Fire Chief Selection Begins Monday, Local Applicant Turns To Social Media Push
March 25, 2018
One of the 77 candidates for the Escambia County fire chief job is turning to social media in an attempt to distinguish himself from the pack.
Ferry Pass District Fire Chief Michael Aaron created the “Michael Aaron for Fire Chief” Facebook page where the 24-year veteran of the fire service details his experience, certification and qualifications for the job. He also details his position on various issues such as pay and staffing
“I’m interested in becoming the next Fire Chief of Escambia County Fire Rescue because I believe I have what it takes to lead the department into its next chapter. I’m home grown and literally grown up inside the doors of this organization and I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work,” he said.
“I knew at a young age that I wanted to earn the position of fire chief. Not for a title, not for the pay, not for the big office with my name on the door but, for the betterment of the organization, for the men and woman of this fire department and most of all for the community in which we serve and protect. Growing up in the community has given me a since of pride in what it do and with that my goal is to better this department in every way possible,” he told NorthEscambia.com.
“My main goal is to let people know who Michael Aaron is. So I asked myself one question ‘what is the best way to get the word out about something or someone’ the answer is easy, Facebook. We live in the 21st century and everyone has Facebook or knows someone that has it,” Aaaron said. “Growing up in Pensacola I have a lot of friends that support me in what I am trying to do, so all I have done is asked for them to follow the page that I have set up and share the ideas I have. I don’t know if I would call it so much as ‘campaigning’ but more of an opportunity for people to learn more about myself and what I plan of doing within the fire services.”
Aaron is one of just a few local candidates for the Escambia County Fire Rescue chief position. Others are Molino District Fire Chief Anthony Manning, 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.
A selection committee meeting for the Escambia County fire chief position is scheduled for Monday at 8:30 a.m. to review applications submitted for the position. The meeting will take place in the fourth floor training room of the Ernie Lee Magaha Building at 221 Palafox Place. It is open to the public. After reviewing the applications, the committee will shortlist the candidates they wish to interview.
Photos contributed for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Splish Splash Spring Break Bash: Century’s Splash Pad Opens For The Season
March 25, 2018
The Town of Century held a “Splish Splash Spring Break Bash” Saturday morning to celebrate the season opening of the town’s splash pad, just in a time for spring break. In addition to wet (and windy) fun on the splash pad, the event featured free good, music, karaoke and more family fun activities. The splash pad at Showalter Park on Kelly Field Road is now open daily, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Weekend Gardening: Hit A Home Run With Knock Out Roses
March 25, 2018
by UF/IFAS Extension
Landscape shrub roses will not make you great cut flowers, but they will give your landscape an abundance of rose flowers for the majority of the year. They practically bloom non-stop during the growing season, from March to November in Northwest Florida. Also, they are much less prone to blackspot disease than the traditional hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora roses.
The Knock Out family of roses was started by rose breeder Bill Radler when he crossed seedlings of ‘Carefree Beauty’ with ‘Razzle Dazzle’ to create the original Knock Out rose. The family now includes varieties that range from blush to vibrant red and even yellow.
In general, Knock Out roses are drought tolerant, self cleaning, and resistant to black spot and powdery mildew. Since they require little maintenance, they are ideal for gardeners who enjoy roses but who aren’t interested in the upkeep required to grow hybrid tea roses. The only drawback of Knock Out roses is that they don’t have a strong fragrance. According to the Conrad Pyle website, the only true fragrant Knock Out is the yellow ‘Sunny’ cultivar.
Like all roses, Knock Out roses need to be planted where they will receive at least six to eight hours of sun each day. It also helps to have a site with good air movement and well-drained soil that falls between pH 6.0 and pH 6.5.
Knock Out roses generally grow three to five feet tall and equally as wide, but some sources say they can reach eight feet tall if not pruned, so be sure to space them appropriately.
After planting, water them regularly until they get established. Apply a three-inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture in the soil, pulling the mulch back from the stem of the plants. Be sure to avoid overhead watering which can increase the chance of fungal leaf spots. They prefer a deep watering every once in a while rather than frequent light waterings.
Knock Out roses are referred to as self-cleaning meaning that the spent blooms will fall off on their own. They will re-bloom every five to six weeks regardless of your deadheading practices. Deadheading is the removal of faded blooms. Most gardeners have found, however, that occasionally deadheading will create and maintain a tidier, more attractive plant.
For more information on rose pests and diseases, refer to the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep371 or contact your local Extension Office.
Wrong-Way Driver Arrested For DUI After Molino Highway 29 Crash
March 24, 2018
A Pensacola woman was charged with DUI after a wrong-way crash on Highway 29 in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 61-year old Linda Brown was southbound in the outer northbound lane of Highway 29 past Highway 95A when she stuck a Ford F150 pickup driven by 47-year old Edward Carnley of Century. Carnley swerved in an attempt to avoid the collision, but his pickup was struck in the side rear. The F150 then traveled off the roadway into the median at an angle, rotated and overturned once during the 11:43 p.m. wreck.
Carnley and his passenger, 16-year old Ashtyn Carnley, were wearing their set belts and were uninjured. Brown was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries before being released and placed under arrest. The FHP also charged Brown with refusing to submit to a DUI test after a license suspension and driving the wrong way.
