McDavid Man Win $1 Million In 500X The Cash Scratch-off Game
May 7, 2024
On Monday, a McDavid man claimed a $1 million prize from the 500X The Cash game.
Mack Morris of McDavid purchased the winning scratch-off ticket Saturday at Kynette’s Place at 101 North Century Boulevard, across the McDavid Fire Station.
Kynette’s Place will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The $50 game 500X The Cash features a top prize of $25 million—the largest ever offered on a Florida scratch-off game. As of Monday, the Florida Lottery said two of two $25 million prizes have been claimed, but nearly 30 $1 million tickets remain unclaimed. Odds of winning $1 million in the game are 1 in 274,004.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
May 7, 2024
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for April. They are Jaquez Moorer and Adrianna Atallah, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ascend Cares Donates New Gear Extractor To Flomaton Fire Department
May 7, 2024
The Flomaton Fire Department has a new fire gear extractor thanks to a donation from Ascend Performance Materials. Gear extractors are specially designed washers that clean the protective uniforms and equipment firefighters wear while responding to a fire.
Extractors decontaminate the gear and remove harmful toxins so the equipment is safe for firefighters to wear again. A typical extractor costs approximately $5,000.
Ascend donated the machine through a community impact grant from its Ascend Cares Foundation.
“Community Impact Grants allow our employees to support community organizations they care about and where they are personally involved as volunteers,” said Ben Bryant, senior production manager for Ascend. “In this case, we have many employees who are dedicated first responders at our Pensacola site and who also serve or volunteer in their community emergency response services. We are happy to be able to support the Flomaton Fire Department with this new extractor.”
Ascend invested more than $2 million in communities near its operations last year, including over 90 community impact grants to organizations where employees serve and volunteer.
Pictured: (L-R) Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, fireman Jeremy Lee and training officer Jared Carnley with a new fire gear extractor machine from the Ascend Cares Foundation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Farm Fire In Canoe, Alabama
May 6, 2024
Firefighters from the Atmore Fire Department and Escambia County, Florida, were dispatched a reported barn fire in Canoe, Alabama, Monday morning.
They arrived to find a large pile of mostly unused farm equipment burning behind a large barn at a residence in the 1100 block of South Canoe Road, about a mile north of the Florida/Alabama state line.
“My biggest concern was two 500 diesel tanks. One of those was venting,” Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles said. “We worked to keep those tanks cool as we put out the fire.” One of the tanks was empty.
Peebles said the fire did consume numerous farm and machinery chemicals, including pallets of Roundup weed killer.
There were no injuries reported and no word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Former Davisville Store Clerk Charged With Stealing Lottery Tickets, Cash, Merchandise
May 6, 2024
A Walnut Hill woman was arrested recently on an outstanding 2022 warrant for allegedly stealing merchandise, lottery tickets and cash while employed at a Davisville convenience store.
Janie Vonciel Kite, now 24, was charged with felony grand theft. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5.000 bond.
The store manager at the Marathon gas station in the 10,000 block of Highway 97 reported in March 2022 that the thefts occurred during a six-day period in October 2021 when Kite was an employee.
Security footage showed Kite taking lottery tickets and other items, along with Kite giving items from the store to several people including family members without having them pay, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report says.
Kite was accused of taking $1696.07, including:
- $691.07 in merchandise
- $750 in scratch off lottery tickets
- $280 in cash from winning scratch off tickets.
The store declined to press charges against the other individuals allegedly involved.
New Schedule: Get Free Reblended Paint From Escambia County
May 6, 2024
Escambia County Waste Services is making changes to the free reblended paint program schedule, to allow the county to provide a better variety of paint colors to the public at no charge.
Waste Services will offer free reblended paint on the first and third Thursday of each month at the Perdido Landfill, 13009 Beulah Road. The next availability will be Thursday, May 16.
Paint is available from 8 a.m. to noon, on a first come, first served basis while supply lasts. The paint is free in exchange for a clean, new five-gallon bucket and lid. Each vehicle is limited to a maximum of two buckets of paint. Customers must drive through the scale house prior to entering the landfill.
