One Killed In Fiery Highway 97 Crash
April 4, 2022
A Pensacola man was killed in a fiery high speed crash near Walnut Hill Sunday afternoon.
The 65-year old male driver of a black Dodge Challenger lost control while northbound on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road. The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway. The vehicle hit a culvert, went airborne for about 180 feet before crashing into a ditch. The Dodge then collided with a large pine tree about 12 feet off the ground. The gas tank was ruptured, and the vehicle burst into flames. It was fully engulfed when first responders arrived on scene.
There were no other passengers in the vehicle.
Witnesses told the Florida Highway Patrol and NorthEscambia.com that the vehicle was being driven recklessly at a high rate of speed prior to the crash.
For additional photos, click or tap here.
Pictured above: A Dodge Challenger burns after a crash on Highway 97 Sunday afternoon, before the first fire engine arrived on scene. Pictured below: The first water on the fire. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Family Offer Thanks: Driver Slams Into Downed Tree After Last Week’s Storms
April 4, 2022
Early last Thursday morning, Jim Harrison of Walnut Hill was headed to work. Severe storms had passed through the area before daylight.
His wife, Amanda, said the family had prayed for protection from the storm the night before, and they had made it safely through the worst of the weather.
They did not know that high winds had downed a tree on Pine Forest Road, not far from Highway 97. Jim was unable to see the tree, blinded by headlights from a vehicle that was turning around. His GMC Yukon Denali crashed into the tree.
“He hit it and then sailed through the tree debris and into the ditch,’ Amanda said. “Thankfully he walked away with a busted lip and soreness from the air bag and that’s it.”
“The state trooper asked who was driving and Jim said, ‘I was at first but then Jesus took the wheel. Thank you God for your protection over him,” Amanda added. “It’s definitely a witness to the fact that God had him.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jordan Chase Torrez Teams With Platinum Ticket Winner, Advances On American Idol
April 4, 2022
Platinum ticket winner Kenedi Anderson picked North Escambia’s Jordan Chase Torrez in American Idol’s “Duets Challenge” as they advanced to Monday night’s show.
Anderson said she picked Torrez because she was obsessed with his voice.
The duo performed “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, and they received a standing ovation from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
American Idol, with Anderson and Torrez, will air locally Monday night 7-9 on WEAR 3.
North Escambia’s Jordan Chase Torrez and American Idol platinum ticket winner Kenedi Anderson. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Threat Of Severe Weather Increases For Tuesday
April 4, 2022
The potential for another round of severe weather has increased to enhanced (3 of 5) on Tuesday.
Damaging winds up to 70 mph, large hail and a fast moving tornadoes will be possible. Heavy rainfall may also lead to localized flooding concerns.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 77. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 43.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Tate Girls Lacrosse Team Gets Three Wins To Move Into Second Place In District
April 4, 2022
Tate High’s girls lacrosse team ended last week with three district wins, beating Navarre, Washington and Fort Walton landing them in second place.
Tuesday is Senior Night against Pensacola High, and Friday night will be the last game of the regular season against West Florida High.
The Tate High School girls lacrosse team is coached by Lee Jennings, Jason Strength and Candace Greenwell.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Announce Volunteers Of The Year
April 4, 2022
The Escambia County School District’s Office of Community Involvement has announced its volunteers of the year.
ECSD’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer is Kathleen Varner, who serves at Tate High School (pictured). She and her husband, Mike, taught for nearly 30 years in Escambia County. Soon after retirement, Varner contacted Tate High School to express her interest in volunteering. For the past five years, she has faithfully volunteered weekly during the school year to contribute her wisdom and advice to help transform the Innovation Center into a user-friendly, up-to-date place for students and teachers to experience.
William Belen, a volunteer at Beulah Middle School, is the Outstanding Adult Volunteer. To date, Mr. Belen has served 121 hours and 35 minutes volunteering at Beulah Middle School. He serves in various capacities, from greeting students in the morning, to assisting in Career and Technical Education classrooms, to reading to students. When he is not volunteering in a lab or innovation center he can be found assisting in supervision at lunch.
Mallory Scarfert, a 10th grade Escambia Virtual Academy student, is the Outstanding Youth Volunteer. Scarfert facilitates a group of about a dozen students in grades 3-5 to help them prepare for the Battle of the Books contest. She has created Kahoot quizzes for students to use during this preparation time for the contest. Lipscomb students are looking forward to competing against other students in the county because of Mallory’s guidance during practice time.
Nominated by Global Learning Academy, Pensacola Subwest Rotary has been awarded the ECSD Family and Community Involvement Award. Throughout the pandemic, Pensacola Subwest Rotary’s support of Global’s family involvement programs has not wavered. They have been instrumental in the successful execution of several initiatives, including donating funds to supply to-go dinners for all of Global’s curbside family events, assisting with set up, distribution of at home learning activities and food, and break down of curbside family events, a back to school luncheon at the Pensacola Yacht Club for tachers, and donating bicycles for all pre-K students at the holidays.
