Escambia County Commission Cancels COW Meeting Again
August 6, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled Thursday’s planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
Canceling the meeting has become the norm this year.
Here Is The Schedule For This Week’s School Orientations
August 6, 2023
Orientations for many public schools in Escambia County are this week.
- August 7 — 9-11 a.m. — Tate High 9th Grade
- August 7 — 9-11 a.m. – All Elementary Schools
- August 7 — 1 pm — Bailey Middle, Brown Barge Middle, Workman Middle
- August 8 — 9:30 a.m. — Beulah Middle, Ernest Ward Middle
- August 8 — 1 pm — Ransom Middle
- August 8 — 10 a.m. – noon — Escambia Westgate
- August 8 — 1 pm — Ferry Pass Middle
- August 8 — 1:30 pm — Northview High 9th grade and new students
- August 9 — 1 pm — Bellview Middle
Pensacola High, Escambia High, Pine Forest High and West Florida High orientations were last week.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Areas
August 6, 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, Sunday, Aug. 6 through Thursday, Aug. 10 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. 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, Aug. 6 through Thursday, Aug. 10 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, Aug. 6 through Thursday, Aug. 10 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.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295), from the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Work is complete on a $2.6 million construction project to resurface Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295), from north of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292). The project also included curb and sidewalk improvements constructed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), traffic signalization upgrades, and placement of new signs and pavement markings.
- I-10 Routine Maintenance Between Exit 31 (S.R. 87) and Exit 45 (S.R. 189) – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Wednesday, Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for roadway repairs.
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 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 Tiger Park Lane and Bayshore Road Sunday, Aug. 6, through Friday, Aug. 11, 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, Aug. 7 and Thursday, Aug. 10 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – The outside (right) lane of U.S. 90 eastbound on the Simpson River Bridge will be closed Monday, Aug. 7 and Thursday, Aug. 10 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Crews will be placing concrete for the new bridge. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Getting Ready For School: Backpack Giveaway Held At Carver Park In Cantonment
August 6, 2023
A back to school giveaway was held Saturday at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Over 100 students received backpacks filled with the supplies needed to get them started on a great school year.
The event was made possible by the Cantonment Improvement Committee, Ascend, International Paper, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and Nativity Catholic Church.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wait Out Rain And Rally Late For 4-3 Win
August 6, 2023
The Blue Wahoos’ recent good fortune without rain delays at home ran out Saturday.
But they maintained a season-long feat of late-inning success.
After the longest rain delay of the season – two plus hours – the Blue Wahoos erased a sixth-inning 3-0 deficit, got a clutch go-ahead, run-scoring double from catcher Will Banfield in the eighth inning, and pulled off a 4-3 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers before Saturday night fireworks lit up Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Reliever Luarbert Arias earned his first Double-A win for Pensacola after pitching two scoreless innings. He yielded a two-out single in the ninth, then threw a perfect tailing slider to strike out Biloxi’s designated hitter Tristen Lutz and end the game.
He followed a superb night by M.D. Johnson, who pitched seven innings for the first time this season, and was nearly as sharp as his last start at home when he blanked Rocket City in a six-inning outing.
The Blue Wahoos are now 53-3 when leading after eight innings, which is why this team is now 20 games above .500 at 60-40 and on pace to set a franchise record for most wins in a season.
The game was delayed 2 hours and 11 minutes following after a massive thunderstorm with strong winds in the late afternoon engulfed the stadium. It then turned into a slower, steady rain until 7:30 before the field tarp could be removed.
The fans among a once-capacity crowd who waited it all out saw another Blue Wahoos comeback. It led into the fireworks show sponsored Saturday by Hill-Kelly Dodge Chrysler Jeep – a Blue Wahoos charter partner since the inaugural season.
Biloxi hit the first of its three homers Saturday, all solo shots, when Isaac Collins hit a two-out shot in the first inning. Carlos Rodriguez, a Mobile native, made it 2-0 in the third inning with his two-out homer.
