Escambia Superintendent Says First Day Of School Was Good, Sets High Expectations For Year
August 13, 2024
Escambia County School Superintendent Keith Leonard started his day before sunrise Monday, and was still going in he late evening, visiting schools across the county on the first day of school.
Leonard said he has three big goals for the district this year, and he is excited to see students strive to achieve their best.
“I’m really excited about the 24-25 school year. We have high expectations for our students,” he said. “If you have high expectations to these young people, I believe they are going to step up and do the things that are necessary for them to be successful in school.”"
The first day was not without a few issues, mostly transportation logistic issues, as is always the case on the first day of school when about 35,000 students return to class.
“We’ve had a good first day,” Leonard said. “There have been a few hiccups here and there, but nothing that’s not unexpected or certainly not anything we can’t overcome.”
Photo Gallery: First Day Of School In Escambia County
August 13, 2024
Monday was the first day of school in Escambia County.
As is an annual tradition, we asked parents to submit their North Escambia area back to school photos. We received hundreds of photos.
For a photo gallery of parent submitted photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Marine Training Helicopter Makes Unscheduled Landing In Molino
August 13, 2024
A Marine training helicopter made an unscheduled landing Monday afternoon in Molno.
There were no injuries reported when the TH-57C training helicopter landed in an open grassy area near the intersection of Highway 196 and Chestnut Road.
The aircraft crew could be seen up and walking around out of the helicopter, which suffered no obvious damage in the incident.
The helicopter was removed by truck a short time later.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Navy Federal Employees Donate School Supplies To Molino Park Elementary
August 13, 2024
A group of 13 Navy Federal Credit Union employees donated about 300 school supply items to Molino Park Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ascend Cares Foundations Provides Breakfast For Escambia Sheriff’s Office
August 13, 2024
The Ascend Cares Foundation provided breakfast for deputies and staff at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Community Mourns Passing Of Longtime Local Barber
August 13, 2024
The Cantonment community is mourning the loss of longtime local barber.
Dwight Peake, 77, was a barber by trade, working for Purvis’ Barber Shop for 18 years.
He is survived by his loving wife Helen Peake, son Joshua, daughter Jennifer Mink and numerous other relatives.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on August 16 at Pensacola Memorial Gardens, followed with a funeral service at 2 p.m. There will be no graveside service. In lieu of flowers, family is asking for donations to Calvary Baptist Church on Pine Forest Road, where he was a deacon.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Tropical Storm Ernesto Forms In The Atlantic, No Local Impacts Expected
August 12, 2024
Tropical Storm Ernesto formed Monday afternoon in the Atlantic.
Ernesto is forecast to become a hurricane later this week as it heads toward Bermuda.
It is not forecast to have any impact in Florida or along the Gulf Coast.
The latest details are in the graphic above from the National Hurricane Center.
FHP: Race Car Driver Dies After Suffering Medical Condition Before Crashing At Southern Raceway
August 12, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol said Monday that a medical emergency led to a fatal crash at Southern Raceway in Milton.
The race car driver was identified as 33-year-old James Fox of DeFuniak Springs. He passed away after being flown from the dirt track to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
FHP said the one-scene fire chief stated that Fox had a medical emergency while racing on the track and crashed into a concrete barrier wall and fence which surrounded the track. The fire chief told troopers Fox was still “having a medical episode” while he was being extricated by emergency personnel.
Submitted photo.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Bat Battery Of Man Living In Her Shed
August 12, 2024
A Cantonment woman was charged with using a bat in the battery of a man living in her shed.
Shanna Delores Perdue, 41, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he was sitting outside with his girlfriend when Perdue walked up holding an aluminum bat and asked for cigarette that he gave her. Deputies said he stated that she asked for another cigarette, and she became upset.
According to an arrest report, Perdue started swinging the bat, and the victim raised his arm in attempt to avoid being hit in the head. The victim said he was hit on his left arm and fingers. The deputy noted in the report that the victim’s arm was bleeding with bruises and a minor abrasion.
The victim’s girlfriend corroborated his statements, the report states.
Perdue told the deputy that the victim and his girlfriend were living in a shed behind her trailer and taking advantage of her by refusing to pay for rent or the electricity they were using, the report states.
She was released from jail on a $1,000 bond.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Traffic Delay Hotspots
August 12, 2024
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 Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – 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.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – 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 also closed. Drivers on U.S. 29 northbound are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound. These closures allow crews to perform shoulder and bridge work to widen the interstate.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers may encounter daytime outside lane closures on North Palafox Street at the intersection of Leonard Street/Cross Street and at the intersection of Fairfield Drive, Monday, Aug. 12 through Friday, Aug. 16. Crews will be working on traffic signals. Law enforcement personnel will be available to safely direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts while crews perform bridge demolition activities:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 15 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Minor traffic shifts on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 15 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street. One travel lane in each direction remains open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes. The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through the summer. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- U.S. 29 (North Palafox Street) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to State Road (S.R.) 296 (Brent Lane) – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street. One travel lane in each direction remains open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes. The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through the summer. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, Aug. 12 through Friday, Aug. 16 as crews perform paving and sodding operations.
- 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, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 16, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Turn Lane Operations from Village Parkway to Bergren Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound outside lane closure from Sunday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 15 form 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane constriction.
Pictured: Traffic on Highway 29 in Century has been shifted to the southbound travel lanes with one lane of travel in each direction. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.