Work Begins This Week On Nine Mile Road Widening From Beulah To Hwy 29
September 18, 2016
Work is set to begin this week on a two-year, $46 million project to widen Nine Mile Road between Beulah Road and Highway 29 from two to four travel lanes.
The first work will occur on the segment of Nine Mile Road from Pine Forest Road to Highway 29 as crews will start clearing trees and shrubs to assist utility companies in their relocation efforts with construction activities starting later this month. Work on the portion of Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road is also anticipated to begin this month.
“We’ve been working for 20 years to fix the traffic and gridlock in the Beulah community, as well as bring good-paying jobs and growth, and these improvements will ensure our success,” Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Wilson Robertson said recently “The core growth and the traffic going to Navy Federal and the new OLF-8 Park is going to be well accommodated by widening Nine Mile Road to four lanes.”
Additional improvements include constructing a new bridge over Eleven Mile Creek, new sidewalks and stormwater retention ponds, signalization improvements, drainage upgrades, adding buffered bike lanes, and, if survey results are favorable, noise walls will be constructed at the Heritage Oaks subdivision.
The planned construction work will enhance safety, improve mobility, and reduce congestion for the estimated 19,000 drivers who travel the roadway daily. In addition, the improvements underway support future economic development opportunities for Escambia County and Northwest Florida, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
FDOT said the planned construction work will enhance safety, improve mobility, and reduce congestion for the estimated 19,000 drivers who travel the roadway daily. In addition, the improvements underway support future economic development opportunities for Escambia County and Northwest Florida.
In a few weeks, those located in the vicinity of the new bridge construction across Eleven Mile Creek will hear noise from pile driving during the day.
Drivers should allow extra time to reach their destination, obey all posted signs and speed limits, and watch for signs with information about upcoming work and traffic conditions. Drivers may experience minor traffic delays, lane closures, a 35 mph reduced speed limit and workers in and around the roadway.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida Libraries Offer Special Edition Library Card This Month
September 18, 2016
West Florida Public Libraries are offering a special edition library card in honor of Library Card Sign-up Month, with colorful cards featuring WFPL’s mascot Whooo the owl.
While library cards are always free for Escambia County residents, the usual $3 replacement fee for lost or damaged cards will be waived during the month of September as part of the celebration. Escambia County residents can find information about getting a library card or sign up by clicking here.
September was designated as Library Card Sign-up Month by the American Library Association in 1987, after then Secretary of Education William J. Bennett issued a challenge through a national campaign encouraging every child to obtain and regularly use a library card.
West Florida Libraries are located at:
- Century Branch Library — 7991 N. Century Boulevard
- Molino Branch Library — 6450-A Highway 95A
- Pensacola Library –239 N. Spring Street
- Tryon Branch Library — 1200 Langley Avenue
- Westside Branch Library — 1301 West Gregory Street
- Genealogy Library — 5740 N. 9th Avenue
UWF Football Suffers First Ever Loss
September 18, 2016
The UWF football team committed three turnovers in the second quarter that resulted in 14 points for Chowan as the Hawks held on to defeat the Argonauts 35-28 at Garrison Stadium Saturday night.
UWF (2-1) finished with 459 yards of total offense, including 415 through the air, but committed a season-high four turnovers in suffering its first loss in program history.
Graduate Kaleb Nobles completed 29-of-48 for 398 yards and three touchdowns, but was sacked four times and three two interceptions. Redshirt freshman Grey Jackson saw time on two different series, including the second possession of the third quarter when he engineered a six-play, 31-yard drive that tied the game at 28. He was 3-for-4 for 17 with a TD and also rushed for 23 yards.
UWF and Chowan each recorded touchdowns on the first three drives of the game before things settled down offensively. The first strike came on a seven-yard run from CU’s Tyree Lee.
Nobles didn’t waste any time getting those points back, as the Argonauts went 75 yards on just three plays in 31 seconds to even the score at 7-7. The drive was capped off with a 58-yard touchdown pass to senior Anas Hasic. It was the first of three scoring catches for the Phoenix native, who previously played at North Carolina Central, located in Durham just under two hours from Murfreesboro. He finished with nine receptions for 190 yards, the most in a game in the Gulf South Conference this season.
Chowan followed suit on the next drive, as quarterback Randall Dixon dropped in a 29-yard touchdown pass to put the score at 14-7 with 10:50 left on the clock in the first quarter. He finished the game with 449 yards passing on 28-of-44 and two touchdowns.
