These Are This Week’s State Road Construction Slowdown Spots
August 9, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects 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 Sunday, Aug 9:
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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 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.
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 Sunday, Aug 9:
- 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.
- · U.S. 90 Pavement Marking Operations from Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) to the Okaloosa County Line-Motorists can expect minor delays Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, Aug. 27 as slow-moving vehicles are used to perform pavement marking operations.
Pictured: Construction along Nine Mile Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Community Mourns Loss Of Longtime Restaurant Owner ‘Ms. Fran’
August 9, 2020
Longtime restaurant owner Frances E. Hampton, 79, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her children on August 7 at her home in McDavid after a courageous battle with cancer.
“Ms. Fran” made her life owning and operating several restaurants, including including Cagle’s Restaurant, Panhandle, Fran’s Country Inn, Fran’s Diner, and Fran’s Country Grill. At the time of her retirement in 2015, Hampton was believed to be the longest running restaurant owner in Escambia County.
After retirement, she turned to other passions including raising racing thoroughbreds, tending to flower gardens on her farm and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite pastime was feeding the multitude of birds that called her property home.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 12 from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with the funeral service to follow at 3:30 p.m.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Santa Rosa Man Charged With Murder After Body Is Found In His Residence
August 8, 2020
A Santa Rosa County man is charged with murder after a dead body was found in his home.
Jerry Geisler Odum, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail Friday night without bond on a charge of first degree premeditated murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to 5646 Vendome Court in Milton for a welfare check. Soon after their arrival, deputies made contact with Odum and a body was found inside the residence. He was taken into custody after being questioned by SRSO Major Crimes detectives.
Further details have not been released as deputies work to make next of kin notification and continue their investigation.
Two Teen Pedestrians Hit By Pickup On Highway 95A; One Seriously Injured
August 8, 2020
Two teen pedestrians were injured when they were struck by a pickup truck on Highway 95A early Saturday morning.
A Ford F150 driven by a 20-year old Cantonment man was traveling south on Highway 95A approaching Gateway Lane at 1:16 a.m. Two teen boys, ages 14 and 15, were walking southbound on the shoulder of Highway 95A, according to the Florida Highway Patrol when they were struck.
The 15-year male was seriously injured, while the 14-year old suffered minor injuries. The driver of the pickup and his 18-year old female passenger from Cantonment were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation into exactly how the crash occurred.
The FHP no longer releases the names of individuals involved in traffic crashes.
File photo.
Century COVID-19 Cases Up 745% In Three Days To 596. This Is Why.
August 8, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Century zip code were up 745% in just three days this week.
On Wednesday, the number of cases was at 80. By Saturday, the Century zip code reported 596 confirmed positive cases.
The reason? An additional 406 inmates were diagnosed COVID-19 positive at Century Correctional Institution for a total of 506 positive. Without inmates, the number of cases in Century was 90.
There have also been 25 CCI staff members that have tested positive, but their cases are recorded in the zip code of their residence.
An additional 528 inmates at the Century prison are waiting for the results of their COVID-19 tests. The prison has 643 inmates in medical quarantine and two in medical isolation on Saturday.
Ascension Sacred Heart Expands COVID-19 Testing In Escambia, Santa Rosa
August 8, 2020
Ascension Sacred Heart is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 testing at its drive-thru sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to include all persons who want a nasal swab test, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
Previously, the mobile clinics operated by Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart limited testing only to people who reported having symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath.
The expanded scope of testing will apply to the drive-thru sites at:
Milton Community Center, 5629 Byrom St., which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community Life Church at Tiger Point, 4115 Soundside Drive in Gulf Breeze, which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Ascension Medical Group site off Bayou Boulevard, Pensacola, which is open Monday through Friday. That drive-thru operation began March 16 and has tested more than 24,000 people.
The drive-thru clinics at Tiger Point and Milton started this week thanks to federal funds that Santa Rosa County allocated for additional testing locations in the county. The sites are open to any Santa Rosa County residents, regardless of symptoms or insurance status. Community Health Northwest Florida will partner Sacred Heart in staffing the testing locations.
Each of the three sites in Pensacola and Santa Rosa can provide up to 300 nasal swab tests per day with lab results back within 48 hours. All individuals who want to be tested must call the Ascension Sacred Heart Screening Call Center at (850) 746-2684 in advance.
“As our community prepares to open schools and with residents trying to get back to work after an exposure to the virus or recovery from the virus, we saw the need to expand testing and get results quickly to individuals with and without symptoms,” said Justin Labrato, chief operating officer of Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. “The swab tests will be sent to our hospital laboratory which currently has the equipment and supplies to analyze a larger volume of tests and provide results within 48 hours. We’re pleased to be able to expand testing and help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our area.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 4 Resurfacing Project Officially Complete From Escambia River To Market Road
August 8, 2020
A $4.3 million Highway 4 resurfacing project is now officially complete, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The projects spanned from the Escambia River Bridge to Market Road (Highway 87A) about 3.5 miles east of Jay. The project included milling and resurfacing the roadway, pedestrian safety improvements, guardrail upgrades at the Escambia River bridge, expansion joint replacement on the West Coldwater Creek bridge, and the replacement of the waterline from east of State Street to Magnolia Street in Jay.
