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Century, McDavid, Molino, Walnut Hill Businesses Apply Here For Free NorthEscambia.com Advertising

Up to 50 locally owned businesses in Molino, Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill can receive $3,250 worth of free advertising on NorthEscambia.com through an economic development program funded by Escambia County in cooperation with the Century Area Chamber of Commerce.

The businesses will also receive a business spotlight story, 300 to 400 words in length with up to six pictures, to be published on NorthEscambia.com. The stories will also be posted on NorthEscambia.com’s Facebook and Twitter sites.

In addition, each of the 50 businesses will receive a free Century Area Chamber of Commerce membership.

Applications are accepted online only by completing this form on a first come, first served basis (click here).

Program highlights:

• The business must be properly licensed, locally owned and located in the 32535, 32568 or 32577 zip code.
• There is zero cost or financial obligation to the business.
• The business will receive 200,000 non-animated display ads (300×250px) that rotate with other participants on NorthEscambia.com.
• Basic design of one ad is included. The ad can be linked to the business’s website or social media page.
• Ads will run on uniformly scheduled basis prior to November 30, 2019.
• Business spotlight stories, as described above, will run as scheduled by NorthEscambia.com by November 30, 2019.
• The business spotlight story link will be posted on NorthEscambia.com social media channels on day of publication.
• Ads and spotlight stories may not feature alcohol, tobacco or other age-restricted products.
• The business will receive a free, basic level, one year membership in the Century Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Final determination of eligibility will be made by NorthEscambia.com and the Century Area Chamber board of directors.

Questions? Email news@northescambia.com.

Molino Woman Sentenced To Prison For Shooting At Her Son’s Friend In Drug Money Dispute

A Molino woman has been sentenced to prison for firing a gun at her son’s high school friend in a dispute over drug money in an incident that played out on the roads of Bratt.

Crystal Holliday pleaded no contest  to shooting or discharging a firearm from a vehicle, aggravated assault by threat with a deadly weapon and a lesser charge of robbery without a firearm.  She was sentenced to 22.2 months in state prison and will be required to serve 60 months probation when released. She will be required to obtain a mental health evaluation, complete an anger management course and  stay away from the victim while on probation.

In September 2018, the victim told deputies that he was given $200 to go buy “weed” for  the dad of another student he knew from school. But instead of purchasing marijuana, the victim decided to keep the cash.

He received text messages from a number he did not recognize asking him to meet at a convenience store at the corner of North Highway 99 and Highway 4 in Bratt. When he arrived at the store, he saw the man get out of his car and start to approach him.  The victim became scared and drove away.

The student’s dad pulled up next to the victim’s car as they traveled on Breastworks Road. The student’s mother, later identified as Holliday, fired a shot at the victim, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The victim stopped his car and put his hands up as Holliday pointed the gun at him and demanded the $200, the report states.

The victim told investigators that he had already spend part of the $200, so Holliday took a compound bow valued at $900 and his $600 iPhone at gunpoint and told him he could get his phone back for $90. The victim drove to a residence on Pine Barren Road and called deputies.

The father told deputies that there was never a gun involved in the incident, and Holliday owns a .380 caliber weapon that she keeps in another vehicle, according to the report. The father also said the money was for a cell phone that the victim did not give his son, so they chased him, taking his phone and bow until the victim could pay back the money.

The bow and iPhone were returned to the victim by the ECSO.

Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Escambia County:

• U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic Sunday, July 21 through Saturday, July 27:
  • Nine Mile Road will be closed at U.S. 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 21 through Thursday, July 25 as crews drive piles for the new southbound bridge deck. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place.:
    • Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to U.S. 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
    • Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.

o   U.S. 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.

·         Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29 – Drivers will experience alternating lane closures at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road from 8 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 6 a.m. Monday, July 29 as crews reconstruct the intersection.  Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.

• U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 21 through Sunday, July 28:

• • Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000-feet east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
  • Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
  • U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday evening, July 28 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) Thursday, Aug. 1. The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
  • From 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.

