Bratt Elementary Celebrates ‘Winter Wonderland’ For Literacy Week
January 31, 2018
Bratt Elementary School celebrated a “Winter Wonderland” For Literacy Week.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update In Photos: I-10, Highway 29 Interchange Project
January 31, 2018
Here’s an update on the work at at the I-10 – Highway 29 interchange project currently underway. Scroll down…information is below each photo from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Above: A view of I-10 eastbound near U.S. 29 in Pensacola, the team completed the new wider I-10 eastbound bridge (center) and wider roadway last fall. Since then, the left-hand merge from U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound has been eliminated. Drivers now have a standard right-side merge from U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound.
daf
Above: Now, the team is preparing the new Exit 10 (I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 north and south) for its “grand opening.” Once opened, drivers on I-10 westbound destined for U.S. 29 north (Cantonment) and south (Pensacola) will use the new Exit 10 (where the current Exit 10B to Cantonment is located).
Above: An aerial view looking north on U.S. 29. Once Exit 10 is open, traffic destined for U.S. 29 north will merge onto U.S. 29 (top) and traffic destined for U.S. 29 south will use the new exit ramp and traffic signal (middle).
After the new Exit 10 opens, the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south ramp (depicted in this picture) will be closed and removed. The closure represents the final phase of work for this construction project. For now, lane closures, on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange, will continue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights. Please drive carefully and refrain from texting while driving.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Donuts For Dads (With Photo Gallery)
January 31, 2018
There were plenty of dads at Molino Park Elementary School Monday morning as the PTA held its annual Donuts with Dads event. Donuts with Dads gives dads a chance to stop by and be involved with their children and find out the latest school information.
Photos by Kristi Barbour and Molino Park PTA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHSAA Approves Playoff Series Changes For 1A-4A Teams
January 31, 2018
The Florida High School Athletic Association’s board of directors has unanimously approved a playoff change for 1A-4A high school football, including Northview and Jay High schools.
Six teams will now qualify for state series play from each region in class 1A-4A beginning with the 2018 season.
The first and second seeds will receive a bye to the second round. In the first round, the third seed team will host the sixth seed and the fourth seed will host the fifth seed.
Previously four teams from each region qualify for the playoffs. There was no district play, forcing teams to often play much tougher schedules. This change will allow the top 50 percent of each region to have a real playoff. Allowing the third and fourth seed to teams to host a playoff game will also earn more revenue for those schools.
The bye week before the state championships will eliminated for 1A-4A with the additional of the extra playoff round.
Pictured: Action from last year’s 1A Northview at Jay game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Details Revealed In Escambia Fire Harassment Case
January 30, 2018
An Escambia County investigation into Escambia Fire Rescue has led to the county fire chief being relieved of his duties, the dismissal of a firefighter and a reprimand for a lieutenant.
Chief Patrick Grace was relieved of his duties as of Monday, and his last official day on the county payroll will be April 29. Fire Lieutenant Joseph Martin received a letter of reprimand, and firefighter Christopher Watson was dismissed.
Based upon a complaint by a female career firefighter, multifaceted investigation was launched by county leadership that has spanned the last several months. The allegations brought forth were broad in scope.
“While Chief Grace was not the focus of the investigation, it was concluded that a change in leadership, department direction and culture is needed. A national search for a replacement will be conducted to fill the position. Deputy Chief Paul Williams has been designated as interim chief.” the county said in a prepared statement.
Escambia Fire Rescue is a combination fire service with both paid career firefighters and volunteers. All of the sexual harassment allegations reportedly involve career firefighters, not volunteers.
The female firefighter was a certified “Firefighter II” which requires a minimum of 360 hours of training, is a certified Fire EMT, is a registered nurse and worked in the Auburn Fire Division for four years. She also hold a degree from Auburn University.
NorthEscambia.com has obtained a detailed personal journal kept by the female firefighter in which she detailed a culture of verbal, physical and sexual harassment within the fire department. The journal was a part of the county’s investigation. Readers should be warned that the personal journal contains numerous sexual references and terms, racial slurs and other details that may be disturbing. Additionally, it should be noted that the document is a personal journal and the allegations it contains have not necessarily been substantiated. Click here to read the journal (pdf).
She also told an internal affairs investigator that she reported several incidents that “were a little over the line” to her lieutenant.
“It started before I even was hired with Escambia County. I noticed it seemed the firefighters had not been around a female firefighter in the career aspect before. Um, so I noticed that there were things that were a little over the line,” she said.
“I was reporting the different incidents to my lieutenant, and letting other people know what was going on. Things were not being handled. I eventually got it to my battalion chief- I would just be moved to other stations, she said.
“I didn’t want to handle it anymore, I decided I just was gonna go to the Fire Chief That’s when the Fire Chief decided not to meet with me, and he decided to meet with my (redacted name) intead That’s when they got the information that was in this journal. They said that they were going to take it seriously, and things were going to change. Um, my new battalion chief kept coming out and checking on me almost every other shift, and then a complaint was made against me saying I was exposing myself to the other guys, and an investigation was going to be made. At that time, I knew that was bogus, and I then decided to take it further and made an appointment with the County Administrator to let them know what was going on, and they put me on administrative leave and started the investigation.”
She said Watson started a “big rumor” that she was having sexual relations with a married doctor at a local hospital and was fired. She said Watson told her that females should not work as firefighters and should not serve in the military.
