Rolling Roadblocks This Weekend On I-10, Highway 29 For Plant Crist Natural Gas Conversion Prep
December 10, 2020
Rolling roadblocks are planned for Saturday and Sunday on I-10 and Highway 29 as Gulf Power readies for the conversion of Plant Crist to natural gas by pulling transmission wire across I-10 both days.
Gulf Power will be pulling transmission wire across I-10 both days.
The operation will occur on I-10 between the I-110 interchange and the Pine Forest Road exit. Local law enforcement will be leading the rolling road blocks, which will be conducted on I-10, I-110 and Highway 29.
Gulf Power received permission to conduct the wire pull project from the Florida Department of Transportation. The rolling roadblocks will start around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 and will occur several times until noon or early afternoon. More are scheduled early Sunday morning. Between each operation, traffic will be allowed to resume normal flow.
“Completing this transmission line wire pull is another step in the process of providing cleaner energy and greater reliability to our customers as we work to modernize Plant Crist. We are performing this work on a weekend to avoid as much disruption to vehicle flow as possible,” said Mike Spoor, vice president of power delivery for Gulf Power. “We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate travelers’ patience.”
The new transmission wire conductor is required to handle the increased capacity that is part of the Plant Crist modernization project; once complete, the increased capacity will deliver greater reliability to all customers. Gulf Power is converting Plant Crist to run 100% on natural gas.
The project previously included the installation of a natural gas pipeline from near Century through Molino and Cantonment to Plant Crist.
ECAT Requiring Masks Later This Month, Charging Regular Fares In January
December 10, 2020
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) will require face masks later this month and will return to charging regular fares in January.
Regular fares have been suspended since March 23 but will be reinstated on Monday, January 25.
Free face masks have been provided to ECAT riders since June 1 and will continue to be available. Face masks will be required on ECAT busses beginning Monday, December 21. If a passenger meets one of the Florida Department of Health requirements that prevents mask wearing, the passenger can notify the bus operator. Social distancing will still be encouraged on all ECAT vehicles.
Cantonment Man Charged With Fraud For Using Terminal Ill Mother’s Credit Cards
December 10, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing felony charges for allegedly using credit cards that belong to his ailing mother.
Jaylen Jerome Huff, 26, was charged with two counts of felony fraudulent use of a credit card and one county of petit theft.
A relative with power of attorney for the victim reviewed her bank statements and found numerous fraudulent transactions from October 2019 through March 2020.
Huff, who is the victim’s eldest son, was in possession of her purse and credit cards, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. He told deputies that he was using the credit cards to support his six brothers. Deputies found that he had used the credit cards to make payment on a personal storage unit and a car payment, the report states.
The victim, according to the ECSO, is in a long term care facility with a terminal medical condition.
Huff was released on a $5,500 bond.
Wonder Woman Library Cards Available At West Florida Libraries
December 10, 2020
Wonder Woman library cards are available at West Florida Public Libraries.
Patrons can receive one free replacement library card per year. After the first replacement, cards are issued for $1 with proper identification. Library patrons are responsible for any items checked out prior to a card being reported as lost or stolen.
Ivey Extends Alabama’s Mask Mandate Into Next Year
December 10, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has once again extended her Safer at Home Order, including a mask mandate., into next year.
Ivey announced Wednesday that the order has been extended through Friday, January 22 at 5 p.m.
Individuals are still required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public or are interacting within six feet with people from a different household. Masks are also required in schools and colleges for second grade and above.
“Y’all, none of this has been easy. As I have done previously, I cannot thank the people of Alabama enough for the sacrifices you are making—sacrifices for yourself and for others,” Ivey said. “I ask everyone – as we strive to get back to normal & as the vaccine begins to be rolled out to the most vulnerable populations – that we don’t just flip the switch and mentally ‘move on’ from taking precautions. Please continue to be considerate.”
The governor also said she has no plans for a lockdown.
