Traffic Alert: This Week’s List Of Construction Slow Down Spots
June 24, 2024
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:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek through mid-2025 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Signage is in place to direct drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform utility work:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange Sunday, June 23 through Thursday, June 27 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Lane closure on North Palafox Street between Hope Drive and the bridge over I-10, beginning Tuesday, June 25 at 8 a.m. and lasting approximately six hours. In this configuration, north and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct drivers safely through the work zone
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews perform paving operations, barrier wall installation and bridge demolition activities:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Monday, June 24 through Thursday, June 27 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
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- Inside lane closures and minor traffic shifts on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, June 23 through Thursday, June 27 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through June as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- State Road (S.R.) 297 (Pine Forest Road) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance near Bush Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Wednesday, June 26 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- S.R. 291 (North Davis Street) Routine Maintenance from East Jordan Street to East Lee Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent northbound lane closures Monday, June 24 through Sunday, July 6 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- S.R. 291 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) Routine Maintenance from East Jordan Street to East Lee Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent southbound lane closures Monday, June 24 through Sunday, July 6 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- West Cervantes Street Routine Maintenance at North Baylen Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent westbound lane closures Monday, June 24 through Sunday, July 6 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Florida Georgia and Alabama Railroad Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of U.S. 90 Sunday, June 23 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 as crews perform shoulder grading and sodding operations.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
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- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, June 23, through Friday, June 28, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
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- Beginning the week of June 23, motorists traveling westbound along U.S. 98 in Santa Rosa County will encounter a new traffic configuration from east of Ramblewood Drive to west of Bayshore Road as lanes will be shifted north to allow the contractor to perform roadway widening operations in the median.
- I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Blackwater River – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures west of S.R. 87 Monday, June 24 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance over S.R. 281 – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of the east Santa Rosa County line Wednesday, June 26 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 90 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Florida Georgia and Alabama Railroad – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of S.R. 87 Thursday, June 27 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 90 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Marquis Bayou – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of C.R. 191 Friday, June 28 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather
Florida Gas Prices Rise Average Of 15 Cents Over Last Week
June 24, 2024
Florida gas prices have rebounded after sinking to multi-month lows. The Pensacola area’s lowest price Sunday night was $2.88
The state average rose 15 cents last week, then declined two pennies over the weekend.
Sunday’s state average was $3.35 per gallon. That’s 10 cents more than a week ago. The price hike ended a 26-day streak of declines, which delivered a 33 cent discount. The state average eventually fell to $3.23 per gallon on Tuesday – which was the lowest daily average price since mid-February.
The average cost per gallon in Escambia County was $3.11 on Sunday. In Pensacola, the low price Sunday night was $2.88 at stations on Pensacola Boulevard, East Nine Mile Road and Airport Boulevard. In North Escambia, a low of $2.88 ws available at one Highway 29 station in Cantonment
“Oil and gasoline futures prices rose the past two consecutive weeks, which raised the cost of producing gasoline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Futures prices reportedly increased on data that fuel demand is outpacing fuel inventories. Price fluctuations like this is very common during the summer travel season.”
The U.S. price for crude was back above $80 per barrel, after trading in the mid to low 70s during the past few weeks. Friday’s closing price of $80.73 per barrel is 7% more expensive than two weeks ago.
NorthEscambai.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Drop Series Finale To Chattanooga As Montgomery Clinches Division
June 24, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Sometime in the top of the sixth inning Sunday, it became official from afar that the Montgomery Biscuits had clinched the Southern League’s first half South Division crown.
Coincidentally, the Blue Wahoos had their game lead evaporate and never reclaimed as the Chattanooga Lookouts took a 6-4 win in the series finale that left a quiet mood among a crowd of 4,488 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola’s bid for a third straight First Half divisional win in the league, and accompanying playoff qualifying spot, came up 1.5 games behind Montgomery in the standings as the season now resets for the second half.
But the week still ended full of impact.
The Blue Wahoos twice wore jerseys this week, including Sunday, to honor the Pensacola Seagulls and their impact during a segregated era. Sunday’s game was part of Minor League Baseball’s “The Nine” to recognize the number Jackie Robinson wore during his Minor League career before breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
The Blue Wahoos’ (38-30) second-place finish came with a seventh winning record in the past eight half-seasons with three different affiliations.
