Dawn Bechtol Is McArthur Elementary School Teacher Of The Year
January 8, 2023
The McArthur Elementary School Teacher of the Year is Dawn Bechtol. She is an ESE teacher at the school. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Just A Few Scattered Light Showers Tonight, Sunny On Monday
January 8, 2023
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the evening.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Mega Millions At $1.1 Billion For Tuesday, Third Largest Jackpot In Game History
January 8, 2023
For the fourth time in a little more than four years, the Mega Millions jackpot has topped $1 billion
After no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Friday night, the jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, January 10, is currently estimated at $1.1 billion ($568.7 million cash). If won at that amount, it would be the third largest jackpot in the game’s history.
The numbers from Friday night were white balls 3, 20, 46, 59 and 63, plus the gold Mega Ball 13.
The only Mega Millions jackpots larger than Tuesday’s estimated $1.1 billion are the game’s record of $1.537 billion, won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018, and $1.337 billion won in Illinois last July 29.
Century To Discuss Plan To Prevent Customer Contamination Of Drinking Water
January 8, 2023
The Century Town Council will hold a workshop Tuesday to discuss a Cross Connection Control Plan.
The plan, which is required by the state, seeks to protect drinking water from contamination caused by leaks or other connections on the customer side of town water meters.
Florida law required that the adopted policy be enforced, including the temporary or permanent disconnection of water service connections that fail to meet the regulatory requirements.
The workshop meeting with the council and engineer Dale Long will take place at 7 p.m. at town hall. The public is invited.
Community Health Pediatric Clinic Opens Monday On Pine Forest High Campus
January 8, 2023
Community Health Northwest Florida will open the doors at their new pediatric clinic at Pine Forest High School.
Located in a standalone building on the high school campus,, the clinic is open to all children and youth in the surrounding community, providing comprehensive primary care for ages 0 to 18.
Board certified pediatrician John Lanza, MD, FAAP, will transfer from Community Health’s Jackson Street Pediatrics to take the lead at the Pine Forest Clinic. He offers compassionate care backed by a myriad of diverse experience, education and accolades. Prior to joining the organization, Lanza retired as the director and health officer of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, where he served in that role for more than 24 years. Previously, Lanza worked as a pediatric emergency department physician and was in private pediatric practice.
For more information, contact the clinic directly at (850) 665-3252.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Traffic Advisories
January 8, 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:
- S.R. 97 Routine Utility Maintenance Just North of Abromovich Lane – Motorists will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures Monday, Jan. 9 through Thursday, Jan. 12 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for routine utility maintenance.
- S.R. 99 Routine Maintenance near Beulah Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Tuesday, Jan. 10 starting at 9 a.m. for drainage operations.
- 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, Jan. 8 through Saturday, Jan. 14 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to perform miscellaneous construction activities on the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- Pace Boulevard from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and sidewalk closures on Pace Boulevard and side streets between Barrancas Avenue and North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Sunday, Jan. 8 through Thursday, Jan. 12 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will allow crews to perform paving operations as well as sidewalk and curb improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the signalized intersections to access the sidewalks on the other side of Pace Boulevard.
- 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 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) from Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, Jan. 8 through Thursday, Jan. 12 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298), 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 intermittent lane closures from U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, Jan. 9 through Friday, Jan. 13 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for drainage improvements and erosion control operations.
- Sorrento Road Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent daytime and nighttime lane closures and lane shifts at the Sorrento Road and Bauer Road intersection as crews install drainage pipe.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) from north of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers may encounter intermittent alternating lane closures from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night as crews place construction signage near the roadway.
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, Jan. 8 through Saturday, Jan. 14 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to perform miscellaneous construction activities on the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- 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:
- 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, Jan. 8, through Friday, Jan. 13, 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. 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 North Routine Utility Maintenance South of Bayberry Street – Motorists will encounter intermittent daytime southbound outside lane closures Wednesday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to access cables in a manhole.
