Traffic Alert: New Pedestrian Crosswalk, Signal Installed On Ninth Avenue
April 27, 2021
A new pedestrian crosswalk and signal has been installed on Ninth Avenue, just south of Springhill Drive. Pedestrians will be allowed to safely cross Ninth Avenue on the south side of the Carpenters Creek Bridge. Pedestrians can continue to cross Ninth Avenue on the north side of the bridge at Bayou Boulevard.
The travel lanes on Ninth Avenue over the Carpenters Creek Bridge were shifted to the eastern portion of the structure earlier this week. This traffic configuration is expected to be in place until later this year.
Ninth Avenue is the focus of a $4.3 million construction project that is replacing the existing bridge over Carpenters Creek. Construction crews will also resurface the roadway between Royce Street and Bayou Boulevard, along with a portion of Carpenters Creek Drive. The project is estimated for completion in mid-2022.
Fire Destroys Large Home On Chemstrand Road (With Gallery)
April 26, 2021
Fire destroyed a large home on Chemstrand Road midday Monday.
The fire was reported shortly before noon in the 1300 block of Chemstrand Road, near the railroad crossing.
The 2,700 square foot home was heavily involved in fire when firefighters arrived on scene. Flames were shooting high into the air on both ends of the 83-year old wood frame home.
There were no injuries reported and no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
For a photo gallery, click here.
#BREAKING – Fire destroyed a home in the 1300 block of Chemstrand Road midday Monday. There was no immediate word of any injuries. Chemstrand Road is currently closed in the 1300 block, around the area of the railroad crossing. pic.twitter.com/h0rOvdlhix
— NorthEscambia.com (@northescambia) April 26, 2021
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Working To Force People Out Of This Century Home
April 26, 2021
Escambia County working for force people out of a home in Century.
The property a 511 Hecker Road escheated to the county in January, becoming county property after taxes were not paid for seven years.
The total amount owed as of January was $22,516.71, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford. The taxes were owed by joint property owners Shawanda Newton, Latoya Redmond, Lalita Simpson, Earwin Newton and Amber Redmond, according to the tax deed.
Lunsford said no one ever purchased a tax certificate on the property to give them claim to the property, so it escheated to Escambia County. That zeroed out the taxes due.
According to Escambia County Code Enforcement, unidentified persons have continued to live in the home even though it has been county property for nearly four months.
The Escambia County Commission has now voted to authorize the County Attorney’s Office to take necessary action for the removal of the occupants and any abandoned property or vehicles.
County Attorney Alison Rogers said the process would begin with letters and could eventually move to a court proceeding to eject (similar to evicting) the occupants. Rogers said the county is seldom required to eject people from a home.
Escambia County will likely sell the property at public action once the occupants are removed.
Spring Practice Begins Today For Florida High School Football Teams
April 26, 2021
The Northview Chiefs, Tate Aggies and other teams in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are gearing up the 2021 football season beginning today.
Monday is the first spring practice date for high school football in Florida.
May 1 is the first day the Florida High School Athletic Association will allow contact at practice.
Last season, the Northview Chiefs lost to the Vernon Yellow Jackets in the 1A regional semifinals.
Pictured: 2020 season action with the Northview Chiefs and Tate Aggies. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Around 60 For Monday Night
April 26, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Local Farmers Learn About Cover Crops Project. And You Can Watch It Grow All Summer.
April 26, 2021
Local farmers recently attended a Cover Crops and Soil Moisture Field Day in Oak Grove.
Cover crops are part of a sustainable agricultural system to help protect soil erosion, keep nutrients in place and build valuable organic matter.
Cover crops are plants that help to protect the soil from wind, rainfall, and sunlight. Cover crops provide improvement of the soil composition, soil structure and organic matter content, water infiltration, root penetration, and nutrient recycling. Additional benefits include reducing erosion, water runoff, and nutrient leaching. Cover crops enhance soil fertility via improved nutrient retention, organic matter, and cycling, while leguminous cover crops add nitrogen from the atmosphere.
Sam and Scott Walker started a 10-month long cover crop and soil moisture project at their farm back in November. The field was planted with “Florida 401″ rye grass. Six soil moisture probes were places in the field to monitor soil moisture through the winter season. Individuals driving by the field, just south of the Oak Grove Baptist Church, may have noticed the probes and flags.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Last week, about two dozen producers gathered in the field to learn about the project and see the latest machinery and hear updates from industry expects. They watched as new equipment was used to flatten the rye grass field, preparing it for planting.
The probes will be returned to the field once it is planted in cotton. Passersby will be able to see the progress at the northeast corner of North Highway 99 and Melvin Road in Oak Grove.
“This dryland field will be managed as the Walkers see fit. The probes will give a longer term view of soil moisture in the plots, and each plot will be harvested to determine yield,” said Libbie Johnson from UF/IFAS Extension Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured: A Cover Crops and Soil Moisture Field Day on North Highway 99 in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Compete In Pensacola Beach Firefighter’s Challenge
April 26, 2021
Firefighters from across the Southeast, including Escambia Fire Rescue, took part in the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge this past weekend at Pensacola Beach.
