AAA: Florida Gas Prices Rebound On OPEC Production Cut Announcement
October 10, 2022
Florida gas prices took an unexpected turn higher last week, up 16 cents per gallon over the course of four days, in what became the largest weekly increase since June.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $3.33 per gallon. That’s 7 cents more than the average price a week earlier.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.17. Sunday night a low of $3.14 could be found at a station on HIghway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, a few stations were below $3 a gallon.
“The jump at the pump came as a surprise, as this time a week ago, it appeared that the state’s gas tax holiday would pressure prices lower,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, things changed quickly after OPEC and its allies announced plans to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day. This sent oil and gasoline futures prices back to 5-week highs. As a result, the price for retailers to purchase gasoline jumped more than 30 cents, erasing any of the downward progress created by the 25 cent sales tax holiday.”
Century Approves 151% Property Tax Increase At Rare Saturday Afternoon Meeting
October 9, 2022
The Century Town Council approved a 151% property tax increase during a rare Saturday afternoon meeting, but failed to approve a budget due to an advertising error.
No member of the general public attended a public hearing held at 4:30 Saturday afternoon as the council unanimously approved a property tax rate that is 151.68% increase over what’s known as the rolled back rate. The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and was advertised as such.
The council approved a static millage rate of 0.9204 mills, which is a 151.68% increase over the rolled back rate of 0.3657.
The tax increase was so great that state law required a unanimous vote of the body for approval, or a special referendum at the ballot box.
The council was also set to give final approval to a $5.8 million budget for the fiscal year that started on October 1. Action on the budget was tabled after it was discovered that a balanced budget was not advertised due to an apparent typographical error made by the town. The typo in the budget summary public notice for the meeting showed $10,000 more in expenditures than revenue; state law requires that a budget balance.
Pictured top: No member of the general public attended a final budget public hearing held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Century. Pictured below: The Century Town Council discusses a 151.68% property tax increase at the hearing Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Students Of The Month Treated To Pizza Party
October 9, 2022
Bratt Elementary School’s Students of the Month enjoyed pizza with the principal during recent party. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Chiefs Take On The Cantonment Cowboys (With Photo Gallery)
October 9, 2022
The Northwest Escambia Chiefs celebrated homecoming Saturday and welcomed the Cantonment Cowboys to Greg Gibson Field in Walnut Hill.
Scores were as follows:
6U – NWE 6 Cantonment 12
8U – NWE 0 Cantonment 6 OT
10U – NWE 30 Cantonment 0 (Clock turned off in second quarter)
12U – NWE 26 Cantonment 18
For a photo gallery from the 12U and (a few) from the 10U, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flags Were At Half Staff Sunday For National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day
October 9, 2022
Flags across Florida were at half staff Sunday for National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.
Each year in October, the fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice saving and protecting their communities are honored.
Last year, fallen Escambia County Assistant District Chief Dwain Bradshaw was honored at the Florida Fallen Fallen Firefighter Memorial at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala.
Bradshaw was recognized as a line of duty death on November 6, 2019, from a motor vehicle accident.
Bradshaw, 41, lost his life during the early morning hours of November 2019 in the line of duty on scene of a fatal crash on the Muscogee Bridge. He was a volunteer district chief at the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, volunteer assistant district chief for the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, and lived a life of public service.
Bradshaw was also a Department of Defense firefighter at Naval Air Station Pensacola, an U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Mississippi Air National Guard and a former police officer in Bay Minette.
Incumbent District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh Pre-files To Seek Reelection In 2024
October 9, 2022
Incumbent Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh pre-filed Friday to see reelection. He pre-filed as a Republican for the 2024 election.
Tenth-Ranked Argos Right At Home As They Run Together Past UWG
October 9, 2022
Adding to its trend of gems, UWF’s football team continues feeling right at home on the road.
The 10th-ranked Argos seized control of a tied game midway through the third quarter, then overpowered conference rival West Georgia 42-28 Saturday night for their 12th consecutive road victory – a streak that now spans three seasons.
It’s the nation’s second longest in Division II, another part of the Argos’ mantle of feats in their six-year history. The Argos big win also continued an uncanny element of this contentious series, where the visiting team has won each time.
