Keep The Wreath Green: Campaign Ends With 12 Residential Structure Fires
January 4, 2017
The annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign ended December 31 with 12 red bulbs, each representing a residential structure fire with damage.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths were on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb was replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
Five of the dozen fires were in the North Escambia area area; scroll down the page for photographs and details on each.
On December 26, fire destroyed a wood frame home on West Pond Street in Century. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Five people — three adults and two children. were displaced by a fire December 22 on Rawlings Drive at Greenbriar Boulvard. A clothes dryer in the laundry room was confirmed as the source of the fire, with flames spreading to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the home. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
A fire on Luth Road in Molino on December 29 displaced a family. Crews arrived on scene to find an active fire in the attic, with light smoke showing from the 2 ½ story residential structure. Preliminary reports indicated the fire started from a fireplace chimney in the 5,500 square foot structure.
Fire destroyed a two story home in the 1200 block of West 9 ½ Mile Road on December 30. The fire was reported about 5:30 am. with heavy flames through the roof when firefighters arrived. Initial reports indicated the fire may have originated in the garage of the home. Two adults and two teenagers were displaced from the home.
A December 11 fire in the 8900 block of Mobile Highway in Beulah left four people without a home. One firefighter was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in stable condition for fatigue. The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Lunsford Sworn In As Escambia County’s New Tax Collector
January 4, 2017
New Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford was sworn into office Tuesday by Judge Amy Brodersen.
“I am very honored and humbled to serve the citizens of Escambia County as their tax collector,” Lunsford said. “My commitment is to serve the public with integrity, innovation, fiscal responsibility, and respect.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Road 97A Boggy Creek Bridge Replacement Project To Begin
January 4, 2017
Construction activities are set to begin this week on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek near Enon. The existing bridge will be replaced with a new, modern structure with 12-foot travel lanes, eight foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge approaches will also be replaced.
Crews will begin clearing trees and shrubs to build a temporary detour bridge. Once completed, traffic will be shifted to the temporary bridge as crews construct the new structure. Work is anticipated to be complete in eight months, weather permitting, on the $3,041,965 project.
Drivers are reminded to slow down to the posted speed limit of 30 mph use caution and be aware of the ‘S’ shaped curve when approaching the temporary bridge. There will be weight restriction on the temporary detour bridge. Vehicles weighing over 88,000 ponds and cranes will be prohibited.
The bridge to be replaced was constructed in 1969.
2016 In Photos: September
January 4, 2017
Today, we continue our look back at the year 2016 in photos with a look at September.
The Century Health and Rehabilitation Center hosted a free cookout for first responders, honoring local area fire, EMT, and law enforcement employees and volunteers.
Ernest Ward Middle School defeated Escambia County Middle School in Atmore.
Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown was presented the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to rural Escambia County by the Escambia County Farm Bureau during their annual meeting in Molino.
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools across the area during the annual See You at the Pole event.
An adult male was shot by his mother at her home near Walnut Hill.
Flomaton celebrated Railroad Junction Day.
A young girl cools down from the heat in a misting fan.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue held an open house, including a live burn demonstration.
Senior Deputy Ronnie Gill, school resource officer at Ernest Ward Middle School, was awarded the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Meritorious Service Medal for the crucial role he plays in breaking down the barriers between law enforcement and youth.
Northview beat the Vancleave (MS) Bulldogs on the road, 25-3.
Northview High School Majorette Captain Brianna Smith.
The Tate High School Aggies ruined homecoming for the Pensacola School Tigers 45-21.
The Northview Chiefs cruised to 41-6 win over Chipley.
The Northview High School Chiefs lost to Gulf Breeze 30-6 in junior varsity football action in Bratt.
The Century Town Council approved a property tax increase to offset revenue lost when hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed during an EF-3 tornado.
A new splash pad in Century opened for a few days but promptly closed due to a valve problem.
Thousands of people from churches across the area united on September 11 for a night of prayer for our region, our county and the Body of Christ across the world. Pastor Ted Traylor of Olive Baptist Church and Pastor Joey Rogers of Pace Assembly Ministries worked together to host the event to unit the community through prayer.
Homecoming Queen Gloria Jones was crowned at Tate High School.
The Blue Angels return home on a September evening.
The University of West Florida won their first ever football home opener.
A Cantonment convenience store was robbed. An arrest was made a few days later.
A packed house was on hand for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s second visit to the Pensacola Civic Center. The crowd was estimated at about 12,000 people, while “thousands more” could not get in, according to Trump.
