Quiet Night For Century’s Town Council
October 4, 2016
Monday night’s regular meeting of the Century Town Council was over quickly, with ordinary business and one zoning variance quickly handled.
Only three of five council members — Ben Boutwell, Ann Brooks and Gary Riley — were present for the meeting. Sandra McMurray Jackson and Annie Savage were absent. Mayor Freddie McCall was also not present; he is attending a Gulf Power Annual Economic Symposium at the Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Panama City.
The council approved a variance request by Megan Carroll to the town’s requirement for a five-foot setback for a side yard on Upton Road. She requested a 3.5-foot setback for a new home construction due to the slope of her property. The adjoining property owners, her parents, were agreeable to the variance.
The next regular scheduled meeting of the Century Town Council is Monday, October 17 at 7 p.m.
Pictured: Town Clerk Leslie Howington and council members Gary Riley, Ben Boutwell and Ann Brooks conduct a Monday night meeting of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
First Step: Signs, Lowered Speed Limit To Reduce Highway 29 Truck Rollovers
October 4, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed their step to address a problem with a North Century Boulevard curve that has seen multiple semi-truck rollovers.
A FDOT contractor has installed warning signs both north and southbound approaching a curve near Jackson Street, and north and southbound near a curve just north of Burger King.
The Florida Department of Transportation has acknowledged the the signage is a temporary fix. FDOT is working to identify a design and construction project to correct the slope of the roadway. Century and Escambia County have both pressed FDOT to eventually fix the elevation problem with the roadway.
Twice this year, semi-trucks rolled over in a curve on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street. City and county officials believe the curve is badly designed with a slope in the outer lane that is difficult for semis to negotiate at the posted 35 mph speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo at page bottom.
Scott Declares Emergency For All Of Florida Due To Hurricane Matthew
October 4, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for all of Florida as a major hurricane threatened to churn up the East Coast later in the week.
Hurricane Matthew was southeast of Jamaica on Monday but was predicted to head north and likely produce “devastating impacts from storm surge, extreme winds, heavy rains, flash floods, and/or mudslides in portions of the watch and warning areas in Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas,” the National Hurricane Center said in a 5 p.m. advisory.
While the path remains unclear as the storm goes further north, the Hurricane Center said direct hurricane impacts are possible in Florida later in the week.
Scott said the declaration of emergency will help the state prepare.
“Hurricane Matthew is a life-threatening Category 4 hurricane and we must all take it seriously,” Scott said in a statement. “If Hurricane Matthew directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven’t seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992. That is why we cannot delay and must prepare for direct impact now.”
At this time, Hurricane Matthew is not expected to have any significant impact on Escambia or Santa Rosa counties
.
by The News Service of Florida
North Escambia’s ‘Donut Boy’ Takes His Mission To Oregon To Thank Cops
October 4, 2016
Tyler Carach of Bratt is continuing on his mission to thank every police officer in the U.S. with a doughnut.
He flew across country late last week in his first plane ride ever to thank law enforcement in Oregon. Tyler, 8, met and shared doughnuts with the Eugene (OR) Police Department, the Springfield (OR) Police Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police, thanks to radio station 94.5 Mix FM.
“Way to go Tyler and thank you for continued support,” Oregon State Police tweeted. He also received a special thank you proclamation from the Eugene (OR) mayor.
NorthEscambia.com first introduced the world to Tyler, AKA “Donut Boy”, back in the summer when he decided to spend his own money to buy doughnuts for Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that were inside Gilley’s Store in Bratt. From there, he created the “I DONUT need a reason to THANK a cop” program after providing over 400 Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the entire Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He also recently paid a visit to the Flomaton (AL) Police Department. [Read more in a previous story...]
A doughnut shop in Springfield, OR, provide the donuts needed for Tyler’s Oregon trip, while an Oregon credit union contributed toward the airfare and a hotel chain provided the room for Tyler and his mom, Sheena Carach.
Tyler’s good deeds were covered by several Oregon newspapers and television stations, and on Monday his story was picked up by the nationally syndicated program Inside Edition.
