Funerals Services Announced For Hattie Marie McGary, Owner Of Cantonment Cafe
December 17, 2024
Funeral services have been set for Hattie Marie McGary, 80. The beloved owner of the soul food restaurant Hattie Marie’s Cafe in Cantonment passed away on December 10.
Visitation will be from 1-7 p.m. on Friday, December 27 at Joe Morris & Sons Funeral Home at 701 North DeVillers Street. Services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 28 at Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center North at 1780 West Detroit Boulevard.
Line up for the funeral procession will be Monday, December 30 from 10:00 to 10:20 a.m. at Joe Morris with an 11 a.m. committal service to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
The cafe will be closed for a few weeks with planned reopening on Sunday, January 5.
Tate Aggies Win Two Over The Atmore Blue Devils
December 17, 2024
The Tate Aggies won two of the Escambia County High Blue Devils Monday night in Atmore.
The Tate varsity defeated Atmore 86-67, and the JV Aggies beat ECHS 58-25.
For more photos from varsity action, click here.
The Aggies play next at the Escambia Gators, and host Navarre on Friday night to round out the calendar year.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Took $20K In Merchandise From Walmart Stores Across Southeast, Police Say
December 17, 2024
An Escambia County man has been charged with allegedly stealing over $20,000 in merchandise from Walmart stores throughout the Southeast.
The Fairhope Police Department charged Harold Mahan with first degree retail theft and third degree property theft.
“He has stolen over $20,000 in merchandise from Walmart stores throughout the Southeastern states, including Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida,” Fairhope Police said Monday.
Mahan is reported to have taken nearly $4,000 worth of items from the Walmart store in Fairhope in the last few weeks, police said.
Additional details have not been released.
Tate High’s Nate Ozuna Signs To Play Baseball At Pellissippi State
December 17, 2024
Tate High School’s Nate Ozuna signed Monday to play baseball for the Pellissippi State Panthers in Tennessee. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Woman Convicted Of Animal Cruelty
December 16, 2024
A Bratt woman has been convicted of animal cruelty for mistreating horses, one of which was euthanized last year.
Lois Adams Hall, 63, was found guilty of misdemeanor unlawful confinement or abandonment of animals and felony causing cruel death, pain or suffering of animals.
Judge John Simon sentenced Hall to 18 months probation and ordered not to own any animals.
On September 26, 2023, Escambia County Animal Control spoke to the property owner who stated that his ex-daughter-in-law owned two of the horses and his granddaughter owned the third, according to investigative reports. The horses were being kept in a fenced yard on the back side of the property.
“The field that they’re being kept in has no grass,” the Animal Control sergeant wrote in her report. “It is nothing but dirt. Water trough is empty.”
“I expressed my concern about these horses being in the Fence line in the back of this property with no grazable land. No shelter for the animals to get under. Fence is tore up and animals have been loose recently.”
“This family was asked several times to take these horses to the Veterinarian to be checked out. They avoided doing anything to help the animals. Horse known as Ajax was euthanized on October 23, 2023 at 9:06am. Ajax was so emaciated that when he went down he could not pick his body back up. We did not want him to suffer any more so we ordered to have him Euthanized,” the report states.
On October 2, 2023, Animal Control returned to Still Road where they contacted the owner’s daughter, who was very argumentative, according to the report. The daughter claimed one horse was 40 years old, not 30.
“I don’t think the horse is near 40. I asked for the horse to be taken care of by a veterinarian. She stated that she’s told her mom to do this multiple times and her mom hasn’t done it, I explained to her that it needs to be done by this Friday or animal control will step in and remove the horse,” the sergeant wrote.
About a week later, a neighbor told Animal Control that they had been feeding and watering the horses. The sergeant called Hall, who thanked her for removing the horses. Hall’s other comments were redacted from the report.
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Northview Wins First And Second, Ernest Ward Third In Studer Gingerbread House Competition
December 16, 2024
The Northview High School Culinary Arts Academy took home first and second places and $1,700 in prize money in the annual Studer Community Institute’s Christmas Gingerbread House Competition in Pensacola Saturday. The Ernest Ward Middle School Culinary Arts Careers program took third place and received a $500 prize.
For more photos, click here.
Pictured top: Northview Culinary Arts Academy instructor Ashley Salter and the schools’ first and second place winning entries. Pictured below: Ernest Ward instructor Taylor Northcutt and their third place design. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High
Northview High
Ernest Ward Middle
Tate Aggies Baseball Volunteers For Pensacola Memorial Gardens Candle Service Prep
December 16, 2024
The Tate High School baseball team placed over 14,000 bags Saturday for the annual Pensacola Memorial Gardens candlelight memorial service. On Sunday morning at 7:00, they returned to remove the bags and clean up. Phoso for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Florida, Duo Arrested On Drug Charges After Atmore Traffic Stop
December 16, 2024
Two Escambia County, Florida, residents were arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop in Atmore.
