Final Phase Of Highway 164 Widening Project Underway
August 29, 2024
The third and final phase of Escambia County’s ongoing project to widen portions of Highway 164 is underway.
The $1.25 million project, funded by Local Option Sales Tax, aims to improve safety along the dangerously narrow roadway by widening 2.16 miles. The first two phases were completed ahead of schedule, widening Highway 164 from Highway 97 to Green Village Road and from Green Village Road toward North Highway 29.
The current phase involves widening the stretch near North Pine Barren Road, which was not originally scheduled to start until September. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane during construction. The entire project is expected to be completed by September 20.
According to county engineering data, the sections being widened experienced a high concentration of accidents between May 2018 and May 2023.
Pictured above and below: Work on Highway 164 near Pine Barren Road Wednesday afternoon. Pictured below: The first phase completed on Highway 164 near Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com potos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Approves Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increases
August 28, 2024
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority on Tuesday approved rate increases for water, wastewater and sanitation customers.
The board approved an ECUA Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommendation for 3% across the board increase for all three services.
The 3% increase for water and wastewater rate increases will be a moderate increase for most customers. For a typical mainland customer using 6,300 gallons, the increase would be 94 cents for water and $1.08 for wastewater, for a total of $2.02 per month. (Pensacola Beach water and wastewater customers pay a higher rate.)
District 5 board member Kevin Stephens said he was not necessarily opposed to the rate increases based upon staff recommendations and due to “our drastically failing infrastructure”.
A 3% increase or sanitation rates is also proposed.
For residential customers with a 90-gallon on smaller container, the rate will go from $29.82 to $30.56, increasing by 74 cents. The senior citizen rate with a 60-gallon container would increase 62 cents from $24.98 to $25.60.
“Other changes included an increase so the initial delivery charge for non-compaction rolloff containers in the commercial division, the resolution states. “The (fiscal year) 2024 budget included changes to commercial rates to become more competitive with the private sector.”
No member of the public spoke to the board Tuesday during a public hearing on the rate increases.
PPD Arrests Cantonment Man On Drug and Weapons Charges
August 28, 2024
The Pensacola Police Department recently arrested on Cantonment man on drug and weapon charges.
William Austin Thomann, 27, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on a $9,500 bond.
A Pensacola Police Department officer got behind Thomann on Creighton Road and followed him to residence on house on Elaine Circle before initiating a traffic stop.
Thomann was extremely nervous, according to an arrest report, and admitted to not wearing a seat belt. An officer noted the faint smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle that was mostly masked by the “overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke.
Thomann claimed to have a medical marijuana card, but police said he could not produce it.
PPD said a search of the vehicle turned up 20 oxycodone pills, 16 grams of marijuana, a small glass pipe with residue, and 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a loaded 12-round magazine and one round in the chamber.
Police said the items were found wrapped in a shoebox for black Adidas size 11 tennis shoes.
“This was the same shoe the suspect wore on scene,” the report states.
Court records indicate Thomann has a prior third degree felony narcotics conviction.
Atmore Community Hospital Receives $2 Million Grant For Equipment
August 28, 2024
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has announced a $2 million congressionally directed spending grant for Atmore Community Hospital.
The hospital, operated by the Escambia County (AL) Health Care Authority will purchase critical medical equipment with the funding, which was secured by Britt in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.
The award was formally announced by the Department of Health & Human Services this week.
“Health care is critical for the wellbeing of Alabamians across our great state, and modernized equipment is key to providing the best care for patients. As a daughter of rural Alabama, I understand that every community has different needs, which is why I worked to ensure Atmore Community Hospital received $2 million to procure equipment that will help bolster the care they provide,” said Britt. “I’m proud to have secured these funds during the 2024 Appropriations process, and I look forward to continuing my work on the committee to invest further into our families, our state, and our future.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia County Grant Funded Summer Kids College In Century
August 28, 2024
Escambia County provided funding this summer to help launch the Century Kids College.
The free summer camp programs for elementary students ages 6-12 was hosted by Pensacola State College and offered offered a variety of educational and engaging activities, including a sport, an art, and a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camp, with a variety of hands-on activities for children.
A $15,000 Community Partner Funding grant from the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners allowed PSC to serve 60 students in the Century area for three weeks. The program aimed to provide a fun and enriching experience for children in a community with limited summertime opportunities.
