Thousands Of Pounds Of Food Distributed In Century (With Photo Gallery)
May 31, 2020
About 30,000 pounds of food was distributed in Century on Saturday to families in need.
The free food giveaway was a partnership between the Town of Century, Northwest Florida Community Outreach and Farm Share. Hundreds of local resident received a variety of food that included meats, produce, milk and fresh produce.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Count Of Long-Term Care COVID-19 Deaths By Facility In Escambia County
May 31, 2020
Of the 33 COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County, 26 — just over three-quarters of them — have been in long-term care facilities according to data released by the Florida Department of Health.
There have been 12 residents that died from the virus at Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center, an increase of five deaths at the facility since a week ago. As of Saturday, there were 24 current cases at Bayside.
At Southern Oaks Care Center, seven residents have died as has one staff member. Four residents have died at Brookdale Pensacola assisted living center, and there has been one resident death each at Rosewood Health and Rehabilitation and Arcadia Health and Rehabilitation Center.
A total of 810 cases were reported in Escambia County as of Saturday night. It’s not possible to determine how many of those have been residents of long-term care facilities; the Florida Department of Health’s data reports only indicate the number of current COVID-19 by facility. It does not provide a cumulative total by facility.
Church Donating Property For Pine Barren Church Road Dirt Road Paving
May 31, 2020
The Pine Barren Baptist Church is donating property to allow for paving of the dirt portion of Pine Barren Church Road near Davisville.
The 0.16 acres at 5270 Pine Barren Church Road is being donated for right of way.
Pine Barren Church Road runs West Highway 4 to Highway 97. About 5,300 linear feet is dirt and part of Escambia County’s Dirt Road Program.
Base preparation and minor drainage work will be constructed by in-house crews and the paving and striping work will be contracted. The donation of real property from Pine Barren Baptist Church is needed to complete the project.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Dry And Warm For Sunday And Monday, Highs Around 90
May 31, 2020
The burn ban has been lifted for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast: Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 5 mph. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph. Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
May 31, 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:
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The week of Sunday, May 31:
o 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.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · Scenic Highway Striping Operations from Rothchild to Nine Mile Road- The eastbound and westbound outside lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, May 31 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 1 as crews replace striping and reflective pavement markings.
- · Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (State Road (S.R.) 297)- The far-right portion of the I-10 eastbound off-ramp that connects to Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) 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.
- · Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Construction Operations at the intersection of E. Avery Street- The southbound lane will be closed at the intersection of E. Avery Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 29 as crews unload equipment.
- · Perdido Key Drive (S.R. 292) Pedestrian Crosswalk Construction at Flora-Bama- Crews are performing signalization work during daytime hours. There are currently no lane closures or impacts to traffic.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of County Road (C.R.) 184 (Muscogee Road) to S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations. There will also be intermittent and alternating lane restriction from 8 pm. to 6 a.m. around the CSX RR crossing in Cantonment Sunday, May 31 through Thursday, June 4 as crews construct improvements to the railroad crossing.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Construction activities are underway. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers will experience the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, May 31.
- Nine Mile Road will be closed at the U.S. 29 overpass from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday, June 4 as crews paint a beam and rail of the newly constructed southbound bridge deck. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to U.S. 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road
- Throughout the week, drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement - Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The week of Sunday, May 31:
o Intermittent east and westbound lane closures from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · Garcon Point Bridge (S.R. 281) Routine Bridge Maintenance over East Bay- Traffic will be reduced to one lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 5. Traffic flaggers will be on site to direct drivers through the work area
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to Market Road (C.R. 87A) in Jay – There will be temporary shoulder and lane closures throughout the project limits.
- · U.S. 90 Pavement Marking Operations between Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) and the Okaloosa County Line-Motorists can expect minor delays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday, Aug. 27 as slow-moving vehicles are used to perform pavement marking operations.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Paving operations are underway throughout the project limits. Drivers can expect nighttime lane restrictions.
- · S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter nighttime southbound lane closures as crews continue expansion joint work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Remembering Trayton, Young Boy Killed In Four Wheeler Accident
May 31, 2020
A community is in mourning after a tragic four-wheeler accident claimed the life young Trayton Adams Thursday evening in Flomaton.
