Three Mile Bridge Walking, Cycling Pathway Now Open To The Public
August 18, 2020
The multi-use path along the Pensacola Bay Bridge is now open, allowing people to walk, run or cycle between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson, Gulf Breeze Mayor Cherry Fitch and Senator Doug Broxson took part in the opening Monday.
“This is going to be a true asset in our community, not only providing additional connectivity between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, but also giving us new opportunities to enjoy incredible views of Pensacola Bay,” Robinson said.
A second walkway will be built along the second span of the bridge, which is currently under construction.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
SEC Announces Football Schedule (With Complete Team Schedules)
August 18, 2020
The Southeastern Conference has announced the new football schedules for all 14 SEC schools for the 2020 season.
Last month, the SEC established September 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19.
The 2020 SEC football season is comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5. The schedule includes one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all schools.
Each SEC team will play 10 conference football games to include six games against division opponents and four games against non-division opponents.
The season is scheduled to begin on September 26 and will culminate with the SEC Championship Game. It will be the 29th edition of the game and the 27th in the city of Atlanta.
The complete schedule by week is below, followed by the complete scheduled by team.
SCHEDULE BY WEEK
WEEK ONE
September 26
Alabama at Missouri
Georgia at Arkansas
Kentucky at Auburn
Mississippi State at LSU
Florida at Ole Miss
Tennessee at South Carolina
Vanderbilt at Texas A&M
WEEK TWO
October 3
Texas A&M at Alabama
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Auburn at Georgia
South Carolina at Florida
Ole Miss at Kentucky
LSU at Vanderbilt
Missouri at Tennessee
WEEK THREE
October 10
Alabama at Ole Miss
Arkansas at Auburn
Florida at Texas A&M
Tennessee at Georgia
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Missouri at LSU
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
WEEK FOUR
October 17
Georgia at Alabama
Ole Miss at Arkansas
Auburn at South Carolina
LSU at Florida
Kentucky at Tennessee
Texas A&M at Mississippi State
Vanderbilt at Missouri
WEEK FIVE
October 24
Alabama at Tennessee
Auburn at Ole Miss
Missouri at Florida
Georgia at Kentucky
South Carolina at LSU
WEEK SIX
October 31
Mississippi State at Alabama
Arkansas at Texas A&M
LSU at Auburn
Kentucky at Missouri
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
WEEK SEVEN
November 7
Tennessee at Arkansas
Florida vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
Texas A&M at South Carolina
WEEK EIGHT
November 14
Alabama at LSU
Arkansas at Florida
Auburn at Mississippi State
Georgia at Missouri
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
South Carolina at Ole Miss
Texas A&M at Tennessee
WEEK NINE
November 21
Kentucky at Alabama
LSU at Arkansas
Tennessee at Auburn
Florida at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at Georgia
Ole Miss at Texas A&M
Missouri at South Carolina
WEEK TEN
November 28
Auburn at Alabama
Arkansas at Missouri
Kentucky at Florida
Georgia at South Carolina
LSU at Texas A&M
Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
WEEK ELEVEN
December 5
Alabama at Arkansas
Texas A&M at Auburn
Florida at Tennessee
Vanderbilt at Georgia
South Carolina at Kentucky
Ole Miss at LSU
Missouri at Mississippi State
December 12
Open Date
December 19
SEC Football Championship (Atlanta)
SCHEDULES BY TEAM
Alabama Crimson Tide
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Missouri
Oct. 3 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 10 at Ole Miss
Oct. 17 GEORGIA
Oct. 24 at Tennessee
Oct. 31 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 KENTUCKY
Nov. 28 AUBURN
Dec. 5 at Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 GEORGIA
Oct. 3 at Mississippi State
Oct. 10 at Auburn
Oct. 17 OLE MISS
Oct. 24 Open
Oct. 31 at Texas A&M
Nov. 7 TENNESSEE
