Escambia River Floodwaters Begin To Drop
January 2, 2016
The Escambia River is continuing to drop following heavy rains earlier this week.
Early Saturday morning, the Escambia River was at about 20 feet and expected to fall below flood stage of 17 feet by Tuesday.
The Molino Fairgrounds Park remains flooded by the Escambia River (pictured top). A house on Fairground Road in Molino was completely surrounded by water Friday, with the residents forced to come and go on a tractor (pictured below).
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commissioners To Hold RESTORE Act Workshop
January 2, 2016
A special Escambia County Board of County Commissioners’ workshop will be held on Monday, January 11 to discuss the RESTORE Act. The workshop will be held at 1 p.m. at the Kugelman Center for Telecommunications, in the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, at Pensacola State College, located at 1000 College Boulevard., Building 23.
Update: FHP Returns Lost Items To Owner
January 2, 2016
Here’s an update to a story NorthEscambia.com reported a few days before Christmas. The Florida Highway Patrol found a box on Highway 29 near Becks Lake Road in Cantonment that contained several new items that may have been intended to be Christmas presents.
Now, we are told that the box was returned to its rightful owner.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
January 2, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (9th Avenue), Escambia County- Crews will resume paving operations Monday, Jan. 4 between Bayou Boulevard and Creighton Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Cervantes Street will also encounter intermittent and alternating daytime lane closures as crews adjust manholes and valves.
- I-10 Widening, Escambia County- Alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 to allow crews to perform shoulder repairs. The right lane of I-10 east and westbound, near the Scenic Highway overpass at exit 17, will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 through Friday, Jan. 8. In addition, traffic in the left lane of I-10 east and westbound will be slowed by FHP to escort vehicles during this time. Crews will be setting beams for the new Scenic Highway overpass.
- 9th Avenue (S.R. 289) and Creighton Road (S.R. 742), Escambia County- The southbound outside lane on 9th Avenue and westbound outside lane of Creighton Road will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4 through Wednesday, Jan. 6 as crews perform construction activities.
- I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Monday, Jan. 4 as crews perform bridge work. Closures will continue Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January. Alternating east and westbound lane closures between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/ Exit 22). Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January.
- U.S. 98, Santa Rosa County- Alternating lane closures between Live Oaks Village shopping center and the Gulf Breeze Zoo from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. beginning Monday, Jan. 4 as crews complete work list items. Lane closures will continue Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
In-Person Registration Begins Today For Cantonment Softball, Baseball
January 2, 2016
Registration begins today for baseball and softball at the Cantonment Sportsplex.
In-person registration dates will be every Saturday in January (including this today, January 2) and the first two Saturdays in February from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Teams will be available for ages 3-14. The registration fee will be $85.
Online registration is available at www.cantonmentbaseball.org/Register.
Donations of new and gently-used equipment will be accepted on registration Saturdays.
2015 In Photos: June
January 2, 2016
Today, we continue our look back at the year 2015 in photos with a look at June.
Brent Brummet, principal of Ransom Middle School, and John Spolksi, principal of Fort Walton Beach High School, stopped by the office of Rep. Jeff Miller in Washingto to discuss education policy.
A Little Free Library was made available in Carver Park in Cantonment.
The winners of the $25,000 Century Business Challenge were named at the Century Business Center. Judges decided to split the $25,000 prize — with $20,000 going to East Hill Academy to be used toward a special needs school in Century and $5,000 to the Abundant Life Children of Hope Center childcare center.
Gov. Rick Scott wrapped up a whirlwind seven-city “tax cut victory tour” with a stop in Pensacola, touting a tax-cut package that he signed into law last week.
A member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit with a one-pot meth lab discovered during a traffic stop in Century.
A brush and grass fire consumed a few acres west of Century on a June afternoon.
A new Healthy Start location opened in Century.
Benjamin Michael Stott of Bratt was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank.
Magical Poodles performed at the Century and Molino libraries as part of their Summer Reading Clubs.
FWC freshwater fisheries researchers and herpetologists recently caught an alligator gar, alligator snapping turtle and an American alligator while conducting different studies at the same time on the Escambia River.
The Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center held a VPK graduation ceremony.
A June sunset in Walnut Hill.
