Century Gas Department Loses $50,000 In Two Months
January 7, 2019
The Town of Century’s troubled gas department lost over $50,000 during the first two months of the current fiscal year.
Financial statements indicate the gas department lost $54,074.95 during October and November. With a $5,000 transfer into the gas fund from the town’s garbage fund, there was a net loss of $49,074.95.
The town projected a loss of just over $89,000 for the entire current fiscal year on $450,000 in income.
Last year, the council was told that the gas department could not account for 58 percent of the natural gas it purchases for sale. Over $100,000 was budgeted to purchase new gas meters and for a new “gate station” meter to measure the quantity of gas purchased to verify the amount billed by their supplier.
Town officials have assured the public that the “missing” gas is not leaking; it’s either a problem with customer meters, meter reading or a discrepancy between the amount billed by the town’s supplier and the quantity actually delivered.
The installation of the new gas meters will be completed this calendar year.
The Century Gas Department lost $165,181 during last fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.
NorthEcambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Sink To 26 Month Lows
January 7, 2019
Prices at the pump are off to their lowest start to the month of January since 2016. Gas prices in Florida dropped another 4 cents last week. The state average has now declined nearly 70 cents since October.
Florida drivers are now paying an average of $2.13 per gallon – the lowest daily average price since November 2016. Compared to last Memorial Day, when the state average peaked at around $2.92 per gallon, drivers are now saving an average of nearly $12 for a 15-gallon tank of gas.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.09, but many stations were below the $2 mark.
s should expect low gas prices to linger through January, as gasoline demand is typically the lowest of the year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although pump prices could become somewhat volatile this month, drivers will notice a significant increase in the spring, with the upward trend beginning as early as February. Putting global supply and demand fluctuations aside, gas prices often rise 30-70 cents in the spring, as gasoline demand increases, refiners conduct seasonal maintenance, and begin to switch to a more expensive-to-produce summer blend gasoline. AAA expects pump prices to peak around $2.75 this year, but there is higher potential if a hurricane threatens gulf coast refineries, or there are sizable swings in fuel supplies or the economy.”
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 7, 2019
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Monday, Jan. 7
Sick Leave Pool Committee -11 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Human Resources Training Room
Tuesday, Jan. 8
Planning Board-Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Planning Board-Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Selection Review Committee – 9 a.m., 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Local Mitigation Strategy Group Board – 2 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority – 5 p.m., 700 S. Palafox St., Suite 310
Merit System Protection Board – 5 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor Training Room
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee – 5:30 p.m., 420 W. Chase St.
Wednesday, Jan. 9
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors – 1:30 p.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Santa Rosa Island Authority Board – 5 p.m., 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, Jan. 10
Executive Session-Police Benevolent Association – 8 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Executive Session-International Association of Firefighters – 8:15 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Executive Session-Amalgamated Transit Union – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
BCC Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
BCC Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers (Agenda)
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Jay Woman Claims $58K Lottery Prize
January 7, 2019
A Jay woman has claimed her prize for a winning Fantasy 5 ticket sold month.
The Florida Lottery says the December 9 ticket worth $58,379.40 was sold to Deborah J. Hawthorne who purchased the ticket at the Tom Thumb on Chumuckla Highway. Other winning tickets were sold in Spring Hill and The Villages.
The winning numbers were 6-8-11-16-25
FDOT Weekly Traffic Alerts – This Week’s State Road Slowdowns
January 7, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- · Crary Road Bridge Replacement - Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road.
- · Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue 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.
- · U.S. 98 (East Chase Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway – There will be paving operations from North Palafox Street to Tarragona Street from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, Jan. 6.
- · U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Paving operations continue from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 13.
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – There will be east and westbound intermittent lane restrictions on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, Monday, Jan. 7 from 11 p.m. to midnight as crews adjust and relocate overhead signs for the bridge’s wrong way detection system. In addition, bridge construction work will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 13.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur Sunday, Jan. 6 through Saturday, Jan. 12. Work requiring lane restrictions will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- · I-10 from Exit 5 to Exit 17- Drivers traveling I-10 from Exit 5 (U.S. 90 Alternate) to Exit 17 (U.S. 90/Scenic Highway) will encounter alternating and intermittent, east and westbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Thursday, Jan. 10 as crews repair lighting.
- · State Road (S.R.) 750 (Airport Boulevard) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- There will be alternating and intermittent east and westbound lane restrictions at I-110 from 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday, Jan. 6 as crews repair lighting.
- · I-110 (S.R. 8A) from Exit 1A to Exit 6- Motorists will encounter alternating and intermittent north and southbound lane restriction from Exit 1A (Gregory Street) to Exit 6 (I-10 to Davis Highway) from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Thursday, Jan. 10 as crews repair lighting.
