Updated: Traffic Disruptions Planned At Airport Boulevard And Century Railroad Crossings
March 9, 2021
Drivers can expect lane restrictions at three area railroad crossings over the next two days for safety marking upgrades.
The Florida Department of Transportation said motorists may encounter minor traffic disruptions between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. at the crossing on Airport Boulevard on Tuesday and the crossing on East Highway 4 in Century. (FDOT said late Tuesday morning that planned work on a Nine Mile Road crossing east of Highway 29 has been postponed.)
The lane restrictions will be for the installation of Operation STRIDE (Statewide Traffic and Railroad Initiative using Dynamic Envelopes) projects in Escambia County pavement markings. The new dynamic markings are designed to warn motorists to stay out of the danger zone near railroad crossings.
Pictured: STRIDE markings at a railroad crossing. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Baseball Beats Northview; Tate Softball Tops Milton
March 9, 2021
Monday prep scores:
BASEBALL
Flomaton 10, Northview 8
SOFTBALL
Tate 10, Milton 9
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Offers After School Tutoring Program, With Snacks
March 9, 2021
Ransom Middle School will be providing snacks at an after school tutoring program.
Ransom Middle School started the program for traditional and remote students who need additional academic interventions. The program operates Mondays through Thursdays at 4:10 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will now start with a snack provided through the Afterschool Meals Program.
“This program is serving students who need to improve grades in any core subject. Our goal is to give students an opportunity to improve their grades so that they can earn credit for the course for the year. being able to add a healthy snack will help students focus on learning,” Ransom Assistant Principal Adrienne Green said.
Here Is Escambia County’s Vaccine Distribution Plan For The Week
March 9, 2021
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County has announced this week’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan in Escambia County. Vaccines allocated by the state are being distributed through county health departments, which are receiving an allocation based on their county’s percentage of Florida’s over-65 population.
FDOH-Escambia was notified they would be receiving an allocation of 2,500 doses of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine for the week of March 8 and is coordinating with community partners on distribution efforts.
FDOH-Escambia’s total allocation will be distributed as follows:
- Ascension Sacred Heart: 600 doses
- Baptist Health Care: 700 doses
- FDOH-Escambia: 1,000 doses
- West Florida Hospital: 200 doses
Some appointments will be scheduled using the statewide preregistration system. FDOH-Escambia and partner organizations are in the process of contacting individuals to schedule appointments.
In addition to the Moderna vaccine allotment, FDOH-Escambia was notified they would be receiving an allocation of the COVID-19 Johnson and Johnson vaccine. As distribution efforts are finalized for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, FDOH-Escambia will release more information.
Statewide Preregistration System for COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
FDOH-Escambia is using the statewide preregistration system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Escambia County residents should use the statewide preregistration system to sign up. Residents can call the toll-free line at, 866-201-1025 or preregister online at myvaccine.fl.gov. Registrants will be notified when appointments are available in their area. The State has established a help line at 833-959-0217 for those who need to make changes to their original preregistration.
Escambia County Sex Offender Gets 30 Years For New Child Sex Crimes
March 9, 2021
A 39-year old sex offender has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison for the abuse of multiple Escambia County children.
Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh sentenced Joseph Dewayne Philyaw to 30 years in state prison. He pleaded to four counts of sexual battery while in the position of familial or custodial authority and three counts of battery of a child while expelling certain fluids.
Once he is released from prison, Philyaw will be required to register as a sexual predator for the remainder of his life.
In August and September of 2018, the children disclosed to family members that Philyaw had abused them in the past. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Kid’s House launched an investigation that led to Philyaw’s arrest and subsequent conviction.
Philyaw was previously convicted of child sex crimes in 2002. He was also convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in 2005 in Bay County and 2013 in Escambia County.
Cement Truck Overturns On Highway 95A
March 8, 2021
An overturned cement truck left one man injured and left a mess along Highway 95A in Molino Monday morning.
