New Palafox Project Begins Monday In Downtown Pensacola
January 4, 2026
Pensacola’s New Palafox project is set to get underway on Monday.
The $10.7 million project will transform the downtown area with sidewalk expansions, brick-paved intersections, new trees and landscaping, safety features for pedestrians, and an upgraded stormwater system.
For more project renderings, click here.
Palafox Street from Garden to Main Streets has an incentivized completion date of May 24, 2026. Romana and Intendencia Streets are to be completed by September 3, 2026, and Government and Zarragossa Streets are to be completed by November 11, 2026. Work will be conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
All business storefronts will remain accessible during construction. There will be pedestrian crossings during construction, allowing people to move from one side of Palafox to the other. Nearby parking—including 412 free parking spaces—will also remain accessible.
New 7 Brew Coffee Proposed For Nine Mile And Pine Forest Intersection
January 4, 2026
A new 7 Brew coffee shop has been proposed for West Nine Mile Road.
An application was filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) for a new drive-thru only coffee shop at 2159 West Nine Mile Road, at the corner of West Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads. The property is the site of an AT&T Store.
A drawing filed with the DRC shows the coffee shop development will also include the lot occupied by Maynard’s Donuts and Coffee.
The 7 Brew will be 530 square feet.
A new 7 Brew will soon open at the corner of Nine Mile and Chemstrand roads near Aldi, and a DRC application was filed in July for a location at East Nine Mile Road and University Parkway, near Target.
Megan Bryan Named Ernest Ward Middle Teacher Of The Year
January 4, 2026
Megan Bryan was named the Ernest Ward Middle School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Holly Kendrick Named Ransom Middle Teacher Of The Year
January 4, 2026
Holly Kendrick was named the Ransom Middle School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
850 Night: Ice Flyers Beat The Yard Dawgs 3-1 (With Gallery)
January 4, 2026
Looking to rebound from last night’s loss, the Ice Flyers hosted 850 Night at the Hangar, facing off against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs in front of 5,693 fans on Saturday evening.
The Ice Flyers got off to a strong start in the first period. Zack Jones opened the scoring, and just two minutes later, Tyrone Bronte doubled the lead to 2-0.
Early in the second period, Mike Moran extended the advantage to 3-0. Samson Mouland then energized the crowd and his teammates, with a scrum with Trey Deloury
.
The third period featured plenty of back-and-forth action. Joe Widmar broke through for Roanoke late, scoring their only goal with two minutes remaining. The Ice Flyers held strong to secure a 3-1 victory.
The team now heads on the road to Quad City next weekend before returning home for their only three-game homestand of the season, January 16-18, against Evansville on Friday and Saturday, and Macon on Sunday
One Injured In Fire That Destroyed Chemstrand Road Home
January 3, 2026
One person was injured in a New Year’s Eve Fire on Chemstrand Road, Escambia County Fire Rescue said on Friday.
The fire was reported on Wednesday, December 31 at 4:34 a.m. in the 10000 block of Chemstrand Road. Firefighters arrived at a single-story wood-framed residence with heavy flames and smoke. The fire was brought under control by 5:12 a.m.
One patient was treated and transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The fire was the 12th in Escambia County during the month of December and represented by the 12th and final red bulb in the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign. Each red bulb represented a residential or commercial structure fire that resulted in damage.
A December 28 fire, represented by the ninth bulb on the wreath, destroyed a mobile home south of Century.
Photo above for NorthEscambia.com. Photo below: A December 28 mobile home fire on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
This Is Who Claimed A Winning $55,994 Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
January 3, 2026
We now know who had a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold on Nine Mile Road.
The ticket sold at the Circle K, 3225 West Nine Road at I-10, was the only winning ticket in the December 26 midday drawing and is worth $55,904.78. There were no winning tickets in Friday’s evening drawing.
According to the Florida Lottery, the cash option on the winning ticket was claimed by Octavia Carson Harris of Mobile.
The winning numbers were 1-6-8-16-24.
Molly Villanueva Named Beulah Academy Of Science Teacher Of The Year
January 3, 2026
Molly Villanueva was named the Beulah Academy of Science Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With DUI After Eden Lane Crash
January 3, 2026
A Cantonment woman was arrested for DUI after her vehicle veered off the road and struck several objects in a residential area. Troopers said he alcohol level was over twice the legal limit.
Wanda Ann Wingfield, 64, was found behind the wheel of a grey Chevy Colorado with the engine of her Chevrolet Colorado still running after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper responded to a single-vehicle crash on Eden Lane, according to an arrest report. FHP said that her vehicle had collided with a mailbox, a telephone pole, and a water meter.
When questioned about the December 20 crash, Wingfield reportedly told the trooper that she had “missed her turn”.
According to the arrest report, she failed field sobriety exercises, and she provided breath samples of 0.187 and 0.189. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08.
Tara Garic Named Pine Meadow Elementary Teacher Of The Year
January 3, 2026
Tara Garic was named the Pine Meadow Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.