Blue Angels Announce 2022 Show Schedule
December 8, 2020
The Blue Angels on Tuesday announced their 2022 show schedule.
The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform 63 demonstrations at 32 locations in 2022. That includes a return to a two-day show on Pensacola Beach July 9-10 and homecoming at NAS Pensacola November 11-12.
For their 75th anniversary in 2021, the Blue Angels have shows previously scheduled July 10 on Pensacola Beach and November 5-6 for their traditional homecoming at NAS Pensacola.
Early Morning Fire On Nine Mile Road Under Investigation
December 8, 2020
A fire early Tuesday morning on Nine Mile Road is under investigation.
About 1:45 a.m., Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to small outside fire with smoke in the area of Nine Mile Road and Ashland Avenue. It became apparent to responding firefighters approaching the intersection that there was a structure fire and additional units were dispatched.
They arrived in the 1300 block of West Nine Mile Road to find a detached three car garage that was fully involved in fire. The fire was brought under control about 2:08 a.m., and the state fire marshal was called to investigate the cause and origin.
The primary residence at the location appeared to be vacant. There were no injuries.
Escambia Public Safety Director Jason Rogers Resigns, Cites Family Health Issue
December 8, 2020
Escambia County Public Safety Director Jason Rogers has resigned just a few months after taking the job.
“As you are aware, after I had started in June there was a significant medical event in my immediate family,” Rogers said in his resignation letter. “Since that time unforeseen complications have compounded making my departure necessary. I want to maintain a professional distance and don’t wish to disclose the private circumstances as I realize this is a public record.”
Rogers was hired in May started work with Escambia County in June, bringing 27 years of public safety experience from Indiana to Escambia County. He served as both the director of emergency management and as the executive director of the Delaware County Emergency Medical Services in Muncie, Indiana, and began his career as a paramedic and police officer. Delaware County, Indiana, has a population of about 114,000 people, about one-third the size of Escambia County.
“My family has always sacrificed for me over the past 20+ years of my public service. I am choosing to resign to support and care for my family as they have always done for me,” Rogers wrote in his letter to Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley.
Rogers indicated that he would work out the timing of his departure with Gilley.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Neglect Of Elderly Woman After DUI, Hit And Run Arrest
December 8, 2020
A Molino mas has been charged with neglecting an elderly woman in his care after he was arrested for driving under the influence.
Nathan Dwight Pettis, 49, was charged with neglect of an elderly disabled adult, hit-and-run and DUI.
On December 5, Pettis was involved in a hit and run crash on I-10 at Highway 29, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His truck entered another lane and collided with another vehicle before driving away. FHP troopers were able to stop his truck a short time later, and found Pettis smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and could not keep his balance. Pettis was jailed about 7 p.m. Saturday for DUI.
A family member heard that Pettis had been arrested and went to check on the elderly woman. Pettis is her sole caregiver, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and he did not alert anyone at the jail to check on the woman because he was in jail.
Sunday, the woman was transported to a local hospital by Escambia County EMS after she was found alone and sick at her Pettis’ home. She was in a recliner, had soiled herself, and she was unable to reach her walker. She had not had food or water for about 24 hours, according to the arrest report.
The responding deputy wrote that the victim “talked softly and was still confused about what was happening to her”.
Pettis remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $7,250.
How Do You Put A 42-Inch Drainage Pipe Under Railroad Tracks Without Touching Them?
December 8, 2020
So how do you put a 42-inch drainage pipe under railroad tracks without touching them?
The Florida Department of Transportation said many months of preparation and coordination went on behind the scenes before this “jack and bore” operation could take place.
Drainage crews needed to bore under the Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway (AGR) tracks that cross Nine Mile Road just west of the Highway 29 overpass—without touching the railroad tracks. To connect the new drainage facilities on either side of the railroad tracks, crews used a jack and bore technique.
