Concrete Deck Poured Again On Molino Bridge That Collapsed In June
August 12, 2018
The concrete deck as been re-poured at a Molino bridge that partially collapsed on June 30.
Portions of the bridge were removed and reconstructed after the failure of a threaded support rod and temporary truss that caused two deck spans of concrete that had not hardened to fall into water below. The contractor modified their form system to prevent future failures.
The new concrete pour took place in the early morning hours — about 5 a.m. — to take advantage of cooler weather conditions. The estimated completion date is now September 21, 2018. Prior to the form failure, the estimated completion was August 10, 2018.
“The safety of the state’s bridges is a top priority of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Due to our comprehensive bridge maintenance program, Florida has some of the safest bridges in the country,” said Ed Seifert, interim communications director for the FDOT. “Before any bridge is opened to the public, a thorough safety inspection is undertaken by FDOT.”
The June 30 collapse (pictured page bottom) was the second incident at the bridge in June. Earlier in the month, crews were attempting to place concrete in another deck form that failed, causing the deck and truss under the form to sag, he said. That section of bridge deck was removed by the contractor.
GDB-US Constructors, Inc. of Parish, FL, is the contractor on the project, the lowest of four bidders. This was their first bridge project in FDOT District 3, which includes Pensacola to Tallahassee. The bridge is owned by Escambia County; however, the replacement project is being constructed with federal dollars administered by FDOT.
Barrineau Park Road/Highway 196 at Jacks Branch has been closed since January with traffic detoured via Highway 29, Molino Road (Hwy. 182), and Highway 95A.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Below: Collapse photos from June 30, 2018. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge:
Don’t Forget: Breakfast And Lunch Are Free At 45 Escambia Schools
August 12, 2018
Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students, regardless of income, during the upcoming school year at 45 schools in Escambia County.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program means that parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Meal program at that school. However, siblings attending schools not on the CEP list will need to apply for eligibility.
Participating schools are:
Elementary Schools: Jim Allen Elementary, Bellview Elementary, Bratt Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Ensley Elementary, Ferry Pass Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Holm Elementary, Lincoln Park Elementary, R.C. Lipscomb Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, McArthur Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Navy Point Elementary, Oakcrest Elementary, Pine Meadow Elementary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, Scenic Heights Elementary, O.J. Semmes Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, Warrington Elementary, C.A. Weis Elementary and West Pensacola Elementary.
Middle Schools: Jim C. Bailey Middle, Bellview Middle, Ernest Ward Middle, Ferry Pass Middle, Warrington Middle and J.H.Workman Middle.
High Schools: Escambia High, Northview High, Pensacola High, Pine Forest High and Booker T. Washington High School.
Alternative Education/Centers: Camelot Academy, Capstone Academy, Escambia Westgate School, George Stone Technical College (Phoenix Initiative Program), Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy, Judy Andrews, Lakeview Center and McMillan Pre-K Center.
Parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the free and reduced Lunch program at that school — all meals are free.
Families with students attending other ECSD schools are encouraged to apply for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Applications will be sent home or parents and guardians to complete and return to their student’s school.
Pictured top: Sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables and crackers on the lunch menu at Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured below: Lunch at Bratt Elementary and Ransom Middle School. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Additional School Zone Safety Measures Added At New Beulah Middle
August 12, 2018
The Florida Department of Transportation has approved flashing caution lights and additional safety signage for the new Beulah Middle School on West Nine Mile Road, according to Escambia County School Board member Kevin Adams.
He said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas was also able to obtain two electronic billboards to alert motorists about the new school zone.
The Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue will also provide school zone support beginning Monday, the first day of school, in the school zones of Beulah Middle and Beulah Elementary.
The new Middle School start time is 9:10 a.m. and ends at 4:10 p.m.
According to the school’s website:
If you are dropping your child off in the morning you will enter from Rebel Road and enter the gate closest to the track. You will drive straight around the circle and drop off anywhere around the circle and covered walkway. Once you drop off please do not go around other cars, please wait patiently so no one gets hit or hurt. You will exit out the gate closest to 9 Mile Rd.
