BEACH TOLLS

The one-dollar Pensacola Beach toll will be waived for the annual Blue Angels Air Show this weekend. Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender said the Visit Pensacola board of directors will cover the cost of the tolls from Thursday through Sunday at an estimated cost of $65,000. Commissioner Bender used his discretionary funding to cover the cost of tolls for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but said that was not an option for this weekend because his discretionary fund was depleted. Escambia County is working on a long-term solution for the traffic slow-downs at the toll plaza. Visit Pensacola is funded by the county through the bed tax charged at hotels and also by private donations.