Work To Begin Soon On Highway 168 Bridge Closed After Failed Inspection
July 10, 2017
Work should begin soon on a Highway 168 bridge that was closed in May 18 after failing an inspection.
Gulf Marine was the successful bidder on the project at $101,677. Once project paperwork is completed, work will likely start and completed in about 60 days. But a specific schedule from the contractor won’t be set until a purchase order is complete.
Meanwhile, the bridge over Reedy Creek on Highway 168 near Wawbeek Road remains closed. Drivers are detoured on Highway 4 via Raines Road to the east and North Highway 99 to the west.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Master Gardeners Assist Local Programs
July 10, 2017
The UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Master Gardeners recently donated 435 plants totaling $2,175 to the local ARC Gateway Nursery Program. The Escambia County Master Gardener program is a volunteer-staffed, educational outreach of the Escambia County/University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. The program, specializing in home horticulture, supports local community development through educational presentations, demonstrations and clinics.
This donation will help the ARC Gateway Nursery provide quality plants while reducing a portion of its overall expenses. Both organizations share a common element to their respective missions, to improve the quality of life for those that they serve. The ARC Gateway Nursery provides life skills and independence training to disabled adults.
For more information on the Master Gardener program, or to request information on arranging a speaking engagement or demonstration garden tour, contact the Extension Center Master Gardener office at 850-475-5230.
Cantonment Cowboys Football Registration Each Monday Evening
July 10, 2017
Cantonment Cowboys football is holding registration every Monday at the Cantonment Ballpark, 651 Well Line Road, from 5:30 until 7 p.m. The registration fee is $135 for ages 5-14. For more information, contact the Cantonment Cowboys on Facebook. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Waste Services Tech Named Safety Professional Of Year
July 10, 2017
Escambia County Waste Services Safety Technician Stanley Gray, OHST CET COSS, was selected as the “Safety Professional of the Year” by the Pensacola Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers. The award is conveyed annually to recognize a safety professional who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the safety field.
Nominations Needed For Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
July 10, 2017
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the class of 2018. The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made lasting contributions to Florida agriculture. More information, nomination forms and a list of past inductees are available at FloridaAgHallofFame.org. Nominations must be submitted by September 1, 2017.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partners with the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation each year to recognize outstanding individuals nominated by Florida’s agricultural community. Inductees will be honored at the annual banquet during the Florida State Fair in February.
Nominations should be mailed to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame at 100 South Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, Fla. 33594; Phone 813-230-1918.
Blue Wahoos Drop to Chattanooga, 5-1
July 10, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to 1-10 this season against its nemesis, the Chattanooga Lookouts, which has the best record in the Southern League.
Chattanooga padded its lead in the eighth inning with two runs on a bases-loaded walk and bases-loaded wild pitch to continue its domination of Pensacola, winning, 5-1, in the opener of the four-game series Sunday in front of 3,778 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Lookouts improved to 14-3 in the second half in the North Division and 56-31 on the season, both of which lead the Southern League.
Pensacola dropped to 8-9 in the second half in the South Division and 48-39 overall.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Deck McGuire’s scoreless inning streak ended at 23.1 innings when Chattanooga first baseman Andy Wilkins doubled over the head of Blue Wahoos left fielder Tyler Goeddel in the third inning to drive in center fielder LaMonte Wade. The Lookouts took a 2-0 lead when third baseman T.J. White grounded out to shortstop, allowing DH Jonathan Rodriguez to score from third base.
Blue Wahoos McGuire gave up a double on a one hopper off the right field wall to Wade and a sizzling line drive single to center field to Rodriguez in the fifth inning. But the 6-foot-6 righty then got a strikeout and two fly outs to leave the Chattanooga runners stranded at second and third.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he liked that McGuire kept Chattanooga from scoring.
“I thought he battled,” Kelly said. “He didn’t have his best stuff. He gave up a lot of extra-base hits. But he kept them off the board and gave us a chance.”
McGuire earned the loss and is 8-6 this season with a 2.78 ERA. He gave up two runs on nine hits, including four doubles, and walked one.
Pensacola second baseman Shed Long drilled a line drive down the right field line for a triple that drove in DH Nick Longhi to cut Chattanooga’s lead to, 2-1, in the fifth inning.
But Chattanooga scored two runs in the eighth inning to go ahead, 4-1. The Lookouts White scored when Pensacola reliever Alex Powers walked No. 9 hitter, catcher Dan Rohlfing. The second run scored when Pensacola reliever Brennan Bernardino struck out shortstop Ryan Walker for the third out but the strikeout pitch skirted by Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Hudson, who had no play, allowing right fielder Max Murphy to score.
