Kids Enjoy ‘Oliver Twist’ At The Molino Branch Library
December 2, 2019
The Hampstead Stage Company performed “Oliver Twist” at the Molino Branch Library last week. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Still Time To Register For Saturday’s Molino Christmas Parade
December 2, 2019
There is still time to register for Saturday’sMolino Christmas Parade.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 7 and will travel from the west end of Crabtree Church Road to the Molino Ballpark where Santa will be waiting to meet with all the good little boys and girls.
Registration fees are $30 for floats, $20 for vehicles (including motorcycles, tractors and golf carts) and $10 for horses. Four-wheelers and go carts are not allowed. Line up time for participants is 10 a.m.
To register or donate, call (850) 698-4396 or visit www.MolinoBallpark.com. All registrations must be done in advance; there will be no registration available on the day of the parade.
Proceed go directly back to the community to help children in need.
Boil Water Notice Prompted By Big Leak Lifted For 10 Mile Road
December 2, 2019
A boil water notice issued Friday for a portion of 10 Mile Road has been lifted.
The precautionary boil water notice was issued for 10 Mile Road between Highway 29 and 40 10 Mile Road due to a water leak near a well on East 10 Mile Road. Water flowed and was standing in areas over a quarter mile away. East 10 Mile Road was closed between Highway 29 and North Palafox Street by the leak, which took over nine hours to fix.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Hold Steady After 8-Cent Hike
December 2, 2019
Florida gas prices are holding steady after rising early last week eight cents per gallon.
Florida drivers are now paying $2.43 per gallon, while Escambia County drivers are facing an average of $2.39 at the pump. In Cantonment, one station was as $2.30 Sunday night.
“Despite the increase, travelers still found the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in three years,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices should point lower this week, based on what happened in the crude oil market, Friday. The price of crude plummeted $3 per barrel, due to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, and concerns that OPEC production cuts for 2020 will be unable to balance global supply and demand. Unless the energy market bounces back this week, drivers should notice a 5-10 cent drop at the pump in the next week or two.”
Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle In Beulah
December 1, 2019
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Saturday night in Beulah.
It Happened about 6:15 p.m. on Beulah Road near Nine Mile Road. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital. An update on their condition was not available.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details. The Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
As You Head Back To Work Monday, Here Are The Traffic Delay Spots To Watch
December 1, 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. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- 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 Monday, Dec 2.
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 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2 and from 8. p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 8.
- 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 be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road in Escambia County from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 as crews perform 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.
- U.S. 90 Turn Lane Construction at Nine Mile Road- There will be east and westbound intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2 to Thursday, Dec. 5 as crews construct a new east and westbound turn lane.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97) –North and southbound motorists may encounter nighttime lane closures on as crews continue paving operations. Traffic may also encounter intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews perform median work. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- I-10 Pavement Testing from the Alabama/Florida State Line to the Weight Station- Traffic will encounter intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Wednesday, Dec. 4 as crews take core samples from the roadway.
- C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- All piles have been driven and pile caps poured for the new bridge. Crews are currently working on pouring the approach slabs and placing formwork in preparation of pouring the deck slab. Traffic will remain shifted on the temporary diversion until construction of the new bridge has been completed.
- · Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. 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.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 90 Corridor (Pace) Management Improvement Project- Crews will perform construction near Wendy’s and Galilee Baptist Church. Construction activities will take place in the outside travel lane, motorists can expect shoulder closures.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Construction activities continue near Villa Woods. 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 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2 and from 8. p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 8.
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to C.R. 87A (Market Road) in Jay- Motorists may encounter daytime lane restrictions near Jay as utility crews perform operations in the area.
- 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. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter 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 begins week of December 9. Operations will begin in the median area of the roadway. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane closures.
- 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.
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.
Pictured: Construction area on Highway 29 at Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Alabama Troopers Work To ID Fiery Fatal Crash Victim
December 1, 2019
Authorities are working to positively identify a person that died in a fiery crash near Atmore.
The crash was reported about 3:30 a.m. Friday near Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road, just north of Alabama-Florida state line.
The driver was only person found inside the burned vehicle.
Alabama State Troopers are still investigation the crash as they seek a positive identification.
Active Hurricane Season Comes To A Close
December 1, 2019
The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season came to an end Saturday.
