Dense Fog Advisory In Effect
February 5, 2019
There is a dense fog advisory in effect. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Areas of dense fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 56. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Cat Country 98.7, Morning Show’s Brent And Candy Nominated For ACM Top Awards
February 5, 2019
Pensacola’s Cat Country 98.7 has once again been nominated as the Radio Station of the Year by the Academy of Country Music (ACM). This is the locally owned country station’s ninth nomination in the last 15 years, and the station won the national award in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton have also been nominated as Personalities of the Year for their Cat Pak Morning Show. Lane won the ACM Personality of the Year in 2009.
The 54th Annual ACM Awards Show will be Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. in Las Vegas and will air live on CBS.
“I’m so proud of our whole team here in Pensacola. They are passionate about Country Music and our community and how the two work together in Pensacola. This is a great honor,” said Dave Hoxeng, owner of Cat County 98.7 and NewsRadio 92.3.
Pictured: (L-R) Brant Lane, country star Craig Campbell, Candy Cullerton and Big Moose. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hemp And Hops: New Crops Proposed After Hurricane Michael
February 5, 2019
Hemp and hops are being promoted among alternatives for crops wiped out by Hurricane Michael in the eastern Panhandle.
Glen Aiken, director of the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center, said Monday the need for alternatives has grown as farmers in an eight-county region suffered most of the estimated $1.5 billion hit to the state’s agriculture industry in the October storm.
But Aiken, in addressing the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the first step is convincing growers and ranchers about what could be best for their fields, particularly those in the timber industry, which accounted for more than $1.28 billion of the losses. Timber operators face the prospect of decades before new trees mature.
“We’ve got to get something going on these properties that are generating some income,” Aiken said. “And to do it, farms are different, farm operators are different, the more risk they’re willing to take, the chances are we can generate more income off that land.”
Along with the timber damage, Aiken said tomato and cotton crops were a near total loss as they were both close to harvest. Meanwhile, cattle deaths were significant, and, because of damaged fencing, it took weeks to round up and return surviving animals.
“These growers are in a serious bind,” Aiken said. “They’re asking for our help, and we’re trying to give it to them.”
A workshop for farmers on management strategies, particularly for those in the timber industry, has been set for Feb. 12 in Blountstown.
Aiken said hemp, which has been promoted by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, has multiple uses, including medicinally through the extraction of cannabidiol, as a high-quality fiber for rope and clothing and even as food.
“I know of an entrepreneur in Kentucky that processes hemp sausage,” Aiken said. “It’s hemp and pork combined. I had some. It’s not the best sausage I’ve ever ate, but it wasn’t too bad either.”
Hops also has a number of uses, but primarily could serve the state’s craft breweries, which have increased from 66 in 2013 to 243 in 2017.
Other alternative crops include olives, some hardier citrus varieties, such as satsuma, and lupines, which produce an oil that can be converted to biodiesel and a high protein meal.
Hurricane Michael made landfall Oct. 10 in Mexico Beach and then caused billions of dollars of damage in heavily rural areas as it roared north into Georgia.
Its damage to the agriculture industry came a year after Hurricane Irma ravaged citrus growers in many areas of the state. But Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, told the Senate committee Monday that the worst is over for citrus growers.
“We do believe the bottom is behind us,” Shepp told the committee. “I like to say this is going to be an upward trajectory. There is a lot of replanting going on and a lot of good success stories coming out of the labs.”
Shepp’s comments came as the industry prepares for Friday’s release of the first monthly seasonal outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture since December, when the forecast indicated growers this season would fill 84.6 million 90-pound boxes — a standard measurement — with oranges, grapefruit and specialty fruits.
The December monthly projection had the state filling 77 million boxes of oranges, 6.4 million boxes of grapefruit and 1.2 million boxes of tangerines and tangelos.
“That is post-hurricane recovery,” Shepp said. “We didn’t do that in 2004 and 2005, when we had three hurricanes hit the (central part of the) state successively.”
