International Paper Makes Donation To Ronald McDonald House
December 17, 2019
International Paper stopped by the Ronald McDonald House Open House to present a $7,500 donation.
“We are incredibly grateful for their support and so many more families will find their home-away-from-home because of their amazing giving,” Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Pickup, Kidnapping
December 16, 2019
A Cantonment man was charged with stealing a pickup truck and kidnapping .
Keith Murray, 35 was booked into the Escambia County Jail for felony kidnapping false imprisonment and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a carjacking complaint on Lepley Road where the victim told deputies he was riding around with Murray when they stopped at a gas station and purchased alcoholic beverages. After exiting the store, Murray drove the victim’s 1994 Ford F150 despite objections from the victim. The victim told deputies he felt Murray would harm him.
As they drove around, Murray told the victim he could have him killed, according to an arrest report. Back at a residence, Murray ordered the victim to order a pizza and informed him that he was “kidnapped”, the report states, before calling out to an an unidentified person in the house “do you want to kill this [expletive]“.
The victim told deputies he feared harm and fled into a wooded area to call 911.
A deputy located the victim’s Ford pickup broken down on Detroit Boulevard near Highway 29 along with Murray.
The arrest report notes Murray was very hostile, vulgar and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
Murray was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Navy Posthumously Advances NAS Pensacola Shooting Victims
December 16, 2019
The Navy posthumously advanced Airman Mohammed S. Haitham and Airman Apprentice Cameron S. Walters to Naval Aircrewman Mechanical 3rd Class.
Haitham and Walters, along with Ens. Joshua K. Watson, were killed during the Dec. 6 shooting at Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.
“These sailors exhibited the finest warrior ethos and quick decision-making that undoubtedly saved many lives,” said Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly. “They took action when it was needed most, with the same skill and professionalism that they’d exhibited throughout their service to our nation.”
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday expressed similar sentiments.“These young Sailors represent the best of who we are as a Navy,” Gilday said. “It is right and fitting that we posthumously advance them to petty officers.”
Earlier this week, Modly proclaimed Haitham and Walters as naval aircrewmen by awarding them their Wings of Gold. He also proclaimed Watson as a naval aviator, and awarded him Wings of Gold as well.
Naval Aircrewmen Mechanical are members of a fixed-wing integrated-tactical crew who perform primary in-flight and ground duties as aircraft flight engineers/crew chiefs, loadmasters, reel operators and aircraft readiness managers.
NASC provides an educational foundation in technical training, character development, and professional leadership to prepare Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and partner nation officers and enlisted students to be combat quality aviation professionals, and deliver them at the right time, in the right numbers, to be the forces their nation needs.
A Christmas Tradition: Santa Claus Rolls Through Beulah On Fire Truck
December 16, 2019
It’s a Beulah tradition…Santa Claus rolled through the Beulah area Saturday on top a fire truck.
Santa Claus visited almost every street with the help of the firefighter elves from the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Photos courtesy Beulah Volunteer Fire Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Names Students Of The Month
December 16, 2019
Ransom Middle School has named Students of the Month for November. They are Eva Grissom and Grayson Jackson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Slip 6 Cents Over The Past Week
December 16, 2019
Florida drivers enjoyed a slight decline at the pump over the last week with average price per gallon of regular unleaded down 6 cents.
The state average was at $2.46, 8 cents per gallon more than last month, and 16 cents more than this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night was $2.40 in Escambia County, 3 cents over a month ago and up 11 cents from one year ago. One Cantonment station and several others in Pensacola were at $2.28 Sunday night.
Century’s Christmas Parade Is Friday, And There’s Still Time To Register
December 16, 2019
The Century Christmas Parade will be Friday at 5 p.m.
Entries will be accepted through 3 p.m. Wednesday. Click here for an entry form. For more information, call the Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.
The parade will state at the school on Hecker Road. It will travel to Jefferson Avenue, to East Pond Street, north on Highway 29 to West Highway 4 and end at the community center at Industrial Boulevard.
Pictured: The 2018 Century Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton’s Da’Quan Johnson Decommits From Troy Days After Official Visit To Duke
December 16, 2019
Flomaton High School senior football star Da’Quan Johnson decommitted from Troy State Sunday night, just days after a trip to Duke University.
Johnson committed to Troy on August 2. He received a scholarship offer from Duke on December 3 and took and official visit to Durham on December 6.
“After talking with my family. I would like to announce my de-commitment from the Troy University,” Johnson posted on Twitter Sunday night. “I sincerely thank all of the coaches at Troy for recruiting me, especially Coach (Brandon) Hall. This is my decision!”
