.m. Pictured top: Savannah Spence gain yardage for the Northview Lady Chiefs Tuesday at Pensacola High School. Pictured below: Susannah Amerson punts for Northview. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
