NWS Radar Upgrade Will Better See Storms, Issue Local Warnings
March 7, 2024
A radar software upgrade will allow the National Weather Service in Mobile to better monitor storms and issue warnings faster..
The NWS Mobile monitors the weather and issues warnings in the North Escambia area, along with other portions of Northwest Florida, South Alabama and southern Mississippi.
In the North Escambia area, the lowest elevation that can now be scanned by the radar went from 4,900 feet to 3,100 feet in Century, 3,300 feet to 2,000 feet in Walnut Hill, 4,000 feet to 2,500 feet in Cantonment, and 5,000 ft to 3,300 feet in Pensacola.
“This will greatly assist warning operations for our difficult to see areas in interior counties,” the weather service said. “This is very important for better seeing storm evolution in the low levels.”
The NWS said the lower radar limits will be a great benefit to warning operations. Previously, shallow or low level circulations have been difficult to detect further from the radar, so looking lower should aid in warning decisions.
Century Approves Design For New $3.255 Million Carver Community Center
March 7, 2024
The Century Town Council has approved the design for a new $3.255 million community center.
The town received a state grant in April 2022 to renovate the historic Carver Community Center at 7040 Jefferson Avenue. The former school building was constructed in 1945. Due to advanced termite damage and deterioration, it will be razed and replaced with a new structure.
For more images and building layout plans, click here.
Architect Ben Townes will now go to work on a final design and plans for the building.
The original grant also included the Century Ag Building, more commonly known as the Century Community Center, on West Highway 4 at Industrial Boulevard. However, the town does not plan to do any work at the Century Community Center. Instead, the full grant will be diverted to the Carver Community Center due to unanticipated and drastic increases in construction costs.
The new Carver Community Center will pay homage to the existing structure with both the design of the building and an historical display area in the lobby. It will be exactly the same size at about 6,600 square feet.
The new building will include a 1,058 square foot multipurpose room, three meeting rooms totaling 1,668 square feet, offices, and a kitchen area. Two restrooms will have outside access near a playground.
NorthEscambia.com graphics/photos, click to enlarge.
Accidental Cooking Fire Sparked Davisville Mobile Home Blaze That Injured Two, ECFR Says
March 7, 2024
Escambia Fire Rescue has determined the cause of a mobile home fire that injured two residents in Davisville Monday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 12:45 p.m. in the 6500 block of West Highway 4, just off Highway 97, in Davisville.
The fire in the single wide mobile home was determined to have originated as an accidental cooking fire, according to ECFR.
Two residents were transported to an area hospital for minor injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Names Florida 4-H Speaking Contest Winners
March 7, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School students participated in the Florida Power 4-H Speaking Contest. This contest promotes the skill of communicating your ideas in front of an audience. Students competed at the classroom level and the winners then went on to compete at the school level.
School winners were:
- 1st Place: Brady Echols
- 2nd Place: Michael Cooley
- 3rd Place Perfect Tie: David Craig & Jay Balabagan
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ashton Brosnaham Park To Host NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship
March 7, 2024
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that it has selected Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park as its new home for the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship. The initial term of the agreement is two years and will conclude after the 2025 NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship in December and will be hosted by Pensacola Sports.
“We had a difficult choice ahead of us in the bid process, but Pensacola stood out amongst a very strong group of contenders,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Director of Championships. “Pensacola Sports will do a tremendous job and will give our NAIA student-athletes a special championship experience at a first-rate facility.”
Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park off 10 Mile Road is the current home to the SEC Women’s Soccer Championships and features a state-of-the-art layout that will be a great experience for teams and fans alike. Just last year, the facility underwent a large-scale upgrade that included a complete re-sod that was designed for high-level college soccer. This improvement, along with the addition of multiple locker rooms and flexible use space has made the facility an ideal location for the NAIA to crown a champion in the years to come.
“We are excited to crown champions in Pensacola and are hopeful for a long-term future there,” remarked Bennett.
“It’s the type of news that you hope comes when you make a commitment to a facility and a commitment to a tournament like we did with SEC women’s soccer that we’ve hosted a couple of times,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said Thursday night. “We’ve shown a commitment to the sport in hosting top shelf type tournaments.”
“It’s a great day in Escambia County to win hosting the NAIA Women’s Soccer national championships beginning next year. I want to thank Michael Rhodes, Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director, and Ray Palmer, executive director of Pensacola Sports Association, for their leadership and diligence in securing the partnership with the NAIA. There is a lot of momentum for great things at Ashton Brosanham and I can’t wait to see the next success involving one of our great amenities in District 5,” Barry added.
Pictured: The record-setting SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in October 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
I-10, Nine Mile Road Interchange Construction Will Not Include Diverging Diamond
March 7, 2024
Construction is beginning on a $55 million Florida Department of Transportation improvement project on I-10 at the Nine Mile Road interchange (Exit 5), but the exit will not be a diverging diamond.
In 2020, FDOT proposed a diverging diamond interchange for the Nine Mile Road Exit and held a public development and study meeting.
However, plants for the current improvement project do not show a diverging diamond traffic pattern.
