AAA: Florida Fourth Of July Weekend Road Trips Expected To Be At Record Levels
July 4, 2023
AAA forecasted that Floridians will travel in record numbers for the Independence Day holiday weekend.
AAA anticipated that more than 2.8 million Floridians will take at least one trip of 50 miles or more, between Friday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 4. That’s 87,000 more holiday travelers than the previous record high, set last year.
Nearly 85% of all travelers will take a road trip, AAA predicts, with 43.2 million Americans driving to their destinations. That’s a little over one million more people on the road than last year. In Florida, more than 2.4 million were forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s 37,000 more than last year.
“Independence Day weekend appears to be the continuation of what has already been a very strong summer travel season,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although airfares and hotel rates are more expensive than last year, Americans are still eager to travel. So, expect to see congested roads, busy hotels, and long lines at airports and attractions.”
Bermudez, Blue Wahoos Blank Biscuits In Road Trip Finale
July 4, 2023
Three Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout in the finale of their two-week road trip on Monday night, beating the Montgomery Biscuits by a score of 9-0.
Jonathan Bermudez (W, 2-2) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless, two-hit innings before Matt Pushard and Josan Méndez finished the job with hitless relief. The Blue Wahoos earned a split of their series in Montgomery and finished their road trip with a 7-4 record.
After going hitless in their first four innings against Victor Muñoz (L, 6-5), the Blue Wahoos finally broke through in the fifth. Griffin Conine led off the inning with a solo homer, and Jan Mercado followed with an RBI single to put Pensacola ahead 2-0.
Troy Johnston added to his league-leading RBI total in the next two innings, hitting a solo homer in the sixth and a two-run single in the seventh. Johnston’s homer was his 15th of the season, tying him for the Southern League lead.
Cobie Fletcher-Vance added an RBI single in the eighth before Nasim Nuñez put the game on ice with a three-run double later in the inning.
The Blue Wahoos return home to Pensacola for a Fourth of July matinee on Tuesday.
written by Erik Bremer
State Visits Century To Evaluate $12.8 Million Grant Applications For Shelter, Bridges Repair
July 3, 2023
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity recently made a site visit to Century as part of the town’s applications for $12.8 million in total grant applications for a hurricane shelter and repairs to three bridges.
The grants, if awarded, would be from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DOE) Small Cities Hurricane Sally Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program.
Gym/Hurricane Shelter
Century is seeking a $10 million grant to turn the old Century High School gym property into a multipurpose facility that could also serve as a hurricane or other disaster shelter. The town does not own the old gym, which was constructed in 1960; it belongs to Pensacola State College.
Town consultant Robin Phillips, who is managing the grant submissions, said the gym is laden with asbestos and lead. It has been essentially abandoned for years, and is in poor condition. For those reasons, Phillips said an architect is recommending that the building be demolished and rebuilt.
If the grant is awarded to Century, the town plans to accept the funds only if PSC will transfer ownership to the town.
Bridge Repairs
Century is also seeking a seperate $2,862,137 grant to replace a failed bridge on Freedom Road that has been closed for three years, and make drainage improvements to two other bridges that suffered embankment erosion during Hurricane Sally.
The state budget recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes $1.257 million for the Freedom Road bridge. This funding would be in addition to any other DOE funds that might be awarded.
The bridge and drainage grant will not be impacted by the continuation or withdrawal of the gym application.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Afternoon Showers Today, A ‘Cooler’ High In The Low 90s
July 3, 2023
It will be hot on this Monday, but for the first time in over a week there are no heat advisories in effect. Highs will reach the lower 90s today, instead of the upper 90s, and the heat index is not expected to reach the danger level for an advisory.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Independence Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
7-Year Old Struck By Vehicle On Pensacola Beach
July 3, 2023
A vehicle collided with a 7-year old boy on Pensacola Beach Sunday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the boy from Eutaw, Alabama, was walking with both of his parents on Via De Luna about 1 p.m. “when he suddenly dashed into the road”. The driver of a SUV, a 57-year old woman from Louisiana, swerved and braked. The child struck the side of the vehicle, and he received only minor injuries.
The child was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital as a precaution.
