Gas Price Decline Expected Due To Economic Concerns
March 2, 2020
AAA Says Florida drivers may soon see significant savings at the gas pump. Stock market prices for crude oil and gasoline plummeted last week, amid concerns that the coronavirus will reduce global demand for products like jet fuel and gasoline.
“Crude price drops of this significance can reduce the value of retail gasoline by more than 20 cents,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It’s something that may not happen overnight, but if crude prices remain low, drivers could be pay much less at the pump by the end of this week.”
Florida gas prices declined 6 cents per gallon in the past week. The state average is $2.35 per gallon and falling.
In Escambia County, the average per gallon was $2.34. In North Escambia Sunday night, the lowest price was $2.27 at a station in Cantonment.
Firefighters Battle Woods Fire North Of Flomaton
March 2, 2020
Firefighters from multiple departments battled a brush and woods fire off Wolf Log Road north of Flomaton Sunday afternoon.
The Flomaton, Lambeth, Friendship, Barnett Crossroads and Pineview volunteer fire departments and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue battled the nearly eight acre fire. There were no reports of injuries or structure damage.
Flomaton Fire Chief Stanton offered his thanks to a local resident that allowed the use of his bulldozer to help fight the fire (pictured below.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Brown Named Chamber Outstanding Student Of The Year
March 2, 2020
Keaton Brown from Northview High School was named the Outstanding Student of the Year for 2019-2020 by the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Weekly Meeting Schedule
March 2, 2020
Here is a list of public meetings planned for this week in Escambia County:
Tuesday, March 3
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
Contractor Competency Board Exam Review Committee – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Contractor Competency Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, March 5
Community Redevelopment Agency – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Friday, March 6
Augmented Transit Unit 1395 Collective Bargaining Session – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
UPDATE: Two Missing Children Located Safe
March 1, 2020
UPDATE 11 p.m.: Both children have been located and are safe, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have located young brother and sister that were reporting missing Sunday night from the Scenic Hills area off Nine Mile Road. Both were found safe and unharmed about 11 p.m. according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The two were last seen 8600 block of Meadowbrook Drive at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Ensley Chiefs Concession Stand Burglarized And Vandalized. They Won’t Press Charges If It’s Fixed.
March 1, 2020
Someone burglarized and vandalized the Ensley Chiefs concession area at the J.R. Jones Athletic Park on Nine Mile Road Friday night, and the sports association is giving the perpetrators a chance to make amends to avoid jail.
Graffiti, some of which is too vulgar for us to publish, was painted on the concession area, and the suspects entered the building where they took all of the canned drinks, sunflower seeds and chips. They even took frozen french fries and chicken fingers. The graffiti was also spray painted inside the building.
The Ensley Youth Sports Association says the perpetrators were caught on video, and they giving them a chance to right their wrong.
“If they will contact us directly to repair the damage, we will not press charges,” a board member said. They can be contacted on their Facebook page.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are The Traffic Delay Spots To Expect This Week
March 1, 2020
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:
- 9th Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289, Martin Luther King/Alcaniz Street/Davis Highway (S.R. 291) and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Video Underground Sewer Lines- Drivers may experience intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Tuesday, March 31.
- 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 traffic impacts the week of Sunday,
March 1.- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating lane shifts as crews construct the new southbound bridge.
- U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- Pensacola Bay (U.S. 98) Bridge Replacement- There will be intermittent lane closures at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, March 1.
- U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the Graffiti Bridge.
- · Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10 / U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) to U.S. 29- New Market Street will experience intermittent road closures through Saturday, Feb. 29 as drainage work continues. Traffic is detoured to Parkside Street and Milestone Boulevard. Signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and alternate route.
- · I-110 E-Ramp Closure for Repairs- There will be a northbound outside lane closure at the I-110 E-Ramp to repair the barrier wall from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, March 1.
- · S.R. 727 for Road Marking Activities- There will be a southbound outside lane closure on S.R. 272 from Lilian to U.S. 98 for replacement of reflective road markers from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., Tuesday, March 3.
- · I-110 for Road Marking Activities- There will be intermittent north and southbound lane closures for replacement of reflective road markers from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, March 2 through Thursday, March 5.
- · Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10 / U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – The far-right portion of the I-10 off ramp that connects to Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) westbound remains closed. Drivers can still access Nine Mile Road east and westbound using the other section of the ramp. The partial ramp closure is needed to reconstruct the ramp and will be in place through March 2020.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97)– Crews continue paving operations and median work. Drivers may encounter intermittent daytime lane restrictions. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- · Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Crews continue roadway earthwork and preparations for base material. The roadway remains temporarily closed. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, are 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 spring 2020.
- C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Crews are paving the final layer of asphalt, grading, constructing concrete ditch pavement, and striping the roadway. Watch for workers and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- There will be intermittent lane closures at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, March 1.
- · U.S. 90 Corridor (Pace) Management Improvement Project- Crews are currently working on drainage improvements at Sanford Street. East and westbound lane closures will be in effect at Bostic Lane and Sanford Street from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Construction activities continue at the following seven locations: Villa Woods Circle to Marble Court, Oriole Beach Road, Grand Ride Circle to Fordham Parkway, El Rito Drive/College Parkway, American Avenue, Alpine Avenue, and west of Ortega park Drive. Crews activities continue. Workers are preparing base material for paving to begin at the Days Inn moving westward. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to Market Road (C.R. 87A) in Jay- There will be shoulder closures throughout the project limits for roadway and utility work.
- · S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter daytime southbound lane closures as crews continue expansion joint work.
- · S.R. 87 Turn Lane and Median Modifications at South Lynn Road- Operations are taking place in the median. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane closures.
- U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the Graffiti Bridge.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Sample Ballots On The Way To Escambia Voters
March 1, 2020
Sample ballots for the March 17 Presidential Preference Primary Election are in the mail to Escambia County voters.
The sample ballot, in both English and Spanish, includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location and information on the three ways to vote: early, vote-by-mail, and on election day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.com.
File photo.
Everything And The Kitchen Sink Sold At The 45th Annual Ruritan Auction
March 1, 2020
A large crowd attended the 45th annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Auction Saturday in Walnut Hill bidding on farm equipment and a little bit of everything else, including the kitchen sink. Over 400 items were up for auction.
All proceeds from the auction benefit the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club’s community service projects in the Walnut Hill area. The auction is held on the last Saturday of February.
That kitchen sink, by the way, sold to the highest bidder for $10.
Pictured: Hundreds attended the annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club farm equipment auction Saturday in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Near 70 For Sunday; Rain Chance Returns Monday
March 1, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.