The Argos drove deep into Chowan territory later in the period but came away empty when an Austin Peffers field goal attempt from 26 yards bounced off the right upright.
UWF did reach the end zone on its next possession. With 3:02 remaining in the quarter, Leroy Taylor intercepted a pass from Dixon in the red zone to start a UWF drive that stretched 84 yards and evened the score on another touchdown connection from Nobles to Hasic – this time from 16 yards.
The 14-14 score did not hold for long, as Chowan took advantage of UWF turnovers on consecutive possessions to put the score at 28-14 at the half.
Nobles threw his first interception of the season that gave Chowan possession at the UWF 15. The Hawks scored after four rushes to go ahead 21-14. Chowan extended the lead to 28-14 on a 73-yard drive that ended with a Tyree Lee 29-yard run with 4:21 left in the half.
In what has become standard UWF fashion, the Argonauts came out of halftime in a full sprint and rallied for 14 unanswered points before many in attendance had returned from the concession stand. Nobles found junior Ishmel Morrow for a 71-yard grab on the third play of the half to cut the score to 28-21. He hauled in a game-high 12 passes to go along with 161 yards.
Just a play into the ensuing Chowan drive, freshman Trent Archie snagged his first interception of the season and the turnover led to seven more UWF points. Jackson led the Argonauts on the drive, adding a 17-yard run before finding Hasic from 14 yards to even the score.
CU took the lead for the final time with 10:50 left in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard pass. UWF moved the ball into Chowan territory briefly on its final possession but was forced to punt and never got the ball back as the Hawks picked up four first downs in the final 3:57.
The UWF defense entered the game averaging 6.5 sacks per game and tallied four while picking off three passes. Sophomore Marvin Conley had 11 tackles and freshman Joshua Smiley finished with 10 to lead the Argonauts.
Chowan (2-1) had 579 yards of offense on 92 plays with 449 passing and 130 rushing.
UWF will open GSC play against Valdosta State next Saturday, September 24, in Valdosta, Ga. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start.
Bonus Gallery: Tate Aggies Beat Pensacola High School
September 18, 2016
Friday night, the Tate Aggies beat Pensacola High School.
For a photo gallery of raw, unedited photos from the game, click here.
For a game summary, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Youth Sports Groups Can Apply For Local Grant
September 18, 2016
The Pensacola Sports Foundation is accepting applications for its 2017 grant program. Community organizations involved in providing youth sports opportunities are eligible to apply for funding. Applications must be received by November 1,2016.
The mission of the Pensacola Sports Foundation is to “support that part of the mission of Pensacola Sports that focuses on the development, education, promotion and recognition of youth sports, amateur sports, scholar athletes, and athletic excellence in the Greater Pensacola area.” Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has distributed over $500,000 in funding to organizations in the Greater Pensacola area.
Grant application forms can be downloaded from the Pensacola Sports website – www.pensacolasports.org or by contacting the Pensacola Sports office at (850) 434-2800. Completed forms may be either mailed to the Pensacola Sports Foundation, P.O. Box 12463, Pensacola FL 32591, or delivered to the Pensacola Sports office downtown at 101 W. Main Street, Pensacola FL 32502.
Escambia Area Unemployment Rate Declines
September 18, 2016
Governor Rick Scott said Friday that the Escambia County area added 900 new private-sector jobs over the year in August. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, declining by 0.5 percentage point in the last year. Florida businesses created 22,600 private-sector jobs across the state during August 2016, bringing the total number of jobs created since December 2010 to 1,191,900 jobs.
Governor Scott said, “Job creators in the Pensacola area continue to create opportunities for families, which is great news. We will continue to cut taxes and burdensome regulations to ensure we help businesses in Pensacola continue to grow.”
The industry with the largest job gains in the Pensacola area over the year was professional and business services with 600 new jobs. The Pensacola area had 4,815 job openings in August, which included 1,261 openings for high-skill, high-wage, STEM occupations.
Florida’s statewide unemployment rate remained low at 4.7 percent, the lowest rate since November 2007. For the 53rd consecutive month, Florida’s annual job growth rate of 3.4 percent is also exceeding the nation’s rate of 1.9 percent. More than 33,058 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Escarosa and the state’s other 24 regional workforce boards.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: UWF President, Fight Club
September 18, 2016
Signs weren’t the only things causing fights in Florida politics this week. In fact, at times it looked like just about everyone was either battling someone else or getting ready to.
