No Serious Injuries Reported In Highway 29, Highway 97 Traffic Crash
April 2, 2021
There were no serious injuries reported in a wreck Thursday night in Molino.
The crash occurred about 8:50 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97. The intersection was partially blocked for over two and a half-hours by the wreck.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Damaged Trophy Piece Removed; Pensacola Bay Bridge Still Set To Open Week Of May 31
April 2, 2021
The Florida Department of Transportation said Wednesday that contractors have completed demolition and pile driving efforts at a damaged pier on the Pensacola Bay Bridge and are preparing the site for placement of the new trophy piece.
That means the targeted reopening of the bridge with at least two lanes remains the week of Memorial Day.
Damage was discovered last week that led to the replacement of the trophy piece at “Pier 70″.
FDOT is also improving the detour route on State Road 281 in Santa Rosa County by extending the southbound right turn lane on State Road (S.R.) 281 at U.S. 98 and installing a temporary traffic signal on Garcon Point Road (County Road 191) by Monday, April 5.
Multiple crews are working around the clock to complete repair projects critical to the opening of the Pensacola Bay Bridge that will uphold FDOT’s commitment to provide the safe and efficient reconnection of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola communities and deliver a bridge with a 75-year design life, FDOT said.
FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Friday, April 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the ECAT temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Whataburger Thanks Employees With More Than $90 Million in Bonuses
April 2, 2021
Whataburger has awarded more than $90 million in bonuses to its employees in thanks for their extraordinary service during the pandemic and severe winter weather across its 10-state footprint. Whataburger employees also received Extra Mile bonuses, emergency pay, and a doubling of their 401(k) plan matching for 2020.
Whataburger employees — known as “Family Members” — continued to deliver despite challenging circumstances and helped set record company performance numbers from March 2020 to March 2021, according to the company.
“The past year reshaped how we live, work and play, with the restaurant and hospitality industry being heavily impacted by the pandemic and this year’s crippling winter storms. We are so humbled and grateful for the loyalty of our customers during this time,” said Ed Nelson, Whataburger CEO. “And we wanted to help ensure that our Family Members and their families were taken care of and thank them for continuing to go the extra mile to serve our guests with great Pride, Care and Love. Our Family Members and guests are the foundation of our success, and we are grateful for both.”
Pictured: Whataburger in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Takes Three Over Pace, Including Two Shutouts; Northview Varsity And JV Destroy Laurel Hill 18-2, 19-1
April 2, 2021
Tate 10, Pace 6
Drew Reaves had four RBIs on three hits and Jadon Fryman homered in the third as the Tate Aggies beat Pace 10-6 Thursday night,
Josiah Glodfelter started on the mound for Aggies, going four and a third innings, allowing six runs on four hits and striking out seven.
Reaves, Dylan Godwin and Fryman had multiple hits for the Aggies. Dalton Bowen, Franki Randall and Bray Touchstone had one hit each.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate 7, Pace 0 (JV)
Three Tate High School junior varsity pitchers earned a shutout win over Pace Thursday, 7-0.
Rilee Lowery earned the win for Tate, going four and two-thirds innings, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out three. Ethan McAnally and Colton Swiers closed out the game in relief.
Javin Floyd and Paul Whitson each had runs, and Allan Beasley and Jaxson Stafford both added a run.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate 4, Pace 0 (Freshmen)
Neal Croom did not allow a single run as the Tate Aggie Freshmen beat Pace 4-0 Thursday.
Croom went for six innings, allowing two hits, no runs and striking out eight.
Ketch King was 2-3 at the plate with one run. Cole McNair, Conner Hassell, Trey Rebber, Hayden St. Amant, and Damian Colen all had one hit for the Aggies..
Northview 18, Laurel Hill 2
The Northview Chiefs easily defeated the Laurel Hill Hobos Thursday night 18-2 in just four innings.
Kaden Odom took the win for the Chiefs, giving up two runs on one hit in three innings while striking out four. Josh Landis tossed one inning in relief, allowing one hit and no runs.
Jamarkus Jefferson homered for Northview in a seven-run fourth inning. He was 1-2 at the plate, with two runs and four RBIs. Wyatt Scruggs, Landis and Rustin Pope also had a couple of hits for Northview. Odom, Bryce Korinchak and Cody Thomas each had a hit.
Northview 19, Laurel Hill 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs had a blowout win over Laurel Hill Thursday, 19-1 in three innings.
