Updated: Where’s The Sign? Speed Limit Lowered On Portion of Highway 29
April 14, 2009
(Updated 11:30 a.m.) The speed limit on Highway 29 has been lowered on the north side of Cantonment, and a NorthEscambia.com story published this morning led traffic engineers to realize that a 65 mph speed zone was gone due to a missing sign.
From Neal Road north to Molino, the speed limit was to be 65 mph north and southbound, but the company contracted to install speed limit signs for the Florida Department of Transportation failed to install the 65 mph sign in the northbound lanes at Neal Road — making the posted speed limit 55 all the way to Molino.
Russ Flowers, a supervisor will Transfield Services says that a miscommunication led to the missing sign. He said it will be installed within the next two days, after appropriate paperwork is approved. That sign will officially return the 65 mph speed limit to Highway 29 northbound from Cantonment to Molino.Transfield was the contractor hired by the state to install the signs.
The southbound signage on Highway 29 is correct, with a 65 mph zone from Molino to Cantonment.
Dozens of NorthEscambia.com readers and local law enforcement members contacted us this morning after our orginal story to alert us of the missing sign. We contacted the Florida Department of Transportation and Transfield Services to alert them to the missing sign.
Below is the original story as published this morning:
“It was decreased and extended further to the north in order to provide a smooth transition between the 45 mph speed limit…and the 65 mph speed limit,” according to Tommie Speights, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation.
The 45 mph speed zone was expanded north to near the intersection of Harvest Hill Drive near Cantonment Building Materials.
The 55 mph speed zone was moved north to near Neal Road.
From near Neal Road north, the speed limit remains at 65 mph to Molino, just as it has since 1996, Speights said.
The speed limit changes encompasses both the northbound and southbound lanes.
Escambia Consolidation Bill Headed For House Vote
April 14, 2009
The Florida House bill that, if approved, would led to the formation of a commission to study the consolidation of the governments of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County has cleared three required house committees and is headed to a House vote.
The Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee cleared the bill on an 11-0 vote Monday afternoon, clearing the way for the entire Florida House to consider the bill.
The Finance and Tax Council and the Economic and Community Affairs Policy Council had previously cleared the bill sponsored by State Rep. Greg Evers.
If the bill is approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, a consolidation study commission will be formed in Escambia County.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would presented to Escambia County voters.
Century, Pensacola and Escambia County will not be required to pay for the commission, under the house bill, but they will be required to provide clerical, technical and legal assistance to the commission.
The commission, to be appointed by July 1 of this year, would include up to 25 members from various groups in the county.
The commission will include:
- Five members appointed by the Escambia County Commission, with one member being appointed from each district
- One member appointed by the Century Town Council, with that member being a resident of Century
- Two members appointed by the Pensacola City Council, both of them being residents of Pensacola
One member will be appointed by each of the following groups:
- NAACP
- Escambia County Taxpayer’s Association
- League of Women Voters of Pensacola Bay Area
- Pensacola Young Professionals
- Pensacola Ministerial Alliance
- Escambia County Farm Bureau
- Home Builders Association of West Florida
The president of the University of West Florida will appoint one member with expertise in local government matters. The sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of court and supervisor of elections will each appoint one member.
The chief judge of the First Judicial Circuit will appoint two Florida Bar members with legal expertise in local government matters.
One member will be appointed by the Escambia County School Board, and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will appoint a member.
A special advisory committee on public safety will be appointed under the house bill, consisting of the following or their designee:
- Escambia County Sheriff
- Pensacola Police chief
- Escambia County Community Corrections Bureau
- Escambia County Public Safety Bureau Chief
- Pensacola fire chief
- Escambia County Medical Director
- chairperson of the Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board
- Police Benevolent Association of the City of Pensacola
- Police Benevolent Association of Escambia County
- Chapter of of the International Association of Firefighters of the City of Pensacola
A special advisory committee on economic development will be appointed, including members appointed by the following groups:
- Pensacola Junior College
- Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce
- Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board
- Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce
- local chapter of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce
- Florida’s Great Northwest
- Town of Century Chamber of Commerce
- Walnut Hill Ruritan Club
- Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce
An advisory committee on health care will be appointed by:
- Baptist Health Care
- Sacred Heart Health System
- West Florida Hospital
- Escambia County Health Department
- Escambia County Medical Society
Click here to read the entire bill (pdf format).
