Child Death Investigation Underway At Ensley Academy; DCF Closes Facility Until Further Notice
August 18, 2017
An active death investigation is underway in Ensley where a 3-year old female was found unresponsive.
The incident happened at the In His Arms Christian Academy on Detroit Boulevard. Initial reports indicated that the child was found outside the facility in a van; that report is currently under investigation, according to Major Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a complete investigation. Authorities said no other children at the facility were harmed or are in danger.
The Florida Department of Children and Families has opened their own investigation into the child’s death and issued an Emergency Suspension Notice closing the facility until further notice.
“As a parent,I am completely heartbroken by the loss of this child,” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said. “DCF has the highest expectations for childcare providers in our state and news of this tragedy is completely unacceptable. Our agency has opened an investigation and we will close this private childcare facility tonight. We have zero tolerance for carelessness that puts child safety at risk and we will work with law enforcement to hold whoever is responsible fully accountable.”
The State Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene for an investigation.
Further details have not been released. More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured: An active death investigation is underway in Ensley where a child was reportedly found unresponsive in a van. Photos courtesy David Gonzales, WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lack Of Broadband Internet Hurts Higher Education In Rural Areas
August 18, 2017
The lack of high-speed internet services in many rural areas like North Escambia is one of the challenges hindering Florida’s efforts to increase college degrees and spur economic development, a new report shows.
Some 680,000 Floridians do not have access to a broadband internet service that would allow information to be downloaded at minimum speed of 25 megabits per second, according to the report presented to the state Higher Education Coordinating Council.
Ed Moore, president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida who compiled the report, said the data should prompt a “hard look at what access there is to digital learning and digital infrastructure across our state.”
“You cannot get ahead if you cannot get online,” Moore said.
Expanding broadband access and online education opportunities could help the state meet the Higher Education Coordinating Council’s goal of having 55 percent of Florida’s working-age population obtain either a college degree or professional certificate by 2025. Less than 47 percent have reached that level.
Moore said the 30 private colleges and universities in his organization now offer 592 degrees and certificates through online courses.
“That’s a whole new world of higher education and creating access,” Moore said. “If you can’t get it in your house, if you can’t get it in your local school, your library or some other facility, it doesn’t mean anything to you.”
Moore’s report, based on Federal Communications Commission data, showed high-speed broadband service was consistently available in Florida’s urban counties, which also correlated with higher income levels, more college degrees and more job growth among the residents.
But his report also identified 13 small, rural counties that were “trailing” in broadband access, ranging from Madison County, with 41 percent of its residents not having access, to Dixie County, with 99 percent without access.
Among those counties, residents with college degrees or certificates ranged from 27 percent in Jefferson County to 12 percent in DeSoto County.
Another 16 counties were designated as “underserved,” ranging from Marion County, with 11 percent without broadband access, to Taylor County, with 37 percent without access.
In addition to providing more educational opportunities, Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said expanding high-speed internet access would help economic development in rural communities.
An analysis from the chamber has shown that while 31 Florida counties have gained jobs since the Great Recession, 36 largely rural counties have lagged behind.
“It happens to overlay that map you talked about almost exactly,” Wilson told Moore.
Wilson said it could result in a “home run” if the education advocates and the rural economic development advocates united behind the effort to improve broadband services.
“This creates an equal opportunity for success for everybody,” he said.
Marshall Criser, chancellor of the state university system, said education leaders should work “collaboratively” with the business community in developing policy recommendations on expanding broadband services.
Criser, a former president of AT&T in Florida, said the state has made efforts to expand internet access and that there were sound reasons for broadband development to follow population densities.
“It’s kind of the chicken or the egg, because there were a lot of people there it made sense to make those investments historically,” Criser said.
And while noting he likes to work almost exclusively on his smart phone, Criser said the development of any recommendations on expanding broadband should take into account “some of the new technology,” which could include wireless and satellite services in addition to broadband delivered over phone lines or fiber optic cable.
He noted the state just enacted a new law that is expected to expand faster wireless services by allowing telecommunications companies to install “small cell” devices on public rights-of-way.
Moore said advancements in technology will be considered as the higher-education council develops its recommendations.
Alan Levine, chairman of the higher-education council, said the council may invite the companies that provide broadband access and infrastructure to talk about the issue.
by Lloyd Dunkelburger, The News Service of Florida
Powerball Jackpot Climbs Over Half-Billion Dollar Mark
August 18, 2017
This Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has hit over a half a billion dollars — an estimated $535 million to be exact. It’s the fifth largest jackpot in the history of the game.
“As the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, it helps the Lottery achieve our mission of maximizing contributions to education,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Jim Poppell. “With every ticket purchased, players have the opportunity to win a prize of life-changing magnitude while benefitting Florida’s students and schools.”
While there was no jackpot winner in Wednesday night’s drawing, Florida Powerball players still won big, with more than 207,000 winning tickets totaling more than $2.6 million in prizes, including one $1 million winner in Clermont. During this jackpot series, more than 1.4 million Florida players have won more than $13.2 million in prizes.
Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize. To receive the cash option of an estimated $340.1 million, jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the drawing.
Friday, 11 a.m.: Story updated to reflect jackpot increase from $510 million to $535 million.
Pictured: The State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 in Davisville, which sold an $80 million winning Powerball ticket in 2015 to an Alabama woman. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fatal Flomaton Fire Victim Identified
August 18, 2017
A Flomaton man pronounced deceased after a mobile home fire Tuesday afternoon in Flomaton has been identified.
Jason Edward Reid, 45, was pulled unresponsive from the mobile home in the 400 block of Roosevelt Street, at the corner of Titi Street, and transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.
A memorial service for Reid will be held Sunday at the 3 p.m. at the Byrneville United Methodist Church on Byrneville Road.
The exact cause of the his death is still under investigation.
Fire officials said that while the mobile home shows little sign of a fire from the outside, there was significant smoke damage throughout. Reid was found in a back bedroom.
The fire is under investigation by the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers To Again Consider ‘No Fault’ Repeal
August 18, 2017
A long-discussed proposal to repeal Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system is headed back to the Legislature in 2018.
Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, filed a bill this week that would repeal the no-fault system, which requires motorists to carry $10,000 in personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage. In its place, Lee’s bill would require motorists to carry bodily-injury and medical-payment coverages.
Lawmakers have repeatedly considered revamping auto-insurance laws in recent years and passed a 2012 measure aimed at curbing fraud and lowering rates in the PIP system. But in a prepared statement this week, Lee pointed to continuing problems with fraud and high insurance premiums.
“While well intentioned anecdotally, Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law has resulted in widespread fraud, abuse and a complex litigation process,” Lee said. “Since its enactment (in the) `70s, the value of the PIP benefit has eroded, while Florida’s auto insurance premiums continue to rise.”
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fall Ball Registration Saturday At Molino Ballpark
August 18, 2017
Fall Ball registration at the Molino Ballpark will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 pm. for t-ball, softball and baseball.
The registration fee is $55 per child, with age groups as follows:
Wee Ball : 3 years old
Tee Ball :4-6 years old
Baseball Coach Pitch : 7-8 years old
Baseball Minor :9-10 years old
Baseball Major :11-12 years old
Baseball Pony :13-15 years old
Softball Coach Pitch :7-8 years old
Softball 10U : 9-10 years old
Softball 12U :11-12 years old
Softball 16U :13-16 years old
Print a registration form in advance by clicking here.
A registration event will also be held August 26 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Molino Ballpark.
Cantonment Highway 29 Crash Slows Rush Hour Traffic
August 18, 2017
A vehicle crash on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road slowed rush hour traffic just after 5 p.m. Thursday. There was no immediate word on the condition of those involved in the accident as the Florida Highway Patrol continues their investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge
Wahoos Win 4th Straight
August 18, 2017
For the first time since June 15, chalk up a “W” next to Keury Mella on your scorecard.
Pensacola scored four runs in the sixth and six runs in the eighth to surge past Mississippi for their fourth consecutive win.
In just his second game since joining the Wahoos, Arismendy Alcantara had a monster night going 3-for-6 with two triples, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Pensacola’s 14 hits fell one shy of tying their season-high for hits in a game.
Alcantara led off the game with a triple and would come home to score on Gavin LaValley’s sac fly to right. The 1-0 lead was short lived when Dylan Moore launched a game-tying homer to left in the bottom of the frame.
However, Mella demonstrated tremendous resiliency after the homer to Moore by retiring the next eight Braves that came to the plate. Unfortunately, the ninth Brave was Moore who again hit one sharply off Mella, this time for a double.
After a pop out, Alex Jackson singled to left to score Moore, putting Mississippi back on top 2-1.
That lead would last Mississippi up until the sixth inning when the Wahoos hit for the cycle as a team and sent 10 men to the plate in their four-run rally.
Aristides Aquino got the sixth started by taking Braves starter Mike Soroka deep for his team-leading sixteenth homerun of the year. After a walk and a single, Alcantara unleashed his second triple of the night, giving the Wahoos a 3-2 lead.
Soroka then surrendered a double and a walk undoing what was otherwise a very strong outing by the Braves top right-handed pitching prospect. Jacob Webb replaced Soroka and helped strand a pair of runners after striking out Aquino to end the sixth.
With the lead returned to him again, Mella dialed it in on the mound and finished his night with just two earned runs over six innings giving the righty his first quality start since July 30.
The fourth inning that gave the Wahoos the lead would be overshadowed by an eighth inning that saw 11 Wahoos come to the plate. Jonathan Reynoso led off the inning with his second homer of the season in what would prove to be the tip of the iceberg for the Pensacola offense. Two base hits and five walks later, the Wahoos took the field in the bottom of the eighth with a comfortable 11-3 lead.
The Braves added a pair of consolation runs in the eighth and the ninth inning to make it an 11-5 final.
Aquino, Trahan and Guerrero each finished with 3 hits, with Aquino coming a triple shy of the cycle.
With the Wahoos win and the Jacksonville’s win over Mobile, the Wahoos will enter play tomorrow still 2.5 games behind the Jumbo Shrimp in the South Division.
Driver Downs Power Pole On Bratt Dirt Road
August 18, 2017
Man Dies In Early Morning Mobile Home Fire
August 17, 2017
One person died in a mobile home fire Thursday morning in Escambia County.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire at a mobile home in the 7100 block of Lillian Highway. An adult male victim was found inside during a search of the home.
Escambia 911 received a call at 3:06 a.m. reporting a mobile home with smoke and flames visible. The first crew arrived on scene at 3:10 a.m. to find approximately half of the home on fire. The home was a total loss. The victim was the only resident of the home.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.