Escambia Ends 2023 With Some Of The Cheapest Gas In Florida
December 31, 2023
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Florida jumped 14 cents during the past week, with demand growing from travel over the end-of-the-year holiday period.
AAA said Florida drivers paid an average of $3.12 on Wednesday, matching the national average for the first time since August. Florida’s average was $2.98 last week and $3.01 a month before.
Escambia area drivers enjoyed some of the state’s lowest prices at the pump at $2.85 on average while the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area paid an average of $3.30 a gallon. In North Escambia, drivers Saturdayday could find $2.75 at the Circle K on Highway 29 in Cantonment and $2.78 at the Quick Fill on Muscogee Road. In Pensacola, Cumberland Farms on Pine Forest Road was the lowest at $2.68, according to GasBuddy.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
One Killed In North Davis Highway Wreck Saturday Afternoon
December 30, 2023
A 45-year old man was killed in a head-on collision Saturday afternoon on Davis Highway just north of HCA Florida West Hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a pickup truck driven by a 22-year old Escambia County woman traveled southbound into the northbound lanes of North Davis Highway near Abbie Lane about 2 p.m.. The pickup collided with a SUV driven by a 45-year old Pace man who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two other people were critically injured and two suffered minor injuries.
Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, FHP said.
Florida’s Expanded ‘Move Over’ Law Takes Effect Monday
December 30, 2023
Beginning January 1, Florida’s Move Over law expands to require motorists to move over for all disabled vehicles with flashers on stopped on the side of the road.
Starting Monday, motorists will have to provide space when disabled vehicles are stopped along the road while people are visible or things like emergency flashers are on.
The Move Over Law already required drivers to get out of lanes closest to stopped vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and utility trucks.
Violations will carry a fine of up to $158 for a noncriminal traffic infraction.
Moving over benefits everyone,” said Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner. “Protect not only emergency, utility, and sanitation vehicles but also your family and loved ones by keeping your eyes on the road and moving over when you see a vehicle, including a disabled vehicle, on the side of the road. If you can’t move over, you should decrease your speed to 20 miles an hour and pass cautiously. Save a life and move over.”
Century Man Facing Multiple Drug, Other Charges After Fleeing From Deputies
December 30, 2023
A Century man is facing multiple charges after allegedly fleeing from deputies.
Ladarrious Tamiraye Lett, 29, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, fleeing and eluding a marked patrol vehicle, resisting arrest without violence, driving with a suspended license, and possession of marijuana.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy on patrol in Century observed Lett driving a Dodge Charger. The deputy lost sight of Lett near the Whataburger parking lot on North Century Boulevard before locating the Charger again at East Highway 4 and Old Flomaton Road. The deputy activated his lights and siren and followed the vehicle until Lett fled at a high rate of speed on Fannie Road, an arrest report states.
Lett lost control and hit a bridge guardrail, allowing the deputy to catch up as Lett exited the car and ran into a wooded area. A Flomaton Police Department K-9 responded. The K-9 located a “large bag” of marijuana on the ground, along with a “large bag” of methamphetamine, the report states. Due to constant rain, Lett was not immediately located by the K-9.
A warrant for Lett’s arrest was later issued by a judge.
Lett remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Illegally Baited Game Camera
December 30, 2023
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
(No report submitted for Escambia County).
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lewis located a game camera over an illegally baited area in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. The officer seized the game camera and secured a warrant for the search of the camera. A subject captured on the game camera was identified via facial recognition software. The officer interviewed the subject, and the subject admitted to placing the bait around the game camera. The officer issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
Officer Bower was on patrol and located a subject fishing. The subject stated he had not caught any fish but was observed attempting to hide one undersized redfish and two undersized stone crab claws in his cooler. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violations.
Officer Bower located a group of anglers and a cooler at the end of the Navarre Beach fishing pier. One of the subjects said the cooler was not theirs and stated they didn’t know who the cooler belonged to. In an attempt to locate the owner of the cooler, Officer Bower inspected the abandoned cooler and located an undersized flounder. After further investigation, it was determined the subject was the owner of the cooler and admitted to catching the flounder. The subject was cited accordingly for the violation.
Officer Bower located a sailboat on state waters without documentation or Florida registration displayed. Officer Bower located the hull identification number and determined the vessel was documented and the US Coast Guard assisted in identifying the owner of the vessel. The vessel’s registration expired in 2013. The current owner of the vessel purchased the sailboat in the spring of 2023 and failed to register the documented vessel. The owner was cited for the violation.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Trailer Fire, Two Other Fires Add Red Bulbs During ‘Keep the Wreath Green’
December 30, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue has placed three more red bulbs on the county wreath following residential structure fires that occurred over the Christmas weekend, including one in Century, bringing the total of red bulbs on the wreath to 12.
