Six More Weeks Of Winter? North Escambia Weather Ducks See Shadow
February 2, 2026
On this Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, the world-famous groundhog, and the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks have the same winter predictions.
Folklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting more winter up in Pennsylvania.
We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks. Just like their more famous Pennsylvania weather buddy, the ducks saw their shadows late this morning at our office, predicting six more weeks of winter in North Escambia.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Prepare For Upcoming Softball Season (With Rosters)
February 2, 2026
Tate Lady Aggies Softball held a welcome dinner recently at CrossFaith Church in Molino.
Preseason play for the Lady Aggies begins next week.
Team members are:
VARSITY
Jordyn Banks
Kayleigh Burt
Gracyn Campbell
Aubree Gorum
Kaylie Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell
Brelynn Morris
Carmen Morris
Emorie Nelson
Mykamia Padgett
Kierstyn Phillips
Taylor Robinson
Madison Smillie
Ke’Anna Smith
Peyton Wilson
JUNIOR VARSITY
Berkley Anderson
Mikala Foster
Khloe Gibson
Novalee Hudgens
Tessa Kendrick
Faith Middleton
McKynleigh Montano
Bailey Parden
Melanie Ramirez
Kaylyn Relstab
Alaina Ritchey
Aubrie Romero
Kaitlyn Stefanko
Cantonment Garage Destroyed By Fire
February 2, 2026
Fire destroyed a garage Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
The fire in the 3500 block of Wiggins Lane was reported around 4:45 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find the structure engulfed in flames.
David Uebelsteadt, a local race car driver and mechanic, said the entire shop was a total loss. A wooden boat was also destroyed.
There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
These Are The Road Construction Spots To Watch This Week
February 2, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from the Perdido River Bridge to west of U.S. 29 – Drivers may encounter outside lane closures on Pine Forest Road (State Road (S.R.) 297) southbound, between Detroit Boulevard and Wilde Lake Boulevard, Wednesday, Feb. 4 and Thursday, Feb. 5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for roadway widening operations.
- Interstate 110 (I-110) Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on I-110, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, Feb. 1 through Thursday, Feb. 5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for construction activities.
- I-10 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, Feb. 1 through Thursday, Feb. 5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for guardrail installation.
- S.R. 296 (Michigan Avenue) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, Feb. 1, 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 paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) Resurfacing from Gulf Beach Highway to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Feb. 1, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292 from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Additionally, a new traffic configuration has been implemented on S.R. 292 between Mills Avenue and just east of Patton Drive, with travel lanes shifted to the outside of the roadway to provide space to construct a median traffic separator. Channelizing devices are in place to delineate the work zone. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the I- 110 ramp – The week of Sunday, Feb. 1, 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 north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street, from B Street to J Street, for ECUA water main upgrades. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at C Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between B Street and L Street.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for bridge construction activities. 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 – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions the week of Sunday, Feb. 1:
- Intermittent lane closures may occur on North Palafox Street between Whitehead Drive and Hope Drive for construction at the North Palafox Street overpass. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- 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.
- S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) Coring Operations from Gulf Beach Highway to Blue Angel Lane – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Feb. 2 through Thursday, Feb. 5 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for coring operations.
- S.R. 295 (North Navy Boulevard) Turn Lane Operations near S.R. 292 (Barrancas Avenue) – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Feb. 1 through Thursday, Feb. 5 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane operations.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Routine Maintenance South of Hyde Park Road – Motorists may encounter a traffic shift Friday, Jan. 30 through the end of Feb. 2026 for routine maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 (Stewart Street) City of Milton Mardi Gras Parade – Motorists will encounter a road closure from Raymond Hobbs Street to Elva Street Saturday, Jan. 31 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the City of Milton Mardi Gras Parade.
- 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, Feb. 1, through Friday, Feb. 6 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from U.S. 98 to south of East Bay Boulevard (C.R. 399) –Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Feb. 1 through Thursday, Feb. 5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for striping operations.
- S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) Bridge Rehabilitation over East Bay - Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Feb. 2 through Friday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for construction operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Florida Gas Prices Reach Six-Week Highs
February 2, 2026
Florida gas prices climbed again last week, according to AAA. The state average increased 9 cents per gallon, hitting a weekly high of $2.93 per gallon on Friday. While prices dipped slightly heading into the weekend, motorists are still paying the highest pump prices seen in the past six weeks.
Despite the recent uptick, Florida drivers are still paying less than they did a year ago. Sunday’s state average of $2.91 per gallon is 5 cents more than last week, 5 cents more than last month, and 17 cents less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.66 per gallon.
“Florida gas prices are inching higher as global oil markets react to geopolitical tensions, tightening fuel supplies, and growing optimism about future fuel demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “These factors have pushed oil and gasoline futures upward, and when combined with Florida’s normal pattern of price cycling, they’ve contributed to the recent uptick at the pump.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Escambia County Tax Preparers Indicted In Fraudulent Tax Return Scheme
February 2, 2026
Two Escambia County tax preparers are facing federal charges for an alleged fraudulent tax return scheme.
D’ontrinique K. Johnson, formerly known as D’ontrinique K. Wilkerson, 30, and Tequilla D. Nairn, formerly known as Tequilla D. Robinson, 37, were indicted in federal court for one count of conspiracy to aid or assist in preparation of false tax returns and to steal government money and three counts of filing false tax returns. Nairn has additionally been charged with one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of wire fraud. Both are set for trial in March.
If convicted, Johnson faces up to five years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count and up to three years’ imprisonment for each count related to filing a false tax return.
