Cantonment Railroad Crossing Replacement Ties Up Traffic
September 30, 2019
The replacement of a railroad crossing in Cantonment tied up traffic all weekend.
Crews replaced the crossing on Highway 29 just south of Muscogee Road. One lane of traffic was open in both directions during most of the project, but there were temporary lane closures.
The project is completed.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
September 30, 2019
Here is a schedule of this week’s Escambia County public meetings:
Monday, September 30
District 1 Multi-Agency Town Hall Meeting – 6 p.m., Jim C. Bailey Middle School, 4110 Bauer Road
Tuesday, October 1
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
EMS – Paramedic Supervisor Interviews – 9 a.m., 6575 N. W St.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Wednesday, October 2
Contractor Competency Board Exam Committee - 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Contractor Competency Board Public Meeting – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
EMS – Paramedic Supervisor Interviews – 9 a.m., 6575 N. W St.
Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program Policy Board Meeting – 9:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, October 3
Community Redevelopment Agency – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance 5th Anniversary – 11 a.m., 511 S. Palafox St.
BCC Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
BCC Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Strengthening Resilience through Community-Based Planning – 6 p.m., S. I St.
FDLE Clears 8,000 ‘Rape Kit’ Backlog; DNA Matches Returned From Local Cases
September 29, 2019
The state has processed a backlog of sexual assault kits, resulting in possibly hundreds of new cases for law enforcement. In Escambia County, the process won’t help any Escambia County Sheriff’s Office cases, but it may result in solved cases for Pensacola Police.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement completed a three-year project to process older sexual assault kits, often called rape kits, submitted by local law enforcement agencies to FDLE labs following a 2016 Sexual Assault Kit Assessment.
In total, 8,023 sexual assault kits were processed resulting in 1,814 CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) hits. CODIS enables federal, state and local agencies to compare DNA profiles electronically, linking crimes to each other and known offenders.
Of the five sexual assault kits that were in the backlog from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, there were zero database hits, according to FDLE. Of the 35 kits processed for the Pensacola Police, there were five database hits. Not all hits are actionable. An “actionable hit” is a match to the DNA database that provides new information to the investigation.
“Ensuring that law enforcement has the appropriate tools to properly process sexual assault kits in a timely manner is important in helping solve crimes in Florida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Victims deserve our support, and they should know that under my administration justice will prevail.”
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment and I am grateful to FDLE and all our law enforcement partners who worked diligently to eliminate the backlog of previously untested sexual assault kits,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Not only was the backlog eliminated, procedures were adopted and advances made in an effort to prevent future backlogs.”
Bratt Road Bridge Reopens After Nearly Two Years And $2.7 Million
September 29, 2019
The Bratt Road Bridge over Canoe Creek has officially reopened, ended a state-funded replacement project that was a long time coming.
An emergency closure was ordered for the bridge on December 6, 2017, after its deteriorated wooden supports failed an inspection. Work on a $2.7 million Florida Department of Transportation project to replace the 1950s era bridge did not begin for almost a year, commencing in November 2018.
The new single-span concrete bridge includes extensive drainage improvements and paved approaches.
The bridge averaged 425 vehicles per day prior to closure.
For a photo gallery from the new bridge and a look at the old wooden support bridge, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Holds Community Helpers Day (With Photo Gallery)
September 29, 2019
They are the folks that make the community go round. And they’ve got cool tools, and trucks, sirens and other gadgets and gizmos.
They are the community helpers that are hard at work, often behind the scenes, in the Molino area.
Molino Park Elementary School held their annual Community Helpers Day on Friday.
The event included personnel and equipment from Escambia County EMS, the K-9 unit from the Escambia County Road Prison, the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, J. Miller Construction Company, Florida Highway Patrol, Escambia Search and Rescue, the Florida Forest Service, FedEx, Rockhill Farms, Ace Towing, Gulf Power and more.
Students also dressed as their favorite community helpers, such as firefighters, police officers, teachers, nurses and others.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Hot And Dry Patterns Continues; No Relief In Sight
September 29, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Youth Football Scores: NWE Chiefs, Century Blackcats
September 29, 2019
Here are Saturday scores from the NWE Chiefs and the Century Blackcats:
NWE Chiefs
Freshmen
NWE 34, Excel 0
Sophomores
Excel 26, NWE 20
Juniors
NWE 41, Excel 0
Seniors
Excel 25, NWE 20
Century Blackcats
Mighty Mites 28, Evergreen 6
Tiny Mites 34, Evergreen 30
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida, Alabama Forestry Officials Warning Of Dry Weather Fire Danger
September 29, 2019
Officials with the Florida Forest Service and Alabama Forestry Commission are coming together to warn residents of both states of increasing danger of wildfires because of a continued lack of rainfall. It has been more than a month since most of Alabama and Northwest Florida have seen significant rainfall, and there is little to no relief in sight.
