Hilson Named FloridaWest’s New CEO
July 31, 2023
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance recently named Brian Hilson as their new CEO. His first day on the job will be Tuesday.
With more than 40 years experience, Hilson previous served as the president & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, president & CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, and executive director of the Japan-America Society of Alabama, in addition to other roles.
FloridaWest Board Chair Rick Byars said Hilson’s deep experience and successes in economic development initiatives made him a unanimous board choice for the position.
“Brian comes with significant wins in Alabama, a close competitor for business recruitment,” said Byars. “His leadership helped lure Toyota and three Mercedes facilities, which resulted in $2.3 billion in investment and 2,700 jobs. These are just two highlights of dozens of economic development successes under his leadership. We’re excited to get Brian on board and engaged in the community.”
“Pensacola and Escambia County have an impressive track record in recruiting and developing businesses,” said Hilson. “The community has much to offer growing businesses as well as people who want to live and work here. We have excellent leadership already in place, not only at the EDA but throughout the community and Gulf Coast region, and my hope is that we will work closely together to bring more economic prosperity to the region resulting in better opportunities and an improved quality of life for all citizens.”
Hilson replaces former CEO Scott Luth, who left in May and is now vice president of Economic Development & Capital Programs at Space Florida.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the designated economic development organization for Pensacola and Escambia County.
Berry Homers, But Blue Wahoos Fall to Braves In Series Finale
July 31, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t end their weeklong road trip with a win, falling 10-5 to the Mississippi Braves on a hot Sunday afternoon.
Jacob Berry was a bright spot, as the Miami prospect capped his first week at Double-A with his first Blue Wahoos homer in the sixth inning of a losing effort.
Cody Morissette got the Blue Wahoos on the board in the second inning with a little help from Victor Mesa Jr. at second base. Morissette flied out to deep right field, but Mesa was able to tag and advance two bases to score the game’s first run.
M.D. Johnson (L, 1-4) ran into trouble in the bottom of the second, allowing three runs on three hits to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. Drew Campbell and Cal Conley hit RBI singles, while Cody Milligan added an RBI double.
The Braves added a run in the fifth on a Luke Waddell RBI double, and blew the game open with a five-run sixth against the Pensacola bullpen. Cade Bunnell hit a solo homer, and Campbell, Waddell and Drew Lugbauer added RBI singles to stretch their lead to 9-2.
That would be more than enough for Mississippi’s Domingo Robles (W, 6-7), who allowed only two runs over 6.0 innings in a quality start. The Blue Wahoos tacked on three runs in the late innings on a Morissette homer and RBI singles from Mesa and Will Banfield, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
With an eighth-inning triple, his fifth of the season and ninth of his Pensacola career, José Devers tied former Blue Wahoo Jose Siri for the most triples in franchise history.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin a six-game home series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Report Details How Deputies Captured Two After Century Burglary In Progress
July 31, 2023
A report details how two suspects were captured after deputies responded to a burglary in progress in Century early Sunday morning.
Jessie Clayton Bell, age 36 of Flomaton, and Robert Zachary Weaver, age 29 of Foley, were both booked into the Escambia County Jail on felony charges of burglary causing $1,000 or more of damage and criminal mischief. Initial bond was set at $52,500 each.
According to a report obtained Monday morning by NorthEscambia.com, a resident on Jefferson Avenue near Pond Street reported about 2:19 that his window had been busted and he believed someone tried to enter the home. He told dispatchers that a male and female were still in his yard, and advised later that a shirtless male ran east toward the old school known as the Century Business Center on Pond Street.
Deputies responded to the Century Business Center and detained Bell.
At the home, two windows were discovered broken from the outside, and bars of the window were broken and pushed inward. Deputies said there were multiple yard and power tools just inside one window.
Each window was valued at about $800.
The suspects’ 2004 Jeep was parked nearby, and a records check revealed it belonged to Weaver’s fiance. The keys were in Bell’s possession when he was detained.