Instead of opening the ground and interrupting railroad services, an auger machine drove two runs of 42-inch pipe 66 feet horizontally under the tracks. Personnel from the FDOT, designer and contractor worked with AGR to ensure the operation did not disrupt or undermine the railroad tracks.
strong>Photo: FDOT for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
December 8, 2020
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for November. They are Zanuela Otabil (pictured left) and Donivan Alexander. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia CARES Mortgage/Rent And Business Grants: Here’s How To Check On Payments
December 8, 2020
Escambia County is still sending out payments to those that qualified for Escambia CARES programs to provide pandemic assistance to individuals and businesses.
Applicants can check the status of their application and payment online and anyone can check online check registers to check the status of payments.
The Escambia CARES Rent and Mortgage Emergency Financial Assistance Grant Program provides up to $7,500 in relief aid, payable to a landlord, lien holder or utility company. Click here for the check register.
The Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grant Program provides eligible households of the county $3,000 in relief aid. Click here for the check register.
The Escambia CARES Emergency Business Financial Assistance Grant Program provides eligible businesses of Escambia County funding of $7,500 or $15,000 who have lost revenue as a result of COVID-19 related circumstances. Click here for the check register.
The application period closed September 4 for the rent and mortgage assistance grants, September 29 for the emergency financial assistance grants and October 6 for businesses.
Flomaton Police Lieutenant Arrested In Molino For Drug Trafficking; Will Face Alabama Charge
December 8, 2020
A Flomaton Police Department lieutenant was arrested for drug trafficking Monday in Molino after a investigation involving law enforcement from two states and the DEA.
The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, SWAT team and Patrol Division arrested 36-year old Isaac R. Lopez for attempting to purchase methamphetamine to sell, investigators said.
The ECSO received information that Lopez was trafficking methamphetamines and set up an operation to catch him in the act, according to the agency.
“The takedown was in the 5800 block of North Highway 29,” Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Commander Robert Quinata told NorthEscambia.com. “There is still a lot of this under investigation.”
Lopez arranged a narcotics deal for two ounces of methamphetamine from an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigator by phone and text messages, according to an arrest report. The report states he arrived a predetermined location in Molino and accepted the two ounces of methamphetamine from the undercover officer.
Quinata said Lopez was not on duty and not in his agency issued vehicle at the time of his arrest.
Lopez. was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. He was booked in to the Escambia County (FL) Jail without bond.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said Lopez is expected to face a felony charge in Alabama for user of official position or office for personal gain because Lopez used his Flomaton Police Department issued cellphone.
“He used his city cell phone to orchestrate it,” Jackson said. “We believe he was going to come back to Alabama and distribute the meth on this end.”
“Our investigation is ongoing and we will continue to follow any leads that might come out of it,” Jackson said. “We hold law enforcement to a higher standard…We will police our own people as we do the community.”
Jackson noted the does not currently believe any other Flomaton Police officers were involved.
The arrest came as the result of a partnership between the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Flomaton Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Flomaton Police Chief Charles Thompson said Lopez’s termination is currently in process..
“Peace officers are to be held to the highest standards and will continue to be held as such,” Thompson said. “Actions like these will not be tolerated.”
Public Picks Favorite Of Four Concept Plans For OLF-8 Development In Beulah
December 7, 2020
The public has picked their favorite initial concept design plan for OLF-8 in Beulah.
The OLF8 Master Plan project is an Escambia County-driven initiative to turn the empty helicopter field by Navy Federal Credit Union Campus into a thriving asset for the community. The project team, led by DPZ CoDesign, was selected by the Escambia County Commissioners to create a plan to maximize the opportunities for jobs and community uses on this 500 plus acre site along Nine Mile Road.
After hundreds of survey responses, comments, stakeholder meetings, and seven public virtual meetings, the public had the chance in October to vote on the four concepts.
There were a total of 271 votes cast. The plan receiving the most first place votes was The Village Plan (94 votes) followed by The Market Plan (78 votes), The Commerce Plan (51 votes) and the The Greenway Plan (48 votes).
