Photos: This Is What Happened When Lightning Hit A Power Line In Bratt
May 5, 2021
This is what happened when lightning hit a power line in Bratt during storms Wednesday morning.
The power line along West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School, was completely severed by the lightning about 8:30 a.m., according to Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
Photos courtesy lineman David Deese, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Reported Wednesday Morning At Ascend Performance Materials
May 5, 2021
A fire was reported at Ascend Performance Materials on old Chemstrand Road Wednesday morning.
Midday Wednesday, Ascend told NorthEscambia.com that a lightning strike is being investigated as the possible cause of the fire.
Escambia Fire Rescue was called to assist Ascend’s internal fire department about 8:10 a.m. The Escambia County fire units were first staged in a parking lot outside the plant’s main gate, but were then called inside the plant to assist with the blaze.
According to Escambia County, the fire was on the fourth floor of a structure, according to Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale. It was reported to be essentially out at 8:37 a.m., but firefighters were still working on hot spots in the area.
Additional Escambia County fire units were dispatched to the area just before 9 a.m. to stage outside the plant. A total of 11 ECFR units responded, Coale said. At 10 a.m., firefighters were working to isolate and extinguish possible fire between layers of roofing material, according to reports.
“Earlier today a fire occurred at Ascend’s Pensacola site. To ensure safety, we evacuated our employees. Local fire authorities were dispatched and contained the fire. There were no injuries and the community was not at risk at any time,” Alison Jahn, vice president of global communications and external affairs, told NorthEscambia.com.
“From what we know right now, there was a severe thunderstorm that passed over the site that we believe resulted in lightening striking some of our equipment. We’re still assessing the root cause,” Jahn said.
Pictured: A fire was reported as Ascend Performance Materials on Old Chemstrand Road Wednesday morning. Escambia Fire Rescue was first staged in a parking lot outside the plant, but they were moved inside to help battle the fire. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battering His Ex-Girlfriend And Her SUV With A Crutch
May 5, 2021
A Cantonment man is charged with allegedly battering his ex-girlfriend and her SUV with his crutch.
Christopher Jamicheal Campbell was charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor battery.
The victim told deputies she was sitting in her vehicle with a male friend when Campbell approached the driver’s side and began hitting her car with a metal crutch. She rolled her back window halfway down to speak with Campbell, at which time he pushed the window down, unlocked the door, and attempted to hit both vehicle occupants, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The victim jumped out of her vehicle, and Campbell hit her on the upper thigh with the crutch, the report continues. He then fled the scene in his vehicle at a high rate of speed, leaving the crutch behind.
The victim refused medical treatment. Her vehicle sustained about $1,700 in body damage from the crutch, and the window sustained about $400 in damage, the report notes. Campbell’s crutch was placed into evidence.
Campbell was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $12,500 bond.
Century Appoints Three To Charter Review Committee, Will Work On Shaping Future of Town Government
May 5, 2021
Three new members have been appointed to the Century Charter Review Committee, and the town council has given the group the go ahead to work on rewriting the town’s charter.
The Century Town Council appointed an 11-member Century Charter Review Committee in August 2019 to explore the town charter — the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The charter has not been updated in almost 40 years, and that often creates problems in the operation of the town.
The previous committee lost six members along the way, with just five people remaining. During an extended application period this year, three people applied to join.
The three new members appointed to the committee are:
- Leslie Howington — current web-based entrepreneur that served as Century’s town clerk from 2010-2018. She holds the designation of a certified municipal clerk.
- Brenda Spencer — over 20 years as legal secretary and co-office manager for the Escambia County attorney and deputy attorney. Spencer also served a few months on the town council in 2020 to fill the seat left vacant when Ben Boutwell resigned for a successful run for Mayor.
- Kathryn Fleming — a homemaker and student pursuing her master’s degree in human services. She has been a resident of Century since 2017.
The five remaining original committee members are: Shelisa Abraham, Mary Bourgeois, Michelle Cunningham, Evelyn Hammond and Helen Mincy.
Tate Visual Arts Teacher One Of Five Invited To Art In Residency Program
May 5, 2021
Tate High School visual arts teacher Jennifer Rodriguez is one of five Florida teachers invited to take part in an art residency program.
Rodriguez will participate in the Florida Alliance for Arts Education State Teacher STAR (State Teacher/Artist Residency) program this July on Manasota Key.
The STAR program is designed to honor and nourish the artist in the educator by providing five public school educators from Florida with the opportunity to pursue their artistic work in the inspiring environment of the prestigious Hermitage Artist Retreat. Three week residencies are offered to two visual artists, two writers, and one composer.
A Hermitage residency is a gift of time and space for artists to attend to their work. There is no requirement to produce. It is intensely personal time for concentration and a community of artists from different disciplines with which to share and learn. Artists invited seize the opportunity and find themselves more productive than at any other time in their creative lives, according to the art alliance.