And this year’s edition stayed in contention until the Biscuits scored an eighth-inning run and held off the Birmingham Barons 5-4 in their final first half game.
Sunday started just fine for the Blue Wahoos.
They took a 4-0 lead after two innings. Three of the first four batters in the first inning reached base. Zach Zubia hit a two-run double and Nathan Martorella followed with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.
Cody Morissette blasted a solo homer in the second inning on a ball that traveled 455 feet and hit the top of a table umbrella on the Coors Light Cold Zone in right field.
Paul Mcintosh led off the third inning with a double, but was stranded. It became one of the Blue Wahoos’ last scoring opportunities.
The Lookouts (20-49), the Cincinnati Reds’ affiliate, who struggled to finish with the worst record in all minor league levels, concluded their final first half with a series split in Pensacola.
They got a two-run homer from Ivan Johnson off Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermúdez in the third inning, then a solo blast from No. 9 hitter Jose Torres in the fifth inning.
In the eventful sixth, the Lookouts loaded the bases, got an RBI groundout by Torres, then a two-run double by Johnson off reliever Dale Stanavich that became the game-winner.
Two Chattanooga relievers to shut out the Blue Wahoos in the final four innings.
The Blue Wahoos will now take Monday off, recharge, then begin the second half of the schedule on Tuesday in Biloxi against the Biloxi Shuckers.
WHAT’s NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
WHEN: Tuesday through Sunday (June 30).
WHERE: Keesler Federal Park, Biloxi, Miss.
lvin Lamar Pugh
June 24, 2024
lvin Lamar Pugh, age 87, of Oak Grove, FL passed away on June 24, 2024 at home surrounded by his family. He was born on August 19, 1936 in Oak Grove, FL to Joseph Albert Pugh and Willie Enfinger Pugh. He retired from St. Regis-Champion with 42 years of service. He was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. He loved his family, his church and was an avid fisherman. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Joseph Pugh.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Peggy Mooney Pugh; his son, Stephen (Sheila) Pugh of Oak Grove, FL; his daughter, Terri (Charles) Stark of Oak Grove, FL; his grandchildren, Stevie (Star) Pugh, Clint (Shelby) Pugh, and Charla (Alan) Lee and his great grandchildren, Libby Pugh, Colby Pugh, Jaxon Lee and Kenzie Lee.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Greg Sellers officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Stevie Pugh, Clint Pugh, Colby Pugh, Alan Lee, Shannon Peavy and Dougie Godwin.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Local Hams Take To The Airwaves For Amateur Radio Field Day, Practicing Emergency Communications
June 23, 2024
Local ham radio operators at two locations in Escambia County took part in the 2024 American Radio Relay League Field Day this weekend.
ARRL Field Day was an opportunity for about 40,000 amateur radio enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary communications stations and make contact with like-minded people. Licensed radio operators, often called “hams,” spent the weekend practicing community outreach, emergency preparedness and technical skills.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association operated continuously from 1 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Park off East 10 Mile Road.
Amateur radio operator Gene Bannon, call sign KB4HAH, said amateur radio operators were the only ones communication for 36 hours after Hurricane Ivan. He said sheriff’s deputies could not talk to each other and the fire departments couldn’t talk to each other.
He added that amateurs were the communications source for the first 36 hours before the arrival of satellite trucks and other equipment arrived.
Bannon said that’s the reason amateur radio exists.
For a photo gallery from both field day sites, click here.
Club members set up their amateur radio equipment — ranging from old 1980s radios to modern digital gear and satellite communications. With a generator and portable antennas, including a wire antenna spanning half a soccer field, they were soon communicating with ham operators across the United States and Canada.
The goal was to reach other ham operators in as many Canadian provinces and U.S. states as possible, including Alaska and Hawaii.
The Southern Amateur Radio Union (SARU) participated from Travis Nelson Park on West Highway 4 in Bratt, near Northview High School. Club members from both Escambia counties (Alabama and Florida) participated from 1 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday. Operators would carefully tune radios, repeat their call sign and see who would answer from where.
