Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
May 10, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School recently recognized their April Students of the Month.
They are:
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fitterer Fantastic Again As Blue Wahoos Beat Barons
May 10, 2023
Evan Fitterer turned in yet another dominant start as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos opened up their road series in Birmingham with a 4-2 win over the Barons on Tuesday night.
Fitterer (W, 3-0), who began his Double-A career with 11.0 scoreless innings, saw his streak come to a close but still allowed only two runs over 6.0 innings as the Blue Wahoos won their third in a row and 11th in their past 12 games.
The Blue Wahoos jumped out to an early lead against Garrett Davila (L, 0-3) in the first inning on a Dane Myers RBI single. The Barons briefly reclaimed the lead at 2-1 on a two-run homer from Alsander Womack in the third, but Pensacola charged back in the fourth to take the edge for good.
Cody Morissette started the rally with a one-out single before Victor Mesa Jr. was hit by a pitch. Will Banfield tied the game with an RBI double before Griffin Conine laced a two-run single to right that put Pensacola ahead 4-2.
Fitterer worked out of jams in the fifth and sixth, departing with his second quality start in a Blue Wahoos uniform. Brady Puckett and Zack Leban wriggled out of similar trouble in the seventh and eighth before handing the ball to Sean Reynolds (S, 5) for a scoreless ninth.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Wednesday morning at Regions Field.
by Erik Bremer
Slayton Discusses His Political Future, Superintendent’s Future, Sales Tax At Town Hall
May 9, 2023
Escambia County School Board District 5 member Bill Slayton and Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith held a town hall Monday night at Tate High School.
Slayton discussed his political future, the future of the superintendent, sales tax and enrollment capacity during the meeting.
Slayton said since 2008, the district has spent about $90 million in half cent monies in District 5 for improvements and new construction, including the current Ernest Ward Middle School and Kingsfield Elementary.
“That school is running approximately 900 elementary students, so the question is what are we going to do next,” he said about Kingsfield Elementary. “We are looking; we are talking. We are seeing what we have to do.”
“Tate High School is closed for students to transfer into. They began the year at almost 2,200,” he said. The only pending upgrade for Tate he mentioned was covers for an outdoor eating space by the cafeteria to increase student use.
An audience member questioned if Slayton, who was first elected in 2008, will seek another term in 2024.
“That’s a question that my wife and I have discussed. I can’t give you the concrete answer tonight. Hang on until it’s election time,” he said. “I’ll let you know.”
He was a bit more decisive when asked about his continued support to retain Smith.
“I believe that you have to give people time to do the job. Nobody can walk in and do it, and turn everything around immediately,” he said. “You have to learn as you go, and you are learning on the job. There’s no other way to learn as a superintendent except become a superintendent…As long as I am in office, my intentions are to keep supporting the superintendent because that is what the team ought to be doing and that’s what the school board voted to do. ”
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP: Jay Woman Drives Her Mini Cooper Into UPS Store
May 9, 2023
A 60-year old woman from Jay drove her Mini Cooper through the front of the UPS Store in Pace, injuring a woman inside, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP said a 35-year old Pace woman inside the store suffered minor injuries from glass and debris.
Prior to this crash, FHP said the Mini Cooper driver and a 37-year-old woman driving a van backed into each other in the parking lot. The driver of the Mini Cooper put her vehicle in gear and pressed on the accelerator causing it to travel over the parking curb into the front of the UPS Store.
Escambia County Commission Cancels COW Meeting Again
May 9, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled Thursday’s planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
The meeting has been canceled for the last several months.
Molino Tax Collector Office In Running For Donate Life Display Contest Award
May 9, 2023
The Escambia County Tax Collector Molino Office is in the running in the Donate Life Florida Make a Splash Display – Small Offices contest.
The staff worked to spread awareness and raise funds for organ donor education throughout the month of April.
Driver license offices across Florida participated in the National Donate Life Month campaign, “Make A Splash For Donation!”
As a part of the campaign, offices across the state created wall displays inspired by the frog and lily Donate Life Month Theme in an effort to increase awareness for Donate Life, while also fundraising for organ and tissue donation education.
