Jeannine Lane Hensey
October 11, 2022
Jeannine Lane Hensey, a resident of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2022, at the age of 82. She was born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, on May 7, 1940. S
he was a graduate of Pensacola High School and was a leasing agent at Northwoods Apartments.
She was preceded in death by her parents John Goff Jr. and Winnie Davis Turner and her foster mom, Thelma Calhoun; brother, Jack Calhoun.
She is survived by her husband of 30 years Kenneth Alan Hensey; daughter, Kathy (Mark) Jones; grandchildren; Joshua (Amber) Bailey, Danielle Bailey, Meagan (Chance) Schindler, Matthew Bailey; great grandchildren; Gavin Bailey, Lucas Bailey, Theo Bailey, Taylor Jones, Ellie Schindler.
Memorials can be made to Surfari Pals, 1933 Woodberry Ave, Shreveport, LA 71106-8550 or surfaripals.org.
Funeral Services will be Thursday October 13, 2022 at 12:30pm at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Visitation will begin at 11:30am until service time.
Margie Dee Johnson
October 11, 2022
Mrs. Margie Dee Johnson, age 86, passed away Friday, October 7, 2022 at her Century, Florida residence.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Bluff Springs, FL and had been a life-long resident of the Century area. She worked as a Respiratory Therapist at Century Hospital and was a member of Beulah Chapel Assembly of God. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Harvey Johnson; her parents, Corbett and Ila Dee White; a sister, Lorelle Van Rossum; and a great-grandson, Tyler David Palmer.
She is survived by two sons, Wayne (Marie) Johnson of Baker, FL and Gary (Polly) Johnson of Byrneville, FL; special nieces, Karen Cash of Flomaton, AL and Donna (BJ) Jernigan of Cantonment, FL; four grandchildren, Jessie Dixon, Jennifer (Heath) Wilson, Denise (Shannon) Palmer, Pam (Julian) Perez; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. Beulah Chapel Assembly of God with Bro. Tim Floyd and Bro. Ray Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Flomaton Funeral Home from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. on Tuesday.
Pallbearers: Dylan Dixon, Austin Dixon, Ashton Wilson, Johnathan Palmer, Zac Perez, and Kevin Dixon
Honorary Pallbearers: John White, Levon Little, BJ Jernigan, David Johnson, Jeffery Johnson
Escambia County Public Schools Foundation Awards $78,458 To 32 School Projects
October 10, 2022
The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation has awarded Grants for Excellence totaling $78,458 to 32 local school projects.
Tate High School was awarded four grants, more than any other school in the district.
Instructional coach Kristin Maum was awarded $4,932 to purchase iPads and Apple Pencils for the Tate High School math department. She is thrilled that her grant was chosen because now “math teachers can easily model how to solve math problems while also moving around their room to check on individual students. They’ll be able to ensure that each and every student in their classroom understands what they are doing and they’ll be able to quickly adjust their instruction based on students’ needs.”
Reading teacher Carla Urquhart was awarded $2,000 to purchase flexible seating options for her students. “This will have a positive impact on the students who have ADHD, Autism, and other individualized needs often seen in the Intensive Reading Classroom. Most students need to fidget or move in order to focus on tasks such as listening, reading, or writing. The opportunity for flexible seating helps the student to determine which seat works best for them and allows them to get the most out of their time in the classroom,” she said.
Theater teacher Lauren Williams was awarded $1,961 to purchase digital media equipment for both her English Language Arts classes and her drama classes. She is so excited to use the grant cross-curricularly: “iPads, tripods, and green screen equipment will allow my students to film play trailers to promote our mainstage shows. It will also help theater students learn about film acting and short films. Students in my English classes can record things such as persuasive commercials to learn about rhetoric.”
Fine Arts teacher Elerene Walters was awarded $2,000 to purchase high quality cameras and printers for her art classes. This will allow students to practice real-world skills: “Students will learn how to scan and print artwork and how to print digital art and photography. These are skills that will help them get jobs at online companies like Shutterfly and Minted. This project will even help students who want to pursue a career in art because they will be able to create a portfolio for College Board, art scholarships, Gallery Nights, and as a professional artist.”
