Cantonment Man Struck And Killed As He Walked On Highway 90
December 22, 2019
A Cantonment man was struck and killed in Santa Rosa County Saturday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported 35-year old Casey Scott Hess was walking in a travel lane of Highway 90 near Whitsett Lane when he was struck by a 2008 Toyota 4Runner drive by 54-year old Steven Enzer of Fort Walton Beach. Hess was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Enzer and the three passengers in his vehicle were not injured.
No charges were immediately filed. FHP said it was dark and raining at the time Hess was walking in the roadway.
UWF Argos Win National Championship (With Photo Gallery)
December 22, 2019
Redshirt freshman Austin Reed had a record-setting performance and senior Quentin Randolph saved his best for last as 20th-ranked UWF defeated fourth-ranked Minnesota State, 48-40, for the program’s first Division II National Championship at McKinney ISD Stadium Saturday.
UWF (13-2) completed one of the most remarkable postseason runs in NCAA history, defeating three number one seeds and four-consecutive undefeated teams for the first time ever en route to the University’s 10th team national championship.
Reed finished with a school and NCAA Championship single-game record 523 passing yards and tied both organization marks with six passing touchdowns. He was 33-of-54 on the day with his completions tying the finals mark and his attempts setting a new top effort. He had 399 yards by halftime to break the previous yardage mark of 361 which had stood since 2002.
With all that passing, Randolph and Lehtio were the beneficiaries. Randolph had 10 receptions for a school-record 254 yards and tied the championship game mark with three touchdowns. Lehtio set the title game record with 13 catches for 139 yards and a score.
But for all the fireworks the Argonauts were putting up, MSU was keeping pace. UWF scored first and the teams traded touchdowns for the first five possessions of the game. That’s when the Argos forced the first of their three turnovers.
UWF converted a Nate Gunn fumble into an Austin Williams 31-yard field goal to go up 24-14. The teams again traded touchdowns before the Argos got a fourth down stop at the 1-yard line with 56 seconds left. Rather than run the ball and accept a 10-point lead, head coach Pete Shinnick dialed up a 37-yard strike to Ka’Ron Ashley, a 14-yard route to Lehtio before Randolph ran down a 48-yarder in the end zone to go up 38-21 at the break.
The Mavericks came out and drove inside the UWF five before Myles Meyer forced another Gunn fumble that the Argos recovered. But after a 3-and-out, they were forced to punt. Dawson Hamlin boomed a 55-yarder as he stood back deep in his own end zone and the third MSU fumble followed as Justin Arnold muffed the punt, giving the Argos possession at the MSU 40.
Seven plays later, Reed hit Lehtio on a slant from the eight to put UWF up 45-21 midway through the third.
MSU scored on a special teams miscue by the Argos a few minutes later and got within 45-29 after a 2-point conversion. UWF got three points back on a 30-yard Williams field goal at the start of the fourth for a 48-29 lead.
The Mavericks got a field goal of their own with 9:52 left and then pulled to within 48-40 on a Shane Zylstra touchdown with 4:03 to play.
UWf ran 1:51 off the clock on its next possession before MSU got the ball at he 20 following a Hamlin 59-yard touchback. The Mavericks drove down to the UWF red zone in less than a minute before the Argos defense made the key stop. After a 2-yard run, Andre Duncombe, Jr. hurried Ryan Schlichte into an incompletion and followed it with a sack to set up fourth down. Schlichte went to the All-American Zylstra but Marcus Clayton was there for the break-up to clinch the title for the Argos. It was his fourth break-up of the game to go along with six tackles. UWF ended the game with five sacks and seven tackles for loss.
MSU (14-1) finished with 562 yards of total offense – one more than UWF.
UWF was playing in it’s second NCAA Championship Game in four seasons of football. The team improved to 35-17 all-time after starting in 2016. The Argonauts are 9-1 in NCAA postseason games and now own the highest winning percentage in D2 history among teams who have played a minimum of 10 playoff games.
The road to the title featured wins over No. 16 Wingate (38-17), No. 1 and defending national champion Valdosta State (38-35), No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne (43-38) and No. 2 Ferris State (28-14). The wins over the Blazers, Bears and Bulldogs ended the three longest home field winning streaks in Division 2 and those victories, along with Saturday’s were all over teams that entered the game undefeated..
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos Morgan Givens/ UWF Athletics for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Master Plan, Century Wastewater Plant, Other RESTORE Projects In Public Comment Period
December 22, 2019
A master plan for Beulah and wastewater treatment facility improvements for Century are two of eight new projects added to Escambia County’s RESTORE Act funding requests. The plan has been released for a 45 day public comment period that ends Thursday, February 6.
Escambia County will receive approximately $70 million through 2031 in RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) funds as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The RESTORE Act requires a Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) be approved by the Treasury Department prior to submittal of individual project Grant Applications and dispersal of funds.
The county also removed a funding request for an OLF8 Master plan, replacing the funding ask with a campus expansion at the Pensacola International Airport.
Public comment can be submitted as follows:
- Online public comment form
- In person: MYIP Amendment 1 Public Comment Meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m., Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
- By email to RESTORE@myescambia.com
- Postal mail: Attention – Escambia County Natural Resources Management-RESTORE, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502
Beulah Master Plan
$300,000 to develop a master plan for the Beulah area
Escambia County will procure the services of an urban/land-use planning firm to develop a master plan for approximately 30,000 acres in the Beulah community of Escambia County. The master plan will be based on the University of West Florida HAAS Center Citizen Survey, an existing conditions analysis, technical analysis, and on stakeholder engagement and community participation.