Teacher Disciplined For Using Racial Slur; SCLC Says N-word Is Problem In Escambia Schools
April 14, 2009
A white teacher in North Escambia County has been disciplined for using racial slurs in an email that referred to a black custodian as “the n” and “Miss Maid”. Meanwhile, the Pensacola Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference says that the use of the “N”-word is a problem in Escambia schools.
Jennifer Dickens, a seventh grade reading teacher at Ransom Middle School, wrote the email to the school’s assistant principal, saying “I’ve had it with the n who is supposed to be cleaning my room” in reference to problems she had with the quality of work from a black custodian at the school.
The spokesperson for the Pensacola chapter of the SCLC, Art Rocker, sent an email to the media Monday night with the subject line “Use of the word ‘Nigger’ is an epidemic with staff and administrators at Escambia County School District”.
Rocker refers to a preliminary finding by a U.S. district judge in the case of Karen Broughton, a black woman, who is suing the Escambia County School District for discrimination. Broughton’s lawsuit was filed two years ago after she says she was transferred from Warrington Middle School to Pensacola High School after she complained a white co-worker used the “N”-word in front of students. A U.S. district judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit on a motion by the school board.
Later today, the SCLC will release a copy of a letter written to Florida’s education commissioner. In a copy of the letter obtained by NorthEscambia.com, Rocker suggest that Gov. Charlie Crist “do a press conference on the ‘n’ word, where educators use it loosely with our children in the Escambia School District”.
“This term is most inflammatory, degrading and insulting to African-American students and staff,” Rocker’s letter says. “The use of this term is also very unprofessional and unethical.”
Rocker claims that the use of the “N”-word has occurred at Ransom Middle School, Pensacola High School, Escambia High School and Woodham Middle School. Rocker also calls for certification revocation for six people in the school district, including former Superintendent Jim Paul, Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Allan Scott and three others.
“The past leadership of Escambia County must leave, now, under the Jim Paul bigotry team, SCLC is requesting new leadership, new staffing and revocation of all participants licenses,” Rocker wrote in his email to the media. “These people should not be allowed to oversee students, parents or staff.”
The SCLC plans to hold a press conference today to further explain their position and their letter to the state’s education commissioner.
Sheriff Schedules North Escambia Town Hall Meeting
April 14, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan will conduct a Town Hall Meeting for citizens of Northern Escambia County Thursday, April the 30th at 6 p.m. in Molino.
The purpose of the meeting is to meet with citizens, particularly from Northern Escambia County, and answer any questions that they may have, according to the sheriff’s department.
The meeting will take place at tFran’s Country Grill, 5539 Highway 29 in Molino. The public is encouraged to attend.
All Aboard: Flomaton Area Railroad Museum
April 14, 2009
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum houses a look back at the area’s railroad past, and the museum is asking for your help.
The museum is looking for individuals that have knowledge of local history to share that knowledge, and they are looking for historical items for the museum. In addition to railroad items, the museum is in search of other local history items related to local history in and around Flomaton, South Flomaton (present day Century) and the surrounding area.
“Flomaton and the surrounding areas have a rich history,” said the FARRM’s Publicity Director Betty Jones. “The museum is a place everyone should visit.”
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, located on Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) at College Street, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and it also serves as the official Flomaton Welcome Center. Admission is free.
The group now has over 70 charter member families, and they are seeking new members. Membership is $20 yearly for a family, $10 for seniors.
