Early Voting Begins Today At 10 Escambia County Locations
March 9, 2024
Early voting for the Presidential Preference Primary Election in Escambia County opened Saturday, March 9, and continues through Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following 10 locations:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N. Century Blvd, Pensacola
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, Room 235, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Pensacola State College Building 17, 1000 College Pkwy, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, 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, March 19. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Your Local Winn Dixie Is Now Owned By ALDI
March 9, 2024
ALDI has announced this week that they have completed the purchase of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket in the Southeast.
ALDI also announced plans to add 800 stores nationwide by the end of 2028 through a combination of new openings and store conversions
A significant number of Winn-Dixie stores will be converted to the ALDI format over the next several years. Starting mid-summer, ALDI will begin a phased approach to the store conversion process. ALDI anticipates that approximately 50 stores will begin the conversion process during the latter half of 2024, with the majority of these stores reopening as ALDI in 2025. However, the company said a “meaningful” number of Winn-Dixie stores will continue to operate under their current name.
Exactly which Winn Dixie-Dixie stores will be converted to ALDI has not yet been announced.
“With the acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, ALDI will serve even more communities in the Southeast, bringing us closer to our customers in a region where we’ve already experienced significant demand for affordable, quality groceries,” said Jason Hart, CEO of ALDI. “As we look ahead to this next chapter in our company history, both the ALDI and SEG teams will play a critical role in driving the business forward for our future collective success.”
ALDI is one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, serving millions of customers across the country each month.
Pictured top: The Winn Dixie store in Cantonment. Pictured below: The ALDI store on Mobile Highway in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Make Plans: ‘High School Musical On Stage’ March 14-16 At Tate
March 9, 2024
Make you calendars, Tate High School Theatre will proudly present Disney’s “High School Musical On Stage” March 16-17.
March 14-16, performances will be at 7:00 nightly. On Sunday March 17, there will be an afternoon performance at 2 p.m.
The entirely student-designed production is an upbeat classic for the entire family.
Tickets will be $10 at the door, cash or checks only. Escambia County Public School employees are free with their badge.
Pictured: Members of the Tate Drama cast of Disney’s “High School Musical On Stage” visited the car rider line recently at Lipscomb Elementary School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vehicle Hits Lottery Store, Former Barber Shop In Highway 97 Shopping Center
March 8, 2024
There were no injuries when a vehicle struck a building at a Davisville shopping center late Friday morning.
The driver of an Infiniti SUV struck the exterior wall of the State Line Gift Shop and the former location of a barber shop in the Piggly Wiggly shopping center on Highway 97 in Davisville at the state line.
The vehicle apparently jumped a curb from a parking space before hitting the building about 11 a.m., causing some damage to an exterior wall. The vehicle then continued down a sidewalk.
For more photos, click or tap here.
There were no injurie, and the business remained open.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Atmore Fire Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
$22 Million OLF-8 Deal Runs Into Stumbling Blocks, County And Developer To Continue Negotiations
March 8, 2024
Thursday night, a multi-million dollar deal between Escambia County and developer Fred Hemmer and his partners with Beulah Town Center (BTC) for the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road ran into some stumbling blocks to send the parties back into negotiations.
In February, the Escambia County Commission voted unanimously to enter into two weeks of contract term negotiations with BTC. At that time, BTC’s offer was $20 million, but they returned with a “top line” $22 million offer this week for 290 acres while sticking with the master plan for the property.
“I think it’s time to move forward,” District 1 Commissioner Jeff Begosh, who represents that area, said to open commission discussion Thursday night. “We’ve been living this thing since 2015…We are at a point where we have an offer on the table that really would give us all a win.”
“I think they’ve a good faith offer,” Bergosh continued. “It allows us to keep 250 acres to create jobs. That field generates no money for us right now, no money for taxpayers. It sits there empty…Now is the time to cash it in.”
“Candidly, there are a number of items in the proposal that I’m not going to be able to support in the way they’ve been presented to us.” Barry told the board. “I would be comfortable, what we gave last time, was saying that currently we are negotiating with them. If the intent of the majority of the board is to continue those negotiations to see if we can get to a point that we are able to agree, then I would be comfortable with that.”
