Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Worry Spots
June 22, 2025
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:
- Garden Street (Business U.S. 98) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I-110) Ramp – The week of Sunday, June 22, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and North Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction), as crews perform construction activities on the south side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through early 2026.
- Temporary side street closures south of Garden Street, from B Street to J Street, as crews perform utility and stormwater management enhancements.
- On-street parking is closed on the south side of Garden Street, between B Street and L Street. Additionally, periodic on-street parking closures will occur on Garden Street, between A Street and Alcaniz Street, for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
- Signage will be in place to direct drivers and pedestrians around the work zone.
- Michigan Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 296) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, June 22, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Michigan Avenue, from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for utility work and manhole adjustments.
- Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Resurfacing, from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Baisden Road – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Monday, June 23 through Thursday, June 26, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for milling and paving operations:
- Intermittent lane closures on Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard, from Davis Highway to Baisden Road.
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- On-street parking closures on Bayou Boulevard, between 12th Avenue and Baisden Road.
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek Construction – Interstate Circle is closed at the Eight Mile Creek Bridge through mid-2025 while crews replace the bridge. Signs are in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent I-10 inside lane closures near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, June 22 through Thursday, June 26, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – The week of Sunday, June 22, drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
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- The U.S. 29 southbound turn lane access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp will be temporarily shortened Monday, June 23 through Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reduced turn-lane length is required for daytime construction activities and will reopen nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
- I-10 between U.S. 29 and I-110, is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – The week of Sunday, June 22, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Pine Forest Road, from Mobile Highway to Blue Angel Parkway, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for milling and paving operations.
- S.R. 289 (9th Avenue) Routine Maintenance in Pensacola – Motorists will encounter intermittent north and southbound lane closures Sunday, June 22 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for striping operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Turn Lane Operations at Ambassador Drive – Motorists will encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures Monday, June 23 through Thursday, July 3 for turn lane operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 90 lane closures, between Avalon Boulevard and Stewart Street, Sunday, June 22 through Thursday, June 26, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for shoulder work and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Drivers on U.S. 90 may encounter intermittent lane closures over the Simpson River Bridge, Sunday, June 22 through Thursday, June 26, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. as crews perform bridge construction work. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing, from south of East Bay Boulevard (County Road 399) to Vonnie Tolbert Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 87, from East Bay Boulevard to Vonnie Tolbert Road, Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., for concrete repair work.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, June 22, through Friday, June 27, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- New traffic configuration beginning Sunday, June 22: All lanes between Green Briar Parkway/Country Club Road and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) will be shifted to allow crews to complete median construction operations.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of Miller Bluff Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound lane closures Sunday, June 22 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Wahoos Thwarted Late, Drop Close Contest To Montgomery Biscuits
June 22, 2025
The Blue Wahoos played their quickest game of the week Saturday and without weather delay.
But it failed to alter a struggling pattern.
Unable to generate a big inning or late-inning dramatics, the Blue Wahoos dropped another one-run game, this time a 4-3 setback against the Montgomery Biscuits before the usual Saturday capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was their fourth loss in five games against the Biscuits in the final series of season’s first-half schedule. It meant the Blue Wahoos (33-35) won’t have a winning record before the divisional standings reset next week. The Biscuits (38-30) clinched the series with a third straight win.
The night, however, contained a layered number of crowd-pleasing activities.
The biggest, of course, was the post-game fireworks.When it ended, the Blue Wahoos began their “Shark In the Park Night” next door on the boat dock and in the water behind right field. The original “Jaws” was played on a big screen as people watched in the water on the 50th anniversary summer of the iconic film’s debut.
There was also a poignant “Home Run For Life” featuring a young boy who beat back leukemia with help from his father’s stem cell transplant.
The game evolved like others this week with Montgomery taking an early lead. After Homer Bush Jr. led off the game with a walk, Cooper Kinney followed with a 2-run homer off Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton.
In the second inning, Bush had a two-out single to score Willy Vasquez, who had been hit by a pitch.
The Blue Wahoos got two runs back in their half of that inning when Johnny Olmstead hit a two-run homer.
Montgomery, however, answered right back when Brayden Taylor led off with a walk and scored on another RBI single from Bush. Fulton finished the inning, but had his shortest start since May 31. It was another tough-luck outing. He had a season-high eight strikeouts and only two walks, but an error and the first inning home run were his downfall.
The Blue Wahoos made it a one-run game when Dalvy Rosario led off the fifth inning with a walk and scored on Nathan Martorella’s RBI single. However, they had just one hit and two baserunners in the final four innings as Montgomery’s bullpen again shut down any opportunity.
The Blue Wahoos had nine fly ball outs in this game. They will now seek to salvage a second win in the series finale on Sunday, as the first half ends.
GAME NOTABLES
— Hours before the game, Blue Wahoos players froze during practice to see a U.S. Marines MV-22 Osprey Helicopter flying over the stadium and landing across Main Street at the former ECUA lot. The players stopped their routine to look at the faded olive green chopper from the Vietnam War. The helicopter was part of a special reunion at the ballpark from retired members of U.S. Marines Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 (VMM-362), known as the Ugly Angels, who were formed in the early 1950s, then fought in the Vietnam War, the Iraq War and other conflicts. This particular helicopter, which traveled to Pensacola from Oklahoma, had more than 50 bullet holes on its sides from combat duty.