The grants are intended to support innovation in the classroom and enhance the quality of education for students.
Here is the complete list of Grants for Excellence recipients for the 2022-2023 school year:
High Impact Grant Recipients
- Briana Leatherwood — Warrington Middle School
- Matthew MacGregor — West Florida High School
- Kristin Maum — J.M. Tate High School
- Wayne Menges — L.D. McArthur Elementary School
- Molly O’Connor — Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
- Jared Stanley — Hope Horizon
- Erin Steinmetz — Booker T. Washington High School
- Patricia Swanz-Reiners — N.B. Cook Elementary School
- Miranda Williams — Cordova Park Elementary School
Teacher Opportunity Grant Recipients
- Adam Bretschneider — Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
- Elizabeth Brown — Ransom Middle School
- Liberty Davis — R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Catheryn Grantham — Escambia High School
- Barbara Guarino — Pine Meadow Elementary School
- Tally Hawthorne — R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Jacquelyn Johnston — Byrneville Elementary
- Andrea Lowery — Hellen Caro Elementary School
- April Matteis — West Florida High School Department
- Erica Minchew — Kingsfield Elementary School
- Rachel Odom — L.D. McArthur Elementary School
- Elizabeth Shaw — L.D. McArthur Elementary School
- Bernadette Smith — Global Learning Academy
- Cindy Speed — Ransom Middle School
- Rachel Stallworth — Ferry Pass Middle School
- Stefany Tompkins — Booker T. Washington High School
- Mary Beth Tubbs — Kingsfield Elementary School
- Carla Urquhart — J.M. Tate High School
- Bradley Vinson — West Pensacola Elementary School
- Elerene Walters — J.M. Tate High School
- Lauren Williams — J.M. Tate High School
- Erica Zink — Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Candice Zolnoski — C.A. Weis Elementary School
Grants for Excellence are funded by the Escambia County Public School Foundation and matching grant funds from the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. Grants are available for teachers of students in grades K-12.
High Impact Grants were funded between $2,000 and $5,000. Teacher Opportunity Grants were funded from $500 to $2,000.
Pictured: Escambia County Public Schools Foundation Grants for Excellence were awarded to four Tate High School teachers. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Voter Registration Deadline Is Tuesday
October 10, 2022
The voter registration deadline for the November general election is Tuesday, October 11.
The Supervisor of Elections office will remain open until 7 p.m. on October 11 for voters wishing to register to vote or update their record. Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations must be completed and received or postmarked no later than October 11 for the November 8 election. Address changes within Florida can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.gov and click “Am I Registered?” to verify your status, or call the Supervisor of Elections office.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register to vote or update their record:
Online: Simply go to EscambiaVotes.gov to register to vote, or to update or change your current registration, including your address or party affiliation. It’s a quick and secure way to make sure you are ready to vote.
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, public library, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.gov or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.gov and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License or Florida ID number, or if you have neither, the last 4 digits of your social security number in the appropriate space. Completed applications must be received or postmarked no later than October 11. Mail to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601, or take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. To have a form mailed to you, call (850) 595-3900 or e-mail the Elections Office at soe@escambiavotes.gov.
Vote-By-Mail Requests Still Being Accepted
For voters who wish to cast a ballot by mail, requests are being accepted until 5 p.m. on October 29
Week Begins Sunny; Cold Front Brings Rain Chance By Wednesday
October 10, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 50.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
Fire Prevention Week Story Times This Week At Your Local Library
October 10, 2022
During Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Pensacola Fire Department will visit libraries across the county for special story times.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m. – Bellview Library (ECFR)
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m. – Southwest Library (ECFR)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Pensacola Library (PFD)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Molino Library (ECFR)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Century Library (ECFR)
Thursday, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. – Tryon Library (PFD)
Thursday, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. – Westside Library (PFD)
Tate Volleyball Hosting Dig Pink Event Tuesday To Support Breast Cancer Research
October 10, 2022
Tate High School Volleyball will host a Dig Pink event Tuesday to support the Side-Out Foundation.
The Side-Out dedicates the majority of donations to their own metastatic breast cancer research. In addition to research, Side-Out allocates a portion of their funds to high-quality support services for cancer patients and their families, as well as college scholarships for students.
