$7.5 Million Construction Project Continues On Mobile Highway From Nine Mile To Pine Forest
July 11, 2023
A $7.5 million resurfacing project is underway on Mobile Highway between Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road.
The project, which began in September 2022, also includes:
- Installation of a new traffic signal at Klondike Road, and signal improvements at Blue Angel Parkway.
- Renewing guardrail, signing, and pavement markings.
- Improving various drainage structures.
- Widening for turn lane additions, to include five-foot “keyhole” bicycle lanes, at the Woodside Road, Klondike Road, and Millview Road intersections.
The project is currently estimated to be completed in early 2024.
Pictured: Equipment is staged to begin drilling for the foundation of the new traffic signal mast at Klondike Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Commission Cancels COW Meeting Again
July 11, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled Thursday’s planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
The meeting has been canceled for each of the last several months.
High School Basketball Coach Charged With Aggravated Assault, Battery
July 10, 2023
A high school basketball coach and teacher has been charged with assault and battery related charges following an incident Sunday afternoon.
Michael Taylor, 48, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon – dating violence, felony domestic battery by strangulation, misdemeanor cyberstalking, and misdemeanor battery.
Taylor was the head basketball coach at Northview High School for the 2019-2020 season where he had a record of 0-22. He was later hired by West Florida High School as a basketball coach and a teacher, according to the school website and social media.
Taylor allegedly held a firearm to the victim’s head, then strangled them until they passed out, according to an arrest report. He also allegedly cyberstalked the victim on July 9, and physically struck the victim several times between the dates of July 2 and July 7, the report continues.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor had a “continuing and significant relationship of romantic nature for approximately two years” with the unnamed victim.
Taylor remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon where he was being held without bond.
According to the Escambia County Public Schools, Taylor is now suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, as required by Florida statute.
Century Fails To Test Drinking Water For Lead, Copper, Two Other Contaminants For An Entire Year
July 10, 2023
For an entire year, the Town of Century failed to conduct the required drinking water quality tests for lead, copper and two other contaminants, according to a report.
“We failed to complete the required sampling for tap water lead and copper and therefore were in violation of monitoring and reporting requirements. Forty samples were required for each contaminant, and none were taken. Because we did not take the required number of samples, we did not know whether the contaminants were present in your drinking water, and we are unable to tell you whether your health was at risk during that time,” states the town’s recently distributed 2022 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for period January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
Century also missed the required testing for the inorganic contaminants nitrate and nitrite, the report states.
In addition, the town failed to submit the required monitoring report to total coliform during September 2022. The town was issued a violation of the Groundwater Rule and Total Coliform Rule. The sampling results, showing total coliforms were not detected, were later provided to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on January 24, 2023.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires every community water supplier to provide a Consumer Confidence Report, commonly called a drinking water quality report, to its customers on an annual basis.
It’s Budget Time: Escambia County Beginning Budget Workshops
July 10, 2023
Escambia County is beginning the process of establishing their budget and tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.
Escambia County will hold an all-day budget workshop at 9 a.m. on Monday July 10. A second planned meeting that was planned for Tuesday, July 11 has been canceled.
The county may, and likely will, schedule additional budget meetings, all of which are open to the public.
The new fiscal year begins October 1, 2023, for for Escambia County
FPL Proposes 18 Acre Vehicle And Equipment Storage Lot In Molino
July 10, 2023
Florida Power & Light is proposing an 18 acre vehicle parking and storage yard along Highway 29 in Molino.
The property at 5400 North Highway 29 is across the road from Jimmy’s Grill and has been owned by FPL or their predecessor Gulf Power Company for decades.
FPL says the property would be used by FPL or FPL affiliates for the parking, staging or storage of vehicles and equipment, and those vehicles may include service vehicles, commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, boat trailers, contractor trailers and equipment. Stored equipment might include power poles, cable spools, light fixture parts, solar panels and more.
“In addition, the site is strategically located and can serve as one of FPL’s staging lots for vehicles and equipment for our hurricane and severe storm response teams,” FPL said in a development application.
The proposed development includes a paved lot, stormwater management, lighting, landscaping, irrigation and a security fence and a gate. There are no proposed buildings.
The Escambia County Escambia County Development Review Committee will hold a pre-application meeting on the proposal Wednesday.
In 2019 and into early 2020, the then-Gulf Power used the lot to store equipment and supplies for an underground natural gas pipeline from Century to Plant Crist.
Pictured above: FPL is proposing an 18 acre vehicle parking and storage yard along Highway 29 in Molino. Pictured below: The site was previously used for staging during a natural gas pipeline project in 2019 and 2020. NorthEscambia.com photos and graphic, click to enlarge.
Photos: Looking Back At Pensacola Beach Air Show
July 10, 2023
The Pensacola Beach Air Show ended Saturday with the Blue Angels show cut short by lightning.
For a photo gallery from Saturday’s show, click or tap here.
For a photo gallery from Friday’s show, click or tap here.
For a photo gallery from Thursday’s practice, click or tap here.
Pictured: Saturday at the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Photos by Tamra Willis for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Customers Must Now Call For Bulk Waste Pickup Services
July 10, 2023
ECUA residential customers must now call ahead for bulk waste pickup services.
For bulk waste pickup, residents should call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480 by 2 p.m. on the day prior to their regular collection, and the bulk waste will take place on the normal collection day. Items should be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the regular collection day but no sooner than 48 hours before the collection day. There is no additional charge for bulk waste collection.
Bulk waste is considered to be items that are too large to fit into the trash can. Examples include:
- General furniture (couches, mattresses, desks, chairs, dressers, area rugs)
- Small appliances (vacuum cleaners, microwaves, space heaters, toasters and toaster ovens)
- Bicycles
- Grills
- Lawnmowers (free from gasoline and oil)
- Large toys (including electronic toys- please remove any lithium-ion batteries)
- Household electronics (computer monitors (CRTs and Flat Panels), computers (desktop and laptop), keyboards, mouses, printers, scanners, copy and fax machines, televisions (CRTs and flat screen), stereos, radios, CD and tape players, VCRs, video game systems, telephones, cell phones, and rechargeable batteries)
Pile the bulky waste items at a curbside area that is free of overhanging tree limbs, wires, and/or cable boxes. Be careful not to block traffic. ECUA will collect one 6’ W x 6’ D x 6’ H pile of bulk items weekly. No household garbage or construction debris will be accepted.
Building debris (such as but not limited to: fencing, carpet, and sheetrock), extra trash bags of clothing or garbage, or other small items will not be collected as bulk waste.
If you have excess trash that is not considered bulk items, you may request an extra sanitation pick-up or order an additional can (an additional fee applies for an extra can).
Florida Gas Prices Rebound, But Pensacola Has The State’s Cheapest Average
July 10, 2023
Florida gas prices suddenly rebounded last week, rising an average of 20 cents per gallon. The increase snapped a 22-day streak of declines that sent the state average to $3.26 per gallon – the lowest daily average price since March.
Sunday’s state average was $3.46 per gallon. That’s what drivers paid four weeks ago.
Pensacola was the cheapest metro in the state at $3.16 on average. In North Escambia, a low of $3.06 was available at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola multiple stations were below $3, including a low of $2.91 on East Nine Mile Road.
“Last week’s jump at the pump came immediately after Independence Day, when AAA forecast a record number of Floridians would take a road trip for the holiday,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Fortunately, oil prices remain low. Unless that changes this week, the upward pressure on gas prices should ease soon.
Sunday’s state average remains well below this year’s high of $3.72 per gallon.
Scattered Showers And Storms Likely For Monday
July 10, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 70%.