ECAT Awarded $21 Million Grant For Electric Bus, Charging Station Project
August 10, 2024
Escambia County Area Transit was recently awarded a $21 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration for 21 electric bus, charging stations, and workforce training focused on boosting transportation reliability and improving air quality.
The grant will bring nine 35-foot electric buses and four electric cutaways to ECAT to replace existing diesel-fueled 2006 and 2007-model buses.
ECAT said expanding the fleet to include all-electric transit vehicles will help provide safer and more reliable operations, lower energy and maintenance costs, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. Through the grant, ECAT employees will also receive workforce training to accurately and efficiently operate, charge, and repair electric buses. The new buses are expected to join ECAT’s fleet by 2026.
“I’m thrilled to introduce electric buses to ECAT’s fleet and enter a new phase of public transportation for Escambia County,” Mass Transit Director Rodriques Kimbrough said. “Receiving this grant reflects ECAT’s commitment to transportation excellence in our community. I’m very proud of our staff for their diligent efforts to secure the grant and keep ECAT moving forward.”
Going Shopping? Here Are The 2024 Escambia County School Supply Lists
August 10, 2024
The Escambia County Public School on Friday released this year’s school supply list for elementary schools in the county.
Middle and high school students are typically informed of needed supplies during the first week of school or at orientations. However, we have middle school lists for Ernest Ward and Ransom below.
A master supply list for all Escambia County Public School elementary schools is below. Also below, there is separate list for Byrneville Elementary School, which is a charter school and has different items listed.
For any specific questions about your school’s supply lists, contact the school. It’s also a good idea to check the school’s website and/or their social media pages for any deviations from the master list.
- For printable supply list pdf for Escambia County Elementary Schools, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Byrneville Elementary School, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Ernest Ward Middle School, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Ransom Middle School, click here.
Photos: Tate Aggies Crimson And Gray
August 10, 2024
The Tate Aggies held their annual Crimson and Gray Game and Fish Fry Friday night in Pete Gindl Stadium.
It’s good food, good friends and good football with inter-squad scrimmages
The football portion of the evening ended quickly due to a thunderstorm with nearby lightning.
Next Friday night, Tate will host a Jamboree game against Pine Forest at 7 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Northview’s Meet The Chiefs (And The Blackcats, And Eagles)
August 10, 2024
Northview High School held “Meet the Chiefs” before a large crowd on a steamy Friday evening.
Fans were introduced to the Northview Chiefs football team, cheerleaders and Tribal Beat band. The football teams and cheerleaders from the Northwest Escambia Chiefs and Century Blackcats were also introduced, as were the cheerleaders and football players for the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles.
The event came to a quick end thanks for a heavy downpour.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Next Friday night, the Northview Chiefs and Ernest Ward will travel to Backer for a Jamboree that begins at 5:30 p.m. Ernest Ward is scheduled to play Baker Middle School at 6 p.m. Northview JV will face Baker JV at 6:30 p.m. The Northview varsity will play Pleasant Home varsity at 7:30 p.m., and Northview varsity to play the Baker varsity at 8 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Miller Masterful in 2-1 Wahoos Win Over M-Braves
August 10, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued a successful road trip on Friday night, putting together a dominant pitching performance in a 2-1 win over the Mississippi Braves.
Jacob Miller (W, 1-0) earned his first Double-A win a day before his 21st birthday, scattering two singles over 5.0 scoreless innings to lead the Pensacola pitching effort. The Blue Wahoos improved to 7-2 on their longest road trip of the year and, at 59-45 overall, are a season-high 14 games above the .500 mark.
Drue Hackenberg (L, 1-2), who delivered a 16-strikeout masterpiece at Blue Wahoos Stadium in July, was nearly as good in his encore performance but fell victim to poor run support. The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 1-0 in the first, turning a Jakob Marsee walk and stolen base into a run on an RBI single from Graham Pauley, and held the lead the rest of the night.
