Pine Meadow Students Vote On Their Favorite Books, Learn About Elections
February 28, 2023
Students at Pine Meadow Elementary School had a chance to vote for their favorite books Monday.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office brought real election equipment to campus and gave the students a lesson in voting and elections.
Third, fourth and fifth grade students voted for their favorite Sunshine State Youth Readers Book. Students that voted had read at least five books from the list.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Roger Dale Emmons
February 28, 2023
Mr. Roger Dale Emmons, age 62, passed away, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at his home in Century FL; surrounded by his family at his bedside. He was a lifelong resident of Century, FL. He was employed with Georgia Pacific for many years.
Mr. Emmons loved spending time with his family. He was an avid racing fanatic, dirt track, Nascar, and many others. He was a Flomaton Speedway champion with multiple wins. He always had a very good sense of humor and enjoyed a good get together. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, fishing, and working on numerous projects building stuff.
Mr. Emmons is preceded in death by his parents, Joel Bernard (Edna Virginia Norris) Emmons.
He is survived by his one son, Michael Emmons, of Molino, FL; two daughters, Janice (Blake) DeLuca, of Flomaton, AL; Theresa Gill, of Pensacola, FL; one brother, Carl (Terry) Emmons, of Bratt, FL; one sister, Charlotte (Dennis) Ard, of Enterprise, AL; two grandchildren, Blake Anthony DeLuca, Jr; Elise Marie Gill, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church with Rev. Tim Floyd officiating.
Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Mitchell, George Thompson, Mike Childress, Ray Owens, Keith Moore, and Fed Moore.
Honorary pallbearers will be Randall Blair, Sam Turner, and Craig Turner.
One Dead After Four Vehicle Vehicle Crash On I-10 In Escambia County
February 27, 2023
A 77-year old man from Idaho was killed and two other people were seriously injured in a four-vehicle wreck on I-10 in Escambia County Sunday night.
About 9:25 p.m., four vehicles were all westbound on I-10 between the Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road exit. A crash occurred directly in front of one vehicle, causing it to slow quickly. That, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, set off a chain reaction crash.
A 77-year old man from Meridian, Idaho, was killed. The drivers of two other vehicles — a 24-year old Pensacola man and a 58-year old Pensacola woman — were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries.
Pictured: A traffic camera shows the crash scene Sunday night.
Updated: Authorities Say Molino ‘Explosion’ Was Tannerite
February 27, 2023
Authorities responded to a reported explosion Sunday afternoon in Molino.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, an explosion was reported about 3:40 p.m. on Bet Raines Road between Highway 29 and Highway 95A.
ECSO spokesperson Sgt. Melony Peterson said updated information indicates the explosion was due to Tannerite — a common “exploding” target usually used for firearms practice that is sold by retail outlets.
A male was seen running into a wooded area following the explosion, but deputies were unable to locate him.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded and determined the scene was safe. There was no fire following the incident, and no injuries reported.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated the explosion was due to a methamphetamine lab, which was the information provided to us by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The ECSO provided additional updated information Monday afternoon that there was no meth lab involved.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Search Continues For Suspect That Caused Highway 97 Wreck, Robbed Victim At Gunpoint
February 27, 2023
Authorities are still searching for a suspect that caused a wreck and then robbed a victim at gunpoint on Highway 97 in Davisville two months ago.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 45-year Edward Jerome Butler, Jr. followed a vehicle and caused a traffic crash in the 11000 block of Highway 97, near the Piggly Wiggly, just before 6 p.m. on December 27. After the wreck, deputies say Butler robbed the victim at gunpoint taking cash, a firearm, and other property from the victim and the victim’s vehicle. Butler then used the victim’s credit/debit card to withdraw money.
Butler is wanted for battery, aggravated assault, larceny, grand theft of a firearm, robbery with a firearm, and fraud (illegal use of a credit card). Butler is considered armed and dangerous, according to the ECSO.
He was seen driving the white sedan pictured during the armed robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Editor’s note: The mugshot above of Edward Jerome Butler Jr. is from a 2017 arrest.
Today Is Voter Registration Deadline For Special Primary Election In Century
February 27, 2023
Today, February 27, is the voter registration deadline for an upcoming special election for two seats on the Century Town Council.
New voter registration applications must be postmarked or submitted to a voter registration agency by close of business February 27.
The special general election will be held on March 28. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall.
For more on the candidates that qualified, click here for an earlier story.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
February 27, 2023
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:
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing Between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through April. The two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter the following alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.:
- U.S. 98 eastbound lane closures Sunday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, March 4 as crews perform striping work.
- U.S. 98 westbound lane closures Monday, Feb. 27 and Tuesday, Feb. 28 as crews perform work on the wrong way detection system.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until summer when the Welcome Center improvements are complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- Pace Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 292) Resurfacing from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – Drivers will encounter outside lane closures on Pace Boulevard, between Barrancas Avenue and North Palafox Street (U.S. 29), Friday, Feb. 24 through Friday, March 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The closures will allow crews to perform striping and concrete operations.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements 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 has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (S.R. 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, Feb. 26 through Thursday, March 2 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298) Resurfacing from North of U.S. 98 to East of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers may encounter daily lane and shoulder closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, Feb. 27 through Friday, March 3 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Crews will be performing shoulder reconstruction and shoulder paving.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter outside lane closures on Navy Boulevard, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, Friday, Feb. 24 through Friday, March 3 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Crews will be working on curb and gutter and sidewalks.
- U.S. 90 Routine Bridge Maintenance under the I-10 Overpass (Exit 5) – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Feb. 26 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter the following alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.:
- U.S. 98 eastbound lane closures Sunday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, March 3 as crews perform striping work.
- U.S. 98 westbound lane closures Monday, Feb. 27 and Tuesday, Feb. 28 as crews perform work on the wrong way detection system.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River - Construction crews have temporarily shifted eastbound traffic to the westbound bridge over Simpson River. The shift is expected to be in place through March 2023. During this time, there will be two westbound lanes and one eastbound travel lane using the westbound bridge. Due to the traffic shift, there will not be dedicated bike lanes on the bridge. Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they will be temporarily sharing the bridge with cyclists. Drivers are also reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- The median crossover at the intersection of Bayshore Road and U.S. 98 will remain closed to perform necessary road widening activities.
- 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, Feb. 26, through Friday, Mar. 3, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
4-H Members Learn About Managing Money, Living On Their Own
February 27, 2023
The “Cool Car Co.” was accepting checks or debit cards last week, as was the “Want it ALL Mall”.
Bill. Credit card interest. Childcare. Law Service, Groceries. TV service. Power.
The list of real adulting things just never ends, as Escambia County 4-H members learned last week during the “Living On My Own Simulation” in Cantonment.
4-H members learned about the dollars and cents, and sense, of the adult world of household finance.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Low Tonight Near 65
February 27, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
February 27, 2023
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for January. They are Wyatt Scruggs and Meleina McGavran. They are pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.