Highway 97A Traffic Moved To Temporary Bridge
August 6, 2013
After weather-related delays, traffic on Highway 97A over Boggy Creek near Enon was shifted to a temporary bridge mid-morning Monday.
This will allow for demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new structure and approaches. The $1.5 million project is scheduled for completion winter 2014. Motorists may encounter minor delays as crews move traffic to the temporary bridge.
The speed limit will be reduced to 30 mph through the work zone and drivers are advised to use caution while traveling through the area and to be aware that speeding violations will be doubled when workers are present. Construction work could be delayed or rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Pictured: A temporary bridge over Boggy Creek on Highway 97A opened Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bennett’s Chief Of Staff Also Leaving Dept. Of Ed
August 6, 2013
The chief of staff for former Education Commissioner Tony Bennett is resigning after Bennett’s decision to step down.
Dale Chu submitted his resignation Friday in a terse, two-sentence letter to interim Commissioner Pam Stewart. He did not give a reason for leaving.
“Based upon our agreement, I will remain on Annual Leave effective immediately through September 3, 2013,” Chu wrote.
Chu’s decision is not a surprise; he followed Bennett from Indiana after the commissioner was hired in Florida late last year. He will officially step down next month.
Bennett resigned shortly after stories emerged that changes to the grading system in Indiana while Bennett was the elected superintendent of public instruction boosted the marks of a school founded by a political contributor.
ECSO, Pensacola Police To Host Night Out Against Crime
August 6, 2013
The 30thAnnual “America’s Night Out Against Crime” celebration will be held Tuesday 6-8 p.m. at Magee Field at 2500 Martin Luther King Boulevard in Pensacola.
The National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Neighborhoods throughout Escambia County are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “30thAnnual National Night Out” crime and drug prevention event. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Community Drug and Alcohol Council, Pensacola Police Department, Northwest Florida Prevention Coalition and Target encourage residents to join in this family event.
Target will provide free school supplies and hot dogs while supplies last.
Florida Killer Executed
August 6, 2013
John Errol Ferguson, who was convicted of murdering eight people in the 1970s but whose lawyers argued that he wasn’t sane enough to be put to death, was executed by lethal injection Monday at Florida State Prison near Starke.
Ferguson, 65, was sentenced to death for the 1977 murders of six Carol City residents who were killed execution style following a drug-related robbery. Six months later, Ferguson abducted and killed a pair of high-school students in Hialeah.
The execution was set by Gov. Rick Scott on July 23 after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay that had been issued last year because of questions about Ferguson’s sanity.
Attorneys argued that Ferguson’s execution would violate the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, contending that an individual must have a rational understanding of why he is being put to death.
Neiko Robinson Reports To Penn State Football Camp
August 6, 2013
Northview High School graduate Neiko Robinson was at Penn State Monday as the Nittany Lions opened their first day of camp.
The cornerback was due to be on campus in June with the rest of his class, but was not. PennLive.com reported Robinson was not enrolled in classes at Penn State due to “confusion” with his Northview High School transcript, forcing him to stay back home and finish a class.
But a spokesman for Penn State confirmed that the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Robinson was on the Penn State practice field.
Robinson will wear number 20 for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State opens their season Saturday, August 31 at 3:30 ET against Syracuse in a game scheduled to be televised on ABC/ESPN2.
Pictured top: Neiko Robinson receives his diploma from Northview High School principal Gayle Weaver on June 1. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
LaMarre’s Inside The Park Homerun Sparks 6-2 Wahoos Win Over B’ham
August 6, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were led by Ryan LaMarre’s inside the park home run in the third inning in their 6-2 win over the Birmingham Barons on Monday night at Regions Field. Pensacola has won three out of the first four in the five-game set, securing a series win over the Barons. It’s just the third time the Barons have lost a series in their new home.
Already leading 3-2, Pensacola opened up their lead with three runs in the eighth. An error by the shortstop allowed Devin Lohman to reach to open the inning and the door for the Wahoos’ late rally. Travis Mattair delivered the big blow with a two-out two-run double, and scored a batter later on Tucker Barnhart’s double.
LaMarre got the scoring started in the in the first inning, he scored on a sacrifice fly from Mike Costanzo after he doubled to start the game. In the third, LaMarre hit an inside the park home run with a line drive down the third base line.
The Barrons got a pair of solo home runs from Cody Puckett and Trayce Thompson in the third and fourth innings respectively, but that’s all they got while the Blue Wahoos scored four unanswered. Pensacola went up for good when Barnhart scored on a bases loaded ground out by Lohman.
Birmingham’s solo home runs were the only blemishes on the line for Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith (W, 9-8). He was finished after 6.2 innings and struck out seven against just one walk to earn the win. Barons starter Chris Bassitt (L, 2-2) took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits over seven innings.
The Blue Wahoos will look to make it four out of five in the series finale on Tuesday. The Blue Wahoos will turn to RHP Carlos Contreras (1-1, 2.87) against LHP Scott Snodgress (11-7, 3.70). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Regions Field in Birmingham.
Story by Tommy Thrall
Donald Randolph Jernigan
August 6, 2013
Donald Randolph Jernigan, age 70, of Friendship Road in Flomaton passed away Saturday, August 2, 2013, at his residence after a brief illness. He was a native of Pensacola and a lifelong resident of Flomaton. Mr. Jernigan was a recovery boiler operator at Container Smurfit with 41 years of service and a member of the First Friendship Baptist Church of Flomaton.
Survivors include one son, Randy (Stacey) Jernigan of Andalusia; one daughter, Donna (Anthony) Hill of Andalusia; one brother, Bill Jernigan of Flomaton; two sisters, Faye Selman of Forsyth, Georgia, and Joy (Ed) Bray of Fayetteville, Gerogia; four grandchildren, Cody Hill, Cameron Hill, Samantha Jernigan, and Shelby Jernigan and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 7, 2013, from 1 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 7 at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton with the Reverend Howard Henry officiating. Interment will follow in Pollard Cemetery in Pollard with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home officiating.
Fire Rips Through Company’s Dump Trucks
August 5, 2013
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating a Sunday evening fire that destroyed multiple dump trucks in Cantonment. The fire, reported at 6:50 p.m., sent a column of black smoke into the sky that was visible for miles.
Over a dozen dump trucks were parked in a row in a lot at the Roads, Inc. headquarters on Stone Boulevard, just off Highway 29. At least four of the trucks were totally destroyed by the fire, while others were damaged.
Multiple fire stations from Cantonment, Molino and Pensacola responded to the blaze, working rapidly to protect and prevent other dump trucks from becoming involved the fire.
There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal.
Pictured: Multiple dump trucks were destroyed by fire Sunday evening at Roads, Inc. on Stone Boulevard in Cantonment. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Hurt In Cantonment Wreck
August 5, 2013
One person was injured in a two vehicle accident about 8:30 Sunday night at the intersection of South Highway 97 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. The injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The Molino and Beulah Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the crash. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not released.
Pictured: One person was injured in this two vehicle accident about 8:30 Sunday night at the intersection of South Highway 97 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
County, Sheriff’s Office To Discuss Jail Transfer Wednesday
August 5, 2013
The next meeting concerning the transfer of control of the Escambia County Jail from Sheriff David Morgan to Escambia County will be open to the public this Wednesday.
The joint meeting between Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that was originally scheduled for Monday, but was rescheduled for Wednesday to continue negations for the transfer of the Jail and Central Booking operations. The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at 221 Palafox Place in the fourth floor training room within the Escambia County Administration office. This meeting will have limited space and is open to the public.