Fiery Crash Claims One Life Sunday Night
October 25, 2021
One person was killed in a fiery wreck Sunday night.
It happened shortly after 10 p.m. near North Palafox Street and East 10 Mile Road. The Lincoln sedan hit a tree and burst into flames after the crash.
The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not been able to identify the male driver. Anyone with information is asked to call *FHP
The Cantonment, Ensley and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Choice Expo Is Tuesday
October 25, 2021
The Escambia County School District’s School Choice Expo will be held Tuesday.
Representatives from ECSD Career Academies and Choice Schools will be on hand to greet guests and answer questions about their programs. Tables for career academy displays will be set up inside the Washington High School gym and cafeteria.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to experience all the awesome programs and school choice transfers available to our students in one venue. We look forward to once again seeing everyone there,” said Coordinator of Student Assignment Chris McFarland.
The School Choice Expo will be held Tuesday from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. at Washington High School. It coincides with the middle and school open enrollment period, which ends December 3. The open enrollment period for elementary schools is January 31 until March 11, 2022.
For more information about open enrollment, call (850) 469-5580. For questions about career academies, call (850) 469-5357.
Pictured: The 2020 ECSD School Choice Expo was virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it has returned to an in-person event for 2020. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Bonus Photo Gallery: Northview Chiefs Band, Cheerleaders And Fans
October 25, 2021
The Northview Chiefs beat the Marianna Bulldogs 21-14 Friday night in Bratt.
For a bonus photo gallery with the band, cheerleaders and fans, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Most Council On Aging Senior Dining Sites Return To In-Person Meals
October 25, 2021
Many of the Council on Aging of West Florida’s senior dining sites have returned to in-person service, which provides those 60 and over the opportunity for daily exercise, socialization, crafting and a free lunch.
For those who can and enjoy getting out for lunch, the Senior Dining Program is a neighborhood-based program which offers older citizens the opportunity to share their lunch with others their age. Hot nutritious balanced meals are served to active senior adults at several locations throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Meals are prepared fresh daily and contain one-third of the required daily allowance (RDA) for adults and comply with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Guidelines. In addition, participants have an opportunity to join in arts and crafts projects, play games and socialize.
In Escambia County, the Cantonment, Century and Cobb locations are open for sit-down lunches Monday-Friday. Fricker has sit-down lunches only on Monday, Thursdays and Fridays. Grab & Go lunches are available at the
Gull Point, Wedgewood, Westminster 1 & 5, Beulah, Westwood Homes and Bayview sites.
In Santa Rosa County, sit-down meals are available at the Chumuckla, Milton and Bagdad locations Monday-Friday. The Navarre site also has site-down lunches, but only Monday-Thursday.
Meals must be ordered before noon one day in advance by calling (850) 432-1475. Meals site locations and details are as follows:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Century Senior Center
6025 Industrial Blvd.
(850) 256-1012
Meal Serve Time: 11:00
St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church
300 Rocky Ave.
Cantonment 32533
OPEN 10-1:00
(850) 266-2512
Meal Serve Time: 11:00
Beulah Senior Center
425 Woodside Rd.
(850) 941-6057
GRAB & GO
Gull Point Community Center
7000 Spanish Trail
(850) 494-7360
Meal Serve Time: 11:00
Mary K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center
6405 Wagner Rd.
(850) 471-6137
GRAB & GO
Cobb Community Center
601 E. Mallory St.
(850) 436-5564
Meal Serve Time: 11:00
Westwood Homes
4400 Westover Ave.
(850) 292-9868
Meal Serve Time: 11:00
Bayview Senior Center
2000 E. Lloyd St.
(850) 436-5190
Meal Serve Time: 11:15
Westminster Retirement Village
Bldg. 1, 1700 N. “L” St, 2nd FL
(850) 433-7642
GRAB & GO
Westminster Retirement Village
Bldg. 5,1951 W. Blount St. 4th FL
(850) 433-5036
GRAB & GO
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Chumuckla Community Center
2355 Hwy 182 West
Jay, FL. 32565
(850) 994-8811
Meal Serve Time 11:00
Christ United Methodist Church
5983 Dogwood St.
Milton, FL 32570
(850) 983-4590
Meal Serve Time 11:00
Bagdad Community Center
6860 Pooley St.
Bagdad, FL 32530
(850) 983-4500
Meal Serve Time 11:00
E.H. Pullum Senior Center
8476 Gordon Goodin Ln.
Navarre, FL 32566
Open Monday – Thursday
(850) 936-1644
Meal Serve Time 11:00
Gulf Power Explores Ways To Move Power Lines Underground To Enhance Reliability
October 25, 2021
Gulf Power is exploring ways to move power lines underground to enhance reliability, especially during storms.
The Storm Secure Underground Pilot Program is designed to help find cost effective ways to replace overhead neighborhood power lines with more reliable underground lines.
In a first of its kind project for Gulf Power, the company recently demonstrated how it is replacing overhead power lines with more reliable underground lines in the Myrtle Grove community.
While the program is new for Gulf Power, it has been used by their parent company Florida Power & Light on more than 300 neighborhood projects in FPL’s service territory. Gulf Power is leveraging FPL’s expertise to improve service to customers in Northwest Florida.
Trees and vegetation blowing into overhead power lines are a leading cause of service interruptions, particularly during hurricanes and severe weather. Putting power lines underground improves reliability during good weather and bad. Neighborhoods are chosen for the program based on data, including a history of vegetation-related outages and other reliability issues.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Stabilize After 13-Cent Average Hike
October 25, 2021
Florida gas prices stabilized over the weekend after rising another 13 cents, last week. The state average now sits at $3.31 per gallon. That’s a new 2021 high, and the most expensive daily average price since October 2014.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $3.23, up four cents from a week ago. The North Escambia low price was $3.17 at three Cantonment stations, while $3.12 per gallon could be found at a few stations on Highway 29 and on Nine Mile Road.
