Two Injured In Highway 29 Wreck
March 11, 2018
Two people were injured in two-vehicle wreck near Cantonment early Sunday morning.
One of the injured was extricated by firefighters after being trapped in their vehicle in the 6:36 a.m. crash on Highway 29 near West Roberts Road . Both were transported to area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
Further details on the crash have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Flomaton Home
March 11, 2018
Fire destroyed a home in Flomaton just north of the state line early Sunday morning.
The fire was reported about 12:45 a.m. in the 400 block of Dixon Road. The first firefighters on scene reported that the residence was fully involved, according to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton. It took about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. The home was a total loss.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately available.
The Flomaton, Friendship and Lambeth fire departments, and the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, along with Escambia County (FL) EMS.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Daylight Savings Time Is Back, Could It Be Year Round?
March 11, 2018
We all lost an hour of sleep Sunday morning that we may never get back.
Clocks moved forward with the beginning of daylight savings time for what could be the very last time for Floridians. That’s because the Florida Legislature has approved a bill to keep Florida on daylight-saving time throughout the year.
But there are couple of hurdles to be cleared first.
The next stop for the bill 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.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Molino Ballpark (With Photo Gallery)
March 11, 2018
Saturday was Opening Day for Molino Recreation Association and the Molino Ballpark.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Bailey Seibert, click to enlarge.
Grand Opening Celebration Held At Atmore Airport (With Gallery)
March 11, 2018
A grand opening celebration was held Saturday at the Atmore Municipal Airport.
Aviation Specialists has taken over as the new fixed base operator — the company that operates the City of Atmore owned airport. The company also operates the Brewton Airport.
The Atmore Airport’s north-south runway is about 4,000 feet north of the Alabama/Florida state line.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dispose of Tires At Escambia County Tire Amnesty Day
March 11, 2018
Escambia County residents will have an opportunity to dispose of up to eight tires per person free of charge at the Escambia County Tire Amnesty Day event on Saturday, March 24 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The event will take place in the parking lot of the Escambia County Public Safety Building, 6575 N. W St.
Proof of Escambia County residency is required to participate, such as a driver’s license, power bill or voter registration card. The event is for residents only; no businesses, please. Residents will be allowed to dispose of up to eight tires, on or off the rim, per resident. Only car tires and light truck tires will be accepted.
This event is for waste tires only. Household hazardous waste and electronics will not be accepted.
Tire Amnesty Day is sponsored by the Escambia County Waste Services Department in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, through DEP’s Waste Tire Amnesty Grant Program. The event aims to help reduce mosquito-borne illness through non-chemical means, by disposing of old tires that may be used as mosquito breeding sites. Mosquito species that can transmit harmful infections such as West Nile virus breed in artificial container breeding sites, with old tires being a favorite location. Waste tires in large quantities can also pose a fire hazard.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Illegal Buck Posted On Facebook; Mushrooms, Heroin And Pills
March 11, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement recently reported the following activity during the period ending February 22 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Land was on patrol at Pensacola Beach conducting resource inspections and approached an individual who was surf fishing on the beach. A large tail was protruding from a five-gallon bucket filled with water near the subject. The red drum was over the maximum size of 27 inches. The fish was released to the water and the subject was issued a citation for the violation.
Officer Pettey received information that an individual shot an illegal short horned buck and posted it on Facebook. During an interview, the individual admitted killing the deer. The deer antlers measured 8 inches, short of the 10-inch minimum. The deer was seized and donated to a local charity. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation and for not having a hunting license.
Lieutenant Hahr was patrolling the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed two campers at the Mystic Springs Campground. While talking to them, he smelled the odor of cannabis and subsequently discovered a small amount of cannabis and a pipe. While detaining both subjects, they became uncooperative. While Lieutenant Hahr was handcuffing the man, his girlfriend ran to the truck and locked herself inside after being told to stop several times. The woman was removed from the truck and arrested for resisting arrest without violence. A search of the truck revealed more cannabis and paraphernalia along with to two forms of heroin, psilocybin mushrooms, unknown pills, and another unidentified substance. Both subjects were charged with possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Investigator Livesay was dispatched to a mobile home park regarding trespassing and illegal trapping. A subject admitted to trapping on the vacant property adjacent to the mobile home park. The property is owned by the U.S. Navy and the subject stated he did not have permission to set up traps on the property. The subject admitted to trapping two raccoons, a beaver, and a fox using steel leg hold traps. Two traps were removed from the Navy property and one from the mobile home park. The subject did not possess a trapping license and was issued two citations for possession of a fox without a permit and taking nuisance wildlife using steel leg hold traps.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Jones and Mullins were on foot patrol in a closed area of the Eglin Reservation. The officers encountered a subject dressed in camouflage and armed with a muzzle loading deer rifle. The subject was issued a notice to appear in criminal court for the offense of hunting in a closed area. The subject’s information was also referred to Eglin Range Patrol for action on his Eglin permits.