The design firm will present their findings Monday to the Escambia County Planning Board, and Tuesday to Escambia County Commission during a 9 a.m. Committee of the Whole meeting. A final decision is not expected this week, and the final plan may be different that any of the four initial designs.
There are certain common ideas weaved in all the plans. The differences between the plans are primarily in the amount of land devoted to each use (residential, commerce, retail, recreation, civic, etc), the intensity and diversity of development, and the character and design of the site.
Each of the four plans are detailed below:
The Commerce Plan
This is the plan that develops the site exclusively for a commerce park, life-style center (for the downtown) and recreational amenities. There are no residential housing in this plan.
- Organization – A lifestyle center of retail shops along pedestrian-oriented streets is located near 9-Mile Rd, and commerce park uses are located north nearer to Frank Reeder, where the site is relatively flat.
- Marketability – This plan far exceeds market capacity for commerce park uses; but one can see where the plan may be reduced or provide for development opportunity into the future for other uses.
- Walkability – Creates walkable streets where possible, particularly in the southern lifestyle center and the office center spine. Otherwise, the commerce format is not easily compatible with walkability. A diversity of commerce and industrial type buildings are suggested here.
- Transportation – The street grid is well organized, however due to the lack of housing each job and business will create a significant amount of car traffic at peak hours along 9 mile and Frank Reeder.
- Environment – The plan preserves open space along the edges, but the format requires substantial surface parking which results in excess water run-off.
- Edges – Edges to the north, west, and south remain open with trails. To the east the edge includes a few future street connections near 9-Mile Rd but does not buffer further north where substantial tree stands border the site’s edge.
- Innovation – Flexibility in the block structure is the key innovation, where the plan could adjust to accommodate other uses.
The Market Plan
This is the plan that develops the site according to the results of the marketability study. Absent community input, this is what we would call the highest and best use plan which would yield the highest return on investment.
- Organization – A mixed-use neighborhood center, with a retail loop, is anchored to the south end of the OLF8 site with access from 9-mile road. The rest of the plan is developed as residential neighborhoods, each with a possible distinct character, centered on a central green. A 70-acre site, along the west side is reserved for a commerce park.
- Marketability – It meets the mix of residential, retail, office, and light industrial uses identified by the Weitzman report.
- Walkability – The neighborhoods are laid out along narrow streets. In terms of transportation – a clear and connected grid of streets and trails are organized around the building blocks of each neighborhood. Wider streets separate one neighborhood from another.
- Environment – Preserves the current open space and treed area and expands on this by bringing greens deep into site through green fingers which turn into wide boulevards. Smaller scaled pocket parks are embedded in the various neighborhoods, ensuring everybody has close access to some form of open space within a 5-min walk.
- Edges – This plan preserves a buffer of 200 to 400 feet in width along Frank Reeder Road to reflect the current character on the north side of Frank Reeder Rd.
- Innovation – There are multiple scales of small farms ranging from 1 acre to 10 acres, to protect and celebrate the rural history of the area. A necklace of public amenities are anchored to the natural area on the west side of the site, which include, a micro-brewery located on a small lake, a boutique hotel across from the brewery, a children’s museum (similar to the ‘Mess Hall’), an elementary school, a community garden, with a functioning barn to harvest produce, a market building to sell the freshly grown produce, and finally a Children’s day care center, connected to Navy Federal.
The Greenway Plan
This is one of two hybrid plans with a more limited mix of uses than the marketability plan suggested could be accommodated on site.
- Organization – This plan is defined by a grid of greenways. The town center is located along 9-mile Rd with a mix of offices, shops, restaurants and some multi-family buildings. An eastern industrial commerce district is suggested with entrances of 9-mile Rd. It wraps around the north and NW corner along Frank Reeder which anticipates the 1-10 interchange at Beulah Rd. A central low-density residential neighborhood is proposed for the center, with 4 quadrants defined by large attached greens and a street of live-work units. A north-south main street spine and broad greenway ring road connect all 4.
