FDOT Still Targeting March To Reopen The Pensacola Bay Bridge. Here’s The Latest Update.
December 26, 2020
As the year comes to a close, the vendors under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continue to focus on removing debris and driving piles for the reconstruction of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. While these efforts will continue over the next several weeks, most of the debris removal is near the bottom of the bay.
Concurrently, multiple teams are working around the clock to ensure pile driving efforts remain on schedule. Crews are moving the pile driving template ahead and working on pier removal at night to keep ahead of the daytime pile driving crews. An additional pile driving hammer is onsite to increase the ability to drive piles in less time. Beams are also being set at several spans on the Pensacola Bay Bridge and deck work has begun to reconstruct the roadway.
The current numbers on the demolition and repair activities to date include:
- Seven fully damaged spans removed.
- Eight partial damaged spans removed.
- 16 damaged pedestrian path beams removed.
- 61 damaged I-beams removed with eight replaced.
- Four damaged trophy pieces removed.
- 11 replacement piles driven.
In addition to these efforts, FDOT has directed Skanska to review all mooring and/or securing methods to assure the safety and protection of the public and their property in the Pensacola Bay area after a construction barge owned Skanska broke loose this past weekend and became stuck against private docks near the Pensacola Bay Bridge. FDOT is also monitoring Skanska’s investigation with state and local authorities to determine if the line connecting the barge to the sea floor had been severed.
Work to widen 2,000 feet of northbound and southbound S.R. 281 south of the I-10 interchange and the eastbound I-10 off ramp at S.R. 281 to two lanes to improve travel time on the detour route is nearing completion. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
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 have been suspended through Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge has a targeted re-opening date of March 2021. Once repairs are complete, all four lanes will be open with no load restrictions. As each repair method is developed, FDOT will be conducting reviews to ensure the contractor is hitting all milestones in the established schedule.
$3K Reward Offered For ‘Armed And Dangerous’ Man Wanted In Santa Rosa County
December 26, 2020
A $3,000 reward is being offered for a wanted man the Santa Rosa County Sherriff’s Office says should be considered armed and dangerous.
Arthur Lee Cheever, 28, has outstanding warrants for:
- grand theft up to $10,000
- reckless driving with damage to person and property
- fleeing/eluding law enforcement
- driving while license suspended – subsequent offense
- vop: obstruct criminal investigation (3 counts)
- possession of controlled substance (3 counts)
- possession of marijuana over 20 grams (3 counts)
- petit theft (3rd conviction) (3 counts)
- use of anti-shoplifting device (3 counts)
Cheever is a white male about 5’10” tall and 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
The SRSO said if you know his whereabouts, don’t approach him. Instead, call Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP (7867) or your law enforcement agency.
First Responders Put On Christmas Light Show For Children’s Hospital Patients
December 25, 2020
“This evening we gathered our friends and family to make sure the kids at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart had a Merry and Bright Christmas. May you each welcome the morning with joy. Merry Christmas Pensacola.” – Pensacola Police Department
The Pensacola Police Department, Pensacola Fire Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and others put on a Christmas light show Christmas eve night at Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
Photos courtesy Pensacola Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shop With A Cop Makes Christmas A Little Brighter For Local Kids
December 25, 2020
Christmas was a little brighter this year for 38 children across Escambia County, thanks to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Shop with a Cop.
Shop with a Cop looked a little different in 2020. Ordinarily, the children go shopping with the deputies. This year, each child submitted a wish list, and a deputy shopped for them. Their gifts were wrapped and placed in a winter wonderland. The children rode with their deputies to the ECSO where they met Rudolph, the Grinch, the Escambia County Mounted Posse and received their gifts.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Missing Escambia County 4-Year Old Found Safe Near Dallas On Christmas Eve
December 25, 2020
A young young Escambia County boy that was left alone at a bus station in Houston, Texas, has been found safe.
On Thursday, a relative of 4-year old Marceliano Pinkney contacted the Bay County (FL) Sheriff’s Office in Florida to report the child’s mother left Marceliano alone at the Greyhound bus station in Houston on December 15. The boy’s mother then departed to Florida, according to Houston Police.
Florida authorities interviewed the mother and contacted the Houston Police Missing Persons Unit Thursday morning. Through early investigation, it is believed Marceliano boarded a bus with an adult male on December 15.
Marceliano was located unharmed Christmas Eve at his foster parents’ residence in Wylie, TX, near Dallas. The foster parents told Wylie police officers that Marceliano has been at the home since December 18.
Houston Police investigators will continue to work with agencies in Bay County, Florida, and Wylie, Texas, to determine whether any charges will be filed in the case.
Santa Recently Visited Century’s Camp Fire Kids With Help From ECFR’s Engine 519
December 25, 2020
Early this month, Santa Claus had a little help from the crew of Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 519 in Century as he paid a visit to the children at the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click toe enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office And Rudolph Stop The Grinch From Stealing Christmas
December 25, 2020
There were no worries about The Grinch this Christmas in Escambia County, thanks to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Rudolph.
The Grinch was found in the ECOS parking lot, dressed as Santa Claus. Rudolph spotted The Grinch, and immediately called for help.
The Grinch is being held in the Escambia County Jail until December 26.