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol near Blackwater River State Forest when he observed a truck with a dog box parked at the gate where he had checked subjects in the past. He approached the vehicle and observed a man in the driver seat and a woman in the passenger seat. The man appeared to be trying to conceal something between the seats. Officer Lewis asked the man if they owned the property they were on, or if they knew who the owner was, and he said they did not. Officer Lewis searched the truck and subsequently found a medicine bottle containing three small baggies that appeared to contain methamphetamine, a glass smoking device with methamphetamine, and prescription narcotics. The man told him that the bottle contained methamphetamine, Percocet, and Hydrocodone, and that he smoked meth earlier that day. Officer Lewis arrested the man and charged him with three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail without incident.
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol at Bear Lake when he observed a subject fishing from a pier. The subject had kept a variety of fish. Upon request, the subject could not produce a valid freshwater fishing license. While the officer was copying the man’s vehicle tag number, the man stated that the tag did not belong on the vehicle, and he had attached it to the vehicle. While conducting his inspection, Officer Lewis observed a backpack in the truck that the man stated was not his. When asked about it, the man stated that it contained methamphetamine. Officer Lewis searched the backpack and discovered a soda bottle that had methamphetamine cooking inside of it, known as a one-pot. Officer Lewis contacted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit to safely handle the substance. The narcotics unit arrived on scene and neutralized the substance. Officer Lewis arrested the man and charged him with manufacturing methamphetamine. He transported him to the Santa Rosa County Jail. The subject was also issued a citation for fishing without a license.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Subcontractors Sought For Construction Of New Escambia County Jail
March 11, 2018
Whitesell-Green/Caddell, the design-build entity selected to build the new Escambia County correctional facility, will host a public Escambia County Corrections Project kickoff to prequalify subcontractors and vendors who want to participate in the construction of the new jail.
The kickoff will take place Wednesday, March 21 from 3-6 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center, 3200 West. De Soto Street, Pensacola.
Whitesell-Green/Caddell will be looking for qualified subcontractors and vendors to perform and supply the following:
- Earthwork
- Utility work
- Landscaping
- Fencing
- Foundations
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Carpentry
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Framing and drywall
- Equipment
- Painting
- Plumbing
- Air conditioning
- Controls
- Communications
- Waterproofing
- Electrical
Project team members from local agencies will be available to discuss employment opportunities for qualified individuals.
Tax Collector Introduces ‘Express Lane’ Same-Day Pickup
March 11, 2018
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford has announced a new Express Lane service that allows for online renewal and same-day pickup of vehicle, boat or mobile home registration.
Residents who renew online before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday can pick up their registration the same day. Renewals after 3 p.m. can be picked up the next business day.
“This is just another service we offer to decrease the time residents spend on renewing their registrations. They can renew online and pick it up at their convenience,” Lunsford said. “Our office set a goal of increasing the number of renewal transactions using Express Lane. This service will help offset the number of walk-in customers seeking to renew their vehicle registrations. So far, we have received extremely positive responses from citizens using this convenient time-saving service.”
Students Learn About Ag During Fresh From Florida Event (With Gallery)
March 10, 2018
About 700 students attended the annual Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” agricultural advocacy program Friday morning at the school in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Formerly known as the “Food For America program”, the event gave students a chance to learn about agriculture first hand, up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more to learn how food gets from the farm to their tables. Students were even able to make and enjoy eating their own fresh butter.
The Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program has been honored as the number one program in the state multiple times, and the chapter was recently name one of the best in the United State by the National FFA Organization.
The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA also participated in the event.
The program was dedicated to Northview graduate Mitchell Singleton, Florida FFA Area 1 vice president.
Pictured top: Checking out a John Deere tractor during the Fresh From Florida agricultural advocacy program Friday morning at Northview High School. Pictured below: Northview FFA President Cody Kite with a future FFA member, students pet a horse and cows, and an educational program. Pictured below: A kid (baby goat) that was born just moments before the photo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