In fact, UWF is now 4-0 at West Georgia’s University Stadium when factoring the Argos upset playoff win in 2017 en route to reaching the NCAA D-2 national title game that season.
The latest win put the Argos at 4-1, 2-1 in the Gulf South Conference, tied with West Alabama (4-2, 2-1) in the conference standings, following UWA’s upset win Saturday at Valdosta State. UWF faces another road trip next Saturday to play Shorter (2-4, 0-3).
On this night, UWF smoothed out its performance from a rocky first half.
Quarterback Peewee Jarrett committed three turnovers in the game’s first 25 minutes, including a pair of interceptions – one of which UWG turned into a touchdown drive – plus a fumble he lost at the Wolves 21.
But the transfer junior was dynamite in the second half.
He passed for 120 yards and two scores, plus rushed for 43 of his 71 yards in the game on a game-sealing drive late in the fourth quarter. He also scored a rushing touchdown late in the second quarter.
“He was on fire,” said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. “He took (first half troubles) personal. We want the ball in his hands. Our offense I think is very close to just taking this thing to the next level.”
After Jarrett had a two-yard run to the UWG 21 late with less than two minutes remaining, which forced a final time out from West Georgia, the Argos faced a 3rd-and-9 play. In a defining moment, UWF’s offensive line opened up a mass passageway on the left side that Shomari Mason raced through for a game-sealing touchdown with 1:42 remaining.
On that play, Mason became UWF’s all-time, career rushing leader with 2,016 yards, breaking the mark set by Chris Schwarz (1,992) during UWF’s first three seasons (2016-18). Mason’s two TDs Saturday gave him a school record 21 rushing scores in his career, pushing him past Anthony Johnson Jr., a Pace High grad, who amassed 20 in four seasons (2017-19 and 2021).
Mason is already the UWF record holder for most overall touchdowns, now with 23.
His first touchdown Saturday was a game-changer.
Coming out of halftime with the scored tied 14-14, the Wolves got the ball to start the third quarter. On a second down play, UWF linebacker Gael Laurent stripped the ball from West Georgia quarterback Harrison Frost. The Argos Aidan Swett recovered at the West Georgia 23.
On the next play, Mason broke free to break the tie on a 23-yard run.
“Oh my god… that was unbelievable,” Shinnick said. “We were hoping to right the ship just a little bit…. we turned the ball over three times in the first half. To get that (turnover) and have Shomari take to the house on the next play, that was unbelievable.”
Even though West Georgia answered on the ensuing possession with a 15-play, 82-yard drive to tie the game at 21, the Argos offense never lost its edge.
UWF followed right back in three plays when Jarrett hit Caden Leggett on a deep sideline route with a throw over the cornerback’s outstretched arm. Leggett raced untouched for a 62-yard touchdown.
The Argos defense then came up with another big play when De’Mareyae Givens intercepted a Frost pass at the UWF 34, less than minute into the fourth quarter.
Facing 3rd-and-18 from his own 37, Jarrett made his biggest play when he rolled out, escaped a rush and found receiver Larry Rembert for a 20-yard gain. Three plays later, Jarrett threw a perfect, back-shoulder pass to David Durden, who leaped above the cornerback to catch the ball and get a foot in bounds on a 21-yard score.
It put UWF up by two scores (35-21) with 10:53 remaining, which was ironically the same point difference the Argos rallied from behind in the past two games at home.
West Georgia got within a touchdown after its 12-play, 79-yard drive that finished with a rushing touchdown from the 1 with 5:39 remaining. The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Argos good field position at the West Georgia 35.
The Argos offensive line and rushing game took over from there. Jarrett’s third-down conversion run to the 22 kept the drive going and set up Mason’s game-clinching run.
UWF is now 29-9 all-time on the road, including 27-5 in the last five seasons. UWF’s defense has forced 16 turnovers in seven games against West Georgia – the most against any opponent – and with 12 of those turnovers happening at UWG’s University Stadium.
UWF finished the game Saturday with 199 yards rushing, 235 yards passing, which continues a balance established in the season’s first game. The Argos now have thrown for at least one touchdown pass in 50 consecutive games.
By Bill Vilona
GoArgos Senior Writer
Photo: Morgan Givens
UWF Downs Lee To Win Pack It Pink Match
October 9, 2022
Saturday marked UWF’s annual Pack it Pink Match as the 13th-ranked Argonauts defeated the Flames of Lee University, 3-1. Through a silient auction and donations taken at the gate, UWF raised more than $6,600 for cancer awareness and research.
The first set saw the Argos trail the Flames early on, as Lee jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead and stayed ahead for a majority of the match. Alex Oliver led the way for the Argos in the first as her 5 kills was only one off the game high of 6 from the Flames Hannah Upton, but UWF fell in the first set 25-23.
The second set featured a dominant Argonaut attack that out hit the Flames .333 to .000 and featured three Argos recording 3 kills or more in the set – Oliver had four, and Jacque Martin and Jenna Zydlo had three each. The Argos would use that attack to take set two 25-14 and tie the match up at 1-1.
Freshman Lily Sumner would provide the spark that head coach Melissa Wolter was looking for, as her 3 kills in the set to go along with Jacque Martin’s 4 and Jenna Zydlo’s 3 would pace the Argos attack to a 25-15 set win, and give the Argos a 2-1 lead over the Flames.
The fourth and final set was completely controlled by the Argos, as their 10-3 lead would prove to be too much for the Flames. UWF cruised to a 25-16 set win and took the match 3-1 over the Lee University Flames.
The Argos offensive attack would go on to outhit the Flames .325 to .128 for the match as three players finished with double-digit kills (Oliver 13, Martin 12, Zydlo 10). Senior Taylor Vaneekeren continued her stellar senior season as she would finish the match with a double-double of 44 assists (game high) and 11 digs to go along with 5 blocks.
Sophomore Meg Brackhan and senior Kierra Potts provided the anchors for the Argos defense today, as Potts would finish with a game high 7 blocks and Brackhan finished with a game high 20 digs for the match.
With the win today, the Argos improve to 17-4 on the season with a 9-1 GSC conference record. The Argos next match takes place next Friday as they head to Birmingham Alabama for the GSC Crossover Tournament.
United Way Day Of Caring Makes A Difference Across The Area (With Photo Gallery)
October 8, 2022
Hundreds of volunteers fanned out across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Friday from the United Way of West Florida’s 29th Annual Day of Caring on Friday.
Day of Caring is a single-day, community-wide volunteer event organized by United Way of West Florida. United Way connects volunteers with local agencies and schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties needing service projects completed.
There were 64 volunteer groups with nearly 600 individual volunteers working on 66 projects in the two-county region.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Projects related to North Escambia area agencies, schools or volunteer groups included:
- Ascend volunteers worked on the cleaning and maintenance of the nature boardwalk at Escambia Westgate School. They also replaced two older wheelchair ramps that were not done last year when the new boardwalk was built.
- Led by a Tate alumnus, Community Health Northwest Florida worked to clean up and create an inviting seating area in the front of Tate High School, near the Jennings Building, so students can enjoy an outdoor space.
- Navy Federal Credit Union worked to clear and prepare the ground in front of the Tate High School Lipscomb Building for the installation of planter boxes. The culinary classes will use the planter boxes to grow an herb garden to incorporate into the curriculum.
- Volunteers from Florida Blue, Navy Federal, International Paper, and Junior League of Pensacola deep cleaned, organized and installed smoke detectors at the Ronald McDonald House.
- Escambia River Electric Cooperative volunteers worked to beautify Chumuckla Elementary School.
Since 1993, United Way of West Florida has coordinated more than 28,000 volunteers to complete projects across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured above and first below: Volunteers from Navy Federal Credit Union and Community Health Northwest Florida volunteered at Tate School on Friday. Second below: Ascend volunteers worked on the nature trail at Escambia Westgate School. Third below: Volunteers from Florida Blue, Navy Federal, International Paper, and Junior League of Pensacola worked at the Ronald McDonald House. Bottom: EREC volunteered at Chumuckla Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Holds Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
October 8, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School held their annual Fall Festival Friday night at the school.
The family fun fundraiser had plenty of games, a silent auction, vendors, a hayride, haunted house, karaoke and more.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
