Escambia County Man Killed In Early Morning Motorcycle Crash
July 29, 2019
An Escambia County man was killed in a motorcycle crash early Monday morning.
The cyclist was identified as 33-year old Brandon Master of Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol took a a call reporting the accident about 1 a.m. on Davis Highway near Fairfield Drive and I-10, but they were unable to find a crash. Pensacola Police located the accident after receiving a second call, according to Pensacola Police Officer Mike Wood.
According to investigators, Master was northbound in the southbound lane when he either tried to correct or lost control and crashed.
Atmore Police Investigating Death As A Homicide
July 29, 2019
The Atmore Police Department is conducting a homicide investigation after an elderly man was found deceased with an apparent gunshot wound.
At 11:06 last Friday morning, Atmore Police responded to a report of a deceased person in the 400 block of Jack Springs Road. Officers arrived and found 84-year old Willie Ankum of Atmore deceased with what appeared to be a gunshot wound, according to Lt. John Stallworth.
Monday morning, police said the death will be processed as a homicide and the death investigation will remain open pending the results of forensics tests.
Anyone with information on the death is asked to call Atmore Police at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed As He Tried To Dash Across Pine Forest Road
July 29, 2019
A pedestrian was killed on Pine Forest Road just south of the Nine Mile Road intersection Monday morning.
The pedestrian dashed into the roadway and into the path of a southbound 2007 Dodge Ram driven by 51-year old Eric Jones of Cantonment, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said Jones was unable to avoid the collision.
The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 5:41 a.m. incident. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Jones was not injured. No charges were immediately filed.
File photo.
FHP Releases Details In Tragic Wreck That Claimed Two Lives, Injured Two Others On Highway 95A
July 29, 2019
A tragic crash early Monday morning claimed the lives of two people and seriously injured two others in Cottage Hill.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Dalchunique S. Lavender, age 20 of Cantonment, was northbound on Highway 95A at Coweta Road, just south of McKenzie Road, when her 2007 Ford Focus left the roadway and struck a utility pole about 1:20 a.m. The vehicle wrapped around the pole and came to rest between Highway 95A and adjacent railroad tracks.
Two of her passengers, 15-year old Samara Cooks and 18-year old Deleigha T. Gibson, both of Cantonment, were pronounced deceased on the scene. Lavender and passenger Alexandria R. Banks, 18, were critically injured and transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Lavender was the only occupant of the vehicle that was wearing a seat belt, FHP said. The wreck was not alcohol related.
The FHP said it is unknown at this time if any charges will be filed.
The Cantonment, Ensley and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded the crash.
Pictured: A tragic wreck claimed two lives and injured two others in Cottage Hill early Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
The Opioid Files: Data Shows Opioid Pain Pill Numbers For Escambia County
July 29, 2019
For the first time, a database maintained by the Drug Enforcement Administration that tracks the path of every single pain pill sold in the United States — by manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies in every town and city — has been made public.
The Washington Post sifted through nearly 380 million transactions from 2006 through 2012 that are detailed in the DEA’s database and analyzed shipments of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, which account for three-quarters of the total opioid pill shipments to pharmacies.
From 2006 to 2012 there were 108,324,348 prescription pain pills, enough for 51 pills per person per year, supplied to Escambia County.
The now-closed A&E Pharmacy in Pensacola received the highest number of pills. A & E recieved 5,259,640 pills.
Among North Escambia pharmacies, the Cantonment Pharmacy received 4,004,040 pills, the third highest total in the county, according to the Washington Post data from the DEA. Escambia County’s top 10 and the remainder of those in North Escambia appearing in the database are in the graphic below..
These records provide an unprecedented look at the surge of legal pain pills that fueled the prescription opioid epidemic, which resulted in nearly 100,000 deaths during the seven-year time frame ending in 2012.
The Post gained access to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System, known as ARCOS, as the result of a court order. The Post and HD Media, which publishes the Charleston Gazette-Mail in West Virginia, waged a year-long legal battle for access to the database, which the government and the drug industry had sought to keep secret.
All data courtesy The Washington Post, used with permission.
Florida Gas Prices Down 12 Cents In 11 Days
July 29, 2019
Florida gas prices dropped nine cents during the past week, combining for a total discount of 12 cents in the past 11 days.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.58 per gallon, while Escambia County had an average price of $2.57.
In Cantonment Sunday night, a gallon of regular unleaded was as low as $2.38 at Muscogee Road’s Quick Fill.
