Reminder: Veterans Outreach Event Today In Davisville And April 9 In Molino
March 14, 2025
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will host an event today in Davisville and next month in Molino to give veterans a chance to discuss benefits with an accredited veterans services officer.
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates at community centers in North Escambia:
- Friday, March 14: Davisville Community Center, 10200 Highway 97 in Davisville
- Wednesday, April 9: Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A in Molino.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and reevaluating VA disability.
For more information, contact the Veterans Services Office at (850) 595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com. Learn more about Escambia County’s Veterans Services Office at MyEscambia.com/veterans-services.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Tate Girls Tennis Beats Washington 7-0
March 14, 2025
Girls Tate Aggie tennis beat Washington 7-0 Thursday. Up next, the Aggies will face Gulf Breeze on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flag Football: Tate Defeats Northview (With Gallery)
March 14, 2025
In girls flag football action on this week, the Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 19-6 at Tate’s Carl Madison Field.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Up next after spring break, Tate will travel to Escambia on March 24, and Northview will be at Pensacola High on March 25.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Hosts District Special Olympics (With Photo Gallery)
March 13, 2025
The 17th annual Escambia County Special Olympics Spring Games were held at Tate High School with 34 schools participating.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The day kicked off with the Special Olympics Torch Relay around Carl Madison Field in Pete Gindl Stadium. Tate senior Macy Jensen’s heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem set the tone for the events.
Over 650 Tate High students volunteered as “buddies”, paired with 460 student athletes.
For a photo gallery, click here.
New Aldi Store, A Converted Winn Dixie, Opens On Nine Mile Road (With Gallery)
March 13, 2025
A soft opening was held Wednesday for Escambia County’s new Aldi on Nine Mile Road, a converted Winn Dixie store that was purchased by the Germany-based grocery chain.
Excited customers were lined up waiting for the doors to open to be among the first to see the new store, which features hundreds of the company’s own brands and fresh items.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Heather Moore, vice president of Aldi’s Loxley Division, gave NorthEsambia.com a personal tour Wednesday morning, stopping along the way to explain the concept and culture of Aldi.
Why Aldi?
“So, I think what we say a lot of times is the price brings them in the door, and the quality brings them back,” Moore said. “So, the first thing that customers are going to notice we’ve never been in Aldi is how inexpensive the products are. So, we are going to save them a ton of money on the stuff they buy every day. Whether it’s fresh produce or fresh meat. We get that stuff in every day.”
She said all of the products will meet or beat the national brand, backed by a double quality guarantee. About 90% of the products are private-label, Aldi exclusive brands with about one-in-three products are award winning.
Don’t Forget A Quarter. And A Bag.
Then there’s the quarter thing.
Shoppers must insert a quarter, much like a rental, for a shopping cart. When the cart is returned, the quarter is returned, eliminating the need for employees to round up buggies in the parking lot.
During the grand opening, the store is providing quarters to those that need one. (And full disclosure — NorthEsambia.com couldn’t find a quarter in our vehicle on Wednesday, and Aldi provided us with one. We left the quarter behind with a cart to pay it forward for the next shopper.)
“We have plenty of quarters for anybody who forgets their quarter or doesn’t know about it. So, everything we do here is to bring those prices down and to stretch your grocery dollars further,” Moore said. “It’s one of those things that we’ve done to just bring those costs down, so you can save a few dollars when you grocery shop.”
If you want to bag your purchses, you’ll need to bring your own reusable bagsor purchase one of Aldi’s. A large reusable shopping bag is under a buck.
Winn Dixie Stores Converting to Aldi
The new Nine Mile Aldi currently employees 15 people, four of which were employees at the former Winn Dixie.
“It’s neat to see them come back into their new home and be really excited. We’ve had a lot of customers that remember them, and that means a lot too,” she said.
The new Aldi only uses about 20,000 square feet of the former Nine Mile Road Winn Dixie, leaving empty and available real estate next door. There are rumors about what may be locating there, but Moore said nothing is final.
