County Pushes For 29 & 97 Red Light; Bans Trucks On Crabtree Church But Not Highway 95A
October 18, 2013
The Escambia County Commission has affirmed its support for a red light at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino, voted to close Crabtree Church Road to trucks, and left the northernmost portion of Highway 95A open to truck and commercial traffic.
The commission voted Thursday night to close the full length of Crabtree Church Road from Highway 97 to Sunshine Hill Road to truck traffic, while taking no action on similar ban on Highway 95A from Highway 97 to Highway 29.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry asked his fellow commissioners to take no action on the truck ban on Highway 95A until after the county meets with the Florida Department of Transportation to express support and willingness for the county to pay for a red light at Highway 29 and Highway 97.
Barry and Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsome will meet with FDOT in Chipley on November 5, prior to the commission’s next regular meeting.. The commission with then, Barry said, be able to better gauge the state’s support for the red light.
“It could be your neighbor, my neighbor, my family, your family could have a wreck there at that dangerous intersection and get killed,” said C.R. “Billy” Campbell of C&C Hauling said. “We support a red light there that would make it much safer for our trucks to come down there and turn left.”
Residents of the all residential northern stretch of Highway 95A and Highway 29 had pushed commissioners to enforce a truck ban on Highway 95A. Campbell’s trucks, along with vehicles from other companies, currently turn south on Highway 95A to avoid the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection. “It’s the safest route,” Campbell said.
Kay Campbell said there is no other viable alternative road for her company’s trucks to reach Highway 95A from Highway 29 while avoid a turn across traffic at Highway 97. She said the two possible routes, Molino Road and Quintette Road, are 19 feet wide, while her trucks are 9.25 feet wide. That, she said, would leave only about six inches of clearance between two trucks or a truck and an oncoming school bus.
“(Highway) 95A is the only road at this time that is safe for our trucks to come down. We’ve been traveling the road for eight years…and never had a wreck, never had an accident,” Kay Campbell told the Escambia County Commission.
Commissioner Grover Robinson said the entire commission supports the red light. “It does not matter where you are in Escambia County, you’ve probably driven through that intersection. It’s not just District 5 people that drive that intersection,” Robinson said.
By taking no action on a Highway 95A truck ban, there will be no immediate enforcement on the roadway, Barry said. “No Truck” signs have been in place on northern Highway 95A for years, but the county commission never voted to make the truck prohibition official.
‘Significant’ Molino Burglaries Under Investigation
October 18, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating “significant” Molino burglaries and asking for the public’s help to identify those responsible.
On October 10, deputies responded to the 600 block of Brickton Road in reference to a burglary, according to information released Thursday.
Sometime during that day, a shed and residence had been broken into and electronics and other valuables had been stolen. On the same day, another home in 6000 block of Brickyard Road was burglarized in a similar manner. Electronics and a significant amount of valuables were stolen.
Escambia County Sheriffs Office investigators believe the two burglaries are related, but provided no other information.
Another residential burglary was reported Thursday night on Oreo Drive in Molino; details on that burglary were not immediately available.
Anyone with information about these burglaries is asked to call Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigations at (850) 436-9580.
Grand Opening Held For Century’s Newest Business
October 18, 2013
A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Thursday for Century’s newest business –Shelia’s Styles of the Century.
The “multi cultural full service salon” is located at and offers a full range of salon services. For more information, call (850) 256-0112.
Pictured top: A grand opening ribbon cutting Thursday at Shelia’s Styles of the Century. Picture inset: Stylist Brandy Gafford and customer Megan Bryan. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
JV Football: Baker Gators Beat The Northview Chiefs
October 18, 2013
The junior varsity Baker Gators defeated the JV Northview Chiefs Thursday night, 14-6.
The Chiefs only score came on a touchdown run from freshman Desmone Knight in the second quarter. With failed extra point attempt, Baker was up 7-6 headed into a halftime performance by the Northview Tribal Beat Band.
The JV Chiefs will host West Florida High School next Thursday at 6 p.m. in a game that was rescheduled from October 3.
Pictured top: Desmone Knight scores a touchdown for the junior varsity Northview Chiefs Thursday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Wind Down Season, Begin Playoff Action Next Week
October 18, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs wrapped up their regular season this week as they prepare to move into the playoffs next week.
Thursday night, Northview took on Central High on the road. Scores were:
JV: 19-25, 7-25 with Central winning.
Varsity: 25-16, 25-27, 25-11, 25-16 with Northview winning.
E’Layzha Bates had three aces, one kill and a block for the Chiefs, while Lana Clayton had five aces and two kills.
