North Highway 99 Was Just Paved. Now It’s Falling Apart. Why?
October 30, 2019
North Highway 99 was just repaved, and now it’s falling apart in several places. NorthEscambia.com reached out to find out why.
“We are actively investigating and trying to determine the source of the problem,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said, “so we can figure out how to solve it. I anticipate a redo.”
Work started in late May to resurface the county road from Highway 97 in Walnut Hill to the Alabama state line. The asphalt is now sinking, forming large ruts and cracking. It looks as if it is sliding away as it is pushed downward by passing traffic.
At least portions of the road will have to be milled and repaved. Just how much remains to be seen; it could be only failing sections or it could be much more of the 8.01 mile roadway.
“It’s going to get fixed, and it’s going to get fixed quickly when the source of the problem is found,” Barry said. “People will be held accountable. Those that are culpable will definitely be held accountable.”
Multiple core samples of the highway have been extracted and sent for analysis. “That’s going to tell a lot of the story about the source of the problem,” the commissioner said.
Low bidder on the project was Panhandle Grading & Paving at $2.4 million. NorthEscambia.com has learned that rather than hired an outside inspection firm, Escambia County was responsible for their own inspections and quality control as the project progressed as is often done on county projects.
Barry said he is ready to see repair work begin, even if that means starting before it is determined who is responsible for paying the associated costs.
“I promise the people that it will be fixed in a timely fashion. I will not force the public to wait and see who is fault; the rest we will work out,” he said.
North Highway 99 resurfacing was planned for 2024-25, but the Escambia County Commission fast tracked the advancement of $1,726,325 available in Local Option Sales Tax to last fiscal year and solicited bids.
The 8.01 mile roadway runs from Highway 97, past Highway 4 in Bratt and continues to the state line. It is a major north-south transportation corridor for the area. In addition to the school buses that serve Bratt Elementary on North Highway 99, buses travel the road twice-daily between Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Critically Injured In Three Vehicle Quintette Road Crash
October 30, 2019
A motorcyclist was critically injured in a three vehicle crash Tuesday evening.
The motorcyclist was transported by Escambia County EMS to a local hospital as a trauma alert after the 5:45 p.m. wreck on East Quintette Road near Highway 95A.
Additional information has not been made available by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
State: Century’s Public Notice Of A Tax Increase Violated State Law
October 30, 2019
Century’s public notice of a tax increase last month violated state law according to the Florida Department of Revenue, forcing the town to try again.
In September, the town council approved a millage rate of .9204, which is about 10% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8361.
The levy of property taxes in Florida is governed by the Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act that dictates numerous steps that must be strictly followed. Improper steps can result in all state revenue being withheld for the fiscal year.
After NorthEscambia.com became aware of several possible violations of the TRIM statutes, we reached out to Interim City Manager Buz Eddy with the concerns. Town staff contacted the Florida Department of Revenue which has determined the notice did in fact violate state law.
The town will redo a public hearing to consider the tax increase on Monday, November 4 at 6:31 p.m. — over a month after the new fiscal year and budget started on October 1.
Pictured: Century council members Ann Brooks (left) and Sandra McMurray-Jackson await the arrival of councilman Luis Gomez in order to conduct a budget hearing September 23. Gomez was running only about threes minutes late, and the council proceeded with three of five members at the table. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Trunk Or Treat At The Quintette Community Center
October 30, 2019
Rain may have forced Tuesday night’s Trunk or Treat indoors at the Quintette Community Center, but it did not stop kids from having a great time.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: Donuts With Mom At Molino Park Elementary
October 30, 2019
Molino Park Elementary School held Donuts With Mom Tuesday morning. It was a chance for students and their moms to enjoy a doughnut served by dads that stepped up so moms could take a break.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Improve To No. 2 In Region, No. 7 In State
October 30, 2019
The Northview Chiefs moved up a spot this week to to No. 2 in the region and are ranked No. 7 in the state in the latest 1A rankings released Tuesday by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
In Region 1-1A, the Chiefs are ranked behind Baker, ranked No. 1 in the state.
Region 1-1A rankings are as follows (listed as school, RPI, record):
- Baker 0.682 (9-0)
- Northview 0.619 (6-2)
- Vernon 0.607 (6-3)
- Freeport 0.576 (6-3)
- Graceville 0.545 (6-3)
- Jay 0.514 (4-5)
- Holmes County 0.475 (4-5)
- Cottondale 0.414 (2-7)
- Chipley 0.408 (1-8)
Teams are ranked based upon a RPI formula. RPI stands for Ratings Percentage Index. In short, it is a way to measure a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on the strength of their schedules.
Northview will face Jay this Friday night in Jay, while Baker will face No. 3 Blountstown in Panama City in a battle of the undefeateds.
Teams are ranked based upon a RPI formula. RPI stands for Ratings Percentage Index. In short, it is a way to measure a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on the strength of their schedules.
Pictured: The Baker Gators got past Northview in a close 14-12 game September 13 in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bense Inducted Into Florida Women’s Hall of Fame
October 30, 2019
University of West Florida President Emeritus Dr. Judith Bense is a new member of the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women inducted Bense during a ceremony on Oct. 28, 2019, in Orlando.
Gov. Ron DeSantis selected Bense and two others among recommendations presented by the commission. The Florida Women’s Hall of Fame honors up to three women each year who have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and all Florida citizens. Bense is the first inductee from Northwest Florida and joins an impressive list of women who have received the accolade since the recognition began in 1982.
