Is Flomaton A Speed Trap? The Police Chief, And The Data, Say No
February 22, 2022
Is Flomaton a speed trap?
No, says Flomaton Police Chief Charles Thompson.
But Flomaton is a small town with a really big speeding problem, and he’s got the data to show it.
“Speeding is one of the number one complaints received by our department and my office,” Thomspon said. “Flomaton has thousands of vehicles traveling through each day, and a high percentage of those vehicles are speeding.”
The Flomaton Police Department has a radar trailer on Sidney Manning Boulevard, also known as Highway 29.
Last Saturday, February 19, the trailer’s radar clocked 4,013 vehicles headed north out of Florida. Almost 90% of vehicles were speeding with 3,599 traveling over the posted 35 mph. There were 883 vehicles, 22%, traveling over 46 mph — more than 10 mph over the limit.
Thompson said Flomaton is not a speed trap. The speed limit is 35 mph crossing the state line in Alabama. It drops to 35 mph about 2.5 miles away on the south side of Century. The speed limits on Highway 31, Highway 28 and Highway 113 in Flomaton are set by the state, not the town.
“Based on the complaints received and statistics we are seeing with our information retaining radar trailer, the Flomaton Police Department will be strictly enforcing all traffic laws, including that of speeding,” the chief said. “It should be no surprise to see extra officers on the roads in the near future attempting to help assist this issue.”
Escambia Health Dept. Suspends Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing
February 22, 2022
The Florida Department of Heath (FDOH) in Escambia County has suspended drive-thru COVID-19 testing due to a decline in demand.
COVID-19 testing continues to be available at several locations in Escambia County, including the rapid testing schedule outlined below:
What: COVID-19 Rapid Testing Schedule*
Where: FDOH- Escambia Fairfield, 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL
When: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT
Who: All persons (ages 2 and up) who are experiencing symptoms or those who have been exposed to someone with known COVID-19.
How: Appointment needed. Call 850-595-6500 option 6 to schedule an appointment. Bring a valid form of identification. Rapid testing with results available within 30 minutes. Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at 850-595-6500 option 6.
Parker Road, Williams Ditch And McKenzie Being Repaved In Cottage Hill
February 22, 2022
Escambia County is in the midst of a resurfacing project in Cottage Hill.
Work is underway to resurface Parker Road from end to end. McKenzie Road from Highway 95A to Parker Road, and Williams Ditch Road from Highway 95A to Parker Road will also be resurfaced.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Suspect Extradited From Alabama, Now Charged With Century Homicide
February 21, 2022
A Flomaton man arrested in Atmore has now been extradited to Florida and officially charged with homicide negligent manslaughter for the death of a man in Century last year.
Timothy Lavon Johnson, 34, is in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola with bond set at a half million dollars. He was taken into custody last week in Atmore.
Johnson is now charged with the murder of a man that died less than two weeks after he was found unresponsive with head injuries in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an aggravated battery report on Hilltop Road at Alger Road at 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021. The man, identified by family as Chris Hunter, passed away July 28, 2021, 10 days after he was injured.
Family members told NorthEscambia.com that Chris Hunter was the brother of Greg Hunter, who died days after he was found injured outside a Century bar.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Odom’s Bar on North Century Boulevard about 10 p.m. on June 19, 2021, to find 60-year old Greg Hunter down in the parking lot. At the time, investigators said it was a homicide and that he had been seriously beaten and left unconscious. But the Medical Examiner’s Office later said Greg Hunter died of natural causes (click for an earlier story).
Editor’s note: The cause of death of Greg Hunter at Odom’s Bar remains as natural causes according to the Medical Examiner’s Office, and Johnson is in no way accused in his death.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
3G Services Shutting Down This Year; AT&T First
February 21, 2022
Cellular companies are shutting down 3G this year beginning with AT&T.
AT&T was set to be the first carrier to shut down its 3G network on Tuesday, February 22. T-Mobile said the 3G network that had been part of Sprint before the two companies merged will go dark on March 31, and its own 3G network will end on July 1. Verizon will end 3G service by December 31.
