Gas Prices Jump
April 1, 2019
Rising demand and tightening fuel supplies led to a significant jump at the pump last week. Florida gas prices rose an average of 14 cents, before slipping a penny over the weekend.
Florida drivers are currently paying an average price of $2.75 per gallon for regular unleaded. Sunday’s state average is 13 cents more than a week ago, nearly 30 cents more than last month, and nearly 10 cents more than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.61 on Sunday, up from $2.57 a week ago.
“Florida drivers experienced another round of rising prices last week, as fuel supplies continued to tighten due to refinery issues,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although gas price hikes are not out of the norm, this time of year, it’s something that often catches many motorists by surprise. Fortunately, gas prices appear to be leveling off for now. Based on current wholesale prices, AAA does not forecast another round of rising prices this week, unless there is an unexpected supply interruption or stock market spike. Even still, motorists are not out of the woods yet. Until supply levels return to normal, the potential will remain for additional price hikes.”
Seasonal factors like rising demand, refinery maintenance, lower supplies, and the switch to summer gasoline can cause gas prices to rise 20-75 cents in the spring. So far this year, the state average has risen 64 cents, which is almost 20 cents more than the price-hike drivers experienced last year. The difference is largely due to bigger swings in oil prices this year, and a more volatile maintenance season for refineries.
Tate Aggies Announce 2019 Football Schedule
April 1, 2019
The Tate Aggies have finalized their 2019 football schedule.
The junior varsity and and freshmen schedules are still in the works.
Byrneville Elementary Begins Process To Finance New Construction
April 1, 2019
Byrneville Elementary School is moving forward toward a loan to construct new classrooms to replacing aging portable buildings.
The loan, estimated to be up to $3 million, will be through the USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program through United Bank.
United Bank Vice President Chris Walker told the Byrneville Elementary board of directors that through the program the loan rate will be below prime, and the bank will hold a revenue warrant rather than a mortgage.
“This is so good for the borrowers. That means they are not going to seek a mortgage on the property which saves you closing costs,” he said.
Capital Trust Agency Executive Director Ed Gray attended the board’s meeting to offer financial advice in an unofficial capacity at no charge. He said the board may need to divide their overall construction project into smaller, more affordable projects.
Byrneville, a charter school that operates under its own board of directors, will first submit financials to United Bank to determine the feasible loan amount before moving forward.
Last year, the board discussed an ambitious building program for a new building with 10 classrooms, a 1,000 square foot multipurpose room and associated spaces, and a new cafetorium with a serving kitchen. The project would also have included upgrades to the existing main school building to include fire sprinklers and central air conditioning and converting the existing cafeteria into a library space that will include a closed circuit television studio. The estimated price tag with furnishings was about $7.7 million.
Byrneville Elementary Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan said “we know right now we can’t” afford a loan for the complete project to include complete renovation of the school’s main building, which was constructed in 1941.
Pictured top: Byrneville Elementary School board of directors members Cheryl Boutwell and Jeremy Hawsey listen to a presentation from United Bank Vice President Chris Walker. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate, Northview Release Testing Schedules
April 1, 2019
Spring testing is beginning soon at Tate and Northview high schools as follows:
TATE HIGH
April 9 – English Language Arts Writing grades 9 & 10
May 1 – US History
May 1 – English Language Arts Reading Session 1 grades 9 & 10
May 2 – English Language Arts Reading Session 2 grades 9 & 10
May 6 – Biology
May 8 – Algebra and Geometry Session 1
May 9 -Algebra and Geometry Session 2
NORTHVIEW HIGH
April 2 – English Language Arts Writing grades 9 & 10
May 1- US History
May 1 – English Language Arts Reading Session 1 grades 9 & 10
May 2 – English Language Arts Reading Session 2 grades 9 & 10
May 7 – Algebra and Geometry Session 1
May 8 – Algebra and Geometry Session 2
May 14 – Biology
“These exams are very important because students are required to score proficient on a number of them to meet graduation requirements,” Northview Interim Principal Gerry Pippins said. “Those that are not graduation requirements are calculated to determine the final grade in the course so they are very important as well. We urge all parents to make sure their child gets plenty rest and attends all testing sessions so they give themselves the very best chance to succeed.”
