Waterfront Mission Set To Feed 5,000 For Thanksgiving; Started With Cantonment And Quintette Monday
November 23, 2021
Waterfront Rescue Mission is on a mission to provide 5,000 meals this holiday season.
On Monday, the Cantonment Improvement Committee and Pinewood Presbyterian Church joined Waterfront Rescue to distribute hot Thanksgiving meals in Cantonment and Quintette.
Waterfront and its volunteers, supporters and donors will work to distribute more meals to homeless encampments and other key locations in both Pensacola and Mobile on Thursday.
On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, anyone can pick up a traditional Thanksgiving meal at the Ensley First Baptist Church at 50 West Johnson Avenue or the Hollice T. Williams Park at 1601 North Hayne Street in Pensacola.
Pictured: Hot Thanksgiving meals from the Waterfront Rescue Mission were distributed Monday in Cantonment and Quintette by the Cantonment Improvement Committee and Pinewood Presbyterian Church. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm To City: A Thanksgiving Bounty For 1,000 Needy Families
November 23, 2021
Students and volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked in fields near Jay Monday to harvest vegetables that will help feed 1,000 needy families this week for Thanksgiving.
The event at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center is part of Farm to City Week, bringing the bounty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm to the needy of the city.
The students were from agricultural programs and organizations that included FFA members from Northview High , Tate High, Ernest Ward Middle, Jay High School, Central High and Milton High.
The produce will be distributed to 500 families in Escambia County and 500 in Santa Rosa County along with a turkey or ham and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal from Feeding the Gulf Coast and the Waterfront Rescue Mission.
Drive-thru distribution for the food are taking place on a first come basis from 10 a.m. until noon Thursday at the Waterfront Rescue Mission at 348 Herman Street in Pensacola and the Milton Community Center at 5629 Byrom Street.
FAST FACT: In September, NorthEscamiba.com gave readers a sneak peak at this event as the collards were planted. Click to tap here for that story and photos.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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.