Study To Consider Realignment, Four-Laning Of Beulah Road To A Relocated Kingsfield Road
May 16, 2023
The Escambia County Commission this week will consider funding a study on realigning Beulah Road to accommodate a proposed Kingsfield Road relocation project.
The Beulah Road extension would be studied as a rural four lane divided, limited access road, which would likely begin as two lanes in the near future and ultimately expand to four lanes, according to the county. The proposed Beulah Road Extension also includes a new I-10 interchange.
The western extension of Kingsfield Road has been designed and permitted. It consists of rebuilding the existing roadway westward a half mile from County Road 97 and the construction of a new road one mile to the west.
The proposed $911,000 Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) Study will consider the safety and environmental impacts of the Beulah Road realignment. It will take approximately 18 months to complete.
The Escambia County Commission will consider funding for the study at their meeting on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Meet Buster, ECSO’s Newest K-9 In Training
May 16, 2023
Meet Buster, the Escambia County Sheriff’s office newest K-9 officer in training.
Buster will be in training for the next few months, learning to track and locate items like firearms.
And, yes, Buster will be out meeting the public soon.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sexual Predator Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
May 16, 2023
Inmate Jason Silvestre assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Silvestre is serving a 30 year sentence for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 and sex battery from a 2014 Orange County conviction. He was designated as a sexual predator, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
UPDATE: Boil Water Advisory Lifted Between North And East Chipper
May 15, 2023
UPDATE THIS BOIL WATER ADVISORY WAS LIFTED ON FRIDAY, MAY 19 AFTER TESTS SHOWED THE WATER WAS SAFE TO DRINK.
A water main break was reported Monday between North Chipper Road and East Chipper Road that may have led to a disruption in water service.
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for all Cottage Hill Water Works customers on North Chipper Road and East Chipper Road until further notice
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
Man Charged With Murdering His Brother Near Flomaton Saturday Night
May 15, 2023
An Evergreen, Alabama, man is accused of murdering his brother near Flomaton Saturday night.
Shawn Miller, 42, was charged with murder. He remains in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton where he is being held without bond.
Miller was at his brother’s home about 9 p.m. in the 3700 block of Old Foshee Road, just off Highway 113, about four miles north of Flomaton. He got into an argument before shooting and killing his brother, 49-year old Benjamin Miller, according to Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson.
The sheriff said Shawn Miller also got into a physical altercation when another family member. That victim was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition.
Jackson said Shawn Miller will likely face additional charges as the investigation continues.
Plans Filed For Wawa At Nine Mile, Beulah Road Intersection
May 15, 2023
Wawa is headed to Beulah.
The popular convenience store chain has submitted plans for a 6,119 square foot location at the corner of Beulah Road and Nine Mile Road.
Initial plans were filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee for store to be located on 17.37 acres. Plans show limited access only from westbound Nine Mile Road and full access from Beulah Road.
Another store is planned this year for HIghway 98 at North Blue Angel Parkway. Wawa said there are three or four additional locations in Escambia County still under consideration, with a goal of 6-10 locations by 2025.
Last April, Wawa announced they were actively looking for potential sites for new stores in the Pensacola area, along with Panama City, Tallahassee and Mobile. Current plans are for Wawa to open up to 40 stores in these markets beginning in 2024.
In 2022, Wawa marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of its first Florida store. The store opened July 18, 2012, in Orlando across from SeaWorld. Since then Wawa has expanded rapidly throughout the state and opened its 250th store in Florida last year. Today, Wawa employs almost 10,000 associates across the Sunshine State.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Scholarships To Tate, Home-School Seniors
May 15, 2023
The Barrineau Park Historical Society recently awarded five academic scholarships.
The recipients were:
- Chloe Cole, a Tate High School senior who plans to attend the University of Florida and major in veterinary medicine.
- Annalisa Pusateri, a Tate High School senior who plans to attend the University of Alabama and major in business.
- Isabella Borg, a Tate High School senior who plans to attend Florida State University and major in biological science.
- McKenzie Brown, a home-school student who plans to attend the University of West Florida and major in nursing.
- Brayden Clarke, a home-school student who plans to attend Florida State University and with no declared major.
Pictured above: (L-R_ Chloe Cole, Annalisa Pusateri and Isabella Borg. McKenzie Brown and Brayden Clarke were unable to attend the presentation and are not pictured. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Landowners Can Apply For Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Program
May 15, 2023
Applications are being accepted for the 2023 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program for non-industrial, private forest landowners through June 9, 2023. The Florida Forest Service program includes 44 northern Florida counties – the known range of the southern pine beetle — including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
“Most of Florida’s forests are privately owned, many by small family landowners,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “This program helps to protect the health of our pine forests – one of our most valuable resources in providing clean air, water, and timber.”
