Escambia Fire Chief In Hawaii During Missile Message ‘Scare’
January 14, 2018
An Escambia County Fire Rescue chief in Hawaii says Saturday’s false warnings about an imminent ballistic missile attack could serve as a preparedness tool.
Battalion Chief Curt Isakson was at his hotel in Waikiki Beach when his cell phone went off with the missile warning, and alarms sounded in the hotel. He and his wife are in Hawaii for a conference unrelated to his county position.
Shortly after 8 a.m. local time Saturday in Hawaii, residents and visitors received the message, “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”
Isakson told NorthEscambia.com that the message could serve to better prepare Hawaiians in the event of an actual attack.
“When we had lunch the employees and our server totally admitted that they are not ready for this at all; nobody has a plan of action,” he said. “This in the end could’ve been a good thing to let people have a plan and get ready, like a hurricane.”
“It is definitely a heightened peoples awareness of where this place it’s in relation to North Korea and everything going on,” Isakson continued. “Yes it was an accident but in the end it was almost like a drill to let people know that the threat is real.”
Hawaii Governor David Ige said the false missile alert that panicked islanders on Saturday morning was “totally unacceptable” and said the warning was caused by human error.
Ige told reporters Saturday that he is “angry and disappointed” by the situation. “Today is a day that most of us will never forget — a day when many in our community thought that our worst nightmares might actually be happening,” he said.
The administrator of Hawaii’s Emergency Management Administration, Vern Miyagi, told reporters that the person responsible for the erroneous message “feels terrible” about it. Told by reporters that emergency sirens had actually gone off in some communities, Miyagi said he would have to look into the matter.
Hawaiians described panic when they got the emergency alert Saturday morning on television, radio, email and mobile devices.
The mistake was discovered within 20 minutes, but it took 38 minutes for state officials to issue a correction on mobile devices, which brought criticism from islanders, government officials and the media.
VOA News contributed to this report.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
January 14, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway –Drivers traveling Creighton Road will encounter traffic pattern changes:
- Creighton Road (Davis Highway to Scenic Highway): Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 through Saturday, Jan. 20 continue as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- 9th Avenue/Creighton Road intersection traffic shift: Drivers will experience intermittent and alternating lane closures on 9th Avenue from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Crews will restripe and shift the lanes westward in preparation for widening operations on the southeast side of the intersection.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 through Saturday, Jan. 27 as crews pave the roadway.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 through Thursday, Jan. 18:
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- The exit ramp from I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south (Exit 10A) will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge – Intermittent alternating lane closures on I-10, between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17), and on Scenic Highway, between Whisper Way and Northpointe Parkway, from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 through Thursday, Jan. 18 as crews perform construction activities. The speed limit on I-10 will be reduced to 60 mph during nighttime lane closures.
- U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 through Saturday, Jan. 20 as follows:
- S.R. 4 at Escambia River Bridge- Intermittent lane restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 as crews remove drift from underneath the bridge.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 through Friday, Jan. 19 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, as crews reconstruct the overpass.
- U.S. 90 Pavement Marking Operations between Shadow Oak Lane and Spears Street in Pace- The westbound outside, right lane of U.S. 90 between Shadow Oak Lane and Spears Street in Pace will be closed from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 as crews install pavement marking in a new right turn lane.
S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Firefighters Battle House Fire Off East 10 Mile Road
January 14, 2018
ingle family home, fire contained to one room (garage converted into a room). No one Home at the time. (Camping) fire under investigation by the State Fire Marshal
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a single family home just north of East 10 Mile Road.
The fire on Valley Ridge Way was reported about 6:15 a.m. Saturday. The fire in the single family home was contained to a garage that had been converted into a living area. The remained of the home suffered some smoke damage.
There was no one home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported.
The Ensley, Cantonment, Brent and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Girls Weightlifting Team Advances To Regionals
January 14, 2018
The Jay High School Girls Weightlifting team has advanced to the regional meet next Friday in Baker.
Alexa Pabo placed sixth in the 110 division, Hailey Grenier placed sixth in the 139 division, Haylee Watson was the District 1 Champion in the 139 division, Carlyn Watson placed sixth in the 154 division and Sarah Barnhill placed third in the unlimited division. The team is coached is Melvin Kersey.
