Baseball: Tate Freshmen, Pine Forest Get Wins

April 4, 2019

Tate 3, Navarre 0 (Freshmen)

The Tate Aggie freshmen team improved to 7-0-1 Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over Navarre.

Josiah Glodfelter pitched the shutout for the Aggies. He went four innings, allowing four hits, no runs, no errors, walking one and striking out eight.

For Tate: Warren Henke 2-4, R; Dagan Gay, 1-4, 2R; Paul Whitson 1-2, RBI; Kirk Mosley 1-2; Glodfelter 1-3, RBI; Tucker Griffin 1-2; Wiley Griffin 1-2, 3B.

Pine Forest 5, Christian Education Consortium of Kentucky 2

The Pine Forest Eagles beat the Christian Education Consortium of Kentucky 5-2 Wednesday night in the Adidas Beach Blast Tournament.

Jared Riddell got the win for Pine Forest. He went five and a third innings, allowing two runs on nine hits, striking out six and walking zero. Timmy Williams threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. Williams recorded the last five outs to earn the save for the Eagles.

Jason Roberts, John Pinette led the Eagles with three hits each.

Feds Settle Teen Sexual Harassment Lawsuit With Owner Of Atmore Arby’s

April 4, 2019

Beavers, Inc. has entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle a sexual harassment case involving teenage female employees at an Atmore Arby’s restaurant.

Beavers agreed to pay $84,000 to three women named in the complaint. The company is also required to conduct training for managers and employees.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit against Beavers, in May 2016, Arby’s hired a team leader trainee with a known history of sexual harassment who repeatedly pressured young female employees to have sex with him, and regularly used sexually graphic language to describe sexual acts he sought to perform on female employees and customers. The EEOC also alleged that the man deliberately touched one female employee in an unwelcome and sexual manner, and attempted to follow female employees home.

The EEOC further contended that these employees and others complained about the harassment up the chain of command to supervisors and managers, but Arby’s took no action for several months until the harasser physically injured one of the victims.

By entering into the consent agreement filed Wednesday, Beavers did not admit any liability or wrongdoing.

Pictured: The Atmore Arby’s restaurant Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Congressman Matt Gaetz Introduces His ‘Green Real Deal’ Climate Plan

April 4, 2019

Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz announced his “Green Real Deal” Wednesday afternoon during a news conference on Capitol Hill.

The Green Real Deal is Gaetz’s plan to address climate change by harnessing the power of free markets, embracing technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and cutting excessive governmental red tape. The plan is a conservative response to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (NY-14) “Green New Deal” introduced earlier this year.

“The Green Real Deal is a love letter to the American innovator and it is a real serious plan to address climate change,” he said.

Gaetz’s Green Real Deal recognizes that a national commitment to innovation, competitive markets, and the deployment of advanced energy technologies will help the United States as the global leader in clean energy. The Green Real Deal calls for increased investment in clean energy technology and sources, like solar and nuclear power, while improving transparency and accountability for the benefit of customers, investors, and shareholders alike.

He said the Green Real Deal harnesses the power of the free market to create millions of U.S. energy jobs and secure the nation’s position as a global environmental leader.

Pictured: Congressman Matt Gaetz announced his “Green Real Deal” Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

$1.9 Million Project Begins This Month To Replace Highway 168 Bridge

April 4, 2019

A $1.9 million project will begin later this month to replace a bridge on Highway 168 between North Highway 99 and Pine Barren Road in Bratt.

The Florida Department of Transportation will replace the structurally deficient bridge on Highway 168 over an unnamed branch. The new bridge will consist of two 12-foot travel lanes with 6-foot shoulders and a concrete barrier wall.

A temporary bridge will be in place during the project.

The current bridge was constructed in 1967.