Nov. 14 at Florida
Nov. 21 LSU
Nov. 28 at Missouri
Dec. 5 ALABAMA
Auburn Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 KENTUCKY
Oct. 3 at Georgia
Oct. 10 ARKANSAS
Oct. 17 at South Carolina
Oct. 24 at Ole Miss
Oct. 31 LSU
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 at Mississippi State
Nov. 21 TENNESSEE
Nov. 28 at Alabama
Dec. 5 TEXAS A&M
Florida Gators
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Ole Miss
Oct. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 10 at Texas A&M
Oct. 17 LSU
Oct. 24 MISSOURI
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 Georgia (Jacksonville)
Nov. 14 ARKANSAS
Nov. 21 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 28 KENTUCKY
Dec. 5 at Tennessee
Georgia Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 7 (Mon.) vs. Virginia (Atlanta)
Sept. 26 at Arkansas
Oct. 3 AUBURN
Oct. 10 TENNESSEE
Oct. 17 at Alabama
Oct. 24 at Kentucky
Oct. 31 OPEN
Nov. 7 vs. FLORIDA (at Jacksonville)
Nov. 14 at Missouri
Nov. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 28 at South Carolina
Dec. 5 VANDERBUILT
Kentucky Wildcats
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Auburn
Oct. 3 OLE MISS
Oct. 10 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 17 at Tennessee
Oct. 24 GEORGIA
Oct. 31 at Missouri
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 VANDERBILT
Nov. 21 at Alabama
Nov. 28 at Florida
Dec. 5 SOUTH CAROLINA
LSU Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 3 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 10 MISSOURI
Oct. 17 at Florida
Oct. 24 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 31 at Auburn
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 ALABAMA
Nov. 21 at Arkansas
Nov. 28 at Texas A&M
Dec. 5 OLE MISS
Ole Miss Rebels
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 FLORIDA
Oct. 3 at Kentucky
Oct. 10 ALABAMA
Oct. 17 at Arkansas
Oct. 24 AUBURN
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 21 at Texas A&M
Nov. 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Dec. 5 at LSU
Mississippi State Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at LSU
Oct. 3 ARKANSAS
Oct. 10 at Kentucky
Oct. 17 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 24 Open
Oct. 31 at Alabama
Nov. 7 VANDERBILT
Nov. 14 AUBURN
Nov. 21 at Georgia
Nov. 28 at Ole Miss
Dec. 5 MISSOURI
Missouri Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 ALABAMA
Oct. 3 at Tennessee
Oct. 10 at LSU
Oct. 17 VANDERBILT
Oct. 24 at Florida
Oct. 31 KENTUCKY
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 GEORGIA
Nov. 21 at South Carolina
Nov. 28 ARKANSAS
Dec. 5 at Mississippi State
South Carolina Gamecocks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 TENNESSEE
Oct. 3 at Florida
Oct. 10 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17 AUBURN
Oct. 24 at LSU
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 14 at Ole Miss
Nov. 21 MISSOURI
Nov. 28 GEORGIA
Dec. 5 at Kentucky
Tennessee Volunteers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at South Carolina
Oct. 3 MISSOURI
Oct. 10 at Georgia
Oct. 17 KENTUCKY
Oct. 24 ALABAMA
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 at Arkansas
Nov. 14 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 21 at Auburn
Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt
Dec. 5 FLORIDA
Texas A&M Aggies
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 VANDERBILT
Oct. 3 at Alabama
Oct. 10 FLORIDA
Oct. 17 at Mississippi State
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 ARKANSAS
Nov. 7 at South Carolina
Nov. 14 at Tennessee
Nov. 21 OLE MISS
Nov. 28 LSU
Dec. 5 at Auburn
Vanderbilt Commodores
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Texas A&M
Oct. 3 LSU
Oct. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 17 at Missouri
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 OLE MISS
Nov. 7 at Mississippi State
Nov. 14 at Kentucky
Nov. 21 FLORIDA
Nov. 28 TENNESSEE
Dec. 5 at Georgia
Molino Man Charged With Child Abuse, Battery After Allegedly Beating, Body Slamming Teen
August 18, 2020
A Molino man was arrested after allegedly body slamming a teen, and sending another person to a local hospital for treatment.
