Work Continuing Tonight To Replace Metal Joint On Quintette Bridge
July 31, 2019
Work will continue a second night to repair an expansion joint on the Quintette Road Bridge over the Escambia River.
The bridge will experience traffic shifts from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday as crews make repairs to a damaged expansion joint on the bridge.
The traffic speed has been reduced to 5 mph on the bridge, and bridge traffic will be shifted to one lane during the repairs.
On Monday, an expansion — the piece of metal between concrete sections of the bridge – joint protruded up from the bridge into a travel lane and was struck by vehicles.
Maintenance of the bridge is Escambia County’s responsibility, according to Escambia County Public Works Director and Engineer Joy Jones. Ian Satter, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation, said Monday that the bridge remains structurally sound and the incident will not prompt a bridge inspection.
Repair efforts on the joint began Tuesday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century’s Splash Pad Now Back To Extended Summer Hours
July 2, 2019
Century’s splash pad is back in business with extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day.
Late last month, the town cut the splash pad hours due to programming error with a timer valve that allows the water to flow.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said it has now been reprogrammed. He noted that the mistake was made by a vendor, not town personnel.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged After Drug Raid
June 1, 2019
An Atmore man was arrested on multiple drug charges after state and local authorities executed a search warrant on Point Escambia Circle.
Gregory Nix was charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Agents with the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force and Atmore Police found numerous plastic containers of marijuana, THC candy and lip balm and pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes inside Nix’s apartment, according to police. Scales were also seized use to weight the marijuana.
The marijuana seized from Nix weighed over 2.2 pounds.
Billy Ray Campbell
April 24, 2019
Billy Ray Campbell of Molino, FL, passed away on April 23, 2019. at the age of 56. He was born in Pensacole, FL on August 30, 1962 to CR “Billy” and Faye Campbell.
After high school Billy Ray went to work for the family business where he worked until his passing. Billy Ray was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and working on the family property. His family was his most important asset to him.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Faye Campbell and his brothers, Cleve Campbell and John Mark Campbell.
Billy Ray is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kay Campbell; his daughters, Crystal Ramos and Ciara Campbell; grandson, Elijah Ramos; his father, CR (Billy) Campbell and his wife, Joyce; sister, Trudy Campbell; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Philip Dean officiating. Burial will follow in McCurdy Cemetery in Century. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. prior to services.
Susan Ann “SueAnn” Presley
April 21, 2019
Susan Ann “SueAnn” Presley, 57, of Cantonment, FL passed away on Friday, April 12, 2019.
SueAnn was born August 6, 1961 in Oakland, California. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church in Molino, FL where she assisted numerous committees. SueAnn loved her church family and enjoyed participating.
She was preceded in death by her son, Sean Johnson.
SueAnn is survived by her beloved husband, Gary Presley; her parents, Carl and Jimmie Smith; her two brothers, Jesse Smith, Scott Smith and his wife, Mary Ellen; her stepson, Lance Presley; her granddaughter, Shelby Lynn Presley; her mother-in-law, Hazel Presley; her sister-in-law, Lisa Free and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of SueAnn’s life will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at Highland Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 4:30 P.M. until service time at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donates to Highland Baptist Church ‘In memory of Sue Ann Presley’.
Powerball Jackpot At $625 Million, Fourth Largest In History
March 22, 2019
The jackpot for this Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is an estimated $625 million, the fourth largest in history. The winner can choose a cash payout option of $380.6 million.
Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and roll until there is a winner. Players win by matching the five white ball numbers (1-69) and the red Powerball (1-26). The jackpot has rolled 24 times since the December 29.
airline tickets
January 23, 2019
- American Airlines $501.40 October, paid 12/03
- Delta Air Lines $366.90 – October, paid 12/03
- Expedia $560.92 – October, paid 12/03
- Frontier Airlines $214.90 – October, paid 12/03
EMESGY, a consulting company in Torrance, CA, presented written proposals for potential cost saving energy upgrades from ADC Energy of California to the electrical systems at the Century Town Hall, the “Ag Building” community center on West Highway 4 and the former Helicopter Technology building in the Century Industrial Park. The industrial park building is currently unoccupied.
On October 29, Hawkins emailed the general Escambia County District 5 address inviting Barry to attend a presentation from Mark Endo of EMESGY. The presentation was set for the following afternoon.
On November 27, Hawkins forwarded a copy of the proposals to Barry. The proposals were emailed to Hawkins on November 9.
“I’m hoping to get your approval on using economic money to do these. If we can do either City Hall or the Community Center would be great,” Hawkins wrote.
Barry said he did not respond to either email.
The Proposals
“ADC Energy is patented technology that allows transmission of low-voltage DC to travel long distance using existing wiring. It is now possible for you to battery power your entire facility with ADC Energy,” the company states on its website.
The proposals were in three phases. In the first phase, lighting in each building would be upgraded to “24V Battery powered facility lighting”. The second phase would add solar panels, and third phase would be a solar-powered HVAC system.
The total cost of the equipment, design and installation totaled $197,642 for just the first phase, itemized as follows:
- Town Hall: $34,593
- Community Center: $43,368
- Industrial Park Building: $119,681
Endo proposed the project would be a “renewable energy showcase…to secure massive visibility in local, national, and international media viewed by domestic and international audiences” in an email to Hawkins.
The email also stated, “Century and EMESGY will invite Miami International University (MIU) who is the 4th largest R&D University in the US to work with Century to establish an offsite joint R&D initiative with MIU funding, new jobs, and technology development”.
According to their website, the Miami International University of Art & Design “is one of The Art Institutes, a system of schools throughout North America”, and MIU offers degrees in design, fashion and media arts.
