UWF Holds 2022 Spring Commencement (With Photo Gallery)
May 8, 2022
The University of West Florida held Spring Commencement ceremonies honoring 2022 graduates Saturday at the Pensacola Bay Center.
UWF alumna Mona Amodeo, founder and president of idGroup, was the guest speaker at three ceremonies.
Photo a photo gallery from the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show Returns To Century
May 8, 2022
After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show returned to Century Saturday.
The day included entertainment, free history museum tours, grilled hamburger meals, crafts, free exhibits, a car show and more.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Traffic Alert: This Week’s List Of Construction Slow Down Spots
May 8, 2022
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:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 8 through Saturday, May 14. On Tuesday, May 10, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Motorists traveling on West Cervantes Street, between A Street and Pace Boulevard, will encounter the following traffic impacts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night:
- Single lane closures and shifts as crews perform median improvements, signalization installation, construct curb and gutter, sidewalks, and utility adjustments.
- Alternating lane closures and shifts for paving work.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the southbound side of the bridge as crews construct the northbound portion. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 9 through Friday, May 13, as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures the week of Monday, May 9.
- Airport Boulevard (S.R. 750) Routine Maintenance from West of Palafox Street to Davis Highway – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures from west of Palafox Street to Davis Highway from 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. the week of Monday, May 9 as crews perform paving operations.
- Pace Boulevard, from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – The northbound outside lane between Barrancas Avenue and Cervantes Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly as crews perform concrete work. In addition, crews will close the sidewalks on the eastern side of Pace Boulevard for sidewalk improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the western side of Pace Boulevard during this time
- Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) from Manchester Street to the Bayou Chico Bridge –The sidewalks on the northern side of Barrancas Avenue, between Manchester Avenue and Pace Boulevard, will be closed as crews work on sidewalk improvements. Detours will be in place for pedestrians in these areas.
- Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) from Brent Lane to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 9 through Thursday, May 12 as crews work on sidewalk and curb improvements.
- S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Maintenance at the Escambia River Bridge – Motorists will encounter intermittent east and westbound inside lane closures from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- Brent Lane (S.R. 296) Routine Maintenance near I-110 Northbound on Ramp – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, May 6 and Sunday, May 8 as crews perform paving operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 13. On Tuesday, May 10, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists traveling westbound will encounter intermittent lane and median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Monday, May 9 through Friday, May 13, while crews perform median work. In addition, westbound travelers will encounter a new traffic configuration from Ramblewood Drive to Autumn Breeze Circle as lanes will be shifted slightly south to allow for crews to perform widening activities on the outside lane.
- U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway) Turn Lane Construction near Clay Court in Navarre – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures near Clay Court from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 12 as perform paving operations.
- Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) Turn Lane Construction at the new Circle K in Milton – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 8 through Thursday, May 12 as crews perform paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
McCambley And McIntosh Lead Blue Wahoos To 3-1 Win
May 8, 2022
Zach McCambley had his best start of the year and Paul McIntosh delivered yet another clutch hit as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Mississippi Braves 3-1 on Saturday night.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 1-0 right away in the first inning, as Hayden Cantrelle hit a leadoff double and scored on a Jerar Encarnacion sacrifice fly against Mississippi starter Freddy Tarnok.
McCambley (W, 1-2) allowed back-to-back doubles to Michael Harris II and Luke Waddell to begin his outing, but retired 17 of his final 18 batters with only a second-inning walk breaking up his dominant streak. The righty completed 6.0 innings for the first time this season, striking out a season-high eight batters.
Tied 1-1 in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos got a leadoff single from Cantrelle against M-Braves reliever A.J. Puckett (L, 0-3) and four consecutive two-out singles to take a 3-1 lead. McIntosh scored Cantrelle with an RBI single, then scored from first on a Griffin Conine hit to give Pensacola all the runs they would need.
After McCambley departed, Jefry Yan stranded two runners in scoring position in the seventh and Andrew Nardi (S, 2) earned a six-out save.
The Blue Wahoos improved to 12-14 on the season, remaining 2.5 games behind first place Montgomery and setting up an opportunity to win their first series of the season in Sunday’s finale.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up against the Mississippi Braves on Sunday afternoon
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Two Missing Men Found Safe After Being Reported Missing On The Escambia River
May 7, 2022
UPDATE: BOTH HAVE BEEN FOUND SAFE
Two people are missing after a Becks Lake Road fishing trip Friday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Jack Mikuta, 19, and Carter Hallin, 22, were last seen on about 4 p.m. Friday when they were going fishing on the Escambia River from the 2000 block of Becks Lake Road.
Escambia Breaks Ground On New ‘Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station’ In Beulah
May 7, 2022
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday to dedicate a new Beulah fire station as the “Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station”.
The new $8.44 million fire station will be named in honor of Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw who died in the line of duty in November 2019, and Chief Steve McNair who dedicated over 50 years to fire service in Beulah and helped rebuild the current station after fire destroyed the original Beulah Fire Station in 1977.
