Delays This Week For Construction At Highway 29 Railroad Crossing
May 26, 2020
Drivers can expect delays during certain time periods over the next two weeks at the Highway 29 railroad crossing at International Paper.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be intermittent and alternating lane restriction from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the area of the Highway 29 CSX railroad crossing in Cantonment Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29 and again Sunday, May 31 through Thursday, June 4 as crews construct improvements to the railroad crossing.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Records 12 New COVID-19 Cases Monday
May 26, 2020
THIS STORY IS NOW OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Escambia County recorded a dozen new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to the Florida Department of Health. The number of cases in Escambia County is now 768, and Santa Rosa increased by one to 208. Of the 26 deaths in Escambia County, 19 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities. Statewide, there were 51,746 cases including 50,414 Florida residents. There have been 9,424 hospitalizations and 2,252 deaths. EscambiaCounty cases:
- Total cases — 769 (+1 since Monday)
- Pensacola — 563
- Cantonment — 48
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 5
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 64*
- Deaths — 26
- Male — 259
- Female — 370
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 209 (+1 since Monday)
- Milton — 123
- Navarre — 36
- Gulf Breeze — 27
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 144
- Female — 61
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 51,746
- Florida residents — 50,414
- Deaths — 2,252
- Hospitalizations — 9,424*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
Schools Wrap Up The School Year. The One With The Quarantine. (With Jim Allen Photo Gallery)
May 26, 2020
Schools across the North Escambia area wrapped up the school year — the one with the quarantine — in their own special way last week.
At Jim Allen Elementary School, a “Ride-Bye” was held for the fifth grade class.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices For Memorial Day Were Lowest In 17 Years, AAA Says
May 26, 2020
Florida drivers paid an average price of $1.88 per gallon on Memorial Day. That was 77 cents less than last year’s holiday, and the lowest Memorial Day gas price in 17 years.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $1.79 on Memorial Day Monday. In North Escambia, the lowest price per gallon was $1.74 in Cantonment, while the lowest in Pensacola was $1.67 at a warehouse store.
Pump prices have been suppressed since February, due to Covid-19’s limiting effects on gasoline demand. Since that time, the state average declined a total of 66 cents per gallon, bottoming out at $1.76 on May 6. But now with more Floridians on the road, pump prices are beginning to bounce back.
As Florida reopens, gasoline demand is improving. Since sinking to a 75 percent deficit, gasoline demand in Florida is now down only 10-20 percent from a year ago.
“Gas prices are back on the rise now that Floridians are driving more, but it’s unclear how high they’ll go,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “While additional price increases are possible in the coming weeks, drivers are currently in line for the cheapest summer at the pump in 15 years.”
Florida gas prices increased 11 cents last week across the state. It’s the largest weekly increase since the pandemic began. Florida drivers are now paying 73 cents per gallon less than a year ago.
Pictured: The lowest North Escambia gas price for the Memorial Day weekend was $1.74 at this station on Highway 29 at Becks Lake Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Horrifically Violent Highway 29 Crash Sunday Claims Life
May 25, 2020
A Brewton man died in a horrifically violent crash on Highway 29 south of Century Sunday afternoon.
The driver of a Jeep Patriot (the white vehicle in the photos) was southbound on Highway 29 at Canoe Creek when he crossed the median about 3:50 p.m. and crashed into an oncoming Buick Enclave occupied by two people.
The Buick came to rest on its side in the ditch. The driver of the SUV, a 67-year old man, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the 62-year old female passenger was transported to Pensacola hospital in critical condition.
The collision essentially exploded the front of the Jeep, leaving the front wheels, engine compartment and engine in the median and debris spread across a large area of southbound Highway 29. The remainder of the Jeep came to rest upside down on the shoulder of the southbound lanes.
The Jeep driver, a 19-year old male from McDavid, was able to crawl out of the wreckage with minor injuries. He told bystanders that he believed that he may have fallen asleep, but the cause of the crash remained under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
For additional photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Drive-By Birthday Parade Held For 102-Year Old Pearl Harbor Survivor (With Photo Gallery)
May 25, 2020
A drive-by birthday party was held Sunday afternoon in Gonzalez for 102-year old Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond.
Emond, CWO4 USN (RET.), spen t his naval career as a musician and band director. He was on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) getting ready to play morning “Colors” on his French horn when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Emond then walked to the conductor’s stand, picked up the baton and proceeded to direct the band in “Stars and Stripes.”
After seven years of playing horn, he became a Navy bandleader, retiring in 1968.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“I’m about the last one (Pearl Harbor survivor) left around here,” Emond said.
He’s still a musical man; sometimes he still leads the music at Gonzalez United Methodist Church. He still performs with the Pensacola Civic Band. The Guinness Book of World Records named him the “Oldest Musical Conducter” in the world last year after he participated in a 2019 Memorial Day concert.
The church planned the parade as a big surprise and thank you for Emond, who turned 102 last Thursday. Emond stood for the entire 20-minute parade, spryly waving and walking up to vehicles to receive cards and presents. Several men stopped to salute.
The parade included the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Patriot Guard, motorcycle and car clubs, Pensacola’s Boat Car, a long line of well wishers and more.
“It was really special,” Emond said with a little smile on his face. “Somebody went to a lot of trouble on this for me. I really appreciate it.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: A drive-by 102nd birthday party for Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond Sunday at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church. NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Scattered Afternoon Showers For Memorial Day
May 25, 2020
A burn ban remains in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Memorial Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Special Early Father’s Day Parade Held For Stage 4 Cancer Patient In Cantonment (With Photo Gallery)
May 25, 2020
A special Father’s Day parade was Sunday for a Cantonment man.
Johnell Smith was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer a few months ago. His 12-year old son Dakota wanted to go ahead and do something special for him now for Father’s Day, and asked for the parade for his dad.
The two sat together in a golf cart alongside Casey Lane Sunday afternoon to watch as the community came together for the very special parade.
And for a while, all was well as the parade went by, led by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. There were fire trucks, big trucks, antique cars, motorcycles — all the good stuff that fathers and sons can enjoy together.
There was laughter. And tears. And that special bond that a father and son share. It may have been a few weeks early, but it was a happy Father’s Day.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click enlarge.
Man Seriously Injured, Airlifted To The Hospital Following Nokomis Road Rollover Wreck
May 25, 2020
A local man was seriously injured in a single vehicle crash Sunday night.
The 28-year old was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola following the wreck just before 11 p.m. on Nokomis Road near Meadows Road, about 1.5 miles west of Highway 97.
The driver of a Chevrolet 1500 pickup was headed east on Nokomis Road when he failed to properly negotiate a curve and left the road way. The the truck traveled over a high embankment and overturned in a yard, coming to rest upright against a small tree. It appeared the driver was ejected.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Memorial Day: Bratt Park, Century Wall And Other Memorials Honor Locals That Served And Sacrificed
May 25, 2020
On Memorial Day, people across North Escambia and the country remember the brave men and women that have served and sacrificed all.
In North Escambia, there are several memorials that honor those that have served in the military. Below, we are highlighting some of the outdoor memorials.
Continue scrolling; the article continues below the photos.
LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park
The LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park was dedicated in Bratt on November 8, 2011, in honor of the local Marine killed in action in August 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was just two weeks after his 19th birthday and only about a month after he arrived in Afghanistan.
The park features a memorial in Nelson’s honor. It is located on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
For more photos from Travis M. Nelson Park and the Century memorial (highlighted below), click here.
Century Veterans Wall of Honor
About four dozen of those that served from the Century area are honored on the Century Veterans Wall of Honor at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29. The memorial was dedicated on July 4, 2008 and also honors local soldiers killed in action.
The Century Veterans Wall of Honor is located in the Nadine McCaw Park at the corner of North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) and Hecker Road.
Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor
The largest such memorial in the North Escambia area, the Veteran’s Honor Wall has stood in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center since its dedication in 2003. There are about300 names on the wall, including names of just over a dozen soldiers killed in action. The wall honors those from the Walnut Hill area that have served in the nation’s military.
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club began planning the wall in late 2001, and they decided that it would be a community project at no cost to the veterans listed.
The late Billy R. Ward began to engrave the names with an antique machine the club purchased off the internet, and there were 220 names on the wall when it was dedicated in 2003. He spent a lot of time on the project, visiting the Wall South Memorial in Pensacola to get an idea what size the letters on the plaques should be.
On the Walnut Hill Veteran’s Honor Wall, everyone is equal. It was decided that no service rank would be include on the name plaques, just the branch and years of service.
Many of the veterans listed on the wall are now deceased.
The Walnut Hill Veteran’s Wall is located in front of the community center at 7850 Highway 97.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.