For pick up
If you will be going East on 9 Mile Rd (that is to the right toward Navy Federal) you will enter the first gate closest to 9 Mile Rd and go straight towardsthe front of the school. You will pick your child up under the covered walk way and proceed straight, go around the island by the cafeteria and back to the front entrance and turn right going out.
If you will be going West on 9 Mile Rd. (toward Alabama) you will enter from the south side of Rebel road by the gate closest to the track. You will pick up your child along the circle and covered area. You will proceed to exit the same gate you came in. You will go South on Rebel Rd. to Beulah Church Rd. you will turn right and go to Mobile Hwy and turn right again until Mobile Hwy intersects 9 Mile Rd. You will turn left on 9 Mile Rd here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Back To School Bash Held At Carver Park In Cantonment
August 12, 2018
A Back to School Bash was held Saturday at Carver Park in Cantonment. The event included free food, fun activities and a backpack giveaway.
The event was sponsored by the Cantonment Improvement Committee, with assistance provided by other groups including the Cantonment Rotary Club and Ascend Performance Materials.
For more NorthEscambia.com photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
PSC Student Tiffany Daniels Missing For Five Years
August 12, 2018
Sunday marked five years since 25-year old Tiffany Daniels went missing, last seen leaving Pensacola State College where she worked as a theater technician.
Her 1999 Toyota 4Runner was found August 20, 2013, in a parking lot of Park West, near Ft. Pickens, on Pensacola beach. Her bicycle and phone were in the vehicle. Extensive searches were conducted in the area near where her vehicle was found.
“It’s like she literally vanished,” her mother Cindy Daniels said at the time.
Daniels is 5-feet 7-inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes. She has tattoos of plants growing from seeds on the top of both feet. Anyone who may have information on Daniels’ location, or her activities before, during and after her disappearance are asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900 or their local law enforcement agency.
UWF Announces Inaugural Argo Athletic Band
August 12, 2018
This fall, fans can enjoy a more traditional atmosphere at University of West Florida football games with the addition of the inaugural Argo Athletic Band. The band will play in the stands at all UWF home football games.
“Participants in the Argo Athletic Band will be part of a new university legacy and tradition. Students will develop friendships and make memories that will last a lifetime,” said Dr. Sheila Dunn, chair of the UWF Department of Music. “We have received tremendous support from community members for the development of this athletic band. It will be a thrill to perform our new fight song live at football and basketball games to help UWF fans and supporters cheer our teams on to victory.”
By creating the band, the University is building on the success of the football program during its first two seasons to establish more traditions and enhance school spirit on campus and in the community.
Previously, a Pep Band played at UWF basketball and volleyball games. Now, the size of the band will increase significantly to appear at UWF football games and game day activities.
“The addition of the Argo Athletic Band will enhance the student life experience and add another element of excitement to Athletic events,” said Dave Scott, athletic director. “Building off the success of the UWF Pep Band at our men’s and women’s basketball home games is something that will benefit the University in several ways.”
The Argo Athletic Band is open to students from all majors and participants will receive a $250 stipend.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Silly Season Turns Toxic
August 12, 2018
Slinging possums, eating corn dogs and navigating putrid waters — all in the dog days of summer — are just a few of the extremes Florida candidates are going to as they try to emerge victorious at the ballot box.
The weeks leading up to elections are sometimes known as the “silly season,” but on numerous fronts in the Sunshine State, “the nasty season” seems a more fitting label.
In their final debate before the Aug. 28 Republican gubernatorial primary, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis jabbed early and often in an hour-long exchange Wednesday.
Putnam, the “establishment candidate” whose ascension to the governor’s office not long ago was considered inevitable, pulled out a pocketful of one-liners during the debate, often tweaking DeSantis for President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the Northeast Florida congressman.
“You’re running on an endorsement,” scoffed Putnam, who also derided DeSantis as “the Seinfeld candidate.” DeSantis, who has ridden Trump’s endorsement to a commanding lead in the race, accused Putnam of being “the errand boy for U.S. Sugar,” among other barbs.
Things got even uglier this week in the matchup between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and supporters of Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican trying to oust the long-serving senator.
