Ensley Street Closed At Chemstrand Road For The Next Week
April 18, 2024
A portion of roadway Ensley Street between Faye Avenue and Chemstrand Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Thursday, April 18, while crews install pipe.
Westbound traffic on Ensley Street will detoured to Chemstrand Road to Vine Street to Faye Avenue and back to Ensley Street. Eastbound traffic on Ensley Street will detour to Faye Avenue to Vine Street and back to Chemstrand Road. Chemstrand Road is expected to reopen by Thursday, April 25.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction.
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Thousands Of High School Students Attend Northwest Florida Construction Career Days
April 18, 2024
Over 1,300 area high school students were treated to an interactive look into the transportation industry during the 4th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days (CCD) event this week at the Santa Rosa County
Fairgrounds in Milton.
Students had the opportunity to operate heavy equipment and learn about bridge inspections, paving, concrete, traffic control, engineering, and more. Students were also introduced to the large number of career paths available in the transportation, structural, engineering, and building industries, and were able to interact with representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), as well as various engineering firms, and contractors looking to hire in the Northwest Florida area.
High school seniors who attended CCD in-person or virtually were eligible to receive a portion of up to $50,000 in scholarship funds that will be awarded this year. The scholarship fund was established to assist high school graduates enrolling in college, trade/vocational education programs, or those entering directly into the workforce. Local high school junior and senior students from Santa Rosa, Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties were anticipated to attend.
With billions of dollars of construction activity lined up for the next decade and entry-level workers in high demand, FDOT District Three is working to create a pipeline of workforce and economic opportunities for the next generation. Not only did this event give students a unique chance to explore career opportunities that have substantial benefits and add tremendous value to their communities, but it also allowed FDOT and its industry partners to
connect with young people of all backgrounds and skill levels. Students over the age of 18 were able to fill out applications for hiring companies during the event.
Pictured: Students from Northview High School were among over 1,000 that attended the 4th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days in Milton. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Incumbent Robert Bender Prefiles For Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
April 18, 2024
Incumbent Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender prefilled Wednesday for the seat as a Republican in the 2024 election.
Bender, a former county commissioner, was sworn in as Supervisor of Elections on January 31, 2024, after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bender replaced David Stafford who stepped down effective January 15 after 19 years in office to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as an election security advisor.
File photo.
Tate Showband Indoor Percussion Team Places Second Championship Event
April 18, 2024
The Tate High School Showband of the South indoor percussion team recently placed second in the Gulf Coast Guard and Percussion Circuit (GCGPC) Championships. This marked the third consecutive year as a top two medalist in their division.
The Chaparral Winter Guard placed sixth in their class with a 17-point jump over the beginning of the season.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Big Inning Helps Power Trash Pandas Past Blue Wahoos To Even Series
April 18, 2024
by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos missed a chance early in Wednesday’s game for a big inning.
When Rocket City set up its chance, the Trash Pandas pounced.
Arol Vera, the No. 9 hitter, hit a two-run double, then scored on a sacrifice fly as part of a four-run, fourth inning that helped power the Trash Pandas to a 9-2 win against the Blue Wahoos and claim a rare win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 2,976 watched the Trash Pandas even the series with only their second win in their past three trips to Pensacola. It became a rough outing for Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios, who yielded nine hits and six earned runs, including two home runs allowed in 4.2 innings.
Designated hitter Gustavo Campero, who played his first four minor league seasons in the New York Yankees organization, blasted a two-run homer off Palacios for the game’s first runs in the third inning. He added a solo blast to complete the rally in the fourth inning.
Through five innings, eight of Rocket City’s batters in the lineup had reached base.
The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases in the second inning with none out, but Rocket City starter Chase Chaney got out of the inning by retiring the next three batters with a strikeout, a fielder’s choice grounder, and an inning-ending flyout.
That sequence set a tone for a night where the Blue Wahoos had 13 hits in the game, matching Rocket City, but only managed two runs. They left the bases loaded with two out in the seventh as well.
Harrison Spohn had an RBI double in the sixth inning to score Pensacola’s first run. He later scored on Javier Sanoja’s two-out single. Sanoja was one of six Blue Wahoo batters with multiple hits through seven innings.