Northview had eight runs in the first inning and nine in the second.
Cameron Patrick pitched the win for Northview, allowing no hits and one run in two innings while striking out three. Rylan Minor threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen with no hits, no runs and striking out three to close the win.
Robbie Bodiford was 4-4 with three RBIs to lead Northview. Cameron Patrick and Aron Chaveria had two hits each, and Cody Pugh had one.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Boys And Girls Tennis Defeat Milton; Fourth Win In A Row For Tate Girls
April 2, 2021
Tate Aggies varsity boys and girls defeated Milton 6-1 Thursday evening. For the Tate girls, it was the fourth consecutive victory. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Report: Nine Mile Road Construction May Have Been Completed Years Ago, But Crews Blame Barrels For Confusion
April 1, 2021
Information obtained by NorthEscambia.com today, Thursday, April 1, indicates that construction on Nine Mile Road may have actually been completed years ago, but construction workers became confused by all of those orange barrels.
“I know drivers can understand how confusing orange barrels can be everywhere, so we hope motorists will understand that the construction workers also got lost,” Steve Karrin, a construction foreman familiar with the situation, said. “As the barrels were shifted around, we may have paved the same area more than once. In some places, we took samples and realized that we have repaved the same spots near Pine Forest Road at least a dozen times.”
“The barrels are like Dollar Generals, they do just pop up at night wherever they can,” the foreman continued. “That is why you always see the construction guys just standing around looking like they are doing nothing. They are trying to figure out where they are.”
Reports show the situation was complicated by Hurricane Sally. Most of the barrels on Nine Mile Road were moved by the hurricane force winds. Crews worked to return the barrels to the proper location, but in many instances, put them in the wrong place, the report states.
The person who answered our call at F-DOT on Thursday confirmed that while Nine Mile Road is a state funded project, they would be unable to comment today due to the April Fool’s Day holiday.
Drivers have of course been long frustrated by the endless years of work on Nine Mile Road.
“I’ve been coming here for at least 10 years for the shrimp,” a customer at Gulf Coast Seafood at 2250 West Nine Mile Road said Thursday. “They actually have signs up telling you to make a U-turn in the Pine Forest Road intersection in order to get here. A U-turn in that intersection? You try that and barrels are everywhere when you turn back. I got in between some of them one time and just had to walk on over here. I just wanted some fish for Good Friday.”
Pictured: This area of Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road may have actually been paved multiple times. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Happy April Fool’s Day, 2021.
Remains Found In Blackwater State Forest Identified As Missing Teen
April 1, 2021
Human remains were found in the Blackwater River State Forest on Sunday have been identified as a missing 14-year old boy from Pace, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.. The death is being investigated as a homicide.
Cody Walker was reported missing on March 19 after last being seen on March 14.
On Sunday, an individual passing through the area located what appeared to be skeletal remains in a wooded area off Sandy Forest Road, south of the intersection of Highway 4 and Munson Highway.
“At this time, all indicators are leading Major Crimes Detectives to suspect this death was a homicide,” Sgt. Rich Aloy, SRSO public information officer, said. “The remains were taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy/”
“The exact cause of death remains under investigation,” he said.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1190. Anyone wishing to provide information while remaining anonymous can contact Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at SRCCS. COM or (850) 437-STOP.
Company Has Purchased, Is Cleaning Up Century’s Alger Sullivan Mill Property; County Freezes Code Violation Fines
April 1, 2021
The tornado ravaged Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century has a new owner that’s already started cleaning up, and Escambia County has suspended the tolling of code enforcement fines on the site.
The 38-acre abandoned industrial site was heavily damaged and, until recently, sat mostly untouched since EF-3 tornado winds of 150 mph five years ago.
The property was purchased March 1, 2021, by Creighton Sounds, LLC of Pensacola.
The principal owner of Creighton Sounds was involved in “Project Fusion” that in November 2020 canceled a pending contract with the Town of Century to purchase the former Helicopter Technology building and about 40 acres in the Century Industrial Park. The company had promised 80 new jobs and a $15.3 million capital investment during their first five years.
“I’m very proud to say that we’re the new owner of One Lumber Road (the Alger Sullivan Lumber property),” Creighton Sounds representative Kipp Anglin told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview. “We’re very excited that we’re in Century to help the fine folks of that town to bring jobs and to clean up an area that’s been devastated by a tornado since 2016 that ravished their neighborhood. It’s been nothing but an eyesore. We’re making progress and we look forward to making more.”
