Thursday CSX Crossing Closure Update, And Yes They Will Fix Old Chemstrand
November 21, 2024
CSX continues to close railroad crossings for maintenance in Escambia County, and NorthEscambia.com has learned that they return to a crossing on Old Chemstrand Road to make additional improvements.
Numerous readers have complained to us about the Old Chemstrand crossing work being subpar and creating a dangerous situation. CSX will return and close the Old Chemstrand crossing Thursday morning to extend one side of the approach to that it is not as bumpy and abrupt, according to an Escambia County official.
Here is an update on the other openings and closings:
Archer Road – open
El Camino Drive – open
Woodbury Circle – reopening Thursday morning
Eded Lane — open
Cotton Lake Road — closing Thursday morning
The Becks Lake Road crossing will not close this week as previously planned. Becks Lane will close next Monday and Tuesday with a planned reopening on Wednesday. A temporary crossing should be in place during the closure.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barber, click to enlarge.
Windy And Turning Colder, Low Tonight Around 40
November 20, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Wednesday CSX Railroad Crossing Closure Update
November 20, 2024
Here’s the latest on CSX railroad closures in Escambia County as of Wednesday morning.
All closures and openings are dependent on the weather and asphalt deliver)
At last report:
- Archer Road — Closed. Opening early Thursday.
- El Camino Drive – Closed. Opening early Thursday
- Countri Lane — No work expected at this time.
- Woodbury Circle –Closed with a temporary crossing in place
- Becks Lake Road — Closing Wednesday with a temporary crossing in place
- Eden Lane — Closed for two days
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barber, click to enlarge.
Several Inches Of Rain Possible Today, Turning Colder By Wednesday Night
November 19, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 73. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
CSX Railroad Crossing Update For Monday Afternoon, Tuesday
November 18, 2024
Here’s the latest on CSX railroad closures in Escambia County.
All closures are dependent on the weather, and all openings are weather dependent on asphalt deliveries. With a high chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday, the schedule is likely to change.
As it stands Monday afternoon (from south to north):
- East Roberts Road – underway. Anticipate opening Monday (dependent on asphalt delivery)
- Kingsfield Road – underway. Anticipate opening Monday (dependent on asphalt delivery)
- Old Chemstrand Road – all work complete.
- Archer Road – Closing again Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5 a.m.
- El Camino Drive – Closing Tuesday, Nov. 19 5 a.m.
- Countri Lane – No work expected at this time.
- Woodbury Circle – Closing Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5 a.m. (with temporary crossing in place).
- Becks Lake Road – Closing Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5 a.m. (with temporary crossing in place).
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barber, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance Of Rain Tonight; Colder Weather Arriving By Wednesday Night
November 18, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Escambia BOCC To Install Four Commissioners, New Chair And Vice-Chair
November 17, 2024
The Escambia County Commission will install four commissioners and a new chair and vice-chair at a special meeting on Tuesday.
Two newly election commissioners and two reselected board members will be installed:
- Commissioner Steve Stroberger, District 1
- Commissioner Lumon May, District 3
- Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, District 4
- Commissioner Steven Barry, District 5
The board will also reorganize to appoint District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler as chairman and District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger as vice chair.
The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday in commission chambers. A reception will take place at Artel Gallery immediately following the meeting.
Week Begins Sunny, Then Rain Before A Big Cool Down
November 17, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Showers before 9am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 9am and 3pm, then showers after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Sunny, Nice Days; Clear Cool Nights Through The Weekend
November 16, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Showers. High near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Nobles Blocks Emotions As UWF Faces Showdown With No. 1 Valdosta State
November 16, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Argos correspondent
The hour-long drive south on Georgia Hwy-129 that UWF coach Kaleb Nobles made from the family home in Fitzgerald to Valdosta State’s campus became second nature.
He often travelled as a young fan with his father, Buddy Nobles, a high school football coaching legend, to watch Tucker Pruitt, son of then-Fitzgerald High coach Robby Pruitt, play as Valdosta’s quarterback.
More trips occurred when Kaleb was being recruited by VSU, then became the Blazers quarterback.
“I’ve beaten the streets from Fitzgerald to Valdosta on Highway 129 South,” said Nobles, laughing. “I still know all the back roads, so I am looking forward to getting back in that neck of the woods on Saturday.”
The proverbial landscape Saturday is now so different. And so are the stakes.