Man Shot In Cantonment Wednesday Afternoon
December 9, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that happened Wednesday afternoon in Cantonment.
An adult male was shot in the foot in the 200 block of Sheppard Street shortly after 4 p.m. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The victim is being uncooperative with deputies and not providing details about the shooting, according to ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Fire Destroys Storage Shed In Molino
December 9, 2020
Fire destroyed a storage shed in Molino midday Wednesday.
The fire was reported shortly before noon on Highway 97 at a home next door to Escambia County Farm Bureau. The shed was a complete loss.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire. There were no injuries reported.
Pictured: A shed burns on South Highway 97 in Molino midday Wednesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Air Force Captain From Cantonment Charged With Sexual Battery Of Child
December 9, 2020
An Air Force captain from Cantonment is behind bars this afternoon charged with the sexual assault of a child.
Zachary Stephen Green, 31, is charged with capital sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age and two felony counts of child abuse. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Green admitted to a Department of Children and Families investigator that he committed child abuse by squeezing, pinching and biting two children, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. He also admitted to the sexual battery of one of the children, the report continues.
The report states Green also admitted an addiction to transgender pornography, but not child pornography.
Most of Green’s other statements to law enforcement were redacted from the arrest report.
Green’s occupation was listed as captain in the United States Air Force on the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Invited To Become Miami Marlins Double-A Affiliate
December 9, 2020
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos received a formal invitation from Major League Baseball to become the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins on Wednesday morning.
“We are very excited to be invited to partner with the Miami Marlins,” Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer said. “The Marlins franchise, fresh off a trip to the playoffs in 2020, boasts one of the top five Minor League farm systems in baseball. We look forward to completing the process to officially become an affiliate of the Marlins and to put an extremely talented, winning team in front of our fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Off the field, the Marlins share our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and bettering the community, and we look forward to being great partners to them both at the ballpark and away from it.”
When the license applications processes are completed, the Marlins will have their two highest-level affiliates located within the state of Florida, with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp making the jump from Double-A to Triple-A.
“We are excited to invite Pensacola to be the Miami Marlins’ Double-A affiliate,” Gary Denbo, the Vice President of Player Development for the Marlins said. “Pensacola is widely recognized as one of the top franchises in minor league baseball and we are pleased that our outstanding young players and Player Development staff will have the opportunity to continue their ascension to the Major Leagues in front of the great fans at beautiful Blue Wahoos Stadium.”
The invitation to join the Marlins farm system continues an exciting fall for the Blue Wahoos franchise. The team was recently awarded Baseball America’s Bob Freitas Award, given to the organization of the year at each level of the Minor Leagues, completing an impressive and historic triple crown of major awards for the team in 2020. Earlier in the year, the team was the recipient of the Ballpark Digest Best Double-A Ballpark award and Minor League Baseball’s Best Overall Golden Bobblehead, making the Blue Wahoos the first team in history to receive each of the three most prestigious awards available to Minor League teams in a single year.
The Marlins will become the third affiliate for the Blue Wahoos franchise. The team was previously a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization (2012-2018) and the Minnesota Twins (2019-2020).
“Our entire organization would like to pass along our gratitude to the Minnesota Twins for their partnership with the Blue Wahoos over the past two years,” Studer said. “On the field, they provided a playoff-caliber team for us. Off the field, they were excellent business and community partners, recently making a generous donation to hurricane relief efforts in our city. We wish the Twins nothing but the best.”
In a subsequent announcement, the Beloit Snappers were invited to become the Advanced-A affiliate of the Marlins. The Snappers, located in Wisconsin, are also managed by the Studers.
Molino Utilities Phone Lines Are Down
December 9, 2020
The phone lines at Molino Utilities are down, and the utility said Wednesday morning that it may be up to 48 hours before service is restored. Customers are asked to first call the regular number at (850) 587-5538. If that does not work, customers should call (850) 530-6707.