“II’m very excited that we were able to support this program and provide an opportunity for these students to have a fun, engaging, and educational summer camp experience at no cost to their families,” said District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry. “Programs like this should be available to all students in our community, regardless of income level, and I’m very pleased that we accomplished that goal thanks to this exciting partnership with Pensacola State College. I’d like to thank PSC and every person who worked together to ensure these students had a fantastic summer camp experience.”
The funding from Escambia County covered the costs of program coordinators, teachers, classroom supplies, and lunches.
“We are very grateful for the financial support of Escambia County so we could make this educational opportunity available in Century.,” said Dr. Ed Meadows, Pensacola State College President.
This year marked the first time the Kids College program was offered in Century. The program has been running for 34 years and has been a valuable resource for students in the area.
For additional photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Sweeps Northview In Straight Sets (With Gallery)
August 28, 2024
The Flomaton Hurricanes dominated the Northview Chiefs in a volleyball match on Tuesday night, winning in three straight sets.
The final scores were 25-17, 25-20, and 25-21.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Flomaton victory comes on the heels of a 2-0 loss to Faith Academy on Monday. Northview, meanwhile, had defeated Pine Forest 3-1 Monday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Monteverde Magnificent As Blue Wahoos Win With One Hit Against M-Braves
August 28, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos ended their season-high losing streak in a special way.
They received an unparalleled outing Tuesday night from starting pitcher Patrick Monteverde, then a shutdown performance by relievers Woo-Suk Go and Dale Stanavich to get a 1-0 victory against the Mississippi Braves, thus beginning their week-long homestand with a new mark in franchise history.
In ending their six-game slide, it became the first time the Blue Wahoos won a game despite getting just one hit. All 11 previous times they were one-hit in club history resulted in losses.
Monteverde, 26, a lefthander who helped the Blue Wahoos win their 2022 Southern League championship and was stellar last season, which led to being elevated to Triple-A Jacksonville this season, reproduced his dominant form.
He allowed just two hits in seven innings, no walks and 10 strikeouts. Monteverde didn’t hesitate when asked if this was his best performance of 2024.
“Yeah… finally,” he said, smiling. “It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster this year, but it’s always good to get another shutout under your belt, more more importantly help the team get back in the win column.”
When he exited, Woo-Suk Go and Stanavich followed in the eighth and ninth by not allowing a baserunner. It was the Blue Wahoos’ best overall pitching sequence of the season, holding the M-Braves to just two hits, no walks and racking up 12 strikeouts.
And it happened in a pivotal time as the Blue Wahoos (63-56 overall, 25-26 in second half) hope to stay in playoff contention. They had lost 11 of their past 13 games before Tuesday’s win.
“This series, coming off last week (against Tennessee Smokies), obviously we got swept and to be honest with you, we didn’t think we were out-teamed, if that makes sense,” Monteverde said. “We knew we have a good club here and we know what we’re capable of.
“So going into this week, I made it clear…not that I needed to, everybody in the clubhouse knows, this was a big week coming up. These guys (M-Braves) past us in the standings and we need to get back on the right track and win a series at our place.”
Neither team had a hit through the first four innings Tuesday. M-Braves starter Jhancarlos Lara had yielded five walks in that stretch, including two to begin the second inning, but the Blue Wahoos couldn’t take advantage.
The game’s first hit was a one-out single in the fifth inning by the M-Braves Adam Zabrowski – the first to reach base after Monteverde retired the first 13 batters he faced in order.
Monteverde then struck out the next two hitters and the Blue Wahoos manufactured a run in their half of the fifth inning.
Johnny Olmstead and Jakob Marsee had back-to-back walks with one out. On a double-steal attempt, Olmstead was throw out at third. But shortstop Jared Serna came through with a two out single after Olmstead got M-Braves shortstop Cal Conley to move out of position with aggressive baserunning.
From that point, the only M-Braves baserunner was thrown out on a steal attempt in the sixth inning. The rest of the way, the pitching was exceptional.
When it ended, Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack hugged Stanavich, then Mack gathered a water cooler bucket with Stanavich to dump on Monteverde while he was doing an on-field postgame interview.
“This clubhouse is great,” Monteverde said. “I look forward to coming to the ballpark every day. Nobody is pressing. We know we still have some time and can get rolling at any time.
