Sweet Tea. It’s The Southern Way To Thank A Fireman.
May 2, 2022
When a truck hauling nitric acid burned early Saturday morning in Century, surrounding businesses were quickly evacuated.
Local volunteer firefighters rushed toward the burning truck despite the dangers. A specialized hazardous materials team was on the way from Cantonment and Ensley, but time was important. They battled the truck fire, and also worked to keep the tanker cool and the nitric acid inside.
The Saturday morning breakfast crowd was evacuated from the Southern Panhandle restaurant, directly next to the old gas station and the fire.
When the work was done, a Panhandle employee was out, thanking the firefighters. It’s a Southern thing to say thanks.
And passing out sweet iced tea in foam cups. With no lids; firefighters are adults, you know.
There’s nothing like a cold sweet tea after a hot job. It’s also a Southern thing.
The firefighters stood around sipping sweet tea, like family at Sunday dinner. Come to think of it, they are family.
Thank y’all. And bless your momma and them.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
$7.2 Million In Safety Improvements Begin On East Nine Mile Road
May 2, 2022
The Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin work on a $7.2 million project to improve safety on a 2.3 mile segment of East Nine Mile Road.
Planned safety improvements between Chemstrand Road and Baldridge Road include:
- Widening the turn lanes to include five-foot bicycle lanes in each direction.
- Traffic signal upgrades.
- Guardrail, pavement markings, and sidewalk enhancements.
- Drainage improvements.
- Milling and resurfacing all turn lanes and bicycle lanes.
FDOT said the project is anticipated to be complete by the Summer of 2023.
During construction, drivers and bicyclists can expect lane closures and traffic shifts. Lane closures will be limited to the 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. timeframe seven days a week. Pedestrian detours will be in place while sidewalk improvements are underway.
NWE Softball Wins 16U Mid-Season Tourney, NWE Legit Finalist In 8U
May 2, 2022
Two Northwest Escambia teams placed in the GCGSA Mid-Season Tournament this past weekend. NWE Legit was the 8U B finalist, and NWE 16U Softball won the 16U A championship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Football Alumnus Shermari Jones Signs With The Cincinnati Bengals (With Gallery)
May 2, 2022
Tate High School football alumnus Shermari Jones has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Right after the NFL draft, the Bengals moved to sign Jones as an undrafted free agent.
Jones had 1,040 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season with Coastal Carolina. He graduated in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and sport management.
In his senior season at Tate in 2017, Jones had 1,076 total rushing yards on 148 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per carry and 119.6 yards per game He had 15 rushing touchdowns.
We reached back into the NorthEscambia.com archives and pulled a collection of photos from Jones’ senior season at Tate. Look for #5 in this gallery.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge. (Coastal Carolina image courtesy CCU.)
Photos: Tate Softball Senior Night
May 2, 2022
Last week, Tate High School softball celebrated senior night.
The Aggies honored Sophia Jones, Aaliyah Jordan, Michayla Kent, Courtney Lundquist, Christina Mason and Kennedy Turner.
For more photos, click or tap here.
During their senior night game, the Tate Lady Aggies beat Washington 18-3.
No 4 Tate softball opens district play Monday night as they host No. 5 Crestview.
Photos by Helen Gaut for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Average Gas Price At $4.18; Escambia County Below $4
May 2, 2022
Florida gas prices averaged $4.18 per gallon on Sunday, eight cents more than a week ago and $1.40 per gallon more than this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday in Escambia County was $3.96, the lowest metro area price in the state, according to AAA.
The lowest price Sunday in Cantonment was $3.84 on Muscogee Road in Cantonment. In Pensacola, a Nine Mile Road station was at $3.77.
“Florida drivers are finding the most expensive prices at the pump in four weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Global supply concerns are keeping upward pressure on oil prices, as many countries look to limit the import of Russian oil. The global crude oil market remains an important issue for motorists, as oil prices account for more than 50% of what drivers pay at the pump. Oil prices have ping ponged dramatically since Russia invaded Ukraine and that volatility is likely to continue through the summer travel season.”
Wahoos Wrap Up Series With Win Over Biloxi
May 2, 2022
Bryan Hoeing turned in yet another dominant outing as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos wrapped up their series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
Hoeing (W, 2-1), who entered with a league-best 0.48 earned run average, completed 7.0 scoreless innings of two-hit, eight-strikeout ball to shrink his ERA even further to 0.35. The Blue Wahoos salvaged a series split from their week in Biloxi and improved to 9-12 on the season.
Pensacola scored the first run of the game without a hit, turning an error from pitcher Andy Otero (L, 1-1) and a pair of walks into a run on a Troy Johnston double play ball. Otero left trailing 1-0 in the sixth after issuing a one-out walk, and Griffin Conine made the Shuckers pay with a two-run homer off reliever J.T. Hintzen to make it a 3-0 game. Cobie Fletcher-Vance doubled two batters later, and scored on a Bubba Hollins RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.