• U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of County Road (C.R.) 184 (Muscogee Road) to State Road (S.R.) 97 (Atmore Highway)- Post mounted delineators have been erected between the Thrift Store and Cross Roads Dollar General to prevent cut-through traffic from Molino Road. Workers are clearing trees and shrubs and excavating for roadway widening at the Molino Road intersection. Drivers may encounter intermittent lane restrictions as crews and heavy equipment enter and exit the roadway.
• S.R.  727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Traffic on Fairfield Drive from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place remains shifted to the west as crews complete the installation of the box culvert under the roadway. The north entrance to Usher Circle is also temporarily closed to traffic during the drainage operation. Residents will utilize the south entrance of Usher Circle.
• Cervantes Street (S.R.10A) Underground Utility Operations at Covington Place-   The westbound inside lane will be closed near Covington Place from 8 p.m. Monday, July 22 to
  5 a.m. Tuesday, July 23 as crews perform underground utility work.
• Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29 – Drivers will experience alternating lane closures at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road from 8 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 6 a.m. Monday, July 29 as crews reconstruct the intersection to match the newly-constructed eastbound lanes. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.
• C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century-  Traffic was recently shifted to the temporary acrow bridge.   Activities associated with the bridge replacement project continue and are anticipated to be complete late 2019.
• Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road continues to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4.  Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road.  The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
• Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4.  Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.  The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.

Santa Rosa County:

• U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 12 through Sunday, July 28:
  • Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000-feet east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
  • Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
  • U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday evening, July 28 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) Thursday, Aug. 1. The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
  • From 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
• I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 21 through Thursday, July 25:

• Alternating lane closures, Sunday through Thursday, on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews perform construction activities.
• Alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22), Sunday through Thursday, as crews work to place final striping and to finish work list items.

• I-10 Routine Bridge Inspection over Garcon Point Road- East and westbound traffic will encounter intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday, July 21 through Thursday, July 26 as crews perform a routine inspection on the bridges.
• S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday until Thursday, July 30 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
  • U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
  • U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road

• S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road– All north and southbound travel lanes on State Road (S.R.) 87, between C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and two miles south of the Yellow River are now open and the speed limit is now 65 mph. Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews complete construction activities and the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the active work zones.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Rare Cold July Front On The Way With Better Weather

Showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage on Monday and become likely as the cold front approaches on Tuesday. The front should reach the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night.

Don’t expect great fall-like weather, but do expect more comfortable highs in the 80s with a light northerly wind. Those northerly winds will mean lower humidity and a few nights with lows in the 60s inland.  There will still be a chance of scattered showers mid-week.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Calm wind.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

3-Year Old Girl Shot By Her Father Has Died

The 3-year shot Saturday by her father has passed away.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says Terrence D. Jackson shot the child twice before turning the gun on himself on Wyoming Street, near the Fairfield Drive and New Warrington Road spur just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Jackson picked up his toddler from the mother’s home, walked about about 100 yards away and then shot the child twice in the head before shooting himself, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Jackson was pronounced deceased at the scene.

AAA: Seesaw At The Pump Now, Gas Prices Expected Decline In The Coming Days

The summertime seesaw at the pump continues this week. After rising 7 cents early last week, Florida gas prices are moving lower once again.

The average price for Florida gasoline is $2.67 per gallon. The state average is 4 cents more than this time last week and 23 cents more than a month ago. However, Florida drivers are paying 13 cents less than this year’s high, and 10 cents per gallon less than this time last year.

The average price per gallon for regular unleaded was $2.62 on Sunday, down a penny from a week ago, but up 11 cents from a month ago.

In North Escambia, gas was as low as $2.49 Sunday night at stations at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road.

“After quickly rising last week, Florida gas prices are already on their way back down,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices at the pump are falling at an average rate of one penny per day. The state average could reach $2.55 per gallon in the next two weeks, unless futures prices quickly change course.”

County Acquiring Gonzalez Property For Possible Public Safety Training Facility

Escambia County is acquiring a piece of property in Gonzalez that a commissioner says is crucial in plans for a new public safety training facility.

The county has 14.5 acres near Old Chemstrand Road and 90 & 9 Ranch Road, the site of the now-closed Escambia Charter School. The property had no frontage on Chemstrand Road.

