EREC Holds Annual Meeting (With Photo Gallery)
April 30, 2023
Escambia River Electric Cooperative members held their annual meeting Saturday at Jay High School.
Dozens of door prizes were awarded, most of them electric, and one lucky member won the grand prize of a Ryobi electric riding lawn mower. Additional prizes will be awarded in a few days from among those that voted absentee.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Members met in a business session after voting on board members and bylaw revisions. Running unopposed, JD Powell was reelected to the board of directors for Escambia County. For Santa Rosa County, John Wesley Scott was elected to the board with 406 votes, while other top vote getters Mickey Diamond received 335 votes and William G. Cozart received 227 votes.
Three bylaw revisions were also approved by a wide margin.
Jonathan Chambers, a partner in Conexon, provided an update on fiber internet service that will become available to all EREC members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. NorthEscambia.com will provide additional coverage in an upcoming story.
Northview High School senior Drake Driskell and Century High School senior Elisabeth Stowers were recognized as winners of the annual Herman D. Johnson Scholarships, providing each of them with $1,000 per year for four years of college.
EREC was formed in 1939 with 88 members in their first month. The cooperative now serves about 10,000 members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with 1,800 miles of energized line.
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NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Want To Speak At An Escambia Commission Meeting? There’s An Online Form For That.
April 30, 2023
If you want to speak at an Escambia County Commission Meeting, or one of their public forums, there is now an online form for that.
The new speaker form is available by clicking here, or on the county’s “Meetings” webpage. In-person forms will still be available prior to the start of public forums and board meetings.
Citizens wishing to speak at the public forum will be heard immediately prior to the regular BOCC meeting. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes, unless otherwise determined by the chairman. Speakers will not be able to donate their minutes to another speaker. The Gary Sansing Public Forum is intended for matters not included on the agenda for the regular meeting. Citizens wishing to address items on the agenda must indicate such items in the sign-up form.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
April 30, 2023
Jim Allen Elementary School recently named their April Students of the Month. They are Emma Arnold and Brantley Knapp. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Zones
April 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:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, April 30 through Saturday, May 6 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 1, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- 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 summer when the Welcome Center improvements are 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 on this section of East Nine Mile Road has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- · Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and intermittent turn lane closures Sunday, April 30 through Thursday, May 4 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews place thermoplastic 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 shoulder and lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 5 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder construction.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter alternating nightly lane closures from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., beginning Sunday, April 30. Crews will be milling and resurfacing the roadway.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century - Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through May. The two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. 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 Innerarity Point Road and Bauer Road, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, April 30 through Thursday, May 4. Crews will be performing paving operations.
- Davis Highway Routine Maintenance at Olive Road – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, May 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to install an overhead sign.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30/Gulf Breeze Parkway/Navarre Parkway) Resurfacing of select 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 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, April 30 through Saturday, May 6 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 1, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Widening of the westbound bridge over Simpson River has been completed. The westbound structure now supports two westbound lanes, two eastbound lanes, and dedicated bike lanes. Drivers may encounter temporary and intermittent lane closures on the bridge for crews to address any maintenance issues that may arise. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- 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, April 30, through Friday, May 5, 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, May 1 through Friday, May 5 for paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Corridor Improvement near Navarre Beach Causeway – Motorists will encounter nighttime lane closures Monday, May 1 and Thursday, May 4 for construction activities.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Suspended By Rain In Montgomery
April 30, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits saw their Saturday night game suspended due to rain in the sixth inning in a 2-2 tie.
The game will be completed on Sunday at 1:30, with the regularly-scheduled series finale to follow at 3:33.
Pensacola strung together four singles from Victor Mesa Jr., José Devers, Dane Myers and J.D. Orr to take a 2-0 lead against Jacob Lopez in the second inning. Montgomery eventually worked back to a tie against M.D. Johnson, getting an RBI single from Evan Edwards in the second and a game-tying RBI single from Alika Williams in the fifth just before the tarp was pulled on the night.
written by Erik Bremer
Alabama Woman Killed, Three Injured In Beulah Intersection Crash
April 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol said an Alabama woman was killed and three people were injured Friday night at a Beulah intersection.
The crash happened about 8 p.m. at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road.
FHP said a pickup truck driven by a 36-year old Cantonment man was traveling east on Nine Mile Road and turned left in front of a westbound SUV driven by a 71-year old Seminole, Alabama, woman.
The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene, and her passenger, a 55-year old man also from Seminole, was seriously injured.