Call (850) 937-2160 for additional information and color availability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Bay Center To Get $10 Million In Upgrades Over Next Four Years
May 6, 2024
The Escambia County Commission has approved about $10 million in funding over the next four years for improvements at the county-owned Pensacola Bay Center.
The $9,991,200 from Fifth Cent Tourist Development Tax (TDT) Funds as allowed by the Tourist Development Council will fund the multi-year improvement plan.
The Pensacola Bay Center is in its 40th year of operation, and the county said it is in need of improvements in order to remain a destination that attracts tourists, vendors, and citizens to Escambia County. TDT funds will be used to extend the useful life of the Bay Center, which supports venues such as the Ice Flyers, Sun Belt Conference, Pensacon, and many others while at the same time improving the venue’s competitiveness in attracting new events that support tourism here in Escambia County.
First year upgrades will include $3 million for the sound system, lighting system, parking lot repaving, exterior fence, and retractable seating. Future year improvements will include ice plant needs to continue hockey operations, mechanical systems and replacement of original equipment and systems.
Pictured: The Pensacola Bay Center hosted the 2024 University of West Florida Commencement on May 4. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Jump To 2024 Highs, But AAA Says Relief May Be In Sight
May 6, 2024
AAA says relief may be in sight, after Florida gas prices rose to 2024 highs. The state average reached $3.64 per gallon on Friday. That tied the 2024 high, which was set in mid-April.
The state average has since declined three cents per gallon. Sunday’s state average was $3.61 per gallon. That’s only three penniless more than what drivers paid this time last year. It’s also well below the 2023 ($3.85) and 2022 highs ($4.89).
The average price per gallon Sunday in Escambia County was $3.37 per gallon. In Pensacola, prices were as low as $3.17 at a warehouse club and a station on Nine Mile Road. A low of North Escambia prices bottomed out at $3.29 per gallon Sunday night at several stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Drivers will likely be happy to hear that they may soon get a break from rising prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, public relations manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The price of oil took a step back last week, enabling gasoline futures to drop 20 cents per gallon.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Closed To The Public Through May 9
May 6, 2024
Naval Air Station Pensacola will be closed for public visitation May 7 through 9.
The installation’s areas of public interest – the National Naval Aviation Museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum and Fort Barrancas – will be closed to the public on these days.
The air station’s West Gate will only be open for Department of Defense identification card holders May 7 through 9. The installation’s main gate is always open to DoD identification card holders.
NAS Pensacola’s areas of public interest will reopen Friday, May 10, at 9 a.m., at which time visitors to the air station can access the installation through the West Gate located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway.
The Navy has not said why the closure is planned.
Blue Wahoos Manager Kevin Randel Reaches Milestone In Series-Clinching Victory
May 6, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos clinched a series victory with a 9-1 win over the Mississippi Braves on Sunday. With the victory, fourth-year Pensacola manager Kevin Randel made history by moving into first place on the franchise’s all-time wins list. The victory was Randel’s 219th in a Blue Wahoos uniform, passing former manager Pat Kelly (2015-17).
After a rain delay pushed back the game’s start by an hour, both offenses struggled for early production. Neither Pensacola nor Mississippi scored through six innings. Blue Wahoos starter Paul Campbell (W, 3-1) and Braves starter Luis De Avila (L, 0-4) both turned in quality starts, but De Avila was the first to blink in the pitchers’ duel.
With one out in the seventh inning, Pensacola snapped out of a 23.1-inning long scoreless streak with a five-run barrage. Second baseman Cody Morissette’s single drove in catcher Paul McIntosh to break the scoreless deadlock. RBI singles from center fielder Dalvy Rosario, left fielder Tanner Allen, and designated hitter Joe Mack padded the lead.
The Braves’ only offense of the game came in the bottom of the seventh off a pair of Pensacola relievers. A bases-loaded walk to right fielder Justin Dean plated what would ultimately be the lone Mississippi run of the game. However, Pensacola lefthander Chandler Jozwiak forced a groundout to end the threat. The Wahoos piled on four combined runs in the eighth and ninth innings to put the game out of reach.
With the victory, the Wahoos clinched their second consecutive series win and the second series win in two meetings with Mississippi so far this year.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday for their first series of the year versus the Birmingham Barons. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.