Beulah Celebrates With Second Annual Christmas Parade (With Photo Gallery)
December 5, 2021
Large crowds turned out for the Second Annual Beulah Christmas Parade Saturday afternoon.
The parade included numerous units from Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and well known locals including Sheriff Chip Simmons, Escambia County School Board Member Kevin Adams, Rep. Michelle Salzman, and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Flomaton Christmas Parade
December 5, 2021
Crowds lined the streets for the annual Flomaton Christmas Parade on Saturday.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The winning float was “Jesus – Sweetest Name I Know” from Beulah Chapel Assembly of God in Byrneville. The float was dedicated to the memory of a church member that passed away unexpectedly. For that story, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Team Wins JV Tournament
December 5, 2021
The Tate High School boys soccer team took the championship title at a weekend JV tournament in Navarre.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Joy In Jay Christmas Parade Photo Gallery
December 5, 2021
The Jay Christmas Parade rolled through the town Saturday morning, followed by the Joy in Jay Festival.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Santa Will Visit The Molino Library On Monday (With Complete Schedule For All Branches)
December 5, 2021
Santa Claus is coming to the Molino Branch Library twice this month.
Santa will be at the Molino Library on Monday, December 6 from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. and Thursday, December 16 from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.
The schedule is below for Santa’s remaining visits to West Florida Library branches. (Santa visited the Century Library last week.)
Pictured: Santa Claus visited with lots of good boys and girls last week at the Century Branch Library. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Sweetest Name I Know’ – Christmas Parade Float Dedicated To Late Beulah Chapel Member
December 5, 2021
The winning float in Saturday’s Flomaton Christmas parade was the vision of a member of Beulah Chapel Assembly of God in Byrneville, and it was dedicated to her memory.
Church member Marie Willis Greene tells us the story, in her own words:
This year we are dedicating our annual Christmas float to the memory of Mandie Kelley Lowery of Bratt (1983-2019). Mandie was working on a theme for our next parade float and thought the theme, “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know” would be just perfect; she was given a vision.
COVID-1p prevented us from fulfilling her vision last year.
2021 is the year for the float to become reality. It’s definitely time for the float committee to have fun, enjoy getting to know each other better while making the float a reality, and of course the most fun is looking forward to seeing the smiles on the children’s faces as candy is distributed to all.
Close your eyes and you just might see Mandie’s huge smile of approval and feel her warmth.
I hope that the words below will give our readers and members who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing her a little glimpse of who our friend Mandie was.
On the afternoon of November 30, 2019, our congregation got word that our Sister in Christ Mandie Kelley Lowery, went to be with our Lord and Savior. Absolutely no one expected the Lord to call her home while she and her family were having a fun-filled vacation in Tennessee. I’m sure right now, Mandie would want to say.. “Always be ready, no one knows when the Lord’s purpose for you is finished”. In her short time on earth she bonded (a forever bond) to many of us at Beulah Chapel. She was such an inspiration and once you met her you had a friend forever. As our pastor mentioned at her celebration, she was a Virtuous woman who was on Fire for the Lord, just to name a few of the tributes.
The Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church float will also be in the Atmore Christmas Parade on December 11 and the Barnett Crossroads Christmas Parade on December 18.
For more more photos from the Flomaton Christmas Parade, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
All Charges Dropped Against Former Police Lieutenant Involved In Fatal Pedestrian Crash
December 4, 2021
All charges have been dropped against a former police officer that was involved in a fatal pedestrian crash last September in Pensacola.
Alvin Odessel Godwin, 74, was charged with DUI manslaughter after his pickup truck hit a pedestrian who was walking westbound on an Airport Boulevard sidewalk between The Fresh Market and Sam’s Club.
But a toxicology report showed he did not have alcohol or any controlled substance in his system.
“A review of the totality of the circumstances leads to a finding that insufficient evidence exists to prove that the defendant’s apparent impairment at the time of the crash was caused by consumption of alcohol or controlled substances,” court records state. “The Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab’s analysis of the defendant’s timely legal blood draw determined that there was no alcohol or controlled substances in his blood after the crash.”
According to police, Godwin retired from the Pensacola Police Department as a lieutenant about 20 years ago.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With String Of Carjacking Attempts Around Nine Mile, Pine Forest Roads
December 4, 2021
An Escambia County man is accused in a string carjacking attempts around the Nine Mile and Pine Forest road area
Robert Nickalous Minter was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of attempted carjacking, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief. According to the ECSO, more charges may be forthcoming.
According to investigators, Minter attempted the carjackings at the Walmart at 9301 Pine Forest Road, in the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road and in the 700 block of East Nine Mile Road.
Minter remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $241,000.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Spots
December 4, 2021
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 Sunday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 11 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 through Friday, Dec. 10 as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures between A and N streets as crews perform median improvements and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers will encounter temporary and intermittent daytime lane closures Monday, Dec. 6 through Friday, Dec. 10 as crews place final striping and complete final work items.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) –Drivers can expect the following construction related traffic impacts the week of Sunday, Dec. 5.
- · Intermittent lane closures and shifts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 interchange.
- · The U.S. 29 southbound on-ramp and U.S. 29 northbound off-ramp at the Nine Mile Road interchange may be reduced to a single lane between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Signage will be in place and traffic flaggers will be on-site to direct motorists.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures the week of Monday, Dec. 6, as crews place a watermain.
- Creighton Road (S.R. 742) Utility Operations West of Schwab Drive – Traffic will be restricted from 7:30 a.m.to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 and Tuesday, Dec. 7, as utility crews perform 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 Sunday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 11 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 through Thursday, Dec. 9 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Major roadway construction activities are currently underway. Improvements on the 4.25-mile section include widening the roadway from four to a six-lanes with a raised median; safety and drainage upgrades; resurfacing State Road 281 (Avalon Boulevard) from U.S. 98 to Garcon Point Bridge; extending the existing shared-use path on the south side of U.S. 98 from Gondolier Boulevard; and new signage and pavement markings.
- U.S. 90 Routine Utility Maintenance at Woodbine Road – There will be an intermittent turn lane closure from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday, Dec. 5 to Thursday, Dec. 9 as crews replace overhead power lines.
- S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Inspections over Wilson Branch and East Relief – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures, 2.7 miles east of U.S. 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 as crews perform routine inspections.
- S.R. 87 Routine Utility Maintenance from Vonnie Tolbert Road to Gordon Evans Road – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 through Wednesday, Dec. 8 as crews perform utility operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Escambia Reports 96 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week
December 4, 2021
There were 96 new COVID-19 cases reported last week in Escambia County, according to a Florida Department of Health report.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 54,121 (+96)
Positivity rate last week: 3.8%
People vaccinated: 160,319 (+1,044)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 52%
New hospital admissions: 11
Total deaths last 7 days: <10 (CDC data)
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 32,730 (+88)
Positivity rate last week: 4.6%
People vaccinated: 93,219 (+645)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 53%
New hospital admissions: 4
Total deaths last 7 days: <10 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 3,697,523 (+10,892)
Case positivity rate: 2.5%
Deaths: 61,701 (+35)