Escambia County Abandons Portion Of Pace Parkway That’s Actually Part Of International Paper
March 14, 2022
When International Paper in Cantonment began to consider improvements to a road on their sprawling facility, they found out it was actually a public road belonging to Escambia County.
Officially, the road was part of Pace Parkway but commonly called Scale House Road. It runs off Highway 29 into the mill south of the traffic light at Tree Street (map below). The roadway has been used, improved, and maintained by IP for many years to receive and weigh raw materials, according to the county. The roadway has commercial scales, railroad infrastructure and overhead industrial equipment.
The Escambia County Commission has voted to vacate rights and abandon the roadway, essentially signing it over to International Paper.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. The portion of Pace Parkway that was abandoned by Escambia County is indicated in yellow below, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Reach A New Record High
March 14, 2022
For the first time in 14 years, Florida’s average price for gasoline is above $4 a gallon. Florida gas prices raced higher last week, reaching a new record-high average price of $4.38 per gallon on Friday. This smashed Florida’s previous record-high of $4.08 per gallon, which was set in July 2008.
The average price for gasoline on Sunday was $4.35 per gallon in Florida, up 87 cents since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $4.24, among the lowest in the state. In North Escambia, a low of $4.23 could be found Sunday night at one station on Highway 29 in cantonment
Throughout the past two weeks, the state average rose a total of 90 cents per gallon. The cost to fill an average 15-gallon tank of gas is now around $65. That’s $23 more than what drivers paid this time last year.
Sheriff Chip Simmons Is Looking To Sell Someone A Bull
March 14, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons is looking to sell someone a bull.
The “black bull with white face” will be sold at 10 a.m. this Thursday, March 17, at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Molino Substation at 5844 Highway 29. It will be sold the “highest and best” bidder with cash in hand
For more information, call (850) 436-9447.
The bull was found in the area of Wymart Road, off Longleaf Drive, back in February. It went unclaimed by its owner.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 14, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month for February.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Kase Calloway and Wykel Thomas
- 1st grade: Ezra Hall and Paris Scott
- 2nd grade: Elsa Faulk and Tammy Glenn
- 3rd grade: Zaylee Baker and Easton Burris
- 4th grade: Dean Marks and Orlayjae Dixon
- 5th grade: Anastacia Cooley and Ethan Carter
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
March 14, 2022
Inmate Lucson Joseph assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Lucson is serving a five year sentence out of Palm Beach County for charges including grand theft, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, obstructing a criminal investigation and battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter or EMT.
$21.8 Million, 3-Year Project Underway On Highway 90 Bridges Between Escambia, Santa Rosa
March 14, 2022
Construction is continuing on the Highway 90 bridge project over Simpson River, between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Crews have finished installing a temporary barrier wall and have started construction of a temporary work trestle (center) that will be between the westbound and eastbound bridges. Once the work trestle or temporary bridge is complete, the team will begin driving concrete piles for the widening of the westbound bridge.
Once the project is complete in 2025, each bridge will accommodate two, 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot outside shoulders that will include bike lanes. Additional improvements include milling and resurfacing the bridge approaches, improving drainage, installing new signage, reconstructing curb and gutter, and installing guardrail.
The project’s total cost is $21.8 million.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com graphic. Click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 13, 2022
Ernest Ward Middle School recently announced their Students of the Month for December and January.
The January Students of the Month (pictured above, L-R) are Jaycee Miller, Sydney Little and Jackson Simmons.
The December Students of the Month (pictured below L-R) are Nicholas Barry, Brady Beckley and Kayleigh Young.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Soil And Water Board Could Be Doomed By Bill Approved By Legislature, Member Says
March 13, 2022
A bill approved by the Florida Legislature could doom the Escambia County Soil and Water Conservation District board, and that concerns at least one member of the board.
The legislation requires candidates for the volunteer elected seats to either be actively engaged in agriculture or retired after at least 10 years in agriculture, employed by an agricultural producer, or own or lease agricultural land.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson, who first proposed abolishing the boards altogether. It has been approved by the
The districts across the state, according to the state law that established them, are meant to “provide assistance, guidance, and education to landowners, land occupiers, the agricultural industry, and the general public in implementing land and water resource protection practices. The Legislature intends for soil and water conservation districts to work in conjunction with federal, state, and local agencies in all matters.”
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District board member Anne Bennett is hoping the governor does not sign the bill.
