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.
Raymond L. Bolden
November 23, 2021
Raymond L. Bolden (Ray) left this world to join his dear wife Joyce on Thursday, November 18,
2O21. Ray was 90 years young and enjoyed a life full of family, friends, adventure, and mischief.
Ray was born September 9, 1931, to Lathey and Josie Bolden in Birmingham, Alabama. On April
15, 1955, Ray married the love of his life, Joyce Mae Busenlehner. Ray and Joyce enjoyed 64
years together before she went to be with God on June 20, 2019. Ray worked in banking his
entire career and moved with his family to Atmore in 1970 to take a job as President of United
Bank. Ray was very active his entire life in a variety of sports and activities. Prior to marrying
Joyce, Ray was a draft choice in baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates and served in the Navy. Ray
enjoyed flying and owned and piloted several small panes, He especially liked flying friends and
family to events including Alabama football games. One of Ray’s last “bucket list” adventures was
realized when he went sky diving with his good friend, Mayor Jim Staff on his 9Oh birthday in
September. Ray was an avid golfer and a long-time member of the Atmore Country Club
where he spent cherished times playing with his golf buddies. Over the past few years, Ray
enjoyed meeting once a week for breakfast with his ROMEO friends (Retired Old Men Eating
Out) and flipping to see who paid for the meal and the tip. Ray lived a rich, full life and never met
a stranger. He was well known for his sense of humor and thoroughly enjoyed playing
pranks.
Ray leaves behind his son, Raymond “Randy” L. Bolden, Jr., daughters, Deborah “Debbie”
Bolden, Cynthia “Cindy” Bolden, adopted daughter, Amy Cabaniss, his furry side kick Nacho,
sister, Dina Sprouse, and many cherished in laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ray was
predeceased by his brothers Calvin, Dan, and Terry, and sisters Decima, Eva, and Joyce.
There will be a Memorial Mass on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at St. Robert Bellarmine
Catholic Church on Main Street in Atmore. Visitation with the family will be at 10:00 AM in the
church hall, and the Memorial Mass will be at 11:00 AM in the church with a reception
immediately following in the church hall. ln lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
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.
Cold And Windy, Monday Night Low In The 30s
November 22, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. East wind around 5 mph.
Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
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.”