“It’s more than one or two things. There Are a few sections that I think are going to need some attention. The top line number may need some attention,” Barry added, saying that the language in some sections of the proposed agreement need attention. “We received an agreement, now we can work off that as a base.”
“I actually agree. Eventually, we have to sell that property and get tax dollars off it,” Commissioner Mike Kohler said. “I do think the up front money and the overall price could improve a little bit.”
Barry took issue with the county becoming a member of an association that would public funds for a main road, aesthetics and maintenance of common infrastructure.
Barry said the closing might be 18 months to two years because it “almost puts perpetual extension on the due diligence period”, adding that he wants to see more hard money with non-refundable deposits.
“I do think the main road going through and the county being part of the association is a no-go. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Kohler said.
Hemmer said the county needs to build the road. He said the developers would not need the road if the county did not have 250 aces at the back of the overall parcel.
Commission Lumon May said his deciding factor will be the top line number and the return on investment for the county and citizens of all five districts.
“There has to be an ROI for the citizens I represent,” May added.
Commissioners will meet individually with County Administrator Wes Moreno and County Attorney Alison Rogers to express their concerns as Moreno and Rogers work to come to terms with FTC. They will have a goal of returning any revised agreement to the commission at their April 4 meeting.
Hemmer asked the county to have their changes to him within two weeks, if possible, for additional negotiations before the meeting date.
Northview Blanks L.E.A.D. Academy 15-0
March 8, 2024
The Northview Chiefs blanked L.E.A.D. Academy of Pace 15-0 in four innings Thursday night in Bratt.
Gage Harrison earned the win for the Chiefs, allowing no hits and no runs in one inning while striking out two and walking two. Jadyden White went for three inning in relief, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out five and walking two.
Jase Portwood went 2-3 at bat for the Chiefs. Dane King, Colby Pugh, Brady Smith, Rylan Minor and Grayden Sheffield each added two runs for the Northview Chefs.
The Chiefs are scheduled to be at Central Friday at 6:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Beat Catholic 14-0
March 8, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Catholic 14-0 in five innings Thursday night in Pensacola.
Jamison Gilman earned the win for Northview, pitching five innings while giving up two hits and no runs while striking out eight and walking just two.
At the plate, Riley Brooks went 3-4 for Northview, including a triple in the fifth inning, a double in the first and a single in the fourth. Daviona Randolph and Kylee Lanham both drove in three runs for the Chiefs, and Makayla Golson went 2-3.
Up next, Northview will host Baker at 6 p.m. Monday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Funeral Service Set For Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison
March 8, 2024
Funeral services are set for Monday for legionardy high school football coash Carl Madison..
Madison passed away Sunday at age 93.
Madison had a career coaching record of 326-129-7, earning him the distinction of being number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list. He was inducted as a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate High School, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
The football field at Tate bears the name “Carl Madion Field.”
For more about Madison and his career, click or tap here.
Funeral services for William Carl Mardison will be held Monday March 11, 2024, at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Road. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. with services beginning at 3 p.m. Interment will follow at Bayview Cemetery on Scenic Highway. For the complete obituary, click here.
Pace Defeats Tate Lady Aggies 8-1
March 8, 2024
Pace defeated the Tate Aggies 8-1 Thursday night in Pace.
Jordan Smith took the loss for the Aggies, going six innings while giving up seven runs, 11 hits, striking out none and walking three.
Kara Wine went 1-3 for Tate with one RBI, and Peyton Womack added a hit for the Aggies.
The Lady Aggies are scheduled to be at Escambia Friday at 6 p.m.
File photo by Dellaina O’Donovan for NorthEscambia.com.
Tate Falls To Arnold At Wahoos Stadium
March 8, 2024
Arnold 3, Tate 0 (Varsity)
The Tate Aggies fell 3-0 to Arnold Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Gabe Harrison took the loss for Tate. He went for two innings, surrendering three runs on three hits while striking out two and walking two. Zane Warrington threw four innings in relief, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out seven and walking one.
Tate had one hit each from Ketch King, Kaleb Posta, Connor Hassell, and Madox Land.
The Aggies are scheduled to be back in action at Blue Wahoos Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. against Paxton.
Tate 8, Catholic 7 (Freshmen)