The female firefighter wrote that during a training exercise, Watson grabbed another male firefighter, stared at her, and said “You want to play the Rape Game?”
During an off-duty fight at the Tin Cow restaurant in Pace, Watson allegedly broke the jaw of fellow firefighter Lt. Joseph Martin. Martin was off work for six weeks recovering.
The county alleged that Watson violated a county policy that says “Gross misconduct which reflects very unfavorably upon the image and ethics of the County as an employer, whether on or off duty.”
The investigator found that Watson was guilty of verbal harassment for inappropriatep remarks, physical harassment for unwanted touching, and sexual harassment for the “Rape Game” incident.
Watson responded to the allegations in an letter to the county administrator.
“I have never knowingly created an atmosphere in which to discriminate against anyone based on their gender or sex…There have been times that I have expressed an opinion that no person: male or female, be allowed to perform this job if they are not physically capable of performing at the highest tier.”
As for the “Rape Game” comment, he admitted making the remark, but said, “This comment in no way shape or form was intended to intimidate or harass any individual, nor do I believe it represents my beliefs or character.”
The county’s investigation is continuing.
Man Gets 20 Years For Robbing Century Coin Laundry, Fleeing With Change In Plastic Pumpkin
January 30, 2018
A man that robbed a Century laundromat and made his getaway with the loot in a plastic Halloween pumpkin is headed to prison.
William Edward Perry, Jr. was sentence to 20 years in state prison by Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh as a prison releasee reoffender and as a habitual felony offender. That means Perry, 57, will serve the first 15 years of his sentence day for day as a mandatory minimum.
He was convicted by an Escambia County jury of robbery with a weapon.
On April 21, 2016, Perry entered Century Laundry and Self Storage and committed a robbery. The victim, who was about 70-years old, was the store manager and was alone in the store when Perry entered. The victim was taking money out of the washers and dryers when Perry came up behind her and took the plastic Halloween bucket of money.
The pumpkin bucket contained approximately $300 in coins. Perry put his hand in her face, told her to get back, and to go sit down behind the counter. Perry then demanded she give him the keys to the store. When the victim refused, Perry fled the scene without the keys but with the money in the pumpkin bucket.
The victim later identified Perry from a photo lineup.
Pensacola Police located Perry panhandling near the intersection of Pace and Cervantes in May 2016. When officers approached, he ran before falling down and scuffling with officers before being taken into custody. He was charged with battery, two counts of resisting an officer and obstructing police by the Pensacola Police Department. Those charges were later dismissed.
Perry’s criminal record includes escape, burglary, grand theft, resisting officer with violence, and possession of cocaine as well as numerous misdemeanor offenses, including indecent exposure, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Fire Weather Watch In Effect, Sunny Skies Today
January 30, 2018
There is a fire weather watch in effect Tuesday afternoon due to a long duration of low humidity and windy conditions; outdoor burning is discouraged.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Sunday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Three Injured When Vehicle Plunges Over 50 Feet Below I-65 Bridge Near Atmore
January 30, 2018
Two people were airlifted to the hospital after a vehicle plunged over 50 feet below an I-65 bridge north of Atmore Monday night.
A dramatic rope rescue by the Poarch Fire Department followed, with three people rescued from the vehicle. Two were airlifted in critical condition by two different medical helicopters to area hospitals. while a third victim was transported by ambulance.
The accident happened about two miles north of the Atmore exit.
The accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers; further details have not been released.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Bus Driver Ticketed After Highway 95A Accident
January 30, 2018
A school bus driver was ticketed after a minor accident on Highway 95A near Crowl Lane Monday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 70-year old Vaughn Lowe was driving the school bus northbound on Highway 95A when he made a left turn in front of a Nissan Senta driven by 37-year old Karianna Siple of Pensacola. Siple was unable to stop in time and collided with the bus.
There were no passengers on the bus. Lowe and Siple were not injured.
Lowe was cited for an improper left turn by the FHP.
Innovative Steel Bridge Opens On Arthur Brown Road In Walnut Hill
January 30, 2018
The Arthur Brown Road (Hwy. 99A) Bridge over Freeman Springs Branch has reopened after the full demolition and replacement of the previous bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation ordered the closure of the bridge on November 8 after a failed inspection, and bridge replacement work began December 6 after the completion of preparatory requirements. The new 24-foot wide steel bridge arrived in three major pieces on January 5 and was installed on January 6.
Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown led the charge for the faster pre-fabricated steel replacement versus traditional concrete bridge due to the number of residents facing lengthy detours of many miles.
The steel bridge saved several months of construction time and cost about $400,000 as opposed to $1 million for a concrete bridge.
“I believe this is a great example of the County Administrator Jack Brown understanding that we needed some alternative methods of working both quickly and less expensively,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “Additionally, I am very excited for the residents and those who commute through the affected area”
County officials have said they hope to use more of the steel bridges on future county funded bridge replacements.
Eight other North Escambia bridges remained closed for replacement construction.
“I understand many residents are still inconvenienced by the many bridge closures, and I am diligently working to get all the bridges open as quickly as is safely possible,” Barry said.
To read more about the steel replacement bridge and see additional photos, click here for an earlier article “Escambia County Explores How To Build A Bridge Faster, Smarter And Cheaper“.
Pictured: The Arthur Brown Road bridge over Freeman Springs Branch reopened Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
