These Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Areas
March 12, 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 (Gregory Street) McGuire’s St. Patrick Day 5K Run Downtown Pensacola – Motorists will encounter a road closure on Gregory Street, Garden Street, and Bayfront Parkway Saturday, March 11 from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the St. Patrick Day Run.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter the following alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, March 12 through Saturday, March 18 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Crews will be performing miscellaneous paving operations and work on the wrong way detection system.
- 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 April. 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.
- 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 Sunday, March 12 through Thursday, March 16 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave 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 nighttime lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 17 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder widening work.
- 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 outside lane closures on Navy Boulevard southbound, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, Friday, March 10 through Friday, March 17 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be working on curb, gutters, and sidewalks.
- 9th Avenue (S.R. 289) Routine Bridge Maintenance over I-10 Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures just north of S.R. 742 Wednesday, March 15 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- S.R. 292 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Bayou Chico Bridge – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures just south of U.S. 98 Wednesday, March 15 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- Beulah Road Routine Bridge Maintenance over I-10 Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of Alabama line Thursday, March 16 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- S.R. 173 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Bayou Marcus Bridge – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures north of S.R. 298 Thursday, March 16 from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- I-110 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Cross Street Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures south of S.R. 752 (Texar Drive) Friday, March 17 from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 29 Routine Bridge Maintenance over U.S. 90 Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures north of I-10 Friday, March 17 from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- S.R. 296 (Brent Lane) Routine Bridge Maintenance over CXS Railroad Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures west of I-110 Friday, March 17 from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) Turn Lane Operations Sharon Lane – Motorists may encounter intermittent northbound outside lane closures Monday, March 13 through Thursday, March 23 for turn lane operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter the following alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, March 12 through Saturday, March 18 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Crews will be performing miscellaneous paving operations and work on the wrong way detection system.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Construction crews have temporarily shifted eastbound traffic to the westbound bridge over Simpson River. The shift is expected to be in place through March 2023. During this time, there will be two westbound lanes and one eastbound travel lane using the westbound bridge. Due to the traffic shift, there will not be dedicated bike lanes on the bridge. Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they will be temporarily sharing the bridge with cyclists. Drivers are also reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through 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, March 12, through Friday, March 17, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Convicted McDavid Felon Charged With Weapons Offense, Narcotics
March 11, 2023
A convicted felon from McDavid is facing a weapons offense and drug charges after deputies found him in the passenger seat of a stolen car, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Travis Floyd Winters, 25, was charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and two counts of possession of a control substance without a valid prescription. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday with bond set at $12,500.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Cumberland Farms on Pine Forest Road in reference to a stolen Chevrolet Impala. They arrived to find the vehicle parked by the gas pumps with Winters sitting in the front passenger seat.
Deputies recovered a small bag of cocaine, a bag containing alprazolam (a controlled substance) and a bag that contained a 9 mm round. The items were located near Winters’ seat belt buckle, according to an arrest report. Other suspected narcotics and paraphernalia were found in other locations in the vehicle, and a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun was found underneath the driver’s seat. Winters was only charged for the items found near his seat belt.
Winter denied the items near his seat belt buckle belonged to him. He said he was just getting a ride from the driver of the vehicle, a female he had only known for about a month. She fled the store on foot before deputies arrived.
According to the ECSO, Winters has seven felony convictions, the most recent of which was February 28 for possession of cocaine.
Time Change: Spring Forward. And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries.
March 11, 2023
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
It’s also a good time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarm.
Daylight saving time ends November 5, unless that’s changed by Congress.
Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have said repeatedly the practice of “falling back” as daylight saving time an antiquated process that should come to an end. They say year-round DST would reduce car crashes, reduce crime, improve physical fitness, reduce energy use and benefit agriculture.
Local Elementary Schools Compete In Science Olympiad
March 11, 2023
Local elementary schools recently competed in a Science Olympiad. Here are the results.