Pictured: ECSD’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer is Kathleen Varner, who volunteers at Tate High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Declining; Pensacola Cheapest Metro Area
April 4, 2022
Florida gas prices are declining again after jumping 13 cents early last week. The state average briefly reached $4.24 per gallon last Tuesday. However, Florida gas prices have since declined a total of seven cents in the past five days. AAA says that downward trend is likely to continue this week, unless oil prices rebound.
On Sunday, the average price for gasoline in Florida was $4.17 per gallon. That’s five cents more than this time last week, 55 cents more than last month, and $1.32 per gallon more than this time last year. The state average is also 68 cents more than what drivers paid before Russia invaded Ukraine.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was nearly 20 cents lower at $3.98 — one of the lowest metro areas in the state.
A North Escambia low of $3.92 could be found Sunday night at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. A low of $3.69 could be found Sunday night at a station on Highway 29 near Nine Mile Road.
“Gas prices are drifting lower now that oil prices are declining again,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The price of oil dropped last week after President Biden announced plans to release 1 million barrels per day from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, in effort to ease global supply concerns. The downward pressure was compounded by news that other countries are considering similar action. The oil price drop could enable gas prices to fall back below $4 a gallon in the next couple of weeks. That is unless something causes oil prices to rebound this week.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
William Douglas Rittenbery
April 4, 2022
William Douglas Rittenbery went to his heavenly home on April 11, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 63 years old. He loved going to the races, camping with Patti and Ava and spending time at the beach with friends and family. Doug had a heart for people and loved the Lord with all his heart. He was blessed with incredible friends and will be missed by many.
Doug was preceded in death by his father William “Billy” Rittenbery and stepfather Leonard Young. He is survived by his mother, Mary Frances Young, his wife Patti, daughter Brandi (Patrick) McGlothren, his brother Bob Rittenbery and his two grandchildren, Garrett and Ava McGlothren. His grandchildren were the absolute loves of his life. They were PawPaw’s reason for living.
Pallbearers will be his nephews Ben Gilliam, Cody Gilliam and Max Gilliam, his grandson Garrett McGlothren, Robbie McLaney and Dexter Beasley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Russell Cain, Bill Quinn, Lenny Ciampini and Bob Stewart.
Special thanks to Dr. Dissanayake and his staff, Covenant Hospice and the nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital. Thank you for taking such amazing care of Doug. We are forever grateful for the love and care that was given to our family.
William Edward “Bill” Macks
April 4, 2022
Mr. William Edward “Bill” Macks, age 63, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2022 at a Pensacola healthcare facility.
Mr. Macks was a life-long resident of Century, FL. He was a graduate of Century High School and loved his work as a brick mason. In his early years, Bill enjoyed coon hunting, deer hunting and planting gardens, and was a member of The Tri-City Saddle Club. He especially loved his children, grandchildren, and extended family. He was of the Southern Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy Jackson Macks and Sheila Rochelle Burkett Bankston; daughter, Stephanie Macks; grandson, Adam Knowles; step-father, Dillard Bankston; and step-brother, Darryl Bankston.
He is survived by two daughters, Rachel (Kevin) Knowles of Brewton, AL and Ramona Macks, of Flomaton, AL; two brothers, Daniel Macks of Century, FL and Samuel (Cheryl) Macks of Century, FL; three sisters, Sheila (Terry) Bryan of Century, FL, Robbie (Alton) Hammac of Century, FL, Lajuana (Keith) Reid of Century, FL; four grandchildren, Jacob Coleman, Emma Katelynn Gatwood, Lexi Knowles and Jinjer Knowles.
A private, family only, funeral service, will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2022 from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Bro. John Webb officiating. Interment will follow in Moyeville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Teresa L. Boardwyne
April 4, 2022
Teresa L. Boardwyne, a lifelong resident of Pensacola, FL passed away on April 8, 2022 at the age of 75.
She was born on December 17, 1946 to the late John Hart and Augusta Mae Barlow Hart. Teresa was a loving sister and aunt as well as a fantastic homemaker. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all animals, especially dogs and cats. She also loved working in her yard and she never met a stranger.
She is preceded in death by her son, Vernon Boardwyne; parents; and sister, Linnie Miller.
Teresa is survived by her husband of 40 years, Gerald Boardwyne; three sons, Paul (Beth) Jones, Jerry (Katie) Jones and Ernie (Cindy) Boardwyne; seven grandchildren, Jalyn (Shaun) Tindall, Rilee Jones, Noah Jones, Jennifer Boardwyne, Jamie (Tyler) Thompson, Sarah (Larry) Hayles and David (Nichole) Boardwyne; sister, Hattie Hart; and brother, James Hart.
Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor David Gibson officiating.
The family will receive friends at 10AM prior to services.