The reunion featured more than 240 members of the Ugly Angels, who got their name from a wounded Marine, rescued by the squadron and chopper and said, “that is the ugliest angel I’ve ever seen.” The group had a two hour event with speakers and other testimonials, then watched Saturday’s game from a group section in the stands.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Suspected Fatal Nine Mile Road Hit And Run Driver Surrenders To FHP
June 21, 2025
A pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit and run early Friday morning on Nine Mile Road, and the suspected hit and run driver has surrendered to troopers.
It happened about 4 a.m. on East Nine Mile Road at University Parkway.
The Florida Highway Patrol said an unidentified man was struck in a crosswalk while attempting to cross Nine Mile by an unknown make and model white SUV that was traveling eastbound.
The pedestrian, positively identified as a 41 -year-old male for Cocoa, Florida, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at Baptist Hospital.
The white SUV fled the scene without stopping to render aid or report the crash, trooper said.
The 34-year-old male suspected hit and run driver was identified and turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol later Friday evening. The suspected hit and run vehicle has been located and in in the possession oF FHP.
The investigation is ongoing with charges pending; the suspect has not been named.
ECSO: Byrneville Man Stole Two UTVs from Solar Farm, Traded Them For A Ford Mustang
June 21, 2025
A Byneville man is charged with allegedly stealing two side by sides from an area solar farm before trading them through Facebook Marketplace for a Ford Mustang.
Christopher Clayton Simmons, 38, was charged with two counts of grand theft of motor vehicle, two counts of grand theft, petit theft, criminal mischief with property damage, using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, dealing in stolen property,
The investigation began when deputies responded to a report of two side by sides from a Florida Power & Light solar farm located on Cox Road. Authorities discovered tire tracks leading away from the secured site, indicating the vehicles were driven off the property before likely being loaded onto a trailer nearby. The stolen UTVs were a Club Car 1700 Carry All and a Kubota RTV900Kv.
Simmons later offered over Facebook to trade the stolen UTVs for a Ford Mustang. After trading his Mustang, the victim discovered that the UTVs had been stolen.
The Ford Mustang was subsequently seized from a residence on Byrneville Road.
On May 29, deputies confirmed the recovery of both stolen UTVs, which had been seized by another agency after their VINs were run and confirmed stolen. One of the UTVs was observed to have been spray-painted. The estimated cost of repairs for the damaged UTV is approximately $1,000.
Simmons remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday with bond set at $18,000.
Berrydale Man Charged With Allegedly Beating A Puppy With A Pole
June 21, 2025
A 57-year-old Berrydale man was charged with beating a 5-month-old puppy with a fiberglass pole, causing a traumatic injury.
Michael Dexter Hunter was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty after his wife reported the incident at their home.
According to an arrest report, the Blue Heeler puppy was traumatically injured, unable to walk, foaming at the mouth and “yelping hysterically while spinning in a circle.”
Hunter’s wife told deputies that she walked out of the house to see Hunter standing over the puppy with a fiberglass pole in the air.
According to the report, the wife took the puppy to an emergency veterinarian in Pensacola. The vet provided pain medication and advised proper home care for the puppy.
Tate Grad Maum Awarded Escambia Retired Educators Scholarship
June 21, 2025
At this week’s Escambia County School Board meeting, the Escambia County Retired Educators Association awarded Nicholas Maum with a $1000 scholarship.
Maum, a 2025 Tate graduate, plans to enter the educational field.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Coast Recreation Classic Is Next Week At John R. Jones Ballpark
June 21, 2025
Next week, Escambia County Parks and Recreation will host the 2025 Gulf Coast Recreation Classic at the John R. Jones Ballpark at 555 East. Nine Mile Road.
The games begin on Monday, June 23 and last until Saturday, June 28. Game times are 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. Monday-Friday and Saturday games will begin at 9 a.m. Roger Scott Athletic Complex, located at 2130 Summit Boulevard., will host the 10U division games June 23-24, 26-27 at 5:30 and 7:15 p.m.
There will be 62 recreation-based all-star teams participating in the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic, including teams from Escambia County, City of Pensacola, City of Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa County, and Okaloosa County. Teams consist of youth baseball players ages 7-15. The tournament is open to the public at no charge. All spectators are welcome to support the recreation all-stars.
Escambia County teams include players from Northwest Escambia Baseball (NWE), Perdido Baseball, NEP Baseball, Molino Recreation Association, and West Pensacola Baseball.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these all-star teams back to Escambia County for another great year of youth sports,” Escambia Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said. “It’s an honor to be selected to host these teams, and I’d like to give a special shoutout to our staff who works hard to make this event happen. The passion our players and their families have for youth sports is what makes events like this possible. We look forward to a great week of youth sports and invite everyone to come out and join us.”