On Tuesday, the Chiefs traveled to Bay Minette to take on Baldwin County High School:
JV: 16-25, 23-25 with BCH winning
Varsity: 14-25, 10-25, 10-25 with BCH winning
Northview will begin district playoff action Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Northview as the Lady Chiefs take on the winner of a Monday night game between Freeport and Holmes County.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
FDOT To Look At Four Laning Part Of Nine Mile Road
October 18, 2013
The Florida Department of Transportation is taking another look at widening a two-lane portion of Nine Mile Road.
The FDOT last studied the idea in 1992, and now they are re-evaluating a six-mile portion of Nine Mile between Mobile Highway and Pine Forest Road.
A public meeting on the idea will be held from 5:30 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 at the Plainview Baptist Church at 1101
One Injured In County Road 97 Rollover
October 17, 2013
At least one person was transported to an area hospital following a single vehicle accident this afternoon on Country Road 97 and Devine Farm Road.
The driver of a Chevrolet Trailblazer apparently ran off the road and overturned, with the vehicle coming to rest on all four wheels. The victim’s injuries were not considered to be life threatening.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Named To People Magazine Teachers Of The Year List
October 17, 2013
A Cantonment man has been named one of People magazine’s 2013 Teachers of the Year.
John Herber is a teacher at Oakcrest Elementary School and is featured in the October 28 issue of People, which will be available for purchase on Friday. The People Teacher of the Year Awards honor extraordinary educators who are changing the lives of their students and paving the way for a new generation of American leaders.
Herber and the other honorees will receive $4,000 for their school and $1,000 for themselves.
“We all remember those special teachers who changed our lives, who helped us achieve, who set us on a path to becoming successful adults,” said Larry Hackett, editor of People. “The winners of our 2013 contest are doing just that for their students, each in a different way.”
Before Herber started teaching at Oakcrest Elementary School seven years ago, only 16 percent of the school’s fifth graders were considered proficient in science. Last year, 59 percent passed the test, more than the state or district average.
Herber has formed school-community partnerships to help enrich his classes, bringing in experts.
“We have learned about honey production and honeybee lifecycles from a beekeeper, the principles of flight and airflow from a pilot, and melting and saturation points from candle and soap makers,” he says.
Off duty, he volunteers as a football and basketball coach so that kids who don’t qualify for varsity teams have the chance to play. His blue 2008 Subaru often serves as the “team bus”.
His goal, says Herber, “is to ensure my students do not know they are disadvantaged.”
Herber’s wife Sammi is also involved in Escambia County education. She has worked as a speech pathologist for about 13 years, primarily in North Escambia schools.
Pictured: Cantonment resident John Herber hard at work at Oakcrest Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Obama Signs Bill To Restart Government, Pay Bills
October 17, 2013
President Barack Obama has signed into law a last-minute compromise bill to reopen the federal government and raise the debt ceiling to avoid a potential U.S. debt default.
The president signed the bill early Thursday morning Washington time after a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Members of the House of Representatives approved the plan late Wednesday by a vote of 285 to 144 after it was approved by the Senate earlier in the day by a vote of 81 to 18.
The White House budget office said federal workers should plan to return to work Thursday morning.
Obama thanked leaders of both parties and said it is time to earn back the lost trust of the American people.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, and his Republican colleague, Mitch McConnell, put together the composite bill on Wednesday, a day before the current borrowing authority expired.
The bill will keep the government running until at least January 15 and raise the borrowing limit enough to put off the risk of default until at least February 7. In the meantime, lawmakers will negotiate on spending cuts.
If the debt ceiling was not raised, the United States would lose the authority to borrow money to keep paying its bills.
The government shut down on October 1 when the Senate rejected House demands to defund or delay President Obama’s health care law as part of a spending bill. The president has said he will not negotiate any changes in the law until the government reopens.
House Speaker John Boehner said House Republicans fought with everything they had to force negotiations on the law, nicknamed “Obamacare.” He said his party will continue to push for legislative oversight and highlight perceived flaws in the scheme.
[VOA]
Pictured top: Obama meets with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other members of the House Democratic leadership in the Oval Office.
Cantonment Man Dies From Injuries Received In Crash Near Church
October 17, 2013
A Cantonment man has died as a result of injuries he received in a traffic crash early this month at a church.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Wednesday that 69-year old Donald Joseph Hicks of Cantonment passed away October 11 at Sacred Heart Hospital from injuries received in an October 2 wreck at Highway 95A and 10 Mile Road.
Hicks was westbound on 10 Mile Road when he drove his 1998 GMC Suburban through a red traffic signal and was struck by a 1999 Chevrolet C1500 driven by 30-year old Christopher Resmondo of Cantonment. Hicks’ Suburban entered the parking lot of Pinehaven Baptist Church, traveled between two buildings and struck a church air conditioning unit.
Both drivers were transported to Baptist Hospital by Escambia County EMS.
No charges were filed in the crash. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