While down nearly 3 percent from the season’s first forecast in October, the projection was still well above the 49.58 million boxes of citrus produced during the 2017-2018 season, when the industry sustained heavy damage in Irma.
The 44.95 million 90-pound boxes of oranges in the 2017-2018 season was the lowest production in Florida since the 1942-1943 season.
In mid-1990s, the state’s citrus growers were filling more than 200 million boxes a year of oranges and 50 million boxes a year of grapefruit.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
ECSO: Driving Without Valid License Is A Problem; Driver’s License Services In Century Tuesday
February 4, 2019
Driving with a valid driver’s license is a problem in North Escambia, and there’s a local opportunity Tuesday to solve most types of license issues, including regular renewals.
“We stop people all the time without a license. Sometimes they are expired and sometimes they are suspended, a lot of time for failing to fulfill (court ordered) financial obligations,” said Lt. Bart Fryer of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Precinct 6, which covers the area that includes Century, Walnut Hill, Bratt and McDavid. “We are very proactive with traffic enforcement.”
“But a lot of the time, the people with no license have issues they could have taken care of,” he said. “We stop people all the time that have just lost their ID or could have just paid a ticket.”
There is a local opportunity Tuesday for Century area residents to receive driver’s license and motor vehicle services.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford has partnered with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to bring the Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office to Century on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
FLOW is a stand-alone mobile office with technology to provide most motorists’ needs. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver’s license, obtain a replacement driver’s license, conversion or reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver’s license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration and apply, renew or replace disabled parking placards. Written and driving tests are not available from the FLOW unit.
“There’s no reason not to go when this is in your own backyard. It’s easier access for people in the north end,” Fryer said.
In addition, he said, those with more serious issues such as unpaid tickets can easily check their case at the Escambia Count Clerk of Court office inside the courthouse.
“There’s no reason for them to not go and find out what needs to be done to get a valid license,” he said. “If they need it, sometime there is payment plan for financial obligations on cases.”
Citizens using the FLOW services Tuesday are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com and click the “What Do I Bring” button for information on what is needed for these services.
Staff from the tax collector’s office will be on hand to answer all FLOW service questions and questions concerning all other tax collector services such as property tax, business tax receipts, concealed weapons licensing, etc. Citizens also can drop off their property tax payments (checks only).
The driver’s license vehicle will visit Century once per quarter in 2019, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies E. Jackson and B. Ates conduct a traffic stop Friday on Highway 29 at Tedder Road for speeding. Pictured below: A traffic stop at Whataburger in Century Friday due to no tag on a boat trailer. Both drivers had a valid license and received just a warning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Grand Jury Reviewing Century Town Operations And Management
February 4, 2019
A grand jury is reviewing the Town of Century.
NorthEscambia.com has learned from involved parties that subpoenas to appear before the grand jury have been issued.
“A number of issues have been brought to the attention of the State Attorney’s Office regarding the manner in which the town has operated, and these are the issues that may brought before the grand jury,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said last month. The issues, he said, span a period of several months.
“Under Florida law, not only can they (the grand jury) charge a crime, they can investigate how a city or county is being operated and make a report to the general public of their findings that will be educational to the general public and hopefully helpful to the city of Century,” according to State Attorney Bill Eddins when the grand jury investigation was originally announced in early January.
Grand jury proceedings remain secret until after their conclusion.
Directly unrelated to the grand jury, two Century Town Council members charged with civil violations of the Sunshine Law recently entered pleas, while a court date was postponed for a third council member.
Last summer, three council members allegedly attended at least some portion of a closed-door meeting with CPA Robert Hudson, Town Clerk Kim Godwin and the town’s auditors. The meeting was not advertised as a public meeting, which would forbid more than one council member from taking part under Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
Council member Sandra McMurray Jackson entered a plea of no contest and was fined $200. Council president Ann Brooks also pleaded no contest and was fined $100. Adjudication was withheld in both cases.
