Girl, Age 6, Dies After Being Hit By Vehicle In Parking Lot Of Pensacola Park
March 5, 2024
A 6-year old girl was killed Tuesday evening when she was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of Pensacola park.
The child was struck about 5:22 p.m.at Hitzman-Optimist Park on Langley Avenue.
The Pensacola Police Department said the girl was taken by private vehicle to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
“There will be no charges in this fatal incident. It was determined to be accidental,” PPD spokesman Mike Wood said.
Additional information was not released as the investigation continued.
File photo.
Escaped Inmate Captured, And He Didn’t Get Very Far
March 5, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has captured a state inmate that escaped from custody last week, and he didn’t get far.
Florida Department of Corrections inmate Korey Robert Culver, 32, escaped from the Pensacola Community Release Center facility on L Street about 3:48 a.m. Wednesday, February 28.
He was arrested Tuesday afternoon just a few hundred feet from the work release where he initially escaped, the Sheriff’s Office said.
He was wanted for battery on a law enforcement officer and escaping.
FDC records show Culver was serving a year sentence out of Okaloosa County for robbery.
Following Manhunt, Century Man Charged With Fleeing From Deputies
March 5, 2024
Following a manhunt, a Century man is charged with fleeing from deputies during a traffic stop.
Cody Edward Comalander, 24, was charged with knowingly operating a vehicle without a license and two counts of resisting arrest without violence.
While stationary in the area of Old Flomaton Road and Cottage Street in Century, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy reported observing a Honda Pilot northbound with a car hauler with no tag or working lights or brake lights. Deputies were unable to catch up with the vehicle before it turned into an address on Cottage Street. The door opened, and Comalander allegedly ran into the woods, according to an arrest report. Two deputies recognized Comalander based upon previous interactions.
Comalander had active warrants with the Escambia County Sheriff’s offices in both Florida and Alabama and is known to flee from law enforcement, the report states.
A Flomaton Police Department K-9 unit responded as a perimeter was established. A Flomaton officer reportd that he observed Comalander on Old Flomaton Road, but he continued to ignore commands and flee on foot. Deputies were ultimately unable to locate him and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Comalander was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $26,000 bond.
Beulah Middle FFA Members Share Agriculture With Beulah Elementary Students
March 5, 2024
FFA members from Beulah Middle School shared agriculture with hundreds of students recently at Beulah Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Public Hearing Set On Devine Farm Area Development Bringing ‘Wildwood Estates’ To 1,067 Lots
March 5, 2024
A final Escambia County Development Review Committee hearing will be held Wednesday on hundreds of new single family lots in a Cantonment subdivision.
Additional phases with 215 news lots would bring a development in the area of Devine Road and South Country Road 97 to a total of 1,067 lots, on 777 acres, according to county applications.
The first three phases with 451 lots — Bookhaven 1 and 2, and Iron Rock 1 — are completed. The next three phases, Bookhaven 3 and 4, and Iron Rock 2 are under construction with 401 additional lots.
The remaining phases of Wildwood Estates are currently undeveloped, according to filings with the Escambia County Development Review Committee. Phase 7 will include 13 lots. There are 43 lots proposed for Phase 8 and 159 for Phase 9 in the plans filed by Devine Farms, LLC/Rodney Sutton.
An amended development between Escambia County and Devine Farms, Inc allows up to 1,200 lots.
The Escambia County Development Review Committee hearing will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Escambia County Central Complex Building at 3363 West Park Place.
Croom Throws A Dozen Stikeouts As Tate Beats Navarre 5-2
March 5, 2024
Tate 5, Navarre 2
The Tate Agies beat the Navarre Raiders 5-2 Monday night on the road.
Tate picther Neal Croom went a full seven innings, striking out 12 Raiders. He allowed six hits, two runs and walked one.
Clif Quinggins went 2-3 with three RBIs at the plate for the Aggies. Cole McNair had two hits for Tate, while Madox Land, Bray Touchstone, and Kaleb Posta added one each.
Up next, Tate will take on Arnold at 7 p.m. Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Tate, Navarre JV (Canceled- weather)
The junior varsity Tat at Navarre game Monday was canceled due to weather.