Editor’s Note: The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting team also advanced to regionals. Details will be published in an upcoming story.
Pictured: The Jay High School Girls Weightlifting team advanced to regionals. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Reschedules Council Meeting Due To MLK Holiday
January 14, 2018
The regular third Monday of the month town council meeting in Century has been rescheduled due to the Martin Luther Kings, Jr. Day holiday.
Instead of this Monday, the council will meet on Monday, January 22 at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. All meetings are open to the public.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Warning: Be Careful With Space Heaters
January 14, 2018
Here are some space heater safety tips from the National Weather Service:
Woman Airlifted After Motorcycle Crash In Bratt
January 13, 2018
A motorcyclist was airlifted to the hospital Saturday afternoon following a crash on Highway 4 in Bratt.
The motorcycle rider had reportedly pulled out of a muddy driveway when she lost control and was thrown from her Suzuki motorcycle. She came to rest in the eastbound travel lane of Highway 4 just east of Bratt Road. She was flown by LifeFlight helicopter from the nearby Travis Nelson Park to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert”.
A man riding with the woman on a second motorcycle was not involved in the crash.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Elderly Woman Killed In Escambia County Traffic Crash
January 13, 2018
An elderly Pensacola woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash Friday night in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 90-year old Mary Alfreda Brink was traveling southbound on Blue Angel Parkway south of Highway 90 about 9 p.m. when she crossed into the northbound lanes with her Chevrolet Trailblazer and struck a 2002 Mercedes driven by 48-year old Robert Landis Gill of Pensacola.
Brink was pronounced deceased following the crash.
Gill and passenger Betty Stearns, 39, were transported to Baptist Hospital in critical condition. Two additional passengers — Sarah Stearns, age not provided, and Scott Stearns, age 9 — were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
No charges were filed in the crash.
Boil Water Notice Lifted After E. Coli Bacteria Warning
January 13, 2018
The Bratt Davisville Water System has lifted precautionary boil water notice that was issued after a well tested positive for E. coli bacteria.
The boil water notice was put into place for customers in extreme northwestern Escambia County late Wednesday night after one raw sample taken at Bratt Davisville Well 2 tested positive for the presence of E. coli bacteria.
A bacteriological survey now shows the water is safe to drink, according to the utility, after “the return of chlorination to the water system”.
The now-rescinded boil water notice covered the areas below:
Nokomis Rd. from Rockaway Creek Rd. traveling West to North Pineville Rd., Rockaway Creek Rd. from Nokomis Rd. traveling North to Alabama Line, Gibbs Rd., Circle Rd., Shady Oak Dr., Miller Rd., Jakes Rd., Jones Rd., Reynolds Rd., Flowers Rd., Albritton Rd., Barlow Rd., Tullis Rd., North Pineville Rd. from Nokomis Rd. North to Alabama Line, Hollingsworth Rd., and three customers immediately south of Hollingsworth Rd. on North Pineville Rd.
ECUA Seeks To Take Cantonment Property By Eminent Domain For Sewage Lift Station
January 13, 2018
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is seeking to exercise its power of eminent domain to acquire property on Well Line Road for a sewage lift station.
ECUA has been unable to reach an agreement with the owner of unimproved land at 400 Well Line Road. The property is needed to replace and upgrade ECUA’s “Lift Station 143″. In order to take the property under eminent domain, ECUA must first obtain the approval of the Escambia County Commission.
The ECUA lift station on Well Line Road near Watson Avenue is outdated and deteriorated, in need of replacement and upgrades, according to ECUA. Plans call for it to potentially become a regional lift station.
ECUA said the property is not large enough to accommodate a regional lift station and emergency storage tanks which may also be placed next to it.
A letter from ECUA Board Chair Lois Benson states that ECUA has been unsuccessful in negotiations to acquire the property.
“Although ECUA intends to continue to negotiate with the property owner, it feels compelled to initiate those steps necessary in order to take the needed property by way of eminent domain, should that become necessary, as ECUA’s Lift Station 143 needs to be upsized, upgraded, and replaced in order to protect the public interest,” the letter states.
The Escambia County Commission will consider ECUA’s eminent domain request on January 18.
Under eminent domain, Florida law allows a governmental entity such as ECUA to seize property for the public good and provide full compensation to the owner.