Expect Nightly Lane Closures On The Pensacola Bay Bridge
June 10, 2021
Nightly lane restrictions will be in place on the Pensacola Bay Bridge as work continues to restore four lanes of traffic for the length of the structure.
From Thursday, June 10 until Friday, June 18, drivers will encounter lane closures and lane shifts each night from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Drivers should anticipate congestion during the time work is underway.
Construction crews are working to complete repairs on the bridge. The Pensacola Bay Bridge reopened Friday, May 28 to four lanes of traffic (two in each direction), with the exception of an an approximately one-half-mile segment of two travel lanes (one lane in each direction) on the Pensacola side of the bridge arch.
No date has been announced for completing repairs and restoring all four lanes of traffic, though the Florida Department of Transportation said indications are it could be within “weeks as opposed to months” Also not determined at this time is an estimate for completing repairs to the bridge’s multiuse path that accommodates bicyclists and pedestrians.
The speed limit on the Pensacola Bay Bridge is 35 mph, and law enforcement personnel are patrolling the structure around the clock to enforce the limit. Tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge remain suspended through Tuesday, July 6.
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Crashing Into A Turkey In Walnut Hill
June 10, 2021
A motorcyclist was seriously injured after crashing into a turkey Wednesday evening in Walnut Hill.
The adult male was headed east on Rockaway Creek Road about a mile from Pine Forest Road when he collided with the wild turkey about 6:50 p.m. He lost control of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and slid about 150 feet along the pavement with the bike.
He was airlifted by MedStar Air Care 2 to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment. The turkey did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Escambia County EMS and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
May, Barry Don’t Want Retirement Plan Back Pay, But They Will Seek Resolution For Other Employees
June 10, 2021
Escambia County commissioners Steven Barry and Lumon May say they don’t want any back payments from a 401(a) annuity retirement plan settlement, but they will continue to work to help other senior level county employees that were not told about the program.
Barry told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon that the overall issue is bigger than just the board.
“There is a bigger issue,” he said. “The bigger issue is how this information (about the 401(a)) is being distributed.”
The 401(a) annuity program is available under state law and is offered only to senior management service employees and commissioners that opt out of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). It’s available statewide, not just in Escambia County.
Many employees, along with current and past commissioners, have said they were never informed of the annuity plan’s existence, and they lost significant retirement revenue as a result.
Barry asked the state ethics commission if the county commission could vote on a settlement plan that would allow payments to him, other commissioners and other county employees that were not told about the annuity plan by the county’s human resources department. The ethics commission agreed that the county commission could vote on paying lost earnings from the 401(a) plan to impacted commissioners and county employees.
At the county commission’s last meeting, May seconded a motion by Barry to move forward with discussion to discuss the program, and May also seconded an ameded motion to seek a legal opinion on the matter first.
“Quite frankly, in my opinion, this action, it’s not about county commissioners,” May said during the BOCC meeting. “It’s about those employees who have served in the dark without knowledge of this program and that they should have the opportunity to exercise any retirement benefits, not for themselves, but the sacrifice that they made for their children and those they may leave upon their death and their retirement.”
The payout could total as much as $1.9 million, including just over $225,000 each for Barry and May. But both commissioners now say they will not seek the money for themselves.
“Personally, I’m not going to seek any back payments, but I am extremely supportive of continuing to seek a legal opinion about a fair and equitable resolution for our senior management employees, many of whom were never informed of even the existence of the 401(a) plan, much less the details of the plan,” Barry said in a text message to NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon.
“We have a responsibility to advocate for the fair treatment of all our eligible employees, not only a select few,” Barry continued.
For an earlier story and more background, click or tap here.
New Signal At Highway 29, Molino Road Will Become Operational Next Tuesday
June 10, 2021
A new traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road will become fully operational about 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15..
The signal is currently in flash mode to acquaint motorists with the new location. The Florida Department of Transpiration said drivers are urged to use caution when approaching the intersection.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mira Awards Honor Escambia’s Most Creative High School Seniors
June 10, 2021
Each year the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation celebrates the unique gifts and creative talents of students from the Escambia County School District’s seven high schools with the presentation of the Mira Creative Arts Awards.
Students received a custom medallion during their school’s senior awards to wear with their cap and gown at graduation.
