FDOT Installs Signs, Lowers Speed Limit To Help Stop Highway 29 Truck Rollovers
August 24, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation is working on their next step to address a problem with a North Century Boulevard curve that has seen multiple semi-truck rollovers.
A FDOT contractor has installed “Curve 30 Mph” signs both north and southbound approaching a curve near Jackson Street, and north and southbound near a curve just north of Burger King. The contractor indicated that additional signs will be installed next week instructing truckers to use the left inside lane and warning of the tipping hazard.
The Florida Department of Transportation has acknowledged the the signage is a temporary fix. FDOT is working to identify a design and construction project to correct the slope of the roadway. Century and Escambia County have both pressed FDOT to eventually fix the elevation problem with the roadway.
Twice this year, semi-trucks rolled over in a curve on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street. City and county officials believe the curve is badly designed with a slope in the outer lane that is difficult for semis to negotiate at the posted 35 mph speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo at page bottom.
Pictured: A newly installed sign near a on North Century Boulevard near Jackson Street warns drivers to slow for the curve. Pictured below: Another warning sign warns of an approaching curve near Burger King. Century Mayor Freddie McCall is seen observing traffic Tuesday shortly after the signs were installed. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Professor To Attend Makerspace Event At The White House Today
August 24, 2016
Thomas Asmuth, an assistant professor in the University of West Florida Department of Art, will participate in a roundtable discussion at the White House today during an event called “The Nation of Makers.”
Asmuth teaches new media at the University and works on art projects that meld science and technology.
He is also the founder and president of Emerald Coast Community of Makers, a makerspace shop located on North Guillemard Street in Pensacola. “Makerspace” is defined as a community-operated work space where people with common interests in computers, machines, technology, science and digital art and other areas, meet, socialize and collaborate on projects.
“The Nation of Makers” focuses on people who organize makerspace events.
Asmuth responded to a survey about two weeks ago that the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House sent out.
“It was very basic,” Asmuth said. “They were just collecting data about makerspaces in general, and I thought it would be nice to see a pin on the OSTP makerspace map where Pensacola is. I just about fell over when they got back to me and invited me to the White House.”
Roundtable discussions at “The Nation of Makers” are designed to help organizations strategize about growth and sustainability.
Topics to be covered at the White House meeting include legal structures for nonprofit organizations, methods for measuring benefits to the community, ways to cope with burnout, devices for maintaining diversity and inclusion and plans for developing mentorships within organizations and other issues.
“I’m pleased that I’m going to be meeting with people who will be associated with partnerships between makers and spaces, including some universities from around the nation,” Asmuth said. “Hopefully, I will come back with a report that can inform us of how we might have a makerspace at UWF sometime in the future.”
The trip is supported by a grant from the University of West Florida Center for Research and Economic Opportunity.
“Thomas is exactly the right person to be representing UWF at this White House event,” said Dr. Brice Harris, assistant vice president of research and economic opportunity at UWF. “At its core, the maker movement is about empowering individuals to translate their unique thoughts and ideas into creative works and innovative product solutions. The implications for entrepreneurship and advanced manufacturing are tremendous. I believe the contributions Thomas will make to the national discourse while attending the event will be important, and he will return home with new ideas and best practices that will enhance our understanding of the burgeoning role makerspaces are playing in higher education.”
Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/University of West Florida for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Water Main Leak Slows Molino Traffic
August 24, 2016
Traffic on Highway 95A near the Molino Community Complex was slowed Tuesday evening as Molino Utilities crews repaired a water main leak. We are told the leak was not significant enough to require a boil water notice. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Indicted For First Degree Murder Of Two Year Old
August 24, 2016
An Escambia County Grand Jury indicted Alonzo Dewayne Thompkins, Jr. for first degree felony murder in the death of a two-year old child.
On August 8, child was found unresponsive by his mother after being home alone with the defendant for approximately one hour. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined the death of the child to be caused by blunt force trauma to the child’s torso.
Thompkins is scheduled to be arraigned on September 1 for the murder. He is also charged with aggravated child abuse after a three-year-old child in the residence had multiple bruises on her body and a broken collar bone.
Volleyball: Northview Hosts West Florida (With Gallery)
August 24, 2016
The Northview Chiefs hosted West Florida High School’s Jaguars Tuesday afternoon.
JV 16-25, 22-25 WFHS wins
Varsity 15-25, 17-25, 6-25 WFHS wins
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Northview Chiefs will host Pensacola Christian on Thursday. Junior varsity plays at 4:30 and the varsity takes the court at 5:30.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ervin Crushes Game Winning Homer For The Wahoos
August 24, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos left fielder Phillip Ervin drove in two runs with a key line drive single to center field and a game-winning home run that he crushed high above the 400-foot sign in dead center.
Ervin, a first round draft pick in 2013 by the Cincinnati Reds, certainly looked like the player the Major League club projected him to be Tuesday, going 3-4 with two runs scored in the, 3-2, victory over the Mobile BayBears at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
On a 2-0 pitch, Ervin got all of the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning. The leadoff homer was the first ball hit out the park by Pensacola since Aug. 13.
“That was very impressive,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said, marveling at Ervin’s power. “He’s being patient. When he’s patient like that he gets good hits.”
Ervin, the Reds No. 16 prospect, now has 12 homers and 39 RBIs on the season. He also has 33 stolen bases, making him the first minor leaguer in the organization to have back-to-back double digit home runs and 30-plus steals in a season since Henry Rodriguez did it in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Last season, Ervin knocked 14 homers and 71 RBIs for High-A Daytona Tortugas and Pensacola.
“It’s a great combo,” Kelly said of Ervin’s power and speed. “He’s got great tools. That’s why he was a No. 1 draft choice.”
