County Plans Ensley Gateway Beautification Project; Public Comment Being Accepted
September 6, 2020
A gateway beautification project is planned for the an open parcel north of the intersection of North Palafox Street and East Johnson Avenue in Ensley. It’s in the area that remained after the realignment of West Detroit Boulevard and East Johnson Avenue.
The proposed concept plan includes pedestrian walkways and seating walls that will provide a pleasant passive use park for neighborhood use and enjoyment. A plaza at the intersection is planned and it will provide access to the existing safe pedestrian crosswalks.
The site concept proposes landscaping with native trees and grasses along a bioswale/rain garden that will handle stormwater management in a low impact, natural, sustainable form.
A sidewalk along North Palafox Street is proposed to connect the site to space for an ECAT transit stop.
The public is invited to view the preliminary design concepts for the District 3 Ensley Gateway Beautification Project and provide their comments. The public comment period will open through Wednesday, September 30. Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:
- Mail: Atkins, 2114 Airport Blvd., Suite 1450, Pensacola, Florida 32504
- Phone: (850) 378-6961
Drivers Get A Break Through Monday. Then These Will Be The Trouble Spots.
September 6, 2020
Drivers will get a break from lane closures on state roads through midnight Monday due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. But then it’s back to normal at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday when drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Tuesday, Sept. 8:
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and pavement operations.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road (C.R.) 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road
(S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. - · Brent Lane (S.R. 296) Underground Utility Operations Near Davis Highway- Traffic will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9 as crews perform underground utility work.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Tuesday, Sept. 8:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
IMPACT 100 To Name Grant Finalists This Week. 11 Of Them Will Receive $106K Each
September 6, 2020
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropic organization, will announce finalists that will have a chance to share grants totalling $1,166,000.
During an event this Wednesday, 15 nonprofit organizations will be announced as finalists from IMPACT 100’s five focus areas — arts and culture; education; environment; recreation and preservation; family; and health and wellness.
With 1,166 members this year, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area will award $106,000 each to eleven nonprofit organizations in the community for a total impact of $1,166,000 for 2020 at its annual meeting on Sunday, October 11.
This is the 17th year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2004, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has awarded 109 grants totaling $11,664,000 to 78 nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Pictured: IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area’s 2019 grant presentation. File photo.
Man Charged With Murder After Body Found In Nokomis
September 5, 2020
An Atmore man is behind bars charged with murder after a body was found in Nokomis, Alabama.
De’Antae Deshay Knight is being held in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center with bond set at $1 million.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said authorities received a tip about a possible homicide in Nokomis. Investigators from the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and the Atmore Police Department responded Thursday. Interviews were conducted and search warrants were executed throughout the night.
After an extensive search of numerous wooded areas, the body of an unidentified adult was found hidden in a brushy area off James Road. Authorities are awaiting identification from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
The discovery was made by the ECSO with assistance from Atmore Police and K-9 units from KlaasKids .
Jackson said this is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741.
No Injuries In Overturned Vehicle Wreck In Century Or Barrineau Park Crash; Vehicle Hits Horse In Beulah
September 5, 2020
There were no injuries reported in a Friday night wreck in Century and another crash in Barrineau Park. And a driver escaped injury in an early Saturday morning crash with a horse in Beulah.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to an overturned vehicle on Hilltop Road near Red Lane, just west of North Century Boulevard, about 8:10 p.m. Friday. They found the vehicle on its side and were able to get the victim out through a door.
A vehicle crash was reported about 9:15 p.m. on Molio Road near Barrineau Park Road. There were no injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
And a truck hit a horse after 2 a.m. Saturday in the 9500 block of Bridlewood Road in Beulah near Nine Mile Road. The driver was not injured, but the horse did not survive.
The FHP is investigating the crashes.
File photo.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Warning Businesses About Credit Card Fraud Scheme
September 5, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning businesses about a recent trend involving counterfeit credit cards.
According to the ECSO:
The cards will be presented as a regular credit card, however when the magnetic strip is swiped the system will decline the card. Customers with these cards are then asking businesses to complete the transaction by manually entering the embossed numbers on the front of the card. When the business overrides the magnetic strip, they lose all protection from the original bank.
Friday Night Football Finals
September 5, 2020
Here are Friday night high school football scores from across Escambia County, Alabama:
- Flomaton 27, Maplesville 7
- Escambia Academy 49, Patrician Academy 24
- Mobile Christian 28, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
- T.R. Miller 35, Cottage Hill 13
- Vigor 20, W.S. Neal 12
Local high schools in Florida begin play on September 18.
Escambia Closes Applications For Rent, Mortgage Assistance A Week Earlier Than Planned
September 5, 2020
Applications closed Friday, a week earlier than planned, for the Escambia County CARES Act rent, mortgage and utility assistance program.
The program made $813,451 available on Tuesday to assist eligible applicants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with up to $3,000 for each family. In the first day, over 600 applications were received, and by Thursday that number was around 900.
The county decided to close the application period early because the funds are likely exhausted due to the overwhelming response. The maximum assistance for those that qualify will be $3,000 per household and will be paid directly to the landlord, mortgage or utility company.
About two hundred of those that applied will be immediately deemed ineligible because they indicated that they had not lost income due to the pandemic. All applicants will be notified by county staff regarding their eligibility in the coming days.
A larger county assistance program is forthcoming, but applications details have not been announced.
FDOT Virtual Update: Nine Mile Road Study From Pine Forest To Mobile Highway
September 4, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation has released a virtual update on a study about Nine Mile Road from Pine Forest Road to Mobile Highway.
The study considers alternatives for widening and improvements along the 5.8 mile stretch of Nine Mile Road. The projects addresses current and future capacity issues on Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road due to the expansion of Navy Federal Credit Union and other development projects.
The virtual project update, interactive map, virtual tour and a comment form are available by clicking or tapping here. The deadline to submit comments is October 15.
Pictured: A virtual rendering of Nine Mile Road at Heritage Oaks Boulevard (above) and Beulah Road (below). Courtesy FDOT for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Attorney General Recovers More Than $1 Million From COVID-19 Scams, Purchases
September 4, 2020
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced that her office has recovered more than $1 million in recoveries from COVID-19 related purchases, cancellations and scams.
Florida remains under a state of emergency due to the spread of the novel coronavirus and the state’s Price Gouging Hotline remains active for consumers to file complaints related to price increases on essential commodities needed to help prevent the spread of the virus.
In addition to securing more than $1 million for consumers since activating Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline, the Florida Attorney General’s Office:
- Received approximately 5,100 consumer contacts about the price of essential commodities;
- Made more than 9,500 referrals and contacts to merchants about allegations of price gouging, refunds and scams;
- Issued 92 subpoenas to further price gouging investigations; and
- Worked with online platforms to deactivate 250 posts offering items for outrageous prices.
Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation, up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period and additional penalties for violations of other applicable laws.
For a list of the commodities covered under the state’s price gouging laws during the COVID-19 state of emergency, click here.
Price gouging can be reported by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.
“While I am extraordinarily proud of our Rapid Response Team recovering more than $1 million for consumers, our efforts are far from over. We continue to pursue allegations of extreme price increases and other COVID-19 related scams and unfair business practices, and I remain committed to doing everything under the authority of this office to stop those trying to exploit this crisis by taking advantage of Floridians,” Moody said.