Kingsfield Elementary Teachers Get Pied In The Face For Relay For Life (With Photo Gallery)
March 15, 2022
Kingsfield Elementary School students recently had a chance to pie their teachers in the face.
It was all part of an annual fundraiser for Relay for Life, and they collected $925.
The top five fundraising classes were
- Stephanie Harris, kindergarten, $178.78
- Natalie Goodwin, fourth grade, $112.12
- Kenli Rowe, fourth grade, $107.69
- Melissa Venable, kindergarten, $100.17
- Adam Clark, fifth grade, $69.42
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Fire In Vacant Cottage Hill Home (With Gallery)
March 14, 2022
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating after fire heavily damaged a vacant home in Cottage Hill Monday afternoon.
The fire in the 2200 block of Handy Road was reported about 2:05 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find flames coming from the windows of the brick home just north of McKenzie Road.
There were no injuries reported.
Escambia Fire Rescue said the home did not have electric service.
For a photo gallery showing the fire from before firefighters started their attack, click here.
The Cantonment, Ensley, Molino, Beulah, Bellview and Osceola stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Abandons Portion Of Pace Parkway That’s Actually Part Of International Paper
March 14, 2022
When International Paper in Cantonment began to consider improvements to a road on their sprawling facility, they found out it was actually a public road belonging to Escambia County.
Officially, the road was part of Pace Parkway but commonly called Scale House Road. It runs off Highway 29 into the mill south of the traffic light at Tree Street (map below). The roadway has been used, improved, and maintained by IP for many years to receive and weigh raw materials, according to the county. The roadway has commercial scales, railroad infrastructure and overhead industrial equipment.
The Escambia County Commission has voted to vacate rights and abandon the roadway, essentially signing it over to International Paper.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. The portion of Pace Parkway that was abandoned by Escambia County is indicated in yellow below, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Reach A New Record High
March 14, 2022
For the first time in 14 years, Florida’s average price for gasoline is above $4 a gallon. Florida gas prices raced higher last week, reaching a new record-high average price of $4.38 per gallon on Friday. This smashed Florida’s previous record-high of $4.08 per gallon, which was set in July 2008.
The average price for gasoline on Sunday was $4.35 per gallon in Florida, up 87 cents since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $4.24, among the lowest in the state. In North Escambia, a low of $4.23 could be found Sunday night at one station on Highway 29 in cantonment
Throughout the past two weeks, the state average rose a total of 90 cents per gallon. The cost to fill an average 15-gallon tank of gas is now around $65. That’s $23 more than what drivers paid this time last year.
Sheriff Chip Simmons Is Looking To Sell Someone A Bull
March 14, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons is looking to sell someone a bull.
The “black bull with white face” will be sold at 10 a.m. this Thursday, March 17, at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Molino Substation at 5844 Highway 29. It will be sold the “highest and best” bidder with cash in hand
For more information, call (850) 436-9447.
The bull was found in the area of Wymart Road, off Longleaf Drive, back in February. It went unclaimed by its owner.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 14, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month for February.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Kase Calloway and Wykel Thomas
- 1st grade: Ezra Hall and Paris Scott
- 2nd grade: Elsa Faulk and Tammy Glenn
- 3rd grade: Zaylee Baker and Easton Burris
- 4th grade: Dean Marks and Orlayjae Dixon
- 5th grade: Anastacia Cooley and Ethan Carter
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
March 14, 2022
Inmate Lucson Joseph assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Lucson is serving a five year sentence out of Palm Beach County for charges including grand theft, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, obstructing a criminal investigation and battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter or EMT.
$21.8 Million, 3-Year Project Underway On Highway 90 Bridges Between Escambia, Santa Rosa
March 14, 2022
Construction is continuing on the Highway 90 bridge project over Simpson River, between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Crews have finished installing a temporary barrier wall and have started construction of a temporary work trestle (center) that will be between the westbound and eastbound bridges. Once the work trestle or temporary bridge is complete, the team will begin driving concrete piles for the widening of the westbound bridge.
Once the project is complete in 2025, each bridge will accommodate two, 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot outside shoulders that will include bike lanes. Additional improvements include milling and resurfacing the bridge approaches, improving drainage, installing new signage, reconstructing curb and gutter, and installing guardrail.
The project’s total cost is $21.8 million.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com graphic. Click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 13, 2022
Ernest Ward Middle School recently announced their Students of the Month for December and January.
The January Students of the Month (pictured above, L-R) are Jaycee Miller, Sydney Little and Jackson Simmons.
The December Students of the Month (pictured below L-R) are Nicholas Barry, Brady Beckley and Kayleigh Young.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Soil And Water Board Could Be Doomed By Bill Approved By Legislature, Member Says
March 13, 2022
A bill approved by the Florida Legislature could doom the Escambia County Soil and Water Conservation District board, and that concerns at least one member of the board.
The legislation requires candidates for the volunteer elected seats to either be actively engaged in agriculture or retired after at least 10 years in agriculture, employed by an agricultural producer, or own or lease agricultural land.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson, who first proposed abolishing the boards altogether. It has been approved by the
The districts across the state, according to the state law that established them, are meant to “provide assistance, guidance, and education to landowners, land occupiers, the agricultural industry, and the general public in implementing land and water resource protection practices. The Legislature intends for soil and water conservation districts to work in conjunction with federal, state, and local agencies in all matters.”
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District board member Anne Bennett is hoping the governor does not sign the bill.
“These boards work on storm water runoff, erosion, sedimentation, surface water quality. They help prioritize repairs on natural areas after big storm events countywide. They work with the US government on Census of government and finances; with the US Department of Agricultural to oversee programs, monies and to help prioritize projects and policies. They work cooperatively with many Florida agencies particularly, the Department of Agriculture. They work with non-profits, youth groups and schools.”
The Escambia Soil and Water Board receives no compensation or reimbursements, and they do not have any taxing or regulating authority, she said.
“Soil and Water boards cost nothing to taxpayers while providing community wide services to maintain quality of life, land and waterscapes,” Bennett added.
Bennett said some board districts will be left with no eligible candidate, and there will be no representation for non-agricultural concerns.
“Under this bill, a person without a high school diploma that’s been picking strawberries for the last 10 years would be able to serve on the board as opposed to a scientist from the University of Florida IFAS,” Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil, a central Florida Democrat, told Florida Politics. “We should all believe that Floridians should have the freedom to be healthy, prosperous and safe, which includes having clean drinking water.”
Pictured: A North Escambia field in June 2021. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.