FHP said no citations were issued.
ECUA Trash Collection One Day Later This Week; Gov’t Office Closures For The Holiday
July 3, 2023
Your ECUA trash and recyclables will be picked up on day later this week, and several government offices are closed on Monday for the Independence Day holiday.
Both residential and commercial ECUA sanitation collections will be a day later. (For example, Tuesday routes will be collected on Wednesday.) ECUA’s customer service department will reopen on Wednesday.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the holiday and for statewide software updates.
The following Escambia County offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4:
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – all departments including:
West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
Escambia County Property Appraiser
Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
Escambia County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
Escambia County Extension Office
Waste Services Administration and the Perdido Landfill
ECAT will only operate routes 59 Express, 64 Beach Jumper, and the Pensacola Beach trolleys on Tuesday, July 4. Regular service will resume Wednesday, July 5.
TOWN OF CENTURY
Town of Century offices will be open normal hours on Monday. All Century offices will be closed on Tuesday for the holiday.
Northwest Escambia 10U Chiefs Take Second In Cal Ripken State Series
July 3, 2023
The Northwest Escambia 10U Chiefs battled the best teams in the state and finished second Sunday in the Alabama State Championship in Florence, Alabama.
They will advance to the regionals July 14 in Mobile to battle the best times in the Cal Ripken southwest region.
In addition to taking second in the state, the NWE Chiefs also won the District 7 Cal Ripken all-star tournament and the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic all-star tournament.
Pictured: (bottom row, L-R) Hayden Hollingsworth, Brantley Sharpless, Hendrix Ward, Ridge Odom, (middle row, L-R) Caleb Madison, Hayden Batson, Jordan Ledkins, Parker Gilmore, Mason Wilson, Kayson Cooley, Walker Maughon, (top row, L-R) Coach Matt Gilmore, Coach Wesley Maughon, and Coach Mike Cooley. Not pictured: Dillan Stuart and Coach Jay Madison. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-County All Stars Are Florida Little League Section 1 Runner-ups
July 3, 2023
The Tri-County All Stars took the runner-up spot in the Florida Little League Section 1 State Tournament on Sunday at Showalter Park in Century.
The Town of Century and the Century Baseball Association hosted the tournament due to storm damage to the American Legion Park in Jay.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Unrelated Fires Claim Two Lives Sunday In Escambia County
July 3, 2023
Two people died in two unrelated house fires Sunday in Escambia County.
About 7:40 a.m. fire burned through an RV at the Dubuisson Park on West Jackson Street. Escambia County Fire Rescue arrived to find flames and smoke coming from the RV, and occupants was pronounced deceased.
About 12:20 p.m., the Pensacola Fire Department responded to a fire in the 1200 block of North 8th Avenue and learned that one person was trapped inside the home. The adult male was killed.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation.
Three Homers Not Enough As Blue Wahoos Fall Late To Biscuits
July 3, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame an early deficit and hit three home runs, but saw a late lead slip away in the eighth inning in an 8-7 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday afternoon.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Heriberto Hernandez hit a game-tying RBI double off Eli Villalobos (L, 0-1) before Evan Edwards dealt the decisive blow with a go-ahead RBI single.
Luis Palacios was ambushed by Montgomery in the first, and the Blue Wahoos trailed 4-0 after four batters thanks to a pair of two-run homers from Junior Caminero and Logan Driscoll. The lefty settled down after that, however, and completed 6.0 innings for the third time at Double-A this season.
The Blue Wahoos wasted no time answering back in the second inning, scoring five runs off Sean Hunley to take a 5-4 lead. Norel González hit a two-run homer and José Devers added an RBI single before Troy Johnston hit his team-leading 14th home run to put Pensacola up a run.
After a Will Banfield homer in the fifth and a run-scoring double play off the bat of González in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos led 7-4. Mason Auer got the Biscuits back within a run at 7-6 on a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
Nelson Alvarez (W, 4-1) pitched a tidy top of the eighth before Montgomery’s rally against Villalobos in the bottom of the inning. Enmanuel Mejia (S, 3) pitched around a hit batsman in the ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and road trip against the Biscuits on Monday.
written by Erik Bremer