There was, of course, the shove not heard round the political world, when silent video emerged of state Rep. Keith Perry striking another man in a dispute over a political sign. And there were struggles over the presidential post at the University of West Florida, where a new leader was selected amid charges of political interference.
All the scuffling drew attention away from what might have been the most substantive developments of the week: a Legislature readying for a fight over state spending, and a governor preparing to name his first (and perhaps only, depending on how one reads a vague provision in the state Constitution) appointment to the Florida Supreme Court. There might not be a fight over that appointment — there’s no confirmation process in Florida — but whomever Scott picks will be the referee for plenty of battles in the future.
MADAME PRESIDENT
The board at the University of West Florida was voting to name its new president. And the person who got elected was not the one many of those following the process had expected.
For good or for ill — many academics would say the latter — state lawmakers have a pretty good track record of getting high-profile college and university jobs when they want them. So, many assumed that state Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who served as Senate president from 2012 to 2014, had the inside track on the position when he applied.
Instead, Provost Martha Saunders will take over at UWF on Jan. 1. She beat Gaetz on a 9-4 vote.
“I’m thrilled and honored beyond belief,” said Saunders, who returned to UWF as a provost in 2013 after serving at the school for 18 years in an earlier stint. “It has been a long and arduous process, but UWF is worth it.”
Her win came as a top trustee cited “interference” from Tallahassee in the decision — but not in an attempt to get Gaetz into the president’s chair.
Lewis Bear, chairman of the trustees, decried “character assassination” aimed at Gaetz, as critics tried to tie the senator to an ongoing investigation of a hospice company that Gaetz helped found but later sold his interest in. Bear said Gaetz had no part in the inquiry.
“I think we have spread bad rumors about somebody who has done a great job for our state,” Bear said.
Jackie Schutz, communications director for Gov. Rick Scott, said the governor “frequently talks with trustees on key issues at our universities.”
“He is thankful for their service to the state and the many hours they volunteer to make our higher education system more affordable and accountable,” Schutz said. “Gov. Scott appreciates all of the candidates who put their names forward to serve as president of UWF and looks forward to working with president-elect Martha Saunders as she meets with the Board of Governors to outline her vision for UWF’s future.”
BUDGET TROUBLE AHEAD?
Meanwhile, lawmakers were bracing to tackle the looming possiblity of a budget shortfall in future years, a scenario that is likely to spark fiscal clashes during next year’s legislative session.
The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, a panel of House and Senate members charged with supervising spending while the Legislature is out of session, approved a long-range financial outlook for the state Monday.
In the coming budget year, which begins July 1, the outlook projects a surplus of just $7.5 million — a tiny sliver of the state spending plan, which is now roughly $82 billion. The following year, a budget gap of $1.3 billion could open up, followed by $1.8 billion the year after that.
Republicans, who have run the state budget process for two decades, quickly zeroed in on a culprit: The state is being wasteful with the money that it has.
“It is 100 percent because of spending. Nothing else,” said incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican who has been budget chief for two years.
Corcoran dismissed suggestions that the $784.9 million in tax cuts and tax holidays that lawmakers have approved over the last three years helped to create the situation the Legislature now faces. Instead, he suggested that reducing state government’s current spending will be the focus.
Democrats saw things differently. Rep. Janet Cruz, who is set to lead the House Democrats next year, issued a statement calling for lawmakers to take a look at those tax cuts before slicing spending.
“Actions have consequences,” Cruz, D-Tampa, said. “The last two years in particular, and for many years before, the majority has made decisions that are costing us now and into the future. Tax breaks that for the most part benefit big business interests mean we won’t have the flexibility to put the people of Florida first.”
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Supreme Court Justice James E.C. Perry announcing that he will retire in December was far from unexpected. The Constitution requires that justices retire when they turn 70, though they can fulfill the remainder of their terms, depending on when their birthdays fall. Perry is already 72.
But the announcement by Perry, a Columbia Law School graduate appointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist to the state’s high court in 2009, highlighted the choice that Gov. Rick Scott will make, and the stakes. Perry is part of a 5-2 majority that often rules against the governor and the Legislature and has emerged as one of the last resistance points to GOP rule.
“After over 16 years of proudly serving the citizens of the state of Florida, first as a circuit judge and currently as a justice of the Florida Supreme Court, I am constitutionally mandated to retire at the end of my current term,” Perry wrote in a letter announcing his Dec. 30 retirement. The letter was delivered Friday to Scott and released to the public Monday.