The Beulah Master Plan will establish a vision for allowing for the continued growth in the area while preserving the quality of life and sense of place enjoyed by the current residents. The final deliverable will be a master plan and/or zoning overlay district and implementation plan, dependent on the technical guidance provided by the procured consultant and concurrence provided by Escambia County Developmental Services staff.
The Beulah community has experienced extensive growth resulting from improved economic conditions and the expansion of Navy Federal Credit Union’s Beulah campus, which is expected to employ over 10,000 people by 2022. Subdivision development orders in Beulah have increased exponentially, with 7,000 residences permitted for development since 2010. Beulah does not currently have a master plan nor zoning overlay district to effectively plan or manage growth. Development of the Beulah Master Plan will balance the highest and best land uses of the subject area with the needs of the County, region, and the Beulah community in creating a plan for sustaining growth while preserving the character of the community.
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Town of Century Wastewater Improvements
$500,000 to design and permit repairs to Century’s failing wastewater treatment facility
The wastewater treatment and collection system has fallen into disrepair as the town has struggled financially for the last decade to keep pace with maintenance and replacement activities.
Direct Component funds will be utilized to fund planning, design, and permitting associated with wastewater treatment and collection system improvements, including lift station, treatment plant, and piping repairs and replacements.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has strict requirements for the proper operation and maintenance of the utility system, and Century is responsible for meeting these requirements. Funding design and permitting of wastewater treatment and collection system improvements will allow the town to work with FDEP to secure funding to implement the improvements from the State’s Revolving Loan Fund as a rural, disadvantaged community.
OTHER PROJECTS:
Pensacola International Airport Campus Extension — $1.524 million, replaces OLF8 Master Plan on funding request
Perdido Bay Boat Ramp — $2.5 million for the construction of a boat ramp
Brownsville Community Center Renovation — $300,000 to renovate the interior and exterior, add incubator retail space
CRA Community Center – $500,000 for a community center in a yet to be determined CRA but likely in the Palafox CRA
CRA Economic Development Program -- $1.5 million to institute the complete streets program in CRAs
Little Sabine Bay Restoration Program – $2 million for a multi-tiered restoration effort
Pictured top: The Century Wastewater Treatment Facility, NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Navy Federal campus in Beulah.
Cowboy Christmas: Cantonment Cheerleaders Help Local Family With Presents
December 22, 2019
The Cantonment Cowboy cheerleaders adopted a local family to help make Christmas brighter. The community came together on short notice to help the cheerleaders provide the gifts for delivery Saturday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Department Of Corrections Announces Christmas And New Year’s Visitations
December 22, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced visitations will include Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in addition to regularly scheduled weekend visitation.
Normal visitation schedules, including visitation on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, will be observed. State government offices will be closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but these additional administrative closures will not affect the visitation schedule for state correctional institutions.
Pictured: Inside Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Places Second Overall In Area 8 Orienteering Championship
December 22, 2019
The Northview High School NJROTC placed second overall Saturday during the 13th Annual NJROTC Area 8 Orienteering Championship at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama.
Orienteering involves navigation with a map and compass with a goal of getting from point to point in the fastest time possible.
The NHS NJROTC received the following awards:
1st place green course David Lamb
2nd place orange course Jonathan McCarthy
3rd place orange course John Bashore
1st place Male yellow course Micheal Cody
5th place Female yellow Alexia Jeneske
Fastest times on Northview’s teams:
Green —-Lamb
Orange— McCarthy
Yellow 1 —Cody
Yellow 2—Rackard
Yellow3—Ward
2nd place green team
2nd place orange team
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deck The Halls: Beulah Elementary At Christmas
December 22, 2019
Beulah Elementary School went all out to deck the halls for Christmas.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Six People Injured In Highway 29 Crash
December 21, 2019
Six people were injured a in a two vehicle wreck Saturday morning on Highway 29 just south of Byrneville Road.
Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free at least one of the victims. Four people in a Chevrolet Cobalt and two people in a Dodge Ram pickup were injured in the 10:15 a.m. wreck. None of the injuries were considered life threatening.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; details have not been released. The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The crash temporarily closed Highway 29 both north and southbound.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Overall Crime Rate Falls in Escambia County
December 21, 2019
The overall crime index in Escambia County dropped 2.1% during the first six months of 2019 compared to the previous year, according to data just released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
While the overall crime rate decreased, crime such as murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and vehicle thefts increased. Rapes and larcenies decreased.
The countywide report covers crimes investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and other agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol, FDLE, University of West Florida Police and the Pensacola State College Police Department.
The number of reported murders during the period increased in Escambia County from 8 to 11, robberies from 146 to 159, aggravated assaults (including aggravated stalking) from 565 to 625, burglaries from 816 to 912, and vehicle thefts from 280 to 290. The number of larcenies dropped from 3,504 to 3,222 and rapes from 106 to 91.
During the first half of 2019, 33.2% of crimes in Escambia County were cleared, compare to 32.5% in 2018.
Across the state, Florida’s crime volume dropped 6.1 percent, or 17,079 fewer reported index crimes, compared to the first six months of 2018. The statewide crimes of murder, rape, robbery, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft were down, while aggravated assault and domestic violence crimes increased slightly.
File photo.
Four Lanes Of Nine Mile Road Now Open From I-10 To Navy Federal Way
December 21, 2019
All four lanes of Nine Mile road between I-10 and Navy Federal Way opened to traffic on Friday. Work further west on Nine Mile Road will require westbound drivers in the outside lane to turn right at Navy Federal Way. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