- Marketability – The plan provides for a healthy mix of all market uses that are likely to be desired in this region and a flexible framework to make market adjustments as the project is built incrementally.
- Walkability – Each neighborhood is designed to have a quarter mile radius (5 min. walk) from center to edge. Amenities and Civic facilities are distributed throughout site, with plentiful array of green space. The broad greenway features shared walking trail for walkers, joggers and equestrian riders down the center.
- Transportation – Neighborhood structure provides centrally-located pick-up locations within 5 minute walks of each address for both regional bus transit or local shuttles.
- Environment – The Greenway system connects directly with the southwestern park. New stormwater ponds create a focal point for the retail and restaurant at the town center edges, and help manage the stormwater drainage needs of the site. The trail system, for both people and horses, continues into the large park in the southwest that incorporates the wetlands and existing tree stands with passive and active recreation, as well as civic uses and community farming.
- Edges – Bands of green space frame the entire site and are integrated into the Greenway system of this community. Roadways into the privately owned western properties are avoided and views screened, but future connections are not precluded. A connection to Navy Federal is anticipated on the east side.
- Innovation – A modular block structure offer incremental phasing and future flexibility. It is envisioned that this central neighborhood could remain open space initially, and then be phased incrementally as the demand arises.
The Village Plan
This is one of two hybrid plans, and is focused around Beulah’s agrarian and rural roots. It is the least developed of the 4 plans
- Organization – A commerce park is embedded along the eastern end of the site. A village center with shops, housing and office uses along pedestrian-oriented streets is located on the south end of the plan, along 9-mile Road, while a centralized agricultural or common green space serves as a key community feature, surrounded by quiet residential neighborhoods and amenities such as a winery and restaurant. The village boundaries transition into agriculture and then nature.
- Marketability – While potentially not at full market capacity for commerce or housing, this plan provides for a unique and active agrarian community experience. It is the plan with the least amount of residential proposed.
- Walkability – Mid-block shared streets, multi-use paths, destinations, scenic agrarian vistas and unique pedestrian experiences allow for useful and interesting daily walks in this plan.
- In terms of transportation – This plan aims at reducing the street network load and provides a diverse variety of options including an interconnected trail system accessible for equestrian, biking, walking and other active recreation and transportation uses.
- Environment – The wetlands and wooded areas remain intact in this plan with substantial land preserved for open space, agriculture and minimal impact recreational uses.
- Natural elements are also integrated within the village and open green spaces serve as stormwater retention ponds when needed.
- Edges – Except for the village center edge along 9 Mile road to the south, the site retains natural edges throughout, composed of wooded areas, agriculture, greenways and paths.
- Innovation – This plan takes on a traditional village concept where the village boundary is defined by farmstead and agrarian parcels while providing a flexible block structure within for a variety of uses.
Candlelight Vigils Honors Those Killed And Injured In NAS Pensacola Terrorist Attack
December 7, 2020
A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night on the first anniversary of the deadly terrorist attack on NAS Pensacola. The vigil at Blue Wahoos Stadium honored the three sailors killed in the attack and those that were injured.
Those in attendance held their candles silently for 15 minutes, which was the amount of time from the first to the last gunshot in Building 633 the morning of December 6, 2019.
The attack claimed the lives of Ensign Joshua Watson, Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Mohammed Haitham and Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Cameron Walters. Their families and the families of those injured were honored with flowers during the community memorial ceremony.
“But as horrifying and awful as that morning was, I also took inspiration in the way we responded,” flight instructor Lt. Cmdr. Mason Hoyt said, “from the courageous and selfless acts of those present when the first bullets started to ring out, and those that rushed into harm’s way trying to help others.”
“This act of terror, of mass murder, was intended to frighten our community and our nation into chaos and retreat, but they have failed,” Rep Michelle Salzman said. “Our community is strong; we are Pensacola strong.”
Photos courtesy Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vigel oragnizer Desire Patterson and commander of NAS Pensacola Capt. Timothy F. Kinsella Jr. hold up a plaque during the vigil for NAS Pensacola victims