Weaver was located by deputies and a K-9 in Ensley a short time later.
According to jail records, Bell has an outstanding warrant from Escambia County in Alabama, and Weaver was wanted in Baldwin County.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Snapper Rules, River Rescues
July 31, 2023
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement recently reported the following activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Major Rondeau and Officers Hahr and Allgood were patrolling offshore and conducted boating safety and resource inspections on two boats. The boats were in possession of undersized red snapper. Both vessel captains were cited for possession of undersized red snapper.
Officers Allgood and Hahr were on patrol and conducted resource inspections on a boat returning from fishing with a large bag of snapper and other reef fish. The man and woman were in possession of 22 vermillion snapper, two over the bag limit. The captain of the vessel was cited for the bag limit violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lewis was patrolling in the Blackwater State Forest when he encountered a camper he had spoken with earlier about litter around her campsite. As he was talking to her, he observed drug paraphernalia on her car hood. The woman grabbed it and tried to bury it in a mud puddle and ignored Officer Lewis’ commands to stop. As he tried to take the woman into custody, her pit bulldog attacked the officer. The woman was subdued and arrested for resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence.
Officers Burkhead, Lugg, and Ramos assisted in a search for overdue boaters who were trapped in severe weather on Escambia River. The boaters had run out of fuel and were lost on Escambia River after going night fishing. The officers located and assisted the boaters safely back to a local boat ramp.
Officers Wilkenson, Lugg, and Burkhead assisted in a search for two kayakers who were caught in severe weather on Blackwater River. The kayakers launched from Bryant Bridge Road and proceeded down river. Swift current from a storm overturned one of their kayaks. They were able to swim to a sandbar. The officers located them and transported them safely back to a boat ramp with the assistance of Munson Fire Rescue.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Gibson Road Bridge In Molino Has Been One Lane For Two Years. Now It’s Set For Replacement.
July 30, 2023
Escambia County is set to award a $2 million contract this week to replace the 64-year old Alligator Creek bridge on Gibson Road in Molino.
It is a 78-foot wood-supported bridge was constructed in 1959 and is currently beyond its designed service life. It’s also listed as being structural deficient, and there is history of the creek overtopping the bridge. In August 2020, the eastbound lane of the bridge was closed after a failed Florida Department of Transportation inspection.
The proposed replacement bridge will be 102 feet long and over 37 feet wide. The bridge will be a three-span precast concrete structure supported by prestressed concrete piles, and the bridge height will be raised above flood levels. Associated roadway improvements on Gibson Road include approximately 463 feet of roadway replacement and widening.
Gibson Road will be closed for the duration of the project, estimated to be 280 days once construction begins.
Only two companies bid on the project, with the low bid of $1,982,623.88 from RJ Gorman Contracting. An additional $238,286.80 contract is set to be awarded to Neel-Shaffer, Inc. for construction, engineering and inspection services.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the contract awards at a meeting on Thursday.
Gibson Road connects Highway 97 and Crabtree Church Road.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
D.R. Horton’s Proposal Down To $24.1 Million For OLF-8. Here’s Exactly What They Are Offering.
July 30, 2023
D.R. Horton’s offer for the county-owned OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road has been dropped from $42 million for over 500 acres to $24.1 million for 297 acres.
That’s because Escambia County is holding back 241 acres for job creation near the Navy Federal Credit Union campus.
D.R. Horton proposed to use 99 acres for commercial use including restaurants, retail, offices, medical and a town center. The plan also shows 170 acres with 1,133 residential units, including 360 townhomes and 336 apartments.
To read the entire 27-page D.R. Horton offer, click or tap here (pdf).
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots
July 30, 2023
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until fall when the Welcome Center improvements are scheduled to be complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements from Chemstrand Road to east of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete later this summer.
- Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Resurfacing from Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) to west of Pine Forest Road (State Road (S.R.) 297) – Drivers may encounter lane closures, between Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road, Monday, July 31 through Friday, Aug. 4 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night as crews mill and pave the roadway.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Northbound and southbound traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. The shift will be in place through August as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road - Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures, between Theo Baars Bridge and Bauer Road, Sunday, July 30 through Thursday, Aug. 3 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews place pavement markings on the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298) Resurfacing from north of U.S. 98 to east of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) - Drivers will encounter alternating daytime lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Sunday, July 30 through Thursday, Aug. 3 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. as crews perform drainage work.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through fall 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- I-10 Routine Maintenance from Exit 5 (U.S. 90) to Exit 22 (Avalon Boulevard) – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Tuesday, Aug. 1 through Thursday, Aug. 3 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for guardrail repairs.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance at Olive Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for routine maintenance.
- S.R. 296 (Brent Lane) Turn Lane and Intersection Construction at the new Pensacola Christian College Baptist Hospital Campus – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, July 30 through Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operation.
- S.R. 291 (North Davis Highway) Routine Utility Maintenance near East Fairfield Drive – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, July 31 through Thursday, Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30/Gulf Breeze Parkway/Navarre Parkway) Resurfacing of specific areas from Abercrombie Road to Calle De Palencia Street - Drivers on U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway), between S.R. 87 and Calle De Palencia Street, may encounter intermittent nightly lane closures from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road Sunday, July 30, through Friday, Aug. 4, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- I-10 Resurfacing from S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to east of S.R. 87 – Motorists will encounter nighttime east and westbound lane closures Monday, July 31 and Thursday, Aug. 3 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Three People Shot At Olive Road Apartment Complex
July 30, 2023
Three people were shot at an Escambia County apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
Pensacola Police said the shooting happened at the Northwoods Apartments on Olive Road near 9th avenue sometime before 5 p.m.
“Police responded to a local hospital after one of the victims managed to drive themselves to the hospital after being shot,” Officer Gregory Gordon, public information officer, said in a release.
PPD responded to the apartment complex and found “evidence of gunfire”.
At last report, three victims were being treated. An update on their condition was not available.
The investigation is continuing.
Eder Fans Ten As Blue Wahoos Beat Braves 7-2
July 30, 2023
Jake Eder had his most dominant start since his return from Tommy John surgery, striking out 10 batters over 5.2 one-hit innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Mississippi Braves 7-2 on Saturday night.
Eder (W, 2-1) pitched into the sixth inning for the first time this year, allowing only a Hudson Potts solo homer as the Blue Wahoos secured a series win in their six-game set against the Braves.
Bennett Hostetler led the Pensacola offense, opening the scoring with a two-run double against Luis De Avila (L, 5-6) in the second and adding a two-run homer in the sixth.
Mississippi threatened to tie the game twice, but were shut down both times. In the fifth, a leadoff hit batsman came around to score thanks to an Eder throwing error and a Beau Philip RBI groundout to bring the score to 3-2. With the tying run at third base, Eder struck out Cody Milligan to end the inning.
In the eighth, the Braves loaded the bases with an error and two scratch singles before Jefry Yan (S, 11) entered to face Tyler Tolve representing the tying run in a 6-2 game. Yan fanned the Mississippi catcher on three pitches to end the inning, and returned for the ninth to strike out three more batters and earn his league-leading 11th save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and road trip against the Braves on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Continues
July 29, 2023
Florida’s two-week back to school sales tax holiday continues through August 6.
Items exempt from sales tax include:
- Most school supplies selling for $50 or less
- Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less
- Computers and related accessories selling for $1,500 or less (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use)
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less
“Getting ready for the new school year can be an expensive time for Floridians, and that is why I’m encouraging Florida families to take full advantage of the back-to-school sales tax holiday. This tax break will help families ensure their children have all the supplies they need to reach their full academic potential this school year,” said Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis.
For the complete, detailed list, click here.