The Tate High School Class of 2015 graduated in June at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Schools and Escambia County Fire and EMS conducted a joint training exercise at Woodham Middle School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Holiday Road Construction Break Continues In Florida
January 2, 2016
New Year’s Day may be over, but Florida drivers will continue to get a break from road construction just a little longer.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has suspended highway construction projects on major roadways across Northwest Florida. There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions through Monday, January 4 . All major roads will be open to normal traffic.
Although no construction closures are scheduled over the holiday weekend, existing state highway work zones will remain in effect. Motorists are reminded to use caution while traveling through work zones around barricades and equipment.
FDOT is encouraging drivers to allow extra travel time and to use extra caution in existing work zones along state highways. Drivers are urged to make sure they buckle up, along with their passengers. FDOT and other safety agencies also ask drivers to obey speed limits, get adequate rest before traveling, avoid distractions and never drink and drive.
Drivers also are urged to be prepared for unscheduled highway closures due to accidents, disabled vehicles or other events. Motorists should be alert to changing weather conditions while traveling.
Travelers can access Florida’s 511 service from cell phones, landlines, and the Internet at www.FL511.com to receive updates on travel in the area.
2015 In Photos: July
January 2, 2016
Today, we continue our look back at the year 2015 in photos with a look at July.
Afternoon temperatures approached 100 degrees in late July.
A deployment ceremony was held in Juy in Pensacola for the Florida Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment. Almost 100 members of the squadron are deploying to the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Town of Century completed a $176,000 paving project on several streets.
A July North Escambia sunset.
Traffic on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill was transitioned to a temporary roadway and bridge, part of the replacement of a 75-year old bridge over Little Pine Barren Creek.
The Town of Century held budget workshops to prepare for their new fiscal year.
The Pensacola State College youth gymnastics team flipped, tumbled and entertained during a display at the Century Branch Library as part of their Summer Reading Series.
Fire destroyed this mobile home south of Century on North Canoe Road during July.
Darrin Smith of Byrneville caught this huge flathead catfish on the Escambia River near Bluff Springs using a rod and reel. The fish weighed in at 50.5 pounds — 4.5 pounds short of the state record.
The Blue Angels did not disappoint during their annual show on Pensacola Beach.
Fat Albert was also a hit during the annual airshow during July at Pensacola Beach.
Fireworks let up the sky during a show sponsored by Century and Flomaton at Hurricane Park.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
James Stephen Fore
January 2, 2016
James Stephen Fore, 75 of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2015, in Atmore. He was employed for Atmore Industries (Samco). He was born on December 17, 1940, in Robinsonville, to the late Edward Davison and Doskie Bozeman Fore. He also worked with Poarch Creek Indians Gaming in security. He was a member of the United Pentecostal Church of Atmore.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Willie Lois McGhee Fore; brother, Earl Fore; and sister, Nancy Miles.
Survivors include three sons, Cecil Ray (Jeanne) Corey of Poarch, Harold Glen (Debbie Heeres) Corey of Robinsonville, Edward “Eddie” Phillip (Cassie) Fore of Atmore and more than 30 foster children; two brothers, Edwin Fore of Robinsonville and Kenneth (Lori) Fore of Titusville, FL; grandsons, Caleb Corey, Cody (Lauren) Nall; granddaughters, Megan Lopez, Caitlyn Corey, Leandra Corey, Parker Corey, Kaylen Fore, and Kenzie Fore; great-grandchildren, Kendall Corey and Aurora Rosabell Lopez; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held Friday, January 1, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Derek Gobert, Sis. Mary Gibbs, Rev. Steve Breceda and Rev. Steve Pendelton officiating.
Interment was in New Home Cemetery at Poarch.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Hit And Run Driver Kills Bicyclist In Escambia County
January 1, 2016
[Updated 2:30 p.m.] A bicyclist was killed by a hit and run driver early Friday morning, becoming Escambia County’s first traffic fatality of the new year.
About 12:05 a.m., an unknown vehicle eastbound on Mobile Highway at Green Street struck the bicyclist, later identified as 52-year old Eddie Ray Hunt, and did not stop, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bicyclist was traveling against the flow of traffic when he was hit.
The vehicle is believed to be white with damage to the front or right side. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000.