At 2:28 p.m. on Christmas day, ECFR responded to a residential mobile home fire at the 130 block of West State Line Road. The first unit on scene discovered fire on one end of a mobile home. Upon investigation, firefighters located a fire in the living room, hallway and master bedroom. Due to the significance of the fire, assistance was requested from Santa Rosa County. Crews worked quickly to attack the fire, bringing it under control by 2:45 p.m. There were no injuries or fatalities. The Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is investigating the cause of the fire. Additional assistance was provided to the residents by the American Red Cross.
At 12:29 a.m. Christmas day, ECFR responded to a residential structure fire at the 1900 block of North “L” Street. Upon arrival, crews saw smoke showing from the attic. Due to a fast response with rapid water application, the fire was kept to the attic and brought under control by 12:55 a.m. There were no injuries or fatalities. ECFR conducted the investigation and determined the cause of the fire to be the HVAC system, which spread through the home’s duct work. Assistance was provided by the American Red Cross.
At 1:17 a.m. Christmas day, ECFR responded to a residential structure fire at the 100 block of Alice Street. The first to arrive on scene found a single story home with heavy fire on the rear of the home. Despite heavy wind conditions, crews worked quickly to stop the fire and brought it under control by 1:35 a.m. One cat was found deceased due to the fire. Due to significant damage from the fire, the occupants were displaced. ECFR conducted the investigation and determined an accidental electrical issue caused the fire. Assistance was provided by the American Red Cross.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the City of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, as well as Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in a residential home.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Need To Get Rid Of A Real Christmas Tree? ECUA Will Pick It Up
December 30, 2023
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is ready to help you dispose of that real Christmas tree.
ECUA will turn it into compost.
Place the real tree or wreath out by the curb on your regular pick-up day, and it will be picked up as part of ECUA’s regular yard waste collection. Just make sure that the natural tree or wreath is free of ornaments, tinsel and stands.
ECUA will compost the trees with other yard waste at their Biosolids Composting Facility.
Allie Eubanks Named Beulah Academy of Science Teacher of the Year
December 30, 2023
Allie Eubanks is the Beulah Academy of Science Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is wrapping up 2023 by honoring the Teachers of the Year from North Escambia schools over the next several days. Escambia County’s overall Teacher of the Year will be named in February.
Second Florida Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Begins Next Week
December 29, 2023
As students head back to school in January, Florida is hold its second, two-week ack-to-School Sales Tax Holiday from Monday, January 1, 2024 through Sunday, January 14, 2024.
Parents will get a break from the state’s sales tax on school-related items, just like each Fall.. No Florida sales tax or local option tax will be collected during this time on the sale of the following items:
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories with a sales price of $100 or less per item
- Certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less
- Personal computers, laptops, monitors, and certain computer-related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use
Among the allowed school supplies are the following: calculators, colored pencils, crayons, pens, construction paper, lunch boxes, notebooks, glue, paste, staplers, markers, rulers, and scissors.
Examples of learning aids and jigsaw puzzles include electronic or interactive books, flashcards, memory games, puzzle books, search-and-find books, toys intended to teach reading or math skills, and stacking or nesting blocks or sets.
For detailed information, click or tap here (pdf).
Florida Commerece: Escambia Area Adds Jobs In 2023
December 29, 2023
FloridaCommerce announced that the Escambia area industry gaining the most jobs over the year was education and health services, increasing by 2,400 jobs. The Pensacola area’s private sector employment increased by 1,600 jobs, an increase of 0.9 percent over the year in November 2023.
The Escambia area’s labor force increased by 5,383 in November 2023, a 2.3 percent increase over the year. The Pensacola area unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in November 2023, up 0.6 percentage point from 2.6 percent from one year ago in November 2022.
Florida’s labor force continues to thrive, with 350,000 more people entering the labor force at an annual growth rate of 3.2 percent, faster than the national growth rate of 2.3 percent. Florida continues to outpace the nation in labor force growth for the 30th consecutive month. Florida’s private sector employment increased by 0.3 percent (+28,300 jobs) over the month in November 2023. Florida’s unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in November 2023, 0.8 percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent and marking the 37th consecutive month Florida’s unemployment rate has remained below the nations.
In November 2023, the education and health services sector gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 11,800 jobs from the previous month, followed by construction, adding 6,300 jobs.