No Beach Tolls Of Any Kind During Blue Angels Weekend
July 10, 2019
Beach goers will not be asked to pay the $1 Bob Sikes toll to Pensacola Beach for the Blue Angels airshow. On Tuesday morning, the Visit Pensacola board of directors unanimously agreed to waive the toll fee after District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender approached them with the idea as a way to reduce traffic during one of the busiest weekends on Pensacola Beach. From 12 a.m. Thursday, July 11 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 14, all lanes will be open for all drivers, with no need to stop at the toll booth. SunPass holders will also not be charged during this period for Bob Sikes Bridge usage.
Bender sponsored the $1 toll last weekend to reduce heavy traffic during the busy Fourth of July weekend. The waived fee resulted in a dramatic reduction in travel time, with the average travel time as low as 10 minutes from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach.
“We want to give a big thank you to Visit Pensacola for waiving the toll fee this weekend and allowing residents and visitors alike the chance to spend less time in traffic and more time enjoying the Blue Angels Airshow weekend,” Bender said.” We’ve seen a significant decrease in travel times during the last couple of weeks when we’ve eliminated cash pay options and are working toward a long-term solution.”
Above and below: A live look at Pensacola Beach traffic at the toll plaza.
Online Fundraiser Underway For Senior Chill Out
July 10, 2019
For the third year in a row, Council on Aging of West Florida has partnered with Home Instead Senior Care to accept monetary donations as part of the annual Senior Chill Out drive, which provides air conditioners and fans to elder adults. Every year, the agency relies heavily on the generous support of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to provide programs and services that empower seniors to remain independent and to age with dignity. The online fundraiser, called GIVE65, continues through Thursday, July 11 at give65.org/seniorchill.
During the summer, temperatures inside a home without reliable air conditioning can be dangerously high. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to excessive heat because of their body’s decreased ability to regulate changes in temperature. When that happens, senior adults can become dizzy, experience decreased appetite, and suffer a whole host of other complications associated with existing medical conditions and prescription medicines that can further exacerbate these challenges.
During the GIVE65 Event, Council on Aging is raising funds for air conditioners and fans with the hopes of receiving up to $5,000 in matching funds from the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation. Donations of $10 or greater are accepted online at give65.org/seniorchill.
“The need for relief from the heat is so great every year,” said John Clark, president and CEO of Council on Aging.
The 65-hour GIVE65 Event concludes at midnight on July 11.
Alabama Prisons Announce New Compensation Packages
July 10, 2019
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has announced a new salary and bonus schedule.
ADCO correctional officers will receive a two-step, 5% pay raise and expand the incentive program to include bonuses for additional training and career milestones.
Updates to the ADOC’s comprehensive compensation plan include salary increases, higher guaranteed probationary increases, recruitment and retention bonuses, optional excess annual leave payout, salary grade changes and two new position classifications. This includes:
- Salary increases including a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, effective Sept. 1, and a one-time, 5% raise for employees in the correctional officer series, effective Oct. 1.
- Probationary increases of 5% for employees who meet performance expectations.
- Recruiting and retention bonuses, ranging from $4,500 – $7,500.
- Excess annual leave payout for up to 80 hours of excess annual leave per year.
- Two new position classifications including a new entry-level correctional officer position, Basic Correctional Officer.
- Salary grade changes.
Our employees are our greatest assets and the key to improving prisons in Alabama,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Increasing compensation for our security workforce is crucial to recruiting qualified new employees and retaining current ADOC personnel who carry out critical, meaningful work across the state of Alabama.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
One Injured In Pine Barren Road Wreck
July 10, 2019
One person was injured when she lost control of a vehicle and hit several trees near Bratt Monday evening.
The female driver was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Escambia County EMS following the 5:15 p.m. crash on Pine Barren Road about a mile north of Breastworks Road.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Naming Committee Selects Name For New Pensacola Bay Bridge
July 10, 2019
The Pensacola Bay Bridge Naming Committee has voted to name the new bridge over the bay after U.S. Air Force Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James.
James was a Pensacola native and the first African-American to ever reach the rank of a four-star general in the Air Force.
The current bridge is named the “Philip D. Beall Sr. Memorial Bridge”. Beall was a former state senator and served as a president of the Florida State Senate.
The final decision on the bridge naming will fall with the Florida Legislature. Sen. Doug Broxson has submitted legislation to name the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, the “General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James Jr. Bridge.”
“General James is an American hero. He represents the true spirit of the Panhandle and our values. I look forward to presenting this bill to my colleagues in Tallahassee next session and sharing with them the story of ‘Chappie’ James,” Broxson said. “This new bridge will stand as a memorial to our native son, and a truly great American, General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James.”