Endo suggests in his email that notification be sent to governors, senators, local to international media, educational institutions to alert them of Century’s renewable energy initiatives and make Century a showcase.
Hawkins has not presented the proposals to the Century Town Council.
Molino Park Elementary Students Raise $1,303 To Help Hurricane Victims
November 13, 2018
Molino Park Elementary School’s enrichment class recently headed a fundraiser to support the Escambia County Schools District’s Operation: Helping Our Neighbors’ Schools. Molino Park students raised $1,303.31 to help students at schools impacted by Hurricane Michael. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Moody To Succeed Bondi As Florida Attorney General
November 7, 2018
Former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody will replace her friend, term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, as the state’s next top lawyer.
Moody on Tuesday defeated state Rep. Sean Shaw, a Tampa Democrat whose father was the first black chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, in the contest for attorney general.
She called the outcome “an honor” while standing Tuesday night with her family and Bondi before supporters at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel in Tampa.
“The preparation for this role really began a long time ago, beginning with my father, a judge who taught me that the strength and resilience of our society hinges on a fair judicial system,” the Republican said. “Not only a fair judicial system, but one that is perceived as fair. And I will work towards that end every day as the attorney general.”
Moody, 43, outspent Shaw $8.8 million to $4.1 million through their campaign accounts and affiliated political committees.
Despite the race garnering the most attention among the three Cabinet-level positions, voters got little chance to hear Moody and Shaw debate their differences. They held a single debate, which was only available to cable viewers in Tampa and Orlando.
Moody campaigned on a platform to build on Bondi’s work, which means expanding the state’s battle against the opioid epidemic and continuing a fight against the federal Affordable Care Act.
It remains to be seen how the Moody-led office will defend a state gun law enacted after the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.
Moody agrees with parts of the new law but has said she wouldn’t have backed it because of a provision that raised the minimum age to buy rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21. The National Rifle Association has filed a federal lawsuit challenging that provision, with Bondi’s office defending the law.
Shaw fully supported the law and said he wanted to work with the Legislature on further “common sense gun-reform.”
As she did in her Republican primary, Moody stressed her prosecutorial experience in the race.
She also has called for keeping crime labs updated with the latest technological advances and opposed Amendment 4 — which called for automatic restoration of voting rights for most felons who have served their sentences. Voters approved Amendment 4 on Tuesday night.
Shaw, 40, campaigned on a pledge to aggressively take on fraud in Florida, as well as policies of the Republican-led Legislature and even President Donald Trump.
A former state insurance consumer advocate, Shaw backed the Affordable Care Act, which is being challenged legally by Bondi and Republican leaders of other states. He also supports abortion rights and said he would push lawmakers to carry out constitutional amendments on land preservation and medical marijuana as voters intended.
Shaw told supporters Tuesday night “we came so close,” but he said Democrats will have to review how they engaged with voters, particularly about Trump.
“Something is weird, and we have to figure that out,” Shaw said. “The voters aren’t wrong. You’re wrong in talking to them, or we didn’t do a good enough job convincing. Democrats around Florida, we’re going to figure this out.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Republican Patronis Wins Full Term As Florida CFO
November 7, 2018
After being appointed as state chief financial officer last year by Gov. Rick Scott, Republican Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday won a four-year term in the Cabinet post.
Patronis, whose focus during the final weeks of the campaign was diverted to his hometown of Panama City after Hurricane Michael hit, defeated former state Sen. Jeremy Ring, a Broward County Democrat.
The contest was noted for acrimony between Patronis and Ring, who never met on stage to debate. Instead, the candidates drew more attention as they sniped over Ring’s resume at the internet company Yahoo!, Patronis’ crash of a state-issued car while driving to a meeting with a political consultant and Patronis’ ties to Scott.
Ring congratulated Patronis in a phone call late Tuesday, with Patronis noting that Ring “wished me well.”
Patronis, 46, is part of a family that operates the half-century-old Captain Anderson’s Restaurant in Panama City, where he held a campaign watch party on Tuesday.
Panama City sustained major damage in Hurricane Michael, which made landfall Oct. 10 in nearby Mexico Beach. Patronis was clearly shaken by the storm and its damage to such things as health-care facilities.
“The way the storm hit, we’re going to have approximately 10 hospitals that are going to have to be evacuated,” Patronis said the day after the hurricane. “Gulf Coast (Regional) Medical Center where my kids were born, Bay Medical Center where I was born, they’re empty, because they can’t support their mission.”.
Patronis outspent Ring $6.8 million to $1.6 million through their campaign accounts and affiliated political committees.
An early supporter of Scott’s first gubernatorial run in 2010, Patronis served eight years in the Florida House and was chairman of the House Economic Affairs Committee. Scott appointed Patronis to the Florida Public Service Commission before choosing him to succeed Jeff Atwater as CFO in 2017 after Atwater resigned to take a job at Florida Atlantic University.
In campaign ads, Patronis highlighted support during this year’s legislative session for a new workers’ compensation insurance law designed to assist first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Patronis said he’d like to work with lawmakers to bring down the state corporate income-tax rate as a response to a federal tax package approved in December.
Ring, 48, spent five years with Yahoo!, coming aboard in 1996 as the company’s first sales chief, four years after he graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in advertising.
Patronis’ political committee Treasure Florida accused Ring in an ad of falsely claiming to be a founder of Yahoo!, but the sources for the claim were three media reports in which the writers affixed the “founder” label.
Ring served in the state Senate from 2006 to 2016, where he focused on issues involving venture capital, insurance and pensions. Widely viewed as a moderate Democrat, he pushed to create the State Office of Technology and helped establish the Florida Growth Fund through a bill that encouraged the State Board of Administration to invest a portion of state retirement money in “high-growth” homegrown tech companies.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida