Warm And Dry Conditions Persist All Week
April 12, 2026
Conditions remain warm and throughout the week as North Escambia sees a stretch of mostly sunny skies with highs climbing into the mid-80s. While early morning patchy fog may slow things down through Monday, clear nights and light winds will dominate the region, providing dry conditions until at least next weekend.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Monday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Temporary Median Crossovers Under Construction At Highway 29 And Highway 97
April 12, 2026
Contractors are constructing temporary median crossovers on Highway 29 at Highway 97 in Molino.
It’s part of a $14 million project to resurface Highway 97 from Highway 29 in Molino to the Alabama state line at Atmore. The project also includes stormwater improvements at the Highway 29 intersection to alleviate historic flooding by installing an additional box culvert across the southern leg of the intersection and two additional cross drains on the northern leg of the intersection.
Drivers can expect intermittent lane and shoulder closures on Highway 29 at Highway 97 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
NorthEscambia.com photo and graphic, click to enlarge.
Eight Children, One Adult Displaced By Quintette Road Fire
April 12, 2026
One adult and eight children were reportedly displaced temporarily by a house fire in the Quintette community on Saturday.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire in the 100 block of West Quintette Road around 4:50 p.m. The fire was reportedly contained mostly to one bedroom. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
There were no injuries reported. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to those displaced by the fire.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High Beta Club Supports Domestic Violence Survivors
April 12, 2026
Tate High School’s Beta Club is making a powerful impact in the community through a donation drive supporting FavorHouse of Northwest Florida.
FavorHouse serves individuals and families affected by domestic violence, and Tate students are stepping up in a big way to help.
Through the initiative, Beta Club members are showing what it truly means to lead with compassion and serve with purpose. They are collecting essential items such as clothing, toiletries, and non-perishable food to support survivors who often have to leave their homes with very little. These donations provide comfort, stability, and dignity during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Nine Mile Costco Taking Applications as Construction Accelerates
April 12, 2026
As construction moves at a rapid pace, applications are being taken for a new Costco on West Nine Mile Road. Significant progress has been made on the building, parking lot, and outlying gas station, but an opening day has not yet been announced.
A variety of jobs are available at the Pensacola Costco, according to the company website. The jobs include tire installers, stockers, cashiers, pharmacy managers, cake decorators, deli clerks, food service, meat wrappers, and many more. Hourly employees begin at $20-$21 an hour, while some positions like pharmacy pay much more.
The nearest currently open Costco to Pensacola is in Mobile, Alabama.
How long does it take to build a Costco?
The architectural firm MG2, which has partnered with Costco for 30 years on over 780 locations, says it takes under four months to build a new store.
“Costco Wholesale has set the bar by creating and maintaining the platinum standard in optimized rollouts: It takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members,” MG2 said.
But construction won’t start until the existing building is demolished, sometime after Planet Fitness moves.
What do the plans show?
Plans approved by Escambia County show the 172,580 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 830 parking spaces at 225 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That was most recently the site of a now-demolished Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive: $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star: $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
Northview NJROTC Brings Home Multiple Medals from Gator Games
April 12, 2026
The Northview High School NROTC placed in several events on Saturday at the Gator Games at Escambia High School in Pensacola.
The Northview NJROTC placed first in sit-ups, second in push-ups, and third in the Australian trolley.
Australian trolley (pictured top), an official NJROTC athletic competition, is a team coordination exercise where cadets stand on two long wooden boards (the “trolley”) and must walk in unison using hand ropes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Graduate Ethan McAnally Named Conference Baseball Player of the Week
April 12, 2026
Francis Marion University junior Ethan McAnally was recently named the Conference Carolinas Baseball Player of the Week.
McAnally, a Tate High graduate and native of Molino, posted a .500 batting average (8-for-16) with three extra-base hits, six runs batted in, five runs scored, and two stolen bases, as the Patriots posted a 3-1 mark. He registered a .813 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage in 16 at-bats.
