Lane Closures Planned Tuesday On Highway 29 In The Century Area
August 28, 2018
Drivers in the Century area can expect lane closures on Highway 29 in the Century area Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Intermittent lane closures are planned from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. as crews make repair to the roadway in the following locations:
- Highway 29 at the Florida/Alabama state line.
- Highway 29 just north of East Highway 4.
- Highway 29 north of McCall Road.
Wahoos Pick Up 2-0 Shutout Win Over Mobile
August 28, 2018
Pensacola was on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline Sunday night against the BayBears. Daniel Wright (W, 7-10) and the Wahoos flipped the script on Monday with a 2-0 shutout win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
All the offense the Wahoos would need was supplied in the first inning. Mitch Nay began a two-out rally with a single off Matt Ball (L, 1-2). Aristides Aquino—in his first game back after a short stint in Cincinnati—followed with a walk. Shed Long drove them both home with a hustle-double to left-center that gave the Wahoos a swift 2-0 lead.
Wright’s start looked troublesome in the top of the first inning. The BayBears loaded the bases with only one out, but the right-hander evaded trouble after he struck out Joe Hudson and induced a groundout from Riley Unroe to end the threat. After retiring six straight, Wright stranded runners at second and third with two outs after he struck out Zach Houchins to end the fifth. Wright finished the night having dealt six shutout innings and the BayBears went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position against Wright.
The bullpen was equally as strong for Jody Davis on Monday. Jesus Reyes, who was returned to the Wahoos from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Wahoos. Alejandro Chacin matched him in the eighth, retiring the side in order. Alex Powers closed out the ninth with his 17th save of the year after he struck out the side. It was the Wahoos’ ninth shutout win of the season, and it came at one of the most critical junctures in the Pensacola’s season.
With the win, combined with Mississippi’s loss, the Wahoos trail the Shuckers by a half game in the second-half standings. They are also tied with the M-Braves for second-place. The series concludes tomorrow with RHP Wyatt Strahan (7-11, 6.45) trying to give Pensacola a valuable series win. Mobile hopes to hand Pensacola their fifth consecutive series loss when LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-0, 1.69) makes his third Double-A start this season.
Paula D. Patterson Miller Smith
August 28, 2018
Paula D. Patterson Miller Smith, 69 years of age, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, FL.
Paula was born November 13, 1948, to Judy Strength and the late James Patterson. She was the twin sister of Pam Gale Patterson and had an older brother Doug Patterson and a younger brother Frank Smyer III.
Paula professed her life to Christ at an early age. She married the late Hubert E. Smith in July of 1993. The family initially lived in Pensacola, FL and later moved to Molino, FL. She was a member of Pine Summit Baptist Church. She loved doing the Lord’s work and she cherished and praised Him. She had a heart of gold and always enjoyed the fellowship with others. Paula loved praying for and with others, spending time with family and friends, and always wore a smile. She was a loving and caring person, devoted wife, mother, sister, Nana and friend. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with.
Paula leaves behind to cherish her loving memory her children, Sherry Sopina, Karla (Ben) Bowman, Doug (Renee) Miller; step-children, Cindy (Bill) Henderson and Michael Smith; grandchildren, Garrett (Pam) and Zachary (Kendall) Henderson, Nikki Smith, Shelby and Abi Sopina, Tripp and Brooke Bowman, Dawson and Avery Miller and Jase Peaden; great-grandchildren, Wheeler and Campbell Henderson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Family, friends, and others whose lives Paula touched are invited to the visitation from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment, FL to reminisce, grieve, support each other and, of course, just chat.
Funeral services will be held immediately after visitation at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment, FL.
Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Elizabeth Chapel Community Cemetery in Chumuckla, FL.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
In lieu of flowers your thoughtful donations may be made to Faith Chapel Funeral Home North for memorial headstones at (850)937-8118 or via mail at 1000 S. Hwy 29, Cantonment, FL 32533.
Paula and Nana would say to all… “Bless your heart!” and “I love you more!”
ECSO: Teen Charged After Threatening Students On School Bus With BB Gun
August 27, 2018
A middle school student was charged Monday after he threatened another student with a BB gun.
Christopher Neal, 13, pulled a firearm on a school bus and threatened other students if they told, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Neal was immediately detained.
During a search of Neal’s belongings a BB gun was discovered, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Neal was charged with possession of a weapon on school property and aggravated assault.
Tate High School Band Director Placed On Administrative Leave
August 27, 2018
Tate High School Showband of the South director Roy King has been been placed on administrative leave and is under investigation, according to the local authorities.
Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross confirmed Monday that King is on administrative leave, but he would not elaborate further.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Andrew Hobbs said Monday afternoon that an investigation has been opened involving King after unspecified allegations were made to the ECSO, but he did not provide further details.
“We have a received a complaint, and we are actively investigating,” Hobbs told NorthEscambia.com. “We cannot disclose more because it is an active investigation.”
King has not been charged with any crime.
King was named director of the Showband of the South in July 2017. King served for 18-years at Louisiana State University, most recently as director of LSU’s Tiger Marching Band. King also worked as a high school band director in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola.
The Advcoate, a newspaper in Baton Rouge, LA, reported that King was terminated in 2016 from LSU over allegations of “circumventing management directives by awarding scholarships to members of the Golden Girls dance team and flag girls of the color guard without proper approval”.
“LSU also alleged King couldn’t account for more than $5,000 in missing school funds, according an internal audit report released several days after he filed his suit,” the newspaper reported.
In a lawsuit against LSU, King alleged he was fired for not redirecting contributions from the band program to the school’s School of Music.
The lawsuit was later settled.
This story was updated to clarify that the school district’s statement was made by Norm Ross.
Four People Injured, Four Family Pets Killed In Ferry Pass House Fire
August 27, 2018
Four people were injured and four family pets were killed when a house was destroyed by fire Sunday.
Three residents of the home on Banberry Road in Ferry Pass were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS, and the fourth drove himself to the the hospital.
Escambia Fire Rescue arrived within minutes of the 8:26 a.m. call to find heavy fire in the kitchen, living room, attic and garage. They were able to bring the fire under control,but the home was a total loss.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Century Gas Department Can’t Account For 58% Of Their System’s Natural Gas
August 27, 2018
The Town of Century can’t account of 58 percent of the natural gas it purchases for resale and is facing a $188,000 projected loss next fiscal year, council members learned Friday.
The town has allocated an immediate $100,000 to purchase new gas meters for residential and commercial customers and about $4,000 for a new “gate station” meter to measure the quantity of gas purchased to verify the amount billed by their supplier.
“We are billing right now half of what we have purchased,” accountant Robert Hudson said. “If we are making a bold move and do the meters, our gas revenue has go to go up.”
The council decided to keep the gas department’s projected income for the next fiscal year at $400,000 to make it easier to look at financials and see increased income from the new meters.
“We will get the meters in and just watch it trickle to the bottom line,” Hudson said
The gas is not leaking; officials have said it’s either a problem with customer meters, meter reading or a discrepancy between the amount billed by the town’s supplier and the quantity actually delivered. Century will purchase the new meters with $100,000 from a Special Revenue Economic Development Account that has a $122,000 balance.
The Century Gas Department serves about 500 customers.
Wanted Century Counterfeiting Suspect Arrested
August 27, 2018
A wanted Century felon accused of passing counterfeit money was arrested Sunday night after being on the run for the past several weeks.
Antonio Demetrius Ewing, 28, attempted to pass counterfeit money on July 16 at Odom’s Bar on North Century Boulevard and other local businesses in the area, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Ewing is charged with passing counterfeit money, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving while license is suspended, resisting arrest and vehicle theft. He was being held without bond.
Montaio Dearies Mitchell, age 25 of Century, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly passing a fake $100 bill at the drive-thru window at Odom’s Bar. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Parents Invited To Local School Open House Events
August 27, 2018
Local schools will hold open house events in the coming days.
High Schools
High schools in Escambia County will hold an open house on Monday at 6 p.m. For additional Northview information, click here.
Middle Schools
Middle School open house events will be Thursday at 6 p.m.
Elementary Schools
Most elementary schools will hold their open house events on September 6 as below.
- Jim Allen Elementary School
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Global Learning Academy
- Holm Elementary School
- Lipscomb Elementary School
- Longleaf Elementary School
- Molino Park Elementary SchoolMontclair Elementary School
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School
- Oakcrest Elementary School
- O.J. Semmes Elementary SchoolA.K. Suter Elementary School
- Warrington Elementary School
- C.A. Weis Elementary School
- West Pensacola Elementary School
Additional Elementary Schools September 6:
- 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. — Kingsfield Elementary School
- 6:30 – 6:15 p.m. Grades K-2 — Scenic Heights Elementary School
- 3-5 6:15 p.m.Grades 3-5 — Scenic Heights Elementary School
Polling Location Changes For Six Precincts In Escambia County
August 27, 2018
A number of polling places have changed in Escambia County for Tuesday’s primary election.
All voters impacted by a precinct change were notified by mail with a map to the new polling location. The new polling location information was also included on the sample ballots mailed to voters.
Election day is Tuesday, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.