Two Injured In Ensley Shooting Early Monday Morning
August 5, 2019
Two people were injured early Monday morning in a shooting in Ensley.
Two adults were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries following the incident about 2:20 a.m. on Gardenia Circle. The victims told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that they were shot through their front door.
“Our initial determination is that the shooting was drug related,” said ECSO Major Andrews Hobbs, ” due to narcotics found inside the residence.”
He said a person of interest is in custody and is being questioned in the double shooting.
The ECSO is continuing their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely For Your Monday
August 5, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Century Appears To Ignore State Law, Grand Jury Findings On Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2019
The Town of Century appears to be ignoring a grand jury finding that meeting minutes were not being prepared promptly. Somewhat ironically, the list of a dozen sets of minutes approved Monday night a meeting three months ago about the grand jury report.
According to the 2019 edition of the Florida’s “Government In The Sunshine Manual”, one of the most basic requirements of the law is “The minutes of a meeting of any such board or commission of any such state agency or authority shall be promptly recorded, and such records shall be open to public inspection. (F.S. 286.011).“
Century fell into a system where meeting minutes were provided to the council for approval months after the meeting date. Council members were forced to certify minutes as correct months after they are held, relying only upon their memories and any notes they may have taken.
A scathing February 2019 grand jury report found “minutes of council meetings have not been prepared for months at a time”, and noted that the digital recording of at least one meeting was reported as lost.
On May 7, 2019, the town council held a workshop to discuss those very grand jury findings. The minutes from that meeting were just now Monday evening presented to the council for approval — a couple days shy of three months later. The council also improved minutes from another meeting in May, five meetings in June, and three meetings held prior to mid-July (see list above).
“We recommend additional training in the area of Sunshine and Public Records. This may be done by the Town’s attorney, the First Amendment Foundation or the Attorney General’s Office,” the grand jury report stated.
We are unaware of any such training transpiring, and if it occurred at a meeting, no public notice for that meeting was given.
Pictured: A list of minutes on the August 5, 2019, Century Town Council agenda. NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Driver’s License Service, Vehicle Registration Event In Century On Tuesday
August 5, 2019
Mobile driver’s license and vehicle registration services will return to Century Tuesday, August 6 for a single day event.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford has partnered with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to bring the Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office to Century from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
FLOW is a stand-alone mobile office with technology to provide most motorists’ needs. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver’s license, obtain a replacement driver’s license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver’s license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration and apply, renew or replace disabled parking placards. Written and driving tests are not available from the FLOW unit.
Citizens can renew vehicle registrations up to three months and driver’s licenses up to 18 months in advance of expiration.
Citizens using the FLOW services are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com and click the “What Do I Bring” button for information on what is needed for these services. Staff from the tax collector’s office will be on hand to answer all FLOW service questions and questions concerning all other tax collector services such as property tax, business tax receipts, concealed weapons licensing, etc. Citizens also can drop off property tax payments (checks only).
Pictured: The Florida Licensing on Wheels mobile office in Century earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Traffic Trouble Spots
August 5, 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) – Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 10:
o 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 removing the old southbound bridge. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
o U.S. 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- · U.S. 98 from State Road (S.R.) 298 (Lillian Highway) to West of S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway)- There will be intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7 as crews finish paving the final layer of asphalt. Paving is expected to take approximately one week to complete. There are no lane closures anticipated for Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 16.
- · S.R. 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Traffic from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place will encounter intermittent lane restrictions from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 10 as crews perform paving operations.
- · S.R. 289 (9th Avenue) D.U.I./Safety Checkpoint- The northbound, outside lane on 9th Avenue at Fairfield Drive in Pensacola will be closed from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 31 as law enforcement conducts a D.U.I./Safety Checkpoint.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of County Road (C.R.) 184 (Muscogee Road) to S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway)- Post mounted delineators have been erected between the Thrift Store and Cross Roads Dollar General to prevent cut-through traffic from Molino Road. Workers are clearing trees and shrubs and excavating for roadway widening at the Molino Road intersection. Drivers may encounter intermittent lane restrictions as crews and heavy equipment enter and exit the roadway.
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 11:
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- Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Aug. 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) Thursday, Aug. 8. The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
- From 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
- C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Traffic was recently shifted to the temporary acrow bridge. Activities associated with the bridge replacement project continue and are anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road continues 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. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
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, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 11:
- Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Aug. 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) Thursday, Aug. 8. The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
- From 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
- 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 Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 through Thursday, Aug. 8:
o Alternating lane closures, Sunday through Thursday, on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews perform construction activities.
o Alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22), Sunday through Thursday, as crews work to place final striping and to finish work list items.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays between Nicholas Lake Road and Vonnie Tolbert Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Tuesday, Dec. 31 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic.
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.