Pictured: Tate High School visual arts teacher Jennifer Rodriguez. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Foundation Donates $100K To Child Advocacy Centers
May 5, 2021
The Gulf Power Foundation has contributed $100,000 to four children’s advocacy centers.
Right now, 1 in 10 children in our community are impacted by abuse,” said Stacey Kostevicki, executive director for Gulf Coast Kid’s House, which helped more than 3,000 children last year. “Our child advocacy center serves the most egregious victims of child abuse in Escambia County. We combine all of the professionals and resources needed for the intervention, investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases under one child-friendly facility.”
The foundation grants will benefit Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Santa Rosa Kid’s House, Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, and Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.
“Agencies likes the Gulf Coast Kid’s House Center provide a critical need in our community for those that are most vulnerable,” said Sandy Sims, executive director for the Gulf Power Foundation. “The Gulf Power Foundation is proud to be able to assist them in their important work. It’s just one of many ways we seek to support our communities in Northwest Florida.”
The grant will help GCKH with immediate family needs such as counseling as well as child abuse prevention programs. GCKH teaches all students K-12 regarding child abuse and child trafficking prevention and has created an online, 40-minute training, “Know Child Abuse” (www.knowchildabuse.org) so that all adults in the community can learn to recognize, report and respond to child abuse.
“Gulf Power Foundation is always so appreciated — and I can’t say how much so this year,” Kostevicki said. “We have seen a dramatic increase in child abuse cases as our community faces challenges from Hurricane Sally and the COVID-19 pandemic. We can never truly express our gratitude for Gulf Power Foundation’s investment in GCKH and the children we serve.”
The Gulf Power Foundation has operated for 30 years as an independent 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, partnering and investing in communities throughout Northwest Florida. The Foundation is one of the region’s largest corporate foundations, funded entirely through resources independent of Gulf Power’s customers
Molino Man Killed In Alabama When He Is Hit By His Own Vehicle
May 4, 2021
A Molino man was killed when he was struck by his own vehicle north of Flomaton Monday night.
Alabama State Troopers said 85-year old Marshall Fant was killed after being hit by the 2014 Nissan Frontier he had previously been driving. Fant was outside of his vehicle after he was involved in a crash with a Honda Accord on Highway 31 about six miles north of Flomaton.
As a 2020 Toyota Camry approached the crash location about 9:15 p.m., the Camry struck the rear of the Frontier which then hit Fant. Fant was transported to an area hospital but later was pronounced deceased.
Alabama troopers are continuing to investigate.
Driver Runs Into Wooded Area On Highway 29, Tree Crashes Down On His SUV
May 4, 2021
A driver crashed into the woodline along Highway 29 north of McDavid Monday night, sending a tree crashing down across his vehicle.
The adult male was northbound on Highway 29 near North Canoe Road when he lost control and ran off the road. His Jeep Liberty traveled across a concrete ditch before running up a steep embankment and striking several trees. A small pine tree crashed down across the roof of the SUV.
The man was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital with injuries that were not considered dangerous. The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Attorney Suspended For Frivolous Filings To Charge Higher Fees
May 4, 2021
The Florida Supreme Court has temporarily suspended an Escambia County attorney for frivolous filings to charge higher fees.
Jeremiah J. Talbott was suspended for 60 days and ordered to attend the Florida Bar’s Professionalism Workshop and Ethics School.
Talbott was hired to represent a client in a federal case under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In an order denying Talbott’s motion for attorney fees from the opposing party, the federal court found that Talbott pursued the litigation in bad faith and engaged in frivolous filings during the proceedings to obtain higher attorney fees, according to the Florida Bar.
Talbott was charged with conducting frivolous litigation, failing to expedite litigation, filing exaggerated billing sheets with the court, as well as extensive and unnecessary discovery to increase attorney fees when there was no dispute of damages between the parties.
Century Raises Gulf Power Franchise Fee; EREC Is Next
May 4, 2021
The Century Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to increase the franchise fee they charge Gulf Power, and an increase for Escambia River Electric Cooperative is next.
In 1994, the franchise fees for both utilities were increased from 3% to 5%, and now the council is raising the fee to 6%.
While the franchise fee is paid to the town by the utility, both Gulf Power and EREC told NorthEscambia.com that they pass the full cost of the fee on to their customers.
The Gulf Power fee increase is a done deal after Monday night’s vote. The council also held a first reading of a new agreement with EREC that will become official after one more meeting and an affirmative vote.
Gulf Power customers with an average 1,000 kwh monthly usage pay about $140 a month, according to Florida Public Service Commission documents. The franchise fee increase will cost customers in the Century town limits about $1.40 per month.