Rain Likely Today
January 22, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 45. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Muscogee Road Work About 60 Percent Complete
January 22, 2018
Work is about 60 percent complete on the first phase of widening and drainage improvements for Muscogee Road from Highway 297A to the Perdido River.
Muscogee Road was closed from Beulah Road to Carlisle Road in late September for the installation of a water main, reconstruction of a portion of the roadway, and construction of 5-foot shoulders. Traffic has been detoured via Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road to Highway 112 in Alabama.
The current section scheduled to be completed and the road reopened, barring any weather delays, by the end of February.
There are still three phases to come in the overall project:
- Perdido River to Beulah
- 90% Design under review
- Easements needed from Water Management District; request pending design completion
- Design completion pending construction funding
- Carlisle to 97
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right-of-way
- Escambia County staff is following up with residents for participation
- 97 to Nowak
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right of way
- Escambia County staff is following up with residents for participation
Since this is a freight corridor, the roadway will be designed and constructed to accommodate the heavy traffic load.
District 5 Road And Bridges Town Hall Meeting
January 22, 2018
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will host a Roads and Bridges Town Hall meeting today at 5 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Ruritan Building at 7850 Highway 97. Residents are invited and encouraged to attend the open forum event to discuss issues with their commissioner.
Pictured: The construction on the Molino Road bridge over Penasula Creek as seen in October. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Four Northview Weight Lifters Earn Medals At Regionals
January 22, 2018
Four members of the Northview High School weightlifting team earned medals Saturday during the regional meet at Baker School. They were (L-R) sixth place Crystal Douglas and Lexi Broadhead, and fourth place Abigail Nelson and Natasha Walker. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Official’s Comments Stir Up Florida Offshore Oil Drilling Debate
January 22, 2018
Despite U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s declaration last week that Florida wouldn’t be considered as part of a White House offshore oil-drilling proposal, waters near the state’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts may continue to be under review.
But that all depends on how to interpret comments from Walter Cruickshank, the acting director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. He told members of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Friday that there has been “no formal decision yet on what’s in, or out, of the five-year program.”
“We are following the process conducting a full analysis of all areas included in the draft proposed program,” Cruickshank added.
Democrats quickly pounced on his statement that “no formal action” has been taken on Zinke’s announcement. Yet Cruickshank also said Zinke’s statement “stands for itself,” the secretary’s decision would be “reflected in the proposed program” and that Congress has treated Florida waters differently, noting a decades-long moratorium against oil drilling in an area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico used by the military for air and sea training.
Cruickshank had been asked why Florida was carved out of the plan, as governors and leaders of other coastal states have sought similar exemptions to the one Zinke announced after flying into Tallahassee International Airport on Jan. 9.
Zinke, appearing alongside Gov. Rick Scott at the airport, said Florida coastal waters would be removed from plans to open previously protected parts of the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. In making the decision, Zinke praised Scott, an ally of President Donald Trump, for working with the administration.
Scott hailed Zinke’s announcement, while some others questioned the quick decision and manner of announcement as an attempt by the Trump administration to further Scott’s political career.
In a release Friday, the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — a Democrat expected to be challenged for his seat later this year by Scott — said Cruickshank’s comment confirms that Zinke’s airport announcement was a “political stunt” and not an official policy.
The drilling proposal was introduced less than a week before Zinke’s trip to Tallahassee. Scott and Florida politicians from both parties voiced opposition to opening waters beyond the nation’s outer continental shelf — a jurisdictional term describing submerged lands 10.36 statutory miles off Florida’s west coast and 3 nautical miles off the east coast.
Sierra Club Florida Director Frank Jackalone called Cruickshank’s testimony an administration “flip-flop” that should be an embarrassment for Zinke and Scott.
“It also makes a mockery of the entire offshore planning process and this administration’s ability to do its job and responsibly manage America’s public lands and waters,” Jackalone said. “Zinke’s promise to take Florida ‘off the table’ was never anything more than a PR stunt to greenwash Governor Scott’s record, but Floridians won’t be fooled.”
Nelson has filed legislation to permanently ban drilling off Florida’s coasts and on Wednesday placed a “hold” on the confirmation of three Interior Department nominees, which he said would remain in place until Zinke rescinds the current draft five-year drilling plan and replaces it with a new draft that fully protects Florida’s coasts.
Asked about Nelson’s legislation on Thursday, Scott said he had not seen what was being proposed, but maintained his opposition to offshore drilling.
“I’ve been clear, I oppose offshore drilling,” Scott said.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 22, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of January 22-26:
Monday, Jan. 22
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
District 5 Roads and Bridges Town Hall - 5 p.m., Walnut Hill Community Center and Ruritan Club, 7850 Highway 97N
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave.
FDOT U.S. 98 (West Garden Street) at Barrancas Avenue Public Hearing - 5:30 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
Delta Contractors Concrete/Asphalt Recycling Facility Permit Renewal Town Hall – 5:30 p.m., Marie K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center & Park, 6405 Wagner Road
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Quasi-Judical Hearing-Rezoning – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting – 5:10 p.m., 1 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, Jan. 25
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors/Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission Board of Directors – 8:30 a.m., 321 N. De Villiers St.