- · S.R. 295 (West Fairfield Drive) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- Motorists will encounter alternating and intermittent east and westbound lane restrictions at I-110 from 8 p.m. to midnight Monday, Jan. 7 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- · S.R. 296 (Brent Lane) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- Motorists will encounter alternating and intermittent east and westbound lane restrictions at I-110 from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- · S.R. 752 (East Texar Drive) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- There will be east and westbound outside lane restrictions at I-110 from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 as crews repair lighting.
- 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.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- Detroit Boulevard will be closed on the east side of the U.S. 29 intersection from 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4 to 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7 as workers widen the intersection. Motorists may use Pittman Avenue and Broad Street as an alternate route.
- Northbound U.S. 29 at Nine Mile Road overpass: The following lane and road closures are scheduled from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Tuesday, Jan. 8, as crews pour the deck for the new northbound bridge.
- U.S. 29: The outside, northbound lane will be closed at the Nine Mile Road overpass to provide a safe work zone for bridge crews.
- Nine Mile Road: Eastbound Nine Mile Road traffic will be reduced to one lane, diverted to U.S. 29 South, and able to make a U-turn at West Hood Drive to return to Nine Mile Road. Westbound traffic will utilize U.S. 29 North and U-turn at West 9 1/2 Mile Road to return to Nine Mile Road. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) –Traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – There will be east and westbound intermittent lane restrictions on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, Monday, Jan. 7 from 11 p.m. to midnight as crews adjust and relocate overhead signs for the bridge’s wrong way detection system. In addition, bridge construction work will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 13.
- 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.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from 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 the week of Sunday, Jan. 6 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange from Sunday through Thursday.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, Sunday through Friday, as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic patterns on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
County To Acquire, Demolish House In Pinoak Lane Flooding Project
January 7, 2019
A project is underway to eliminate frequent flooding on Pinoak Lane in Cantonment.
This project consists of acquisition and demolition of a single-family residence at 1000 Pinoak Lane. The land will be returned to natural open space with deed restrictions. This project is FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project.
Pinoak Lane is a dead end residential street east off Highway 29 just south of Quintette Road.
Images for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 95A, Kingsfield Crash
January 6, 2019
One person was injured in a two vehicle wreck Sunday just before 7 p.m. at Highway 95A and East Kingsfield Road. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Rare Redhorse Fish Found In The Escambia River
January 6, 2019
A rare fish not seen for over 40 years in Florida has been found in the Escambia River.
Researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute captured a river redhorse during a night trawl, a fish not documented in the Escambia River since 1976. In Florida, the river redhorse is known only to exist in the Escambia River and is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
The fish prefers large, clean rivers with sand or gravel bottoms and swift currents. The river redhorse was implanted with an acoustic tag and released. The movement of thefish will be monitored to estimate site occupancy and assess population trend, according to the FWC. The fish was found as freshwater biologists were working on imperiled species trawl survey in the Escambia River.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP: Driver Threatens Family With A Gun; Arrest Made On I-10 Near Highway 29
January 6, 2019
A driver that allegedly threatened a family on the highway was arrested Saturday afternoon near the Highway 29 exit.
Gregory Welchel, age 57 of Panama City, was charged with aggravated assault and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $7,500.
At approximately 1:50 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol Communication Center received a report of an individual driving a Black Cadillac Escalade towing a white box trailer brandishing a handgun and threatening a family traveling in a minivan.
After updated reports of the black Escalade traveling west on I-10 in Escambia County, several FHP troopers responded and canvassed the interstate. The Escalade was intercepted and stopped just west of Highway 29 where Welchel was taken into custody. The handgun was discovered in the driver’s door console, according to troopers.
New Members Named To Escambia Extension Council
January 6, 2019
The Escambia County Commission has appointed several individuals to the Escambia County Extension Council.
Appointed for a two year-term:
Glenna Anderson, Molino
James E. Theisen, Cantonment
Jennifer Thorne, Cantonment
Sara E. Brake, Pensacola
Reappoinited for a two-year term:
Kevin Faircloth, McDavid
Shelby Johnson, Pensacola
Sonia Bush, Pensacola
Rotated off Extension Council:
Carla Gilmore, Molino
Tammy Penegar, Cantonment
Denise Mann, Pensacola
The individuals appointed were nominated by a committee and selected by the Escambia County Extension Council and reside in the zones for which they are nominated and are known to have an interest and concern for programs of Escambia County Extension. The persons appointed have an interest in and concern for the agricultural, family and consumer sciences (home economics), and youth programs of extension; in developing the rural and urban sections; and in developing the county and its resources.
Members may serve no more than two consecutive terms and be off the council for at least two years before becoming eligible to serve again.