Tate will host Washington with the freshmen beginning at 4:30, junior varsity at 5:30 and varsity at 6:30. All Tate students who wear pink will get in free.
Pictured: The 2021 Dig Pink event at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Has Filled Every Sworn Position — All 447 Of Them
October 10, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has announced that every sworn position with the agency has been filled — all 447 of them — as of last Friday.
That includes 20 new sworn positions added during the past two years, the agency said.
The ECSO is continuing to accept applications for sworn positions, along with non-sworn openings like an administrative support assistant, dispatcher, accounting and more.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Zones
October 10, 2022
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The front parking lot is temporarily closed as crews work to resurface the pavement. The other parking areas remain open. Temporary sidewalk modifications are also in place while work is underway.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Oct. 9 through Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers may encounter intermittent daytime and nighttime single lane closures and lane shifts, between A Street and Dominguez Street. The closures will allow crews to work on the new pedestrian crossing signals, irrigation system and landscaping.
- Pace Boulevard from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Pace Boulevard and side streets, between Cervantes Street and Barrancas Avenue Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will continue for several weeks as crews work to adjust manholes, and mill and pave the roadways. In addition, pedestrians will encounter alternating sidewalk closures on Pace Boulevard, between Barrancas Avenue and North Palafox Street (U.S. 29), while crews make sidewalk and curb improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the signalized intersections to access the sidewalks on the other side of Pace Boulevard.
- I-10 at the Interstate 110 (I-110) Interchange – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the following ramps from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 as crews install thermoplastic pavement markings:
- I-110 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound.
- I-110 northbound ramp to I-10 westbound.
- I-110 northbound ramp to Davis Highway.
- Davis Highway on-ramp to I-110 southbound.
- I-10 eastbound ramp to I-110 southbound.
- Sorrento Road Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road – Drivers will encounter the following lane closures Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.:
- Reduction to one lane and traffic flagging operation from the Theo Baars Bridge to Innerarity Point Road as crews mill and pave the roadway.
- Reduction to one lane and traffic flagging operations between Doug Ford Road and Bauer Road as crews perform shoulder widening and drainage work.
- Barrancas Avenue Routine Maintenance from Manchester Street to the Bayou Chico Bridge – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Barrancas Avenue and side streets, between Manchester Street and the Bayou Chico Bridge Sunday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 13 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for construction operations.
- East Nine Mile Road. (U.S. 90A) from Chemstrand Road to East of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit on this section of East Nine Mile Road will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will now share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures Sunday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 14 for construction operations.
- Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) Pensacola Half Marathon between Weis Lane and Garden Street (U.S. 98) – Motorists will encounter road closures Sunday, Oct. 9 from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the Pensacola Half Marathon. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Oct. 9 through Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent nighttime and daytime lane closures Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14 for construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road, Sunday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 14 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Settlers Colony Boulevard will remain closed to complete necessary drainage improvements. This closure will remain in effect for approximately 30 days. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will access Settlers Colony Boulevard via Venetian Way and Coronado Drive. Detour signs will be in place. Residents may experience noise, vibrations, and dust during daytime hours as part of this drainage improvement effort.
- S.R. 87 Routine Bridge Inspection over Yellow River – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures south of I-10 Thursday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine bridge inspection.
- S.R. 4 Roadway Maintenance East of Magaha Road in Jay – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14 for paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Rebound On OPEC Production Cut Announcement
October 10, 2022
Florida gas prices took an unexpected turn higher last week, up 16 cents per gallon over the course of four days, in what became the largest weekly increase since June.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $3.33 per gallon. That’s 7 cents more than the average price a week earlier.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.17. Sunday night a low of $3.14 could be found at a station on HIghway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, a few stations were below $3 a gallon.
“The jump at the pump came as a surprise, as this time a week ago, it appeared that the state’s gas tax holiday would pressure prices lower,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, things changed quickly after OPEC and its allies announced plans to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day. This sent oil and gasoline futures prices back to 5-week highs. As a result, the price for retailers to purchase gasoline jumped more than 30 cents, erasing any of the downward progress created by the 25 cent sales tax holiday.”