Construction Begins On New Paved Walking Trail In Walnut Hill
June 24, 2016
Construction is now underway on a new paved public walking trail in Walnut Hill.
As we reported in late 2015, the Escambia County Commission and the Escambia County School Board reached a 25-year agreement to allow the construction of the path near the Walnut Hill Community Center (also known as the Ruritan Building) on Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
The asphalt walking path will be exactly one-quarter mile in length and will be eight feet wide. The path will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Benches and picnic tables will also be installed along walking path.
The property belongs to the Escambia County School Board, while the community walking path will be constructed by Escambia County Parks and Recreation under the agreement.
NorthEscambia.com photos/graphic, click to enlarge.
Scott Allocates Millions For Zika Fight
June 24, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Thursday that pumps $26.2 million into the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, as it appears Congress will wait until after its Fourth of July holiday recess before completing any deal addressing the disease.
Scott directed state Surgeon General Celeste Philip to oversee the spread of the money to county health departments, local mosquito districts and laboratories for training, mosquito surveillance, and the purchase of Zika Prevention Kits from federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We are in the middle of hot, rainy weather which is when mosquitoes are most prevalent,” Scott said in a press release. “It is clear that allocating this funding is necessary if we are going to stay ahead of the spread of this virus.”
The virus — which commonly results in a fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes — can, if caught during pregnancy, cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other fetal brain defects, according to the CDC. Scott added in the release that more than 40 entities have asked for more than $19 million to prepare for the virus.
Scott asked President Barack Obama on June 1 to unilaterally release federal funds to fight Zika. Obama had requested Congress provide $1.9 billion in funding to fight Zika.
The House, which had initially offered $622 million, approved a measure Thursday matching the Senate’s funding proposal of $1.1 billion for the Zika fight. However, some of the House provisions tied to the deal, but unrelated to fighting Zika, did not appear to be acceptable to Democrats and the White House.
One travel-related Zika case has been reported in Escambia County.
by The News Service of Florida
Lowes Community Heroes Spruce Up Century Healthy Start
June 24, 2016
Volunteers from the Lowes on Airport Boulevard in Pensacola worked Thursday to spruce up the landscaping around the Century Healthy Start.
Lowes selected Healthy Start as their Community Hero Project. Lowe’s Heroes is a company-wide volunteer initiative that offers employees the opportunity to work on a project in their own neighborhood, helping to make their communities better places to live, work and play.
The volunteers painted a handrail, installed landscaping, planted a tree and installed a bird feeder.
The Century Healthy Start building at 511 Church Street has been closed since being damaged in a February EF-3 tornado. Healthy Start is expected to reopen in the building in late July.3
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Donations Accepted For Local Firefighter Injured In Motorcycle Crash
June 24, 2016
Local residents are coming to the aid of a Molino firefighter seriously injured when the driver of a pickup truck pulled into the path of his motorcycle Wednesday afternoon.
Feliciano Santana, known to friends as “Zapp”, is alive today because of his helmet and first responders who are also dear friends, according to family members. For 11 years, Santana has served area as a volunteer firefighter, currently as captain of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department.
He has a shattered knee and a broken neck and is facing many surgeries. In addition to the hardship created by medical bills, he is also expected to be out of work for many months to come as he recovers.
Family members are asking for prayers and financial donations. Donations of any amount can be made by clicking here.
For an earlier story about the accident, click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Volunteers Sought For County Planning Board
June 24, 2016
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than 12 p.m.; however, occasionally may go beyond 12 p.m. depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board to begin serving in August 2016 are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Kayla Meador; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, Florida 32505; or emailed to krmeador@myescambia.com.
Wahoos Win Second Half Opener
June 24, 2016
Three Reds youngsters made their Double-A debuts for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Thursday night at Smokies Stadium. Reds No. 10 prospect Tyler Mahle made his debut by starting tonight’s game against the Tennessee Smokies.
The hard-throwing right hander made batters look silly, striking out eight Smokies hitters in the 6-4 Pensacola victory. Mahle (5.0, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, HR) picked up his ninth win of the season.
His former Daytona Beach teammate Taylor Sparks (2-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI) also debuted at the Double-A level Thursday. On the first pitch of his debut, Sparks launched a two-run homer in the second inning with one on and nobody out to give the Wahoos a 4-1 lead. He joins former Wahoo and current Pensacola resident Travis Mattair on the list of Wahoos to hit homers on the first pitch of his first Double-A at-bat.
Zach Vincej, who has been on fire the month of June hitting .357, gave the Blue Wahoos an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with a homerun to left center, his first of the year.
In the sixth, Sparks came to the plate again. With one on and two down, the third baseman drilled his second homerun of the game, extending Pensacola’s lead to 6-3. Other Wahoos to homer in their first Double-A game include Donald Lutz (2012) and Alex Blandino (2015).
The Blue Wahoos only managed five hits in the ballgame tonight. Like we’ve seen all season: they found a way to win. It’s the “Wahoo Way,” as manager Pat Kelly’s players like to call it.
With nobody on and two away in the bottom of the seventh, Smokies centerfielder Jake Hanneman hit his second homer of the game off Jake Ehret, the third Wahoo to make his AA debut tonight. That cut the deficit to 6-4, and it was as close as Tennessee would get. Ehret (2 IP, 2 H, R, 3 SO) buckled down and finished off the inning.
Southern League All-Star Alejandro Chacin came in to close the deal in the ninth, picking up his 12th save of the season.