The Cantonment man suffered only minor injuries. An 8-year old passenger in his pickup truck was seriously injured when he was ejected from the vehicle. FHP said neither was wearing a seat belt.
The FHP continues to investigate.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos and photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navy Secretary Commits To Further NAS Pensacola Museum Access
April 29, 2023
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro committed to taking further action to allow public access to the museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola, including access to the museum without entering through the base.
His comments came in response to an inquiry from Congressman Matt Gaetz during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on the Navy’s 2024 budget request.
Del Toro told Gaetz that the Department of the Navy is focused and actively working on near-term and long-term solutions to maximize public access to the National Naval Aviation Museum.
“Congressman, I’ve been working with you, your staff, local politicians, and the leadership of that museum actually to try to get the throughput through that museum open as quickly as possible,” Del Toro said. “We’ve come up with some near term solutions, but we’re also focused on finding the long term solutions that actually bring it back to maximum throughput for that museum for all the reasons that you just stated because it is an extraordinary museum.”
“Where I at times struggle with folks is seeing the museum not just as a morale and welfare tool, but as a recruiting tool. Do you see it as a recruiting tool,” Gaetz asked.
“I absolutely see it as a recruiting tool,” Del Toro replied. “I saw it from the first day that I stepped in it. We have actually been very energized, and we’ve come up with some near-term solutions to increase the throughput that already paid off dividends, but we’re also looking at the long term solutions that are a little bit more costly to be able to provide a direct access to the outside world without having to have folks come in through the base itself.”
Gaetz responded, “Well, thank you for casting in that lens because if it’s a matter of dollars and cents, and I have to ask my colleagues to support such an endeavor in the NDAA, I’ll certainly cite your testimony that this isn’t just a museum for the sake of recreation, but it is a way to engage people in naval aviation in a place that’s the home of the Blue Angels – the cradle of naval aviation.”
Milton Slips Past Tate 4-3 (With Gallery)
April 29, 2023
The Tate Aggies fell just short of a comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Milton Panthers Friday night at Tate.
Milton held a 4-0 lead by the third inning, but the Aggies had three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Kate Balagbagan went for two and a third innings for Tate, giving up eight hits and four runs while striking out one. Jordan Smith went for four and two-thirds in the circle, allowing no hits and no runs while recording no strikeouts and two walks.
Kara Wine was 2-3 at the plate to lead the Aggies. Blakely Campbell, C Vinson, Amber Laird and Peyton Womack added one hit each.
The game closed the regular season for the Lady Aggies as they head into the district playoffs next week.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
FHP Says New Evidence Indicates Different Wrong-Way Driver Caused Fatal I-110 Crash
April 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol says new evidence “strongly suggests” that a female driver was at fault in an April 22 fatal wrong-way crash on I-110.
Following the crash, troopers said a 38-year old Escambia County man was driving his car northbound in the southbound lanes of the elevated portion of I-110 near Garden Street at 4:03 a.m.. His vehicle collided with another car driven south by a 24-year old Pace woman.
The 24-year old woman was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The 38-year old man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Friday, FHP said that further investigation suggests it was the Pace woman traveling the wrong-way, and the Pensacola man was traveling the correct direction.
“Both families have been informed that new evidence has been discovered that may strongly suggest the female driver was actually traveling in the wrong direction and not the deceased,” FHP Lt. Jason King told NorthEscambia.com on Friday.
He went on to explain how their determination changed.
“When the press release was originally pushed out, that was a preliminary investigation based on what we had at the time of arrival on scene,” King said. “Our traffic homicide investigators are dedicated men and women who focus on their investigations. They’re very thorough and focus on all evidence receive which is why we take a little bit of extra time to complete a traffic homicide report. As a neutral party in investigation, our job is to ensure all details, and all evidence is received, reviewed and vetted as we continue our investigation for a final conclusion of what actually occurred. Our goal is to find closure for all that have been involved.”
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Ragsdale Homers As Northview Drops Regular Season Finale To Crestview
April 29, 2023
The Crestview Bulldogs downed Northview 5-1 Friday night in Crestview.
Chloe Ragsdale had a homer for the Chiefs over the center field fence for Northview’s only run as she went 1-4. Jamison Gilman, Emma Gilmore and Makala Golson were all 2-3 at the plate.
Gilman was in the circle for two innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out two. Emma Gilmore threw four innings, giving five runs, three hits and striking out four.
The game wrapped up the regular season for the Chiefs (13-11) as they move into the district playoffs next week.
Pictured: Northview’s Chloe Ragdale hit a homerun Friday at Crestview. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.