Pictured: “Donut Boy” Tyler Carach of Bratt thanked police officers across the country in Oregon with doughnuts late late week. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Showband Earns Straight Superiors At Blackwater Classic Festival
October 4, 2016
Tate Showband of the South scored straight superiors at the Blackwater Classic Marching Band Festival last Saturday at Milton High School performing their show “Home Sweet Home”.
For additional photos, click here.
Photos by Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Holds Open House
October 4, 2016
The annual open house was held Saturday at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment.
Visitors had the opportunity to stroll through the center’s butterfly garden, hike trails into a bog, meet owls from the Wildlife Federation of Northwest Florida, peer through telescopes from with the Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association, meet the resident reptiles, and bid on artwork and other items in a silent auction.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is at 1300 Tobias Road, Cantonment.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gitmo Families Evacuated To NAS Pensacola
October 4, 2016
Approximately 700 spouses and children are evacuating from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba during preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew.
U.S. Transportation Command provided four C-17 and two C-130 aircraft as military airlift traveling to Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Relocating family members allows the installation to minimize operations during the storm, expediting recovery operations after the hurricane has passed. NSGB has approximately 5,500 residents living and working aboard, including families. The remaining 4,800 personnel remain behind in order to quickly begin recovery efforts, and will shelter in place.
The installation expects winds above 60 mph for several hours as Hurricane Matthew passes. U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Fleet Forces, Navy Installations Command, and Navy Region Southeast are providing the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay support and will continue to do so through the recovery efforts following the storm.
Pictured: Families settle into their seats aboard a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft for evacuation from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) to Pensacola ahead of Hurricane Matthew. Pictured inset: Naval Air Station Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin and his wife, Catherine (left), greet Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Commanding Officer Capt. David Culpeper’s wife as part of the first lift of Hurricane Matthew evacuees. Approximately 700 spouses and children of Guantanamo personnel are being housed on Naval Air Station Pensacola until the storm passes and it is safe to return. U.S. Navy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Cross Country Team Faces T.R. Miller Challenge
October 4, 2016
The Ernest Ward Middle School Cross Country team recently took part in the T.R. Miller Challenge. EWMS top finishers were:
EWMS GIRLS (3K)
- Leah Anderson 16:15.2
- Kacy Knable 16:48.7
- Emily Levins 19:32.9
- Hadassah Mascaro 19:42.4
- Autumn Williams 20:28.2
EWMS BOYS (3K)
- Dakota Bryan 13:35.8
- Levi Kirpatrick 15:00.7
- Kole Stewart 15:04.6
- James McElhaney17:37.3
- Andrew Denton 17:54.4
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Murder In Stabbing Death
October 3, 2016
A Cantonment man is facing a murder charge for a stabbing death in Freeport.
Jefferson Charles Michael Helton, age 26 of Rose Petal Lane, has now been charged with murder in the second degree for the stabbing death of a 26-year old Alabama man in Walton County.
Helton and the victim, identified as 26-year old Sandy James Berlin, were involved in an altercation on LaGranage Road in Freeport just after 12:00 a.m. September 23. Berlin was stabbed several times in the chest. He was transported to an area hospital where he later died.
Helton was captured the following day with help of a Good Samaritan. Helton was held on a violation of probation for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon out of Escambia County.
“We hope this is just the first step in getting justice for our victim,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “These investigations require a thorough approach not just to allow for an arrest, but a conviction.”
Pictured: Second degreee murder suspect Jefferson Charles Michael Helton of Cantonment is taken into custody. Pictured below: The scene of the stabbing in Freeport. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Community Helpers Day (With Photo Gallery)
October 3, 2016
Molino Park Elementary School held a “Community Helpers Day” Friday for students to learn about some of people that are hard at work, often behind the scenes, in the Molino area.
The event includes personnel and equipment from Escambia County EMS, the K-9 unit from the Escambia Road Prison, the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, LifeFlight, J. Miller Construction Company, the Florida Highway Patrol, ECUA, Gilmore Services, AA Towning and more.
Students also dressed as their favorite community helpers, such as firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses and others.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