Kelly said that Chattanooga has just given Pensacola fits, sweeping them in the first five-game series.
“They are a really good team,” he said. “They have strong pitching, speed, power in the middle of the lineup. They got about everything you could want.”
Chattanooga Kohl Stewart, the Minnesota Twins first round selection in 2013, has not had a losing decision since April 24. He worked six innings Sunday, giving up one run on three hits and a walk and striking out six. At one point, he retired 10 Blue Wahoos in a row.
“He had good stuff,” Kelly said of the Minnesota Twins eighth ranked prospect. “He had late action on his fastball. We weren’t getting good swings on him.”
Mega Crowd Wowed By The Blue Angels (With Photo Gallery)
July 9, 2017
One of the largest crowds ever packed onto Pensacola Beach Saturday for the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. Official attendance numbers were not available by Sunday morning, but officials said people were arriving on the beach by the hundreds, and by the thousands, by daylight Saturday. The main parking lot at Casino Beach was full by 5:50 a.m., according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
July 9, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
· Creighton Road (State Road (S.R.) 742) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway– Intermittent and alternating lane closures between 9th Avenue and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. continues as crews perform sidewalk repairs and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades. The following changes in traffic patterns will take place on Creighton Road Sunday, July 9 and will remain in effect through multiple phases of the project.
· Creighton Road: The westbound, outside lane will be closed from east of the 9th Avenue intersection to the traffic signal at the entrance to Walmart.
· Creighton Road: The eastbound, inside lane will become a left-turn/through lane and the current bi-directional/dedicated left-turn lane will be closed.
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 9 through Thursday, July 13 as crews perform paving work.
· Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound.
· The U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp will be closed. Traffic will be detoured south to make a U-turn at Diamond Dairy Road to access I-10 eastbound.
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway (S.R.) 291) to the Escambia Bay Bridge- Alternating east and westbound lane closures between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17) from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of Sunday, July 9 as crews shift traffic to the outside travel lanes and work on the inside lanes.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Alternating east and westbound lane closures between Avenue and the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Saturday, July 15. On Tuesday, July 11, lane closures will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be demolishing existing curb, clearing and grubbing in the state owned right-of-way, and placing temporary pavement.
· Arthur Brown Road (County Road 99A) Bridge Replacement over Boggy Creek- Activities are underway. Crews will begin clearing trees and shrubs the week of Monday, July 9 in preparation to construct a temporary road and bridge. The new bridge will consist of 11-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders, and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge replacement project is estimated to take eight months, weather permitting.
· U.S. 29 (S.R. 95) Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Alternating lane closures continue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road and on Nine Mile Road near the U.S. 29/ Nine Mile Road overpass as crews perform drainage and bridge operations.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Jack and bore operations continue on Untreiner Avenue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures
Santa Rosa County
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures on the Gulf Breeze approaches to the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Saturday, July 15. Tuesday, July 11, lane restrictions will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be demolishing existing curb, clearing and grubbing in the state owned right-of-way, and placing temporary pavement.
· I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 28/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures from the Escambia Bay Bridge to just east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 9 through Thursday, July 13 as crews continue widening work. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews reconstruct the Avalon Boulevard overpass.
· S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Maintenance over West Coldwater Creek- Alternating lane restrictions three miles east of S.R. 89 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 11 and Wednesday, July 12 as crews perform bridge maintenance activities.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFT Boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads under 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place through the completion of the project.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Hundreds Spend Saturday Afternoon With No Power
July 9, 2017
About 1,135 Gulf Power customers lost power in Cantonment Saturday afternoon due a tree that fell onto power lines (pictured). The outage was along and to the north and south of Muscogee Road (map below). About half of those impacted had power restored within two hours; the remaining 500 plus customers spent several more hours without power. Reader submitted photo by Bryan Benbow for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hit And Run Crash Claims Life Of 21-Year Old Pedestrian
July 9, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a hit and run driver that struck and killed a young Pensacola woman late Friday night.
According to the FHP, a dark colored SUV or minivan hit 21-year old Rebecca Simmons as she was in the outside southbound lane of Davis Highway near Brewster Street about 11:10 p.m. Video surveillance from a nearby business shows Simmons was in front of Chancie’s Bar and had either fallen or laid down in the highway.
The unknown vehicle continued south on Davis Highway after striking Simmons. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was pronounced deceased a short time later.
Anyone with information on this crash is asked to call Cpl. E. Diaz or Sgt. Padgett at (850) 471-6921.