Work On Brickyard Road Bridge Replacement Continues
September 18, 2014
Work is underway to replace an two-lane bridge on Brickyard Road over an unnamed branch in Molino. Brickyard Road is closed to traffic during the construction process. The $746,853 project is anticipated to be complete in late 2014. The wooden support bridge that is being replaced was constructed in 1960 and was classified as structurally deficient. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Farm Bureaus Complete 1.5 Ton Peanut Butter Donation To Manna
September 18, 2014
The Florida Peanut Producers and the Farm Bureau in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has completed their donation of one and a half tons of peanut butter to the Manna Food Bank.
After discussing the flood that damaged the Manna warehouse and food supply, the Escambia County Farm Bureau voted to spend $1,000 to buy peanut butter, Manna’s most needed item. The Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau board then voted to donate $1,001 toward the peanut butter donation.
When notified of the purchase of peanut butter, the board of directors of Florida Peanut Producers and Ken Barton, executive director and agreed to match the purchase and donated a pallet of peanut butter.
With the two counties cooperation and the match from the Florida Peanut Producers, 2,880 jars of peanut butter were donated. The first pallet was donated back in August, and the second pallet of Peanut Proud peanut butter was donated last week.
File photos.
Judge Takes Aim At Florida Prison Phone Contract
September 18, 2014
An administrative law judge said that the Florida Department of Corrections should toss out proposals by three companies to provide phone services to prison inmates.
The department gave notice this year it planned to award a contract to Global Tel Link, a move that drew protests from competitors CenturyLink Public Communications, Inc., and Securus Technologies, Inc.
The case focused, at least in part, on commissions that the department could receive and how those potential payments were factored into proposals submitted by the companies. In a 53-page decision, Judge John D.C. Newton concluded that Global Tel Link and Securus did not properly include commissions in their pricing proposals.
“Commissions are also critical factors both to the price paid by inmates and their designees and the department, should it collect the revenue,” Newton wrote. “They are also an important variable considered by vendors when they construct their proposals. Basing a decision on prices that do not include commissions when the RFP (the department’s request for proposals) required including them, is contrary to competition, clearly erroneous, arbitrary, and capricious.”
Newton called for the rejection of all three proposals, a recommendation that will go back to the department.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Killed On Mobile Highway
September 17, 2014
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Mobile Highway in front of Walmart this morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 46-year old Leonard Roy Deloach of Mobile was crossing Mobile Highway about 5:50 a.m. when he walked into the patch of a 2003 Ford F-150 driver by 44-year old Daniel Scott of Summerdale.
Deloach was pronounced deceased at the scene. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the FHP.
Northview Chiefs Name Players Of The Week
September 17, 2014
The Northview Chiefs have named Players of the Week from last Friday night’s 24-6 win over Chipley. They are:
OFFENSE
Keondrae Lett –
16 rushes, 221 yards, 3 TD, 13.8 YPA, 1 catch, 3 yards
DEFENSE
Tydre Bradley — 6 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FR
SPECIAL TEAMS
Zach Payne– Onside kick recovery, solo tackle on KO
DOMINATOR
Cameron Newsome — block on 4th touchdown
One Of Two Defendants Enters Plea In Molino Murder
September 17, 2014
One of two people charged with a Molino murder has entered a plea and is set for sentencing.
Debra Burge, 24, has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of second degree murder charge in the death of Harvey Ray Smith. She was originally charged with first degree murder. She will be sentenced in December.
Her co-defendant, 24-year old Zachary Greer, is still awaiting trial on first degree murder charge. He is due back in court in November.
The body of Smith, age 43 of Pace, was found stuffed into a trunk behind a Motel 6 on Davis Highway the morning on May4. Smith had been reported missing in Santa Rosa County. Family members located his vehicle at the motel and then discovered the body.
Reports state Burge and Greer conspired to rob Smith. Burge allegedly lured Smith, her acquaintance, to her home in the 3900 block of Highway 97 in Molino. She told deputies she went inside while Smith and Greer remained outside. When she later exited the home, she found Smith on the ground of the Molino home bleeding. She told Sheriff’s investigators that Greer told her he stabbed Smith and put his body in the trunk of the car that was later driven to the Motel 6 on Davis Highway in Pensacola.
Moving Into A Much Drier, Slightly Cooler Weather Period
September 17, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 87.
Florida DOE Drops Young Elementary Reading Test
September 17, 2014
A test given to young elementary school students will not be used this year, according to the Florida Department of Education. The agency said the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading, or FAIR, assessment will not be administered to students in kindergarten through second grade because of a technical issue.
“With the implementation of new technology this year related to FAIR in grades K-2, some districts have experienced challenges. … Because of this technological glitch and based on the input of superintendents, Commissioner Stewart took action on this matter,” Joe Follick, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement.
The department also emphasized that the “diagnostic” test is used by teachers to help decide how to teach students; it doesn’t determine, for example, whether a student passes or fails.
by The News Service of Florida
Nine Mile Road To Be Four-Laned From Highway 29 To Beulah Road
September 17, 2014
A long awaited project has been funded that will widen Nine Mile Road to four lanes from Beulah Road all the way back to Highway 29.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s Five-Year Work Plan includes $42 million for the project that, coupled with funds from Escambia County, will complete the entire project, including a a previously unfunded section of the roadway between Pine Forest Road and Highway 29.
The inclusion of the new phase for the widening project is the result of a partnership between Escambia County and the FDOT, with the county funding $1.2 million for project development and environmental studies, as well as a design update using Local Option Sales Tax Funds.
Over the next year, the FDOT plans to spend $1.2 million to acquire rights of way to widen the road and to complete environmental work.
Last summer, the FDOT held a public meeting to discuss the widening of Nine Mile Road from two to four lanes along the section of road between at U.S. 90/Mobile Highway and Pine Forest Road – a length of about 5.8 miles – including access management, changes or the design and construction of medians and median openings and storm water treatment ponds. The continuation of the project to Highway 29 will effectively ease congestion and improve traffic flow along the crowded commercial corridor.
Increasing traffic counts and congestion as the area continues to develop caused the reclassification of the road from “rural” to “suburban” and necessitated the redesign of a project originally slated for construction almost a decade ago.
Construction could begin as early as 2015 and, once complete, will support the continued growth of Navy Federal Credit Union, proposed development at the site currently known as Outlying Landing Field 8 and ease access for Nature’s Trail and other residential neighborhoods.
Appliance Sales Tax Holiday Coming This Weekend
September 17, 2014
Another sales tax holiday is on the way this weekend…this time on certain energy saving appliances and fixtures.
Florida shoppers will be able to avoid sale taxes on the first $1,500 the price of new Energy Star and WaterSense products from September 19-21.
The exemption is limited to a single purchase for each specific type of qualifying item having a sales price of $500 or more. There are no quantity limits on qualifying items with a sales price of less than $500.
Items that will be tax free include:
Qualifying Energy Star Products
- Air purifier
- Ceiling fan
- Clothes washer
- Dehumidifier
- Dishwasher
- Freezer
- Light bulbs (packages)
- Refrigerator
- Room air conditioner
- Swimming pool pump
- Water heater
An Energy Star item must be designated bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy as meeting or exceeding the requirements under the Energy Star Program. An Energy Star label must be affixed to the product.
Qualifying WaterSense Products
- Bathroom sink faucet
- Faucet accessory
- High-efficiency toilet or urinal
- Showerhead
- Weather or sensor-based irrigation controller
A WaterSense item must be recognized as water efficient by the WaterSense Program sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. A WaterSense label must be affixed to the product.
This sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of these items.