Former Gulf Breeze City Manager Presents His Ideas To Save Century
July 9, 2019
The Century Town Council held a workshop meeting Monday evening with former Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy who has offered his consulting services to help the town solve the numerous problems identified in a recent report.
Eddy recommended the council take immediate steps on two fronts. First, he said the council should begin work on creating their budget for the new fiscal year that starts October 1. And secondly, he said the town should strive to get their gas, water and sewer services profitable.
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“The very first issue in my thinking is all hands on deck, this is what we are going to work on for the town of Century. Remove the personality conflicts from the equation and we are going to start working on water, sewer, natural gas and sanitation to get those where they are paying for themselves. Then we are going to develop a budget for 2020,” Eddy said. “You get everything moving in the right direction, you can enhance…services (like streets and parks) and develop a capital improvement plan.”
Council members expressed concern that the town purchased new gas meters months ago in an effort to increase billing accuracy and revenue, but very few of those meters have actually been installed.
Eddy said the meter installations should be another priority, even if the town hires a contractor to complete the work because their gas department does not have the time or resources.
Ann Brooks, council president, noted that the council is “not getting information back” on the status of the gas department.
Eddy also floated the idea that the town hire a city manager or perhaps a contractor, at least on a trial or limited basis, to run the operations of the town directly under the mayor. While he said he could perform the service, it would be more practical to find someone that lives closer to Century.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said he was receptive to the ideas presented by Eddy.
“I am open; I am open to anything that is going to help,” Hawkins said.
Eddy made the unsolicited offer after reading a report by independent financial consultant Bob Inzer, whose services were provided to the town by the Florida League of Cities following a scathing grand jury findings. Inzer repeatedly told the town council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
Eddy is not currently seeking a full time job with Century. Instead, he is proposing an hourly rate of $35 as a consultant. He recommended that the town set aside $5,000 for the initial phase, providing for 143 hours of service. The town has not yet formally accepted his proposal.
He met with the council in early 2018 to discuss ways the town could increase revenue by raising utility taxes. Council members made it clear Monday night that they are not looking to raise taxes.
Pictured top: Buz Eddy (right) addresses the Century Town Council Monday evening. Pictured inset: Council member Luis Gomez responds to Eddy. Pictured bottom: Council member Ann Brooks (left) and Sandra McMurray Jackson listen to fellow member Ben Boutwell. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Five Tate Cheerleaders Named All-American At UCF Camp
July 9, 2019
Five senior Tate High School cheerleaders were named UCA All-Americans during a recent camp at the University of Central Florida.
The full Tate varsity squad was awarded a trophy for Rally Routine – Best Incorporation of Transitions and Creativity as well as a trophy for Superior ratings all week.
The All-American cheerleaders are Bailey Carter, Shelby Fleming, Kensley Foley, Abi Manoso and Payton Simmons.
Pictured top: Tate High Schoo’s UCA All-American cheerleaders. Pictured below: The full Tate varsity squad. Pictured bottom: The 10 senior Tate cheerleaders at camp. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Angels Watching The Tropics For the Pensacola Beach Air Show
July 9, 2019
It’s Red, White, and Blues Week with the annual Blue Angels air show at Pensacola Beach, but what about the expected tropical weather?
With a tropical weather system expected in the Gulf Of Mexico, the Blue say they will wait until the last minute to make any cancellation announcements.
“We are aware of the weather system forecast for this week, and are monitoring it. We will not make a decision to cancel or postpone a practice or performance until the last possible second,” the Blue said in a statement. “More than once this decision has been made after the pilots entered their aircraft and prepared to taxi.”
Here is the schedule, as it stand now, for the Blue Angels:
Wednesday: Breakfast with the Blues at 8 a.m., over Pensacola Beach. Watch circle and arrival maneuvers, which are performed at all show sites to familiarize the Blues with the performance area
Thursday: Practice over Pensacola Beach at 2 pm.
Friday: Practice over Pensacola Beach 2 p.m.
Saturday: Show time at 2 p.m.
Sunday: Weather make-up day only. Flight time TBD.
Tree Falls Across Power Line, ‘Smokes’ Lights In Home
July 9, 2019
A tree fell across a power line in Cantonment Monday night, “smoking” lights inside the home.
It happened about 8:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Archer Road. When the power line came down and shortened, it apparently led to smoke coming from interior lights.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded and secured power to home. There was no actual fire, an no interior damage reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Winds Down Large Tree At Cottage Hill Home
July 9, 2019
High winds in an afternoon storm downed a tree on Williams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill Monday afternoon. The tree flattened a trampoline, but no other major damage was reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