The 0.67 acres being acquired in the 1600 block of Old Chemstrand Road will provide better access to the former charter school site with 500 feet of Old Chemstrand frontage. The 0.67 acres is being purchased for $25,000 from Hussein S. and Anne B. Sharaway.

“I do anticipate and support going forward with the public safety training facility being put on this property,” said Commissioner Steven Barry.

The county is working on evicting a cell phone tower  that is on about two acres of the former school property, as well as moving four modular buildings to other areas. A couple of buildings may remain that will be demolished.

“Then we can start to talk about how to put the public safety training facility on that property that we already own,” Barry said.

The Escambia County Commission has not yet taken any formal action to construct the public safety training facility.  The Escambia Charter School closed after 22 years at the end of the 2017-2018 school year due to declining enrollment.

Pictured above: This map shows property being acquired by Escambia County to provide better access to current county property. Pictured below: The county is working to evict this cell phone tower from their current acreage. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

M-Braves Earn Three Game Sweep Of The Blue Wahoos

The Blue Wahoos gave themselves an early reason to believe Sunday’s game might evolve differently than others in the past week.

They staked a 3-0 lead in the third inning. It was already the most runs generated in six games. Starting pitcher Jorge Alcala was coming off two solid starts.

But it changed quickly after the Mississippi Braves scored four runs in the bottom of the third, chased Alcala, then kept on hitting into an 8-3 win and three-game sweep of the weather-shortened series in Pearl, Miss. The teams did not play Saturday night due to heavy rain in the area.

What started positive became the Blue Wahoos’ season-high, sixth consecutive loss.  It was the team’s 13th defeat in the past 15 games. It has dropped the Blue Wahoos (49-50 overall, 11-18 second half) under .500 overall for the first time this season, after they won the first three games to start the 2019 season in April.

The M-Braves (46-52, 13-16), got a career-high eight innings pitched from starter Joey Wentz, plus bashed a season-high 18 hits against five Blue Wahoos pitchers. The M-Braves won their fourth consecutive game.

The Blue Wahoos will now try to shake this slide at home Monday when beginning a five-game series against the Mobile BayBears.

It will be the BayBears final appearance in Pensacola as a franchise. The team will relocate in 2020 to Madison, Ala., just outside of Huntsville, changing into the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

The M-Braves launched their offense Sunday without a home run and only two extra-base hits among the 18 they produced. Six of the batters in the lineup had multiple hits, led by catcher William Contreras, who went 4-for-5 with three RBI in the first 4-hit day of his Double-A career.

Earlier in Sunday’s game, however, it was the Blue Wahoos with a busy day at the plate. In the first inning, Alex Kirilloff single, then went to second after Trevor Larnach was hit by a pitch from Wentz.

Lewin Diaz followed with an RBI single. Caleb Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to score Larnach. After a wild pitch sent Diaz to second, Mark Contreras lined out to first base to end the inning.

In the top of the third, Larnach blasted his first Double-A home run on a deep shot over the center field wall, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-0 lead.

The good vibe changed when four of the first five M-Braves batters reached base in the bottom of the third. Alejandro Salazar started the rally with a lead off triple, then scored on Ray-Patrick Didder’s single.

Drew Waters following a one-out single to score Didder. After Ryan Casteel walked and Contreras made his only out in the game on a fly out, Alcala (5-7, 6.36 ERA) was lifted for Anthony Vizcaya.

He was promptly greeted by two consecutive RBI singles and a walk to drive in two runs. Salazar came back around to bat and laced a hard liner that Larnach caught in right field to end the inning.

The score stayed 4-3 in the M-Braves favor until they scored a run in the sixth. Contreras’ RBI single provided a 5-3 lead. In the seventh, the M-Braves forced the Blue Wahoos to use two relievers in the inning, as they scored three more runs.

The Blue Wahoos were held to five hits, one walk by Wentz (5-7, 4.26 ERA), who struck out five.

Kirriloff went 2-for-4 to boost his average to .281 and was the only Blue Wahoos batter with multiple hits.