The truck overturned, spilling part of its load, on Highway 95 near Cantering Hills Lane north of Meharg Road.
The driver of the truck was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered critical.
Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County Public Works worked to clean up the wet cement, and the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Dollar General Talks Plans For New Century Store, And What Will Happen To The Current Century Location
March 8, 2021
We’re learning more Dollar General’s plans for a new store in Century, as well as their plans for the current Century location that has been open for nearly 19 years in a 50-year old building.
The development review process is underway for the new Dollar General store in the 7000 block of North Century Boulevard, on the west side of the road between Highway 4A and West Hecker Road.
Dollar General said the company is reviewing the possibility of the new store in Century but is not yet a certainty.
“At this time, we are currently in due diligence phase for a new Dollar General in Century, Florida, that would be located off North Century Boulevard,” Angela Petkovic of Dollar General Corporate Relations told NorthEscambia.com. “This means we are reviewing the opportunity to add a new store in Escambia County, but we have not committed to doing so just yet. Based on our current timeline, we anticipate to have a final decision on this by spring 2021.”
If the new store is built, it will not replace the current Century Dollar General just over a mile and a half away on North Century Boulevard near the state line, the Food Giant and a Family Dollar, Petkovic said. The existing Century Dollar General opened in July 2002 in a building that was constructed in 1970.
The new Century Dollar General will employ about 6-10 people. It will not include the new “DG Fresh” concept that offers fresh produce and healthier grocery options.
“Should we move forward with this location, we do not currently have plans to include our produce set. DG Fresh refers to the company’s strategic, multi-phased shift to self-distribution of frozen and refrigerated products such as dairy, deli and frozen products,” Petkovic said.
According to plans for the proposed store, it will be 9,291 square feet on about 1.5 acres. It will have 31 total parking space, with entrances from North Century Boulevard and West Hecker Road. The developer has told the town that they will remove 17 trees from the property. They plan to replant those 17 trees at the site, along with five flowering trees and 15 shade trees in the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard, just northeast of the planned store.
Plans for store must pass the development review process and a building permit must be issued before construction can begin.
Because it will be located within the Century town limits, the proposed Dollar General on North Century Boulevard will not require a county zoning amendment like a 10,640 square foot store location under consideration in Walnut Hill.
Pictured top: The current Dollar General location in Century has been open for nearly 19 years in a building that’s 50 years old. Pictured below: The proposed location for a new Dollar General store in Century on North Century Boulevard at Highway 4A. NorthEscambia.com photo and graphic, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional Institution Officer Assaulted By Inmate
March 8, 2021
A correctional officer in Century was recently assaulted by an inmate.
Inmate Jaquan Lewis assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution by striking them with his shoulder, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Lewis, 29, is serving a 29 year sentence out of Broward County for first degree murder.
OK, So This Wreck Was Where? Here’s Your Sign, But Appearances Can Be Deceiving.
March 8, 2021
A minor single vehicle wreck early Saturday morning on Highway 97 — no, wait — Highway 21 wasn’t where it appeared to be.
A driver northbound on Highway 97 at the Florida/Alabama state line in Davisville lost control, crossed the centerline, and struck the south side of a sign that says “Florida State Line. Escambia County.” It seems pretty clear cut that it was in Florida.
But like the headline says, it appears appearances can be deceiving.
Both the Atmore Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol were called to the crash shortly before 1:30 a.m.
And in the end, officials determined the vehicle was in Alabama, even though the big sign over the car certainly seems to indicate it’s in Florida.
Turns about, according to Escambia County Florida Property Appraiser maps, the Florida state line sign is just a few feet north of the state line in Alabama. That’s presumably because the highway folks didn’t want to plant the sign in someone’s driveway that is at the actual state line.
At last report, the woman in the crash was not injured.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names Roehig, Santos-Alers As Students Of Month
March 8, 2021
Tate High School has named Nathan Roehig and Zahara Santos-Alers as Students of the Month. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.