The group meets every second Tuesday of the month, including tonight, at the museum. For more information on the Flomaton Welcome Center and the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, call (251) 296-1100.
Click here for a photo tour of the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum.
Pictured top: One of the displays in the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum includes the backdrop painting from Flomaton’s Centennial Play last year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Monday’s Storms Cause Flooding, Destroy Barns And Flood Roads
April 14, 2009
A slow moving line of storms Monday morning caused a few problems across North Escambia and surrounding areas.
In North Escambia, many roads flooded temporarily as five to six inches of rain fell in some areas in the span of just a few hours. Jakes Road between Jones Road and Reynolds Lane was washed out and remains closed this morning. The seldom-traveled dirt road is in the extreme northwest corner of North Escambia in the Nokomis community.
In Escambia County, Alabama, more flooding was reported, with the Atmore Fire Department forced to rescue the elderly occupant of flooded home on South Main Street near David’s Catfish.
In the Robinsonville community of Escambia County, Ala., emergency management officials reported one barn destroyed, one barn badly damaged, a small shed destroyed, four broken power poles and a few downed trees in the area of Nall Road to Pouncey Road.
EMA officials said the damage occurred in an area three-tenths of mile wide and three-fourths of mile long extending from the southwest to the northeast. There were no injuries reported.
Pictured above: The remains of a barn and water tank in the Robinsonville community in Escambia County, Ala. Pictured below: Rain falls Monday morning at Century Woods Apartments on Highway 4. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Voters Head To The Polls Today In Escambia Alabama
April 14, 2009
Voters in eight southwest Alabama counties, including Escambia, will head to the polls today in a special election to begin the process of filling the state senate seat vacated when Sen. Pat Lindsey died in January.
Three Republicans will be on today’s primary ballot — Danny Joyner, a Brewton businessman; Greg Albritton, a former state representative from Range; and Judy Belk, a Citronelle businesswoman. The Republican winner will face Democrat state Rep. Marc Keahey of Grove Hill, the only Democrat in the race.
Polls will be open in Escambia County, Ala., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If one of the three Republicans does not emerge as the clearcut majority winner, there will be a runoff on June 2. The election between the Republican nominee and Keahey will be July 21.
The winner will fill Lindsey’s term in the Alabama Senate until November 2010. The job pays $52,646 plus expenses.
Flood Warning Issued For Escambia River
April 14, 2009
A flood warning is once again in effect for the Escambia River near Century.
The National Weather Service has extended the flood warning from late this morning until further notice.
At 9 p.m. Monday, the state was 15.7 feet with no flooding occurring. Flood state is 17 feet. The river is forecast to rise above flood stage late Wednesday morning and continue to rise to 17.7 feet by early Thursday morning. At 17 feet, the weather service says considerable flooding of lowlands will occur.
Stanford Achievement Test Today For First, Second Grades
April 14, 2009
First and Second grade elementary school students will take the Stanford Achievement test Tuesday.
Bratt Elementary School offers the following tips for doing well on the test:
(1) Get plenty of sleep the week of the test. Everyone thinks better when they are rested.
(2) Eat breakfast. Breakfast give you energy for thinking through challenging questions.
(3) Arrive at school on time. If you are here on time, you will be able to take the test in your regular classroom setting.
(4) Be at school every day during the week of the test so that you do not have to take makeup tests.
(5) Read carefully and always do your best!
More Rain Possible Tonight; 45 Degrees Tuesday Night
April 13, 2009
(Updated 5:00 p.m.) More rain is possible in North Escambia by midnight tonight, and cooler weather is on the way.
Here is your complete National Weather Service forecast for the remainder of today:
Tonight…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tuesday…Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night…Clear…cooler. Lows in the mid 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday…Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. North winds around 5 mph.
Thursday…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
Thursday Night…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.
Friday…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
Friday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Saturday…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
Saturday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Sunday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Sunday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Monday…Partly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.