Atmore Police Department officers stopped on a vehicle for swerving on Highway 21. Police identified the driver as 59-year-old Clifford Lewis and passenger 35-year-old Lea Mathis, both of Pensacola.
During the officers’ interaction with Lewis, the officer noted that he appeared to be under the influence and requested Lewis perform field sobriety tests, which he failed. While checking Mathis’ identification, the officer discovered that she has several outstanding misdemeanor warrants with Atmore Police.
An Atmore PD K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and police reported finding 10 grams of methamphetamine, “several” grams of fentanyl, a digital scale and drug paraphernalia.
Lewis was charged with DUI-controlled substance, unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Mathis was charged with drug trafficking, unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were both booked into the Escambia County Detention Center.
Here Are The Road Construction Delay Spots For The Week
December 16, 2024
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:
- U.S. 98 (Gregory Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to east of 14th Avenue – Drivers on Gregory Street from North Palafox Street to east of 14th Avenue, will encounter alternating and intermittent lane closures Sunday, Dec. 15 through Thursday, Dec. 19 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. for milling and paving operations.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – The week of Dec. 15, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on North Palafox Street, from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane, between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as crews perform paving operations.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Resurfacing, from south of Interstate 10 (I-10) to south of Hyde Park Road – Drivers on Scenic Highway will encounter intermittent lane closures, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road, Sunday, Dec. 15 through Thursday, Dec. 19, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., as crews perform guardrail installation. Traffic flaggers will be on site to direct drivers safely through the work zone. Additionally, a minor traffic shift is currently in place on Scenic Highway southbound, between Baywoods Drive and Scenic Court, where crews are performing stormwater drainage improvements.
- 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. Signage is in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, Dec. 15 through Thursday, Dec. 19, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., as crews construct a temporary traffic shift.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions Sunday, Dec. 15 through Friday, Dec. 20:
- Friday, Dec. 20, the I-10 eastbound travel lanes will be shifted into the median area of the roadway between mile markers 8 and 10, to allow crews to build a new alignment for the interchange.
- 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.
- A new, temporary on-ramp for U.S. 29 southbound drivers accessing I-10 eastbound is now open. Detouring traffic to the temporary ramp will allow crews to continue work to reconstruct the I-10/U.S. 29 interchange.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Drivers on North Century Boulevard, between S.R. 4 and the Alabama State Line, may encounter intermittent lane closures for paving operations. Signage will be in place to direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- S.R. 291 Routine Underground Utilities Maintenance near East Scott Street – Motorists will encounter intermittent southbound and northbound lane closures Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground utilities maintenance.
- S.R. 289 Routine Underground Utilities Maintenance from East Jackson Street to East Wright Street – Motorists will encounter intermittent southbound and northbound lane closures Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground utilities maintenance.
- S.R. 95 (North Palafox Street) Routine Underground Utilities Maintenance from East Moreno Street to East Blount Street – Motorists will encounter intermittent southbound and northbound lane closures Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground utilities maintenance.
- U.S. 90 (East Cervantes Street) Routine Underground Utilities Maintenance from North Spring Street to North Haynes Street – Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound and westbound lane closures Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground utilities maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) Bridge Rehabilitation over East Bay Bridge – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for construction 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, Dec. 15 through Thursday, Dec. 19, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for milling and paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions on U.S. 90 over the Simpson River Bridge:
- U.S. 90 westbound lane closure Monday, Dec. 16 and Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., as crews perform construction activities for the new bridge.
- On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the U.S. 90 westbound travel lanes will be temporarily shifted to allow crews to complete guardrail installation and shoulder work. Signage will be in place to alert westbound drivers of the traffic shift.
- Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
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- 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, Dec. 15, through Friday, Dec. 20, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- I-10 Routine Bridge Inspection over Blackwater River – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures west of S.R. 87 Sunday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine inspection.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Florida Gas Prices Up A Couple Of Pennies
December 16, 2024
Florida’s average gas price is up a couple of cents over last week, according to AAA.
Sunday’s state average was $3.12 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.83. A low price of $2.61 was available at the warehouse clubs in Pensacola Sunday, while the North Escambia low price was $2.69 at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Despite the modest uptick, gas prices remain within the same range they’ve been in since early September,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “During the past three months, the state average has bounced between $2.99/gallon and $3.20/gallon. Oil prices have remained low during that time, which has prevented any significant jump at the pump.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.