Overall
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School (pictured above)
- Molino Park Elementary School (pictured below)
Event: Starry Starry Night
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Beulah Elementary School
- Brentwood Elementary School
Event: Estimania
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
Event: Tennis Ball Catapult
- AK Suter Elementary School
- Scenic Heights Elementary School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
Event: Rock Hound
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Pine Meadow Elementary School
Event: Robotics
- McArthur Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
Event: Mystery Powders
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Lipscomb Elementary School
- NB Cook Elementary School
Event: Write It, Do It
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Scenic Heights Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School
Event: Graph A Graph
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
Event: Robotics Face-Off
- Beulah Elementary School
- Scenic Heights Elementary School
- AK Suter Elementary School
Event: Science Bowl
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
Trial By Fire: 15 Escambia Fire Cadets Complete Live Fire Exercises
March 11, 2023
On Friday, 15 Escambia County Fire Rescue Cadets went through a trial by fire.
The group completed introductory live burn training, exposed to flames, heat and smoke for the first time in their fire academy training. The exercise was completed in a controlled environment with fire from hay and pallets.
With 36 class days remaining, the cadets will now move forward to the second portion of the program, developing more technical skills that are required for the job.
In their part one training, they completed lessons in fire behavior, fire attack and a vehicle fire simulation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shooting Of Escamba Man By Walton Deputies Ruled Justifiable
March 11, 2023
The State Attorney’s Office has determined that the shooting of an Escambia County man last November by deputies in Walton County was justified.
The Florida Department of Law enforcement investigated the death of 39-year old Jesse Mavrick Minton after he was shot and killed by deputies.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Five Guys in Miramar Beach in reference to a suspicious person attempting to sell drugs and a firearm to multiple restaurant employees.
According to FDLE, deputies arrived to find Minton in a dumpster, and he did not comply with multiple verbal commands When he pointed a gun in the direction of two deputies, they discharged their weapons. Minton was struck multiple times and died at the scene.
There were no other injuries.
South Walton Tops Northview
March 11, 2023
The Northview Chiefs fell to the South Walton Seahawks 7-0 Friday night in Santa Rosa Beach.
The Seahawks were up 4-0 by the end of the first inning and added one run in the third and two in the fourth. The game was scoreless in the final three innings.
Jamarkus Jefferson pitched three innings, allowing five hits on five runs and striking out five. Cason Burkett went for three, allowing four hits and two runs while recording two strikeouts.
Wyatt Scruggs had the only hit of the night for the Chiefs with a single in the second inning.
The Chiefs will return to action following spring break as they travel for a rematch with Pensacola Christian Academy on Tuesday, March 21. Last Thursday night, Northview shut out PCA 12-0.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Critical After Highway 97 Wreck; FHP Says It Was The At Fault Driver’s Second Wreck Of The Day
March 10, 2023
A teen girl was critically injured when the car in which she was riding was rear-ended Thursday afternoon on Highway 97, and troopers say it was the second wreck of the day for the at-fault driver.
A Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 51-year old Pensacola woman was northbound on Highway 97 at Pilgrim Trail when she rear-ended a Hyundai Sonata driven by a 56-year old Molino woman., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The Hyundai then left the roadway and crashed into a large tree.
The driver of theHyundai and a 15-year old female passenger were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital.
According to FHP, it was the second crash on Thursday for the pickup truck driver; troopers said she was involved a wreck earlier in the day while driving a car. FHP said the woman was not impaired and was issued a citation.
For additional photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Blast Washington 18-4 (With Gallery)
March 10, 2023
The Tate Aggies blasted the Washington Wildcats 18-4 Thursday night.
Brayden Touchstone led the Aggies in the hitting onslaught, going 5-6 with a seventh inning home run. Cliften Quiggins went 4-6, while Drew Reaves and Madox Land were 3-4.
Four pitchers — Aiden Byrd, Colton Swiers, Rilee Lowery and Tristin Lynn — combined to allow just four hits and three runs while striking out 15.
The Aggies will host the annual Aggie Classic next week during spring break.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Fire Marshal Now Investigating Suspicious Century Mobile Home Fire
March 10, 2023
The Florida State Fire Marshal is now investigating the cause of a fire at a vacant mobile in Century early Thursday morning.
The fire was reported by a passerby about 4:30 a.m. in the 6800 block of North Century Boulevard, just south of Upton Road.
The single-wide mobile home was fully involved in fire when the first units arrived on scene and was a total loss, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue.
The fire was brought under control by 5:04 a.m. There were no injuries reported.
The southbound lanes of Highway 29 were closed during the incident.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.