Tate 2, Navarre 1 (Freshmen)
In freshmen action, Tate downed Navarre 2-1 in Cantonment.
The freshment Aggies will be at Catholic at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Escambia Extension Offering ‘Basics Of Canning’ Class
March 5, 2024
UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County will offer a Basics to Canning class on Saturday, March 16.
Participants can learn how to properly preserve fruits and vegetables.
The program will take place from 10 a.m. until noon at the Extension office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Register online and buy tickets in advance at Eventbrite for $20 plus fees while seats remain. The registration deadline is March 14. Call (850) 475-5230.
Legendary Tate Football Coach Carl Madison Passes Away
March 4, 2024
Legandary high school football Coach Carl Madison passed away Sunday night following a long illness.
“His legacy lives on the players. He not only coached but was a father figure to many,” the Tate Quarterback Club said. ” You weren’t just a player…you were a son. He pushed you to be a better man than a better player. Please pray for his entire family. May God bring them peace and comfort.”
Arrangements have not yet been announced.
In October 2022, the football field at Tate High School was dedicated in honor of high school sports legend Carl Madison.
The field inside Pete Gindl Stadium is “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the man that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
“The best advice you can give people is play clean and hard, and be ready to back the next day,” Madison said shortly before tossing the coin for the Aggies at that October game against Escambia.
Madison was surrounded at the ceremony by former players from his nearly five decades coaching, including members of the Aggies 1980 state championship team.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Madison, who turned 92 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record and is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate, 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.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semi-famous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The then 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
In 2009, Madison briefly came out of retirement to once again take to the field at Tate, this time as an offensive consultant.
For a photo gallery from the stadium naming, click or tap here.
Pictured: The dedication of Carl Madison Field in 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Davisville Mobile Home Fire
March 4, 2024
A mobile home fire in Davisville injured two people Monday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 12:45 p.m. in the 6500 block of West Highway 4, just off Highway 97, in Davisville.
The fire in the single wide mobile home reportedly started in the kitchen.
Two people were transported to an area hospital for minor injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Here Are The Road Work Construction Spots To Watch This Week
March 4, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Northbound and southbound traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Lillian Highway (State Road (S.R.) 298) Resurfacing from north of U.S. 98 to east of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures and intermittent nighttime lane closures, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 as crews perform concrete and striping work.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed until fall 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (S.R. 296) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- The left turn lane from Pace Boulevard to Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signs are in place to direct drivers traveling on Palafox Street to Pace Boulevard.
- The left turn lane from Palafox Street northbound to Pace Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signage is in place to direct drivers traveling northbound on U.S. 29 destined for Massachusetts Avenue or Pace Boulevard.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Over Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) - Drivers will encounter lane closures and traffic pacing operations on I-10 near Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) Sunday, March 3 through Thursday, March 7 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform striping and barrier wall work. Vehicle pacing operations, also known as “rolling roadblocks,” are used to create gaps in traffic so that short-duration construction activities can be completed. In addition, traffic on I-10 will be temporarily shifted to the outside (right) beginning Sunday, March 3 so crews can begin bridge construction work. The shift will be in place until spring 2025.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Routine Maintenance at Nix Road – Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tree trimming operations.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Routine Maintenance at Cordova Road – Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tree trimming operations.
- S.R. 727 (South Fairfield Drive) Routine Maintenance from Graupera Street to U.S. 98 – Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tree trimming operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, March 3, through Friday, March 8, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Beginning Sunday, March 3, motorists traveling eastbound will encounter a new traffic configuration from Green Briar Parkway to the end of the project as lanes will be shifted slightly north to allow for crews to perform construction activities on the south side of the eastbound lanes.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River - The outside (right) lane of U.S. 90 eastbound on the Simpson River Bridge will be closed nightly Wednesday, March 6 through Friday, March 8, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities for the new bridge. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing from North of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 (Spanish Trail) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures, between S.R .87 and Hwy. 178, Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. as crews perform paving and earthwork operations.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Hickory Hammock Road (C.R. 184) to Technology Avenue – Drivers may experience intermittent single-lane closures on S.R. 87 north and southbound, between Hickory Hammock Road and Technology Avenue, Monday, March 4 through Thursday, March 7, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for manhole adjustments.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.