The Blue Wahoos have now won the first two games of the five-game series over rival Mobile. Combined with the Mississippi Braves, 2-0, loss to the Biloxi Shuckers Tuesday, Pensacola is now 3.5 games behind division leader Mississippi at 30-27. The Braves are 33-23 in the second half.
“We’re peaking at the right time,” Kelly said with 13 games left in the 2016 season. “We’re hitting on all cylinders right now.”
The Blue Wahoos struck in the sixth inning, tying the game, 2-2, when center fielder Jeff Gelalich hit a two out single to score Ervin from third. Ervin had singled to drive in shortstop Alex Blandino earlier in the inning that pulled Pensacola within, 2-1.
Pensacola starter Jackson Stephens pitched out of two bases loaded jams in the first three innings, allowing just one run when he hit Mobile center fielder Evan Marzilli with a pitch that scored left fielder Rudy Flores from third in the second inning.
In the fourth inning, Mobile again put runners at the corners with two outs but Stephens got Mobile first baseman and slugger Kevin Cron to hit a pop foul to first base to end the inning.
Mobile had six runners in scoring position in four straight innings but Stephens was able to get out of the innings unscathed in a gutty performance. Stephens threw 91 pitches in five innings, allowing one unearned run, giving up seven hits, walking two and striking out four.
In all Mobile, was 2-10 with runners in scoring position Tuesday and left 14 runners on base.
“He battled and kept us in the game,” Kelly said. “A couple of those innings could have gotten really ugly. But he pitches with a chip on his shoulder. Nothing’s ever been handed to him. He’s had to earn it. That’s the way you have to be.”
The game stayed, 1-0, Mobile until the sixth inning when BayBears second baseman Jamie Westbrook hit a solo homer just over the left field fence for his third of the year to put his team up, 2-0. It was also the Mobile team’s 99th homer this season, which leads the Southern League.
Missing Woman Located
August 24, 2016
Update: This missing senior has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating 85-year-old Euthra Kervin Ives. She was last seen at 1:30 p.m. leaving the Extended Stay on Bloodworth Lane. Ives suffers from dementia and might be driving a white Lincoln Town car with the Florida tag number Y4PBY. She was last seen wearing a t-shirt, white pants, white tennis shoes and a straw hat with a pink flower. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Wednesday Is Final Day To Requst Vote By Mail Ballot
August 23, 2016
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford reminds voters who wish to be mailed a vote-by-mail ballot for the August 30 Primary Election to request their ballot no later than Wednesday, August 24.
Voters can make their request by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, fax (850) 595-3914, or e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.com). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address. Voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.
After Wednesday, a voter may still pick up a vote-by-mail ballot in person from the Elections Office through Monday, August 29.
For further information on vote-by-mail ballots, early voting, or precincts and polling locations, please contact us at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Recycling Is Back (With Facility Photo Gallery)
August 23, 2016
ECUA and Escambia County held a held a kick-off ceremony Monday to mark the opening of ECUA’s Interim Materials Recycling Facility, or IMRF, at the Perdido Landfill.
The collaborative effort between ECUA and Escambia County is a state-of-the-art facility that will have the capacity to recycle up to 40,000 tons of materials per year.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Building this partnership has been instrumental in eliminating our reliance on outside contractors for the processing of this region’s recycling effort,” said Steve Sorrell, executive director of ECUA. “Now, we can focus on what’s really important: keeping recyclable materials out of the landfills and putting them to good use once again.”
Sorrell said the facility is expected to break even or make a profit.
The $10.6 million project was initiated to offer a long-term, regional recycling solution for this community, while at the same time, to assist Escambia County in reaching its state-mandated 75 percent recycling goal. On February 12, ECUA broke ground for the IMRF, which encompasses a 53,460 square-foot fabric building and recycling equipment that is expected to process up to 165 tons of materials per day.
“It means that everyone that wants to recycle can get back to genuine recycling better than ever before,” ECUA District 5 board member Larry Walker said. “The list of recycles will be same as before.”
“It is exciting to see this joint project to support recycling in Escambia County,” Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson stated. “But it is even more rewarding to see the partnership between Escambia County and ECUA making this happen and thereby making our community better.”
The facility will provide a solution to the recycling woes experienced by ECUA over the past few years.
After the flooding, closure and bankruptcy of West Florida Recycling in Pensacola, ECUA entered into a two year agreement with the Infinitus Energy Park (IREP) in Montgomery. Even with transportation costs, ECUA was making a net profit of a few dollars per ton off the deal.
After the center abruptly closed in October 2015, ECUA began transporting recyclable materials to Tarpon Paper Co. in Loxley, AL. ECUA stopped transporting recyclables to Tarpon in December when they implemented a $12.50 per-ton tipping fee.
While the finishing touches are put on the IMRF, all recyclables collected in Escambia County are being dumped in the Perdido Landfill, and the Santa Rosa County Landfill is receiving materials collected in that county. The new facility is expected to be fully operational in September.
“We have encouraged our customers enrolled in the recycling program to continue their positive recycling habits throughout this interruption, and urge those who may have gotten out of the recycling habit to resume the separation of their recyclables,” Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer, said.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 23, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending August 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Clark observed a motorhome stopped in the middle of the road on south Fairfield Avenue. As the vehicle began moving, the operator was driving erratically. Officer Clark stopped the vehicle, made contact with the driver and smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. The officer also observed an open beer container on the floor. The operator agreed to submit to field alcohol tasks and performed poorly on all tasks. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the Escambia County Intoxilyzer Room where he declined to provide a breath sample. He was then transported to the Escambia County Jail for booking and processing. The driver was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), refusal to submit to a breath test, and knowingly driving without a valid license.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
No report submitted.This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.