“Trayton was a joy to have in our school. He loved hard and he smiled large every day. He was loved by all his classmates and the staff,” Flomaton Elementary George Brown wrote on the school’s Facebook page.
“Trayton loved to smile and he loved to give hugs,” said Brittany Brown, his kindergarten teacher. “His smile would light up the room because it was so full of joy and his hugs were so pure and filled with love. He loved so freely and so genuinely.”
“He was very smart and he loved to draw. His journals were full of the most beautiful pictures that he would draw each day. I was always in awe of the talent that he had. He had a servant’s heart and always wanted to help others. Not a day went by that he didn’t offer to help one of his classmates or me. He loved to laugh and he loved to play outside.”
“I’m so grateful for all the precious memories our class made with him, we will cherish them and hold them in our hearts forever,” Brown said.
Photos: Brittany Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECAT Encouraging Riders To Wear Masks
May 31, 2020
Beginning Monday,, passengers will be encouraged to wear face masks while riding Escambia County Area Transit buses.
If a rider does not already have a mask, ECAT employees will offer a mask to the passenger during the month of June to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. ECAT operators will also continue to wear masks.
Also beginning Monday, ECAT employees and operators will have their temperature taken when they arrive to work as a precaution. ECAT continues to implement safety measures such as limiting ridership to 10 bus passengers and increased bus and facility cleanings. ECAT lobby areas are open at 25% occupancy (two people in the front lobby and eight people in the customer service area). Beach trolleys have seating spaced to accommodate social distancing.
“Our priority remains the safety and health of our employees and passengers, especially during this pandemic. Since March, we have been implementing health and safety measures such as frequent and daily cleaning of buses, limiting the number of passengers to 10, and boarding buses in a manner that promotes social distancing,” Escambia County Mass Transit Director Tonya Ellis said.
Since April 6, fair collection has been suspended for ECAT bus services.
Bus passengers have been instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibility-reserved seating area. Front-door access is permitted only for passengers needing the boarding ramp or operator assistance to access the bus. ADA accessible seating space near the front of the bus is reserved for individuals in mobility devices, individuals in need of special assistance and families with children in strollers.
WATCH LIVE: NASA and SpaceX Headed To The International Space Station
May 30, 2020
Watch history unfold as NASA and SpaceX launch astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station. This mission marks the first time since the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011 that humans will fly to the space station from U.S. soil. The mission’s first launch attempt on Wednesday, May 27 was scrubbed due to weather conditions.
This is live coverage from the launch to arrival at the space station.
The launch was at 2:22 p.m. (North Escambia time) with the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock to the space station on Sunday, May 31.
Woman Charged With Manslaughter For Wreck That Killed One, Injured Century Man
May 30, 2020
A Pensacola woman has been charged with vehicular homicide for a January 30 wreck that claimed one life and seriously injured a Century man.
Ava Stoudemire, 36, was charged this week with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and a probation violation.
Tyrone Deonta Wilkins, 27, was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was a backseat passenger in a Toyota van driven by Stoudemire.
Front seat passenger 34-year old Gregory Matthews of Century was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition after the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Stoudemire was under the influence when she attempted to turn onto Marcus Pointe Boulevard but failed to negotiate the turn and collided with a semi-truck before rotating into a box truck, both of which were traveling south on North W Street.
Burn Bans Are Lifted, But Outdoor Burning Rules Still Apply
May 30, 2020
Burn bans in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have been dropped, but there are still rules that must be followed to burn legally outdoors.
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are reminding residents to make sure they meet the legal requirements before burning.
Rsidents must still follow certain requirements: Burning piles of yard debris less than 8 feet in diameter is allowed if it is 25 feet from and wooded area or combustible structure, 25 feet from your house, 50 feet from a paved public road and 150 feet from other occupied dwellings.
Piles greater than eight feet require a burn authorization from the Florida Forest Service and must meet more stringent standards. For more information about authorizations, call Blackwater Forestry Center headquarters at (850) 957-5701.
Outdoor trash burning is always prohibited in the Pensacola city limits.
