FDOT Plans Traffic Shift Thursday In Century Highway 29 Construction Zone
July 23, 2024
The Florida Department of Transportation says that Highway 29 traffic in Century will be shifted to newly constructed southbound travel lanes beginning Thursday.
When we visited construction zone Monday evening, the southbound lanes did not appear to be close to completion.
FDOT previously announced the shift would take place on July 15, but walked back to that date after NorthEscambia.com photos showed that was obviously not going to happen saying that the contractor located a damaged water line that put them behind schedule.
The FDOT projects includes a major reconstruction and realignment of Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line.
The project includes reconstructing a 700-foot curved segment of Highway 29 from north of Henry Street to Cottage Street; the curve has been the site of several truck accidents in recent years.
The full length of the $4.7 million project began in early January 2023 and had an original anticipated completion target date in Spring 2024.
FDOT will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Work on the project came to a complete standstill for several weeks in May 2023 after the discovery of an unmapped Town of Century water pipe that needed to be relocated. Century’s engineer said the problem pipe was a 2-inch water main.
Pictured: The southbound travel lanes of Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) and the current traffic pattern as seen on Monday evening, July 22. NorthEscambaia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Daily Scattered Showers Continue Through The Week
July 23, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Molino Man Charged With Throwing Object, Breaking Windshield Of Passing Car
July 23, 2024
A Molino man was charged with allegedly throwing something at a passing vehicle on Pine Forest Road, breaking a windshield.
Dennis Edward Edmonson, 42, was charged with felony deadly missiles and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
A driver told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he was driving north in the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road, just south of Five Flags Speedway, when he saw a man later identified as Edwards standing with his bicycle on the side of the road. The man said Edmonson lifted his arm in a throwing motion, and something made a loud bang as hit and shattered his windshield.
The man pulled over on the side of the road, and Edmonson began yelling and advancing toward him, an arrest report states. The man drove away and called law enforcement.
Deputies later located Edmonson standing by his bicycle, wearing the same clothing as described by the victim, according to report.
“Edmonson appeared to be under the influence of narcotics,” the deputy wrote in his report.
Damage to the Toyota Camry was estimated at $500.
Edmonson remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $11,000.
North Escambia Athletes Place In USA Volleyball Beach National Championships
July 23, 2024
Three athletes from North Escambia participated in the 2024 USA Volleyball Beach National Championships Sunday in Fort Lauderdale.
Hartlie Bowman of Molino, who attends Beulah Academy of Science, and her partner Lily Hassell of Gulf breeze places first in the 12U bracket.
Emma Bowman of Molino, who attends Northview High School, and her partner Jayla Templeman from Beulah, who attends Tate High School, finished tied for fifth place in 14U.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Sheriff Issues Contractor Fraud Alert After Arrest
July 23, 2024
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff Office has issued a fraud alert to the public for 34-year-old Aron Carrillo.
Carrillo has been charged with grand theft, two counts of contracting without a license and failing to obtain building permits throughout the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Louisiana. SRSO said he operated under the business name Tres Carrillos LLC.
Investigators said Carillo took $19,000 for a job which required a contractor license and electrical license, but he also failed to obtain the proper permits and permit inspections for the job. They said he caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the house he worked on including potentially damaging the support beams vital to the house’s structural integrity.
Charges are also pending in other Florida counties for similar incidents involving Carrillo.
Carrillo was arrested and is currently held in the Gadsden County Jail awaiting extradition.
“We are encouraging anyone who previously conducted business Aron Carrillo or Tres Carrillos LLC to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff Office with information related to any work conducted by him,” the agency said.
Escambia Man Gets 10 Years On Firearms And Financial Racketeering Charges
July 23, 2024
An Escambia County man was sentenced to a decade in state prison for on firearms and financial crime charges.
A jury found Ramon Borner guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson sentenced Borner to 10 years state prison.
On August 16, 2022, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Borner’s residence as part of an economic crime investigation into a large check fraud ring. Persecutors said he was found in possession of an AR style firearm under the bed and a pistol in a drawer.
He also entered a plea to racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and an additional count of felony in possession of a firearm for another AR style firearm. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the additional charges to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $89,639.15 in restitution to the victims.
New Name, Same Fish: Largemouth Bass Are Now Florida Bass
July 23, 2024
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says genetics studies confirmed what many anglers and biologists have believed for a long time – Florida bass are special.