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Geraldyn G. Silva
January 8, 2023
Geraldyn G. Silva, 90, passed away peacefully at her home in Roanoke, Texas, December 13, 2022.
Gerri spent most of her life in Pensacola and Cantonment and taught for several decades in the Escambia County school system at Pine Meadow, Longleaf, McArthur and Holmes Elementary Schools, Warrington Middle School and the Lakeview Center among others. She was an organist at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Cantonment for many years. Gerri was a graduate of Pensacola High School and Florida State University where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She earned a Masters degree from the University of West Florida and an EdD. degree from FSU.
Gerri is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 48 years Ralph Silva Sr. and her eldest daughter Stephanie Silva, her parents Lyman and Alice Goodnight and three siblings.
She is survived by daughters Cindy (Rodger) Martin of Dallas and Joan (Ron) Czarniak of Atlanta and sons Ralph Silva, Jr. of Fort Lauderdale and Nathan (Joan) Silva of Orlando, 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.
Gerri has been cremated. A funeral mass will be held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Cantonment at 1:00 p.m. followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery Saturday, February 18. In lieu of flowers kindly make a donation to a favorite charity.
By The Numbers: How Many Calls Did Escambia Fire Rescue Answer Last Month?
January 8, 2023
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to 93 fires during December.
The department’s 1,978 calls also included 199 vehicle crashes and 585 medical calls.
Details are in the infographic below.
This infographic includes a sampling of Escambia Fire Rescue calls for service during December 2022.
Fairrel Dreadin
January 8, 2023
Mr. Fairrel Dreadin, 90 years of age, of Flomaton, AL; went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 18, 2022.
Daddy’s heart was his family, the only thing he loved more was his Lord and Savior. He also loved hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Daddy is survived by his two children, Mary K. Ross of Elgin Scotland, Fairrel Keith (Linda) Dreadin, of Scottsboro, AL; three grandchildren, Cameron (Brittany) Dreadin, of Pace, FL; Amy (Jeremy) Morris, of Pace, FL; Melissa Dreadin, of Collinsville, OK; eight great- grandchildren, and other relatives.
Graveside service was held Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Flomaton Cemetery with Rev. Doug Odom officiating.
Four Police Vehicles Hit On Nine Mile, Convicted Felon Charged With Drug, Weapons Offenses
January 7, 2023
A man with 20 previous felony charges was arrested and another is wanted after four patrol cars were struck Thursday on Nine Mile Road.
The incident started when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Marcus Flintroy was armed with multiple weapons in a white Volkswagen Passat.
Flintroy is a multi-time convicted felon with over 20 previous felony charges. Based on this verified information and other intelligence gathered, members of the ECSO Narcotics Unit, along with the Florida Highway Patrol, attempted to stop Flintroy at the RaceTrac at 701 West Nine Mile Road, near Lowes and Home Depot.
Flintroy had pulled up to a pump and was meeting with an unidentified black male who had also pulled up to the pump.
The unidentified male entered Marcus Flintroy’s vehicle, and neither attempted to pump gas. A marked FHP vehicle and several unmarked ECSO vehicles approached from different directions.
The unidentified male immediately exited Flintroy’s vehicle and ran to his own vehicle. Flintroy ignored the FHP lights. Deputies said he attempted to escape, pulled forward and into one of the ECSO unmarked vehicles. After contact, Flintroy pulled to the right, only to be blocked by another ECSO unmarked vehicle. His vehicle struck this second ECSO vehicle before he exited his vehicle and fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, he was caught and arrested.
Meanwhile, the other unidentified male who had returned to his vehicle struck a third ECSO vehicle and the FHP vehicle before fleeing the scene. He has yet to be identified and charged.
Inside Flintroy’s vehicle, deputies located a loaded and chambered AR pistol with a 30-round magazine and an additional loaded 30-round magazine. Deputies also found a Glock pistol with two extended magazines, 105 grams of fentanyl, a pill press, and an amount of crack cocaine.
Flintroy was charged with two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and attaching tag not assigned. He has no bond.