Anglin said he did not wish to disclose the business development plans for the site at the present time as they focus on the huge cleanup project ahead.
Anglin appeared before an Escambia County Special Magistrate Robert O. Beasley this week to ask the county to put code enforcement violation fines on hold.
Environmental enforcement costs and fines of $50 a day against the previous property owners have been accruing since 2016 and now stand at an estimated $85,000. Beasley ordered the fines on the property put on hold as of March 1, the date of the property purchase by Creighton Sounds. The previous owner, DMT Holdings LLC of Navarre, will still be responsible for the $85,000 and has placed the amount in a trust fund.
According to documents filed with Escambia County Code Enforcement, the company will try to salvage about 60,000 square feet of a building while demolishing five storm damaged structures totaling nearly 300,000 square feet. They are estimating the process to take 180 days.
“We came in two weeks ago and started cleaning up, and we’ve made quite a bit of headway,” Anglin told the magistrate. “In reality, most of the cleanup will be done within the next 90 days. Around the fence line, the property is already bush-hogged, most of the trash is already picked up.” He said several Century residents were hired to help with the process.
He said the biggest unknown in the cleanup process is how long it will take his contractor to remove all but the steel frame of the largest building on the property.
Beasley said that the general cleanup is Escambia County Code Enforcement’s top priority The magistrate said if there are any unforeseen delays for engineering, permitting or other reasons and the building deficiencies cannot be corrected with 180 days, he would be willing to work with the developers.
“I think we would all like to see a clean site with all the debris and garbage cleaned out and the red iron (building framework) standing. That would put you in the best situation for success here,” Beasley said.
Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill in 2017, but bids ranged from $800,000 to $3 million — far in excess of the county’s entire 2017 cleanup budget of $463,425. Property records show the value of the property was $802,189 before the tornado, but the most recent assessment shows what remains is worth $226,535.
Pictured top: The tornado damaged Alger Sullivan mill in Century looms over a Front Street neighborhood. Pictured inset: Kipp Anglin, representing the new owners of the Alger Sullivan property in Century, appeared this week before an Escambia County special magistrate. Pictured below: Portions of the property. Pictured bottom four photos: Damage to the property as seen in 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
April 1, 2021
Ransom Middle School named Kaytlin Robertson and David Jackson as February students of the month. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sacred Heart Closes Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing After Fewer Cases Result In Reduced Demand
April 1, 2021
Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart has closed its drive-through COVID-19 testing centers due to decreased demand for testing and lower rates of COVID-19 in the community.
Ascension Sacred Heart will continue to provide COVID-19 testing at its Urgent Care Centers in Pensacola and Pace, while shifting some of its mobile testing site staff to join Ascension Sacred Heart’s expanded COVID-19 vaccination centers in Pensacola and Milton.
“While the demand for testing has been dropping as cases of COVID-19 have decreased in our area, we have a greater need to dedicate more resources right now to our vaccination sites,” said Justin Labrato, chief operating officer of Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. “So we are closing our mobile testing operations at the Milton Community Center, Tiger Point Community Center and drive-through center off Bayou Boulevard in Pensacola. We will relocate our COVID testing services to our Urgent Care Centers in Pensacola and Pace.”
The Urgent Care Center on Highway 29 in Pensacola and the Urgent Care Center on Highway 90 in Pace are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (The Urgent Care Centers will reduce their hours on Easter Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Labrato said Ascension Sacred Heart will be ready to ramp up drive-through testing again if there is another large spike of the coronavirus in the community. The healthcare system was one of the first in Florida to open a drive-through testing center when the first cases of COVID-19 arrived in the area in March 2020. Since then, Ascension Sacred Heart has conducted nasal swab tests on more than 75,500 people, with more than 12,000 of those confirmed to have the virus.
At the peak of the COVID-19 surge in Pensacola in December and January, Ascension Sacred Heart’s three drive-through centers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were testing 400-500 people each day. In the past two weeks, that number has dropped to about 100 per day.
“With the expansion of vaccinations to anyone in Florida over the age of 18 starting on April 5, we felt we had to focus our staffing resources where they are needed most — and that is our vaccination centers,” Labrato said.
In Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart will hold vaccination clinics for Florida residents 18 and older at Olive Baptist Church on April 5, April 8, April 10, April 16, April 17, and April 19.