The awards presented last month were as follows:
Escambia High School
Band: Aubrey Crooks, Lily Strickland, Jonathan Trillo
Chorus: Keith Franco, Ashlee Radcliff, Mary Rouse
Drama: James Smith
Instrumental – Piano: Nicholas Grimes
Orchestra: Jacob Barrow
Yearbook: Shea Robards
Northview High School
Band: Alexia Jeneske
Drama: Josiah Carter
Graphic Arts: William Wilson
Graphic Design: Savannah Doremus
Visual Arts: Alexis Fleming
Visual Design: Libby Pugh
Yearbook: Hannah Hughes
Pensacola High School
Band: Alyssa Pasco, Mikael Patriarca
Drama: Owen Ides, Graybill Partington, Gabrielle Vines
Orchestra: Jenalynn Fernandez
Photography: Tavi Parker
Visual Arts: Khuyen Tran, Calla Endacott, Morgan Green
Pine Forest High School
Band: Yasmin Blount, Keith Jackson
Chorus: Bennez Kornegay
Culinary Arts: Dillon Southerland
Orchestra: Saudia Davis
TV Production: Natalia Eddy
Visual Arts: Christian Missal, Ayshia Williams
Yearbook: Mary Prokosch
Tate High School
Band: Michael Dixon, Mia Morehouse
Drama: Grey Benauer, Brody Kuehn
Orchestra: Reeve Roberts, Jade Ronca
Photography: Maggie Williams
Theater/Chorus: Adalynn Joiner, Liliana Watson
Visual Arts: Natalee Stuart
Booker T. Washington High School
Band: Joshua A. Mullikin, Rick Washington
Chorus: Kindell Nathaniel Harris, Jonathan West
Orchestra: Zachary Ford, Alyson Maybin
Theater: Nathaniel Holzknecht, Anna E. Miley
Visual Arts: Scarlett Mariana Coffey, Jordyn Johnson
West Florida High School
Band: Autumn Clayton, Selalina Hakaumotu
Drama: Grace Stanley
Graphic Arts: Marie Jansen, Abe Pasion
Journalism: Parker Hassebrock, Myles Powers
Orchestra: Olivia Enkey
Visual Arts: Skai Estares, Liberty Isbell
ECUA Offers Cooking Oil Disposal Stations, Including A New One On Nine Mile Road
June 10, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has a new Cooking Oil Disposal Station at Ever’man Cooperative on Nine Mile Road.
The cooking oil station allows customers to capture and dispose of their cooking oil and grease in an environmentally safe and effective manner.
The disposal station is stocked with plastic containers of various sizes. ECUA customers can take a free container, fill it with fats, oils and grease, and return it to exchange it for an empty container. The collected cooking oil and grease is recycled as biodiesel fuel. That, according to ECUA, keeps it out of sewer lines where it can cause clogs and overflows.
ECUA customers can also poor cooled grease into empty cans or plastic bottles and dispose of it in their trash.
Other Cooking Oil and Grease Disposal sites are located at:
Escambia County Extension Office
3470 Stefani Rd., Cantonment
Ever’man’s – Two locations
315 West Garden Street
1000 East Nine Mile Road
Perdido Landfill
13009 Beulah Rd., Cantonment
Beulah Fire Station
6400 West Nine Mile Road
Grocery Advantage
736 Hwy 29 North, Cantonment
ECUA at Ellyson Industrial Park
9255 Sturdevant Street
ECUA Sanitation Department
3050 Godwin Lane
Apple Market
1021 Scenic Highway, Pensacola
NAS Corry Station
4120 Pless Avenue (Corry Village Housing)
ECUA Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility
3050 Fayal Drive
Keep Pensacola Beautiful
2001 N Palafox Street
Perdido Key
12950 Gulf Beach Highway
ECUA at Warrington
609 S. Old Corry Field Road
Pensacola Beach Via de Luna Drive
53 Via DeLuna Drive (Adjacent to ECUA Pensacola Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant)
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance of Rain Tonight
June 10, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Jon Howard White
June 10, 2021
Jon Howard White, age 66, of Pensacola passed away peacefully on May 29, 2021 with his wife and dog at his side. He was born in Pensacola, Florida to George E White Jr and Gloria S White.
He attended school in Pensacola. He worked in Real Estate Sales in Escambia and Santa Rosa County, Fl. He was a past member of Krewe of Lafitte and Krewe of Seville.