Scott’s anticipated appointment of a third conservative to the bench, joining justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston, “may very well change the way the court has been ruling on cases,” former Justice Gerald Kogan said in a telephone interview Monday.
Scott, who regularly appoints judges to lower courts, told reporters Monday that he takes the role seriously.
“Think about it, every individual, every business wants to make sure when they go through the court system, it’s going to be a fair system. It shouldn’t matter what judge you get,” Scott said. “What I try to do is find people that will uphold the law. And so it’s a responsibility I have and I take very seriously.”
Scott said he is looking for two characteristics in a candidate.
“If you talk to any judges that I’ve appointed, that I’ve interviewed, I generally care about two things. Are they going to be humble in the process, and are they going to uphold the law. That’s what I care about. I want people that want to uphold our existing laws,” he said. “I get to sign or veto bills. I don’t pass laws. I expect our court system to uphold the laws of our state.”
Born in North Carolina, Perry — who said he decided to become a lawyer the night civil-rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated — became Seminole County’s first black judge after being appointed by Bush. After graduating from Columbia Law School, Perry returned to the South and went to work for Georgia Indigent Legal Services.
“The betterment of mankind was always my objective in life,” Perry told the Florida Bar Journal earlier this year.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Supreme Court Justice James E.C. Perry formally announced his retirement, paving the way for Gov. Rick Scott to name a replacement.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “All I know is I had spit all over my face. My reaction was an open hand to where that spit was coming from.”—State Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, on a videotaped confrontation with another man over a political sign. A state attorney from a different judicial circuit will decide whether move forward with a case against Perry.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Molino Man Critically Injured In Vehicle Crash
September 17, 2016
A Molino man was critically injured in a single vehicle crash near Molino early Saturday morning.
The accident was reported about 1:10 a.m. on Highway 95A near Chipper Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said 26-year old Raymond O. Mastrangelo lost control of his 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, left the roadway and slammed into a utility pole. Mastrangelo was transported by ambulance as a “trauma alert” to an area hospital.
Mastrangelo was wearing his seat belt, and the crash was not alcohol related, according to the FHP.
The accident is under further investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Two Minor Injuries In Two Pickup Truck Wreck Near Molino
September 17, 2016
There were two minor injuries in a late Friday night accident involving two pickup trucks near Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 26-year old Robert Shaffer of Molino was northbound on Highway 95A approaching Barrineau Park Road in a 1996 GMC Sierra about 10:45 p.m. Shaffer lost control and his pickup rotated into the southbound lane where it collided with a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado driven by 34-year old Daniel R. Williams of Cantonment.
Both drivers suffered minor injuries. Both were wearing their seat belts, and the crash was not alcohol related.
Shaffer was cited by the FHP for failure to maintain his lane.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Stabbed Holman Prison Corrections Officer Dies From Injuries
September 17, 2016
Alabama Department of Corrections officials have reported the death of a corrections officer who was assaulted and stabbed by an inmate at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore on September 1.
Corrections Officer Kenneth Bettis, 44, of Monroeville succumbed to his injuries at 5:35 p.m. on Friday at the University of South Alabama Hospital in Mobile. Family members were by Bettis’ side at the time of his death.
“On behalf of the Alabama Department of Corrections, I extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Bettis’ family during this tragic loss. Officer Bettis was known among his colleagues as a firm, but fair corrections officer, and was highly respected for his work ethic and dedicated service to his profession,” said Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn.
Dunn said the Department of Corrections will prosecute the offender responsible for the officer’s death to the fullest extent of the law.
Cleveland Cunningham was charged with attempted murder after he assaulted and stabbed the officer on September 1. Prison officials report Cunningham stabbed Bettis in retaliation for being denied an extra tray of food in the facility’s dining hall during the noon meal.
Cunningham is serving a 20-year sentence on a 2013 first-degree robbery conviction out of Baldwin County.
The charges against Cunningham (pictured left) will be upgraded to murder.
Bettis had served as a corrections officer at Holman since 2009. In addition, the officer was a military veteran and had served on active duty in Iraq with the Alabama Army National Guard. Bettis’ military awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Kenneth Bettis during this very difficult time,” Governor Bentley said. “Officer Bettis was a dedicated civil servant taking on the difficult role of corrections officer. I want to thank Officer Bettis and his family for his years of service to the people of Alabama, through his work at Holman Correctional Facility and his time serving in the Alabama Army National Guard.”
Bettis is survived by his wife and three children.
Members of ADOC’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team and chaplains are assisting the family and providing counseling support to the correctional staff at Holman.