If convicted, Nairn faces up to five years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count, up to three years’ imprisonment for each count related to filing a false tax return, a mandatory consecutive two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the wire fraud count.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
Escambia County Set To Move Forward On Robinson Street Paving In Cantonment
February 1, 2026
Escambia County is set to pave the dirt portion of Robinson Street in Cantonment.
On Thursday, the Escambia County Commission is set to consider a design and engineering services contract for $214,000 to Panhandle Engineering.
The design will include roadway realignment and drainage system on the unpaved portion of Robinson Street. The existing dirt road begins at Taylor Street and continues about three-quarters of a mile.
The county intends to acquire 50 feet of right of way to construct a 24-foot wide roadway with a drainage system. The north end will have a 90-foot diameter asphalt turnaround within a 100-foot diameter right of way. Realignment of Robinson Street at Taylor Street is proposed to align the roadway with the current paved portion of Robinson Street.
The design and engineering services for the project should be complete within one year, and there’s not yet a timetable for construction.
Funding of the project will come from Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds.
NorthEscambia.com graphic and image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Trinity Barnett Named Escambia County Public Schools Teacher Of The Year
February 1, 2026
Trinity Barnett has been name the Escambia County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
Barnett (pictured above) is an art teacher at Blue Angel Elementary School.
Each Teachers of the Year from school across Escambia County were also honored, amd they are listed below. The five finalists are highlighted in bold.
- Jim Allen Elementary – Michelle (Shelly) Helton
- Bellview Elementary – Teswanna Johnson
- Beulah Elementary – Shelly Mitchell
- Blue Angels Elementary – Trinity Barnett
- Bratt Elementary – Angela Stuart
- Brentwood Elementary – Sarah Long
- Hellen Caro Elementary – Lori Walsh
- N. B. Cook Elementary – Megan Habayeb
- Cordova Park Elementary – Brittany Foster
- Ensley Elementary – Susannah Wright
- Ferry Pass Elementary – Nikki Cole
- Global Learning Academy – Whitney Osborne
- Holm Elementary – Etter Wright
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Melissa Venable
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Ashley Phillips
- Lipscomb Elementary – Courtney Geiger
- Longleaf Elementary – Gena Keszthelyi
- McArthur Elementary – Laura Sellers
- Molino Park Elementary – Chad Hetherington
- Montclair Elementary – Felicia Hudson
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Brigit McAroy
- Navy Point Elementary – Jana Arnett
- Oakcrest Elementary – John Herber
- Pine Meadow Elementary – Tara Garic
- Pleasant Grove Elementary – Carol Larsen
- Scenic Heights Elementary – Amanda Pinckard
- O.J. Semmes Elementary – Jessica Zent
- Sherwood Elementary – Bridget Wakeman
- A. K. Suter Elementary – Juliana Barrett
- Warrington Elementary – Christina Myers
- C. A. Weis Elementary – Julia Hodo
- West Pensacola Elementary – Debra Jewell
- Bailey Middle School – Cameron Peters
- Bellview Middle – Clareta Broadnax
- Beulah Middle – Kenneth Atkinson
- Brown Barge Middle – John Blackwelder
- Ernest Ward Middle – Megan Bryan
- Ferry Pass Middle – Velvet Kalber
- Ransom Middle – Holly Kendrick
- Workman Middle – Quintarries Upshaw
- Escambia High School – Kristy Davis
- Northview High School – Brandon Korinchak
- Pensacola High School – Lora Fairhurst
- Pine Forest High School – David Dawson
- Tate High School – Richard Coleman
- Washington High School – Kathryn Cody
- West Florida High School – Tyler Mertz
- Alternative Education – Adam Stumpf
- Beulah Academy of Science – Molly Villanueva
- Achieve Academy – Brenda Baldwin
- Success Academy – Gregory Steen
- Escambia Virtual Academy – Tristan Harris
- Escambia Westgate – Kimberly Ripley
- ESE – Joyce “Kelton” Boykin
- Hope Horizon – Tara Hagan
- George Stone Technical College – Maria Moultrie
- Pensacola Beach Charter – Kimberley Talbert
Northview Lady Chiefs Softball Announces Rosters For The Upcoming Season
February 1, 2026
Northview Lady Chiefs Softball has announced its varsity and junior varsity rosters for the upcoming season.
They are:
Varsity
- Addyson Bolen
- Riley Brooks
- Bailey Burkette
- Amanda Fernandez
- Aubrey Hadley
- Kylee Langham
- Mikayla McAnally
- Day Randolph
- Avery Stuckey
- Peyton Womack
- Brooklyn Allen (V/JV)
- Presley Davey (V/JV)
- Kiley Webb (V/JV)
Junior Varsity
- Brooklyn Allen
- Alexa Beasley
- Brooklyn Bowen
- Presley Davey
- Sophia Ikner
- Katie Jones
- Natalie Morales
- Chloe Satterwhite
- Braylan Tuner
- Kiley Webb
- Kinley White
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Alabama Sex Offender Charged Traveling To Escambia, FL, To Entice A Minor For Sex
February 1, 2026
An Alabama sex offender has been indicted on a federal charge for allegedly attempting to entice a minor for sex in Escambia County, Florida.
David A. Girard, 70, of Robertsdale, Alabama, was indicted on a charge of attempted enticement of a minor and traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
The indictment also charges enhanced penalty provisions because Girard is a registered sexual offender based upon prior sex offense convictions in 2009. If convicted, Girard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’, and up to life, imprisonment.
Girard is scheduled for trial before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on March 2.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, US Customs and Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Christopher C. Patterson.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.