Jon enjoyed shooting pool, spending time in the woods hunting, traveling, visiting his friends and tinkering in his shop. He had a big heart and was always helping others, giving people down on their luck odd jobs to help them out. He was of Catholic faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George E White Jr and Gloria S White and his brother, Jim White.
Those left to cherish his memories are his wife and best friend, Donna S White; Step-son, Christian Blades (Leigh Anne); Grandchildren, Amelia and Andrew who he adored; his brothers, Jerry White, Jean White and Jeff White; sister GeorgeAnn White-Johnson; Step-mother, Cynthia Worrell-White; Mother-in-law, Shirley Stefani. Brother-in-law, Keith Stefani; Several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and many other loved ones and friends.
Trahan Family Funeral Home took care of arrangements.
A Graveside service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 10 am. Fr. Milsted officiating.
In lieu of flowers family request donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or an animal shelter of your choice.
Edward Ronald “Ronnie” Hetherington
June 10, 2021
Edward Ronald “Ronnie” Hetherington, 75 of Cantonment, FL, died at his home on June 7th.
Mr. Hetherington was born May 21st, 1946, in Pensacola, FL, to Frank and Merle (Sims) Hetherington.
He attended Pensacola High School in Pensacola, FL. After his High School graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served for 4 years in stateside and overseas assignments and was honorably discharged upon completion of his voluntary service.
He returned home to Pensacola after finishing his time in the Air Force and met his wife Paula on a blind date. The two fell in love and married May 3rd, 1969. The couple lived in Pensacola after they wed, then, moved to Cantonment, FL in 1973.
Mr. Hetherington was employed as a lab technician for St. Regis Paper Company in 1969. Even though the company names changed several times throughout the years, Mr. Hetherington continued in this job until his retirement on July 1, 2010.
Mr. Hetherington loved to watch history movies, study the bible, wood carving, bird watching, reading, and playing cards. He loved to talk about his service in the Air Force, telling stories about the B-52 and working on camera systems on the flight line in Turkey. He had a passion for researching his family genealogy. He wanted to leave a legacy for his grandchildren by providing a detailed family history.
Mr. Hetherington was known as “Grandaddy” to his family and will be forever missed and greatly loved.
*Celebration of Life will be Friday, June 11th at 5:30 pm at First Baptist Church of Cantonment, 118 Morris Ave, in Cantonment, FL 32533. It will be officiated by Dr. Will Stone. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First Baptist Church of Cantonment building fund. Mr. Hetherington will be buried with honors at Barrancas National Cemetery at a later date.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, Frank and Merle Hetherington. He is survived by his wife Paula (Houston) Hetherington, of Cantonment, FL., and their four children. Daughter, Wendy Hetherington of Pensacola, FL., daughter, Tiffany and Michael Ralph of Navarre, FL., daughter, Robin and Michael Perez of Chesapeake, VA., and son, Chad and Natalie Hetherington of Cantonment, FL. His siblings, sister Janice (Gafford) Hetherington, brother Steve Hetherington, brother Frank Hetherington, and brother Fred Hetherington.
Mr. and Mrs. Hetherington also have 12 Grandchildren.
Grace Narvell McGhee
June 10, 2021
Mrs. Grace Narvell McGhee, age 87, of Atmore, AL. passed away on Tuesday June 8, 2021. She was born in Union Town, AL. and raised in the Mobile County area but has resided in the Atmore area most of her life. She was an educator in Escambia County, member of the McCullough Friendship Club and a member of Booneville Baptist Church. Her faith, church and family were the delights of her life. She loved her babies.
Mrs. McGhee is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert (Gurthey) Dean.
She leaves behind her wonderful husband of 69 years Rev. Ronald McGhee of Booneville, AL; two sons Ron McGhee Jr (Tana) of Dothan, AL; Jim McGhee (Joanne) of Dothan, AL; three daughters, Jackie (Dave) Gaylor of Brewton, AL; Rhonda (Richard) Daniels of Huxford, AL; Kimberly (Terry) Kelly of Atmore, AL; one sister, LaNell (Richard) Blaine of Georgetown, AL; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 11, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Booneville Baptist Church., with Rev. David Atkinson officiating.
Burial will follow at Booneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 11, 2021 from 10:00 AM until service time at 11:00 AM at the Boone Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Jason McGhee, Whitney McGhee, Matthew Daniels, Timothy Daniels, Billy Joiner and Scott Robinson.