Florida’s most popular freshwater game fish has a new name. The American Fisheries Society established the Florida bass as a separate species from the largemouth bass. This means that in most of Florida what was known as a largemouth bass is now called a Florida bass.
The name change will affect how the fish is referred to in regulations and other communications. However, it will not affect anglers fishing for this iconic freshwater sport fish.
According to the recent research publication by Yale University, the study used advanced genetic analysis and determined Florida bass to be its own species. The research also identified the range of Florida bass to be larger than once believed, including not only Florida, but also parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The scientific names of these two bass also changed. Largemouth bass, previously Micropterus salmoides, is now the scientific name for Florida bass. Largemouth bass are now Micropterus nigricans.
Angeline Marie “Angie” Carnley
July 23, 2024
Angeline Marie “Angie” Carnley, age 63, of Atmore, AL passed away on July 18, 2024 in Mobile, AL. She was born on September 16, 1960 in Century, FL to Gene Raymond Holloway and Inez Gay Steedley. Angie was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Theresa Jane Messer.
Angie is survived by her children, Randell (Alycia) Carnley of Charleston, SC and Robert (Holly) Carnley of Huxford, AL; father of their children, Ronnie Carnley; her siblings, Dewayne (Joan) Turman of Frostproof, FL, Michael (Jennifer) Turman of Andalusia, AL and Lisa Turman of GA; her grandchildren, Katelyn Carnley and Jacob Carnley; many nieces, nephews, family, friends and her life partner, Junior Salter of Huxford, AL. Graveside services will be held Monday, July 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Pineview Cemetery in Pineview, AL with Bro. Tad McMullen officiating. Interment will follow in Pineview Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
ECUA Considering Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increases
July 22, 2024
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is considering rate increases for water, wastewater and sanitation customers.
The ECUA Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommended a 3% across the board for all three services.
The proposed 3% for water and wastewater rate increases would be a moderate increase for customers. For an average mainland customer using 6,000 gallons, the increase will be just under $1 per month for water and under $2 for wastewater. (Pensacola Beach water and wastewater customers pay a higher rate.)
A 3% increase or sanitation rates is also proposed.
For residential customers with a 90-gallon on smaller container, the rate would increase from $29.82 to $30.56, increasing by 78 cents. The senior citizen rate with a 60-gallon container would increase 62 cents from $24.98 to $25.60.
“Other changes include an increase so the initial delivery charge for non-compaction rolloff containers in the commercial division, the resolution states. “The (fiscal year) 2024 budget included changes to commercial rates to become more competitive with the private sector.”
Resolutions to be considered by the ECUA board this Tuesday would set public hearings on the proposals for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7.
Highway 4, Highway 168 Bridges Across North Escambia Remain Closed. Here’s An Update.
July 22, 2024
Two frequently traveled east-west routes across the extreme northern part of Escambia County remain closed due to bridges closures.
The Highway 168 bridge over Hobbs Branch, about three-quarters of a mile east of Pine Barren Road near Bratt, was closed July 3 after it failed a state inspection. When NorthEscambia.com photographed the bridge late shortly after the closure, it was obvious that at least one wooden support was extremely deteriorated and almost completely broken in two.
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said Sunday it is expected to take about 90 days for the Highway 168 bridge repairs, but there’s always hope the fix could be completed in less time.
Highway 168 and the bridge have served as a vital link between Bratt and Century since the closure of an 81-year-old Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek in July 2023.
Now, Bratt Road Bratt to Byrneville is the detour for both Highway 4 and Highway 168. Drivers from Highway 168 will also use Pine Barren Road to the west and Raines Road to the east to reach Bratt Road.
The latest estimate is that a new bridge on Highway 4 will reopen in late July. Sunday evening, the bridge appeared complete, but work remained to prepare and pave the approaches as well as finish shoulder work.
While not the “official” detour, many local residents have been using Highway 168 as a detour for Highway 4.
Average daily traffic in 2021 was 550 vehicles per day on the Highway 168 bridge. However, traffic is likely significantly higher now the closure of the Highway 4 bridge for replacement. The average daily traffic count on the Highway 4 bridge was 1,800 vehicles per day prior to its closure.
Pictured above: The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek Sunday evening. Pictured below: The Highway 168 bridge over Hobbs Branch on July 3, 2024. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
