Lake Stone Campground RV Spaces Upgraded With Concrete Pads
March 25, 2019
Escambia County Parks and Recreation is upgrading many of the RV spaces with concrete pads at the Lake Stone Campground in Century. Many of the spaces were also upgraded to accommodate larger RV’s.
There are 77 total campsites for RV’s and tents at Lake Stone.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
This Week’s Traffic Delays
March 25, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. There will be no highway construction on major roadways along spring break routes across Northwest Florida. There will be no work on state roads requiring lane closures from Friday, March 8 until Sunday, March 24.
Escambia county:
- State Road (S.R.) 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures on Fairfield Drive from South of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place from 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, March 25 as crews construct a temporary lane shift to begin construction of a box culvert on the west side of Fairfield Drive.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, March 24 until Saturday, March 30.
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- Temporary Closure of W. Hood Drive at U.S. 29: W. Hood Drive at U.S. 29 will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, Mar. 22 through 6 a.m. Monday, Mar. 25 as workers widen the intersection. Motorists may use W. Hannah Street or Nine Mile Road to Palafox Street as an alternate route. Detour signs and Variable Message Boards are in place to alert drivers about the upcoming work and detour.
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- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, March 24 until Sunday, March 31:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah to Pine Forest Road- The westernmost Nine Mile Road eastbound ramp to Interstate 10 (I-10) eastbound will be temporarily closed beginning the week of Monday, March 25. During the closure, Nine Mile Road eastbound drivers will access I-10 eastbound via the second, or easternmost on-ramp at this location. The temporary closure is expected to be in place for several weeks as the westernmost on-ramp is reconstructed.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) Intersection Improvements at Fairfield Drive-Westbound Gulf Beach Highway and southbound Fairfield Drive traffic will encounter intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Monday, March 25 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 26 as crews remove a concrete traffic separator. Gulf Beach Highway traffic near Fairfield Drive will encounter a lane shift beginning Tuesday, March 26 as crews begin widening efforts at the intersection.
- U.S. 90 (North Davis Highway) and S.R. 10A (Scenic Highway) Utility Work- Drivers will encounter intermittent lane restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday, March 25 through Saturday, April 6 on North Davis Highway and Scenic Highway in Pensacola at the following locations as crew’s trim trees around utility lines:
- North Davis Highway: Northbound from south of Scenic Highway to Airport Boulevard
- Scenic Highway: Westbound from I-10 to North Davis Highway
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete spring 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities have begun. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Pavement Markings Replacement from Blackwater Bay to East of S.R. 87 (Exit 31)-Traffic may encounter alternating and intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, until Thursday, March 28 as crews remove and replace pavement markings. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter minor delays at the following locations Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, April 25 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, March 24 until Sunday, March 31:
- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for I-10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, March 24:
- The new eastbound travel lane on I-10, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and Avalon Boulevard, will open the week of Sunday, March 24.
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday evenings as crews perform construction activities.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, March 24 through Friday, March 29 as crews work to widen the roadway.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled 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.
James Benjamin “JB” Bethea
March 25, 2019
Mr. James Benjamin “JB” Bethea, age 70, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019 in Atmore, Alabama.
Mr. Bethea was a native of Knoxville, TN and had resided in Atmore, AL for most of his life. He was an avid trucker and racing fan, loved his family and was of the Baptist Faith. He is preceded in death by his parents, J.W. and Delta Bethea.
He is survived by his fiancée, Melanie Adams of Atmore, AL; two sons, James (Wendy) Bethea of Rockwell, NC and Jason Hicks of Mobile, AL; two daughters, Tammy (Jamie) Porter of Southport, NC and Jennifer Bethea of Bridgeport, AL; two brothers, Dewey Bethea of Atmore, AL and Thomas (Sue) Bethea of Ruskin, FL; one sister, Eunice Sutter of Pace, FL; nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Randall Short officiating.
Burial will follow at the Canoe Methodist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jason Macks, James Allen Bethea, Bryan Covington, Kenny Higdon, Michael Adams and Jimmy Johnson.
Judith Sheridan Pearcey
March 25, 2019
Judith Sheridan Pearcey a long time resident of Pensacola, Florida passed away, Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the age of 77.
She was born May 25, 1941 in Greenville, Alabama to the late Edward J. Lowe, Sr. and Marie Reynolds Lowe.
Mrs. Pearcey is survived by her two sons, Keith Pearcey and Robert B. Pearcey; daughter, Lisa Nolder; three grandchildren, Lauren Pearcey, Brittnee Rodriquez and Matthew Nolder; and three great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North to celebrate the life of Mrs. Pearcey.