In the fourth inning, the Blue Wahoos’ Griffin Conine again showed his defensive skills by making a sensational leaping catch over the right field wall to rob Biloxi’s Ethan Murray of a 3-run homer.
That play, that catch, proved to be a game-deciding moment.
After Shuckers star Jackson Chourio, a 19-year-old phenom centerfielder, hit the team’s third solo homer in the sixth inning, the Blue Wahoos began the comeback. Chourio is one of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball.
But other than those three pitches, Johnson was effective all night working fast and throwing strikes. He allowed just five hits, four walks and struck out four to earn his second win.
Blue Wahoos newcomer Jacob Berry, the Miami Marlins’ top draft pick last year from LSU, hit a sacrifice fly RBI for the team’s first run.
Bennett Hostetler followed in the seventh with a two-run, bases-loaded single that scored Banfield and Victor Mesa Jr. to tie the game. Those led off the inning with a single and walk, followed by Cody Morissette’s walk to load the bases.
In the eighth inning, Berry led off with a single. He moved to second on José Devers’ sacrifice bunt, then over to third on Conine’s groundout. Banfield hit a 1-2 fastball high in the strike zone and just missed a homer off the right field wall for the game-winning RBI.
The Blue Wahoos waited out the weather, knowing it was eventually going to clear. Their previous high for rain delay this year was 1 hour and 16 minutes.
But with the artificial turf surface and drainage system at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the field can drain 16 inches of water in an hour. It can easily handle any extended set of thunderstorms.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to win the series in final game of the six-game homestand on Sunday afternoon.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
New Verizon Tower Constructed Near Walnut Hill
August 5, 2023
A cell tower we first told you about in 2020 is now standing near Walnut Hill.
An application for the 280-foot self-supporting tower was filed on behalf of Verizon in 2020 and approved by Escambia County in June 2021.
Recently the tower was constructed near the end of Wilma Road, just north of Highway 164 about two miles east of North Highway 99. Workers have continued to install equipment on the tower.
The tower is located on a leased 6,400 square foot portion of a parcel.
“Given the demand in this area, this tower is critical to increasing the coverage area and providing a reliable signal for residents and emergency responders within the area,” Verizon wrote in their Escambia County development application.
There’s no word on when service from the tower will go live for customers.
Pictured: A new 280-foot Verizon tower on Wilma Road near Walnut Hill. A worker can be seen on the tower in the top photo (below the equipment, with two buckets). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Teens Charged In Antisemitic Vandalism
August 5, 2023
Pensacola Police investigators have made several arrests in the case involving multiple acts of vandalism. Most of the incidents involved graffiti containing antisemitic messages and symbols in the downtown and East Hill areas of Pensacola. Two of the incidents involved bricks with antisemitic messages being thrown through windows at Jewish places of worship.
Charged in the incidents were:
Waylon Moon Fowler, 17, charged with seven counts of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime, one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief, and one count of felony trespassing in a construction zone.
Wyatt Fox Fowler, 15, charged with seven counts of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime, one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief, and one count of felony trespassing in a construction zone.
Nicholas Pearce Ferry, 16, charged with four counts of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime, and pme count of felony trespassing in a construction zone.
Kessler Alexander Ferry, 18, charged with one count of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime.
Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall said, “The extra hard work of investigators and many others in the Pensacola Police Department paid off today. We hope that these arrests can bring comfort and closure not only to those in our Jewish community, but to all citizens of this great city.”
“We will not tolerate hate crimes in the City of Pensacola,” Mayor D.C. Reeves added. “I greatly appreciate our PPD’s superb investigative work in recent days that clearly delivers an important message: if you conduct cowardly acts of hate in this city in an attempt to hurt or intimidate, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
PPD investigators say further arrests in this case are possible.
Pictured: (top) Kessler Ferry, Nicholas Ferry, (bottom) Wyatt Fowler, Waylon Fowler.
Big Summer Book Sale Raises $12K For Friends Of The Library
August 5, 2023
The Friends of the West Florida Public Library’s Big Summer Book Sale last weekend earned $12,142 over three days.