The southern pine beetle is one of the most economically devastating forest pests in the Southeastern United States, with periodic outbreaks destroying thousands of acres of pine timber. The last major southern pin beetle outbreak in Florida, between 1999 and 2002, caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses on over 24,000 acres.
“Southern pine beetle outbreaks have the potential to destroy thousands of acres of pine timber,” said Rick Dolan, Director of the Florida Forest Service. “The most effective way to minimize losses is to prevent infestations through active forest management.”
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the U.S. Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who have overstocked pine stands and need to conduct a first thinning. In addition, it offers partial cost reimbursement for activities that can mitigate southern pine beetle activity, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program promotes forest management practices that reduce the risk and impacts of southern pine beetle infestations. Since it was first offered in 2005, the program has been implemented on more than 205,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners.
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, visit: FDACS.gov/SPBPrevention.
Florida Gas Prices Drop For The Third Consecutive Week
May 15, 2023
Florida gas prices dropped eight cents per gallon, last week. The state average has now declined three consecutive weeks, for a total discount of 24 cents per gallon, since mid-April.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.48 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since April 6.
In Escambia County, the average was $3.14. The North Escambia low was $3.05 at stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices were as low as $2.91 at the warehouse clubs.
“Weakness in the oil market has contributed to the recent drop in gas prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “That weakness has been driven by domestic economic concerns. Underwhelming Chinese economic indicators have also created uncertainty about global fuel demand. With continued volatility in the fuel market, it’s unclear whether this downward trend will continue in the lead-up to the busy Memorial Day travel weekend.”
Mesa, Banfield Help Blue Wahoos Complete Birmingham Sweep
May 15, 2023
The Blue Wahoos again return from a road trip as one of the hottest teams in Minor League Baseball.
Outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. and catcher Will Banfield combined for seven RBI – each hitting home runs – as the Blue Wahoos rallied from an early deficit for a 9-7 victory to complete a six-game sweep against the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field.
It was Pensacola’s eighth consecutive win, matching a franchise record the Blue Wahoos also tied two weeks ago, and the team’s 16th win in their last 17 games. It also matches the longest streak of any team in MILB.
The win extended the Blue Wahoos’ (22-11) lead in the Southern League South Division to three games ahead of the Biloxi Shuckers.
Mesa Jr. had one of the game’s biggest hits with his 3-run, go-ahead homer in the fifth inning. He finished an outstanding week at the plate with two homers and 11 RBI in the series.
Closer Sean Reynolds recorded his sixth save in seven attempts with a scoreless ninth inning. He gave up a two-out walk, then got Chris Shaw, who had homered earlier, to fly out to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos Joe Rizzo provided a two-run cushion when he smashed a two-out, solo homer in the ninth.
Every Blue Wahoos hitter in the starting lineup reached base. Seven different batters scored runs.
The Barons (11-22), the Chicago White Sox affiliate, sustained their ninth consecutive defeat. They had not been swept at home since 2015 in any series longer than four games. They are now 4-18 at Regions Field this season.
The game started in Birmingham’s favor.
Making his second start of the week, the Blue Wahoos’ Evan Fitterer had his first rough inning in four outings.
The righthander gave up leadoff walk in the second inning that was followed by Adam Hackenberg’s 2-run homer. He then hit a batter with one out and Moises Castillo came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
Fitterer, who joined the Blue Wahoos in late April, won his first three starts, allowing just two runs on eight hits. But Sunday he had thrown 64 pitches with one out into the fourth inning and finished with 72 pitches, 40 for strikes.
He allowed just two hits, but one was the big homer. He walked three, struck out four and had two wild pitches.
But the Blue Wahoos answered with five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Mesa Jr. hitting a 3-run bomb over the right center wall that chased Barons starter Garrett Davila. On the first pitch from reliever Yoelvin Silven, Blue Wahoos catcher Will Banfield hit a fastball over the left wall.
Dane Myers drove in the first run with a single.
The Barons came back to tie the game in the sixth on a solo homer by Chris Shaw off Christen Charle, followed by Moises Castillo to score Ben Norman, who singled, moved to third on a stolen base and wild pitch.
In the seventh, Nasim Nuñez led off with a single, Troy Johnston was hit by a pitch and Myers walked to load the bases. Mesa followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Nunez. Banfield then hit a two-run double off the right-center wall.
Blue Wahoos reliever Dylan Bice pitched out of jams to keep a one-run lead.
The Blue Wahoos return home Sunday night following the game in Birmingham and will have Monday off before beginning a six-game homestand on Tuesday against the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate. It will be the teams’ first meeting since the 2022 Southern League Championship Series.
The Blue Wahoos captured their first outright league title on Sept. 28 against the Smokies in Kodak, Tennessee with consecutive road playoff wins.