Planned improvements include replacing the existing I-10 overpass at Nine Mile Road to increase vertical clearance and to accommodate future improvements. The project will enhance traffic safety and mobility for the 62,000 drivers who travel the interchange daily.
The project is expected to be completed by mid-2028.
Road Construction/Lane Closures
During construction, the speed limit on I-10 will be lowered to 60 mph and 35 mph on Nine Mile Road. Lane closures on I-10 will be permitted Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and lane closures on Nine Mile Road will be permitted between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Drivers will encounter lane closures and traffic pacing operations on I-10 near Nine Mile Road through Thursday, March 7 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform striping and barrier wall work. Vehicle pacing operations, also known as “rolling roadblocks,” are used to create gaps in traffic so that short-duration construction activities can be completed. In addition, traffic on I-10 will be temporarily shifted to the outside (right) beginning Sunday, March 3 so crews can begin bridge construction work. The shift will be in place until spring 2025.
What Is A Diverging Diamond Interchange?
According to the Federal Highway Administration, a diverging diamond interchange is a simple design innovation that improves safety and mobility, often at a much lower cost, compared to conventional interchange designs. The key to what makes a DDI work so well is how left turns are handled.
The DDI resembles a conventional diamond interchange, which is the most common form in the United States. Drivers make right turns at a DDI just as they would at a regular diamond interchange.
The crossover intersections are what make DDIs different, and they are meant to be intuitive for the driver. The crossovers gently transition – or diverge – traffic from the right side of the road to the left side of the road and then back again. Because traffic is on the left hand side between the crossovers, all left turns occur without having to cross opposing traffic. The road geometry, signs, and pavement markings all work together to make this very simple. In cities where DDIs have been built, drivers say they don’t even notice the crossover intersections. according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Primary Sample Ballots Mailed To Barrineau Park Voters Had The Wrong Polling Place Address
March 6, 2024
Presidential Preference Primary Election sample ballots mailed to voters in the Barrineau Park area were printed with the wrong physical address for their polling place.
A NorthEscambia.com reader let us know that their sample ballot for Barrineau Park’s Precinct 19 showed their polling place to be at 5805 Beulah Church Road, which is the First Baptist Church of Beulah.
Precinct 19 is actually located at the Barrineau Park Community Center at 6055 Barrineau Park School in Molino.
“We have confirmed the error,” Escambia County Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections Sonya Daniel said in an email after being contacted by NorthEscambia.com. “The QR code is correct, but the address is not. We are in the process of making the correction and we will be resending all of the precinct 19 voters a new sample ballot. We sincerely apologize and are working quickly to correct it.”
Florida is a closed primary state. The 2024 Presidential Preference Primary is for Republican voters only.
Pictured: A sample Escambia County Presidential Preference Primary ballot. NorthEscambia.com image.
Man Charged With New Year’s Day Fatal Crash Near Flora-Bama
March 6, 2024
A 23-year old man from Daphne, Alabama, has been charged with a fatal DUI crash New Year’s Day near the Flora-Bama on Perdido Key.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Caleb Jonathan Scottt was eastbound on Perdido Key Drive at about 12:15 a.m. when the crash occurred.
“The investigation revealed the Ford Bronco traveling at a high rate of speed thru the crowds gathered in the area celebrating the new year, ” FHP said. “During that time, the Ford Bronco traveled over a speed bump, became airborne, and struck a light pole on the northern shoulder of the roadway. The Ford Bronco that was driven by Caleb Jonathan Scott became engulfed in flames. As a result of the crash, a family member was sadly killed during the crash and another occupant was seriously injured.”
One of Scott’s family members, a 56-year old Bay Minette man died in the crash. Another passenger, a 23-year-old man from Gulf Shores, was seriously injured..
Scott was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and DUE causing serious bodily injury. Scott was arrested in Baldwin County extradited to Escambia County, Florida, where he was being held on a $130,000 bond.
Century Council Votes To Close Street For Midget Wrestling At Local Bar
March 6, 2024
The Century Town Council voted Tuesday night to close a town street for a local bar’s midget wrestling event.
The vote was 4-0 with council president Dynette Lewis absent to close Ivey Street from 3-11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23.
Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. only told the council that Odom’s Bar made the request to close the street, but he never told the council the nature of the event before their vote.
According to online event posts by the bar and the promoter, Odom’s will host midget wrestling the night of March 23.
The town will charge Odom’s for the overtime call out pay of an employee twice — once to close the street and a second time to remove the barricades. For each callout, the bar will reimburse the town for a two hour minimum for the employee.
NorthEscambia.com graphic/file photo.
Cantonment Rotary Complete Water Safety Book Project Reaching 1,070 Elementary Students
March 6, 2024
The Cantonment Rotary Club recently completed its “Josh the Baby Otter” book project by reading the book to McArthur Elementary kindergarten students.
Club members have read to 1,070 students at 10 North Escambia area elementary schools since the project began last November.
The book “Josh The Baby Otter” teaches kids about water safety and about learning how to float.
“The Cantonment Rotary Club takes great pride in partnering with the local schools to help the kids understand the importance of water safety,” the club said. “The kids were very excited and each received a copy of the book along with a coloring book and stickers.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