In a game that came down to a fourth quarter battle, the Northview Chiefs defeated the Escambia Academy Cougars 21-14 at Tommy Weaver Stadium in Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hawkins Sworn In As Century’s New Mayor; Boutwell Appointed To Seat
January 3, 2017
Century’s first new mayor in nine years was sworn into office Monday night, and a council member that resigned was temporarily appointed back to his seat hours later.
In November’s election, former council member Henry Hawkins defeated incumbent two-term mayor Freddie McCall. Hawkins took the oath of office before a small crowd of supporters Monday night during the Century council’s first meeting of the year.
Re-elected incumbent council member Ann Brooks was also sworn in Monday night for her third term.
The council also appointed Ben Boutwell to the council temporarily to fill the seat from which he resigned. Boutwell ran unsuccessfully for mayor last fall. That required him to resign effective January 1.
The council voted 3-1 to reappoint Boutwell back to his seat. Council member Gary Riley voted unsuccessfully to appoint outgoing mayor Freddie McCall to the council.
A special election will be held in February to permanently fill the seat to which Boutwell was reappointed and the seat temporarily held by Kevin Stead. Stead was appointed to fill a vacancy created by the death of Annie Savage.
Pictured top: Henry Hawkins (center) is sworn in as mayor of Century Monday night by Town Clerk Leslie Howington as Bishop Russell Fountain holds the Bible. Pictured bottom: Ann Brooks (center) is sworn into office for a third term. Pictured inset: Hawkins at the council table. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Road And Bridge Closures Due To Flooding
January 3, 2017
The following roads in Escambia County were closed, or not safely passable, due to flooding as of Tuesday morning:
- South Pineville Road at Brushy Creek Bridge
- Occie Phillips Road at Brushy Creek Bridge
- Mobile Highway at Fairfield Drive
- Woodrun Road from Woodrun Lane To Woodrun Road
- Barrineau Park Road at the Pedido River bridge
- University Parkway at Hillview Drive
- North Navy Boulevard at New Warrington Road
This report was compiled with information from Escambia County, the Florida Highway Patrol and verified NorthEscambia.com reader reports.
Pictured top: Gibson Road in Molino. Pictured below, in top to bottom order: South Pineville Road at Brushy Creek, Occie Phillips Road at Brushy Creek, Highway 196/Barrineau Park Road at the Perdido River into Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Fire Marshal Investigating Molino Vehicle Fire
January 3, 2017
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a suspicious vehicle fire Monday night near Molino.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call on Highway 95A near Adams Road about 10:30 p.m. to find the SUV involved in fire. Area residents told firefighters that the vehicle had been abandoned on the roadside several hours before the blaze.
There were no injuries reported. The fire closed Highway 95A for about an hour.
Reader submitted and Kristi Barbour photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Legislative Delegation Public Hearing Is Wednesday
January 3, 2017
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2017 Legislative Session. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend. The signup deadline has passed for those wishing to make a presentation or provide testimony.
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Clay Ingram, and Representative Frank White.
Gun Issue, Stand Your Ground To Get Airing In Senate
January 3, 2017
State lawmakers will have their first chance to discuss a controversial measure that would expand how and where Florida’s more than 1.67 million concealed-weapons license holders can carry handguns.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Greg Steube, is scheduled Jan. 10 to take up the measure (SB 140), which would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry handguns in public and also would allow them to be armed on college and university campuses.
Under the bill, they also could carry guns at airport passenger terminals; in elementary and secondary schools; and at legislative and local government meetings.
Steube is sponsoring the bill, which is matched in part by separate proposals in the House.
During the 2016 session, open-carry and campus-carry measures failed to advance through the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was chaired by former Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami. He lost a re-election bid in November. The campus-carry proposal has been opposed by university and college leaders, campus law-enforcement officials and faculty members.
Also on the Jan. 10 agenda is a measure (SB 128) that would shift the burden of proof in “stand your ground” self-defense cases. The bill would shift the burden of proof to prosecutors during evidentiary hearings in such cases.
The bill stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the “stand your ground” law. In “stand your ground” cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants should be immune from prosecution.
The same proposal passed the Senate during the 2016 session but failed to get to the House floor.
by The News Service of Florida
Driver Buries Wrecked Vehicle Deep Into Wooded Area
January 3, 2017
A driver buried his vehicle deep in the woods late Monday night.
A passerby found the man wandering around Highway 95A at Quintette Road just before midnight. Firefighters arrived to find that the man had wrecked his vehicle, and it came to rest well over 150 feet into a wooded area.
The man refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the call.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