In a news release titled “Bill Nelson Tragically Forced to Admit His Memory Is Failing,” the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, on Wednesday attacked Nelson for saying a day earlier that he couldn’t recall a 2010 letter he wrote about delaying the implementation of water-quality standards.
“It’s time for Bill Nelson’s caretakers to keep better tabs on the Senator’s whereabouts and public statements so that he is not embarrassed into admitting he’s no longer dealing from a full deck,” Senate Leadership Fund spokesman Chris Pack said in a news release.
Nelson’s campaign didn’t directly respond to the accusations about senility but instead blamed Scott for toxic algae blooms spreading on both sides of the Florida peninsula, calling the news release “a desperate attempt to distract from Rick Scott’s record of cuts and deregulation that helped create this toxic algae crisis.”
A day earlier, the 75-year-old Nelson bowed up when asked about the not-so-subtle inferences from his 65-year-old opponent’s campaign that the senator is past his sell-by date.
“Any time he wants to have a contest about push-ups or pull-ups, and we’ll see who is not up to it,” Nelson challenged Scott.
Down ticket on the Democratic side, relations for the most part had been relatively cordial, until the advent of Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene. Greene, who made his fortune as a developer, is spewing venom at former Congresswoman Gwen Graham over her family’s involvement in the “American Dream” mega-mall project, which is opposed by environmentalists, in South Florida.
Graham’s father, Bob Graham, earned the admiration of enviros and Floridians during his tenures as governor and U.S. senator for his work to protect Florida’s natural resources.
Gwen Graham, the frontrunner in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, released an ad accusing an unnamed “billionaire opponent” of “attacking me personally, even falsely attacking my dad, Bob Graham.”
Responding to the ad, Greene retorted: “Gwen Graham is no Bob Graham.”
Then, late Thursday, CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede dropped what some considered a bombshell. DeFede reported that Greene once slapped a former waitress on the arm because the music was playing too loud at Greene’s Omphoy Beach Resort, now called Tideline Ocean Resort and Spa.
According to a police report filed a few weeks after the Dec. 28, 2012, incident, waitress Lisa Ann Thomas complained that Greene “smacked me on the arm” and asked her to turn down the music. She told police she was “very offended” by Greene’s behavior and subsequently quit her job, but Thomas didn’t press charges.
“As can be read in the police report, this is simply a case of an employee having a bad day,” Greene spokeswoman Claire VanSusteren said in a press release.
The news of the 5-year-old incident — and Greene’s response — quickly sparked outrage among some supporters of Graham, the only woman in the crowded Democratic field. The National Organization for Women, which hasn’t endorsed Graham, issued a statement demanding that Greene step out of the race.
“This type of assault is rooted in power imbalance, and so it’s unfortunately not surprising that a billionaire like Jeff Greene victimized a female employee. It was incredibly brave of her to report the assault, and we stand with her,” NOW Florida president Terry Sanders said.
VanSusteren blasted back with a statement accusing NOW of choosing to “play politics with the critically important #MeToo movement” and accusing Sanders of retaliating against Greene for criticizing Graham’s environmental record.
WHO WOULD KRAMER SUPPORT?
Putnam, a two-term Cabinet member and former member of Congress, accused DeSantis, a three-term member of Congress, of running a campaign light on Florida issues.
Putnam mocked DeSantis — who has appeared frequently on Fox News — for relying heavily on his endorsement from Trump, likening the congressman’s campaign to the “Seinfeld” sit-com.
“The campaign is being run out of studio. They have a smattering of celebrity guest appearances. And at the end of the day, it’s all about nothing. But unlike Seinfeld, it’s not funny,” Putnam said. “Floridians deserved better than a candidate who makes it all about himself and not about the future of Florida.”
But DeSantis struck back at Putnam, noting the agriculture commissioner has spent his entire adulthood in political office and had accused Trump of being “vile” and “obscene” for sexual comments reported during the 2016 presidential campaign. He also noted Putnam did not campaign for Trump.
“No one knew where he was during the campaign. Now he acts like he is this big supporter?” DeSantis said. “This is inauthentic. This is a career politician trying to tell you what you want to see, not coming from the heart. He’s already proven he will say and do anything in terms of millions of dollars in fake ads to get elected. It’s not working. But that’s what he’s willing to do.”