The Blue Wahoos added another run in the seventh on a Jacob Berry sacrifice fly, and that insurance proved vital as Mississippi’s David McCabe hit a solo homer off Anderson Pilar in the bottom of the inning to cut the Pensacola lead to 2-1.
Matt Pushard contributed a scoreless eighth before Dale Stanavich (S, 2) locked down the win with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Blue Wahoos kept pace with the first-place Biloxi Shuckers, who beat the Biscuits 11-1 in Montgomery and remain 2.0 games ahead of Pensacola in the South Division with 32 games remaining in the regular season.
The series in Mississippi continues on Saturday. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT,
Book Bag Giveaway Saturday Morning In Cantonment
August 9, 2024
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will host a book bag giveaway this Saturday.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. and continue while supplies last.
Book bags will be given to children only, not adults.
Carver Park is located at 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Atmore Man Charged With 2018 Robbery, Attempted Robbery In Escambia, Florida
August 9, 2024
An Atmore man has been charged with the May 2018 robbery of a dollar store and attempted robbery of a grocery store in Escambia County, Florida.
Randy Eugene Weeks, 35, was arrested this week on outstanding warrants for robbery and attempted robbery He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $40,000.
Weeks when into the Dollar General at 4923 Lillian Highway and asked to cash a check. When the store declined to chase the check, Weeks told the clerk that he was robbing the store, according to arrest report. The clerk removed the cash drawer, and Weeks removed the cash from the drawer, the report states.
The clerk said Weeks did not display a weapon during the robbery, but he did place his hands into his pocket before stating, “Don’t make the wrong move, you’ll lose your life.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said DNA from a cigarette left behind after the Dollar General robbery was used by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to positively identify Weeks.
About 20 minutes later, Weeks attempted to rob a nearby Grocery Advantage at 4320 Lillian Highway, according to the ECSO.
Weeks told the clerk “Give me all of the money in the register” before brandishing an open pocketknife, the report states, and the clerk refused. Deputies said Weeks laughed and said he was playing, put the knife back in his pocket, paid for the items and left the store.
A tip later led to Weeks being identified as the suspect in both incidents, and arrest warrants were issued.
All West Florida Library Book Drops Closed August 9-21
August 9, 2024
All West Florida Libraries book drops are closing until after the August 20 primary election.
Materials can be returned to the service desk at any WFPL library.
All WFPL book drops will be closed from 7 p.m. on Friday, August 9, and reopen at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, according to the library system.
The Pensacola, Southwest and Bellview libraries will be early voting locations August 10-17. The main Pensacola and Bellview libraries are both early voting and election day polling locations; however, Southwest is not a regular polling place. (There is also early voting near the Molino Library in the Molino Community Center, but not in the actual library.)
All WFPL return slots will be available after the election.
Pictured: The book drop outside the Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FHP Getting Tough On Custom And Altered License Plates
August 9, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol is warning drivers that they are getting tough on Florida license plates that have been airbrushed, vinyl-wrapped, or customized.
Such alterations violate the legal tag requirements under Florida law for reflectivity and safety enhancements and can potentially impact the yellow expiration date validation stickers.
Tag alterations like the ones pictures here are frequently found in communities across Florida, and the FHP is being proactive in raising awareness of the law. This is to ensure that individuals who may not realize they are breaking the law by altering their tags are informed.
“If you have altered your Florida tag and cannot return it to its original condition, you will need to get a replacement Florida license plate from your local tax collector,” FHP said. Troopers encountering altered tags can seize the tag requiring the owner to apply for a new license plate.
Florida offers more than 100 specialty license plates for various organizations, with the proceeds from the sales going directly to support the causes they represent. Additionally, personalized license plates can be ordered in person at a motor vehicle service center.
Sunshine, Middle 90s For Your Friday
August 9, 2024
There is heat advisory in effect again for Friday.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 109. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.