Brooks received a lower fine because “she was left culpable because she was at the meeting legally before Mr. Gomez and Mrs. Jackson arrived,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. “While she should have left immediately, she did not participate in the meeting to the extent that Mr. Gomez and Mrs. Jackson did.”
Councilman Luis Gomez, Jr. did not appear in court due to health reasons, and his hearing date was reset for late February.
Pictured top: Century Council members (L-R) Luis Gomez, Jr., Ann Cofield Brooks and Sandra McMurray Jackson at a December 17, 2018, town council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
No Critical Injuries Reported In East Kingsfield Rollover Wreck
February 4, 2019
There were no critical injuries reported in a rollover wreck Sunday afternoon in Cantonment. The crash happened at the intersection of East Kingsfield Road and Chemstrand Road about 1:50 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT Holding I-10, Highway 29 Interchange Improvement Info Meeting
February 4, 2019
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding a public information meeting about the I-10 at Highway 29 Interchange Ultimate Improvement project. The meeting will be held Tuesday, February 5 from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the Maria K. Young Wedgewood Community Center at 6405 Wagner Road.
The intent of the project is increase capacity within the interchange, improve service on I-10 between Highway 29 and I-110, correct operational issues, and improve safety. Noise barrier walls and pond site locations have been determined. The project is funded for right-of-way acquisition in 2021 and 2022 and construction spring 2023.
Maps, drawings, and other information will be on display. There will not be a formal presentation,. FDOT representatives will be available to discuss proposed improvements, answer questions, and receive comments.
2019 Annual Youth Art Exhibit Winners Announced
February 4, 2019
For the 65th year, the Escambia County School District has partnered with the Pensacola Museum of Art to present the Annual Youth Art Focus, an annual exhibition showcasing the talents of Escambia County art students and educators.
From now until Feb. 17, visitors can view the amazing works from over 500 art students and educators and take in their strong artistic achievements. The exhibition creates an opportunity for ECSD art students to experience the fine art world and enjoy the feeling that comes with having their work on display, celebrates ECSD art instructors for their talent, and invites the community to to take a glimpse at the thriving art world inside ECSD schools.
The 65th Annual Youth Art Focus exhibit is available for viewing now until Feb. 17, 2019. The 2019 student and instructor winners were honored at receptions for the artists and their families and friends last week. Stop by and enjoy all of their artwork! Museum hours and admission information is provided below.
The 2019 winners are:
Art Educators:
3rd – Denise Quirk Vowell, Love Bird, Hellen Caro Elementary School
2nd – Sarah Stubbs, Sweet, Northview High School
1st – Sarah Ingram, Restoration, West Florida High School
Best in Show – Katherine Discepolo, Tronco, Global Learning Academy
Student Artist Best in Show:
David Barthod-Perez, West Florida High, Forestful Rest
High School Student Artists:
Painting:
3rd – Katie Munoz, Washington, Moroccan Blues
2nd – Ben Crossin, Washington, Peacock
1st – Benjamin Darby, Pensacola High School, Look What You Have Done
Drawing:
3rd – Loc Pham, Washington, Yokai
2nd – Jolie Kennedy, Tate High, Metallic Slithering
1st – Scarlett Coffey, Washington, Self Portrait
Photography/Digital Arts:
3rd – Maggie Smartt, Escambia High, Shattered Fragments
3rd – Madalyn McGurk, Pensacola High School, Meadow
2nd – Raegan Tainter, Tate, Ladder to the Sky
1st – Ian Larrieu, Pensacola High, Reach
3-Dimensional Works:
3rd – Michelle Luther, Tate High, Autumnal Bowl
2nd – Chensen Nguyen, Escambia High, Vans Shoe
1st – Isabel Cauley, West Florida, Abraham
2-Dimensional Works:
3rd – Elijah Edmonds, West Florida High, We Took An “L”
2nd – Ian Young, West Florida High, Lakeside Village
1st – Savannah Creel, Washington High, X-Ray
Middle School Student Artists:
Painting:
3rd – Jasmine Felks, Bailey Middle, Wolf
2nd – Morgan Arreglado, Bellview Middle, Untitled
1st – Aiden Wilson, Bellview Middle, Untitled
Drawing:
3rd – Laynee Hubbell, Ransom Middle, Hybrid
2nd – Connor Hignite, Beulah Middle, Harmonious
1st – Monee´ Stokes, Beulah Middle, Emotional Singularity
Photography/Digital Arts:
2nd – Alyssa Allen, Beulah Middle, Reflection
1st – Adrienne Kimball, Beulah Middle, Friendship
3-Dimensional Works:
3rd – David Hathaway, Bellview Middle, Untitled
2nd – Gavin Pesta, Bailey Middle, Smoosh Face
1st – Jobey Conrad, Ransom Middle, Thoughts in Relief
2-Dimensional Works:
3rd – Patrick Rolin, Ernest Ward Middle, Untitled
2nd – James Harper, Beulah Middle, Man of Steel