The next big book sale ss coming September 22-24.
Friends of West Florida Public Library is a non-profit support organization of the West Florida Public Library.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Lodge Lunch Welcomes Jim Allen Elementary Teachers Back To School
August 5, 2023
Cantonment Masonic Lodge #322 helped welcome teachers back to Jim Allen Elementary School with a delicious lunch. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Fishing Violations, Alligator In A Garbage Bag
August 5, 2023
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement recently reported the following activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Allgood and Hahr worked offshore fishing activity and documented three vessels in violation of reef fish rules. One subject was cited for possession of an undersized red snapper and two other captains were cited for possession of undersized greater amberjack and greater amberjack out of season.
Officers Lugg and Burkhead were on vessel patrol near Bayou Grande when they noticed a vessel with fishing gear returning to a nearby boat landing. The officers conducted a resource inspection on the vessel and located an undersized amberjack in a cooler on board the vessel. The operator admitted to keeping the undersize greater amberjack. Officer Burkhead cited the operator for possession of undersize greater amberjack.
Officers Lugg and Burkhead were on vessel patrol in Pensacola Bay when a pontoon boat passed them under Bob Sikes Bridge at a high rate of speed with several people on board. As the subject passed the officers, he took both hands off the steering wheel while the vessel was still underway. The officers stopped the vessel for careless operation and located an empty beer can under the operator’s feet. When asked, the operator, who was under the age of 21, admitted to drinking alcohol. Officer Burkhead conducted field sobriety tasks on the operator, who performed poorly on the tasks and showed several signs of impairment. The officers placed the subject under arrest for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol. The subject agreed to provide a breath sample in which the results were over the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration. The subject was transported and booked into the Escambia County jail.
Officers Ramos and Lugg were on vessel patrol near Pensacola Beach during the annual Operation Dry Water event and discovered a vessel with an operator who showed various signs of impairment. Officer Ramos conducted standardized field sobriety tasks and determined the operator was impaired. The vessel operator was arrested for boating under the influence and asked to provide a sample of his breath as required by law. The operator refused to submit a breath sample. He was issued a civil penalty for the refusal and booked into the county jail for BUI.
While on vessel patrol in Bayou Texar, Officers Lugg and Ramos conducted a marine fisheries inspection on a catamaran with fishing equipment that was pulling into a private wet slip. During the inspection, Officer Lugg located multiple species of regulated and unregulated species on the deck of the vessel that were filleted and not in whole condition. Multiple fillets of vermillion snapper appeared to have been under the legal limit of 10” based on the fillet length. The individual was cited for possession of fish not in whole condition.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Bower was on patrol and observed a vessel in wrecked and junked condition. The vessel is hard aground and unable to be moved under its own power. It will need mechanical assistance to be removed from the shoreline. The owner was located was issued the derelict vessel notification of rights packet and notice to appear citations for storing a derelict vessel upon waters of the state and issued paperwork for an expired registration over 6 months.
Officers Burkhead and Lugg were on vessel patrol when they noticed several untagged bush hook lines in the water that appeared to have been recently placed there. The officers pulled into a nearby boat launch and located a man about to launch his vessel. The officers asked if he had been running lines and he responded he had put some out the night before. The officers located line in the boat that matched the bush hook lines in the water. The subject admitted to placing the untagged bush hooks on the river. Officer Lugg wrote the subject a notice to appear misdemeanor for using untagged bush hooks.
Officers Lugg, Burkhead, and Wilkinson received information from a deputy in Alabama regarding a traffic stop he conducted recently. The stop revealed a fresh, untagged alligator hide in a garbage bag located inside the subject’s vehicle. The subject told the deputy he was on his way to Florida and that the alligator was killed in Florida. The officers gathered information from the deputy and further interviewed the subject about the alligator. The subject admitted to having possession of the untagged alligator hide. Officer Lugg seized the hide and cited the subject with several violations related to the untagged hide.
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.