“Sometimes, a game like this is when the offense (comes around). This wasn’t their best day, but they produced when they had to with timely hitting and (Tuesday) was one of those. Thankfully that was all it took. But the overall vibe and clubhouse atmosphere is great.”
This series brings some sentimentality. It is the final time the Blue Wahoos will play the Mississippi Braves in club history.
The M-Braves are moving to Columbus, Ga. in 2025 where they will play in remodeled stadium, Synovus Park (formerly Golden Park), located on the Chattahoochee River that separates the state line in Georgia-Alabama. A $50 million renovation is ongoing at the 98-year-old ballpark and the facility is on schedule to be ready for April 2025 when next season begins.
When the move happens, the Atlanta Braves will have all four of their top affiliates within the state of Georgia and all within a 2-hour plus drive of Atlanta with Gwinnett (Triple-A), Columbus, Rome, Ga. (High-A) and Augusta (Class A).
The second game of the series is set for Wednesday (6:05 p.m.) with the Blue Wahoos sending lefthander Luis Palacios on the mound against the M-Braves top pitcher Landon Harper (2-1, 1.46 ERA).
Highway 164 Widening Project Ahead of Schedule, Final Phase Begins
August 27, 2024
Escambia County’s ongoing project to widen portions of Highway 164 is progressing rapidly, with the final phase was to begin Tuesday, August 27.
The $1.25 million project, funded by Local Option Sales Tax, aims to improve safety along the dangerously narrow roadway by widening 2.16 miles. The first two phases were completed ahead of schedule, widening Highway 164 from Highway 97 to Green Village Road and from Green Village Road toward North Highway 29.
The current phase involves widening the stretch near North Pine Barren Road, which was originally scheduled to start in September. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane during construction. The entire project is expected to be completed by September 20.
The need for widening Highway 164 became evident after numerous near-miss accidents and sideswipes. With some sections as narrow as 8 feet, the road has been especially dangerous for larger vehicles, such as fire trucks from the nearby McDavid Fire Station.
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the project, emphasizing its importance in improving safety and addressing the community’s concerns. He also vowed to continue advocating for additional widening projects along Highway 164 and other local roads.
Panhandle Grading and Paving, the lowest bidder for the project, was awarded the contract by the Escambia County Commission. According to county engineering data, the sections being widened experienced a high concentration of accidents between May 2018 and May 2023.
Pictured: Highway 164 just east of Highway 97 Monday afternoon, August 26. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Police Arrest Two Century Women, Foley Resident On Drug Charges
August 27, 2024
Three people, including two Century residents, were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop on Highway 31 in Atmore.
The incident began when officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle heading towards Atmore from the Canoe area. After locating the vehicle, Atmore Police Department officers discovered the license plate was registered to another vehicle.
A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver, 33-year-old Kiauna Grice of Century, and two passengers, 31-year old Tashawna Perkins of Century and 20-year old Hannah Reed of Foley, were detained.
During a search of the vehicle, officers reported that they discovered a quantity of controlled substances, including about one gram methamphetamine, one gram of synthetic cannabis (spice), and prescription Lortab and Tramadol.
Grice and Perkins were each charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, while Reed was charged with one count and an outstanding warrant from the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
All three were booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Ascend Cares Donates $3K To Buy Thermal Imaging Cameras For Molino Fire Station
August 27, 2024
The Ascends Cares Foundation made a significant contribution to Escambia County Fire Rescue. On Monday, the foundation presented a check for $3,078 at the Molino Fire Station, which will be used to purchase two FLIR K2 thermal imaging cameras for the fire station.
Robby Suggs, the fire chief for Ascend Performance Materials Fire Department in Cantonment, represented the Ascends Cares Foundation at the presentation. Suggs, who also serves as a part-time firefighter with ECFR, emphasized the importance of these cameras for enhancing fire safety and rescue operations.
Thermal imaging cameras are designed to detect and measure heat energy, also known as infrared radiation. This technology allows the camera to “see” heat, even in conditions where visible light is limited or absent. Firefighters can use these cameras to locate hidden hotspots, such as a fire inside a wall or overheated electrical components. . In search and rescue operations, the thermal imaging cameras can be used to location people that are lost, trapped in a collapse of that may have been ejected from a motor vehicle crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
