EREC Holds 79th Annual Meeting (With Gallery)
April 29, 2018
Escambia River Electric Cooperative members held their 79th Annual Meeting Saturday at Northview High School.
Members enjoyed food and entertainment, voted for trustees and bylaws, and met in session.
In 1937, the first meeting was held to organize Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. at the Oak Grove Community House. By lamplight, several prominent community leaders laid out the blueprints for the formation and operation of EREC.
After Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, which made loans available for the establishment of rural electric cooperatives, widespread rural electrification began. The formation of cooperatives in other parts of the country stimulated the interest of local leaders such as C. R. Walker, E. H. Lundy, J. L. Robbins and County Agent J. G. Hudson. They continued to move forward with their plans even though they were often met with opposition and skepticism.
On March 10, 1939, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. was born when the incorporators met at the American National Bank building in Pensacola to pass the bylaws, which would establish the cooperative and make their dream a reality. The cooperative’s first month of operation brought them 88 members. Since that time, the cooperative has grown to serve approximately 10,000 members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with over 1,800 miles of energized line.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
April 29, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of April 30-May 4:
Tuesday, May 1
Planning Board – Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Planning Board – Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Amalgamated Transit Union 1395 Collective Bargaining – 1 p.m., ECAT Administrative Offices, 1515 W. Fairfield Drive
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola Beach Congestion Management Plan Public Workshop – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Wednesday, May 2
Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, May 3
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Innerarity Point Park Groundbreaking – 2 p.m., Innerarity Point Park, 5835 Cruzat Way
BCC Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Northview Football Holds Wash, Plans Another One Next Saturday
April 29, 2018
The Northview High School football linemen held a car wash Saturday at an Atmore auto parts store. But don’t worry if you missed it, they’ll do it all again next Saturday with a car wash from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Highway 29 in Molino. (Saturday was National Superheroes Day, just in case you are wondering about that top photo.) Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Cleans Up
April 29, 2018
The 10th Annual Barrineau Park Community Clean Up was held Saturday. Members of the community, including the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, worked together for to clean up along Barrineau Park area roadways. The event was sponsored by the Barrineau Park Historical Society and and the Honeysuckle Garden Club. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 29, I-10 And More — This Week’s Construction Delays
April 29, 2018
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:
· Interstate 10 (I-10) Routine Maintenance between U.S. 29 and Davis Highway- There will be alternating east and westbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Thursday, May 3 as crews replace overhead lights and signs lights.
· U.S. 29 Construction Activities north of E. Kinsfield Road- The northbound outside lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, April 29 to 5 a.m. Monday, April 30 as crews construct a paved shoulder for the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store.
· State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Scenic Highway (U.S. 90)- Alternating and intermittent lane closures on Creighton Road between Davis Highway and 9th Avenue and on 9th Avenue at the intersection of Creighton Road from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Saturday, May 5 continue as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Saturday, May 5 as follows:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
· U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Thursday, May 3 as crews pave the roadway.
· I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Thursday, May 3:
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- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10).
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement - Alternating east and westbound, lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Thursday, May 3 as crews perform construction activities.
- Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road – Pine Cone Drive near Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1 as crews relocate utilities. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
· S.R. 292 (Perdido Key Drive) Turn Lane Construction just east of River Road-The Traffic shift on Perdido Key Drive, just east of River Road, will continue through 8 a.m. Friday, May 4. The temporary shift will allow crews to construct an eastbound, left and westbound, right turn lane. Lane width will be reduced to 11-feet and the speed limit will be lowered to 35 miles per hour within the construction zone.
· Mobile Highway at Beulah Road Intersection Project- Work to improve the intersection of State Road 10A (Mobile Highway) at County Road (Beulah Road) in Escambia County is scheduled to begin the week of Monday, May 21. To help minimize traffic impacts, much of the construction work will take place behind a low-profile concrete barrier wall. No lane closures will be allowed Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, no lane closures will be scheduled during special school events.
· Cervantes Street over Bayou Texar Routine Bridge Maintenance- The east and westbound inside lanes of Cervantes Street over Bayou Texar in Pensacola will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 2 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Thursday, May 3 as crews perform construction activities.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 29 through Friday, May 4 as crews work to widen the roadway. Additional impacts to traffic include:
o Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, as crews continue reconstructing the roadway.
o Traffic shift Sunday evening, April 29 on the I-10 westbound off-ramp to Avalon Boulevard. The shift will be in place for the remainder of the spring so that crews may widen the off-ramp.
- S.R. 87 (Stewart Street) in Milton between Rosasco Street and Magnolia Street- The southbound lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, April 30 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 as crews perform utility work.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Southbound traffic will be shifted to the outside travel lane from the Eglin Air Force Base boundary to two-miles south of the Yellow River the week of Monday, April 30 so crews can work in the median and inside lanes. Northbound traffic will remain in its current configuration with traffic remaining on the outside northbound lane. Additionally, traffic between C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled 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.
Flomaton Lions To Host Pancake Supper Monday
April 29, 2018
The Flomaton Lions Club will host a pancake supper Monday evening.
Pancakes, sausage and more will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Flomaton Community Center at 628 McCurdy Street for only $5 per plate.
The Flomaton High School Jazz Band will perform during the event.
File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century High School All-Class Reunion Held (With Photo Gallery)
April 29, 2018
A Century High School reunion for all graduating classes was held Saturday at Lake Stone.
Graduates from 1946 on attended.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Jim Stanton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Volunteer Firefighters Train At Florida State Fire College
April 29, 2018
Several volunteer firefighters from Escambia County attended the Florida State Fire College’s Volunteer Weekend in Ocala.
They were Will Mallet, Andrew Howell, Reed Moss, Michael Deane (pictured) and Yoshimi “CMC” Core. They are working to complete the requirements to become state certified volunteer firefighters.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shrimp Sink The Wahoos
April 29, 2018
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp belted two solo home runs, while the Blue Wahoos could muster just one in a 2-1 final Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Aristides Aquino belted his first home run of the season off Cody Poteet (W, 2-1) in the second inning. It was the Wahoos first hit of the game and it put Pensacola up 1-0. That would prove to be the only offense of the game for the visitors as Poteet settled in to work seven innings for the Shrimp while allowing just two hits and the one run.
Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 0-4) made a strong start for the Blue Wahoos also, but he made two mistakes which proved to cost him and the Wahoos the game. In the third inning he served up a leadoff home run to Brian Schales which tied the game at 1-1. In the seventh, it was a lead off blast from John Norwood that was the difference maker.
Gutierrez took the loss despite allowing just the two runs with six strikeouts over 6.1 innings. It was his fourth consecutive start without a walk.
The Blue Wahoos will look to bounce back and even the series on Sunday afternoon with RHP Jesus Reyes (0-4, 5.65) on the mound. The Jumbo Shrimp are still undecided on their starter.
Motorcyclist Killed, Cantonment Woman Seriously Injured In Highway 29 Crash
April 28, 2018
A motorcyclist was killed and a Cantonment woman was seriously injured in wreck Friday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 41-year old Joshua Hinsley of Pensacola was northbound in the center lane of Highway 29 when 25-year old Ciara Thomas attempted to cross from Oakfield Road. The the front of Hinsley’s motorcycle collided with a Kia Spectra driven by Thomas.
Hinsley was pronounced deceased following the crash; Thomas was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