Dorothy “Dot” Breazeale Garrison
March 25, 2019
Dorothy “Dot” Breazeale Garrison, 89, of Gonzalez, Florida passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
Ms. Garrison worked for the Escambia County School District as a Dietician working as a Food Service Manager in several schools. She was a member of Olive Baptist where she taught 6-year-old Sunday school, Training Union, Girls Auxiliary, and sang in the choir. While working at Tate High School she was a band sponsor and a member of the Tate Quarterback Club.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Paul Edward Garrison, Sr.; son, Paul Edward Garrison, Jr.; infant daughter, Teresa Marlene Garrison; her parents, William Guy, and Hattie McAlister Breazeale.
Ms. Garrison was predeceased by three sisters and five brothers.
She is survived by son, William Thomas Garrison of Hendersonville, Tennessee; grandsons, Eddie (Katie) and Thommy (Stephanie); granddaughter, Tara (Chris); 2 great-grandchildren (Hays and Emia); sister, Guynell Smith of Greenville, South Carolina; and 2 brothers, Carl E. Breazeale (Francis) of Fountain Inn, South Carolina and James W. Breazeale (Betty) of Easley, South Carolina.
Graveside Services will be held at 12 Noon Thursday, March 28, 2019, in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Greenville, South Carolina. Scott Poynter to officiate service. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Alzheimer’s Research (https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress) or Regency Hospice, 50 Beverly Pkwy Ste 200, Pensacola, FL 32505.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Felony Theft From A Church
March 24, 2019
A Walnut Hill man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing audio equipment from a church and then pawning it.
Aaron Lucas Davis, 24, was charged with two counts of grand theft and one count of dealing in stolen property.
The Cokesbury United Methodist Church on North 9th Avenue reported two subwoofers, two monitor speakers and an amplifier were taken during two incidents two weeks apart. The total value of the items was about $2,400. Davis, a church employee, was caught on surveillance video removing the equipment, according to a Pensacola Police Department report.
Davis allegedly pawned the five pieces of equipment for $75 each, the report states. He was released from the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
No Winner In Powerball Drawing, Prize Now Up To $750 Million
March 24, 2019
The prize is growing even bigger after there was no winner in Saturday’s Powerball drawing.
The next drawing Wednesday is now estimated at $750 million, according to Powerball. The winner can choose a cash option of $465.5 million.
The winning numbers in Saturday night’s drawing were 24, 25, 52, 60, and 66 and the Powerball was 5.
Local Unemployment Rate Drops
March 24, 2019
The latest job numbers released by the state show a decrease in the unemployment rate in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate fell from 4 percent in January to 3.5 percent in February. There were 5,069 people were reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 3.9 percent. The industries with the highest growth over the year in the were leisure and hospitality with 1,100 new jobs and education and health services with 1,000 new jobs. In February, Pensacola had 6,078 job openings and of those, 1,783 were for high-skill, high-wage STEM jobs.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.8 percent in January to 3.2 percent in February. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,600 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 3.6 percent.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in February 2019, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the January 2019 rate, and down 0.4 percentage point from a year ago. There were 357,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,343,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in February.
The jobless numbers released by the state do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
TC Venom Falls To Birmingham In Century Home Opener
March 24, 2019
The T.C. Venom minor league football team opened home play with a hard-fought 35-28 loss to the Birmingham Steel City Raptors Saturday night in Century.
The Venom struck first with 11:26 on the clock in the first to take a 7-0 lead on home turf at Anthony Pleasant Park.
With 9:25 on the clock in the second, the Raptors were up 13-7. But with 2:25 to go in the half, the Venom hit again for 14-13 that quickly reversed to 21-14 lead about a minute later.
In the third, the Venom capitalized on an interception to score on the ensuing drive. With a good two-point conversion, the Venom were back on top 22-21.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, oddly with no time off the clock, the Raptors scored to go back on top 28-22. At the 11:05 mark in the fourth, the Venom tied it up, but the Raptors went back on top for the win with 1:55 to go in the game.
The Venom will home the next two Saturday nights at 7:00, hosting the New Orleans Crescent City Kings on March 30 and the Greater Pensacola Jets on April 6. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and over.
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NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
West Hood Drive At Highway 29 Closed
March 24, 2019
West Hood Drive at Highway 29 (just southwest of Walmart) is set to be closed through 6 a.m. Monday as workers widen the intersection, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Motorists may use West Hannah Street or Nine Mile Road to Palafox Street as an alternate route. Detour signs and message boards are in place to alert drivers about the upcoming work and detour.