The winning offices will be announced later this month.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Rustin Pope Signs To Play Baseball At Coastal Alabama East
May 9, 2023
Northview High School senior Rustin Pope signed Monday to play baseball for the Coastal Alabama East.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Regional Playoff Games Set For Northview And Tate Baseball, Northview Softball
May 9, 2023
The 2023 Florida high school tournament brackets have been released, and all opening round matchups are set for North Escambia teams beginning Wednesday for baseball and Thursday for softball.
1A Baseball
On Wednesday, No. 1 Northview (17-6) will host No. 4 Holmes County (9-18) at 7 p.m. Chiefs fans are encouraged to wear black and and “black out the blue devils”. Also Wednesday, No. 3 Jay (16-11) will travel to No. 2 Paxton (12-8). The winners will meet for the regional championship Saturday night at 7:00.
6A Baseball
On Wednesday, No.4 Tate (18-7) will travel to Tallahassee to face No. 5 Leon (20-7) at 7 p.m. And. No. 1 Pace (24-2) will host. No. 8 Winter Springs (16-9-1) at 7 p.m. (EDT).
1A Softball
On Thursday, No. 1 Jay (14-11) will host No. 4 Freeport (15-10) at 7 p.m. And, the No. 3 Northview Chiefs will travel to No. 2 Holmes County (16-7) at 7 p.m.
This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots Are…
May 9, 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:
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (College Boulevard) Pensacola Grand Fiesta Parade 2023 – Drivers will encounter road closures from Cervantes Street eastbound to North 12th Avenue Saturday, May 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the Grand Fiesta Parade.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 9, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- 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 summer when the Welcome Center improvements are 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 on this section of East Nine Mile Road has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- · Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and intermittent turn lane closures Sunday, May 8 through Thursday, May 11 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews place thermoplastic pavement markings on the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (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 shoulder and lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder construction.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter alternating nightly lane closures, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday, May 7 through Friday, May 12. Crews will be milling and resurfacing the roadway.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century - Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through May. The two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road - Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures, between Innerarity Point Road and Bauer Road, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 7 through Thursday, May 11. Crews will be placing sod along the roadway, as well as performing signal work at the Bauer Road Intersection.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30/Gulf Breeze Parkway/Navarre Parkway) Resurfacing of select areas from Abercrombie Road to Calle De Palencia Street - Drivers on U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway), between S.R. 87 and Calle De Palencia Street, may encounter intermittent nightly lane closures from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 9, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Widening of the westbound bridge over Simpson River has been completed. The westbound structure now supports two westbound lanes, two eastbound lanes, and dedicated bike lanes. Drivers may encounter temporary and intermittent lane closures on the bridge for crews to address any maintenance issues that may arise. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- 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 S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road Sunday, May 7 through Friday, May 12, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- I-10 Resurfacing from S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists will encounter nighttime east and westbound lane closures Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 for paving operations.
- S.R. 196 (Bayfront Parkway) Routine Maintenance near 9th Avenue – Motorists will encounter westbound outside lane closures Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for landscape maintenance and debris removal.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Leads Deputies On Chase, Crashes Into Power Pole
May 8, 2023
An early morning police chase ended when the suspect crashed a stolen vehicle into a power pole in Cantonment on Monday.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies spotted 37-year old Winston Joseph Nobles of Cantonment driving a stolen vehicle on Pensacola Boulevard and Hannah Street in Ensley. He fled, with deputies giving chase.
During the chase, Nobles crashed the vehicle into the utility pole and a convenience store sign at Chemstrand and Kingsfield roads about 3:15 a.m.
The vehicle was stolen during an armed burglary inside the Pensacola city limits, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said they had to extricate a passenger following the crash. Nobles and the passenger were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS.
Nobles was released from the hospital and booked into the Escambia County Jail at 9:17 a.m. on a felony charge of fleeing and eluding with disregard to safety and causing injury. He was being held without bond due to a bond revocation in another case.
Nobles is expected to face more charges from the Pensacola Police Department for the armed burglary and vehicle theft.
About 1,000 Florida Power & Light customers lost power as a result of downed power lines.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