Aldi operates two other stores in Escambia County — on Mobile Highway and Blue Angel Parkway, plus a location in Pace. The Aldi conversion process has just started at a former Winn Dixie in Milton. No other Winn Dixie stores have been identified for conversion as of now in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Grand Opening Celebration
The new Nine 312 East Nine Mile Road Aldi will hold an official grand opening at 9 a.m. Thursday.
The first 100 customers Thursday will receive a gift bag filled with a sampling of Aldi exclusive products and a gift card. Shoppers can also register through the weekend for a $500 gift card.
The store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
And Is This Aldi’s Best Tasting Product?
Moore has one absolute favorite Aldi product that she says in the best tasting in the store.
“That’s the Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad. It’s so good, you can just eat the whole tub. I love it.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured below: Louis Figueroa, store manager; Heather Moore, vice president of Aldi’s Loxley Division; and Lachelle McKinley, district manager check out fresh fruit at the new Aldi on Nine Mile Road on Wednesday, March 12. Also pictured: A soft opening for the store was held Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Showers Today; Severe Storms Expected For Saturday
March 13, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers. Low around 57. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 43.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
$3.6 Million Interstate Circle Bridge Replacement Over Eight Mile Creek Continues
March 13, 2025
FDOT is replacing the Interstate Circle bridge over Eight Mile Creek in Escambia County. The $3.6 million project is aimed at increasing safety and improving traffic flow.
The existing bridge was built in 1970 and considered functionally obsolete. The new bridge is under construction and will accommodate two 10-foot travel lanes (one in each direction), flanked by 8-foot shoulders with traffic railing that meets current standards.
FDOT is reminding drives that Interstate Circle is closed at the Eight Mile Creek Bridge during construction. Signs are in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
Project completion is currently estimated for mid-2025, according to FDOT.
Pictured: Interstate Circle bridge over Eight Mile Creek is seen in the foreground, next to I-10. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Saturday District One Food Distribution Postponed Due To Weather
March 13, 2025
A District One Food Distribution that was scheduled for Saturday at Jubilee Church has been postponed due to the threat of severe weather.
For the safety of our community members, volunteers, and all those involved, our team has made the difficult decision to delay the event. We always prioritize the well-being of those we serve and want to ensure a safe and successful distribution for everyone. Jennifer Harrisson in Rep. Michelle Salzman’s office said.
A new date for the District One Food Distribution will be announced soon, and we will announce it here on NorthEscambia.com.
File photo.
Tate Aggies Beat The Escambia Gators 8-2 (With Photo Gallery)
March 13, 2025
The Tate Aggies came alive with a six-inning fifth inning as they defeated the Escambia Gators 8-2 Wednesday night in Cantonment.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Zane Warrington earned the win for Tate, surrendering six hits and two runs in six and two-third innings on mound for Tate, walking three and striking out seven. Keelan Beasley closed in relief for one-third of an inning, striking out one.
Taite Davis led the Aggies with three RBIs as he went 2-2 for the night. Nathan Ozuna and Kaleb Posta also had hits for the Aggies. The Aggies recording six stolen bases, with two of those coming from Cal Foxworth.
The Aggies will host Fort Walton Beach Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets 20 Years For Fatal 2023 DUI Crash On Davis Highway
March 13, 2025
A woman has been sentence to over 20 years in state prison for a December 2023 fatal DUI crash in Escambia County.
Jasmine Tashawri West was convicted of DUI manslaughter, two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, one count of DUI with property damage, and one count of driving while license suspended. Under Florida’s DUI statutes, West must serve four years of the sentence day-for-day and she will have a lifetime driver’s license suspension.
On the afternoon of December 30, 2023, West was driving on North Davis Highway when she drove across two lanes into oncoming traffic before colliding head-on with an SUV that was occupied by a family of four.
Forensic analysis conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol found that West’s vehicle was traveling at more than 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit when the crash occurred.
The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s wife, who was the front passenger, and their two juvenile daughters, both backseat, survived with significant injuries. An analysis of West’s blood showed her alcohol level to be almost twice the legal limit.
West’s license had previously been suspended, and she did not have a valid license at the time of the crash.
“West had no business driving that day. Her callous actions ended one life and forever harmed three others. A lengthy prison sentence is absolutely appropriate,” Christopher Patterson, prosecuting attorney, said.