Johnson led the Flomaton Hurricanes to the 3A station championship last season, playing mostly quarterback. He was named Alabama’s 3A Back of the Year. In the championship game against Piedmont, Johnson carried the ball 43 times — a Super 7 record — and was named MVP. He also made 37 tackles on defense last season and had four interceptions.
Flomaton Coach Doug Vickery said in August Johnson picked Troy over South Alabama, Southern Miss, UAB, Tulane, Army, Florida Atlantic and others.
Pictured top: Flomaton’s Da’Quane “Money” Johnson gains yardage for the Hurricanes against Escambia County High School. Pictured below: Johnson has shifted to quarterback to the Canes after a knee injury for starter Zeb Vickery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekly Traffic Alerts: This Week’s Delays On State Roads And Projects
December 16, 2019
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. To avoid inconvenience to the traveling public during the predicted heavy traffic period during the year-end holiday period, there will be no lane closures on state roads from Tuesday, Dec. 24 through Thursday, Jan. 2. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Temporary Lane Closure from Strong Street to Scenic Highway- The outside, right lane on Cervantes Street will be closed between Strong Street and Scenic Highway from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 for a 5K race. Law enforcement will be on site.
- U.S. 98 (Garden Street) between A Street and Tarragona Street Temporary Closure- Garden Street will be closed between A and Tarragona street from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 for the Annual Christmas Parade.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (State Road (S.R.) 10/U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic the week of Sunday, Dec 15.
o Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating lane shifts as crews construct the new southbound bridge.
o U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- There will be intermittent lane closures at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Dec. 15.
- U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the Graffiti Bridge.
- S.R. 10/U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) to U.S. 29- Stefani Road will remain closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road through Friday,
Dec. 20 as crews continue drainage work. Traffic will be detoured to Ashland Avenue and 9 1/2 Mile Road. Signs and variable message boards will be in place to alert drivers of the temporary closure and direct traffic to the alternate routes.
- I-110 Bridge Rehabilitation over Texar Street- There will be intermittent and alternating north and southbound lane restrictions on I-110 over Texar Street from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 and Monday, Dec. 16 as crews make joint repairs.
- · U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah Road to S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road)- Beginning Friday, Dec. 20, the section between I-10 and Navy Federal Way will be open to four travel lanes. To allow work to continue further west, motorists traveling on the outside (right) westbound lane of Nine Mile Road will need to turn right at Navy Federal Way.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97)– Crews continue paving operations and median work. Drivers may encounter intermittent day and nighttime lane restrictions. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- · Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. Crews are currently pouring the east bridge approach slab. The roadway is temporarily closed. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, are detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Crews are currently pouring the deck slab. Traffic will remain shifted on the temporary diversion until construction of the new bridge has been completed.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 90 Corridor (Pace) Management Improvement Project- There will be construction activities from Lewis Funeral Home to Downtown Motors. Motorists can expect shoulder closures.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Construction activities are underway along the following seven locations along the corridor (Villa Woods Circle to Marble Court, Oriole Beach Road, Grand Ride Circle to Fordham Parkway, El Rito Drive/College Parkway, American Avenue, Alpine Avenue, and west of Ortega park Drive). Motorists may encounter lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- · U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- There will be intermittent lane closures at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Dec. 15.
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to C.R. 87A (Market Road) in Jay- There will also be shoulder closures in the downtown Jay area as crews perform utility work.
- · S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter daytime southbound, inside lane closures as crews begin expansion joint work.
- · S.R. 87 Turn lane and Median Modifications at South Lynn Road- Northbound left turn lane and median modifications work has begun. Operations will begin in the median area of the roadway. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane closures.
- · S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Inspection over Wilson Branch Creek and East Relief- Drivers will encounter intermittent lane restrictions on S.R. 4 over Wilson Branch, 2.7 miles east of U.S. 29, and East Relief, 3.1 miles east of U.S. 29, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 as crews perform a routine inspection on the bridges.
- · S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays between Nicholas Lake Road and Vonnie Tolbert Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Tuesday, Dec. 31 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic.
- U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the Graffiti Bridge.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Five People Injured In Three Vehicle Wreck On Highway 95A
December 15, 2019
Five people were reportedly injured in a three vehicle crash on Highway 95A near East Kingsfield Road Saturday night.
At least one of the injured was transported to an area hospital as a trauma alert following the crash just before 11 p.m.. Two people people involved in the wreck refused medical transport.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Bourbour, click to enlarge.