In a game last week, he finished 3-for-6 at the plate with one RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base in a 14-10 comeback win over No. 1 Catawba College at a neutral site in Kannapolis, N.C.,
In a three-game series versus the University of Mount Olive, McAnally went 5-for-10 with a two-run homer, two doubles, five RBIs, three runs scored, three walks, and one stolen base, as Francis Marion took two of three games to take the series.
McAnally ranks seventh in NCAA Division II with 51 runs batted in, while sitting ninth overall with 49 runs scored and 101 total bases. He also ranks among the top 10 in the nation with 12 home runs this year.
McAnally is majoring in mechanical engineering.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Seek Win In Deciding Playoff Game Today At Evansville
April 12, 2026
The joyous chants and celebratory claps reverberated through the walls and hallway, leading to the Ice Flyers dressing room.
You could feel the scene just by hearing it.
In what became one of their most complete games, the Ice Flyers solved the Evansville riddle, producing in a 3-1 victory Friday night against the defending champion Thunderbolts at the Pensacola Bay Center in Game 2 of their SPHL quarterfinal round playoff series.
The win was the Ice Flyers first playoff game victory in four years. It forced a deciding game on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Evansville, Indiana where the Ice Flyers will seek their first playoff series win since 2021 when they won their fourth SPHL President’s Cup championship.
“Satisfying to win, that’s for sure,” said Ice Flyers coach Jeremy Gates, whose team lost four regular-season games against the Thunderbolts and the playoff opener April 8 at the Ford Center in Evansville. “(Ice Flyers players) played hard and in the right way. It was good.
“To have our team play the way they did shows we can do it. We can play with anybody in this league. And the good news is that we get to play again on Sunday and try to prove that all over again.”
Both teams left Pensacola on Friday night for the 600-mile bus trip to Evansville. For the Ice Flyers, the all-night journey was their third trip to southwestern Indiana in nine days.
They finished the regular-season last weekend in Evansville, returned to Pensacola, traveled back to Evansville on Tuesday, then back again Friday night.
But Sunday presents a chance to make it all enjoyable. Neither team had practice availability on Saturday due to an event at the Ford Center. Gates preferred his team get right back on the bus for the long ride, as opposed to leaving Saturday morning.
“What happens is after these games, it’s really hard for hockey players to fall asleep,” Gates said. “So sleep on the bus…. we’ll get some breakfast, we’ll get there, rest and get to bed early. This time of year, we need the rest.”
The Ice Flyers breakthrough playoff win Friday was embraced by a crowd of 4,772, which by far was the largest crowd of the four SPHL quarterfinal games that night.
It adds to the Ice Flyers setting another attendance record – their third year in a row – after drawing 168,493 fans in 29 home games this season. Attracting large crowds for a playoff game is difficult, because of an uncertain schedule and little time to sell group outings or advance sales.
But Gates sensed the enthusiasm earlier Friday afternoon when he went out for lunch.
“I had people I never met before in my life, saying they were coming to the game,” Gates said. “They recognized me and that’s impressive. Everyone is just so supportive. It just shows the passion here and this community has something to cheer for and support.
“Our front office does a heckuva job promoting it and I just want us to do our part as a team in putting the right guys on the ice and win a hockey game.”
With the crowd chanting, “Let’s Go Flyers!” moments after the opening faceoff, the Ice Flyers produced the game’s first goal, less than five minutes into the game, when Tyler Burnie got a pass from Tyler German and rifled home a wrist shot from inside faceoff circle.
After Evansville tied the game in the second period, Ice Flyers defenseman and enforcer Laudon Poellinger scored on a wrist shot with 45 seconds left in the period. Earlier in the period, he engaged with Evansville’s Cameron MacPhee in a mid-ice fight after the two instantly left the penalty box for roughing.
Poellinger had a huge night. Two scraps, a goal, an assist and chosen as the game’s No. 1 star.
“He had a Gordie Howe hat trick” said Gates, referring to the legendary Detroit Red Wings’ Hall of Famer known for his scoring and brawling. “He had a goal, an assist and a fight.
