Both Lanes Of Highway 4 Bridge Are Open
June 26, 2019
Both lanes of the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek are open. Last week, the bridge was reduced to one lane after a state inspection found a problem with one piling under the bridge.
The 225-foot long bridge between Bratt and Century averages over 1,000 vehicles per day. The county-owned bridge was constructed in 1942.
Pictured top: The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek Monday afternoon. Pictured below: On Friday after, the bridge had been reduced to one lane. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Need A Job? The Escambia School District Is Hiring Teachers
June 26, 2019
The Escambia County School District is hiring teachers.
They are looking to fill positions in elementary education, art, music, American sign language, math, reading language arts, science and ESE.
Individuals with a bachelors, masters or doctorate degree may be eligible to enter the teaching profession and obtain a temporary certificate. Individuals with an associates degree can become a substitute teacher or teacher assistant.
For a list of available positions and other information, click here.
Camp Fire Kids Learn Local History
June 26, 2019
Summer campers at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Century learned a lot about local history Tuesday with a visit to the James Houston Jones Historic Park operated by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society in Century. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another Hot, Hazy Day; Slight Chance Of Some Rain
June 26, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Florida Chamber Recognizes Doug Broxson As Distinguished Advocate
June 26, 2019
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has recognized Senator Doug Broxson as a 2019 Distinguished Advocate for his work during the 2019 Legislative Session.
The Florida Chamber’s Distinguished Advocate award recognizes lawmakers who fought tirelessly for the passage of pro-business legislation and advocated for the Florida Chamber’s goals of securing Florida’s future and commitment to Florida’s business community through job creation, economic development and free enterprise.
“Senator Broxson successfully passed assignment of benefits legislation, carrying a six-year Florida Chamber-led effort to protect homeowners from unscrupulous vendors across the finish line,” said Frank Walker, vice president of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Chamber.
This award is designed to honor legislators who prioritize the priority business community’s legislative goals.
“It took six years to finally pass meaningful AOB reform and I was proud to champion an end to this fraud and abuse. Thank you to the Florida Chamber for working alongside me on these reforms and for their recognition as a Distinguished Advocate,” said Broxson.
Couple Sentenced In $5.8 Million Bingo Scheme
June 26, 2019
Two Escambia County residents have been sentenced in a $5.8 million bingo scheme.
Larry L. Masino, 69, of Santa Rosa County, and Dixie L. Masino, 66, of Escambia County, a were both found guilty by a jury of conspiracy and money laundering charges related to their ownership and operation of Racetrack Bingo in Fort Walton Beach.
The Masinos, through Racetrack Bingo, illegally conducted bingo games by keeping a substantial amount of the bingo proceeds for themselves rather than returning all proceeds to players in the form of prizes, as required by law. The Masinos received and laundered $5,813,584 in profit between 2006 and 2015.
Larry Masino, the original orchestrator of the illegal bingo scheme, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. His ex-wife Dixie Masino, who took over as the face of the operation in 2010 after Larry was prosecuted in Tallahassee for running illegal bingo games there, was sentenced to four months of house arrest as a part of a five-year probation term.
In addition to receiving sentences of incarceration, house arrest, and probation, the Masinos were jointly ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $5,813,584. The government has already seized more than $1.5 million from the Masinos’ bank accounts and forfeited three properties, the proceeds of which will be applied toward the court-ordered money judgment.
FHSAA Announces Reclassifications For Spring Sports Based On Enrollment
June 26, 2019
The Florida High School Athletic Association has announced new classifications for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons for baseball, flag football, lacrosse, tennis, track & field, boys volleyball, water polo and boys weightlifting. As requested by membership, the classifications were determined solely based on each member school’s enrollment size.
