Winner Selected To Flip The Lights On The New Pensacola Beach Sign
September 23, 2019
Escambia County has selected the winner of their online contest to flip on the lights at the new Pensacola Beach sailfish sign during a ceremony Tuesday.
The winner, randomly selected from 1,548 contest entries, is Robin Bjorklund.
The new sign was designed to look exactly like the old sign, and it features energy efficient LED lights. While in Santa Rosa County, the sign is owned by Escambia County.
Man Critically Injured When He Falls Off His Motorcycle On Munson Highway
September 23, 2019
A Santa Rosa County man was critically injured when he fell off his motorcycle Sunday night on Munson Highway.
At about 6:37 p.m., 42-year old Robert Henry Seemer was northbound on Munson Highway when he lost control off his 2006 Harley Davidson and fell off, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
Troopers said Seemer was not wearing a helmet.
File photo.
Surveillance Photos Released From Airport Boulevard Armed Robbery
September 23, 2019
Pensacola Police have released surveillance photos from an armed robbery last Tuesday at 8:21 p.m. at Jersey Mike’s on Airport Boulevard. Anyone with information on the robbery or suspects is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century Sewer Plant Needs Biosolid Removal; Filters Are Out Of Service
September 23, 2019
The Century Wastewater Treatment Facility needs biosolids and sludge removed to remain compliant with state requirements, and necessary filters are out of service.
Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Removal
According to town documents, the level of biosolids and sewage sludge are too high, and the town’s current disposal method using drying bed is inadequate to remedy the problem.
The Century treatment facility has three drying beds, but one is out of service and in need of significant repairs estimated at $25,000. Somewhere around 2006, the town purchased a belt press – which essentially squeezes the liquid out of the sludge — but it has been out of service for several years and repair parts are no longer available.
The town has a tanker truck that could be used to haul the sludge away, but it is not in operating order. It’s a 1987 Peterbilt that pulls a 1970’s era tanker trailer that holds about 5,000 gallons. It is estimated it would cost $7,000 for truck repairs and an inspection on the structural integrity of the tank.
The town contacted three companies for quotes to remove the sludge:
- Johnson Septic declined to quote.
- Boyett’s in Pensacola quoted $1,500 per 4,000 gallon tanker load, including a $405 ECUA disposal fee, which equates to 37.5 cents per gallon.
- Green South Solutions in Florala, AL, quoted a turnkey solution at $950 per $6,500 gallon tanker load, or 14.6 center per gallon. The price includes all equipment, personal, disposal permits and insurance to remove the excess biosolids.
The town council will consider awarding the contract to Green South Solutions to remove 10 loads of biosolids/sludge for $9,500 total.
Wastewater Filters
The town council will also consider awarding a $1,800 contract to Aqua-Aerobic Solutions to evaluate the effluent filters at the wastewater treatment plant. The filters, according to town documents, have been out of service for several years due to the controls being submerged.
The filters, manufactured by Aqua-Aerobic Solutions, were installed in 2002 and 2007.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Facility. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Spike
September 23, 2019
Florida gas prices surged an average of 10 cents as expected last week after drone attacks on Saudi Arabia caused crude prices to rise.
The average price per gallon spiked 12 cents in Escambia County to $2.48 but was as low as $2.41 Sunday night in Cantonment.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.50 per gallon. Despite last week’s dime increase, the state average remains 30 cents per gallon less than this year’s highest daily price back in April.
Escambia Unemployment Rate Holds Steady
September 23, 2019
The latest job numbers just released by the state show a steady unemployment rate in Escambia County and a small decrease in Santa Rosa County.
Escambia County’s unemployment held steady at 3.5%. There were 5,124 people were reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was also 3.5 percent.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.4% in July to 3.2% in August. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,657 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 3.3 percent.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3% in August 2019, unchanged from the July 2019 rate, and down 0.1 percentage point from a year ago. There were 342,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,387,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in August.
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.
Hot, Dry Week Ahead
September 23, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 96.
Youth Football: NWE 2-2 Against Andalusia; Century Splits With Georgiana
September 23, 2019
NWE finished 2-2 against the Andalusia Bulldogs Saturday in youth football action, and Century split with Georgiana, Alabama.
NWE Football
Freshman
NWE 31, Andalusia 0
Sophomore
Andalusia 31, NWE 12
Juniors
NWE 32, Andalusia 13
Seniors
Andalusia 42, NWE 8
Century Sports Association
Georgiana def. Century
Century 18, Georgiania 6
Tate Holds Lil Aggie Cheerleader Camp; They Will Perform On Oct. 4
September 23, 2019
The Tate High School Cheerleaders held their annual Lil Aggie cheerleader camp Saturday.
On Friday, October 4, the Lil Aggies will cheer with the Aggie cheerleaders during the first quarter as Tate hosts Navarre. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Construction Traffic Delay List
September 23, 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 Nine Mile Road (State Road (S.R.) 10/U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, Sept. 22 through Saturday, Sept. 28:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating east and westbound lane shifts as crews construct the new southbound bridge, end bend, and center pier.
- U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 ½ Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- · U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Sept. 22.
- · S.R. 291 (N. Davis Highway) Pavement Repairs near Navy Federal Credit Union- Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane north of Brent Lane from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 as crews remove the existing driveway and place curb and gutter.
- · S.R. 10A (Mobile Highway) Routine Maintenance at Shoemaker and North Z street- East and westbound traffic will encounter intermittent and alternating lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 as crews make repairs to the road.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97) – North and southbound traffic may encounter intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews perform median work. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- · U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah Road to S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road)- There will be intermittent westbound lane closures between the I-10 interchange and the new bridge over Eleven Mile Creek from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Sept. 22 as crews pave for roadway widening. Once work is complete, westbound traffic will be merging from the outside to inside lane between I-10 and the Eleven Mile Creek bridge.
- · C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Crews continue driving production piles. Traffic will remain shifted onto the special detour until the new bridge is constructed and reopened to traffic.
- · 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.
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 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).
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. The roadway is 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 may require the following lane closures 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Sept 22:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 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).
- S.R. 87 Sidewalk Repair from Vonnie Tolbert Road to Holley Point Road- There will be north and southbound intermittent outside lane restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Monday, Sept. 23 as crews repair sidewalk.
- 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.