Brown was being held on a $1,500 bond.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Name 2018-2019 Cheerleading Squads
March 24, 2018
The Northview High Chiefs 2018-2019 cheerleading squads were named Friday. They are:
Varsity
Upcoming Seniors- Hannah Ellis, Gabrielle Kline, Madison Nassar, Kherstin Johnson, Jessie McCall, Shelby Bashore
Upcoming Juniors- Karlee Criswell, Ashlan Harigel, Cloe Smith, Briana White, Bailey Van Pelt
Upcoming Sophomores- Sophie Cotita, Hannah Hughes, Maille Kilcrease, Abigail Nelson, Emily Stabler
Junior Varsity
LaDashia Robinson, Franki Daw, Olivia Gibson, Reagan Lassiter, Kayla Otto, Madison Peterson, Kenna Redmond, Khiazhia Jones, Taylor McMinn, Sarah Hetrick, Shelby Cotita
Mascot
Dalton Hamilton
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Dalton Hamilton
Alabama And Florida Firefighters Battle 500 Acre Woods Fire
March 24, 2018
Firefigthers from Alabama and Florida fought a woods fire Friday night that burned though about 500 acres northeast of Flomaton.
The first reported of fire on Chavers Creek Road came about 7:31 p.m, with fire units responding from the Flomaton and Friendship fire departments in Alabama, the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue, the Alabama Division of Forestry and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office. The fire was in the McCall Volunteer Fire Department’s jurisdiction, but they were already busy fighting another woods fire on Whispering Pines Road.
As of 11 p.m., the Florida fire units were released from the scene. Fire units and personnel from the Alabama Division of Forestry were still on scene working and plowing a line around the fire.
There were no injures reported, and no immediate word on how the fire started.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tops West Florida In Annual Strike Out Cancer Game
March 24, 2018
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The Tate Lady Aggies defeated the West Florida Jaguars Friday night. But cancer research was the big winner as the annual Strike Out Cancer game raised $22,000 and counting.
Tate Aggies pitcher Hannag Brown had six strike outs on the way to the shutout while allowing one hit and committing no errors.
For Tate: Hannah Brown 1-4; Belle Wolfenden 1-4, R, RBI; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, R, RBI; Madisen Nelson 2-3, R: Ryleigh Cawby 2-2, R, RBI: Sydni Solliday R; Amber DeCoux 2-2, 3R; Shelby McLean 1-3, R.
Pictured top: Hanna Brown on the mound for the Tate Lady Aggies Friday night during annual Strike Out Cancer game. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
200 Acre Burn Gets Out Of Control Near Barrineau Park
March 24, 2018
A 200 acres prescribed burn got out of hand Friday afternoon on Jacks Branch Road in the area of Barrineau Park Road.
The call came in just after 2 p.m. About 15 units responded from the Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Ensley, and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue. The Florida Division of Forestry also worked to contain the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour click to enlarge. The graphic a the bottom shows the planned area for the permitted fire.
Muscogee Road In Cantonment Reopened To Traffic
March 24, 2018
Muscogee Road in Cantonment has reopened to traffic.
Muscogee Road was closed from Beulah Road to just east of the state ine in late September for the installation of a water main, reconstruction of a portion of the roadway, and construction of 5-foot shoulders. Traffic was detoured via Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road to Highway 112 in Alabama.
There are still three phases to come in the overall project:
Perdido River to Beulah
- 90% Design under review
- Easements needed from Water Management District; request pending design completion
- Design Completion pending construction funding
Carlisle to 97
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right-of-way
- Staff is following up with residents for participation
97 to Nowak
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right-of-way
- Staff is following up with residents for participation
Pictured: Muscogee Road as seen earlier this week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Year Round Daylight Saving Time Bill, 73 Others
March 24, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott signed 74 bills into law on Friday, including a tax-cut package, a measure that declares the Legislature’s intent to observe daylight-saving time year-round and a bill that prevents most minors from getting married.
The tax package (HB 7087), which totals about $171 million in tax and fee cuts, authorizes a three-day tax “holiday” in early August that will allow back-to-school shoppers to buy clothes and school supplies without paying sales taxes. Also, the bill will lead to a similar seven-day “holiday” in early June for residents to buy tax-free hurricane supplies.
The bill also includes tax breaks for farmers and ranchers who suffered damage in Hurricane Irma and trims a commercial-lease tax paid by many businesses. Other parts of the package include a property-tax break for homeowners displaced by Hurricane Irma and a break for nursing homes and assisted living facilities that purchase electric generators.
Scott’s office released the list of 74 bills early Friday evening. The measures were passed during the legislative session that ended March 11. About two-dozen of the measures were what are known as “local” bills, which involve issues in individual communities across the state.
The daylight-saving time bill (HB 1013) drew widespread attention during the legislative session. It expresses the Legislature’s support for keeping Florida on daylight-saving time throughout the year.
While the Legislature and Scott agree on the issue, such a change would ultimately require congressional approval. To that end, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has filed legislation to begin the process of making the change.
Scott on Friday also approved a measure (SB 140) that bars people under age 18 from getting marriage licenses. The bill includes an exception, though, for 17-year-olds who have written consent from their parents or guardians. Also, the 17-year-olds could not marry people who are more than two years older than them.
The Legislature passed 195 bills during this year’s session, and Scott has signed 154 into law. To date, he hasn’t vetoed any bills.
Scott, however, issued a signing letter Friday with a bill (HB 7043) that would allow the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to assume administration of a federal wetland-permitting program. Scott’s letter said the bill gives the department authority to “undertake rulemaking to explore whether the state should issue” permits now administered by the federal government.
“The Department of Environmental Protection’s rulemaking process is done with public input and scrutiny,” Scott wrote. “Also, the Department of Environmental Protection must demonstrate that their permitting program’s standards are just as stringent, if not more stringent, than what is in place currently with the federal government.”