Two Year, $4.7 Million Highway 29 Reconstruction Safety Project In Century Is Now Complete
April 29, 2025
After just over two years, a $4.7 million state safety project to resurface Highway 29 in Century is now complete, the Florida Department of Transportation said on Monday.
The FDOT project included a major reconstruction and realignment of Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line.
FDOT also upgraded traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
The project included reconstructing a 700-foot curved segment of Highway 29 from north of Henry Street to Cottage Street — a curve that was the site of several truck accidents in recent years.
The first lane closures for the project occurred in late January 2023, with four lanes reduced to one lane in each direction for most of the project.
Pictured: Traffic flows on all four lanes of Highway 29 in Century during a construction project on February 20. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Donates Building To Ernest Ward FFA Program
April 29, 2025
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, with the help of Circle E Buildings in Walnut Hill, recently donated and installed a brand-new building for the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA program. The project, coordinated by Brian Davis, will be officially dedicated soon.
Patchy Fog Overnight, Back In The 80s Tuesday
April 29, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 84. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Celebration 100 Years: Goodyear Blimp Spotted Over Molino
April 29, 2025
This year is the 100th anniversary of the original Goodyear Blimp.
The blimp known as Wingfoot Two was spotted over Molino on Monday afternoon. According to flight tracking date, the blimp left New Orleans Monday after a weekend hovering over the Zurich Classic golf tournament.
The first Goodyear Blimp to take flight was Pilgrim in 1925.
Today, there are three Goodyear blimps based in the United States:
- Wingfoot One: Based near Akron, Ohio (near the Goodyear headquarters).
- Wingfoot Two: Based near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (at the Pompano Beach Airpark).
- Wingfoot Three: Based near Los Angeles, California (in Carson).
A fourth blimp is based near Essen, Germany, and is known as the Europe Blimp.
Picture: The Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot Two over Molino on Monday afternoon. Photos by Michael Miller and Keith Garrison for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names 2025 Prom Royalty
April 29, 2025
The 2025 Tate High School Prom was held Saturday night. Prom court members included (pictured above) King Aiden Maher, Queen Hailey Locke, (pictured below) Prince Carson Hindsman and Princess Taylor Dyer. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Electrical Fire Destroys Home Near Nine Mile Road; No Injuries Reported
April 29, 2025
An electrical issue is being blamed for a Sunday night fire that destroyed a home just north of Nine Mile Road.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded around 10 p.m. to the 9500 block of Hummingbird Boulevard, where they found heavy flames and smoke coming from the garage of a single-story brick house.
All residents and pets escaped without injury, according to ECFR. The home was declared a total loss, and the cause was determined to be electrical.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants with temporary housing.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FPL Proposes Laydown Yard Near McDavid
April 29, 2025
Florida Power & Light is proposing a seven-acre laydown yard primarily for pole storage off Camp Road in McDavid.
According to plans filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee, the laydown yard would be located on about seven acres of an octagonal-shaped 48.65-acre parcel already owned by FPL. It is about a half mile south of an Escambia County Road Camp and the closed Camp 5 Landfill.
FPL also owns all of the adjacent parcels and those across Camp Road — the former Gulf Power, later acquired by FPL, purchased hundreds of acres beginning in 2009 for a potential nuclear power plant, but those plans never materialized.
The laydown yard, if approved, would be served to a new 30-foot gravel access road from Camp Road. The utility said the site will operate from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. with no overnight vehicles on site.
The FPL plans are undergoing DRC internal staff review and have not yet been set for a public meeting.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Alice Mae Campbell
April 28, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Alice Mae Campbell (Grannie), who departed this life peacefully on April 26, 2025, at the age of 94. A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend, Alice leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and strength.
A lifelong resident of McDavid, Florida, Alice lived a full and meaningful life, marked by her unwavering dedication to family, her deep sense of compassion, and her quiet resilience. She had a special gift for making everyone feel welcome, whether through a warm meal at her table or a compassionate word of prayer.
