USPS Releases Info For McDavid, Walnut Hill Residents After Mail Destroyed By Fire

August 6, 2018

The U.S. Postal Service has mailed a letter to McDavid and Walnut Hill residents with important instructions after rural mail carrier’s vehicle and the mail inside burned last week.

The mail carrier’s Kia Rio was fully involved in fire when firefighters arrived on scene on West Bogia Road on July 30. The carrier escaped the vehicle without injury.

According to the USPS letter, all of the mail in the vehicle that had not yet been delivered and all the mail collected up that point on his route was destroyed in the fire. This included the mail destined for Walnut Hill.

For a copy of the letter with more information for residents and businesses in the 32568 zip code, click here.

There has been no word on the exact cause of the fire.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Man, Granddaughter Dead At Bayou Grande

August 6, 2018

A tragic afternoon swimming took the lives of a man and his granddaughter Sunday in Escambia County.

Authorities said the man tried to save the life of his 5-year old granddaughter, but both died at Bayou Grande.

A 7-year old child who was also swimming was able to get out of the water and transported to an area hospital. An update on his condition was not available.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims as they continue their investigation.

The incident happened at the South Fairfield Park just south of Gulf Beach Highway.

Escambia County Elementary, Middle School Orientations (Plus Tate Info)

August 6, 2018

Elementary and middle school orientations are this week for Escambia County students. They are listed below, along with information for Tate and Northview High Schools

Elementary School Orientations – Aug. 9, 2018 (These events are for all grades unless otherwise noted.)

  • Jim Allen Elementary School  9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Bratt Elementary School 8:30 -10:30 a.m.
  • Bellview Elementary School  9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Beulah Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Blue Angels Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Brentwood Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Byrneville Elementary School – Friday Aug. 10 9:00-11:00 a.m.
  • Hellen Caro Elementary School 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
  • N.B. Cook Elementary 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for all NEW students K-5. Start with a meeting in the auditorium. Then, 10:00 -11:00 for all students to meet teachers)
  • Cordova Park Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Ensley Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Ferry Pass Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Global Learning Academy 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Holm Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Kingsfield Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Lincoln Park Elementary School (1:00 p.m. for Grades K – 5, Pre-K Orientation is Friday, Aug. 10 at 1:00 p.m.)
  • R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Longleaf Elementary School 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
  • McArthur Elementary School 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
  • Molino Park Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Montclair Elementary School 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. for Pre-K Orientation and then 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for all other grades.
  • Montclair Elementary School  8:00 – 9:00 a.m..for Pre-K
  • McArthur Elementary School 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
  • Myrtle Grove Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Navy Point Elementary School 9:00 -10:00 a.m.
  • Oakcrest Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Pine Meadow Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for grades 1-5 (Kindergarten already held)
  • Pleasant Grove Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Scenic Heights Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • O.J. Semmes Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • Sherwood Elementary School 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for Pre-K students and then 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for grades K-5.
  • A.K. Suter Elementary School 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
  • Warrington Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • C.A. Weis Elementary Community School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
  • West Pensacola Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.


August 10 (Friday)

  • 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Park Elementary School (Pre-K Orientation, Grades K-5 is Thursday, Aug. 9 at 1:00 p.m)

Middle School Orientations – August 9, 2018

  • Ransom Middle School 1:00 p.m. for all 6th graders and new 7th and 8th graders. Returning students will receive their schedules on the first day of school.
  • Bailey Middle School 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Bellview Middle School  2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Beulah Middle School 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Brown Barge Middle School 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Ernest Ward Middle School 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
  • Ferry Pass Middle School 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. for (6th graders and NEW students, in the gym, returning students receive their homeroom assignments via the mail. Schedules will be in Focus after 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 8)
  • Warrington Middle School (1:00 -2:00 p.m. for 6th grade and NEW Students, returning students will be notified by mail and call-out)
  • Workman Middle School 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
High School Orientation

Rain Chance Goes Down, Temperatures Go Up

August 6, 2018

Here is our official North Escambia area forecast:

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.

Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule

August 6, 2018

Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of August 6-10:

Monday, Aug. 6

Florida-Alabama Planning Organization Technical Coordinating Committee Meeting – 8:30 a.m., 160 Governmental Center

Florida-Alabama Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee Meeting – 10:30 a.m., 160 Governmental Center

Tuesday, Aug. 7

Planning Board-Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Planning Board-Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Wednesday, Aug. 8

Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization – 9 a.m., West Florida Regional Library, 239 N. Spring St.

Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex. 3363 West Park Place

Master Gardener Volunteer Program Open House and Information Session – 9 a.m., Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road

Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Santa Rosa Island Authority Board – 5:05 p.m., Pensacola Beach, 1 Via de Luna Drive

Thursday, Aug. 9

Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place

Science Hour- Solar Energy For Homes, Shaun Gunter, Gulf Power Company – 6 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Slow Go: Here Are This Week’s Traffic Delay Spots

