Escambia County Monoclonal Antibody Site Closed As COVID Cases Decline
November 23, 2021
The monoclonal antibody treatment site in Escambia County has closed as COVID-19 cases decline.
The next nearest Florida Department of Health monoclonal antibody treatment site is at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach. It is open 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
The Escambia County Center was located at the Bayview Community Center. Any seeking treatment is asked not to enter the building now that the clinic is closed.
COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Escambia County. There were 94 cases reported last week in the county.
Pictured: The Bayview Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Calls For Months Of Gas Tax Relief
November 23, 2021
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking lawmakers to “zero out” state gas taxes for five or six months next year.
DeSantis said the gas tax holiday will save up to $200 for the average Florida family while cutting more than $1 billion from the state’s revenues.
“Gas prices have been rising due to inflationary pressures from bad federal policies, so we here in Florida need to step up and provide relief to our citizens,” DeSantis said. “Today, I am proposing that during session, the Florida Legislature provide more than $1 billion in gas tax relief for Florida families. This will have a positive impact on millions of Floridians.”
“We’ve always been very strong on tax relief in Florida. We did things like sportsmen’s relief (a sales-tax “holiday” around July 4). We’ve done back-to-school (tax holidays). We’ve done all that stuff. And that’s good. But this is, I think, really, really big,” DeSantis said
Pictured: Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a state gas tax holiday while speaking at a Buc-ee’s convenience store in Daytona Beach on Monday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Porn Actress Sentenced On Child Porn Possession Charges
November 22, 2021
A woman described by investigators as a nanny, foster care provider and porn actress has been sentenced to six months in jail.
Nicole Lynn Walter, formerly of Foxrun Road, was charged in April 2020 with lewd and lascivious exhibition with a victim under 16, possession of child pornography, battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.
Walker, now 28, was sentenced on two counts of possession of child pornography to 180 days in the county jail to be followed by four years of sex offender probatuib. She was designated as a sex offender and will be required to submit to a mental health evaluation. The other charges against her were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
According to court documents, Walter made videos of herself masturbating in public locations, including Pensacola pediatrician’s office and a car dealership.. Children could be heard talking in the videos, but not seen. She told investigators that she was alone when the videos were recorded, and prerecorded sounds of the children talking were played during the filming.
Then sheriff David Morgan said a search warrant found child pornography in her home, and he said she previously worked as a nanny and was a licensed foster parent.
Bonus Gallery: Northview Band, Fans And Cheerleaders At Baker
November 22, 2021
The Northview Chiefs football season came to an end with a tough 46-35 loss to defending station champion Baker Friday night in the Class 1A regional semifinals.
For a photo gallery with the band, fans and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
For a game action story, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Lodge Hosts First Responders Breakfast
November 22, 2021
Cantonment Masonic Lodge #322 hosted a free breakfast for first responders Saturday morning, serving about 75 active and retired first responders Saturday. They plan to hold breakfast events in the future for other community groups. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Honor: Thieves Caught On Camera Stealing From Local Farmer
November 22, 2021
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK OR TAP HERE.
Three people were caught on camera stealing 27 bags of deer corn, peanuts and ear corn being sold on the honor system by a Walnut Hill farmer.
About 3:50 last Friday morning, the three men stopped at the farmer’s roadside bin and barn on South Highway 99. They can be seen on surveillance video loading up the bags into a white or light color panel van. It appeared as if the back doors of the van would not completely close, and it may have had a cracked windshield.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Images and video for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drivers To Get Road Construction Break For Thanksgiving
November 22, 2021
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Monday and Tuesday as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
But due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no lane closures or other activities that impede traffic on major state roads beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 and ending at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28.
Escambia County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement - Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 23. 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, Nov. 22 and Tuesday, Nov. 23 as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures between the following locations as crews perform median improvements and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals.
- A and N Streets (inside lane closures)
- Kirk and R Streets (intermittent outside lane closure)
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers will encounter temporary intermittent traffic shifts and alternating lane closures Monday, Nov. 22 and Tuesday, Nov. 23 as crews place final striping.
- 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 Sunday, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 23:
- Nighttime 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 during the nighttime hours of 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 daytime shoulder closures Monday, Nov. 21 and Tuesday, Nov. 23 as crews place a watermain.
- S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) Routine Maintenance North of Sorrento Road – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23 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, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 23. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure. Additional work will include the installation of pier lighting.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures on the Blackwater River Bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 23 as crews perform paving operations.
- 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 Drainage Work just West of West Spencerfield Road – Motorists can expect lane closures at the merge lane just west of West Spencerfield Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19 through Tuesday, Nov. 23 as crews perform drainage operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
It’s Fall Break For Escambia County Students
November 22, 2021
It’s Fall Break for Escambia County School District students.
Students will return to class on Monday, November 29.
Students in Escambia County will next be out of class for Christmas Break from December 18 through January 3.
AAA: Florida Thanksgiving Gas Prices The Highest In Eight Years
November 22, 2021
Florida gas prices set a new 2021 high last week as 2.6 million Floridians prepare to hit the road for Thanksgiving, according to AAA.
The state average price for gasoline jumped 10 cents mid-week, reaching $3.36 per gallon. That’s the highest daily average price since September 2014.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was better than the state average at $3.27 per gallon. A North Escambia low of $3.13 could be found at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment Sunday night. Several Pensacola stations were a few pennies above $3.
“High gas prices are not something drivers will be thankful for this Thanksgiving,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The good news is gas prices should gradually decline through the holiday. Crude oil and gasoline futures dropped last week, and that should restore some downward pressure on prices at the pump.”
‘A Good Man’ – Gene Gabbert, Jay Peanut Festival Host, Has Passed Away
November 21, 2021
The man that hosted thousands upon thousands of people at his farm each year for the Jay Peanut Festival has passed away.
Eugene Emil Gabbert, known as “Gene”, passed away at the age of 84. Gene and his wife Brenda, saw crowds reaching 75,000 or more visit the Jay Peanut Festival on the first weekend of each October.
“I was fortunate to have spent 61 years of marriage to the most wonderful man and the most loving father to our daughters,” Brenda said. The peanut festival was started in 1990 in memory of their daughter Melissa Caroline Gabbert, who passed away due to cancer.
There were many accolades over the years for the Jay Peanut Festival — including U.S. Congressional recognition.
Gabbert was born in 1937 on a 160 acre farm in Minnesota.
“Gene loved living on his family farm, as he did on ours here on Pine Level Church Road,” Brenda stated.
He joined the Air Force when he was just 19-years old, serving four years active duty plus two years in reserve. He was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base when he married Brenda, shortly after she graduated from Bay High School in Panama City. He worked for a private telephone company in Minnesota and General Dynamics before becoming a supervisor with Western Electric and then Southern Bell.
In 1975, the couple moved from Cantonment to Jay, opening a John Deere dealership that they operated for 11 years. He worked as a salesman and continued farming.
“He then decided to retire from outside jobs to work from his home shop, repairing farm tractors and equipment. He loved restoring old 2-cylinder tractors, wagons, and other farm equipment,” she said. His farm museum and tractor displays were peanut festival favorites.
“There was not much that Gene could not build, repair, or maintain. He built everything on our farm with his own two hands.” Brenda said. “He was a good man with a loving heart and soul.”