One Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Rear-End Collision
June 1, 2020
One person was injured in a rear-end type collision at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino Monday afternoon.
The crash happened 1:45 p.m. when the driver of passenger car rear-ended a Toyota 4Runner. One person was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Season Begins Today. Going To A Shelter Should Be A Last Resort Due To COVID-19.
June 1, 2020
Monday is the first day of hurricane season, and COVID-19 concerns are a bigpart of this year’s local planning.
Shelters will open in the event a named storm threatens Escambia County, but county officials say public shelters might not be the best first choice.
“This year with COVID-19, we really want to stress that residents have a plan rather than go to a shelter,” said Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore. “The county will provide shelters and will do everything possible to sanitize them, but we know that the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading increases when people are in close living conditions.”
“A shelter should be a last resort. We are asking residents to know their evacuation zone, and if they aren’t in an evacuation zone, it may be safer to stay at home and prepare accordingly. Better yet, please reach out to family and friends now to develop a plan to stay somewhere safe if you need to evacuate,” Gilmore said.
While June 1 marks the official start to the hurricane season, there have already been two named storms. And forecasters are calling for an above normal season.
Pictured: Hurricane Michael makes landfall in 2019.
Second Arrest Made In Robbery Of Jay Convenience Store
June 1, 2020
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the robbery of a convenience store in Jay last October.
Bradon Demarcus Brazile, 19, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail late last week on a charge of robbery without a firearm. A second suspect, 21-year old Demarcus Trey Brown (pictured right), was arrested for robbery without a firearm and obstructing justice on April 1.
The Exprezit Exxon Station in the 3800 block of Highway 4 was robbed the night of October 11. The clerk told the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office that two people completely covered by clothing entered the store. One of them jumped the counter and demanded that she empty the register as the second suspect walked around the counter. They emptied the money into a bag and ran out of the store, according to an arrest report.
Both remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Airlifted After Crashing On Dirt Road At Lake Stone
June 1, 2020
An adult male was seriously injured when his vehicle overturned at Lake Stone near Century Sunday afternoon..
The man lost control of a Ford Explorer on a dirt road adjacent to the lake and overturned into a tree about a quarter mile from the boat ramp. He was airlifted by Med Star Air Care helicopter to an area hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lowest Florida June 1 Gas Prices In 17 Years
June 1, 2020
June begins with the lowest gas prices in Florida since 2003.
The average price per gallon in the state was $1.90 per gallon, 70 cents less than one year ago.
In Escambia County, the average price was $1.80 per gallon Sunday night. In North Escambia, a low price of $1.67 could be found at a station in Cantonment.
“Pump prices remain stifled by lower-than-average fuel demand caused by Covid-19,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although gasoline demand has slowly recovered during recent weeks, it has not returned to a level that would cause pump prices to suddenly return to pre-pandemic levels.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Nine Mile, Pine Forest Traffic Light To Be Moved. It’s In The Wrong Spot By A Few Feet.
June 1, 2020
The previously existing traffic signal on the northwest corner of Pine Forest and Nine Mile Road may be long enough to reach across the future westbound lanes, but it’s in the wrong spot. The Florida Department of Transportation said it will be removed, and a new one installed a few feet away to accommodate the utility, drainage, pedestrian, and roadway upgrades taking place on this corner. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thousands Of Pounds Of Food Distributed In Century (With Photo Gallery)
May 31, 2020
About 30,000 pounds of food was distributed in Century on Saturday to families in need.
The free food giveaway was a partnership between the Town of Century, Northwest Florida Community Outreach and Farm Share. Hundreds of local resident received a variety of food that included meats, produce, milk and fresh produce.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Count Of Long-Term Care COVID-19 Deaths By Facility In Escambia County
May 31, 2020
Of the 33 COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County, 26 — just over three-quarters of them — have been in long-term care facilities according to data released by the Florida Department of Health.
There have been 12 residents that died from the virus at Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center, an increase of five deaths at the facility since a week ago. As of Saturday, there were 24 current cases at Bayside.
At Southern Oaks Care Center, seven residents have died as has one staff member. Four residents have died at Brookdale Pensacola assisted living center, and there has been one resident death each at Rosewood Health and Rehabilitation and Arcadia Health and Rehabilitation Center.
A total of 810 cases were reported in Escambia County as of Saturday night. It’s not possible to determine how many of those have been residents of long-term care facilities; the Florida Department of Health’s data reports only indicate the number of current COVID-19 by facility. It does not provide a cumulative total by facility.
Church Donating Property For Pine Barren Church Road Dirt Road Paving
May 31, 2020
The Pine Barren Baptist Church is donating property to allow for paving of the dirt portion of Pine Barren Church Road near Davisville.
The 0.16 acres at 5270 Pine Barren Church Road is being donated for right of way.
Pine Barren Church Road runs West Highway 4 to Highway 97. About 5,300 linear feet is dirt and part of Escambia County’s Dirt Road Program.
Base preparation and minor drainage work will be constructed by in-house crews and the paving and striping work will be contracted. The donation of real property from Pine Barren Baptist Church is needed to complete the project.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
May 31, 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, May 31:
o 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.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · Scenic Highway Striping Operations from Rothchild to Nine Mile Road- The eastbound and westbound outside lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, May 31 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 1 as crews replace striping and reflective pavement markings.
- · Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (State Road (S.R.) 297)- The far-right portion of the I-10 eastbound off-ramp that connects to Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) remains closed. Drivers can still access Nine Mile Road east and westbound using the other section of the ramp. The partial ramp closure is needed to reconstruct the ramp.
- · Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Construction Operations at the intersection of E. Avery Street- The southbound lane will be closed at the intersection of E. Avery Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 29 as crews unload equipment.
- · Perdido Key Drive (S.R. 292) Pedestrian Crosswalk Construction at Flora-Bama- Crews are performing signalization work during daytime hours. There are currently no lane closures or impacts to traffic.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of County Road (C.R.) 184 (Muscogee Road) to S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations. There will also be intermittent and alternating lane restriction from 8 pm. to 6 a.m. around the CSX RR crossing in Cantonment Sunday, May 31 through Thursday, June 4 as crews construct improvements to the railroad crossing.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Construction activities are underway. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers will experience the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, May 31.
- Nine Mile Road will be closed at the U.S. 29 overpass from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday, June 4 as crews paint a beam and rail of the newly constructed southbound bridge deck. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to U.S. 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road
- Throughout the week, drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
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, May 31:
o Intermittent east and westbound lane closures from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · Garcon Point Bridge (S.R. 281) Routine Bridge Maintenance over East Bay- Traffic will be reduced to one lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 5. Traffic flaggers will be on site to direct drivers through the work area
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to Market Road (C.R. 87A) in Jay – There will be temporary shoulder and lane closures throughout the project limits.
- · U.S. 90 Pavement Marking Operations between Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) and the Okaloosa County Line-Motorists can expect minor delays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday, Aug. 27 as slow-moving vehicles are used to perform pavement marking operations.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Paving operations are underway throughout the project limits. Drivers can expect nighttime lane restrictions.
- · S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter nighttime southbound lane closures as crews continue expansion joint work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.