Escambia Extends Permit Fee Waiver for Freeze-Related Pipe Damage
January 22, 2018
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners has extended the waiver for permitting and inspection fees for damages to plumbing piping related to the recent hard freezes in the area.
Fees will be waived until close of business Wednesday, January 31. The waiver is not retroactive, and refunds will not be issued for fees incurred prior to January 4.
Please note that this waiver only applies to permit and inspection fees. Permits are still required as usual.
The waived fees were proposed by the Escambia County Building Services Department and the Building Services Inspection Fund Advisory Board in an effort to lessen the hardship or cost to the consumer for freeze-related pipe damages. Once the consumer obtains a plumbing contractor to make the appropriate repairs, they will obtain the permitting with the waived fees reflected.
The Town of Century approved a similar fee waiver during their council meeting Monday night.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 22, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 11 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Pettey checked a pair of fishermen at Quintette Boat Ramp. He discovered that they were in possession of 120 panfish, 20 over their allowable daily bag limit. A notice to appear citation was issued for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was working late at night in the Blackwater State Forest when he observed two vehicles with a bright light being shined from the driver side window of the first vehicle. As he watched, the driver shined the light into the tree line and across an open field on private property. When the two vehicles stopped at a large tree beside the roadway, Officer Hutchinson pulled in behind them and observed one of the subjects standing in the road shining his light in the top of the tree. Officer Hutchison determined that the men were hunting raccoons with the use of a light from a moving vehicle which is prohibited. Officer Hutchison issued the man who used the light a notice to appear for attempting to take racoon with the use of a light from a moving vehicle.
Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr assisted Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with a night hunting case before the 2017 hunting season. The case involved two subjects who killed two bucks in velvet in Alabama at night before the hunting season. Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr caught the subjects in possession of the deer in Florida and worked in conjunction with the Alabama officers to make the case. Officer Hutchinson appeared in court in Alabama along with the Alabama Conservation Officers resulting in a conviction for one of the subjects. The other subject failed to appear in court.
Officer Jones was on patrol in South Santa Rosa County, in Navarre Beach, when he noticed a man exit an old sailboat that was anchored in Santa Rosa Sound. The man boarded a small dinghy and proceeded to the boat ramp. As Officer Jones approached the vessel to conduct a boating safety check, the operator of the vessel turned the vessel and began to motor away. The subject refused to comply with repeated instruction to return to the dock and returned to his sailboat, where he removed the small motor from the dinghy. The operator then paddled to the dock where Officer Jones was located and was placed under arrest for interference with an FWC officer and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The subject was also issued a uniform boating citation for an expired registration.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Congressman Cancels ‘Open Gaetz Day’ Due To Government Shutdown
January 22, 2018
Due to the government shutdown affecting federal agencies and employees, Congressman Matt Gaetz has postponed planned “Open Gaetz Day” events scheduled for Monday, January 22 Escambia County.
Appointments previously scheduled for Mobile Office Hours at PenAir on Nine Mille will go on as scheduled with members of Gaetz’s staff in attendance from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
“While I’d rather be in Pensacola for the scheduled town hall meeting and other planned Open Gaetz Day events, I’ll be at work in Washington to help make sure our government gets back to business and continues funding our military. We will reschedule our town hall meeting soon,” Gaetz said.
For more information or to contact Gaetz’s office about a pressing issue, call (850) 479-1183.
Roy Allen Williams
January 22, 2018
Mr. Roy Allen Williams, 64, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2018, in Atmore, Alabama.
Mr. Williams was a native of Washington, DC, former resident of Clarksdale, MS, and has resided in Atmore, AL, for the past 32 years. He was a retired road master with CSX Railroad with 39 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman, loved to fish and hunt. He was a member of the ABT Messengers Singers and the Atmore Baptist Temple. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jerry R. & Betty Jo Williams, brother, Jimmy Ray Williams and granddaughter, Macey Amerson.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Cathy P. Williams of Atmore, AL; three daughters, Megan Williams Amerson (Ed) of Atmore, AL, Stacey Williams Plant (Eric) of Bratt, FL, and Lauren Williams Beasley (Jace) of Atmore, AL; one sister, Alecia Williams Green of Clarksdale, MS,and t10 grandchildren, Madison Amerson Rolin, Molleigh Amerson, Tanner Plant, Madelyn Plant, Andrew Plant, Luke Plant, Elli Macyn Plant, Kendal Beasley, Kate Beasley and Klaire Beasley.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at 2:00 pm. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Bro. Doug Odom officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, January 24, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ed Amerson, Eric Plant, Jace Beasley, Tanner Plant, Mike Prewitte and Mark Lawrence.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry McElhaney, Alvin Brown, Kenny Stuckey, Joe Chandler, Freddie Fails, Cooper Quinn and Kevin Odom.