The amateur radio operators have their own equipment inside the Escambia County Operations Center, ready to provide needed communications during local emergencies. That room was named for Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, a ham operator that passed away in May 2021.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny Sunday, Middle 90s; Rain Chance Returns Monday
June 23, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
There’s No Lt. James Perry: Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Phone Scam
June 23, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning of an ongoing phone scam.
ECSO said they have been notified that several citizens are receiving phone calls from someone who is identifying themselves as “Lt. James Perry of the ECSO Civil Division”. They are asking citizens to call or report to the Sheriff’s Office.
ECOS said there is no ““Lt. James Perry” employed at the Sheriff’s Office and the call is a scam.
Man Found Deceased In Vehicle Alongside I-10
June 23, 2024
An investigation is underway after a man was found dead in a vehicle along I-10 in Santa Rosa County Saturday.
At 11:10 a.m., a road ranger saw a Dodge Ram pickup truck parked on the I-10 0 eastbound shoulder in the area of the 20 mile marker. When the road ranger arrived, he observed a single occupant slumped over inside the vehicle. When they were unable to gain the attention of the occupant, he notified EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol.
A Florida State Trooper arrived on scene and gained access to the vehicle by breaking a window.
The male occupant was pronounced deceased by a Santa Rosa County paramedic. FHP is the lead investigating agency for the case and received assistance received from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Rosa County EMS
Additional details have not been released.
Undefeated Century 10U Lady Legends Win rewton YMCA All-Star Tourney
June 23, 2024
The Century Baseball Association 10U Lady Legends went undefeated in the Brewton YMCA All-Star tournament to claim the championship Saturday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Hold Off Lookouts To Provide Chance At First Half Division Crown
June 23, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos will now play the final game of their first half schedule on Sunday with another playoff berth at stake.
They can thank Diego Infante’s slide and Jakob Marsee’s triple for helping make it happen.
Infante avoided being tagged on an sixth-inning steal attempt, then scored on a Marsee triple in Pensacola’s 5-4 victory Saturday night on a Copa initiative game against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Taking on their alternate identity Saturday as the Pensacola Pok Ta Pok, honoring the first ballgame of the Americas centuries ago as part of the Minor League Baseball Copa de la Diversión series, the Blue Wahoos got the win and got some help to make Sunday a dramatic finale to the first half schedule.
That’s because the Birmingham Barons knocked off the Montgomery Biscuits 4-1 in 10 innings, enabling the Blue Wahoos to move to within a half-game of the Biscuits in the league’s South Division.
The Biscuits at home have a half-hour head start Sunday before Pensacola’s 4:05 p.m. weekend finale against Chattanooga.
Half of the Southern League will end the first half in playoff contention Sunday. The Tennessee Smokies had a walk-off win Saturday against the Mississippi Braves to pull within a half-game of Birmingham, so it’s the same scenario in the North Division.
After the Lookouts (19-49), who wore their own Copa de la Diversión uniforms, rallied in the middle innings from a 4-0 deficit to tie Saturday’s game, the Blue Wahoos (38-28) answered with a decisive run.
Infante led off the sixth inning by reaching base on a wild pitch from a swinging strikeout. With two out and Marsee at the plate, Infante took off on a steal attempt. The throw beat him to the bag, but his deft move on the slide avoided the tag and he was ruled safe.
Two pitches later, Marsee connected to send a ball into the left-center gap, easily scoring Infante for the go-ahead run on an eventual triple.
That became the game-winning run.
Relievers Anderson Pilar (4th hold), Matt Pushard (7th hold) and closer Austin Roberts with his league-best 11th save, combined to shut down the Barons lineup to seal the win. The trio allowed just two hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Roberts struck out the side in the ninth and reacted with natural emotion as the Blue Wahoos knew they will now play a potential decisive game Sunday to determine the South Division first half winner. The Blue Wahoos have won the first half the past two seasons and reached the league championship series both times – winning the title in 2022.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios, who struggled in both starts last year against Chattanooga, allowing eight earned runs in 11 innings, fared much better Saturday.
He carried a shutout into the fifth when the Lookouts scored two runs off fielding errors. But Palacios made a big pitch to end a bases-loaded situation in that inning.
In the top of the sixth, Austin Hendrick tied the game with a one out homer run that just cleared a leaping attempt by Infante in right field.
Seven different Blue Wahoos players each had one hit.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium