RadioShack Bankruptcy: Century Losing Franchise; Three Escambia Stores Likely Closing
February 10, 2015
Electronics retailer RadioShack has announced that it is filing bankruptcy and will close 1,500 to 2,400 stores. Three Pensacola RadioShack stores are on the potential closure list, and Century will lose its franchise location.
S & K Communications has operated a RadioShack franchise on North Century Boulevard for about 12 years, according to Shelby Spears, one of the store’s owners. The RadioShack franchise and branding will be gone as after February 28, but it will otherwise be business almost as usual for the underlying S & K Communications company.
“We will no longer have RadioShack,” Spears said. “We will however carry much of same products that we have all along from other vendors. We are still ‘here’.”
Three Pensacola RadioShack locations are are set for possible store closures, according to a list released by the company. Those stores are located at 8936 Pensacola Boulevard in Ensley, 7000 North Davis Highway and the store inside Cordova Mall.
Pictured: S & K Communications in Century will continue to operate without their RadioShack franchise after February 28. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Paving Operations Continue On Highway 4 In Santa Rosa County
February 10, 2015
Westbound traffic on Highway 4 between County Road 87A (Market Road) and the Cold Water Creek Bridge in north Santa Rosa County will continue to encounter alternating daytime lane closures Tuesday through Friday of this week from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. as crews perform construction activities along the roadway. Flagmen will be on site to safely direct traffic through the work zone.
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit and pay attention to traffic flaggers when driving through work zones, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Lipscomb Elementary Holds Gallery Night
February 10, 2015
The hallways of Lipscomb Elementary School were converted into Escambia County’s newest art gallery for a very special night of the arts Monday.
Each student contributed work inspired by lessons about art from different time periods to art inspired by studying well-known masterpieces. Visitors found a variety of art styles from interpretations of Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” to attempts to recreate VanGogh’s “Starry Night.” Also, there was art inspired by history and flights of fancy, like fire breathing flying dragons.
Also during the Lipscomb Gallery Night, the Ransom Middle School Jazz Band and Opera Society held special performances. Local artists also joined in the night’s events to demonstrate their techniques.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools To ‘Load Test’ Computer Network
February 10, 2015
The Escambia County School District will test its computer network Wednesday to make sure it earns a passing grade before students take statewide exams in a few weeks.
The test is designed to address concerns about the technology requirements of the Florida Standards Assessment testing window. The goal of this load test is to replicate the computer needs of the statewide testing. The test will involve all desktop and laptop computers that will be used for the actual assessments.
“The goal is to test the capability of the school district’s network and the speed of our connection to the internet. The load test should reveal any overload issues we might have with the state’s assessments, now, while there is time to identify solutions,” said Tom Ingram, Escambia County School District’s director of Information Technology.
Escambia Extension To Hold Certified Arborist Training
February 10, 2015
On February 27, a workshop will be held at the Escambia County Extension Office for those desiring to become certified arborists. The workshop will cover about 60 percent of the material that is covered on the certification exam. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take the exam on Saturday, February 28.
Becoming a certified arborist shows that the tree care worker or arborist has a basic knowledge of tree care. To maintain certification, arborists must continue their learning by earning continuing education credits (CEU). This helps them keep up to date with the latest information on tree care as well as broadening their knowledge base. This training is recommended for private and public arborists, foresters, professional landscapers, nursery professionals and tree surgeons.
The workshop will be taught by Sam Hand, ISA certified arborist and forestry agent with FAMU Extension; Stan Rosenthal, Leon County Extension forestry agent; Beth Bolles, Escambia County Extension horticulture agent and Cathy Hardin, Escambia County forester with the Florida Forest Service.
Preregistration for this training is required by February 12 by clicking here. The cost is $125.
The Friday workshop and the Saturday exam will take place 8:30-5:00 at the Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment. To register for the exam, click here. Contact Beth Bolles at (850) 475-5230 or bbolles@ufl.edu for more information.
Four Homeless Following Afternoon House Fire
February 9, 2015
Four people were left temporarily homeless after a house fire off East Kingsfield Road Monday afternoon.
The fire was reported a brick home in the 2700 block of Blackwood Drive about 5 p.m. The first firefighters to arrive on scene reported heavy black smoke from around the home and flames out windows. The first was quickly brought under control.
The residents were not at home at the time of their fire, and there were no injuries reported.
The blaze appears to have started in the master bedroom. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The American Red Cross was called to provide temporary assistance and housing for two adults and two children following the blaze.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks Info On Walnut Hill Hit And Run Crash
February 9, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking information about a hit and run accident Sunday night in Walnut Hill.
According to the FHP, 42-year old Thomas Grey Douglas of Jay was northbound on Pine Forest Road near Allen Road in a 1990 Ford F150 when he met a southbound vehicle with high beams on about 9:18 p.m. Sunday. The approaching vehicle crossed the center line and struck Douglas’ truck on the left side and fled the scene.
Douglas and his passenger, 40-year old Cathy Lyn Douglas of Jay, were not injured.
The suspect vehicle has possible damage to the left side of the vehicle, with additional damage to the left side mirror, rubber stripping and left side rims. The vehicle is believed to be a white Chevrolet 1500.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to email Trooper Josh Tucker at joshuatucker@flhsmv.gov.
Four Injured, Including Three Juveniles, In Highway 29 Crash
February 9, 2015
Four people were injured in a single vehicle crash this morning on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road north of Molino.
One adult and three juveniles were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola following the 6:45 a.m. crash. None of their injuries were considered to be life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation into the crash. Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Work Nearing Completion On Jack’s Branch Road Widening Project
February 9, 2015
Well more than a year after it began, work is making real progress on a $2.6 million project to widen and resurface Jacks Branch Road from Muscogee Road to Barrineau Park. The project saw major delays, when following the April flood and into the summer, most of the work on the project seemed to stop, according to area residents.
Drainage work is complete, and crews are now working on widening the roadway with 11-foot travel lanes and four-foot paved shoulders with some minor drainage improvements.. Overall, the project is now 90 percent complete, according to Escambia County.
The project was funded by the Florida Department of Transportation and is being managed by Escambia County’s Engineering division. Roads, Inc. is the primary contractor.
The Jack’s Branch Road project is now estimated to be completed next month.
Pictured: Jack’s Branch Road Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rep. Ingram Receives Exemplary Public Service Award From Counties Association
February 9, 2015
Rep. Clay Ingram was recently presented with the Florida Association of Counties Exemplary Public Service Award.
“Representative Ingram has always had an open door to listen to the concerns of not only the counties he represents but all of Florida’s 67 counties. We are appreciative of this and his consistent consideration to honor home rule by limiting unfunded mandates and preemptions on counties,” said Cragin Mosteller, communications director for the Florida Association of Counties.
Pictured: Rep. Clay Ingram (left) and FAC’s Davin Suggs (right). Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.