Fire Prevention Week Story Times This Week At Your Local Library
October 10, 2022
During Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Pensacola Fire Department will visit libraries across the county for special story times.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m. – Bellview Library (ECFR)
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m. – Southwest Library (ECFR)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Pensacola Library (PFD)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Molino Library (ECFR)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Century Library (ECFR)
Thursday, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. – Tryon Library (PFD)
Thursday, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. – Westside Library (PFD)
Tate Volleyball Hosting Dig Pink Event Tuesday To Support Breast Cancer Research
October 10, 2022
Tate High School Volleyball will host a Dig Pink event Tuesday to support the Side-Out Foundation.
The Side-Out dedicates the majority of donations to their own metastatic breast cancer research. In addition to research, Side-Out allocates a portion of their funds to high-quality support services for cancer patients and their families, as well as college scholarships for students.
Tate will host Washington with the freshmen beginning at 4:30, junior varsity at 5:30 and varsity at 6:30. All Tate students who wear pink will get in free.
Pictured: The 2021 Dig Pink event at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Has Filled Every Sworn Position — All 447 Of Them
October 10, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has announced that every sworn position with the agency has been filled — all 447 of them — as of last Friday.
That includes 20 new sworn positions added during the past two years, the agency said.
The ECSO is continuing to accept applications for sworn positions, along with non-sworn openings like an administrative support assistant, dispatcher, accounting and more.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Zones
October 10, 2022
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 front parking lot is temporarily closed as crews work to resurface the pavement. The other parking areas remain open. Temporary sidewalk modifications are also in place while work is underway.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Oct. 9 through Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers may encounter intermittent daytime and nighttime single lane closures and lane shifts, between A Street and Dominguez Street. The closures will allow crews to work on the new pedestrian crossing signals, irrigation system and landscaping.
- Pace Boulevard from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Pace Boulevard and side streets, between Cervantes Street and Barrancas Avenue Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will continue for several weeks as crews work to adjust manholes, and mill and pave the roadways. In addition, pedestrians will encounter alternating sidewalk closures on Pace Boulevard, between Barrancas Avenue and North Palafox Street (U.S. 29), while crews make sidewalk and curb improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the signalized intersections to access the sidewalks on the other side of Pace Boulevard.
- I-10 at the Interstate 110 (I-110) Interchange – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the following ramps from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 as crews install thermoplastic pavement markings:
- I-110 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound.
- I-110 northbound ramp to I-10 westbound.
- I-110 northbound ramp to Davis Highway.
- Davis Highway on-ramp to I-110 southbound.
- I-10 eastbound ramp to I-110 southbound.
- Sorrento Road Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road – Drivers will encounter the following lane closures Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.:
- Reduction to one lane and traffic flagging operation from the Theo Baars Bridge to Innerarity Point Road as crews mill and pave the roadway.
- Reduction to one lane and traffic flagging operations between Doug Ford Road and Bauer Road as crews perform shoulder widening and drainage work.
- Barrancas Avenue Routine Maintenance from Manchester Street to the Bayou Chico Bridge – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Barrancas Avenue and side streets, between Manchester Street and the Bayou Chico Bridge Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for construction operations.
- East Nine Mile Road. (U.S. 90A) 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 will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will now share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures Sunday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 14 for construction operations.
- Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) Pensacola Half Marathon between Weis Lane and Garden Street (U.S. 98) – Motorists will encounter road closures Sunday, Oct. 9 from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the Pensacola Half Marathon. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Oct. 9 through Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent nighttime and daytime lane closures Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14 for 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, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 14 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Settlers Colony Boulevard will remain closed to complete necessary drainage improvements. This closure will remain in effect for approximately 30 days. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will access Settlers Colony Boulevard via Venetian Way and Coronado Drive. Detour signs will be in place. Residents may experience noise, vibrations, and dust during daytime hours as part of this drainage improvement effort.
- S.R. 87 Routine Bridge Inspection over Yellow River – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures south of I-10 Thursday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine bridge inspection.
- S.R. 4 Roadway Maintenance East of Magaha Road in Jay – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14 for paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Rebound On OPEC Production Cut Announcement
October 10, 2022
Florida gas prices took an unexpected turn higher last week, up 16 cents per gallon over the course of four days, in what became the largest weekly increase since June.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $3.33 per gallon. That’s 7 cents more than the average price a week earlier.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.17. Sunday night a low of $3.14 could be found at a station on HIghway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, a few stations were below $3 a gallon.
“The jump at the pump came as a surprise, as this time a week ago, it appeared that the state’s gas tax holiday would pressure prices lower,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, things changed quickly after OPEC and its allies announced plans to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day. This sent oil and gasoline futures prices back to 5-week highs. As a result, the price for retailers to purchase gasoline jumped more than 30 cents, erasing any of the downward progress created by the 25 cent sales tax holiday.”
Century Approves 151% Property Tax Increase At Rare Saturday Afternoon Meeting
October 9, 2022
The Century Town Council approved a 151% property tax increase during a rare Saturday afternoon meeting, but failed to approve a budget due to an advertising error.
No member of the general public attended a public hearing held at 4:30 Saturday afternoon as the council unanimously approved a property tax rate that is 151.68% increase over what’s known as the rolled back rate. The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and was advertised as such.
The council approved a static millage rate of 0.9204 mills, which is a 151.68% increase over the rolled back rate of 0.3657.
The tax increase was so great that state law required a unanimous vote of the body for approval, or a special referendum at the ballot box.
The council was also set to give final approval to a $5.8 million budget for the fiscal year that started on October 1. Action on the budget was tabled after it was discovered that a balanced budget was not advertised due to an apparent typographical error made by the town. The typo in the budget summary public notice for the meeting showed $10,000 more in expenditures than revenue; state law requires that a budget balance.
Pictured top: No member of the general public attended a final budget public hearing held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Century. Pictured below: The Century Town Council discusses a 151.68% property tax increase at the hearing Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Students Of The Month Treated To Pizza Party
October 9, 2022
Bratt Elementary School’s Students of the Month enjoyed pizza with the principal during recent party. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Chiefs Take On The Cantonment Cowboys (With Photo Gallery)
October 9, 2022
The Northwest Escambia Chiefs celebrated homecoming Saturday and welcomed the Cantonment Cowboys to Greg Gibson Field in Walnut Hill.
Scores were as follows:
6U – NWE 6 Cantonment 12
8U – NWE 0 Cantonment 6 OT
10U – NWE 30 Cantonment 0 (Clock turned off in second quarter)
12U – NWE 26 Cantonment 18
For a photo gallery from the 12U and (a few) from the 10U, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flags Were At Half Staff Sunday For National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day
October 9, 2022
Flags across Florida were at half staff Sunday for National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.
Each year in October, the fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice saving and protecting their communities are honored.
Last year, fallen Escambia County Assistant District Chief Dwain Bradshaw was honored at the Florida Fallen Fallen Firefighter Memorial at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala.
Bradshaw was recognized as a line of duty death on November 6, 2019, from a motor vehicle accident.
Bradshaw, 41, lost his life during the early morning hours of November 2019 in the line of duty on scene of a fatal crash on the Muscogee Bridge. He was a volunteer district chief at the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, volunteer assistant district chief for the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, and lived a life of public service.
Bradshaw was also a Department of Defense firefighter at Naval Air Station Pensacola, an U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Mississippi Air National Guard and a former police officer in Bay Minette.
Incumbent District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh Pre-files To Seek Reelection In 2024
October 9, 2022
Incumbent Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh pre-filed Friday to see reelection. He pre-filed as a Republican for the 2024 election.