“Being selected to enter the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame is an honor and a privilege,” Bense said. “I have been asked to join a very special group of incredibly accomplished women who exemplify the very highest of achievements in business, politics, civil rights, the military and athletics. As an archaeologist, I never thought I would be considered for the Hall of Fame, but I have been very lucky to have had the freedom to explore, discover and share Florida’s rich heritage with students and colleagues and the general public.”
This year’s ceremony included an evening of celebration with speeches from Florida state officials, and was attended by the family and friends of Dr. Bense and other inductees. Her new membership was celebrated with a commemorative video, and remarks about the legacy of accomplishments and the contributions she made to the lives of people across Florida.
As the University of West Florida’s first female president, Bense raised the University’s profile, oversaw the construction of modern academic and residence halls, increased enrollment and established the football program. She has committed her life to the historic preservation of Northwest Florida, establishing the Archaeology Institute, UWF Department of Anthropology and the state-wide Florida Public Archaeology Network. The author of five books and 17 chapters in books and professional journals, Bense has been awarded over 75 grants and contracts totaling more than $6 million.
Recently, she was named the 2019 recipient of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Evelyn Fortune Bartlett Award. The award is named in honor of Evelyn Fortune Bartlett, the patron of Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale, which was bequeathed to the public for historic preservation. The award honors individuals who exemplify the guardianship of Florida’s historic properties through philosophy and actions. She has also received the J. C. Harrington Medal, which is the highest honor of the Society for Historical Archaeology for lifetime achievement, and is among the few selected by the alumni of Florida State University in the “Grad Made Good” wall of honor.
“I have picked rather big goals and tend to think big and that inspires others,” Bense said. “Starting the Anthropology/Archaeology program at UWF from scratch and figuring out to build it into a large and respected national level program has been my greatest accomplishment, and I think I have inspired others to build other such programs. We were among the pioneers in public archaeology and there are now similar state-wide programs in the country, but being asked to serve as President of UWF was the ultimate honor of my career.”
Currently, Bense is President Emeritus and professor of anthropology and archaeology at UWF. She is in the process of writing the largest research book of her career, pulling together the results of discoveries by the team of UWF archaeologists and students in West Florida during the Early Spanish period between 1698-1763. Prior to their findings, insight into that period was minimal, but now, along with her team, Bense will synthesize the information for the academic and professional arenas.
This year’s inductees will join current members on the walls of the Florida Capitol.
Century Woman Dies After Interstate Rollover Crash
October 29, 2019
A Century woman died in a rollover crash Tuesday afternoon at the I-10 and I-110 interchange in Pensacola.
Katherine Susanne Lee, 35, was traveling east on an I-10 exit ramp to I-110 when she failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of her 1996 Chevrolet Caprice at 12:21 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The vehicle began to rotate, left the roadway and struck a traffic sign. The vehicle came to rest on its roof on the grassy shoulder.
Lee was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she died from her injuries at 1:19 p.m., troopers said. She was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Charter Committee Tackles City Manager, Spending Issues
October 29, 2019
The Century Charter Review Committee (CRC) held their first discussion meeting Monday evening.
Much of the discussion, led by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy, centered around what, if any, duties a city manager should have in the scope of Century government. Eddy suggested the city manager position should be made more permanent. Under the current charter, all of the affairs of the town are to be managed by the elected part time mayor, but he said that’s just not practical.
For regular office hours, “you need to have a city manager,” he said, adding the mayor and council would then have someone to work for them full time.
CRC member Evelyn Hammond, a former town mayor, said a city manager would bring a level of experience to town government.
“Sometimes I think the city council has too much power,” Hammond said. “This is a small town. Sometimes we get qualified people to fill these positions, sometimes we don’t.”
“This mayor’s position is not a part-time job,” Mayor Henry Hawkins said. “That’s why we want a city manager, because they can handle more.”
Eddy and Hawkins, who do not serve on the committee, also took aim at a $500 spending limit set for the mayor by the charter.
“That really just hamstrings the needs of the city,” Eddy said, adding that the exact dollar amount could be set by the council with the right charter wording.
“Our attorney has said down over the years that needs to be change,” Hawkins said. “That’s really handcuffing the town.”
The most important thing of all is when we have made the changes you follow them,” CRC member Mary Bourgeois said ” It’s following the charter, not doing things you own way.”
Any recommendations approved by the CRC would first go to the town council to approve placing on an upcoming ballot for voter approval. The charter is the master document that establishes the town and how it operates.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee member Evelyn Hammond, a former mayor, addresses the group Monday evening. Pictured inset above: Mary Bourgeois. Pictured below: Most of the meeting was conducted by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Jordan Chase Torrez Drops Battle On ‘The Voice’
October 29, 2019
Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez’s run on “The Voice” on NBC has come to an end.
Using the name “Jordan Chase” on air, he performed “Makin’ Me Look Good Again,” by Drake White and garnered chair turns from judges Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani during his first appearance.
In the last battle for Team Blake during Monday night’s show, Jordan and Rick Braddy sang “Rumor” by Lee Brice, with Braddy winning. Only a few seconds of the battle aired on television.
“I have to try to envision when we get into the lives who is going to handle this kind of situation the best,” Blake Shelton said. “I am going to go with somebody that has the experience and confidence. Ricky, you are the winner of the battle.”
Pictured above and below: Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez during a brief appearance on “The Voice” Monday Night. Images courtesy NBC.