And the 3G shutdown will still impact customers of the likes of Straight Talk, Boost, Cricket, Mint Mobile, Tracfone and the other low cost companies — they use the networks of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
That means the end of service for phones and other devices that use 3G connectivity, such as some medical alert devices, tablets, smartwatches, home security systems, game cameras and other devices.
Most users of these services will, or have been, notified directly by the carriers if this discontinuation affects them. However, users of older phones used for 9-1-1 only purposes may not be notified if they do not have active service with the provider. Users of those older 9-1-1 only phones should be aware that they may not work after 3G service is discontinued.
3G debuted in 2002 and is coming to an end to free up bandwidth for more modern services.
Florida Gas Prices Set New 2022 High
February 21, 2022
Florida gas prices increased another six cents last week, setting a new 2022 high of $3.51 per gallon. That’s 15 cents more than last year’s high, and the highest daily average price since July 2014.
The state average did drift lower over the weekend by a penny. Sunday’s state average of $3.50 per gallon is five cents more than this time last week; 90 cents more than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.46, up 33 cents over the past month. A North Escambia low of $3.38 could be found at Cantonment stations on Highway 29 and on Muscogee Road. A low of $3.24 could be found at two Pensacola stations.
As tensions mount regarding a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, the energy market actually suffered its first week of losses last week. This snapped an 8-week streak of oil price gains. After reaching a new 2022 high of $95.46 per barrel on Monday, the price for U.S. crude declined 5% by the end of the week. That resulted in a 2% week-over-week decline of $2 per barrel – the equivalent of a five cent drop at the pump.
Dollar General Plants 20 New Trees In Century Park
February 21, 2022
When Dollar General removed nearly 20 trees from 1.5 wooded acres in Century last year for a new store, they agreed to replant trees at the site and at a nearby park.
Recently, the developer planted 15 red maple trees and five other flowering trees in the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard, just northeast of the new store.
In 2019, the Town of Century removed towering longleaf pine trees from the park over concerns that if the trees were to fall, they might damage town property and structures in the park, or they could be a danger to traffic on North Century Boulevard. Town officials said at the time that they would plant new trees but did not.
Nadine McCaw Park, formerly known as Roadside Park, is along North Century Boulevard at Hecker Road in the heart of Century. The park was renamed for late town council member and lifelong resident Nadine McCaw in 2012. McCaw dedicated a large amount of time to Relay for Life and its mission of finding a cure for cancer. That cure did not come soon enough for McCaw; she passed away from cancer on July 7, 2011.
Pictured: Some of the 20 new trees planted by Dollar General in Century’s Nadine McCaw Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reminder: District 1 Town Hall Meeting Tuesday Evening
February 21, 2022
District 1 Escambia County Commissioner and Chairman Jeff Bergosh will host a town hall Tuesday from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at Beulah Middle School.
Attendees will include county staff, District 1 ECUA board member Vicki Campbell, Escambia County School Board District 1 member Kevin Adams, and Debbie Malsberger from State Rep. Michelle Salzman’s office.
Bergosh intends to discuss countywide issues including COVID-19 response and recovery, new redistricting boundaries, the budget, the county jail and staffing issues, Escambia County Fire Rescue and EMS, Triumph Gulf Coast, and the RESTORE Act. There will be topics of interest to District 1 discussed as well, including OLF-8, the Beulah Community Master Plan, the District 1 library and Beulah fire station, and an elevated walkway and sidewalks for Beulah. Bergosh will also give an update on the Mobile Highway road project, the Nine Mile/Beulah interchange and transportation projects including Longleaf Drive and Avondale Sidewalk.
Bergosh will also utilize “agree” or “disagree” cards so residents can answer questions posed during the town hall. Comment cards will be available so county staff can address residents’ concerns.
One Injured In Highway 29 Crash
February 20, 2022
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash on Highway 29 Saturday afternoon.
The wreck was reported about 4:45 p.m. near the Highway 196 intersection. The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a wooded area, nearly obscured from the highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In ATV, Vehicle Crash In Cantonment
February 20, 2022
One person was reportedly injured in a crash involving an ATV Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
The ATV collided with the side of a passenger car about 2:50 p.m. on Muscogee Road near Webb Street.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released any information about the crash.
The Cantonment and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
