No Injures In Late Sunday Night Highway 29 Wreck
May 6, 2019
There were no injuries in a single vehicle crash late Sunday night on Highway 29 at Quintette Road.
The vehicle came to rest off the roadway in the edge of a wooded area. The driver refused transport to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Class Of 2019 Holds Baccalaureate Service (With Gallery)
May 6, 2019
The Northview High School Class of 2019 held their Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
“Life is tough; be prepared,” Rev. Ted Bridges of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church told the seniors. “There are no free lunches in life. You’ve got to work for it.”
“Let your light sign. Don’t lose what you have achieved,” Bridges continued. “Don’t lose that relationship with Jesus.”
The program also include prayer and music provide by the Northview students.
Graduation for the Northview High School Class of 2019 will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at the school.
For photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Up; Escambia Prices Lower Than Any Florida Metro Area
May 6, 2019
Florida gas prices are creeping lower again, after rising an average of 8 cents last week. The state average of $2.78 per gallon is now 6 cents more than this time last week. Florida drivers are now paying 6 cents per gallon more than a month ago, and 5 cents more than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.70 on Sunday, down slightly from $2.73 a week ago but up from $2.64 one month ago. Pensacola’s average price was the lowest of any metro area.
“Drivers saw gas prices seesaw last week, which is normal this time of year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices moved higher last week after reports of issues at a Texas refinery. Fortunately, the state average has held below $2.80 per gallon, and remains almost 15 cents less than last year’s highs. Looking ahead, pump prices tend to be especially volatile in May. The highest price of the year usually hits by Memorial Day weekend.”
File photo.
Three Injured In Beulah Wreck (Updated With Details)
May 6, 2019
Three people were seriously injured in a two vehicle crash in Beulah late Sunday afternoon.
The crash occurred at West Nine Mile Road and Bridlewood Road about 5:20 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 29-year old Ivan Briceno of Mobile pulled his Hyundai Sonata from a stop sign into the path of a Chevrolet Equinox driven by 25-year old Wilson White of Atmore.
Briceno and his passenger, 28-year old Courtney Thompson of Mobile, were both injured, with one extricated by Escambia Fire Rescue.
All three individuals were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
The FHP cited Bricenio for failure to yield right of way while stopped at a stop sign.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Warm Start To The Work Week
May 6, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
Cantonment House Fire Sparked By Lawnmower
May 6, 2019
A house fire in Cantonment last Friday was sparked by a lawnmower.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded about 12:25 p.m. to the fire in the 3000 block of Woodbury Circle to find heavy fire coming from the garage of the single-story wood frame home.
The investigation determined the fire was caused by a lawnmower that caught fire after being used and placed in the garage. The home sustained heavy fire damage to the garage and smoke damage throughout. Firefighters were able to stop the fire from progressing from the garage into the living area of the home.
The occupants were at home at the time of the fire but were not injured. The American Red Cross is assisting the occupants.
Escambia Fire Rescue said there were smoke detectors in the home, but they did not alert the residents to the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Traffic Delay Hot Spots
May 6, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects 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. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 5 through Saturday, May 11.
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- U.S. 29 Bridge over Nine Mile Road: A new U.S. 29 traffic pattern will be implemented for the bridge over Nine Mile Road during the week of May 5. Beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, northbound traffic will shift onto the newly-constructed northbound bridge. Southbound traffic will shift onto the center portion of the new bridge later in the week, after crews realign the barrier wall and restripe the roadway.
- 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, May 5 through Sunday, May 12:
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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).
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (Ninth Avenue) over I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance- Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent, north and southbound lane restrictions on S.R. 289 over I-10, half a mile north of S.R. 742, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- Lane Closures for Fiesta 5K and 10K Runs- Drivers will encounter lane closures at the following locations in Pensacola from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 for the Fiesta 5K and 10K runs:
- S.R. 750 (Airport Boulevard) eastbound from 9th Avenue to 12th Avenue
- U.S. 90 (Cervantes Street) westbound from 12th Avenue to Palafox Street
- I-10 over Escambia Bay Routine Bridge Maintenance- Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound lane restrictions on I-10 over Escambia Bay from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 through Thursday, May 8 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Maintenance over Eleven Mile Creek- Eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane over Eleven Mile Creek from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 to 4 a.m. Thursday, May 9 as crews replace joint, repair the deck surface, and clean the bridge.
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch- Activities associated with the bridge replacement project on C.R. 168 over Unnamed Branch, Northwest of Century, are underway. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 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 continue. 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:
- 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, May 5 through Sunday, May 12:
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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).