Escambia County’s most recent brush with tropical weather came in October when short-lived Tropical Storm Nestor passed to our south in the Gulf on the way to a landfall on St. Vincent Island near Apalachicola. The worst for Escambia County was the cautionary cancellation of activities including Friday night football.
The season produced 18 named storms, including six hurricanes of which three were “major” (Category 3, 4 or 5). NOAA’s outlook called for 10-17 named storms, 5-9 hurricanes and 2-4 major hurricanes, and accurately predicted the overall activity of the season.
This year marked the fourth consecutive above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The only other period on record that produced four consecutive above-normal seasons was 1998-2001. Also this year, five tropical cyclones formed in the Gulf of Mexico, which ties a record with 2003 and 1957 for the most storms to form in that region. Of those, three — Barry, Imelda and Nestor — made landfall in the U.S.
The three major hurricanes this season were Dorian, Humberto and Lorenzo. Hurricane Dorian is tied with three other hurricanes — the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, 1988’s Hurricane Gilbert and 2005’s Hurricane Wilma — as the second strongest hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin in terms of wind (185 mph). In all, four storms made landfall in the U.S. during the 2019 season: Barry, Dorian, Imelda and Nestor.
An average season has 12 named storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
UWF Knocks Off No. 1 Valdosta State 38-35 In Last Six Seconds
December 1, 2019
Anthony Johnson, Jr. scored from a yard out with 6.9 seconds remaining to lift 20th-ranked UWF to a 38-35 win over.No. 1 ranked Valdosta State in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium Saturday.
Johnson’s score came following VSU scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take a 35-31 lead with 2:12 to play.
Quarterback Austin Reed and the school’s all-time leading receiver Tate Lehtio connected on four-consecutive plays, including a 15-yarder on fourth-and-eight near the start of the drive. A pass interference call put the ball at the nine before two incompletions made it third down. A pass to Lehtio, who had 140 receiving yards on a school-record 14 receptions, put the ball at the 1-foot line after his dive for the endzone was stopped inches shy of the goal. Both teams called timeout with 10 seconds left, setting up the final fourth down play.
UWF (10-2) improved to 6-0 all-time in road playoff games and snapped VSU’s Gulf South Conference record 25-game winning streak. The Blazers also had their 13-game home streak ended.
“Our guys believed and fought and to get our guys to go that last drive,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “Tate (Lehtio) was unbelievable and just said ‘I’m not going home; I’m not losing’ and to go and be able to make that happen was just phenomenal.
“I’m so happy for our guys, happy for our senior class to find a way to beat number one in the country. Just a great game.”
On Saturday, UWF scored first when Austin Williams made a 27-yard field goal 5:28 into the contest. The Blazers answered four plays later on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Rogan Wells to Lio’undre Gallimore.
UWF put together two scoring drives of 5-plus minutes in the second quarter, scoring on a Johnson 1-yard run early in the period and a 33-yard Austin Reed to Ka’Ron Ashley 12 seconds before halftime for a 17-7 lead.
Coming out of the intermission, the Argonauts extended their lead to 24-7 in the third quarter when they capitalized on a Blazer fumble that Andre Duncombe, Jr. returned 44 yards to the VSU 22. Jervon Newton carried the ball three times and scored from a yards out.
Each team scored on their next possessions – Seth McGill on a 12-yard run and Johnson on 4-yard rush – to set up the Blazers’ 21-unanwered points that led up to UWF’s final drive.
Reed was 25-for-37 for 298 yards and completed passes to six different receivers. In addition to Lehtio’s effort, Quentin Randolph had 72 yards receiving and Ashley had 52 to lead UWF.
UWF ran for 136 yards and was spearheaded by Johnson’s 73 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns.
VSU (10-1) outgained UWF 501-to-434 and had 335 passing yards.
The Argos defeated the Blazers for the first time in five meetings by controlling the time of possession, using a strong ground game for 35:13 of the clock, including 20:15 in the first half alone.
The Argonauts advance to next week’s Super Region 2 title game against No. 6 ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (13-0) at Moretz Stadium in Hickory, N.C. Kickoff time will be announced in the coming days.
NWE Wins National Turkey Bowl Championship
December 1, 2019
The NWE 6U Chiefs defeated Team Pensacola Saturday to win the Battle of the South Youth National Turkey Bowl Championship. The NWE 6U Chiefs have been invited to play for the National Youth Football Championship later this month in Atlanta. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.