Eric Matthew Benson, 38, was charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor battery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a disturbance where deputies arrived to find a 59-year old male and a teen female with injuries.
A witness told deputies that two teens had been fighting each other, and that infuriated Benson, according to an arrest report.
Benson then began to “brutally beat” the teen female, picking her up and slamming her to the floor, the report states. The male attempted to help the female, but Benson beat him and also slammed him to the floor, the report continues.
The male was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for multiple cuts and possible broken bones.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery Of His Pregnant Girlfriend, Resisting Arrest With Violence
August 17, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with battery of his pregnant girlfriend and resisting arrest.
Shane Christopher Cash, 25, was charged with aggravated battery when the offender knew the victim was pregnant, criminal mischief with property damage, resisting an officer with violence, and tampering in a third degree felony proceeding. Cash remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday with bond set at $25,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Klondike Road and Wilde Lake Boulevard where they found an unoccupied Toyota in the roadway with the hazard lights on. The female victim approached the deputy, crying hysterically and stating, “he wrecked my vehicle” while looking at a male that was walking away from the scene at a quick pace.
The deputy pursued Cash on foot and gave him several loud commands to stop with no results. As the deputy caught up with Cash, he said that he was doing nothing wrong and still refused to stop. Cash told the deputy, “You better not touch me”, all according to an ECSO arrest report.
The deputy then grabbed Cash’s left arm and performed a leg sweep, “guiding” him into a grassy area, the report states. The deputy and Cash continued to struggle as Cash refused to follow commands and physically resist the deputy.
The victim, identified in the report as Cash’s girlfriend, said she loaned him her car. He returned to say he had wrecked the car by Cracker Barrel.
They drove the car away and begin to argue. He began to hit the dashboard, breaking it, the report states. The woman grabbed her daughter from the back seat, ran away and tried to call 911. That’s when cash allegedly snatched the phone out of her hand and scratched her face. The victim told deputies that she is 33 weeks pregnant with Cash’s child.
Cash denied the allegations against him.
Test Results Are Back For Almost All Century Prison Inmates. Half Are COVID-19 Positive.
August 17, 2020
Results are back from most of the inmates tested for COVID-19 at Century Correctional Institution, with over half the tests coming back positive.
As of Sunday night, 759 inmates have tested positive for the virus at CCI and 748 were negative. Results were still pending for just 25 inmates. CCI houses about 1,500 inmates, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
There were 554 inmates held in quarantine and three medical isolation Sunday night. There have not been any inmate deaths reported at the Century prison.
A total of 35 staff members have also tested positive for COVID-19.
“The great majority of inmates at Century CI who have tested positive showed mild or no symptoms of the virus when they were tested. All inmates continue to be provided with ongoing medical care and monitoring by facility health care professionals who follow CDC guidelines for the prevention, evaluation, treatment and management of COVID-19. Working in tandem with security staff, they are ensuring that inmates receive the care they need while still fulfilling FDC’s important public safety mission,” the Department of Corrections said in a statement.
Testing has been offered to all CCI inmates, and each one is being monitored daily. All services, including medical and meals, are being provided to inmates within their housing units.
Florida Gas Prices Fall A Few Cents
August 17, 2020
Florida gas prices dropped four cents last week. The state average has now declined the past 15 consecutive days for a total discount of six cents.
The state average price for regular unleaded is $2.09 per gallon.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.06, down a penny from last week. In North Escambia, one Muscogee Road station was at $1.91 Sunday night, while Pensacola’s lowest price was $1.81 on Davis Highway.