“With the current weather patterns that we are experiencing, any outdoor burning has the potential for escaping and developing into a major wildfire, which could endanger lives and destroy property,” said Benji Elmore, Southwest Regional Forester with the Alabama Forestry Commission. “Prolonged drought, abnormally high temperatures, lower humidity and higher winds are all ingredients for a catastrophic fire event. Every wildfire that is prevented under these conditions could be someone’s life or home that is saved.”
Wildland firefighters in both states are on heightened alert and resources from other areas of the states have been prepositioned to help deal with the elevated fire activity in some areas and increased potential in others. Florida has pulled resources from the peninsula to Northwest Florida to combat increased fire starts while Alabama has shifted resources to the northeast portion of the state which has seen the most significant fire activity.
The two agencies – both responsible for wildfire suppression in their respective states – also are working together in areas along their roughly 200-mile border and elsewhere as needed to help each other fight fires as they occur.
“Our resources are ready to respond throughout the Florida Panhandle as well as nearby areas of Alabama if requested,” said Ken Weber, Florida Forest Service Deputy Chief of Field Operations for Region 1, which covers the area from the western Florida-Alabama line along the Perdido River east to the Aucilla River and Jefferson County line. “The partnership between Florida and Alabama is strong, and we’ve always been available to help each other when needed. As it gets drier and we see more fires, the Florida Forest Service will continue to aid in any way possible while still protecting our state.”
Alabama currently is under a statewide Fire Alert which allows the Forestry Commission to restrict the issuing of burn permits. During a Fire Alert, permits will be issued on an individual basis at the discretion of the State Forester to certified prescribed burn managers with adequate manpower and equipment. Anyone who burns a field, grassland or woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a Class B misdemeanor.
The area most impacted by drought conditions in Florida is split between the Blackwater Forestry Center (serving Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties) and the Chipola Forestry Center (serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties). Authorizations for acreage burns will not be issued by the Blackwater Forestry Center, and pile burners must have adequate heavy equipment on scene.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
The Pumpkins Have Arrived At Cantonment Pumpkin Patch
September 29, 2019
It’s a sure sign of fall in Cantonment.
The pumpkins have arrived at the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available under the big tent on Highway 29 near Neal Road.
The Allen Memorial United Methodist Men have sponsored the Pumpkin Patch since 1995.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Hosts State Of The University Address; Saunders Sets Big Goals
September 29, 2019
University of West Florida President Martha D. Saunders reflected on a year of extraordinary accomplishments before turning her attention to “big goals” during her 2019 State of the University address on Friday, Sept. 27.
Saunders noted that UWF placed top two in the Florida Board of Governors performance-funding model, scoring its highest point total in the six-year history of the metrics and finishing one point behind the University of Florida. UWF improved in each of the 10 metrics, highlighted by significant improvements in 4-year graduation and student retention rates.
“Nobody did this alone,” Saunders said. “Every single thing we do that matters at all, is a collaborative effort.”
Saunders pointed out that U.S. News & World Report awarded the University four Best Colleges award badges as symbols of excellence for ranking among the top regional universities in the South in the following categories: Regional Universities; Top Public Schools; Social Mobility; and Best Colleges for Veterans.
UWF welcomed its third consecutive class of National Merit Finalists this fall, for a total of nine finalists enrolled since Fall 2017. Saunders cited the UWF robotics team finishing second out of 41 teams in the annual Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers SoutheastCon hardware competition and UWF mechanical engineering students participating in ArgoTots, a program that assists young children with physical disabilities by creating modified vehicles, among notable student accomplishments. Additionally, the Florida Student Association elected UWF Student Body President Zenani D. Johnson to serve as chair for the 2019-20 academic year.
Saunders also highlighted the University’s accomplishment of expanding its downtown presence in her address. The UWF Center for Cybersecurity relocated in the spring and now operates out of a state-of-the-art facility in the Studer Community Institute Building. The Center for Global Online Learning and Development also established a presence in downtown Pensacola.
Saunders said UWF is primed to carry the momentum over to the new academic year. Her goals include continuing to improve the University’s 4-year graduation and student retention rates, along with increasing community efforts.
“We don’t need to stick close to shore. We can take on the big sea,” Saunders said. “We are not afraid to set big goals. The day before any major breakthrough, it was just a crazy idea.”