“Florida drivers are benefiting from low oil prices, which held pretty steady last week, thanks to ongoing market sentiment that global oil supply is stronger than demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The state average should continue trickling lower this week, as it makes a likely push below $2.55 per gallon before Friday.”
This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
July 29, 2019
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:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, July 28 through Saturday, Aug. 3:
- Nine Mile Road will be closed at U.S. 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 28 through Thursday, August 1 as crews drive piles for the new southbound bridge deck. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. 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.
- Nine Mile Road will be closed at U.S. 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 28 through Thursday, August 1 as crews drive piles for the new southbound bridge deck. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
o U.S. 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- · Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29 – Drivers will experience alternating lane closures at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road from 8 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 6 a.m. Monday, July 29 as crews reconstruct the intersection. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.
- · U.S. 98 from S.R. 298 (Lillian Highway) to West of S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway)- There will be intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday, July 28 to Thursday, Aug. 1 as crews finish paving structural course and sod installation.
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 28 through Sunday, Aug. 4:
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- Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000-feet 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. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday evening, Aug. 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) Thursday, Aug. 8. The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
- From 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of County Road (C.R.) 184 (Muscogee Road) to State Road (S.R.) 97 (Atmore Highway)- Post mounted delineators have been erected between the Thrift Store and Cross Roads Dollar General to prevent cut-through traffic from Molino Road. Workers are clearing trees and shrubs and excavating for roadway widening at the Molino Road intersection. Drivers may encounter intermittent lane restrictions as crews and heavy equipment enter and exit the roadway.
- S.R. 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Traffic on Fairfield Drive from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place remains shifted to the west as crews complete the installation of the box culvert under the roadway. The north entrance to Usher Circle is also temporarily closed to traffic during the drainage operation. Residents will utilize the south entrance of Usher Circle.
- Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29 – Drivers will experience alternating lane closures at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road from 8 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 6 a.m. Monday, July 29 as crews reconstruct the intersection to match the newly-constructed eastbound lanes. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.
- C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Traffic was recently shifted to the temporary acrow bridge. Activities associated with the bridge replacement project continue and are anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road continues to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 28 through Sunday, August 4:
- Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000-feet 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. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday evening, Aug. 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) Thursday, Aug. 8. The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
- From 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
- I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 28 through Thursday, Aug. 1:
o Alternating lane closures, Sunday through Thursday, on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews perform construction activities.
o Alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22), Sunday through Thursday, as crews work to place final striping and to finish work list items.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday until Tuesday, July 30 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- · S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road– All north and southbound travel lanes on S.R. 87, between C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and two miles south of the Yellow River are now open and the speed limit is now 65 mph. Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews complete construction activities and the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the active work zones.
Northview, Tate High Schools To Hold Orientation Events
July 29, 2019
Northview and Tate high schools have scheduled orientations and schedule pick up days.
Tate High
Tate High School’s Aggie Day will be held from 9-12 on Wednesday, July 31 in the new gym. The event is for incoming ninth grade and new students in grades 10, 11 and 12.
Ninth grade orientation and schedule pick up will be held Wednesday, August 7. Schedule pick up for grades 10-12 will be held at 1 p.m. on August 7.
Northview High
All incoming ninth grade and new students in grades 10, 11 and 12 should report to the theater before 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 1. Students will have a short introduction and welcome program.
Immediately afterwards, the students will be divided into groups for a brief tour of the Northview campus.
The entire process should take approximately 90 minutes, so parents are asked to be prompt in picking up their students at the breezeway after the conclusion of this activity.
Students with a signed chromebook contract will be issued a chromebook to take home on the first day of school. Students without a signed contract will not be issued a chromebook but will check one out daily from the media center before first period begins.
Free Summer Meals Continue This Week At The Century, Molino And Main Libraries
July 29, 2019
Free summer lunches are available at the libraries in Century, Molino and downtown Pensacola through Friday, August 2.
The meals are available through a partnership with West Florida Public Libraries and Feeding the Gulf coast through Friday, August 2 for children 18 and younger.
Meals are available as follows:
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd: Tuesday-Friday, lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
- Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A : Monday-Friday, lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
- Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.: Monday-Friday, lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
Each lunch includes a serving of milk, two or more servings of vegetables or fruits, a serving of a grain or bread and one serving of meat or meat alternative.
File photos.
Tate Soccer Holds Summer Camp (With Season Schedule)
July 29, 2019
Tate High School held their men’s soccer camp over the weekend in preparation for their upcoming season. The camp was for all returning Tate players and all aspiring players for the 2019-2020 varsity and junior varsity teams.
(all home games are played at Ashton Brosnaham Park)