In a climactic season-finale, the No. 16-ranked Argos (7-2) face their defining game against the unbeaten, newly-minted, No. 1-ranked Valdosta State Blazers (9-0) in a 7 p.m. contest that will decide the Gulf South Conference champion.
It’s one of the biggest games and best matchups this season across Division II football.
For UWF, the Argos likely must win to qualify for the NCAA Division II postseason.
WHO: UWF Argos vs. Valdosta State Blazers
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta, Ga.
These teams have met before with a lot on the line, including twice in Valdosta in 2019 as UWF marched to its historic national championship. But this will be the first for Nobles to experience VSU’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as an opposing head coach.
Though he’s faced the Blazers before as UWF’s quarterback in their 2016 inaugural football season, then as an assistant coach through the 2019 season, Nobles acknowledged returning to a place that carried such emotional investment brings a different kind of feeling.
“I’d be liar to say no,” Nobles said. “There is obviously a lot of things going on, a lot of conversations going on. Anytime you’re playing somebody that you have worked for or played for previously, there will be conversations like that.
“It will definitely be cool to go back, this is my first time as a head coach. But we went there twice in 2019. It’s the first time I have been back as a coach, which is good for me, but having the ability to see it from a visitor’s perspective is good for me, because I know what to expect. I know the setup… I’m excited for it.
“Now, as I am getting older, growing up as a head coach, this is no different of a game. That field will be 120 yards long, 53 and one-third yards wide and we’re going to show up and play and we don’t care where it is. We’ll play in the parking lot of our hotel. We’ll be ready to go.”
Valdosta State is the No. 1 ranked team in the latest NCAA Super Region South rankings. That’s in addition to being ranked No. 1 overall in the coaches poll, No. 2 in the D-2 Football.com poll. In addition to their coaches’ poll ranking, the Argos moved back into the Top 25 in the D-2 Football.com poll at No. 21.
After winning its sixth consecutive game last Saturday, UWF moved up to No. 8 in the region rankings. Eight teams make the playoffs. That’s why UWF is in a virtual must-win situation for postseason.
“My message is going to be the same,” Nobles said. “It doesn’t matter who is across the sideline from us or who is across the field.
“At the end of the day, if we play our best and we give ourselves a chance to be in the game and win this in the fourth quarter, then I like our chances. We know what our best is and I think we are still discovering what our best is.”
These two teams have annually played thrillers. Last year, the Blazers won 31-28. In 2022, UWF prevailed in Valdosta 32-31. In 2019, the Argos avenged a 26-21 loss at No. 1 Valdosta State by beating the Blazers 38-35 in the second round of the NCAA D-2 playoffs, which helped propel UWF into the national championship game.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to play a really good team and have a lot on the table when we play ‘em,” Nobles said.
VSU holds the series edge at 5-3. The Blazers are No. 7 nationally in offensive yards per game (473.2), fourth in scoring per game (44.8), ninth in total points scored (403).
UWF leads the GSC in total defense (205.8 yds per-game) and rushing defense (70.3 yds per-game).
The Argos were in a dire situation after dropping two of their first three games – an overtime home loss to West Alabama and a blowout road loss at Grand Valley (Mich.) State.
But since the calendar switched to October, the Argos have not sweated the fourth quarter in any game.
“They have truly bought in to everything that we are trying to do, wanting to do,” Nobles said. “I sat on that plane on the way back from Grand Valley and just took note after note, writing down that, okay, we have to change this, we have to do this.
“Because we would be fools as coaches not to try everything. I am so proud of our guys. We talked the day after Grand Valley and said, ‘hey we’re going to change some things.’
“This is how things will be moving forward and you have to buy into this. If you guys buy into this, we think it can help us in the future.
“We haven’t done everything perfectly right since then as players or coaches, but we feel we’ve got a little bit of momentum and we feel we have to keep that rolling.”
Heading into the biggest game of his two-year, head coaching career, Nobles is confident in his players and blocking out any emotional flashbacks.
“What I draw upon is the 64 players in my locker room and the 10 coaches on my staff that have put in the work all week getting ready for it,” Nobles said.
“And knowing what we have gone through and pushed through. Once we get there, I will have my headphones in place, I’m going to be in game mode, because I’m ready to go to battle with my guys, the ones I have put the work in with.
“And I know they feel the same way.”
Photo: Jon Rose/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.