Sheriff’s Traffic Unit Conducts Highway 97 Enforcement Detail
September 8, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit conducted an enforcement detail on Highway 97 last Friday morning in Walnut Hill, near the location of a five-vehicle crash in August that injured multiple people last month.
The unit set up at a Dollar General store on Highway 97 at South Highway 99, and in nearly two hours, they wrote two tickets—both to drivers on South Highway 99. One driver was traveling 64 mph in the 45 mph zone, and one was traveling 71 mph. There were no speeders clocked or ticketed on Highway 97.
Many drivers on Highway 97 were actually traveling below the 55 mph speed limit, and some were nearing 60 mph.
The ECSO said drivers can anticipate additional and ongoing speed enforcement on Highway 97 from Molino to the Alabama state line.
RELATED STORY: Eight People Injured In Five-Vehicle Crash On Highway 97 In Walnut Hill
NorthEscambai.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bonus Photos: Tate Fans, Band And Cheerleaders
September 8, 2025
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pensacola High Tigers 41-0 last week.
For a bonus photo gallery with the cheerleaders, fans and band, click here.
For a game story and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Legislative Delegation Committee Meets Tuesday In Molino
September 8, 2025
The Escambia County Legislative Delegation will meet in Molino on Tuesday.
The delegation, comprised of Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz, will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9 at the Molino Community Center.
Gaetz told NorthEscambia.com that he wanted to hold the meeting in Molino rather Pensacola to give North Escambia citizens a chance to attend.
“This is part of my district, and I take it very seriously,” he said. “I want to take care of it along with Pensacola.”
The meeting will provide the public the opportunity to bring forth their policy proposals and appropriation requests.
Elected officials, civic organizations, and local governments will also address their representatives in advance of the next Legislative Session.
Bonus Photos: Northview Fans, Band And Cheerleaders
September 8, 2025
The Northview Chiefs fel 48-43 to Freeport last Friday night.
For a bonus photo gallery with the cheerleaders, fans and band, click here.
For a game story and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Up Over Last Week, AAA Says
September 8, 2025
Florida gas prices are slightly more expensive than a week ago. On Sunday, the state average was $3.10 per gallon. That’s up 3 cents from last week, down 3 cents from a month ago, and 8 cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.93, up from $2.90 a week ago. The low price Sunday night in Pensacola was $2.69 at one station on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, a low price of 2.83 could be found at stations in Cantonment on Muscogee Road and Highway 29.
“Historically, gas prices trend lower in the second half of the year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, the early fall months can bring some volatility, as refineries begin seasonal maintenance and the threat of hurricanes remains. However, these factors could be offset by reduced fuel demand, now that the busy summer travel season is over.”
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots
September 8, 2025
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 110 (I-110) Resurfacing from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 98 – The week of Sunday, Sept. 7, drivers will encounter an outside lane closure on the I-10 westbound ramp to access I-110 southbound (Exit 12). Crews will be performing drainage improvements on I-110 southbound near mile marker 6.
- Pine Forest Road (State Road (S.R.) 297) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – The week of Sunday, Sept. 7, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Pine Forest Road, from Mobile Highway to Blue Angel Parkway, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for placement of thermoplastic striping.
- Michigan Avenue (S.R. 296) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, Sept. 7, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Michigan Avenue, from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) Resurfacing from Gulf Beach Highway to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Sept. 7, drivers will encounter:
- Monday, Sept. 8 through Tuesday, Sept. 9, westbound traffic will be shifted south into the middle turn lane of Gulf Beach Highway, between Patton Drive and W. Sunset Avenue, to allow crews to complete shoulder excavation and drainage work. Signage and traffic cones will delineate the temporary traffic pattern.
- Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 10, travel lanes will shift south on Gulf Beach Highway, between Mills Avenue and Patton Drive. Signage will be in place to direct drivers though the work zone.
- Nightly lane closures on Gulf Beach Highway, between County Road (C.R.) 292A and Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for milling and resurfacing.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Resurfacing, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road – Drivers on Scenic Highway may encounter intermittent lane closures, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road, Sunday, Sept. 7 through Thursday, Sept. 11, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for paving operations. Law enforcement will be on site and traffic flaggers will direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- Garden Street (Business U.S. 98) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the I-110 Ramp – The week of Sunday, Sept. 7, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and N. Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction), as crews perform construction activities on the south side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through early 2026.