Escambia Fire Rescue Fights Woods Fire Near Highway 29, Old Chemstrand

April 3, 2019

The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue battled a woods fire Wednesday night near railroad tracks alongside Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road. They were forced to use a chainsaw to make access to the fire, which was reported about 7:45 p.m. No structures were threatened. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Firefighters Battle Debris Fire On Nine Mile Road

April 3, 2019

Escambia Fire Rescue spent hours extinguishing a debris fire Wednesday afternoon on Nine Mile Road near I-10. Black smoke from the fire could be seen for miles. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Escambia County HR Director Resigns

April 3, 2019

Escambia County Director of Human Resources Eric Kleinert submitted his resignation Wednesday morning.

Kleinert joined Escambia County in April 2017 from Carmel, Indiana, where he served as the human resources director for the Indiana Department of Transportation. Kleinert’s responsibilities with Escambia County included supervising the Human Resources Department, mentoring and evaluating staff, advising the county administrator on the needs of the department and representing the department before the board of county commissioners.

Escambia County Fire Chief Rusty Nail also resigned Wednesday morning. There was no known connection between the two resignations. [Read more...]

Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Resigns

April 3, 2019

Escambia County Fire Chief Rusty Nail has submitted his resignation effective June 1. He also served as deputy public safety director.

In an email announcing his resignation Wednesday morning, Nail stated:

Nail began his employment as chief of Escambia Fire Rescue on April 23, 2018.

He joined Escambia Fire Rescue from Palm Bay, FL, were he served as the City of Palm Bay Fire Rescue fire chief and emergency manager and previously served as a battalion chief.

Prior to his tenure at Palm Bay, Nail worked for the City of Orlando Fire Department for more than 20 years, serving as assistant fire chief, assistant chief of planning, district chief and retiring as the deputy chief. Nail’s experience also includes working as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.

Escambia County Director of Human Resources Eric Kleinert also resigned Wednesday morning. There was no known connection between the two resignations. [Read more...]

Escambia County Set To Award $2.4 Million Contact To Resurface North Highway 99

April 3, 2019

Escambia County is set to approve resurfacing North Highway 99 from Highway 97 in Walnut Hill to the Alabama State line.

Low bidder on the project was Panhandle Grading & Paving at $2.4 million. Other bidders were Roads, Inc. of NWF at $2.6 million and Midsouth Paving at $2.9 million.

The project was planned for 2024-25, but the Escambia County Commission fast tracked the advancement of $1,726,325 available in Local Option Sales Tax to this fiscal year and solicited bids.

The 8.01 mile roadway runs from Highway 97, past Highway 4 in Bratt and continues to the state line. It is a major north-south transportation corridor for the area. In addition to the school buses that serve Bratt Elementary on North Highway 99, buses travel the road twice-daily between Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools.

The asphalt is in poor condition due to a high traffic volume, and heavy truck traffic, according to county officials.

The recommended improvements include repair of road base failures, leveling of existing asphalt, installation of a geogrid over widened joints, paving the entire roadway, and re-striping 12-foot travel lanes.

The Escambia County Commission will vote on the contract award on Thursday. Once the contractor begins work, they will have 210 days to complete the project.

Pictured top: North Highway 99 in Bratt near Highway 168. Pictured below: A closer look at asphalt conditions. Pictured below: North Highway 99 at Highway 4 and (bottom) Highway 164. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

No More Temporary Roadblocks On I-10

April 3, 2019

UPDATE: This project is now complete.

Temporary road blocks along I-10 in Pensacola will continue Wednesday as Gulf Power upgrades its wires that cross the roadway to improve reliability in the downtown Pensacola area.

Three temporary road blocks will occur Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to pull new transmission wire and work could continue into Thursday. The project is being conducted in cooperation with the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation.

“The road blocks will give us a gap in traffic that allows our crews to safely cross the road and pull in new wire,” said Gordon Paulus, Gulf Power spokesperson. “We’ve done similar projects before and we’ve practiced the procedure to ensure it is completed safely and as quickly as possible.”

The area of the project is near the Highway 29 exit on I-10. Paulus said the roadblock heading eastbound on I-10 will start around the welcome center near the Alabama state line, eastbound near the Scenic Highway exit and northbound on I-110 heading westbound.

The project started Tuesday.

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