August 6, 2018

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Escambia County

  • U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Aug. 11.
    • Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
    • U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
    • Northbound traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed bridge section as demolition efforts continue.
  • U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Paving operations continue between Muscogee Road and West 9 ½ Mile Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9.
  • I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – Alternating east and westbound lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange (Exit 10) from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3 through Sunday Aug. 5 as crews perform striping operations. The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug.9.
    • Alternating east and westbound I-10 and north and southbound U.S. 29 lane closures.
    • The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
    • Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10). • U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 12 as crews perform construction activities.
  • U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from Perdido Bay Bridge to Dogtrack Road– Alternating lane closures east and westbound U.S. 98 from Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9 as crews perform paving operations. • S.R. 95 (Palafox Street) in Pensacola at Massachusetts Avenue- There will be northbound, outside lane restrictions on North Palafox Street near Massachusetts Avenue in Pensacola from 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16 as crews perform gas main maintenance. • S.R. 95 (Palafox Street) in Pensacola at the Beverly Parkway Intersection- The southbound left turn lane from North Palafox Street to Beverly Parkway (S.R. 296) will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 as crews perform maintenance activities. • S.R. 295 from Bayou Grand Bridge to Jackson Street- The north and southbound, outside and middle lanes will be closed on S.R. 295 from the Bayou Grand Bridge to Jackson Street from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9 as crews install pavement markings. • S.R. 10 from the State Line to S.R. 10A (Mobile Highway) and S.R. 10A from S.R. 10 to Massachusetts Avenue- Drivers can expect east and westbound, outside lane restrictions from Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9 as crews install pavement markings. • S.R. 10A (Mobile Highway) North of Fairfield Drive- The northbound lane of Mobile Highway will be closed just north of the Fairfield Drive intersection from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 as crews perform maintenance activities.

Santa Rosa County

  • I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 10 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the travel lanes.
  • U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 12 as crews perform construction activities.
  • S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
  • U.S. 90 Utility Work in Pace- There will be eastbound lane restrictions on U.S. 90 in Pace, near Immanuel Baptist Church, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 as crews trim trees over the roadway.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

Escambia County Native Inducted Into Florida 4-H Hall Of Fame

August 6, 2018

Florida 4-H honored several lifetimes of positive youth development last week week when five community leaders — including a North Escambia native — were inducted into the UF/IFAS Extension Florida 4-H Hall of Fame.

Henry Davis was born to John A. and Annie V. Davis and raised in Davisville. He joined 4-H in Escambia County in 1937, when he was 10-years old. A World War II veteran and UF alumnus, he became the director of UF/IFAS Extension Taylor County in 1954 and retired in 1982. During his tenure, five Taylor County youth served as state 4-H president — an impressive track record, considering Taylor County’s small and largely rural population.

Davis has been very involved in giving back to the Taylor County community, holding numerous positions in local organizations. In 2002, the Henry P. Davis Scholarship Fund was established to help disadvantaged Taylor County 4-H members attend 4-H summer camp.

Biscuits Beat The Wahoos

August 6, 2018

Montgomery score six runs over the seventh and eighth innings to even the five-game series with a 7-3 win Sunday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

The Wahoos led 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth before the Biscuits took control of the game. Brett Sullivan led off with a double, followed by Dalton Kelly getting hit by a pitch. Lucius Fox laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first base got away and Sullivan dashed home all the way from second base to tie the game. Nathan Lukes delivered an RBI single to give the Biscuits the lead 3-2. In the eighth the Biscuits would send nine to the plate and score four runs off reliever Alejandro Chacin to extend the lead to 7-2. Jesus Sanchez led the inning off with a home run, which sparked the rally. The inning featured three hits, two walks and an error which put the game out of reach.

Jose Siri tied the franchise second-half record with his 10th home run in the ninth inning in the 7-3 defeat. It was the only run Mike Broadway allowed over his 2.1 innings to close out the game.

Starter Daniel Wright (L, 6-7) threw a career-high 107 pitches in the losing effort. Wright had a rough first inning when he allowed one run on three hits. He settled down, posting five scoreless innings that included sitting down 12 consecutive batters spanning from the last out in the second until Jake Cronenworth drew a walk with two outs in the sixth. Wright’s night ended without getting an out in the seventh after surrendering the lead.

Monday night the Wahoos will look to win the rubber match, to extend their series unbeaten streak to 13. Pensacola will start RHP Wyatt Strahan (6-8, 6.46), and RHP Benton Moss (4-4, 3.82) will take the hill for Montgomery.

$2 Million Contribution For Health Care Expansion In Century

August 5, 2018

The Escambia County Health Facilities Authority is making up to a $2 million contribution to expand health care options in Century.

The contribution will help fund and expand the Lakeview Center, including additional space for Community Health Northwest Florida, formerly known as the Escambia Community Clinics.

“This is, for almost the six years that we have been in office, the best news that has happened inside the town of Century,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said. “It’s really going to a great thing.”

The nearly 5,000 square foot expansion will include five medical exam rooms, a new dental suite, and expanded lobby and additional parking in the rear of the building located in the Century Industrial Park.

Community Heath Chief Executive Officer Chandra Smiley said the expansion will add capacity for about 5,000 additional medical visits and 1,600 dental per year. It will also mean about seven new jobs, which Community Health will seek to fill with local residents.

Community Health Northwest Florida is a non-profit community health center that strives to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to the medically underserved residents of the Pensacola area and surrounding regions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Current locations  include Century Adult and Family Care and Century Pediatrics on Church Street, and Cantonment Adult and Family Care.

The Escambia County Health Facilities Authority is a special purpose public corporation which provides capital financing for non-profit health care organizations. The authority was established by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, which appoints the Authority’s five board members. The Authority is self-supporting and receives no federal, state or local governmental funding.

Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Ends Today

August 5, 2018

The Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in Florida ends at midnight Sunday. Qualifying items will be exempt from tax including: certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; and clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item.  For a complete list of eligible items, click here.

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