Hoeing hit three batters, but pitched deftly out of Biloxi’s few threats to complete 7.0 innings for the second time this season. He now has two of the Southern League’s four starts of seven or more innings this season, and leads the league with 25.2 innings pitched over four Double-A starts.
Andrew Nardi allowed an unearned run to score in the eighth to break up the shutout bid, but Eli Villalobos (S, 1) worked a tidy ninth to lock down the win.
The Blue Wahoos enjoy an off day on Monday before continuing their road trip on Tuesday against the Mississippi Braves.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Jay Man, 20, Killed In ATV Crash; Two Others Injured
May 1, 2022
An ATV with three riders crashed early Sunday morning southwest of Jay, claiming the life of a Jay man.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the ATV was traveling northbound on Brownsdale Loop Road near Little Rock Road just before 2 a.m. The 20-year old male driver lost control and was thrown off the ATV.
The ATV continued off the roadway, entered the ditch and hit a barbed wire fence.
The driver was pronounced deceased. The passengers, a 20-year old male and a 22-year old male both from Jay, received minor injuries.
FHP has not released the victims’ names.
EREC Holds Annual Meeting (With Photo Gallery)
May 1, 2022
Escambia River Electric Cooperative members held their annual meeting Saturday at Northview High School in Bratt.
Members enjoyed entertainment and met in a business session. Door prizes were awarded, most of them electric, and one lucky member won $500 off their EREC bill.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Gary Smith, president and CEO of PowerSouth, provided members with an energy update.
From Escambia County, Gary Wiggins and Sam Walker were reelected to the board of trustees. From Santa Rosa County, Dale Westmoreland and Rick Hunsucker were reelected to the board.
Sarah Hetrick from Escambia County and Hanna Bott of Santa Rosa County were recognized as winners of the annual Herman D. Johnson Scholarships, providing each of them with $1,000 per year for four years of college.
EREC was formed in 1939 with 88 members their first month. The cooperative now serves about 10,000 members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with 1,800 miles of energized line.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Spots To Watch
May 1, 2022
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Nine Mile Road, from Chemstrand Road to East of Baldridge Drive – Work will begin on a $7.2 million construction project the week of Monday, May 2 to improve safety on a 2.3-mile portion of East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90 ALT.), between Chemstrand Road to east of Baldridge Drive. Improvements include widening the turn lanes to include five-foot bicycle lanes in each direction, traffic signal upgrades, guardrail, pavement markings, and sidewalk enhancements, drainage improvements, and milling and resurfacing all turn lanes and bicycle lanes. During construction, motorists and bicyclists can expect lane closures and traffic shifts. Lane closures will be permitted from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. seven days a week. Pedestrian detours will be in place while sidewalk improvements are underway. The project is estimated for completion in summer 2023.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 1 through Saturday, May 7. On Tuesday, May 3, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Motorists traveling on West Cervantes Street, between B and Q Streets, will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Single lane closures and shifts as crews perform median improvements, signalization installation, construct curb and gutter, sidewalks, utility adjustments and paving work.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the southbound side of the bridge as crews construct the northbound portion. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 2 through Friday, May 6, as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures the week of Monday, May 2 as crews place a watermain.
- Airport Boulevard (S.R. 750) Routine Maintenance from West of Palafox Street to Davis Highway – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures from west of Palafox Street to Davis Highway from 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. the week of Monday, May 2 as crews place asphalt on the roadway.
- Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) from Manchester Street to the Bayou Chico Bridge –The sidewalks on the northern side of Barrancas Avenue, between Manchester Avenue and Pace Boulevard, will be closed as crews work on sidewalk improvements. Detours will be in place for pedestrians in these areas.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Pavement Markings at the Pensacola Weigh Station – Crews will perform striping operations at the eastbound weigh station the week of Monday, May 2. During these operations the eastbound station and adjacent truck parking area will be temporarily closed.
- Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) from Brent Lane to north of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 1 through Thursday, May 5 as crews work on sidewalk and curb improvements.
- Michigan Avenue (S.R. 296) Routine Utility Maintenance from Nashville Avenue to Jaker Lane – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 as crews work on overhead utility lines.
- Brent Lane (S.R. 296) Routine Maintenance near I-110 Northbound on Ramp – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 1 and Sunday, May 8 as crews perform paving operations.
- Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Routine Maintenance near 8 Mile Creek Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 4 as crews perform tree trimming operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 1 through Saturday, May 7. On Tuesday, May 3, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists traveling westbound will encounter intermittent lane and median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 1 through Friday, May 6, while crews perform median work. In addition, westbound travelers will encounter a new traffic configuration from Autumn Breeze Circle to Bayshore Road, beginning May 1, lanes will be shifted slightly south to allow for crews to perform widening activities on the outside lane.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures and lane closures from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. the week of Monday, May 2 as crews perform construction activities.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.