Putnam shot back that DeSantis has run for three offices — an abandoned U.S. Senate bid, a congressional election and governor — since 2015.
“He’s run for three offices in three years. That’s a career politician with ADD,” Putnam said.
NO MORE REEFER MADNESS
There’ve been plenty of developments on the pot front recently, including the announcement that William “Beau” Wrigley, the heir to the chewing gum dynasty, led a $65 million investment in Surterra Wellness, one of Florida’s 14 licensed medical marijuana operators.
Meanwhile, a Tallahassee judge found a law limiting the number of medical marijuana operators in Florida runs afoul of a constitutional amendment approved by voters two years ago.
A cap on the number of “medical marijuana treatment centers,” as they are known in Florida law, “directly contradicts the amendment,” Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled in an eight-page order.
“Such limits directly undermine the clear intent of the amendment, which by its language seeks to prevent arbitrary restriction on the number of MMTCs authorized to conduct business in the state. The amendment mandates the availability and safe use of medical marijuana by qualifying patients,” Dodson wrote.
Dodson’s ruling, however, isn’t likely to have an immediate impact on the state’s medical marijuana industry as health officials move forward with a planned workshop Aug. 17 to take input on the process to award five new licenses.
In a separate blow to state health officials, an administrative law judge sided with an orchid grower that wants to get into the medical-marijuana business, rejecting a proposed state rule that was designed to help award up to two potentially lucrative marijuana licenses.
STORY OF THE WEEK: U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Republicans vying to succeed Gov. Rick Scott, faced off in their second and final debate before the Aug. 28 primary election.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We know that it wasn’t an amazing year. We know that it wasn’t the best year for Broward schools.” — April Schentrup, whose 16-year-old daughter, Carmen, was among the 14 students and 3 faculty members slain at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14. Schentrup was responding to Broward County School Board member Donna Korn, who called the 2017-2018 academic year “one of the best for the county.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Mostly Sunny And Hot; Scattered Showers For Some
August 12, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Mobile Slugs Past Pensacola 14-2
August 12, 2018
After a promising start by the Wahoos, the BayBears slugged their way past the Wahoos with an 14-2 win at Hank Aaron Stadium on Saturday.
On a night celebrating former BayBear and longtime Major League pitcher, Jake Peavy, it was the visiting Wahoos who looked to spoil the party. TJ Friedl opened the game with an infield single and advanced on a throwing error by Riley Unroe. He later scored on a wild pitch from Jason Alexander (W, 1-5) to make the score 1-0.
However, Mobile came roaring back in the bottom of the first when the first three batters doubled off Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (L, 6-8). The BayBears sent all nine men to the plate in the first and eventually scored four runs on five hits. Wright—who was hit hard at Hank Aaron Stadium on Opening Day—suffered his eighth defeat of the season after he was charged with eight runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings. Mobile eventually finished the night 14 runs on 18 hits with nine of those hits going for extra bases.
Daniel Sweet had a standout performance offensively for Pensacola. Filling in for the suspended Jose Siri, Sweet recorded his first career Double-A home run in his first at-bat and then doubled in the fifth inning off Alexander. He finished the night 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Battle of the Bay series concludes tomorrow night as the Wahoos hope to earn a series win in the rubber match. RHP Wyatt Strahan (6-9, 7.23) is looking for a bounce back performance. He will be opposed by RHP Jesus Castillo (7-4, 4.77).
Two Charged With Stealing TVs From New Kingsfield Elementary
August 11, 2018
Two men have been charged with stealing televisions from the new Kingsfield Elementary School.
Sean DeJuan Battles and Steve Franklin Endress were seen on surveillance video leaving the school with three televisions on August 4, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. They were both charged with grand theft, burglary and criminal mischief property damage.
Battles worked for a company that was installing doors at the school; he was later arrested on the job at the school. Deputies found two of the television at Endress’ home address. Battles told a deputy that the third TV had been thrown in a dumpster, but the dumpster was empty when deputies checked.
Both men were released from the Escambia County Jail on bonds of $2,500 each.