“Gas prices are drifting lower, reaching the low $2.00-range in many markets,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices are declining as concerns about elevated cases of COVID-19 continue to dampen expectations for fuel demand. The current outlook has prevented crude oil prices from gaining any significant ground, thus keeping gas prices low.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
New Escambia Fire Trucks In Service, Including Molino’s ‘Engine 18′
August 17, 2020
Escambia County’s new fire engines are now in service answering calls, including Molino’s new “Engine 18″ that replaces a 2003 model year truck.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported in early July, the four 2019 Pierce Enforcer fire engines replace aging trucks in Molino, Ensley, Myrtle Grove and Pleasant Grove.
Each truck features a Cummins L9 450 horsepower engine, a 750-gallon tank, a Hale 1500-gallon per minute pump, a deck gun and seating for five personnel. The rear-forward facing crew cab seats, and an EMS compartment above each front wheel. The trucks also feature cargo netting with a single pull lanyard that secures the EMS compartments, a coated interior, vinyl seats, and headliner help with cab decontamination. The vertical exhaust keeps heat and emissions away from firefighters working around the apparatus.
For a photo gallery of Engine 18 at the Molino Fire Station, click here.
In addition to providing dependable, state-of-the-art equipment, having new engines under warranty will also decrease repair and maintenance costs which have increased significantly due to the aging fleet, the county said when the purchase was approved unanimously by the Escambia County Commission about a year ago.
The four new vehicles were purchased for a total of $2,036,267 using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Pictured: The new “Engine 18″ apparatus as the Molino Fire Station, also known as Station 18. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Alarm Fire Damages Town & Country Plaza
August 16, 2020
A three alarm fire damaged several businesses in Town & Country Plaza shopping center on North Pace Boulevard early Sunday morning.
The first reports of the fire came in about 5:10 a.m. The first fire units on scene reported smoke coming from the area of the old Morrison’s restaurant and businesses that included Boost Mobile, Citi Trends and Image Menswear. Initially, the heaviest fire and origination appeared to be in the storefront occupied by the Early Learning Coalition.
Escambia Fire Rescue stations from across much of Escambia County responded to the fire, while crews from as far north as Walnut Hill and Century were moved into standby positions.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The first stores at Town & Country Plaza, including Gayfers and Delchamps, opened in October 1956. It was regarded as the first suburban shopping center in Pensacola.
Pictured: Escambia Fire Rescue on scene of a Sunday morning fire at Town & Country Plaza on North Pace Boulevard. Photos WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Motorcyclist Dead, SUV Driver Serious After County Road 97 Crash
August 16, 2020
A motorcyclist was killed and and a SUV driver was seriously injured in a crash involving a SUV and a motorcycle Saturday night in Cantonment.
The 57-year old motorcyclist from Cantonment was southbound behind a Kia Soul on County Road 97 near Arena Road when the motorcyclist attempted to properly pass, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver of the SUV attempted to make a left turn into a driveway and failed to see the motorcycle passing, causing the motorcycle to strike the driver’s side of the Kia about 7:34 p.m.
The motorcyclist was airlifted to a Sacred Heart Hospital by ShandsCair medical helicopter where he was later pronounced deceased.
The driver of the KIA, a 31–year old male from Pensacola, was trapped in his vehicle and extricated by firefighters before being transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital. His injuries were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The Cantonment, Ensley and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the wreck.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of accident victims.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Over 11,000 Early Votes Were Cast In Escambia County. Here’s A Breakdown By Location, Party.
August 16, 2020
Early voting concluded Saturday with more than 11,000 ballots cast in Escambia County.
There were 11,158 votes cast during the early voting period in Escambia County, and there have 23,108 mail in ballots returned.
With 34,721 total ballots cast, turnout for the 2020 Primary Election is at 19.6% so far in Escambia County.
The graphic below shows the early voting turnout in Escambia County by party and location.