“Today was a tremendous day for our county, the Beulah Community and for ECFR as we broke ground on our newest modern fire facility on Nine Mile Road,” Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said during Friday’s groundbreaking. “It was also my humble privilege to honor two great families that sacrificed so much for our community and ECFR, and whose names will forever be honored as the namesakes for this new facility once it is completed. The Bradshaw-McNair Fire station will serve to enshrine the legacy of both Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw, who gave his life for our citizens as he died in the line of duty, and Chief Steve McNair, who gave more than 50 years of service to our community in the fire service. Today was a great day in Escambia County, a day we can all take pride in as we honor and recognize these exceptional individuals and their families.”
The existing Beulah Fire Station is at the end of its useful life, according to the county. The proposed new facility will be a total of 14,503 square feet area and have four vehicle bays including one for EMS, along with a small community meeting/training room.
The new facility will be constructed on the same site as the current station at 6400 West Nine Mile Road.
The recommended low bidder on the project is Emerald Coast Constructors for $8.44 million. Five other bids ranged from about $10.15 million to $12.45 million. The construction will be funded with Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds.
Pictured top: Groundbreaking Friday for new Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station in Beulah. Pictured inset: Steve McNair. Pictured first below: The family of late Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw. Second below: Dwain Bradshaw, Sr. Third below: Current ECFR Chief Jason Catrambone. Fourth below: Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. Pictured bottom: Friday’s ceremony. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Search Continues For State Work Release Inmate That Escaped In Escambia County
May 7, 2022
The search is continuing for a state work release inmate that escaped in Escambia County.
Inmate Anthony Ray Barnes was last seen Wednesday when he was assigned to L30 Traffic Services to hold traffic signs.
He checked in with a Florida Department of Corrections correctional officer at 2:04 p.m. Then at 6:37 p.m. it was discovered Barnes had removed his ankle monitor and left the state’s work-release program. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was asked to assist in the search for Barnes at 9 p.m.
Barnes’ last known location was the intersection of Mobile Highway and Boulder Street.
He is a white male, six-feet one-inch tall, 215 pounds, with balding brown hair, blue eyes, with multiple facial tattoos.
Barnes has an extensive arrest record with multiple felony charges including battery, drug violations, and burglary. He is currently serving time for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing and eluding from Santa Rosa County.
It was believed Barnes may have in Santa Rosa County with 25-year-old Dalton Dakota Ballard, who was wanted for fleeing and eluding by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. But Ballard is now in jail.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, the FDOC at (850) 922-6867 or their local law enforcement agency.
From Diapers And Gas To Appliances And Much More: DeSantis Signs 10 Sales Tax Holidays
May 7, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 10 different sale tax holidays into law on a variety of common items, including fuel, diapers, disaster supplies and tools.
The 10 tax holidays are:
- A one-month Fuel Tax Holiday from October 1, through October 31, 2022, saving Floridians $200 million by lowering the price of gas by 25.3 cents per gallon.
- A 3-month sales tax holiday for children’s books from May 14 through August 14, 2022, providing $3.3 million in tax relief.
- A one-year sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for baby and toddler clothes and shoes, providing $81.5 million in tax relief.
- A one-year sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for children’s diapers, providing $38.9 million in tax relief.
- A 14-day Back-to-School sales tax holiday from July 25 through August 7, 2022, for clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies, providing $100 million in tax relief.
- A 14-day Disaster Preparedness sales tax holiday from May 28 through June 10, 2022, for supplies such as flashlights, radios, tarps, batteries, and fire extinguishers, providing $25.6 million in tax relief.
- A 7-day Tool-Time sales tax holiday from September 3 through September 9, 2022, for tools and other home improvement items, providing $12.4 million in tax relief.
- A two-year sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for impact resistant windows, doors, and garage doors, providing $442.8 million in tax relief.
- A 7-day Freedom Week from July 1 to July 7, 2022, providing a sales tax exemption for specified admissions and items related to recreational activities, providing $70.6 million in tax relief.
- A one-year Energy Star Appliances sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters, and refrigerators, providing $78.5 million in tax relief.
Escambia Man Claims Nearly $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
May 7, 2022
Escambia County resident Ralph Cole has claimed a nearly $1 million lottery prize.
He claimed his winnings from the $1000 A Week scratch-off game at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $930,000.
When asked if he had any plans for his big win, Cole said, “I’m going to get a Harley!” His granddaughter, who accompanied him to Tallahassee, was hesitant at this idea but beamed at his next dream, “Actually, I’m going to fix up my wife’s old Mustang. It’s beautiful, bright yellow, and she loved it.”
Cole purchased his winning ticket from Circle K at 3430 Barrancas Avenue. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $2 game offers eight top prizes of $1,000 a week for life.
Tate High Football’s Bruce Foster Commits To Millsaps College
May 7, 2022
Tate High School’s Bruce Foster who has committed to play football at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
