Bonus Pics: Tate Mini Cheerleaders, Cheerleaders, Band, ROTC And Fans
October 2, 2023
The Tate Aggies beat the Milton Panthers Friday night home.
For a bonus photo gallery with the cheerleaders and mini cheerleaders, click here.
For a bonus gallery with the student section, ROTC and band, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
The Tate Aggies (3-2) will celebrate homecoming — Glo-Co ‘23 — Friday night as they host the West Florida Jaguars (2-4).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
These Are This Week’s Road Work Trouble Spots
October 2, 2023
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:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until the end of October when the Welcome Center improvements are scheduled to be complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements from Chemstrand Road to east of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete later this summer.
- 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 October as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage will be 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 the following closures on Lillian Highway from Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 13:
- Daytime shoulder closures from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, as crews perform work.
- Beginning Sunday, Oct. 8, there will be nighttime lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., between Fairfield Drive and Blue Angel Parkway, as crews perform widening and driveway work.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through 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/S.R. 95) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street (S.R. 10A) to Brent Lane (S.R. 296) – Drivers will encounter the following closures on Lillian Highway from Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 13:
- Daytime shoulder closures from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, as crews perform work.
- Beginning Sunday, Oct. 8, there will be nighttime lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., between Fairfield Drive and Blue Angel Parkway, as crews perform widening and driveway work.
- S.R. 29 Turn Lane Construction North of Pinoak Road – Motorists will encounter northbound inside lane closure Monday, Oct. 2 through Thursday, Oct. 5 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane construction.
- U.S. 90 (West Cervantes Street) Routine Utility Maintenance at North C Street – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for utility maintenance.
- U.S. 98 (West Garden Street) Routine Utility Maintenance at U.S. 98 – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for utility maintenance.
- S.R. 292 (South Pace Boulevard) Routine Utility Maintenance at Street – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 20 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for utility maintenance.
- S.R. 297 Turn Lane Operations at Mandeville Lane – Motorists will encounter nighttime lane closures Tuesday, Oct. 3 through Thursday, Oct. 5 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane operations.
- U.S. 29 (Palafox Street) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance from Cross Street to Texar Drive – Motorists will encounter nighttime lane closures Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 6 for underground utility maintenance.
- S.R. 292 (Barrancas Avenue) Routine Maintenance near Palao Road – Motorists will encounter nighttime lane closures Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for driveway repairs.
- U.S. 29 (Pensacola Boulevard) Routine Utility Maintenance from Broad Street to Detroit Boulevard – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Tuesday, Oct. 3 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for utility maintenance.
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 Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Tiger Park Lane and Bayshore Road Sunday, October 1, through Friday, October 6, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- 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 Friday, Sept. 29, and Tuesday, Oct. 3 through Thursday, Oct. 5 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform pile cap construction work and receive delivery of construction materials. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Florida Gas Prices Continue Falling, AAA Says
October 2, 2023
Oil prices remain high, yet prices at the pump are falling fast. Florida’s average price for gasoline dropped a dime last week.
The state average has now declined 20 cents per gallon, through the past two weeks. Sunday’s state average was $3.49 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since late July.
In Escambia County the average per gallon was $3.33, the lowest metro region in the state. In North Escambia, a low of $3.15 was available Sunday night on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices were as low as $3.05 at a station on East Nine Mile Road.
“Gas prices are moving lower, even as the price of oil remains near 2023 highs,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Now that the summer driving season is over, gasoline demand has declined, but gasoline production is stronger than a year ago. Gasoline futures logged a second-consecutive 18 cent drop, which should signal another round of falling prices at the pump this week.”
The price of oil settled at $90.79 per barrel. That was 1% more than the week before.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Sunday Crash Claims Life Of Cantonment Man
October 1, 2023
A late Sunday morning crash claimed the life of a Cantonment man.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 32-year old man lost control of his 2008 Honda Civic and crashed into a utility pole on Highway 297A south of Corral Drive and County Road 297A. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The pole was completely sheared off by the crash, while the vehicle came to rest close to a nearby structure.
The FHP is investigating but no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
Highway 297A wsa closed for hours for the investigation and repairs to the FPL utility pole.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FHP Trooper Locates Missing Teen Walking Alone On Nine Mile At 2:20 A.M.
October 1, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol located a missing juvenile walking alone on Nine Mile Road early Sunday morning.
A FHP trooper on patrol observed a 13-year old boy walking along a dark portion of Nine Mile Road near Stefani Road about 2:20 a.m. The trooper made contact with the child, who said he was a missing child that had run away from home.
After positive identification, the boy was reunited with his father and released into his custody.
The child was previously last seen about 3:40 p.m. Saturday on Rose Avenue., according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Reminder: Breakfast And Lunch Are Free For Every Student At 44 Escambia Schools; Others Must Apply
October 1, 2023
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, regardless of income, this school year at 44 schools in Escambia County. Applications must be submitted for free or reduced price lunches at all other schools.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program means that parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Meal program at that school. However, siblings attending schools not on the CEP list will need to apply for eligibility.
The free meal schools are selected based upon income levels.
Meal applications, or payment, will be required at: Beulah Elementary, Blue Angels Elementary, Cook Elementary, Cordova Park Elementary, Hellen Caro Elementary, Kingsfield Elementary, Suter Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, Ransom Middle, Tate High and West Florida High. Parents at these schools should plan on providing their child with money for their meals until eligibility is established to avoid creating a deficit in their account. Funds can be added to student accounts online at myschoolapps.com.
This program has been in place since 2015 in Escambia County and was not related to the pandemic.
Free meal schools are:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
- Bellview Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- C.A. Weis Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- O.J. Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Beulah Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Workman Middle
HIGH SCHOOLS
- Escambia High
- Northview High
- Pensacola High
- Pine Forest High
- Washington High
OTHER SCHOOLS AND CENTERS
- Acceleration Academy
- Achieve Academy
- Capstone
- Escambia Westgate Center
- Hope Horizon
- Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
- Success Academy
Free/reduced meal applications are available here.
Pictured: An Escambia County School lunch. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Recognizes Leaders Of The Month
October 1, 2023
Bratt Elementary School honored their September Leaders of the Month with a pizza party on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Minimum Wage Goes Up $1 To $12 An Hour
October 1, 2023
Florida’s minimum wage increased by $1 — from $11 to $12 per hour — on Saturday.
It’s part of the initiative known as Amendment 2 that was approved by voters in 2020. The $1 raises will continue each year until minimum wage reaches $15 per hour in 2026.
The dollar increase this year will net a minimum wage worker an extra $2,080. A minimum wage worker putting in 40 hours a week without a day off for a year will make $24,960.
The required cash wage for tipped employees increased to $8.98 on October 1.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Molino Library Holds ‘Touch A Truck’ Community Helpers Day
October 1, 2023
The Molino Public Library held a “Touch a Truck: Community Helpers” event Saturday.
Attendees had a chance to get up close a touch trucks from Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service, plus the horses from the Escambia County Mounted Posse.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Applications Being Accepted Now For Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Christmas Assistance
October 1, 2023
Applications are being accepted now for the Salvation Army’s 2023 Angel Tree Christmas Assistance program.
Applications will be accepted online at www.saangeltree.org through October 6.
In person applications will be taken with an appointment at The Salvation Army, 1501 North Q Street. Appointments must be scheduled by call (850) 432-1501; walk ups will not be accepted. Appointments will be available October 2-6 from 9 a.m. until noon.
For requirements, eligibility and other details, click or tap here for more information (pdf).