Atmore Chamber Makes Supply Donations To Area Schools
August 8, 2020
The Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce is making school supply donations to schools across the area, including Northview High School (pictured top) and Flomaton Elementary School (pictured below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Looking For Nissan Xterra That Struck And Killed Pedestrian
August 7, 2020
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for the driver that hit and killed a pedestrian on North W Street Thursday night.
The pedestrian walked into the path of the vehicle about 10:40 pm. near the Hardy Street intersection, according to the FHP. The front of the vehicle hit 66-year old man from Tuscon, Arizona, causing him to travel onto the hood of the vehicle before rolling off.
The vehicle fled the scene. It is described as a dark blue 2000-2001 Nissan Xterra with damage to the front headlight, hood and passenger side mirror.
Anyone with with information is asked to call Corporal E. Diaz or Trooper C. Knowles at *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
File photo.
Half Of Escambia County’s CARES Act Millions Will Go To Families, Businesses; Here’s The Full Breakdown.
August 7, 2020
The Escambia County Commission approved a roadmap to distribute $57 million in federal CARES Act funding, with half of the funds going to assist families and smaller businesses.
So far, the county has received about $14 million of an anticipated $57 million total that it must use by December 31.
One-fourth of money will go to help families and households with expenses, if they were employed on March 1 and had a loss or reduction in work hours due to COVID-19. Families with annual incomes less than $75,000 will receive $1,000 to $2,000.
One-fourth of the money will go to assist businesses with 0 to 50 employees with a loss of business income due to COVID-19, if they did not already receive over $10,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds. The grants will be up to $10,000.
The other half of the funds will be split between a rapid COVID-19 testing program, food assistance and relief, childcare, homelessness, public health and safety and general government. The City of Pensacola and the Town of Century will be able to request part of the government allocation, subject to commission approval. (The full breakdown is below.)
The programs will be implemented between August 10 and August 30 — that’s when application information will be released for the personal and business programs.
The commission also voted to hire consulting company Blue Sky Emergency Management for $24,560 to help them navigate the complicated CARES Act requirements to ensure the county receives the full amount available.
25% – Escambia County Resident, Family CARES Grant (Initial allocation: $3,580,331)
- Family expense needs
- Applicant must be Escambia County Resident
- Applicant must be employed on March 1, 2020
- Applicant must have had a loss of employment or reduction in work hours due to COVID-19 after March 1, 2020.
- Applicant Annual Income less than $75,000
- $1,000 to $2,000 per family/household
25% – Escambia County Business Assistance Grant (Initial allocation: $3,580,331)
- Business Relief Grants – 0 to 50 employees
- Business loss Income due to COVID-19 after 3/1/20
- Business did not receive more than $10K in PPP
- Grants up to $10,000
15% – Escambia County Rapid Testing Program (Initial allocation: $2,148,199)
- Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital
- Testing for non-symptomatic residents
- Testing for residents with no insurance
- 30,000 tests thru 12/30/2020
- Community Health – ID Now Rapid Test Kits
Escambia Serves – Food Assistance & Relief Program, Childcare, Workforce Development Grants and Homelessness (Initial: $1,432,132)
- Food Delivery through non-profit partners and churches
- First Responder Childcare to help offset childcare expenses until December 2020
- Support COVID Impacted Training Students through Escarosa March to December 2020
- Community and Rural Broadband Connectivity
- Homelessness
10%- Escambia County Public Health and Safety (Initial Allocation: $1,432,132)
- EMS Transport
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical supplies for public health and safety workers
- Disinfecting of public areas and facilities
- First Responder Personnel expenses
- Enhanced jail sanitizing, disinfecting and safety protocols
- Future COVID-19 mitigation: Incident Action Plan, reserve PPE, temporary medical facilities and hospital surge capacity
General Government – County, Municipalities & Constitutionals (Initial Allocation: $1,432,132)
- Public Messaging: Design, translation and promotion of COVID-19 messaging for diverse communities
- Facility Safety – preparing public buildings to serve customers, enhanced sanitizing, disinfecting and safety protocols
- Establishment of permanent telework programs Electronic/Digital Technology for Public Business including equipment
- Permanent safety improvements, reconfigurations, barriers, temperature scanners, hand sanitizing machines, modification to air handling system and environmental health
- Mandatory Risk Assessment of reimbursement
Replenishment Account (Initial Allocation: $716,066)
- To be utilized for future expenses