Instagram Worthy Photo Op: 4-H Hay Bale Decorating Contest Winners
November 26, 2021
The results are in from the 2021 Escambia County 4-H Hay Bale Decorating Contest. And you have a chance to check out the winners (and snap a few great Instagram photos too) through this weekend.
First place went to the NAS Pensacola 4-H Club, second place to the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, and third place to the Discovery 4-H Club. Other entries were from the Escambia Shooting Stars 4-H Club, Northview 4-H Club, Escambia County Horse 4-H Club, Escambia County Leadership 4-H Club and the Perdido Bay UMC 4-H Club.
The hay bales will be on display at the corner of Stefani Road and 9 1/2 Mile Road, the first intersection south of the Escambia County Extension Service.
For photos of all of the entries, click here.
Pictured: First place went to the NAS Pensacola 4-H Club (top photo), second place to the Barrineau Park 4-H Club (below), and third place to the Discovery 4-H Club (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Most Local Government Offices Closed Today Due To Thanksgiving Holiday
November 26, 2021
Most local government offices are closed Friday due to the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
The following Escambia County Offices are closed Friday (with exceptions noted below):
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners all departments
- West Florida Public Libraries all locations
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Waste Services Administration
- Supervisor of Elections Office
- ECAT administrative offices
- Escambia County Animal Welfare & Adoption Center closed Friday, open regular hours on Saturday
- Perdido Landfill is open Friday
- ECAT buses are on a normal Friday schedule
- The UWF Express Trolley resumes service Saturday, campus trolley service returns Monday
Town of Century
- All Town of Century offices and services are closed on Friday. There is not change to trash collection.
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority
- ECUA business offices are closed on Friday. All Friday residential sanitation, recycling and yard trash collections will take place on Saturday. There is no change for commercial customers.
Drivers Getting A Road Construction Break Until Monday
November 26, 2021
Florida drivers are getting a little break from road construction during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be no construction related lane closures on state roads through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA Predicts Thanksgiving Travel Rebound Near Pre-Pandemic Levels
November 26, 2021
AAA is forecasting a strong rebound in Thanksgiving holiday travelers through this weekend.
The Auto Club Group predicts 53.4 million Americans will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13% from 2020. That will bring travel volumes within 5% of pre-pandemic levels for the 2019 holiday.
The gap is closing even faster in Florida, as total travel figures are only 2% below pre-pandemic levels. AAA predicts nearly 2.9 million Floridians will travel for Thanksgiving, a 13% rebound from the total number of travelers during the 2020 holiday.
With 6.4 million more Americans traveling this Thanksgiving (321,000 more Floridians), AAA expects roads and airports to be noticeably more crowded than last year’s holiday. AAA predicts road travel to increase 8%. Yet the most notable improvement this year’s holiday is domestic air travel, which has almost completely recovered from its dramatic drop-off during the pandemic and is up 80% from last year.
Arthur Glennon Gunn
November 26, 2021
Mr. Arthur Glennon Gunn, age 74, passed away, Saturday, November 20, 2021 in Fairhope, AL. He was born in Bratt, FL; and has resided most of his life in Walnut Hill, FL. He was a member of Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Atmore Branch and Mobile, AL. State. He was employed with Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Office for 25 years. He served in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Vietnam War.
Mr. Gunn valued the time he got to spend with his family and friends. He enjoyed fishing, cooking and attending church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. AR (Janice Godwin) Gunn, one brother, Jerry Gunn, step-father, Richard Sirmon.
He is survived by his one son, Sean (Stephanie) Gunn, of New Bern, NC; four daughters, Jennifer Gunn, of Virginia Beach, VA; Megan (Tray) Juarez, of Virginia Beach, VA; Jessica Gunn, of Pace, FL; Rebecca Gunn, of Foley, AL; a special niece, Bethany Merchant,, three brothers, Leamond (Judith) Gunn, of Penscola, FL; Marlin (Angie) Gunn, of Atmore, AL; Jim (Vicky) Reed, of Orange Beach, AL; three sisters, Joyce Coleman, of Ennon, FL; Shelia (Pete) Coon, of Atmore, AL; Patricia Gunn, of Decatur, AL; twelve grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 2:00 PM at petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Branch President: Tommy Jones at officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, November 27, 2021 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Miracle League Holds Annual Turkey Fry (With Photo Gallery)
November 25, 2021
The Miracle League of Pensacola held their annual turkey fry fundraiser Wednesday at their park on East Nine Mile Road.
Volunteers with the Miracle League spent their day frying about 300 turkeys for a minimum $35 donation, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Miracle League.
A small army of volunteers worked to deep fry the turkeys to perfection, rows of timers keeping track of the cooking time at a command center of sorts. Cadets from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also volunteered to make sure the turkeys were ready to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
The Miracle League provides physically and mentally challenged children a safe and spirited program in which they can hit, run, and catch on a baseball field – just like other kids. MLP offers a unique and memorable opportunity these children would not otherwise have. It is a place where every player plays, every player hits, every player gets on base, every player scores, and every player wins – every inning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Family Without A Home After Fire
November 25, 2021
A family was left without a home after a fire early Wednesday morning in a Beulah.
The fire was reported at 5:16 a.m in the 9800 block of Mobile Highway. Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the mobile home full engulfed in flames. The home was a total loss, and two adjacent mobile homes were also damaged by fire.
There were no injuries reported.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Beulah, Ensley, Cantonment, Bellview, Brent and Osceola stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With 600 Counts Of Sexual Battery Of A Minor; 600 Counts Of Incest
November 25, 2021
An Escambia County man is charged with 1,200 total counts of sexually assault and incest charged involving a minor.
Robert Cota, 31, is charged with 600 counts of sexual assault on a victim age 12 to 18, and 600 counts of incest for incidents that reportedly took place over the last six years. His bond was set at $3 million.
An arrest report states a local pastor told deputies that Cota approached him last Sunday and said he “had issues with one of the beliefs” in the church guideline book. He then specifically pointed to the word “incest”.
As the conversation continued, the pastor told Cota that what he was doing was not right, and that he needed to report himself to the authorities. The pastor later provided Cota’s information to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The report states the victim said the sexual encounters with Cota had been happening since she was 7-years old. She added Cota told her these acts were how to show affection.
When Cota was arrested on unrelated charges last September, the report states the mother said she recently learned of Cota and the victim having a sexual relationship. According to the report, Cota became angry and pointed a gun at the victim multiple times. Cota was arrested for aggravated assault domestic violence as authorities began investigating the sexual assault and incest allegations.
The report states that during the September incident, the victim and Cota both told the mother of the sexual relationship before taking back their statements.
According to the report, when deputies went to arrest Cota for sexual assault and incest, he said he was not surprised of the accusations.
Molino Park Students Donate Over 3,000 Food Items To Their Community
November 25, 2021
Molino Park Elementary School students stepped up to help fight hunger in the Molino community in a very big way this year.
The school collected over 3,000 food drive items; it was their most successful food drive in over five years.
The top three classes donating the most food items were:
- 1st Place – Miss Warren’s first grade class (with 341 items)
- 2nd place – Miss Tourney’s pre-k class
- 3rd place – Mrs. Gilmore’s third grade class
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol helped transport the items to the food pantry at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Happy Thanksgiving! Cold Front Brings Chance Of Rain Overnight
November 25, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving! Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.