Pictured: NWE 10U at the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
White Debuts, Wahoos Fall In Wild 10-Inning Finish
June 21, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
Even with a 3-2 loss in extra innings on Friday night, there was a special buzz around Blue Wahoos Stadium. With specialty jerseys and a beanie giveaway for Snowmageddon night, a capacity crowd filed in.
Oh yeah, and for the Double-A debut of the Marlins’ No.1 and MLB Pipeline’s 30th overall prospect, Thomas White.
With all of the hype surrounding the young right-hander’s Blue Wahoos debut, it was overshadowed by pure chaos in extra innings.
Heading into extras with the score at 1-1, there had already been nine unpredictable innings played. White and his counterpart, Brody Hopkins, both made early exits, and each team’s bullpen was lights out. To pair with on-the-fly bullpen pairings from each side, Pensacola manager Nelson Prada was ejected in the third inning, arguing a ball-in-play call with home plate umpire Jared Duerson.
In the top of the tenth, Montgomery took a two-run lead after a double from Matthew Etzel off of Will Kempner (L, 0-1), with Tatem Levins getting just under Ryan Ignoffo’s tag at the plate, infuriating the Blue Wahoos on the field and in the dugout. Following the play, multiple ejections ensued, including reliever Ricky DeVito in the bullpen and second baseman Cody Morissette.
The Blue Wahoos, fielding a makeshift defense that included Nathan Martorella moving from first to left field and Dalvy Rosario coming in to second from center field, escaped the top of the tenth. Martorella singled in Grant Richardson on the first pitch of the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Blue Wahoos were able to load the bases with two outs, as Johnny Olmstead reached on a dropped third strike and Ignoffo reached on an infield single. The Biscuits let nothing more come from it, as Jackson Lancaster (S, 1) induced a ground ball to short from Dalvy Rosario to end the night.
White’s night began with an up-and-down first inning. After notching his first career Double-A strikeout against Homer Bush Jr. to lead off the night, he walked the next two hitters, along with a single to Matthew Etzel. White picked up two more punchouts, sitting down Colton Ledbetter and Tres Barrera to wiggle out of the self-induced jam, but not without racking up his pitch count to 37 in the first frame.
Montgomery continued to force White into elevating the pitch count, forcing an early exit. As the Massachusetts native was taken out at 2.2 IP, he allowed three hits, one earned run, four walks and four strikeouts in his first start at Double-A.
“It’s good to see that my stuff definitely does play,” White said. “I felt pretty comfortable, actually. I think there’s sometimes you just go out there and maybe you just don’t have it, whether something’s not clicking mechanically or just release point-wise.”
After the Biscuits pushed a run across against White in the third thanks to an infield single by Etzel, the Blue Wahoos tied things up at one with a bases-loaded walk. Montgomery starter Brody Hopkins walked four in the fourth, allowing Shane Sasaki to score to bring it to 1-1.
Alex Williams was a standout for the Pensacola bullpen as he shouldered the load for the staff. After White lasted only 2.2 IP while pushing his pitch count to 70, Williams provided 4.2 IP of shutout baseball. While allowing only two hits, the right-hander pushed his scoreless streak to 19.1 IP, tying Tim Adelman for the tenth-longest streak in franchise history.
The Biscuits found success in the bullpen, piecing together 5.0 shutout innings prior to Martorella’s RBI in the tenth against Lancaster. Dan Hammer, Keyshawn Askew and Trevor Martin (W, 3-1) put together this stretch that helped push the Biscuits to their third win of the week.
The Blue Wahoos and Biscuits will meet for the fifth game of a six-game series Saturday night, with Dax Fulton (3-4, 3.60 ERA) taking the mound for Pensacola while Ty Cummings (2-2, 3.07 ERA) will make his fifth start of the year for Montgomery.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday.
GAMETIMES: Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
FHP: Cantonment Man Charged With DUI After Fleeing From Trooper Twice
June 20, 2025
A 53-year-old Cantonment mans is accused of DUI and fleeing from a state trooper that pursued him twice.
Bruce Maurice Tucker was charged with DUI, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, and resisting an officer. He was later released on an $8,000 bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a Cedar Point Road in Cantonment where they found Tucker passed out behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Silverado in the middle of the road with the engine running, according to an FHP report. The trooper activated his blue lights and woke Tucker up. He reported smelling alcohol on Tucker’s breath.
FHP said he refused to exit the vehicle and drove away, with the trooper in pursuit. He stopped a short distance later, before fleeing again with the trooper pursuing him to a yard. The trooper reported hitting a tree stump, disabling his cruiser with a bent rim and Tucker continued down the roadway.
Troopers later obtained video of the Chevy swerving in the road prior to it stopping on Cedar Point Road, and FHP identified Tucker as the driver.
Want To Play Molino Photo Bingo? Take These Photos, Join Library Group On Monday
June 20, 2025
Want to play Molino Photo Bingo?
The Molino Library Photography Club will meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 23 at the library.
Attendees are taking part in Molino Photo Bingo to learn and improve their skills. The bingo card is pictured above (click to enlarge) or click here for a pdf. It is not necessary to participate in the bingo to attend the meeting.
Club members learn about photography, whether using a simple a simple camera, a more professional DSLR, or a phone. The meeting is open to anyone, whether a beginner or pro.