Alice was the matriarch of her family for many decades, always doing for others in need. She retired from the Escambia County school system as a bus driver after 30 years of faithful service. Alice was dedicated to the Lord and her church family where she was the oldest living member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her spouse of 34 years, Buddy Campbell: their son – Mike Campbell and six siblings.
Mrs. Alice is survived by her brother – Joe Attaway; two daughters – Pat Spicer and Marie (Bob) Brock. She was a loving grandmother to Stephanie Morgan, Wendy (Ed) Armstrong, Mandy (Larry) Kinley, Casey Rice, Alicia McGhee, April (Daniel) White, and Katie (David) Jones. She was a great-grandmother to 28 and a great-great-grandmother to 13, all of whom carry her memory in their hearts.
Though she is no longer with us in body, her spirit lives on in the lives she touched and the memories we will forever cherish.
Services will be held Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Flomaton Brown Service Funeral Home in Flomaton, Alabama, with Bro. Nathan Brown officiating. Visitation will be at 10am until 11:00 am service time. Interment will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Zachary Maholovich, John Gulledge, Adam Peterson, Derek Kinley, Justin Kinley, and Brian Belle.
Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Kinley, Ed Armstrong, Daniel White, and David Jones.
Casey’s Updates Plans For New Convenience Store At Highway, Highway 97 In Molino
April 28, 2025
Updated plans have been filed for a new convenience store at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Costcorde, Inc. of Houston recently submitted the plans to the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC).
The updated plans show a 4,569 square foot convenience store, 12 gas fueling stations and two diesel fueling payments. According to the plans, there will only be right turn in and right turn out access on Highway 29 and a full access connection to Highway 97.
Casey’s is the third largest convenience store and fifth largest pizza chain in the United States. Last year, Casey’s announced the acquisition of Fikes Wholesale, owner of CEFCO Convenience Stores, in an all-cash transaction for $1.145 billion for 198 stores.
The plans are undergoing DRC internal staff review and have not yet been set for a public meeting.
Plans were filed for a convenience store in the same location back in 2017 and 2019 by an Atmore company, but those projects were never finalized. The new store will be across Highway 97 from an existing Cumberland Farms store that is still operating under Tom Thumb branding.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Meet Byrneville Elementary School Principal (For A Day) Tripp Fowler
April 28, 2025
Last Friday morning, Principal Tripp Fowler started his day early by welcoming every student as they arrived in the car rider line at Byrneville Elementary School.
The it was off to visit every classroom, where he denied teacher requests to take off early since it was Friday. If Principal Fowler was going to put in a full day, so was his staff.
For second grader Tripp Fowler, Friday was a really big day at the charter school — he was Byrneville Elementary School’s principal for a day. He won the opportunity by being the top seller in a recent fundraiser.
Principal Fowler took a few minutes out of his very busy day to speak with NorthEscambia.com just before lunch duty Friday. When we met up with him, he was behind “everyday” Principal Ashley Trawick’s desk, hard at work on project to prepare for an upcoming student visit from the Century Camp Fire USA Learning Center.
Friday was a good day to be principal for a day at Byrneville. Students earned movie time at lunch for good behavior, there was pizza for students that met their AR reading goals, and field day winners had ice cream to celebrate.
But the workday was not all fun and games — Principal Fowler was faced with an emergency with an overflowing toilet. He quickly radioed for help, bringin the challenging situation under control.
His favorite parts of being principal for the day? The walkie-talkie and his ID badge. And looking inside a closet with computer servers and security camera feeds was a pretty big deal.
We had to cut our interview with Mr. Fowler short so he could use the intercom to call a student to the office, a task he easily handled (as soon as someone found him a step stool). He then headed to the lunchroom, walkie-talkie in hand, where kindergarteners were having lunch as the movie “Ratatouille” played.
When asked if he would like to be an elementary principal when he gets a bit older, Mr. Fowler was quick with his answer.
“I want to drive a truck and be like my dad,” he said, just a principal for a day.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