Source: Schedules provided by each school.
No Injuries Reported In Cantonment Wreck
March 31, 2019
There were no injuries reported when a driver struck a guardrail in Cantonment Sunday morning. The single vehicle crash happened on Well Line Road near Santa Rosa Road. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s 24 Bridge Replacement Priority List
March 31, 2019
Escambia County has placed 24 bridges on a replacement priority list with an estimated total cost of about $24.5 million.
The county created the list to for possible funding from the state legislature during the current session. But the Escambia County Commission later declined to submit the request after learning bridge replacement would compete for the same potential state funding as a road project wish list that was previously submitted.
“We have a bridge crisis in Escambia County. We have 90 wooden-frame bridges. Many of them … have a construction date of unknown, an age of unknown. That is frightening. Many of them, we are talking 60 or 70-year-old wooden-frame bridges,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said at a January meeting. He said there are 90 wooden-frame bridges in the county.
In November, the commission submitted four priority funding requests in no particular order:
- Muscogee Road Widening and Drainage Project
- Beulah / I‐10 Interchange / US 29 Connector Project
- Pine Forest Road 4‐Laning (I‐10 to Nine Mile Road)
- West Cervantes Street / Mobile Highway Corridor Safety Improvements
Four additional requests were also submitted:
- Estuary Program — Pensacola/Perdido, Choctawhatchee, and St. Andrew’s
- Bob Sikes Fishing Pier Rehabilitation & Pensacola Beach Blvd. Access Road Project
- Klondike Road / Wilde Lake Blvd. Widening Project
- Funding through Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) towards Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects
The Escambia County bridge replacement priority list is as follows:
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Thousands Attend Blue Jacket Jamboree, Livestock Show, Egg Drop (With Photo Gallery)
March 31, 2019
Thousands of people attended the annual Northview High School FFA Blue Jacket Jamboree and the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show Saturday in Molino.
The event included plenty of arts and crafts, a car show and more, including a special visit from the Easter Bunny and an egg drop from a ladder fire truck.
The livestock show included 4-H and FFA youth exhibiting hogs, beef cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits from Escambia and neighboring counties. The day ended with youth exhibitors auctioning off their market animals.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Ballpark Celebrates Opening Day (With Photo Gallery)
March 31, 2019
Saturday was opening day at the Cantonment Ballpark with a full state of opening day games.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Track Results
March 31, 2019
The following Northview track athletes placed in a recent track meet at Baker:
Girls
100m Nene Findley 1st, Lexi Broadhead 2nd
Girls 4×100 1st Nene Findley, Korelis Moralis, Sarius Davis, and Lexi Broadhead
300m Hurdles Karlee Criswell 3rd
200m Nene Findley 1st, Lexi Broadhead 2nd
Girls 4×400 2nd Nene Findley, Taylor Lashley, Karlee Criswell, Sarius Davis
High Jump Karlee Criswell 3rd
Boys
4×800 3rd Garrett Bodiker, David Lamb, Colby Morris, John Bashore
110 Hurdles 3rd Jarius Moorer
100m Quay Thomas 1st, Daniel Merit 3rd
4×100 1st Keaton Brown, Quay Thomas, Daniel Meritt, Jarius Moorer
800m 3rd Colby Morris
3200m 3rd David Lamb
200m 1st Daniel Meritt
Shot Put 2nd Cameron Findley
Long Jump 1st Ray Bush
Triple Jump 2nd Chris Nordman, 3rd Ray Bush
High Jump 2nd Chris Nordman, 3rd Ray Bush
Photos: Opening Day For Century Little League
March 31, 2019
Saturday was opening day for the Century Little League. The teams were introduced before an ceremonial opening pitch at the first games of the season at Showalter Park.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
