East Kingsfield Closed Today At Railroad Crossing West Of 29
March 18, 2025
East Kingsfield Road west of Highway 29 will be closed today as Escambia County public works crews resurface the roadway at the railroad tracks.
Traffic headed east on East Kingsfield Road will be detoured to Pompano Street. Westbound traffic on East Kingsfield Road will be diverted through a one-way lane closure. Motorists traveling west on East Kingsfield Road should use extra caution and follow road crew instructions and posted signs when traveling through the work zone. The road is expected to reopen by Wednesday, March 19.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction.
Three Arrested in Drug Smuggling Attempts at Atmore Prison
March 18, 2025
Three visitors were arrested at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore last weekend after allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into the prison, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC).
The first incident occurred on March 15, when ADOC K9 officers noticed visitor Leigh Culwell acting suspiciously during a scheduled visitation. Officials said a search led to the discovery of approximately 78 grams of synthetic narcotics, valued at $3,900. Culwell was arrested and charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, trafficking in synthetic narcotics, and promoting prison contraband.
The following day, officers observed suspicious behavior from visitors Angela McLain and JaDiamond Bolden. After an investigation, authorities said they confiscated 62 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, valued at $3,100, and 136 grams of marijuana, worth approximately $2,700. Both were arrested and face multiple charges, including trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana., and promoting prison contraband.
All three suspects were transported to the Escambia County Jail. The ADOC continues to investigate the incidents as part of its ongoing efforts to prevent contraband in state prisons.
FDOT To Begin $4.4 Million Beulah Road Resurfacing Project
March 18, 2025
In April, the Florida Department of Transportation will begin a $4.4 million resurfacing project on Beulah Road from Mobile Highway to Issacs Lane.
The project will include
Constructing a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side of Beulah Road from the Beulah Academy of Science to Nine Mile Road.
Various sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
Improvements at the Beulah Road at Nine Mile Road intersection.
Stormwater management enhancements.
Utility relocations.
Guardrail installation.
Signalization upgrades.
New signing and pavement markings.
FDOT anticipates that the project will be complete in late 2026.
During construction, drivers and pedestrians may encounter periodic lane closures, minor traffic shifts and detours. Lane closures will be limited to nighttime hours from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Additionally, drainage construction will require an 18-day closure with a detour on Beulah Road at the Beulah Church Road intersection. This closure is slated to occur during the summer months. Traffic will be detoured to Rebel Road between Mobile Highway and Nine Mile Road.
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
March 18, 2025
Northview High School recently named their March Students of the Month. They are Emma Reynolds and Preston Ross, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny, Middle 70s For Tuesday
March 18, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 67. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Tate Opens Aggie Classic Play With 5-4 Win Over Oklahoma Team
March 18, 2025
The Tate Aggies opened their play Monday in the annual Aggie Classic with a 5-4 win over the Charles Page Sandites of Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Sheppard Edgar opened the home game on the mound for the Aggies, surrendering four runs and four hits in three innings while walking one and striking out three. Keelan Beasley earned the win for the Aggies, giving up no hits and no runs in four innings, while walking two and striking out four.
Taite Davis went 1-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Kaden Posta went 3-3, and Cal Foxworth was 2-2.
Up next, Tate will host the Yukon Millers of Yukon, Oklahoma, at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Yukon beat W.S. Neal of East Brewton, Alabama, 13-3 Monday night.
Here’s a complete list of Monday Aggie Classic scores:
Woman Critically Injured In Fiery Crash On Highway 29 In McDavid
March 17, 2025
A 22-year-old Fairhope woman was critically injured in a fiery single-vehicle crash on Highway 29 in McDavid on Sunday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the woman lost control of her Nissan and collided with a bridge guardrail and overturned just north of the McDavid Fire Department.
“The vehicle became engulfed in flames shortly after,” FHP said in a report. The driver was extricated from the vehicle and airlifted by LifeFlight to a Pensacola Hospital.
The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
FHP Releases Details In Pine Forest Crash That Injured Two Children
March 17, 2025
Multiple people, including at least two children, were injured in a multiple vehicle crash Saturday morning on Pine Road near Godwin Lane, near the entrance to the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds.
In a report released Monday, the Florida Highway Patrol said a passenger car driven by a 39-year-old Massachusetts woman ran a stop sign and pulled into the path of a SUV driven by a 29-year-old Cantonment man. The SUV then collided with a nearby business, Elegant Kitchen & Bath.
Two children in the car, ages 5 and 6, were injured. One child and the driver were listed in serious condition with injuries not considered life-threatening, troopers said. The Cantonment man sustained only minor injuries.
Escambia County EMS, Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash, which completely shut down Pine Forest Road.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Believing That God Has Something New For Us’ – Atmore Church Plans To Rebuild After Devastating Fire
March 17, 2025
The First Presbyterian Church of Atmore congregation gathered outside under a sunny blue sky for Sunday morning worship, just hours lightning from a strong thunderstorm likely sparked a massive fire that destroyed their church building.
Nearby, their sanctuary and fellowship were in ruins.
But churchgoers are quick to point out that while the building was destroyed, the church was not.
“The church is fine. The building is not,” church elder Chuck Dettling said. “We have to stay together. I’m hoping that this will drive us closer.”
“For our church people, it’s a shock of course,” interim pastor Jim Diet said. “But we are believing that God has something new for us. We didn’t anticipate that, but we are going accept that from God.”
The Atmore Fire Department and the Alabama State Fire Marshal were back at the church Sunday, working to make a final cause determination. But preliminary information indicates the fire was started by lighting.
The church says they will rebuild, and they are looking for place to temporarily hold services for about a year.
For more photos from Sunday morning following the fire, click here.
For a previous story and overnight fire photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Meet The Candidates: Century Town Council Seat 4
March 17, 2025
NorthEscambia.com submitted a questionnaire to each of the three candidates seeking a on the Century Town Council in Tuesday’s special election.
Three candidates will appear on the ballot for Century Town Council Seat 4.
Seat 4 on the council was left open in early January when Alicia Johnson was appointed interim mayor after Luis Gomez, Jr., resigned for health reasons. The candidates are (click a name for that candidate profile):
The questionnaire was created as a secure Google Form. Each candidate received the exact same questions in the same order, and they were warned that responses would not be spell checked or edited. This was a free service offered equally to each candidate.
Any candidate that receives 50% of the vote plus one on Tuesday will be declared the winner. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the special general election on April 29.
Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard in Century. The election is nonpartisan and open to any registered voter that lives within the town limits. The voter registration deadline has passed.