Here Are This Week’s Traffic Delay Hot Spots
May 6, 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.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 5 through Saturday, May 11.
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- U.S. 29 Bridge over Nine Mile Road: A new U.S. 29 traffic pattern will be implemented for the bridge over Nine Mile Road during the week of May 5. Beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, northbound traffic will shift onto the newly-constructed northbound bridge. Southbound traffic will shift onto the center portion of the new bridge later in the week, after crews realign the barrier wall and restripe the roadway.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 5 through Sunday, May 12:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (Ninth Avenue) over I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance- Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent, north and southbound lane restrictions on S.R. 289 over I-10, half a mile north of S.R. 742, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- Lane Closures for Fiesta 5K and 10K Runs- Drivers will encounter lane closures at the following locations in Pensacola from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 for the Fiesta 5K and 10K runs:
- S.R. 750 (Airport Boulevard) eastbound from 9th Avenue to 12th Avenue
- U.S. 90 (Cervantes Street) westbound from 12th Avenue to Palafox Street
- I-10 over Escambia Bay Routine Bridge Maintenance- Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound lane restrictions on I-10 over Escambia Bay from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 through Thursday, May 8 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Maintenance over Eleven Mile Creek- Eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane over Eleven Mile Creek from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 to 4 a.m. Thursday, May 9 as crews replace joint, repair the deck surface, and clean the bridge.
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch- Activities associated with the bridge replacement project on C.R. 168 over Unnamed Branch, Northwest of Century, are underway. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 5 through Sunday, May 12:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) –The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for I-10 and Avalon Boulevard the week of Sunday, May 5 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.:
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- Drivers may encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures on I-10, between Escambia Bay Bridge and just east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) as crews place the final layer of asphalt. I-10 may be reduced to a single travel lane between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. At all other times, at least two travel lanes will remain open.
- The I-10 westbound off-ramp will be closed the night of Thursday, May 9 as crews place the final friction course layer of asphalt.
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, Monday through Thursday, as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 87 over Coldwater Creek Routine Bridge Inspection- Traffic on S.R. 87 will be reduced to one lane over Coldwater Creek, eight miles south of S.R. 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- U.S. 90 Turn Lane Construction at Spencerfield Road- Motorists will encounter eastbound lane restrictions on U.S. 90 in Pace, just west of Spencerfield Road, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9 as crews construct a right turn lane for a new commercial business.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic on S.R. 87 will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sundays through Friday, until Thursday, July 30 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- The westbound, left turn lane at Sunrise Drive is open to traffic. Improvements at Navarre School Road and drainage improvements at Thresher Drive and Newport Street are complete. Crews will soon place the final layer of asphalt and striping, perform general project clean up, and place sod.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Wahoos Beat Biloxi
May 6, 2019
After scoring just three runs in the first two games of their series against Biloxi, the Blue Wahoos scored 30 runs in the final three games, sweeping the final trio of games to earn their sixth consecutive series win to open the season. On Sunday, rehabbing Twins All-Star Miguel Sano hit a towering three-run home run in the first inning that was quickly followed by a solo shot from Jaylin Davis, giving the Wahoos an early lead they never relinquished.
On the mound for Pensacola, Griffin Jax entered the game with the second best ERA in the Southern League (0.66), trailing recently promoted teammate Devin Smeltzer (0.60). Jax went 6.2 innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs, and struck out five to lower his ERA to a now league-best 0.53.
After the four-run first inning, the Wahoos didn’t score again until the seventh. Entering the seventh with a 4-2 lead, Caleb Hamilton opened the frame with a walk. with one out, Jordan Gore and Luis Arraez hit back-to-back doubles to extend the lead to 6-4. For Arraez, the double was his third in the last two games and gave him three consecutive games with multiple hits.
The game unraveled for Biloxi in the eighth. After Travis Blankenhorn reached on a drop third strike to open the inning, the next two batters walked. With the bases loaded, Hamilton laced a double to the left field gap, clearing the bases and putting Pensacola up 9-2.
Ryan Mason entered in relief of Jax with two outs in the seventh inning in a two-run ballgame with a runner on second. He worked out of the jam and then worked the eighth and ninth, striking out the side in the final inning, to earn his fifth save of the season.
Sano finished 1-4 with three RBI in his second game with the Wahoos. Arraez was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Hamilton drove in three in a 1-3 day.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 20-10, making them the first team in the Southern League to amass 20 wins. They head on the road to Mississippi to face the pitching-laden Braves (15-13) for a five-game set starting Monday, the first leg of a 10-game road trip that will also take them to Chattanooga for the first face off with the now-Reds affiliated Lookouts.
Burned Out Muscle Car Found On Molino Dirt Road
May 5, 2019
Authorities are investigating after a burned-out muscle car was found on Cedartown Road in Molino Sunday morning.
The Dodge Challenger was already completely destroyed when it was discovered on an empty stretch of the dirt road.
There was no immediate word on the circumstances surrounding the fire as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call about 8:12 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Take Part In Battle Of The Books (With Results)
May 5, 2019
Hundreds of Escambia County students took part in the eighth annual Battle of the Books Saturday at Washington High School.
Over 600 students on 102 teams read books from the Sunshine State Young Readers Awards list and Florida Teens Read list over the past school year.
Participants competed by answering five rounds of eight questions Saturday.