Baseball
1-6A – Tate, Navarre, Pace, Crestview, Niceville
1-5A – Pine Forest, Washington, Escambia, Gulf Breeze
2-5A – Milton, Mosley, Fort Walton Beach, Choctaw
1-4A – West Florida, Arnold, Rickards, Wakulla, Pensacola, Godby
1-3A – Pensacola Catholic, Rutherford, North Bay Haven, South Walton, Bay, Walton
1-1A – Northview, Jay, Central, Baker, Laurel Hill
Softball
1-6A – Tate, Navarre, Crestview, Niceville
1-5A – Pine Forest, Washington, Escambia, Gulf Breeze
2-5A – Choctaw, Fort Walton Beach, Milton, Pace, Mosley
1-4A – West Florida, Pensacola, Wakulla, Arnold, Godby, Rickards
1-3A – Pensacola Catholic, Rutherford, North Bay Haven, South Walton, Bay, Walton
1-1A – Northview, Jay, Central, Baker, Laurel Hill, Paxton
Boys Track and Field
1-4A – Tate, Niceville, Crestview, West Port, Navarre, Buchholz, Forest, Chiles, Niceville
1-3A – Pine Forest, Washington, Escambia, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton Beach, Choctaw
1-2A – Northview, West Florida, Pensacola, Pensacola Catholic, South Walton, Walton, Bay, North Bay Haven, Rutherford, Bozeman
1-1A – Jay, Central, Rocky Bayou, Pensacola Christian, Baker, Freeport, Cottondale, Central, Paxton, Rocky Bayou, Graceville, Vernon
Girls Track and Field
1-4A – Tate, Navarre, Niceville, Chiles, Crestview, Forest, Bucholz, West Port
1-3A – Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace, Choctaw, Fort Walton Beach
1-2A – Northview, Pensacola Catholic, West Florida, Pensacola, Bozeman, Walton, Rutherford, North Bay Haven, South Walton, Bay,
1-1A – Jay, Central, Rocky Bayou, Pensacola Christian, Baker, Freeport, Paxton, Cottondale, Vernon, Graceville
Boys Weightlifting
1-2A – Tate, Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace, Navarre
1-1A – Northview, Jay, Pensacola Catholic, West Florida, Pensacola, Rocky Bayou, Vernon, Baker, Holmes County
Girls Tennis
1-3A – Tate, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Washington, Escambia
1-2A – Pine Forest, Arnold, Pensacola, West Florida, Bay, South Walton, North Bay Haven, Rutherford
Boys Tennis
1-3A – Tate, Navarre, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Washington, Escambia
1-2A – Pine Forest, Arnold, Pensacola, West Florida, Bay, North Bay Haven, Rutherford, South Walton,
1-1A – Pensacola Catholic, Freeport, Vernon, Jay, Rocky Bayou, Maclay, North Florida, Community
Flag Football
1-2A – Tate, Navarre, Crestview, Chiles, Niceville, Leon, Lincoln, Pace
1-1A – Northview, Pine Forest, Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Washington, Escambia, Fort Walton Beach, Choctaw
Democrat Goins Pre-files For The District 5 Commission Seat
June 26, 2019
There’s a new candidate for the Escambia County Commission.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office said Barbara Goins pre-filed Tuesday as a Democrat for the District 5 seat in the 2020 election.
Incumbent Republican Steven Barry has pre-filed for a third term.
Storms Downs Trees, Power Lines Across Molino; Hundreds Left Without Power
June 25, 2019
A fast-moving thunderstorm downed trees and power line in scattered locations in the Molino area Tuesday afternoon.
Trees and power line were reported down on or in the area of Molino Road (pictured above), Schaag Road (pictured below), on Sunshine Hill Road, Chestnut Road, Crabtree Church Road and other locations across Molino. Multiple roads were closed due to the downed trees and lines.
Gulf Power was reporting about 850 customers without power across Molino immediately after the storm. Escambia River Electric Cooperative was reporting about 431 customers without power.
There were no injuries reported and no immediate reports of any structural damage.
There was a severe thunderstorm warning in effect at the time.
Pictured above: A tree down across the 900 block of Molino Road. Pictured below: A tree down on Schaag Road. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Crossing Palafox Street Struck and Killed
June 25, 2019
A pedestrian was struck and killed early Tuesday morning in Escambia County.
Ollie Jenkins, 52, was traveling south at 12:15 a.m. on Palafox Street near Tower Drive in a Cadillac Escalade and was unable to see 37-year old Reginald Wilson crossing the street due to poor lighting in the area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Wilson was transported Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Jenkins was not injured.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a FHP investigation.
File photo.