Firefighters competed for the best times, in the sand, in several obstacles including forced entry, charged hose pull, kaiser sled, dummy draga and hose hoist. During each challenger, each participant was required to wear full structural firefighting gear including boots, gloves, air packs (breathing on air), helmets and masks.
Baton Rouge took first place, followed by Mobile Fire Rescue in second and Team Unleashed from Saraland in third.
Complete results are below.
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
1:35:49 — Michael Greene
1:40:32 — Brent Manley
1:47:67 — Shane Hernandez
1:53:12 — Jake Morgan
1:54:85 — Caleb Dixon
1:55:43 — Nathan Perkins
1:55:55 — Miles Greenblatt
2:02:49 — Andrew Sanders
2:07:26 — Antwan Washington
2:08:88 — Michael Saunders
2:10:43 — Garrett Mcclain
2:12:73 — James Riley
2:13:68 — Zac Forester
2:17:74 — Adam Beeson
2:22:52 — Corry Bailey
2:30:40 — Haiden Goodwin
2:30:78 — Hayden Bell
2:34:69 — Robert Held
2:42:00 — Chad Hooper
2:56:69 — Ed Griffin
2:57:91 — Bakari Beard
3:09:37 — Taylor Kendrick
3:24:69 — Donny Leonard Sr.
3:26:24 — Carl Day
3:38:89 — Brady Lee
3:48:62 — Derek Barksdale
4:17:25 — Lance Card
4:23:81 — Luciano Guerrero
4:32:53 — Greg Vaughan
4:40:18 — David Clark
4:48:68 — Brad Brewer
5:20:75 — Derek Kirkwood
5:51:99 — Austin Smith
6:16:29 — Christopher Hoglind
7:00:00 — David Gonzales
7:00:00 — Nick Spanides
7:00:00 — Trent Rogillio
7:00:00 — Melody Fernandez
7:00:00 — Jennifer Nelson
7:00:00 — Jacob Freeland
7:00:00 — David Bennet Jr
TEAM COMPETITION
Top 3 – Final
1:05:52 — Baton Rouge FD
1:19:56 — Mobile Fire
1:19:75 — Team Unleashed Saraland
First Run Times
1:29:31 — WCFR Bugles
1:40:81 — Dudley’s Angels
1:47:87 — Ocean City Wright
1:49:20 — Destin Five
1:49:88 — Crestview Fire Team 1
1:52:02 — Hose Jockeys
1:54:03 — Midway Fire District
1:55:03 — ESCVFD
1:57:18 — Lynn Haven
2:01:63 — Fire Wolves Team Bravo
2:02:79 — That Other Navy Fire Team
2:08:00 — Eufaula Fire
2:09:66 — Ocean Springs Fire Dept
2:16:97 — Navy Fire 34
2:18:74 — Henderson Fire
2:23:29 — East Jackson County Fire
2:23:45 — County Fire Tactics 3
2:25:52 — Sheffield Fire
2:30:85 — BFD
2:32:46 — CFT Team 1
2:33:68 — Beulaha’s Night Crew
3:00:47 — Fire Wolves Team Alpha
The event is sponsored by Pensacola Sports.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices At Seven-Week Low
April 26, 2021
Florida gas prices declined again last week to a seven-week low, according to AAA.
Florida drivers are paying an average price of $2.79 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. That’s 12 cents less than what drivers paid in late March.
Florida drivers are now paying 4 cents less than a week ago, and 11 cents less than this time last month. Current prices are similar to what drivers paid in April 2019, when conditions were more typical (before the pandemic). The price on April 25, 2019 was $2.73 per gallon. Last year at this time, Florida pump prices averaged an unseasonable $1.80 per gallon; caused by the pandemic’s crippling effect on fuel demand.
The lowest gas price in North Escambia Sunday night was $2.65 at two stations in Cantonment. The lowest price in Pensacola was $2.59 at the warehouse clubs.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
FDOH: 26 Additional COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
April 26, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 26 new COVID-19 cases reported in Escambia County Sunday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,730 (+26)
Non-Florida residents: 3,669
Recovered: 33,145*
Total deaths: 675
Long-term care facility deaths: 281
Current hospitalizations: 38
Number of tests reported last day: 302
Percent positive reported last day: 8.2%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.5%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,726 (+20)
Cantonment: 3,207 (+3)
Century: 1,175
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 490
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 58 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 54
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,082 (+12)
Non-Florida residents: 247
Total deaths: 284
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 894*
Number of tests reported last day: 194
Percent positive reported last day: 6.3%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,628 (+11)
Navarre: 3,729
Gulf Breeze: 3,336 (+2)
Pace: 1,464
Jay: 550
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,208,584
Florida residents: 2,167,190
Deaths: 34,848
Hospitalizations: 89,457
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Jay Pro Rodeo Draws Largest Crowds In 20 Year History
April 26, 2021
The largest crowds in event history turned out Friday and Saturday night for the 20th Annual Jay Pro Rodeo.
The event returns 100 percent of proceeds back to the community, including the Jay High School Student Government Association.
The annual event at the Ted May Arena in Jay featured rodeo action including pro bull riding, saddle broncs, calf and team roping, steer wrestling, and women’s breakaway and barrel racing. For the little ones, there was the calf scramble, bounce houses, face painting and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