Pictured: Curbing and drainage are almost complete for the new northbound Highway 29 on-ramp from Nine Mile Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Trend Downward
August 5, 2019
Florida gas prices declined an average of six cents per gallon last week, according to AAA. Global oversupply concerns and rising tension in the U.S.-China trade war has kept oil prices low, and as a result, downward pressure on prices at the pump.
Florida drivers are paying an average price of $2.52 per gallon for regular unleaded. The state average is 6 cents per gallon less than a week ago, 16 cents less than last month, and 24 cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.54, down 3 cents from a week ago. However, on gas station at Cantonment was at $2.38 a gallon, while two in Cantonment were at $2.39.
“Continued weakness in the oil market has allowed for the cheapest summertime gas prices in two years,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “So far this summer, Florida drivers are paying nearly 20 cents per gallon less than last summer. As we approach the end of summer driving season, gas price hikes should be few and far between. When students go back to school, gasoline demand dips, because fewer families are taking extended roads trips. The demand drop, normally helps keep downward pressure on prices at the pump through the rest of the year. However, the threat of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico always carries the potential for causing a gas price spike.”
Tate Orientation, Schedule Pickups Wednesday; Elementary And Middle Orientations Thursday
August 5, 2019
The first day of school will be Monday, August 12. Orientations and other events are scheduled this week as follows:
Tate High School
Tate High School will hold orientation and schedule pickup on Wednesday.
Ninth grade orientation and schedule pickup will be held in the Fryman Gym at 9 a.m.
Schedule pickup for grates 10, 11 and 12 in the Godwin cafeteria from 1-3 p.m.
Escambia County Elementary School Orientations
Elementary school orientations will be held Thursday, August 8 from 9-11 a.m.
Escambia County High School Orientations
Middle school orientations will be held Thursday, August 8 at from 1-3 p.m.
Hit And Run Driver Destroys Brick Mailbox In Molino
August 5, 2019
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver that destroyed a brick mailbox in Molino Saturday morning.
The driver struck the mailbox on Mathison Drive about 300 feet from Highway 29. The type of vehicle is unknown, but it will have obvious damage.
Anyone with information can call the FHP at (850) 484-5000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Work Underway On Highway 29, Molino Road Intersection Improvements, New Traffic Signal
August 4, 2019
Work is underway on intersection improvements and a new traffic signal at Highway 29 and Molino Road.
Construction is happening now on turn lanes in both directions on Molino Road. There will eventually be new northbound and southbound turn lanes on Highway 29, and the median crossover at the Dollar General store will be closed.
The work is part of a Highway 29 resurfacing project from Highway 29 just south of Muscogee road in Cantonment to Highway 97 in Molino.
In addition to the work at Molino Road, improvements in the almost $8.8 million transportation project will include:
- At Barrineau Park Road, new northbound and southbound turn lanes will be added on Highway 29.
- New Highway 29 northbound and southbound turn lanes will be added into the Florida Division of Forestry (fire tower)
- A new southbound right turn lane will be added at Booth Lake Road.
- At Quintette Road, new turn lanes will be added on Highway 29 in both directions. There will not be a traffic signal installed.
- At the Highway 29 and Muscogee/Becks Lake Road, the turning radius will be improved on all four corners and the signal will be reconstructed.
- The railroad crossing signals on Highway 29 just south of Muscogee Road will be replaced.
- Miscellaneous modifications, pedestrian feature upgrades, guardrails, new signage and pavement markings.
Motorists will encounter intermittent lane restrictions during construction. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2020.
Pictured: The Highway 29 and Molino Road intersection as seen Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Little Girl Reunited With Her Beloved Stuffed ‘Bubblegum Sprinkles’ And Inspires Stuffed Animal Drive
August 4, 2019
Bubblegum Sprinkles is back home thanks to a Nine Mile Road business, and he has inspired a community outreach that will help others.
The stuffed animal husky was accidently left behind about a week ago at Maynard’s Donut Company. Maynard’s knew he was something special, so they found the surveillance video of the young lady that left him behind and set out to find her on social media.
During his week around Maynard’s, Bubblegum Sprinkles visited with customers and helped out around the store. As time passed, they were able to find the girl and arranged with for a sweet reunion Saturday morning with 3-year old Nina English and her dad Michael.
Nina jumped for Joy seeing Bubblegum Sprinkles and embraced him with a big hug and an even bigger smile.
Maynard’s also announced the launch of “Operation Sprinkles”. They will be collecting brand new stuffed animals for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Ronald McDonald House and other community organizations.
Each person that donates a stuffed animal will receive a free doughnut.
Pictured top: Nina English reunited with her beloved Bubblegun Sprinkles Saturday morning at Maynard’s Donut Co. on Nine Mile Road. Pictured below: Nina accidently left Sprinkles behind during this visit about a week ago. Pictured second below: Maynard’s started collecting stuffed animals for several community groups Saturday. Pictured third below: During his week at Maynard’s, Sprinkles helped out around the store. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