The teams will continue their series on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. with the Blue Wahoos’ Valente Bellozo making his second start against Rocket City’s Victor Mederos.
GAME NOTABLES
A contingent of the Blue Wahoos – 13 players and two coaches – spent Wednesday morning watching the Blue Angels perform at a practice session on Naval Air Station-Pensacola. It’s become a repeat visit from the team to see the U.S. Navy’s famed flight demonstration squadron, headquartered at the base.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Rocket City Trash Pandas vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Wednesday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
One Injured In Highway 29, North Tate School Road Crash
April 17, 2024
One person was reported injured in a two-vehicle crash about 3:30 Wednesday afternoon on Highway 29 near North Tata School Road.
The injured person was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered critical.
We’re told properly restrained toddler in one of the vehicles was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Update: Boil Water Notice Lifted For Portion of Chemstrand Road And Area
April 17, 2024
This boil water notice was lifted on April 19.
For the third time in less than a month, ECUA has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of Chemstrand Road and the surrounding area due a contractor breaking a six-inch water main.
This is the same area as previous boil water notices issued March 21, and April 1.
Precautionary Boil Water Notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes:
- Chemstrand Rd. (Address Range: 8702 – 9131)
- Camden Rd. (Address Range: 106-310)
- Topeka Rd. (Address Range: 207-301)
- Kaylyn Rd. (Address Range: 211-293)
- Lost Oak Dr.
- Beland Rd.
- Kokomo Rd.
- Bellington Rd.
- Arcadia Rd.
- Barker St.
- Fula Dr.
- Crum Ave.
- Danestar Dr.
- Sabrina Dr.
Residents located in the specified boil water notice area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours, and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the repairs and flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
Century Town Clerk Out On Leave; Town To Hire Temp Interim Clerk
April 17, 2024
The Century Town Council voted Tuesday night to seek a temporary interim town clerk.
“Yes, Leslie (Howington) is still the town clerk, but she’s out for a couple of weeks,” Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said of Town Clerk Leslie Howington.
“There’s a lot of work because we have these new city managers, and we have a lot of moving parts, and it’s getting a little bit overwhelming for Leslie…getting overwhelming for the office staff,” he said. “We are calling in the temp to do an assessment to see how we can keep everything moving in the office and catch up a lot of work that’s missing this (council) table. There’s stuff on this agenda that should have been carried two months ago.”
“At not at liberty to discuss why Ms. Howington is not here, but she’s still employed here and she’s still our clerk,” the mayor said. “With that said, we need help, whether she was here tomorrow, we still need that help.”
Howington told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday that she is on temporary medical leave and did not wish to disclose her specific circumstances.
Gomez said the hire would be like a contract, paid from American Rescue Plan funds and could be limited to a day or two per week using a temporary service.
The council voted to authorize Gomez to retain a temp service to provide interim town clerk services for a period not to exceed six months. The council did not specify a dollar limit or budget.
Howington was Century town clerk from 2010-2018 before resigning for another position. She was rehired in 2021.
Pictured: Century Town Clerk Leslie Howington uses her phone to find information for council members during a Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shutout Win For Tate Baseball As They Honor ‘84 National Champ Aggies
April 17, 2024
Tate 12, Washington 0
The Tate High School Aggies baseball team honored their national championship legacy Tuesday night as they shut out Washington 12-0 in Cantonment.
The 1984 Tate baseball team (35-1) won both the state title and the national championship and Tuesday night was their 40th reunion. The current Aggies wore commemorative jerseys with the number “84″ on the sleeve to honor the team.
Kaleb Posta earned the win for Tate Tuesday night, giving up one and no runs over a complete five-inning game.
Bray Touchstone had a three-run RBI home run for the Aggies in the bottom of the fourth. Trey Rebber and Madox Lan both had two hits for Tate. Connor Hassell and Quiggins were back-to-back in the lineup and they both had three RBIs.
The Tate Aggies will be at West Florida on Wednesday.
Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tates Boys Tennis Are District Runner-ups; Two Tate Girls Finish Second
April 17, 2024
The Tate Aggies boys tennis team finished as District 3A runners-ups on Tuesday.
The Aggies boys will travel to the first round of regionals next week at Leon High School in Tallahassee.
KJ Crow and Sloane Inacio were runners up in their No. 1 girls doubles match at districts.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