“We hope he thinks through his actions, and his heart will grow three sizes. Thank you for the multiple leads we received during this search. Merry Christmas,” the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navy Federal Employees Surprise USO Northwest Florida With Recovery Donation
December 25, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union surprised USO Northwest Florida with an over $8,000 donation to support Hurricane Sally recovery efforts. The funds were raised by Navy Federal employees through a printer reduction program, and will especially help in rebuilding the USO location at NAS Pensacola which suffered severe damage from the storm.
Some 85% of Navy Federal’s team in Pensacola has been working from home since early March at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to do so today. The credit union’s Administrative Services team saw an opportunity, one that would cut back on desktop printers not being used and give back to the local military community.
“We’re always looking for ways to do what’s right by our members, our community and our employees,” said Keith Hoskins, senior vice president of Greater Pensacola for Navy Federal Credit Union. “This project did just that. In an effort to reduce the amount of desktop printers not being used on campus, we launched a project where employees were given the opportunity to purchase a printer at a discounted cost.”
In a matter of four weeks, all printers were sold and the project raised over $8,000 for USO Northwest Florida.
“We’re thrilled with the results of this project but even more so honored to be able to help USO Northwest Florida continue its mission to serve the military and their families,” said Hoskins. “The comfort they bring to our service members, whether it be serving meals over the holidays or welcoming new families as they make NAS Pensacola home, is truly unmatched.”
USO Northwest Florida serves 400,000 military service members per year through support and programs such as creating care packages for deployed loved ones, virtual family reading programs, networking groups for spouses, home cooked meals around the holidays and more.
“USO Northwest Florida is honored to serve those who serve this country day in and day out,” said Dana Cervantes, Executive Director of USO Northwest Florida. “We would not be able to do what we do without the support from our amazing community partners and dedicated volunteers. We are truly grateful for this wonderful donation from our friends at Navy Federal Credit Union and applaud them for their continuous support of our service members.”
Cantonment Woman Robbed At Gunpoint By Her Daughter And Daughter’s Boyfriend
December 24, 2020
A Cantonment woman found bleeding in a Cantonment street was robbed by her daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Autumn Lee Beede, 40, and Lloyd Christopher Lister, 50, were charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, false imprisonment, larceny of a credit card, petit theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 400 block of Forrest Street where they found an extremely upset female in the street bleeding from her wrists where she had been zip-tied.
The woman told deputies that she had been inside her residence with her daughter Beede when she stepped out to smoke. A few minutes later, Beede came back into the residence followed by a white male holding a handgun while wearing a hoodie, gloves and mask on his face, according to arrest report.
The victim said the male suspect put the gun to her head, covered her face, zip-tied her wrists together and tied her feet with an extension cord. She was placed in a bathroom, and the door was tied shut with an extension cord.
According to the ECSO, the victim stated the male said, “Don’t turn around or I will shoot you and ma’am, I don’t want to do that.”
The woman said she was in the bathroom for about 30 minutes before she could escape. She said that she believed the male suspect to be Lister, based upon his voice.
She discovered her 2019 Kia Sorento was missing, along with her phone and a wallet containing a debit card, cash and checkbook. She called her credit union and discovered there were already unsuccessful attempts to use the debit card at an ATM inside a Tom Thumb on East Nine Mile Road, and the card had been used for a $139.07 purchase at Winn Dixie on Nine Mile Road. In a follow-up investigation, deputies obtained video surveillance of Beede and Lister using the victim’s debit card at both locations.
The ECSO said the victim made positive identification of both suspects from the videos.
Beede remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $114,000, while Lister’s bond was set at $92,000.
Escambia County ‘Playing Offense’ As Local First Responders Get COVID-19 Vaccinations
December 24, 2020
First responders in Escambia County are finally “playing offense” in the fight against COVID-19 after the county received its first Moderna vaccine shipment.
Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore was the first employee to receive the Moderna vaccine Wednesday morning.
“This is the first time that we can go on the offensive. We’ve been playing defense since March, and now we have a tool in our toolbox to go on the offensive, which is a great feeling,” Gilmore said. Personally, getting vaccinated gives me a little more confidence. I will be a little more at ease going into places, and I think most of the first responders here today feel that way, and that’s why they are here.”
Escambia County EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and City of Pensacola firefighters who volunteered were also vaccinated Wednesday against COVID-19. The county will continue to offer the vaccine to first responders over the next couple of weeks.
“There is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine so when it does roll out to the community, I encourage everyone to do their research and do not get your information solely from social media. Go to CDC or the state of Florida websites or call your health department or local provider to determine if this right for you,” he added.
Long-term care residents in Escambia County are also being vaccinated by workers from CVS and Walgreens. Local hospitals received their vaccines for frontline healthcare workers earlier this week.
Pictured: Interim Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore (top) receives the first vaccine for Escambia County first responders Wednesday from paramedic Crystal Dirks. Pictured first below: ECFR Captain Craig Ammons vaccinates Battalion Chief Norm Robinson Second below: Escambia EMS supervisor Joey Kirman receives his vaccine dose from paramedic Ginger Given. Third below: Pensacola Fire Chief Ginny Cranor is vaccinated by Kirman. Pictured bottom: The first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Escambia County first responders. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