Florida pump prices have climbed a total of 26 cents this month. So far this year, the state average has increased a total of $1.12 per gallon since January 1. Florida drivers are now paying $1.23 per gallon more than this time last year, and 89 cents more than this time in 2019.
“Gas prices have been dragged higher by skyrocketing crude oil prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Crude oil prices have faced tremendous upward pressure, because global fuel demand is outpacing global production and supply levels. Although oil prices increased again last week, it was by a smaller margin than the weeks before. Fortunately, gasoline futures held steady. So even if gas prices increase again this week, it shouldn’t be as significant of a jump as what drivers have experienced so far this month.”
A rather uneventful week in the gasoline futures market is good news for motorists. Gasoline futures finished the week 1-cent lower than the week before. This is a positive indicator that retail pump prices could stabilize this week. Prior to last week, gasoline futures logged 12 cents gains in two consecutive weeks; and retail prices followed suit.
New Retail Shopping Center Proposed For Archer Road, Highway 29
October 24, 2021
A new shopping center is being proposed for the northeast corner of Archer Road and Highway 29.
DKJ Real Properties filed the application for the Archer Road Retail Center this month.
With just under 10,000 square feet, the shopping center will have eight retail spaces ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet and 33 parking spaces on just under one acre, if constructed.
The project is currently in the Escambia County Development Review process.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (With Photo Gallery)
October 24, 2021
Thousands of people took part in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday in downtown Pensacola.
The American Cancer Society started Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks to unite communities in the fight against the deadly disease. Today, Making Strides is the largest network of breast cancer events in the nation – and participants do more than just walk. They raise money to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and provide patient services like free rides to chemo, free places to stay near treatment, and a live 24/7 cancer helpline.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos courtesy Tate Softball and WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Shift To Winter Staffing, Towers Off The Beach
October 24, 2021
A heads up if you are headed to Pensacola Beach. The lifeguards have shifted to winter staffing, and the lifeguard towers have been taken off the beach until next year.
Lifeguards will maintain a presence on Pensacola Beach throughout the winter at Casino Beach and via patrol vehicles.
Residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution when visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf, especially when lifeguards are not present.
The warning flags are still in place. Here’s what they mean:
- Green Flag – Means “low hazard,” but you should still exercise caution.
- Yellow flag – Indicates “moderate surf and conditions” such as rip currents. Swimmers should exercise careful caution when entering the water.
- Red flag – “Strong currents and high surf,” no swimming or wading. Entering the Gulf of Mexico to swim or wade during red flag conditions is illegal in Escambia County.
- Double red flags – Only used during hurricanes and other natural disasters. No swimming, wading or surfing in the Gulf of Mexico. Entering the Gulf of Mexico during double red flag conditions is illegal in Escambia County.
- Purple flag – Indicates “dangerous marine wildlife” may be present. Please use caution when entering the water.
File photo.
Here Are The Road Constructions Spots To Watch This Week
October 24, 2021
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
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement - Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Oct. 30. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- 17th Avenue Interchange construction – The opening of the new 17th Avenue interchange in Pensacola is currently estimated for Monday, Oct. 25. The new interchange will include a flyover connecting westbound traffic exiting the Pensacola Bay Bridge to East Gregory Street or Bayfront Parkway. Beneath the flyover, a new single-lane roundabout will replace the traffic signal formerly at 17th Avenue and provide seamless travel between the bridge, 17th Avenue north and southbound, East Gregory Street, and Bayfront Parkway.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25 through Friday, Oct. 29 to allow crews to mobilize materials and equipment.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures between the following locations as crews perform median improvements and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals.
- D and N Streets (inside lane closures)
- P and Q Streets (inside lane closures)
- Y and Shoemaker Streets (inside lane closures)
- Q and N Streets (intermittent outside lane closure)
- Kirk and R Streets (intermittent outside lane closure)
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) to U.S. 29 – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound traffic shifts between Pine Forest Road and U.S. 29 as crews place final asphalt and striping.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers will encounter temporary intermittent shifts to allow crews to pave turn lanes, side streets, driveways, and the on- and off-ramps to I-10. Access to all businesses will be maintained, traffic flaggers and signage will be in place to direct traffic.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road (C.R.) 292A) – Motorists can expect daytime shoulder closures the week of Monday, Oct. 25 as crews place a watermain.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers can expect the following construction-related traffic impacts:
- Nighttime intermittent lane closures and shifts, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 northbound on-ramp and U.S. 29 southbound off-ramp at the Nine Mile Road interchange may be reduced to a single lane during the nighttime hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Signage will be in place and traffic flaggers will be on-site to direct motorists.
- S.R. 291 (Davis Street) Routine Utility Maintenance at Chadwick Street Intersection – The outside eastbound lane will be closed at the Chadwick Street intersection from 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 to 4 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29 as crews upgrade electrical equipment.
- S.R. 296 (Bayou Boulevard) Routine Utility Maintenance near the Bank of America – The outside eastbound lane will be closed from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 as crews upgrade electrical equipment.
- U.S. 90 (West Cervantes Street) Routine Maintenance near North Pace Boulevard – The outside eastbound lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 as crews perform paving operations.
- Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Emergency Lane Closure at B Street – Motorists can expect lane closures Friday, Oct. 22, and Sunday, Oct 31 as crews perform emergency roadway operations.
Santa Rosa County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Oct. 30. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure. Additional work will include the installation of pier lighting.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures on the Blackwater River Bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 through Thursday, Oct. 28 as crews perform paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.