Project Provides Free Dictionaries For All Jim Allen Third Graders
October 31, 2025
Members of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment recently presented new dictionaries to students at Jim Allen Elementary School.
Each third grader received their own copy of “A Student’s Dictionary.”
The goal of The Dictionary Project is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary.
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Escambia Hires Firm To Align Quintette Road At Highway 95A, Add Traffic Signal
October 31, 2025
Escambia County has awarded a design services contract for the alignment of Quintette Road at Highway 95A.
The $471,245.45 contract was awarded to Momentum Engineering Group, Inc.
Currently, the east and west legs of Quintette Road are offset approximately 115 feet from one another, creating a hazard for the smooth flow of intersection traffic. There is no available right-of-way for a lateral shift on the west side of the intersection, but the east side has an approximate 100-foot right-of-way, which could accommodate a northerly shift Immediately adjacent to this intersection are a concrete plant, asphalt plant, a high-end vehicle restoration complex, a new residential development, and a new Circle K convenience store under construction on the northeast corner.
The design will also include a new traffic signal and a westbound right-turn lane onto Highway 95A. Momentum will also provide for public input, surveying, construction plan preparation, permitting, bidding assistance, and limited project construction oversight.
The total cost of the alignment project is estimated at $2.375 million for design and construction. Circle K has donated $250,000 and right-of-way toward the improvements. Escambia County has obligated $1.275 million, and Florida Department of Transportation’s Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) funding of $850,000 is allocated for 2026.
A timeline for the intersection construction work has not been announced.
Tates Aggies Beat The Escambia Gators By A Field Goal
October 31, 2025
The Tate Aggies beat the Escambia Gators 3-0 Thursday night at Emmitt Smith Field to end the regular season both teams.
A fourth quarter field goal from junior Ethan Priest earned the win for the visiting Aggies.
Tate ended the regulars season at 7-3, 1-2 in 6A District 1, while Escambia fell to 3-7, 1-1 in 4A District 1
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Federal Trial Date Set For Walnut Hill Man With Alleged Manifesto, Killing Spree Target List
October 30, 2025
Local charges have been dismissed and a federal trial date has been set for a Walnut Hill man who accidentally shot himself near Walnut Hill in July.
Joshua Dean Hardy, 26, was indicted in federal court for two counts of unlawful possession of firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA), namely two unregistered and unserialized silencers and a destructive device, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
He is now set for trial on November 10 at the federal courthouse in Pensacola before federal Judge T. Kent Wetherell II.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho ordered Hardy held without bond until trial because there are “no conditions of release that would reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.”
Federal court documents state that investigators found documents including a multipage document titled ‘Manifesto’ on his laptop.
“This is it, this is my final words of this whole ordeal,” is how the document begins, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, along with a list of names, some of which are names of known family members.
The document then says “All of these [expletive] pukes seek to destroy my ass in my prime then i’ll give them what they want, it isn’t the so called hidden names like they want but a tombstone like i told them**”**, according to investigators.
“Later in the document, it goes on to explain that he is going to begin his killing spree and identifies the ‘targets’,” court records state.
He had been charged locally with three counts of making and/or possession of a destructive device, use of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm with the serial number removed.
Hardy accidentally shot himself shortly after 3 a.m. on July 23 while walking in the woods on family property at 5000 Sandy Hollow Road, just off West Highway 4. His grandmother told deputies that she received a call about 3:15 a.m. from Hardy**, stating he** had tripped while walking on their property with his rifle and he had shot himself in the leg. She picked him up and drove him to Atmore Community Hospital.
At the emergency room in Atmore, Hardy told deputies that he often walks their 22-acre property because he does not like people there, the report states. He said he stepped in a hole and dropped his rifle, accidentally grabbing it as it fell by the trigger and shot himself. He was adamant that he was not shooting at anyone and had no intent of harming himself.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Hardy suffered a serious gunshot wound that shattered his tibia and fibula and nearly took his left big toe.
Century Council Sets Envisioning Town Hall Meeting
October 30, 2025
Mark your calendar, the Town of Century has set an envisioning town hall meeting for local residents to help set a plan for the future of the town.
The meeting and council work session will be held Tuesday, December 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Century Town Hall, just prior to a regular council meeting.
Earlier this month, the Century Town Council held a workshop to discuss goals and a clear direction for the town’s future. At the meeting, council member John Bass made a recommendation to solicit input from local citizens.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
$5.2 Million Highway 90 Resurfacing Project Set To Begin
October 30, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will soon begin a $5.2 million resurfacing project on Highway 90 from the Escambia River Bridge to Woodbine Road (County Road 197A) in Santa Rosa County.
This project also includes:
- Stormwater management enhancements.
- Guardrail installation.
- New signing and pavement markings.
During construction, drivers may encounter minor traffic shifts and periodic lane closures between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
The project is scheduled for completion in early 2027.
Did You Know? Escambia County Has An Animal Search and Rescue Team
October 30, 2025
The Escambia County Animal Search and Rescue Team is always ready to respond at a moment’s notice, whether it’s a local animal rescue or deploying after a hurricane to support search and rescue efforts in another community.
The ASAR team includes members from the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare who are trained to respond to disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes or other large-scale animal rescue incidents.
Training is critical to ensuring our ASAR team is prepared for anything, keeping our skills sharp sothey can effectively respond and rescue animals who need help.
Monthly ASAR training was recently completed at Bayview Park, which covered multiple disciplines including rope rescue, swift water swim skills, boat operations, water rescues, and practicing for the ASAR physical readiness test.
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Preserving The Aggie Legacy: Tate High School Alumni Asked To Update Records
October 30, 2025
Tate High School is updating its alumni records to honor the legacy of Aggies past and present.
The school is asking alumni to complete an Alumni Information Form to help preserve the Tate story, strengthen connections, and ensure alumni are included in future commemorative projects and communications.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Veterans Services Outreach November 13 In Molino
October 30, 2025
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will hold an outreach event on Thursday, November 13 in Molino.
Veterans are invited to discuss veteran benefits with an accredited veteran service officer from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Molino Community Center, 6450 North Highway 95A.
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and re-evaluating VA disability.
For more information, call (850) 595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com.
Escambia Holds School Choice Expo As Choice Open Enrollment Opens
October 30, 2025
Hundreds of families attended the annual School Choice Expo this week at Washington High school.
Representatives from ECPS Career Academies and Choice Schools were on hand to greet guests and answer questions about their programs. Tables for career academy displays were set up inside the Washington gym and cafeteria. Local vendors will provide items for gift bags for attendees.
The School Choice Expo coincided with the middle and high school open enrollment period, which continues through December 5, 2025. The open enrollment period for elementary schools is from January 26 to March 6, 2026. Click here for the middle and high school open enrollment application.
For questions about open enrollment, contact Coordinator of Enrollment Services Chris McFarland at (850)469-5580. For questions about career academies, contact Steven Harrell, director of Workforce Education, at (850) 469-5357.
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