1st – Nicole Lobo, Bellview Middle, Untitled
Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Cameron Keefer, Westgate, Untitled
Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Taylor Causey, Westgate, Untitled
Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Tyrese Thomas, Bellview, Untitled
Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Mya Dalton, Pine Forest High, Whos Kingdom
The museum is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. They are closed on Mondays. Admission costs are: adults $7 ($6 for military, seniors, AAA members, UWF Historic Trust Members and UWF Alumni Association Members) and students (3 – 14) $4 (younger than 3 are Free). EBT cardholders, with a photo I.D., can obtain four free admissions. UWF students and museum members also receive free admission.
FDOT: This Week’s Road Work Delays
February 4, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities are scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 4. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to County Road (C.R.) 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Lane closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 10:
- 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).
- 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, Feb. 3 through Saturday, Feb. 9.
- 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 (Chase Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to State Road (S.R.) 196 (Bayfront Parkway)- Weather permitting paving operations from I-110 to Bayfront Parkway will resume the week of Sunday, Feb. 3. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Drivers may encounter lane restrictions from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road as crews perform miscellaneous operations to complete the project. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 10.
- Ninth Avenue Manhole Repairs - The northbound outside lane on Ninth Avenue will be closed at Jackson Street from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 as crews perform manhole repairs.
- U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Asphalt Repairs- The westbound outside lane will be closed from C Street to D Street from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 as crews perform asphalt repairs.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete spring 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.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Lane closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 10:
- 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).
- S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Cold Water Creek – Drivers will encounter alternating east and westbound lane restrictions over Cold Water Creek, about three miles east of S.R. 89, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 and Monday, Feb. 4 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard the week of Sunday, Feb. 3:
- Work on the on-and-off ramps at the Interstate 10/Avalon Boulevard (State Road 281/Exit 22) interchange will require overnight closures Sunday, Feb. 3 through Tuesday, Feb. 5. Crews will be milling and resurfacing the following ramps between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
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- Sunday, Feb. 3, I-10 westbound off-ramp.
- Monday, Feb. 4, I-10 eastbound off-ramp.
- Tuesday, Feb. 5, I-10 eastbound on-ramp.
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- Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday as crews perform construction activities.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 through Friday, Feb. 8 as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic pattern(s) on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- There will be eastbound lane closures near Thresher Drive Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews construct aright turn lane.
- Drainage work is underway at Newport Street and Thresher Drive.
- Construction activities continue from Sunrise Drive to east of Cotton Bay Lane. Lane Closures will be in effect Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform concrete operations in the median.
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.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
February 4, 2019
Here is a schedule of this week’s Escambia County public meetings:
Monday, Feb. 4
Northwest District 1 Advisory Committee – 6 p.m., Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Road
Tuesday, Feb. 5
Planning Board-Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Planning Board-Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Wednesday, Feb. 6
Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, Feb. 7
Community Redevelopment Agency – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9:15 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Saturday, Feb. 9
Escambia County Regional Roundup – 8 a.m. to noon, Escambia High School, 1310 N. 65th Ave.