Century Botches Public Hearing To Change Land Use For Council Member’s Father
September 6, 2020
The Century Town Council is being forced to reconsider a land use change for the father of a council member after town staff botched a legal notice.
James Smith, Sr., father of council member James Smith, Jr., requested a use change for just over of a tenth of an acre at 220 East Pond Street from public/institutional to low density residential. It’s ordinary business that took a turn due to Florida’s Sunshine Law.
The town council held a required public hearing on the change during their August 17 meeting. James Smith, Jr. made a motion to approve the action, but was informed by Council President Ann Brooks that he could not make the motion due to a conflict of interest. On a new motion by Luis Gomez, the council approved the change 4-0 without a vote from Smith.
But it was later discovered that the public notice published by the town did not include a date for the public hearing, invalidating the entire process.
The council will hold a new public hearing at or after 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8 and vote again to approve or deny the change.
The town’s planner will pick up the tab for the publication of the improper public notice.
Pictured above: The red area shows the property at 220 East Pond Street. Pictured below: This published public notice did not indicate the date of the meeting. NorthEscambia.com graphics.
County Plans Ensley Gateway Beautification Project; Public Comment Being Accepted
September 6, 2020
A gateway beautification project is planned for the an open parcel north of the intersection of North Palafox Street and East Johnson Avenue in Ensley. It’s in the area that remained after the realignment of West Detroit Boulevard and East Johnson Avenue.
The proposed concept plan includes pedestrian walkways and seating walls that will provide a pleasant passive use park for neighborhood use and enjoyment. A plaza at the intersection is planned and it will provide access to the existing safe pedestrian crosswalks.
The site concept proposes landscaping with native trees and grasses along a bioswale/rain garden that will handle stormwater management in a low impact, natural, sustainable form.
A sidewalk along North Palafox Street is proposed to connect the site to space for an ECAT transit stop.
The public is invited to view the preliminary design concepts for the District 3 Ensley Gateway Beautification Project and provide their comments. The public comment period will open through Wednesday, September 30. Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:
- Mail: Atkins, 2114 Airport Blvd., Suite 1450, Pensacola, Florida 32504
- Phone: (850) 378-6961
Upper 60s Tonight, Sunny And 90 For Labor Day
September 6, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Labor Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Drivers Get A Break Through Monday. Then These Will Be The Trouble Spots.
September 6, 2020
Drivers will get a break from lane closures on state roads through midnight Monday due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. But then it’s back to normal at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday when drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads 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 Tuesday, Sept. 8:
-
- 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).
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and pavement operations.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road (C.R.) 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road
(S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. - · Brent Lane (S.R. 296) Underground Utility Operations Near Davis Highway- Traffic will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9 as crews perform underground utility work.
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 Tuesday, Sept. 8:
- 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 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
IMPACT 100 To Name Grant Finalists This Week. 11 Of Them Will Receive $106K Each
September 6, 2020
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropic organization, will announce finalists that will have a chance to share grants totalling $1,166,000.
During an event this Wednesday, 15 nonprofit organizations will be announced as finalists from IMPACT 100’s five focus areas — arts and culture; education; environment; recreation and preservation; family; and health and wellness.
With 1,166 members this year, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area will award $106,000 each to eleven nonprofit organizations in the community for a total impact of $1,166,000 for 2020 at its annual meeting on Sunday, October 11.
This is the 17th year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2004, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has awarded 109 grants totaling $11,664,000 to 78 nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Pictured: IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area’s 2019 grant presentation. File photo.
Saturday: 110 New COVID-19 Cases, One Death In Escambia And Santa Rosa
September 5, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
There were 110 new COVID-19 confirmed positives and one new death reported in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The Escambia County death was a 66-year old female
Escambia County cases increased 64 to 11,482. An additional 46 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 4,891.
Of the 759 tests results returned in Escambia County, 7.6% were positive, and 12.5% were positive from 336 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 5.5%.
There were 100 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Friday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 193 deaths in Escambia County, 91 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 58 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and 12 in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 643,867 cases including 636.653 Florida residents. There have been 39,912 hospitalizations* and 11,811 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
Total cases — 11,482 (+64)
Non-Florida residents — 1,021
Pensacola —8,399 (+45)
Century — 920 (+1)
—-including 771 Century prison inmates
Cantonment — 819 (+12)
Molino— 135 (+3)
McDavid — 66
Walnut Hill — 16
Bellview — 12
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 7 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 100 (+3)
Deaths — 193 (+1)
Male — 5,067
Female — 5,295
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 39
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 4,891 (+46)
Non-Florida residents — 43
Milton — 2,615 (+13)
Gulf Breeze — 712 (+7)
Navarre — 613 (+13)
Pace — 383 (+1)
Jay — 137 (+2)
Bagdad — 9
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 281*
Deaths — 59
Male — 2,700
Female — 2,168
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 40
Florida cases:
Total cases — 643,867
Florida residents — 636,653
Deaths — 11,811
Hospitalizations — 39,912*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Man Charged With Murder After Body Found In Nokomis
September 5, 2020
An Atmore man is behind bars charged with murder after a body was found in Nokomis, Alabama.
De’Antae Deshay Knight is being held in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center with bond set at $1 million.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said authorities received a tip about a possible homicide in Nokomis. Investigators from the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and the Atmore Police Department responded Thursday. Interviews were conducted and search warrants were executed throughout the night.
After an extensive search of numerous wooded areas, the body of an unidentified adult was found hidden in a brushy area off James Road. Authorities are awaiting identification from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
The discovery was made by the ECSO with assistance from Atmore Police and K-9 units from KlaasKids .
Jackson said this is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741.
Slight Chance of Showers For Saturday
September 5, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Labor Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
No Injuries In Overturned Vehicle Wreck In Century Or Barrineau Park Crash; Vehicle Hits Horse In Beulah
September 5, 2020
There were no injuries reported in a Friday night wreck in Century and another crash in Barrineau Park. And a driver escaped injury in an early Saturday morning crash with a horse in Beulah.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to an overturned vehicle on Hilltop Road near Red Lane, just west of North Century Boulevard, about 8:10 p.m. Friday. They found the vehicle on its side and were able to get the victim out through a door.
A vehicle crash was reported about 9:15 p.m. on Molio Road near Barrineau Park Road. There were no injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
And a truck hit a horse after 2 a.m. Saturday in the 9500 block of Bridlewood Road in Beulah near Nine Mile Road. The driver was not injured, but the horse did not survive.
The FHP is investigating the crashes.
File photo.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Warning Businesses About Credit Card Fraud Scheme
September 5, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning businesses about a recent trend involving counterfeit credit cards.
According to the ECSO:
The cards will be presented as a regular credit card, however when the magnetic strip is swiped the system will decline the card. Customers with these cards are then asking businesses to complete the transaction by manually entering the embossed numbers on the front of the card. When the business overrides the magnetic strip, they lose all protection from the original bank.