- I-10 Widening from the 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 the week of Sunday, May 5 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.:
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- Drivers may encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures on I-10, between Escambia Bay Bridge and just east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) as crews place the final layer of asphalt. I-10 may be reduced to a single travel lane between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. At all other times, at least two travel lanes will remain open.
- The I-10 westbound off-ramp will be closed the night of Thursday, May 9 as crews place the final friction course layer of asphalt.
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, Monday through Thursday, as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 87 over Coldwater Creek Routine Bridge Inspection- Traffic on S.R. 87 will be reduced to one lane over Coldwater Creek, eight miles south of S.R. 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- U.S. 90 Turn Lane Construction at Spencerfield Road- Motorists will encounter eastbound lane restrictions on U.S. 90 in Pace, just west of Spencerfield Road, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9 as crews construct a right turn lane for a new commercial business.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic on S.R. 87 will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sundays through Friday, until Thursday, July 30 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 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- The westbound, left turn lane at Sunrise Drive is open to traffic. Improvements at Navarre School Road and drainage improvements at Thresher Drive and Newport Street are complete. Crews will soon place the final layer of asphalt and striping, perform general project clean up, and place sod.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Wahoos Beat Biloxi
May 6, 2019
After scoring just three runs in the first two games of their series against Biloxi, the Blue Wahoos scored 30 runs in the final three games, sweeping the final trio of games to earn their sixth consecutive series win to open the season. On Sunday, rehabbing Twins All-Star Miguel Sano hit a towering three-run home run in the first inning that was quickly followed by a solo shot from Jaylin Davis, giving the Wahoos an early lead they never relinquished.
On the mound for Pensacola, Griffin Jax entered the game with the second best ERA in the Southern League (0.66), trailing recently promoted teammate Devin Smeltzer (0.60). Jax went 6.2 innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs, and struck out five to lower his ERA to a now league-best 0.53.
After the four-run first inning, the Wahoos didn’t score again until the seventh. Entering the seventh with a 4-2 lead, Caleb Hamilton opened the frame with a walk. with one out, Jordan Gore and Luis Arraez hit back-to-back doubles to extend the lead to 6-4. For Arraez, the double was his third in the last two games and gave him three consecutive games with multiple hits.
The game unraveled for Biloxi in the eighth. After Travis Blankenhorn reached on a drop third strike to open the inning, the next two batters walked. With the bases loaded, Hamilton laced a double to the left field gap, clearing the bases and putting Pensacola up 9-2.
Ryan Mason entered in relief of Jax with two outs in the seventh inning in a two-run ballgame with a runner on second. He worked out of the jam and then worked the eighth and ninth, striking out the side in the final inning, to earn his fifth save of the season.
Sano finished 1-4 with three RBI in his second game with the Wahoos. Arraez was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Hamilton drove in three in a 1-3 day.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 20-10, making them the first team in the Southern League to amass 20 wins. They head on the road to Mississippi to face the pitching-laden Braves (15-13) for a five-game set starting Monday, the first leg of a 10-game road trip that will also take them to Chattanooga for the first face off with the now-Reds affiliated Lookouts.
Burned Out Muscle Car Found On Molino Dirt Road
May 5, 2019
Authorities are investigating after a burned-out muscle car was found on Cedartown Road in Molino Sunday morning.
The Dodge Challenger was already completely destroyed when it was discovered on an empty stretch of the dirt road.
There was no immediate word on the circumstances surrounding the fire as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call about 8:12 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Take Part In Battle Of The Books (With Results)
May 5, 2019
Hundreds of Escambia County students took part in the eighth annual Battle of the Books Saturday at Washington High School.
Over 600 students on 102 teams read books from the Sunshine State Young Readers Awards list and Florida Teens Read list over the past school year.
Participants competed by answering five rounds of eight questions Saturday.
Top teams from each grade level were as follows:
Third Grade
1 A. K. Suter
2 Hellen Caro
2 Longleaf
3 NB Cook
3 Pine Meadow
Fourth Grade
1 Bellview
1 Pleasant Grove
2 A. K. Suter
2 Scenic Heights
3 Molino Park
Fifth Grade
1 Lipscomb
2 Byrneville A
2 Episcopal Day School
2 Pensacola Beach
2 Pleasant Grove
3 A. K. Suter
Middle School
1 Bailey A
2 Brown-Barge A
3 Brown-Barge B
High School
1 Washington
2 Tate
3 Pensacola HS
Pictured top: A Byrneville Elementary School Battle of the Books team. Pictured below: Molino Park Elementary. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