“These boards work on storm water runoff, erosion, sedimentation, surface water quality. They help prioritize repairs on natural areas after big storm events countywide. They work with the US government on Census of government and finances; with the US Department of Agricultural to oversee programs, monies and to help prioritize projects and policies. They work cooperatively with many Florida agencies particularly, the Department of Agriculture. They work with non-profits, youth groups and schools.”
The Escambia Soil and Water Board receives no compensation or reimbursements, and they do not have any taxing or regulating authority, she said.
“Soil and Water boards cost nothing to taxpayers while providing community wide services to maintain quality of life, land and waterscapes,” Bennett added.
Bennett said some board districts will be left with no eligible candidate, and there will be no representation for non-agricultural concerns.
“Under this bill, a person without a high school diploma that’s been picking strawberries for the last 10 years would be able to serve on the board as opposed to a scientist from the University of Florida IFAS,” Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil, a central Florida Democrat, told Florida Politics. “We should all believe that Floridians should have the freedom to be healthy, prosperous and safe, which includes having clean drinking water.”
Pictured: A North Escambia field in June 2021. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Areas
March 13, 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
- U.S. 98 McGuire’s Saint Patrick’s Day Run– Drivers will encounter closures on the following roads near McGuire’s Irish Pub from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12 for the Saint Patrick’s Day Run: East Gregory Street, Bayfront Parkway, 9th Avenue, and East Garden Street.
- 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, March 13 through Saturday, March 19. 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 – Drivers will encounter the following temporary intermittent lane closures:
- Inside lane closures and shifts between D and Q streets as crews perform median improvements, signalization installation and construct curb and gutter and sidewalk.
- Outside intermittent lane closures will occur at various locations along West Cervantes, between Dominguez and A Streets, to allow crews to construct Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk ramps and traffic pole foundations.
- North Ninth Avenue (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, March 17 through Friday, March 18, as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- Airport Boulevard (S.R. 750) Maintenance from West of Palafox Street to Davis Highway – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Monday, March 14 as crews perform concrete operations.
- U.S. 29 (Pensacola Boulevard) from Brent Lane to north of I-10 – Work has begun on the three-mile project. It will include resurfacing, curb, ramp and sidewalk improvements, new signage and pavement markings, and traffic signalization upgrades. The project is estimated for completion in early 2023.
- Saufley Field Road (S.R. 296) Sidewalk Improvements: The eastbound right lane between Mobile Highway and Denver Avenue will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, March 13 as crews construct sidewalk improvements.
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, March 13 through Saturday, March 19. 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 – Major roadway construction activities are currently underway. Improvements include widening the roadway from four to a six-lanes with a raised median, safety, and drainage upgrades, resurfacing S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) from U.S. 98 to Garcon Point Bridge, extending the existing shared-use path on the south side of U.S. 98 from Gondolier Boulevard, and new signage and pavement markings.
- U.S. 90 Simpson River Bridge Project – Motorists can expect intermittent and alternating lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, March 14 through Friday, March 18 as crews install a barrier wall.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
All Tom Thumb Stores Getting A New Name – Cumberland Farms
March 13, 2022
The Tom Thumb convenience store near you will have a new name and a new look in the coming months.
EG Group has announced it will rebrand its Tom Thumb store locations to the Cumberland Farms brand starting in May 2022. The $50 million project will span two years and include 113 Tom Thumb locations and new locations across Florida and Alabama.
The rebranding effort will take 18 to 24 months to complete all stores, the company said. Newly rebranded locations will feature Cumberland Farms’ latest design, equipment, and food menu – featuring a wide variety of hot grab-and-go food options as well as its premium Farmhouse Blend coffee.
“We decided to move forward with this brand conversion after conducting extensive research that projected the tremendous growth opportunity to expand the Cumberland Farms brand. In addition to updating and refreshing all of the stores with the Cumberland Farms design, layout and equipment, we plan to bring expanded food service offerings, including a new fried chicken concept, to guests in these communities,” said George Fournier, president of EG America.
EG America, a subsidiary of EG Group, operates over 1,700 locations across ten brands throughout the USA – Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac Café, KwikShop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Minit Mart, QuikStop, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb, and Turkey Hill.
The rebrand will not impact employment of current Tom Thumb employs. They will remain employed under the Cumberland Farms brand.
Pictured: The Tom Thumb store located at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.