“(Poellinger) was involved all over the ice. Heckuva game by him. But everybody played well. The level of experience we’re gathering from this is just one step at a time. We got three more periods to play (on Sunday) and we’ll see what happens.”
The Ice Flyers got a pivotal final goal Friday when Matt Allen perfectly timed the carom off the back boards from a teammates and sent the puck into the net before Evansville’s talented goaltender Kristian Stead had time to react. Those are the kind of bounces you need in a playoff game.
Evansville coach Jeff Bes pulled Stead with four minutes remaining, following a timeout, to give the Thunderbolts an extra attacker. But Ice Flyers goaltender Christian Propp won his fourth game in seven starts by finishing an outstanding performance between the pipes.
It included stopping Evansville on a wide open breakaway in the first period. Propp is playing with his fifth different team this season after joining the Ice Flyers in late March.
“He was focused from the start,” Gates said. “He provides the type of leadership that has experience. He has played in big games before.”
Evansville has an 18-8 home record with three overtime losses. Gates knows it figures to be another hard-checking, hard-grinding type of game on Sunday for the chance to reach the semifinals.
No matter what happens, the Ice Flyers were able to re-establish themselves this season in the league with an upper-tier finish in the standings and getting a playoff win.
“We are a learning group that is just kinda chugging away at it,” Gates said. “Sometimes being naïve to things is great. It’s step by step. I’m proud, but not satisfied.
“We work our butts off, everyone in this organization to just keep inching away at it. Maturing, being professional every single day.. and giving our guys the best opportunity.
“(Evansville) have a lot of experience over there. They won last year and have a lot of guys who have come back and know how to do those little things. But we are a better hockey team when we play the game the right way.”
written by Bill Vilona
Despite Late Rally, Wahoos Fall Short To Shuckers
April 12, 2026
Despite a late rally, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Biloxi Shuckers 7-5 on Saturday night.
Pensacola got off to a good start with club ace Karson Milbrandt (L, 0-1) opening the game with three scoreless innings. The Wahoos then struck first offensively with a three-run fourth inning, thanks to a throwing error by Biloxi on a single from Jay Beshears, and a sacrifice fly from Dylan Jasso. This gave Pensacola a 3-0 lead.
That lead would not make it out of the fourth inning though, as the Shuckers answered for five runs, kickstarted by a fielding error from second baseman Cristian Hernández. It was completed with a two-run home run from Darrien Miller, and an RBI single and steal of home from Kay-Lan Nicasia.
Biloxi tacked on two more via an Eduardo Garcia single in the fifth and a Matthew Wood sacrifice fly in the seventh. The Wahoos would threaten late, stealing back a run in the eighth inning on a Ryan Ignoffo double, and adding one more in the ninth, thanks to a Brendan Jones double. Sam Garcia (S, 1) entered from the Biloxi bullpen to strike out Fenwick Trimble and Ignoffo, stranding the potential tying run at second base to end the game.
Stiven Cruz (W, 1-0) was awarded the win after pitching 4.0 scoreless, hitless frames in long relief for Biloxi.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Sun
day.
New Educational Born Learning Trail For Kids Is Now Open In Century
April 11, 2026
Over two dozen volunteers gathered Friday morning in Century to refresh a Born Learning STEAM Trail.
The Born Learning Trail, a United Way Worldwide initiative since 2005, first opened in Century in late 2020, but the trail’s paint had since faded away. The trail is a series of the signs with activities painted on a park trail that offer fun, interactive learning activities for young children and their families. It was designed to help parents, caregivers, and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or while playing at the park.
The Born Learning Trail in Century was the second in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The Century Born Learning Trail is a partnership between International Paper, the Town of Century, and United Way of West Florida.
To visit the Born Learning Trail in Century, head to Showalter Park off East Hecker Road. Drive north around the baseball and softball fields and follow the road past the cemetery. The trail begins in portion of the paved trail that is under the trees. For a Google map, click here. The park is open daily from sunrise until sunset.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