The Blue Wahoos will begin the homestand with Mobile on Monday.

Fire Heavily Damages Escambia County Gun Store

An Escambia County gun store was heavily damaged by fire Sunday night.

The two-alarm fire was reported about 9:30 p.m. at D.C. Guns on West Fairfield Drive and took over an hour to extinguish.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. There were no injuries reported.

Numerous Escambia Fire Rescue stations responded to the fire, while stations as far away as Molino were put on standby to provide coverage for any other incidents.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Trace Kenneth Goodwin

Trace Kenneth Goodwin, 19 years of age born in Pensacola, FL on April 6, 2000.  He lived between Pensacola, FL and Atmore, Alabama. He is a graduated of Pine Forest High School Class of 2018.  He received his angel wings on July 13, 2019 @ 9:29 pm in Tustin, California.  He was taken from us suddenly due to a fatally accident after being struck by a vehicle. At the age of 10, he placed a call to the Call of Duty Organization to see what he needed to do to fulfill his dream to join the Military.  He became a Marine and received his Eagle Globe and Anchor pin after completely his crucible March 23, 2019.  He graduated from Parris Island, South Carolina on April 5, 2019.  This dream began when he was 4 years old and never deviated from this lifelong goal. He loved spending time with his family and hanging with his friends. His favorite team was the New Orleans Saints.  His passion was watching the games with his Dad.  He was even a bigger Alabama fan “Roll Tide.” He was so full of life and yet his life ended suddenly.  He absolutely adored his Momma.

Survivors include his loving mother Wendy Marie Marotz, his beloved father Michael Wayne Goodwin. Maternal Grandmother Betty Salzer and Paternal Grandmother Madeline Lincoln, proceeding his death was his Maternal Grandfather Preston J Savol and Paternal Grandfather’s Buck Goodwin and Don Lincoln.  His siblings are as follows, Shawna Michelle Goodwin, Anthony Scot Marotz, and Meghan Helena Thomason. His nieces and nephews are as follows, Amare Reese Peck, Braxton Fisher Pomeroy, Adelynn Andrews, Bentley Scot Marotz, Braelyn Andrews, Emma Kay Andrews, Casyn Knox Meadors, Pete Ryan Andrews, He also has lots of Uncles, Aunts and many cousins that will miss him dearly.

His brothers in arms of the United States Marine Corp will honor him by walking him to his final resting place

If Trace called you his friend he meant you were his brother and the Honorary Pallbearers are as follows:   Phillip “Phil” Schneider, Mikey “Mike” Schneider, Jack Jaye, Joshua “Lil Bouncer” Johnson, Darren “Boo Dro” Stacey and Serena Jaye.

Special Gratitude to the following

A special thanks to Staff Sgt Kyle Nangauta for making Trace’s dream come true.  Thank you Gunny Sgt Chris Clerico for making this time as easy as possible considering the circumstances.

Let it further be known that the patriotism, valor, and self-sacrifice, of Private First-Class Trace K Goodwin shall eternally serve as a shining example of a Marine-Always Faithful, Honor, Courage and Commitment.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel South on July 28, 2019 from 5-7 and his life will be celebrated on July 29, 2019 at 12:00 pm, he will be buried at Pensacola Memorial Gardens in the Veteran Gardens.

In lieu of Flowers please donate in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Be Strong! Be You! I am who I am and I’m good with me! Semper Fidelis

“Mom, I will always be your sunshine at the end of a rainy day.”

Son, I wish I could wake up and see you standing there.
Then I would know that it was just a nightmare.
Son, I remember when you were small and how you would hold my hand,
and as you grew older you became my best friend.
Son, I have 19 years of memories that I will treasure and keep safe in my heart.
We share a bond that time and distance can never break apart.
Son, oh how my heart aches so.
I would love to have you back and never let you go.
Son, where there was happiness,
now there is sadness.
Son, how I long to hear your voice and see your beautiful smile
and have you back for just a little while.
Son, until that day I see you again,
I will look to the sky and search among the stars for my son and best friend.

Love,
Mom

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