AT&T Employee Killed In Traffic Crash
April 3, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol has released the identity of an AT&T employee that died as the result of a traffic crash Thursday at intersection of Davis Highway and Olive Road.
The FHP said late Saturday that 45-year old Willie Ray Bonds was pronounced deceased at Sacred Heart Hospital about six hours after the crash.
About 3:27 p.m., 73-year old Henry Simpson of Pensacola was traveling north on Davis Highway when he ran the red light at the intersection in his 2005 GMC Envoy, trooper said. Simpson’s vehicle struck Bonds’ van on the driver’s side.
Bonds was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 9:12 p.m. Simpson was transported to Baptist Hospital with serious injuries.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, and both men were wearing their seat belts. Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Northwest Escambia (With Gallery)
April 3, 2016
Saturday was Opening Day for Northwest Escambia at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
April 3, 2016
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:
· Interstate 10 (I-10) Widening, Escambia County – Intermittent and alternating lane closures, between State Road (S.R.) 291 (Davis Highway/Exit 13) and U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway/Exit 17), from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of Monday, April 4 as crews perform construction activities.
· I-10/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements, Escambia County – The outside lane of I-10 eastbound near U.S. 29 (Exits 10A and 10B) will be closed Sunday, April 3 and Monday, April 4 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews install barrier wall.
Santa Rosa County:
· U.S. 98, Santa Rosa County - Alternating lane closures, between Central Parkway and the Gulf Breeze Zoo, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, April 3 through Thursday, April 7 as crews perform work list items.
· I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on I-10, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 3 through Thursday, April 7 as crews place barrier wall. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange during this time as crews perform bridge work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Work on widening I-10 near Scenic Highway in Escambia County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Ballpark Revived
April 3, 2016
After an absence of several years, baseball and softball returned Saturday to the Cantonment Ballpark.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Takeout Of Citizens Policies Approved For June
April 3, 2016
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation agreed Friday to allow National Specialty Insurance Co. to acquire up to 19,535 personal residential policies in June from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance through what is known as the “takeout” process.
The majority of the policies are not expected to exit Citizens, because private insurers typically seek the least-risky policies and policyholders can opt to reject offers. Regulators have approved up to 444,684 policies to potentially be shifted this year in the takeout process. Not all of the takeout periods have occurred, but so far 33,434 policies have changed hands, according to the Office of Insurance Regulation.
The process has helped reduce the number of Citizens policies by about 1 million over the past three years. Citizens reported having 485,588 policies as of Feb. 29.
Century Woman Charged With Stealing $22.7K From Jailed Man’s Account
April 2, 2016
A Century woman has been charged with withdrawing over $20,000 from a Century man’s bank account while he was in jail.
Lolita Shantel Thomas, 27, was charged with grand theft and fraud for withdrawing $22,700 without the account holder’s permission.
The victim, according to arrest report, is former jail bunkmate of Thomas’ boyfriend. Thomas was given permission to retrieve the victim’s vehicle from the county impound lot following his arrest, but she was not given permission to withdraw funds. Thomas was caught on credit union surveillance video with a black male passenger cashing checks at a drive-thru window. The passenger has not yet been charged in the scheme.
The withdrawals were made over a period of two months in 2015.
Tomas was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Flood Warning For Escambia River At Century
April 2, 2016
A flood warning continues for the Escambia River near Century. Minor flooding is forecast. The flood stage is 17 feet. The river is forecast to rise above flood stage by tonight and continue to rise to near 19.8 feet by Sunday evening.
* At 19 feet…Low lying pasture will flood. Cattle should be moved to higher ground.
* At 17 feet…Considerable flooding of lowlands.
* At 13 feet…Minor overflow of lowlands in the area.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
April 2, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for January. They are (L-R) Makayla Ramsey, sixth grade; Ariel Ward, seventh grade; Trenton Peebles, eighth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Cited After Hitting School Bus
April 2, 2016
There were no student injuries in a collision involving a car and a school bus south of Century Friday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 60-year old Steven K. Smith of Montgomery was northbound on Highway 29 near Elsie Davis Road in a Chevrolet Malibu when he braked on the wet roadway and slid into the a school bus. The bus, driven by 53-year old Linda C. Flowers of Century, was stopped with lights activated.
Flowers and 16 students from Byrneville Elementary School were not injured. Smith was transported to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton with minor injuries.
Smith was also cited by the FHP for careless driving.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Dept. Of Corrections To Hire Over 4,000 Corrections Officers
April 2, 2016
The Florida Department of Corrections announced Friday that the agency seeks to hire more than 4,000 correctional officers statewide before July 1, 2017, to fill existing vacancies and account for projected turnover.
A career in corrections offers the unique opportunity to serve and protect our state and communities while making a positive difference in the lives of Florida’s inmates, the agency said in a news release.
“Properly staffing our institutions is critical to the safe and secure operations of our facilities. To ensure that our prisons are staffed appropriately, the Department is seeking more than 4,000 qualified individuals to proudly and bravely serve our state as correctional officers. Our hiring efforts are focused on recruiting courageous, honorable and hardworking men and women to join our team and take on our mission to provide a continuum of services to meet the needs of those entrusted to our care, creating a safe and professional environment with the outcome of reduced victimization, safer communities and an emphasis on the premium of life,” Secretary Julie Jones said.
Correctional officers are responsible for the supervision, care, custody and control of inmates in a correctional institution or facility.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.