Top teams from each grade level were as follows:
Third Grade
1 A. K. Suter
2 Hellen Caro
2 Longleaf
3 NB Cook
3 Pine Meadow
Fourth Grade
1 Bellview
1 Pleasant Grove
2 A. K. Suter
2 Scenic Heights
3 Molino Park
Fifth Grade
1 Lipscomb
2 Byrneville A
2 Episcopal Day School
2 Pensacola Beach
2 Pleasant Grove
3 A. K. Suter
Middle School
1 Bailey A
2 Brown-Barge A
3 Brown-Barge B
High School
1 Washington
2 Tate
3 Pensacola HS
Pictured top: A Byrneville Elementary School Battle of the Books team. Pictured below: Molino Park Elementary. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Lawmakers Approve Hemp Industry
May 5, 2019
The Florida Legislature has passed a bill establishing a state hemp program within in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The vote comes after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed prohibitions on industrial hemp in place since 1937 and authorized states to create hemp programs.
“Today’s historic vote is eighty years in the making – Florida is now on the verge of establishing a state hemp program and creating a multi-billion dollar industry. Our farmers have asked for alternative crops. Floridians want access to safe, tested cannabis and CBD. With this bill, our Department can make those goals a reality and transform our economy,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.
The bill require licenses for businesses or people that wish to grow hemp and requires detail information about where it will be grown. Under federal law, it is unlawful to possess any raw or unprocessed hemp, hemp plants, or hemp seed without a license.
The measure passed the Senate 39-0 and the house 112-1.
Alabama recently passed similar legislation and has already issued licenses, including seven in Escambia County, AL. For details, click here.
Remains Of Missing WWII Pilot To Be Returned Home
May 5, 2019
The recently identified remains of Army pilot killed in World War II will be returned home his week for a proper burial.
Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Walter B. Stone of Andalusia, AL, was killed in 1943. Several of his relatives reside in North Escambia.
His remains will be flown into the Pensacola Airport on Thursday and escorted to his hometown for a funeral service on Saturday.
In October 1943, Stone served as a pilot in the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, VIII U.S. Fighter Command. On Oct. 22, 1943, Stone was killed when his P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft crashed in northern France during a bomber escort mission. Because France was enemy-occupied territory at the time of the crash, search and recovery operations were not possible.
In 1990, a French excavation group, called Association Maurice Choron (AMC,) carried out a limited excavation of the site in the forest near La Wattine, France, where Stone was believed to have crashed. Aircraft wreckage that matched Stone’s aircraft was located and a field investigation was recommended.
In April and May 2017, a DPAA Recovery Team excavated a site based on information from a local resident. During the excavation, an identification tag for Stone was located, as well as remains. The remains were sent to the laboratory for identification.
In 2018, in a contract with the University of Wisconsin, the site excavation was completed, with additional remains consolidated with the previously located remains. He was officially accounted for on February 20, 2019.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are 72,731 service members (approximately 26,000 are assessed as possibly-recoverable) still unaccounted for from World War II. Stone’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neupré, Belgium, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
Masons Of Florida Award Scholarship To Tate Senior Gracie McNeil
May 5, 2019
The Masons of Florida have a awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Tate High School senior Gracie McNeal. She received their Public Education and Citizenship Scholarship after submitting the winning 1,000 word essay. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Large Crowds Attend Century’s Sawmill Day And Car Show (With Photo Galleries)
May 5, 2019
Large crowds attended the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Sawmill Day and Car Show in Century Saturday in Century’s Historic District.
The day included a vintage and custom car show, plus arts and crafts booths, plenty of historic exhibits, food and live entertainment.
For Sawmill Day photos, click here.
For car show photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Biloxi 11-2
May 5, 2019
The Blue Wahoos beat the Biloxi Shuckers 11-2 Saturday night.
The capacity crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium, which included PGA Tour star Bubba Watson and family, along with 1,000 ticket-holders from a youth sports association, got a full night of entertainment.
“A great moment here with the crowd and everything. It’s the best minor league ballpark the Twins have,” said third baseman Miguel Sano, the Minnesota Twins third baseman and 2017 American League All-Star who is spending the weekend in Pensacola on injury rehab assignment. He’s expected to soon return to boost the first-place Twins.
Sano drove in one of the runs for first place Blue Wahoos (19-10) who advanced their best record in the Southern League and first-place lead in the South Division. He also generated a crowd reaction with his first at-bat foul that traveled far out of the ballpark.
He will be the designated hitter in Sunday’s series-deciding finale. The Blue Wahoos have won every series so far this season.
Saturday, the Blue Wahoos won by scoring runs in six of their eight inning at-bats. They blasted a pair of homers into the right-center berm filled with kids, and had every player in the lineup factor into the game box. Some of that due to nine walks issued by four Biloxi pitchers and two infield errors that allowed runs to score.
“We took advantage of the mistakes they made and were able to do some damage,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. “We had really good discipline at the plate. That was one of the best nights we’ve had offensively.”
Luis Arraez and Alex Kirilloff, hitting back-to-back at the top of the order, both had two hits, combined for three RBI and Arraez scored three times.
“I think we really stay focused,” said Arraez, who is batting .330. “We do a good job. We play hard every time. We have a great team.”
In his third game with the Blue Wahoos, Kirilloff delivered his first pair of RBI. It was also the first time in his professional career he’s played first base. He played that position as well as outfield in high school.
“We know he can do that,” Borrego said. “We need to keep working with him, but I like what I see. I like the way he moved.
On the mound, Blue Wahoos’ Randy Dobnak, a former Independent League teammate with Taylor Grzelakowski, made his first start. He worked four innings, allowing two runs and had five strikeouts. Relievers Adam Bray (2 innings) and Tyler Jay (3 innings) were flawless
All West Florida Libraries Closed On Monday
May 5, 2019
All West Florida Public Libraries will be closed Monday, May 6 for staff training. Regular hours and programming will resume on Tuesday, May 7.
Any materials with a due date of May 6 will not accrue fines during the closure.
The Century and Genealogy branches are always closed on Mondays.
Pictured: The Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo.