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Looking For Your Escambia County Sample Ballot? Here’s How To Find It.

Are you looking for your Escambia County sample ballot?

Many readers reached out to us reporting that they did not receive a sample ballot in the mail this year.

For your specific sample ballot, customized by party for races in your district, click here to visit the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections website. You can also check your registration status, precinct location and more.

Early voting will continue daily through Saturday, August 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 10 locations. Click here for a list and more info.

AAA: Florida Gas Prices Dropped 13 Cents Last Week

Florida gas prices dropped 13 cents per gallon last week, according to AAA.

Sunday’s state average was $3.33 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since June 19th.

The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.08, one of the lowest metro area costs in the state. In North Escambia, a low of $2.92 was available Sunday night at two stations on South Highway 29 in Cantonment. The lowest price in Pensacola was $2.86 at station on Pensacola Boulevard and East Nine Mile Road.

“Drivers got some relief at the pump last week, thanks to big drops in the price of crude and gasoline futures,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Fuel prices had fallen under downward pressure amid concerns of a global recession. However, futures prices regained some ground last week, on renewed economic optimism, which could lead to a slight bump at the pump.”

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Blue Wahoos Toppled In Road Finale By Pair Of Big Innings

written by Erik Bremer

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (60-46) fell Sunday in the finale of their two-week road trip by a score of 10-1 against the Mississippi Braves (49-58).

With a series win already in hand, the Wahoos turned to veteran righthander Jeff Lindgren (L, 1-4) to close out a fifth win in six days. At first, both Lindgren and his mound opponent David Fletcher (W, 2-4) matched one another pitch for pitch. The game remained scoreless through the first three innings before the Wahoos dented the scoreboard first.

In the top of the fourth inning, Pensacola shortstop Jared Serna doubled to right field. The extra-base hit extended Serna’s Double-A hitting streak to 11 games. After a lineout moved Serna to third, first baseman Nathan Martorella’s groundout drove in Serna to give Pensacola a 1-0 lead.

However, the advantage proved to be short-lived. The M-Braves responded with a five-run barrage in the bottom of the fifth inning, which put them ahead for good. Working against Lindgren, Mississippi loaded the bases with one out for designated hitter David McCabe, who singled to score two runs and give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Second baseman Yolbert Sanchez then brought home another run with a sacrifice fly before first baseman Bryson Horne doubled off of Wahoos lefthander Chandler Jozwiak to drive home two additional runs and put the Braves ahead 5-1.

The five-run outburst proved to be more than enough for Mississippi, who put up a second five-run inning in the bottom of the seventh to go ahead 10-1. The game marked the first time the Wahoos had given up double-digit runs since June 5 – also against Mississippi. Despite the defeat, Pensacola returns home having won eight of 11 games during its two-week road trip.

The Wahoos saw several recent additions perform well during the two-week road trip. Shortstop Jared Serna hit .444 with 10 doubles in his first 11 Double-A games, while lefthander Robby Snelling impressed through his first two Pensacola starts (combined 10.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 14 K).

The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday to begin a series versus the Montgomery Biscuits. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT

Back To School Reminder: Highway 4 Bridge Remains Closed

A reminder as students head back to school on Monday — The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek remains closed.

The estimated completion date for the nearly $4 million bridge is now September 1, according to Escambia County.

Highway 4 is a common travel route across the northern part of Escambia County, including travel to and from schools like Northview High, Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary and to Ernest Ward Middle.

The bridge has been closed since July 10, 2023. Originally slated to reopen in June 2024, the Florida Department of Transportation says the project has been delayed by weather.

Traffic remains detoured along Pine Barren and Bratt roads during construction.

NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Tate High Cheerleaders Receive State Championship Rings

The Tate High School cheerleaders received their state championship rings Friday evening at the Crimson and Gray game.

The Tate cheerleaders won the FHSAA State Championship back in February, their third in six years. They also placed fifth in the nation.

Members of the team and their coaches were:

Northescambia.com and courtesy (top) photos, click to enlarge.

Driver’s License, Tag, Tax Collector Services Tuesday In Walnut Hill, Next Week Century

Mark your calendar…driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Walnut Hill this week and in Century next week.

The Escambia County Tax Collector will be at the:

• Walnut Hill Community Center on Tuesday, August 13, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century on Thursday, August 22, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.

The Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the “Ruritan Building”, is at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the fire department. The Billy G. Courthouse is at 7500 North Century Boulevard.

Pictured: The Escambia Tax Collector’s MILO at the Walnut Hill Community Center on June 11. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Escambia Elections Boss Warns Of Misleading Information

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert D. Bender is warning voters that text messages and social media posts are spreading false information about ballots.

His office said the messages have raised concerns from voters and election workers.

According to the supervisor of elections office:

• We do not have a position called Poll Manager.
• We do not have “pass/fail” training.
• Election workers are instructed not to write on ballots.
• Ballots are not “disqualified.”
• If there are any stray or “unreadable” marks on the ballot that will affect tabulation, the DS300 (vote tabulator machine) is programmed to alert the voter, and the voter can get a new ballot.

“There is a small ‘official use’ box on the top right of the ballot that is only used for voters who are voting a provisional or vote-by-mail ballot,” Bender said. “This is to ensure proper handling of the ballot”

For more information or concerns, call the SOE office at (850) 595-3900.

NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.

Wahoos Win 7-1 Over Braves

written by Erik Bremer

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos secured a series win in their six-game set with the Mississippi Braves on Saturday night, cruising to a 7-1 victory.

Robby Snelling (W, 1-0), acquired two weeks ago by the Marlins in a deadline trade with the San Diego Padres organization, led a combined two-hitter to earn his first win with the Blue Wahoos. The 20-year-old lefty struck out seven batters over 5.0 scoreless, one-hit innings while needing only 62 pitches.

Jared Serna, another recent trade acquisition from the New York Yankees organization, continued his torrid pace at the plate. The Blue Wahoos shortstop went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI, giving him a 10-game hitting streak to start his career in Pensacola. Through his first 10 games with the Blue Wahoos, Serna is batting .452 with nine doubles and 11 RBI.

The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead right away in the first inning against Braves starter Ian Mejia (L, 7-5), turning a Serna walk into the game’s first run with an RBI double from Nathan Martorella.

The game opened up in a five-run fourth inning, as the Blue Wahoos got an RBI single from Shane Sasaki and a bad-bounce fielding error off the bat of Jakob Marsee before Serna capped the frame with a two-run double.
Handed a 6-0 lead, Snelling cruised through 5.0 innings to qualify for his first Blue Wahoos win. Adam Laskey, Justin King and Nigel Belgrave contributed effective relief to lock down the win.

The Blue Wahoos gained ground on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers, who fell 1-0 to the Biscuits in Montgomery and are now just 1.0 game ahead of Pensacola in the South Division with 31 games remaining in the regular season.
The series in Mississippi wraps up on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. CT.

Early Voting Begins Underway At 10 Escambia County Locations

Early voting begins today and continues for the next week in Escambia County at 10 locatons

Early voting will continue daily through Saturday, August 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at:

• Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
• Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N. Century Blvd, Century
• Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
• UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, Room 235, Pensacola
• Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
• Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
• Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
• Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
• Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
• Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street, Pensacola

Voters may choose any one of the ten locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device.

If voters have requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot, they must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day. Voters may drop-off a vote-by-mail ballot during early voting hours at any of the ten area locations. The USPS recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date. Vote-by-mail participants may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.gov.

The third option for voters is to cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, August 20. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

In Florida’s closed partisan primary elections, you are only eligible to vote in primary contests for the party in which you are registered.

A Universal Primary contest occurs when all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation. These contests appear on every voter’s ballot. Voters in ECUA District 1 (Republican) and ECUA District 3 (Democratic) will have these contests on their ballot regardless of party affiliation.

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

Dad Of Parkland School Shooting Victim Shares Safety Message With Escambia Schools

School safety advocate Max Schachter visited Escambia County Friday and shared the story of losing his son in the Parkland school shooting.

Schachter’s 14-year old son Alex was one o the first victims of the February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami metropolitan area city of Parkland. The shooting killed 17 people and injured 17 others.

He told of his grief and anger, and his subsequent mission to seek accountability and reform for school safety in Florida and nationwide.

“When I sent Alex off to school, I had no idea that he was going to school with a violent, violent individual,”Schachter said. “Parents want to know, they have a right to know what’s happening when they drop their child off at school.”

“You have to prioritize school safety over education, because you can’t teach dead kids,” he said. “This is the most important issue facing schools around the country is school safety.”

District staff, administrators, and campus security officers sat mesmerized as Max told his story and took questions along the way.

While there is still work to do, we are proud of what we’ve accomplished in Escambia County, and could not do it without valuable partnerships with the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department,” the district said in a statement. “We’d also like to thank our students and their families for their patience and understanding as we’ve tightened security measures over the past few years. We like convenience and absolutely must have secure campuses, and sometimes the two are at odds. We’ll take safety over convenience every time”

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