- Temporary side street closures south of Garden Street, from B Street to J Street, for stormwater management upgrades. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on the south side of Garden Street, between B Street and L Street. Additionally, periodic on-street parking closures will occur on Garden Street, between A Street and Alcaniz Street, for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
- Beulah Road (S.R. 99) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (S.R. 10A) to Isaacs Lane – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on Beulah Road, from Nine Mile Road to Mobile Highway, Sunday, Sept. 7 through Thursday, Sept. 11, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for concrete work and shoulder stabilization operations.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent I-10 inside lane closures near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, Sept. 7 through Thursday, Sept. 11, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 12, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions from Sunday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 12:
- I-10 east and westbound travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, between mile markers 10 and 12, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The length of the U.S. 29 southbound turn lane access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been permanently reduced to allow crews to complete construction activities. A concrete barrier wall and new pavement striping is in place to direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10, between U.S. 29 and I-110, is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing, from south of East Bay Boulevard (C.R. 399) to Vonnie Tolbert Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 87, from East Bay Boulevard to Vonnie Tolbert Road, Monday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 12, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., for concrete repair work and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
o Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
o Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 12.
o A new traffic pattern will be in place beginning Sunday, Sept. 7, on U.S. 98 from Oriole Beach Road to Greenbriar Parkway.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Wahoos Close Out Road Slate With 4-1 Defeat
September 8, 2025
written by Carter Bainbridge
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (65-67) ended their last road trip of the 2025 season with a 4-1 defeat to the Biloxi Shuckers (70-62) on Sunday.
In a low-scoring affair, Biloxi starter Tyson Hardin and Pensacola righthander Jacob Miller (L, 3-7) matched zeroes through the first three innings of play. The Wahoos struck the run column first in the top of the fourth inning when first baseman Tony Bullard’s ground ball was mishandled by Shucker second baseman Eduardo Garcia with the bases loaded. With a 1-0 lead, the bases still loaded, and nobody out, Pensacola failed to score again against Biloxi reliever Jesus Broca (W, 1-1), who entered the game to record three unproductive outs and end the threat.
The Shuckers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. After two hits and a walk loaded the bases against Jacob Miller with two outs, Biloxi first baseman Blake Burke promptly hit a two-out grand slam to give the Shuckers a 4-1 lead.
Neither team scored again throughout the remainder of the contest. Former Wahoo righthander Austin Roberts (S, 2) closed out the ninth inning to finalize a 4-1 Pensacola defeat.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday, September 9 when they begin their final series of the 2025 season versus the Columbus Clingstones.
North Escambia Store Sold One Of Florida’s Only Winning Powerball Jackpot Tickets A Decade Ago
September 7, 2025
“Play Here!”
It’s just a simple Florida Lottery sign on a rather nondescript storefront in Davisville on Highway 97 in a 38-year-old shopping center that shows its age. The storefront is located on Highway 97, about 1,100 feet south of the Florida-Alabama state line.
The corner store, located just around the walkway from the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, is where a winning Powerball jackpot ticket was sold, one of just 17 top prize winning tickets sold in Florida since the state joined the Powerball in 2009.
Alice Patricia Dawson of Frisco City, Alabama, purchased a Quick Pick, a ticket 10 years ago there at the State Line Gift Shop at 11208 Highway 97 and won $80 million on April 11, 2015. She opted for a cash payout of $53,440,213.76 for the only winning ticket for that drawing in the country.
Neighbors in Frisco City, a town near Monroeville, described Alice Dawson and her husband as down to earth people. The Dawsons did not seek the limelight after the win. They told WEAR 3 back in 2015 that they didn’t want any extra publicity and had been playing the lottery in Florida for about 17 years.
Incidentally, one of those 17 winning Powerball jackpot tickets sold in Florida was never claimed and expired. The $50 million winning ticket was sold in Tampa back in 2013.
Pictured:The State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 in Davisville before the drawing for the September 6, 2025, $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Powerball Players In Missouri And Texas To Split $1.79 Billion Jackpot
September 7, 2025
Two winning tickets were sold in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. The tickets sold in Missouri and Texas will split the $1.79 billion jackpot.
The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61, and 62, with the Powerball number being 17.
The winners will have the option of taking their half as a lump sum of $820.6 million cash.
The drawing trails only the world record $2.04 billion jackpot won on November 7, 2022, in California.
There was a single Florida $1 million Match 5 winning ticket was sold in New Port Richey, one of 18 sold across the nation.
The next Powerball drawing Monday night is estimated at $20 million.
Tate High School Aggies Win Freshman Invitational Tournament
September 7, 2025
The Tate High School Aggies won the Freshman Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Tate.
The Aggies won all six games to claim the tournament title.
Other participating schools were Crestview, Navarre, Milton, Pace, and West Florida high schools.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.