With the win tonight, Pensacola rides a four game win streak, tied for the longest of the season.
FDOT Engineer Plots Action Plan To Remedy Hwy 29 Truck Rollovers
June 23, 2016
Twice in just over a week, semi-trucks have rolled over on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street in a curve town officials believed was ill-designed. And Wednesday, the Florida Department of Transportation agreed something needs to be done.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall met with Michael Lewis, FDOT traffic safety program engineer at the site of the accident. McCall said the slope and design of the roadway in the curve is such that trucks in the outer lane have a difficult time navigating the curve at the posted speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo above and at the page bottom.
Lewis agreed, laying out a course of action.
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“In the near term, we are going to look at sign improvements that we can do right away. It’s going to warn trucks that there is a tipping hazard,” Lewis said. The sign with a flashing beacon will alert truck drivers to a lower speed limit, or perhaps to use the inside lane. The speed limit won’t be changed for all drivers, but there will be a new advisory speed for trucks.
“In the longer term, we are going to look at what we call super elevation. That’s a feature like…at the raceway, they bank their curves. We will bank the curve to help the truck resist the centrifugal force that’s trying to push them off the curve,” Lewis said. “That’s a longer process, and we are certainly going to look at what the funding options are to make sure we can do that as soon as possible.”
The new signs should up within a few months, and a funding source for banking the curve should also be identified, the engineer said.
McCall said he was pleased that FDOT was taking a serious look at what he considers a serious – and potentially life-threatening – situation.
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Tuesday morning’s overturned truck (pictured above) was hauling bales of cotton. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 30-year old Aref Alday of Miami traveled off the roadway, causing his 2000 Freightliner semi-truck to overturn. He was cited for careless driving. Aref Alday was not injured; his passenger, 53-year old Amnerys Alday was transported to Jay Hospital with minor injuries.
Eight days prior, the truck that overturned in the curve was hauling logs, a previous accident involved a truckload of peanuts.
McCall and Lewis agreed that the potential exists for a much more serious rollover accident, perhaps involving a fuel truck or a chemical tanker. And the city has spent somewhere near a quarter million dollars to make repairs to a sewage lift station located in the curve to repair damage from overturned trucks.
Pictured: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (blue shirt) meet with Florida Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Engineer Michael Lewis (yellow vest) and FDOT Traffic Safety Specialist Matt King about a dangerous curve on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Election Watch: More Candidates Qualify On Wednesday
June 23, 2016
This is qualifying week for candidates seeking local office.
Those that qualified Wednesday for local offices are listed below. For additional candidates that qualified on Monday, click here, and Tuesday, click here.
Friday at noon is the deadline to qualify for local offices.
Pensacola City Council, District 5:
- Gerald Wingate - Nonpartisan Office
Pensacola City Council, District 7:
- Anny Shepard – Nonpartisan Office
ECUA, District 1:
- Dawnmarie Kakatitieoy Kachachos-Ingwell – Write In
ECUA, District 3:
- Charles Thornton – DEM
- Tiffany Washington – NPA
ECUA, District 5:
- James Hunt – NPA
County Commissioner, District 3:
- Delarian Wiggins – NPA
County Commissioner, District 5:
- Steven Barry - REP
- Daniel Smillie – REP
Century Mayor:
- Felic Fussner – Nonpartisan Office
- Freddie McCall – Nonpartisan Office
Century Town Council, Seat 1:
- Ann Brooks – Nonpartisan Office
The following individuals pre-filed for office today:
Century Town Council, Seat 2:
- Annie Savage – Nonpartisan Office
Pensacola City Council, District 1:
- C.J.Lewis – Nonpartisan Office
Century Deputies Write 1,286 Traffic Tickets In Three Months
June 23, 2016
As attention has turned to a Century curve that is prone to truck rollover accidents, attention has also turned to speeders and traffic enforcement on North Century Boulevard.
Wednesday afternoon, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were seen making several traffic stops on North Century Boulevard. From a woman not wearing her seat belt, to a vehicle clocked at 57 mph in the 35 mph zone, to an 18-wheeler, deputies were busy with citations.
According to the latest data available from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies in the Century precinct — the area north of Molino — wrote 1,286 citations during the March 1 to June 1 time period. While a specific breakdown was not immediately available, most of the citations were written on North Century Boulevard in the Century area and on Highway 97 in the Walnut Hill area, including the Ernest Ward Middle school zone.
“The deputies in the Century area have been very proactive in enforcing traffic laws for the safety of our citizens,” said Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
It’s an effort that that has not gone unnoticed by Century officials. At a recent meeting between the Century Town Council and the Florida Department of Transportation, Century Mayor Freddie McCall expressed his appreciation to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for their frequent traffic enforcement efforts on North Century Boulevard.
For more on the truck rollover problem in Century, click here.
Pictured: Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies made several traffic stops in a short time period Wednesday afternoon on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Injured In Molino Crash; Pickup Driver Cited
June 23, 2016
A motorcyclist was injured late Wednesday afternoon in a Molino crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the motorcycle, 29-year old Feliciano Santana of Molino, was northbound on Highway 95A when the driver of a pickup, 20-year old Jacob Hendrix of Molino, initiated travel into the motorcycle’s direct path.
Santana was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. He was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash.
Hendrix was not injured. He was cited for failure to yield right of way by the FHP.
Santana, better known locally as Zapp, has been a member of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department for 11 years and currently serves as a captain. A Gofundme page has been established to help him cover his medical expenses.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
