Grand Opening Date Set For Escambia County’s First Wawa Store; Four More Planned
December 4, 2024
Wawa has announced a grant opening date for their first location in Escambia County.
The new WaWa store at Ransley Station on Pine Forest Road just north of I-10 will open at 8 a.m. on Thursday, December 19 with a ribbon cutting to follow at 8:30 a.m.
“We are excited to end 2024 with marking a significant milestone of opening our first store in Pensacola to fulfill lives of our friends and neighbors,” said Joe Collins, director of store operations for Wawa. “We look forward to bringing our unique brand of fresh food, beverages and convenience to the Panhandle to further our commitment to providing our new friends and neighbors with not only a new level of convenience but a strong, committed community partner.”
Four Wawa stores are currently planned for Escambia County:
1. Nine Mile Road, Beulah
Plans were approved were October 2023 for a 6,119 square feet location at the corner of Beulah Road and Nine Mile Road. Work is currently underway on the 17.36 acre parcel across Nine Mile Road from Publix.
2. Highway 98
A Wawa store was approved by the county in May for 9262 West Highway 98 at Blue Angel Parkway.
3. North Davis Highway
The Escambia County Development Review Committee approved plan in June for another planned WaWas at 8503 North Davis Highway, near Johnson Avenue and HCA West Florida Hospital.
4. Pensacola Boulevard
A WaWa is planned for 6650 Pensacola Boulevard near W Street.
Pictured: The groundbreaking for the new WaWa on Pine Forest Road near I-10 was held in April. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle School Students Placed On ‘Hold’ Tuesday Afternoon
December 3, 2024
Beulah Middle School students were placed on a “hold” earlier this afternoon.
According to Cody Strother, spokesman for Escambia County Public Schools, a student left the building, so the remainder of the students were placed on a hold while they looked for the missing student. A hold is not a lockdown — with a hold there is just limited student movement within the building.
Beulah Middle has since resolved the situation and returned to normal operations.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Man Charged With Strangling His Wife
December 3, 2024
A Century man has been charged with strangling his wife.
William Lee Reed, 58, was charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $7,500.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Reed, her live-in husband, became involved in an altercation. The disagreement started when Reed began yelling at her for not doing household chores, according to an arrest report, before he grabbed her by the neck and began strangling her. She left the home to attend church, and that’s where she called deputies, the report continues.
Deputies noted in their report that the victim had marks on both sides of her neck and a mark on her right wrist and a large bruise with swelling on her right leg just below the knee. Reed was apprehended at the couple’s residence without incident.
Reed told deputies that the couple’s altercatiohn was only verbal. He stated that he was angry that his wife was going to attend church without first doing the household chores, and that she jumped on him and threw a Bible at his head, according to the report.
Highway 29 Crash Claims Life Of 20-Year Old Cantonment Motorcyclist
December 3, 2024
A Cantonment motorcyclist was killed in a Highway 29 crash Monday afternoon.
The motorcycle and a SUV collided about 3:10 p.m. on Highway 29 at North Tate School Road, near Winn Dixie. The 20-year-old male motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS. The driver of the SUV, a 72-year-old Cantonment woman, was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with serious injuries.
FHP said the motorcycle was traveling north on Highway 29 when it collided with the SUV that was crossing the roadway.
The SUV then collided with a sedan that stopped at the stop sign on North Tate School Road. The driver of the sedan, a 59-year-old Molino woman, was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation and has not yet released the cause of the crash. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The crash closed northbound Highway 29 for several hours for the investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Santa Visiting Libraries Across Escambia County
December 3, 2024
Santa Claus will be visiting West Florida Library locations throughout Escambia County this month for pictures and fun activities.
The schedule, listed by library location, is as follows:
Century Library
- Tuesday, December 10, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Molino Library
- Thursday, December 19, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Bellview Library
- Tuesday, December 17, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Tryon Library
- Tuesday, December 10, 3–4 p.m.
- Thursday, December 19, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Pensacola Library
- Wednesday, December 18, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
- Saturday, December 21, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Southwest Library
- Friday, December 20, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Westside Library
- Thursday, December 12, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Amburleigh Laird Signs With NWSCC
December 3, 2024
Tate High School’s Amburleigh Laird has signed to play softball for Northwest Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Laird, a senior, has played 3 years for the Lady Aggies as a centerfielder. She also plays for the travel team “The Showstoppers”. She was joined by her family, friends, teammates, and coaches for the signing ceremony.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bryson Orso Leads Northview In 46-45 Win Over L.E.A.D.S. Academy
December 3, 2024
The L.E.A.D.S. Academy Lions hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, but it wasn’t enough as they fell to the Northview Chiefs 46-45 on Monday night in Bratt.
For Northview:
- Bryson Orso — 12 points, nine rebounds, three blocks
- Caleb Levins — nine points, six rebounds, two steals
- Robert Mitchell — seven points, two steals
- Easton Odom — six points, four rebounds
- Zykel Jones — five points, three rebounds
- Miles Smith — four points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals
- Brain Yoder — two points
- Beau Daw — one point
With the win, Northview improved to 2-3 on the season. Up next, the Chiefs will travel to Flomaton Thursday night.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Woman Using Walker To Cross Highway 29 Is Struck And Killed
December 3, 2024
A 58-year-old Escambia County woman was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing Highway 29 Monday evening.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the woman was crossing Highway 29 using her walker. She was struck mid-block near Carolyn Way about 5:15 by a 2013 Lexus driven by a 63-year-old Escambia County woman.
The Lexus driver was not injured. The woman with the walker was transported to an area hospital where she later died.
Escambia County Kicks Off The ‘Keep The Wreath Green’ Fire Safety Campaign
December 3, 2024
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with the Pensacola Fire Department, launched its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign for December. While a joyous time of year, cold weather, holiday decorations and festivities can create serious fire dangers. Firefighters hope to reduce the number of fires by promoting simple, life-saving holiday safety tips each day in December.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, as well as Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential or commercial structure fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential homes. In 2022, 16 bulbs were changed to red on county wreaths, while one bulb was changed in the city.
“Keep the Wreath Green is a great initiative that literally brings to light the importance of fire safety at home,” said Fire Chief Adam Harrison. “Any time there is a fire where someone is displaced, you will notice a red bulb on that wreath. I want to encourage every resident to do their part in making sure that we keep our wreaths green this holiday season.”
Escambia County recorded 13 residential fires during December 2023, represented by 13 red bulbs in the “Keep the Wreath Green” in the annual fire safety campaign.
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
Pictured above: A “Keep the Wreath Green” display at the McDavid Fire Station. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Arrested On Drug Charges After FHP Chase
December 2, 2024
A Molino man was arrested on multiple drug charges after allegedly fleeing from a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
Johnny Ray Smith, 53, was charged with fleeing and eluding, driving without a valid license, failing to have proper endorsement to operate a motorcycle, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, reckless driving, attached tag not assigned, and resisting arrest without violence.
FHP said a trooper attempted to stop Smith on his motorcycle on Pine Forest Road for speeding and passing a pickup truck on the right shoulder of the road. FHP said the trooper passed Smith and pulled in front of him, but Smith fled when the trooper exited his patrol vehicle.
Troopers later located the motorcycle on its side at Green Hills Road and Pine Forest Road. After a foot chase, a trooper tased Smith and he was taken into custody with the assistance of an off-duty Escambia County Corrections officer.
Troopers reported finding a glass pipe, butane lighter and substance in a glass pipe that contained a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, according to an arrest report. The report states Smith was speaking incoherently and began to lose consciousness. He was transported to Baptist Hospital for evaluation.
Smith remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning with bond set at $28,500.