State Approves Ascend Air Operating Permits With No Increase In Emissions
January 31, 2022
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has issued, or is in the process of considering new and renewed air operation permits for the Ascend Pensacola Plant.
This facility is renewing its existing operating permit to account for new reporting requirements and rule changes and also working on a concurrent construction permit for maintenance and equipment upgrades. There are no increases in emissions in two of the permits, according to FDEP.
“These permit applications are standard five-year renewals of our existing air operating permits. No changes to air emissions are noted or requested,” an Ascend spokesperson said.
If an application is approved, another permit could result in insignificant dimethyl ester emissions, FDEP said.
The application “would authorize Ascend to upgrade and modernize the Dimethyl Ester (DME) production unit through various instrumentation changes and replacement of outdated equipment. It will also authorize Ascend to implement upgrades to the Hexamethylene Diamine (HMD) production unit and the Low-Pressure Diamine (LPD) unit to improve the effectiveness of these processes. The project is expected to result in an increase in DME production and facility-wide emissions could increase; however, the project will not result in a significant increase in emissions of any Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) pollutant. There will be an opportunity to provide public comment on this project when the department takes action on it,” FDEP told NorthEscambia.com in an email.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Railroad Crossing Closures Set To Begin In North Escambia, Including Quintette Road
January 31, 2022
There will be temporary closures of several CSX railroad crossings beginning today in the North Escambia area.
The temporary closures will be at the railroad crossings as follows:
- Quintette Road (detoured to Highway 90)
- Barth Road
- Brickyard Road
- Cottage Hill
- Fairground Road
- Daffin Road
“The roads above will be temporarily closed at different times throughout the closure period depending on maintenance schedule,” according to a news release from Escambia County. Specific dates and times have not been provided.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High Girls Weightlifting Team Competes In Districts, Regionals
January 31, 2022
The Tate High School Girls weightlifting team recently attended the FHSAA Class 3A District 1 Championships at Niceville High School and the Class 3A Region 1 Championships at Flagler Palm Coast High School in Saint Augustine.
The following athletes qualified for regionals in snatch:
Ashley Beddell
Addyson Chinchar
Lanie Brown
Sidney Forst
Finley Sheffield
The following athletes qualified for regionals in bench with clean and jerk:
Ashley Beddell
Natiya Williams
Emily Mills
Sydney Eaton
Advancement to the state championships will be announced later this week. The Tate High School Girls weightlifting team is coached by Brittany Dunson.
Pictured top: Tate’s competitors at Flagler Palm Coast High School for Class 3A Region 1 championships (L-R) Emily Mills, Sydney Eaton, Finley Sheffield, Lanie Brown and Ashley Beddell. PIctured below: District competitors at Niceville High School with Coach Brittany Dunson. Pictured bottom: Tate High School Girls weightlifting team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Facing Drug Charges After ECSO Executes Search Warrant
January 31, 2022
A Molino man is facing two felony drug charges after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant.
Samuel Cooler, Jr., 30, was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, and possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, manufacture or deliver.
Cooler was in an apartment on East Johnson Road where the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant, according to an arrest report.
According to the ECSO, 12.9 grams of powder cocaine, 8.2 grams of crack cocaine and 634.6 gram of marijuana were found inside the apartment, and an additional 21.1 grams of marijuana was located inside Cooler’s sweatshirt pocket.
Cooler was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Florida Gas Prices Surge 12 Cents Over Last Week
January 31, 2022
Gas prices surged last week, rising an average of 12 cents per gallon in Florida.
Drivers are now paying an average price of $3.35 across the state, which is just a penny less than last year’s high. The 2021 high of $3.36 per gallon was the most expensive daily price since September 2014.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.34.
Sunday night, a low of $3.24 could be found at one station on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while prices were as low as $2.99 in Pensacola.
“The effects of rising oil prices are now beginning to be felt at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Crude oil prices have risen early and often in 2022. The price of crude has already surpassed last year’s highs, driven by ongoing concerns that global oil supplies will struggle to keep up with soaring demand in 2022. Unfortunately for drivers, it doesn’t seem that oil prices will see any significant relief anytime soon. Gas prices may only get more expensive as fuel demand increases because of spring break and summer road trips.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
No Injuries When Driver Hits ECSO Deputy’s Vehicle On Highway 29
January 31, 2022
There were no injuries in a minor wreck involving an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy Monday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 30-year old deputy was traveling southbound on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) in the inside lane. The 19-year old driver of a Nissan Altima was traveling southbound in the outside lane when he attempted to change lanes.
The Altima traveled directly into the path of the ECSO patrol vehicle, FHP said.
Troopers said there were no injuries and minimal damage to both vehicles.
Sen. Doug Broxson Receives God In Government Award
January 30, 2022
Leaders from across the area gathered Saturday morning at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola for the 45th Annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast.
Sen. Doug Broxson was named the 2022 recipient of the God in Government Award.
The purpose of prayer breakfast, which transcends denominational and political affiliation, is to encourage moral and spiritual values in government. The breakfast was started by a group of ministers from the Greater Cantonment-Ensley Ministerial Alliance and is today led by a diverse committee that believes in preserving the original mission of encouraging moral and spiritual values in government.
Heads Up: Security Exercise Begins Monday At NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field
January 30, 2022
Naval Air Station Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field will participate in an annual force protection exercise beginning Monday, January 31 through February 11.
Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2022 is conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command on all Navy installations in the continental U.S.
The exercise is designed to enhance the readiness of Navy security forces and ensure seamless interoperability among the commands, other services and agency partners.
Exercise CS-SC22 is not in response to any specific threat, but is a regularly scheduled exercise.
Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.
Pictured: Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain last year at NAS Pensacola.
Century Charter Review Committee Continues To Work Toward Governmental Rewrite
January 30, 2022
The Century Charter Review Committee is continuing to work toward a rewrite of the document that governs the town.
Last year, the committee decided it would be best for Century to make the elected mayor a weak position, perhaps mostly a figurehead. In October, they voted to make the mayor a council member. But late in 2021, the committee completely reversed directions, deciding that the mayor should be at the head of Century’s government rather than a town manager.
As it stands following a January 2022 meeting, a new charter will call for a mayor-council form of government.
Referring to recent attendance problems with the current town council, the committee has also discussed how to withhold pay for council members that don’t attend meetings or remove them from office. But the committee has struggled with setting the definition of an excused versus unexcused absence.
If the charter review committee completes a rewrite, the changes would go to the town council to decide if the recommendation will go on the ballot for a citizen vote.
The committee is tasked with updating the charter — the document that legally establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The committee has meet periodically since October 2019.
Pictured top: Consultant Buz Eddy speaks to the Century Charter Review Committee as chairperson Mary Bourgeois listens. Pictured below: Committee member Michelle Cunningham (center) takes notes during a recent meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Fourth Graders Compete In Tropicana Speech Contest
January 30, 2022
The top three contestants from each fourth grade class at Jim Allen Elementary School competed in the school’s Tropicana Speech Contest last week.
Jim Allen’s first place winner, Raelyn Dean, will move on to compete against students across the district.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
