Florida Gas Prices Declining; Pensacola Cheapest Metro Area
April 4, 2022
Florida gas prices are declining again after jumping 13 cents early last week. The state average briefly reached $4.24 per gallon last Tuesday. However, Florida gas prices have since declined a total of seven cents in the past five days. AAA says that downward trend is likely to continue this week, unless oil prices rebound.
On Sunday, the average price for gasoline in Florida was $4.17 per gallon. That’s five cents more than this time last week, 55 cents more than last month, and $1.32 per gallon more than this time last year. The state average is also 68 cents more than what drivers paid before Russia invaded Ukraine.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was nearly 20 cents lower at $3.98 — one of the lowest metro areas in the state.
A North Escambia low of $3.92 could be found Sunday night at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. A low of $3.69 could be found Sunday night at a station on Highway 29 near Nine Mile Road.
“Gas prices are drifting lower now that oil prices are declining again,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The price of oil dropped last week after President Biden announced plans to release 1 million barrels per day from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, in effort to ease global supply concerns. The downward pressure was compounded by news that other countries are considering similar action. The oil price drop could enable gas prices to fall back below $4 a gallon in the next couple of weeks. That is unless something causes oil prices to rebound this week.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
William Douglas Rittenbery
April 4, 2022
William Douglas Rittenbery went to his heavenly home on April 11, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 63 years old. He loved going to the races, camping with Patti and Ava and spending time at the beach with friends and family. Doug had a heart for people and loved the Lord with all his heart. He was blessed with incredible friends and will be missed by many.
Doug was preceded in death by his father William “Billy” Rittenbery and stepfather Leonard Young. He is survived by his mother, Mary Frances Young, his wife Patti, daughter Brandi (Patrick) McGlothren, his brother Bob Rittenbery and his two grandchildren, Garrett and Ava McGlothren. His grandchildren were the absolute loves of his life. They were PawPaw’s reason for living.
Pallbearers will be his nephews Ben Gilliam, Cody Gilliam and Max Gilliam, his grandson Garrett McGlothren, Robbie McLaney and Dexter Beasley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Russell Cain, Bill Quinn, Lenny Ciampini and Bob Stewart.
Special thanks to Dr. Dissanayake and his staff, Covenant Hospice and the nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital. Thank you for taking such amazing care of Doug. We are forever grateful for the love and care that was given to our family.
William Edward “Bill” Macks
April 4, 2022
Mr. William Edward “Bill” Macks, age 63, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2022 at a Pensacola healthcare facility.
Mr. Macks was a life-long resident of Century, FL. He was a graduate of Century High School and loved his work as a brick mason. In his early years, Bill enjoyed coon hunting, deer hunting and planting gardens, and was a member of The Tri-City Saddle Club. He especially loved his children, grandchildren, and extended family. He was of the Southern Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy Jackson Macks and Sheila Rochelle Burkett Bankston; daughter, Stephanie Macks; grandson, Adam Knowles; step-father, Dillard Bankston; and step-brother, Darryl Bankston.
He is survived by two daughters, Rachel (Kevin) Knowles of Brewton, AL and Ramona Macks, of Flomaton, AL; two brothers, Daniel Macks of Century, FL and Samuel (Cheryl) Macks of Century, FL; three sisters, Sheila (Terry) Bryan of Century, FL, Robbie (Alton) Hammac of Century, FL, Lajuana (Keith) Reid of Century, FL; four grandchildren, Jacob Coleman, Emma Katelynn Gatwood, Lexi Knowles and Jinjer Knowles.
A private, family only, funeral service, will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2022 from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Bro. John Webb officiating. Interment will follow in Moyeville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Teresa L. Boardwyne
April 4, 2022
Teresa L. Boardwyne, a lifelong resident of Pensacola, FL passed away on April 8, 2022 at the age of 75.
She was born on December 17, 1946 to the late John Hart and Augusta Mae Barlow Hart. Teresa was a loving sister and aunt as well as a fantastic homemaker. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all animals, especially dogs and cats. She also loved working in her yard and she never met a stranger.
She is preceded in death by her son, Vernon Boardwyne; parents; and sister, Linnie Miller.
Teresa is survived by her husband of 40 years, Gerald Boardwyne; three sons, Paul (Beth) Jones, Jerry (Katie) Jones and Ernie (Cindy) Boardwyne; seven grandchildren, Jalyn (Shaun) Tindall, Rilee Jones, Noah Jones, Jennifer Boardwyne, Jamie (Tyler) Thompson, Sarah (Larry) Hayles and David (Nichole) Boardwyne; sister, Hattie Hart; and brother, James Hart.
Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor David Gibson officiating.
The family will receive friends at 10AM prior to services.
Farm Hill Utilities Lifts Boil Water Notice For Glenmore Trail Subdivision
April 4, 2022
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE HAS BEEN RESCINDED.
Farm Hill Utilities has issued boil water notice for the Glenmore Trail Subdivision in Cantonment until further notice.
The precautionary boil water notice is due to a water main repair in the area.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Lillian Elane Kolleng
April 4, 2022
Lillian Elane Kolleng, 96, of Pensacola, Florida went to be with our Heavenly Father on Saturday, March 19, 2022. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Collinsville, Illinois, on November
12, 1925, to her parents, Anton Poshkus and Eva Pacewic.
Lillian’s childhood years were during The Great Depression. Her father died when she was only 5 years old, and her mother passed away when she was 14. Her Aunt Helen and Uncle (Ponton) raised her during her teenage years. Lillian’s first job as a secretary was for Quaker Oats in St. Louis, Missouri, after graduating from high school in Collinsville, Illinois. She then moved to Washington D.C. to work for the United Nations as a civil servant. It was there that she met Jacob “Jake” Kolleng on a blind date, and they were married several months later on January 29, 1955, and then began their military (United States Navy) life together with stateside duty
assignments which included San Diego and Alameda, CA; Millington, TN; Patuxent River, MD; and Honolulu, HI. After retirement from the U.S. Navy and acquired civil service employment for many years, they made one last move to Pensacola, Florida, and served out their civil service careers at the Naval Air Station Pensacola.
A defining characteristic of Lillian was her complete devotion to her God and Family. She was a devout Catholic and led her life with a servant’s heart, selflessly and sacrificially serving others. Lillian was extraordinarily kind, thoughtful and charitable, and she never had an unkind word towards anyone. She was a devoted wife and mother and loved her children deeply, always making each one feel equally special to her. Lillian was the most delightful human being and was loved by everyone she met. Her positive attitude and contagious sense of humor were so endearing. Lillian and her family have the fondest memories of vacations spent in Lake Tahoe, Sunday drives looking for their “Dream home” weekend visits to the zoo, and family dinners out on “payday”. She was a wonderful cook and spent countless hours making homemade apple and cherry pies, chocolate fudge, spaghetti, and roast beef Sunday dinners. She was very articulate and had an excellent command of the English language as well as the most exquisite penmanship, even well into her mid-90s. Lillian certainly was a perfect example of a “life well lived” on Earth and will be dearly missed.
Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Anton Poshkus and Eva Pacewic; brother, Dan Edwards; husband, Jacob Joseph Kolleng.
She is survived by her son, Jacob Patrick Kolleng of Atlanta, GA; four daughters: Mary Kolleng of Oakland, CA; Eva Padrick of Pensacola, FL; Therese Taylor and husband Mitch of Peachtree City, GA; Germaine Barrett of Fayetteville, GA; nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
In addition to flowers, memorials may be made to Little Flower Catholic Church or charity of your choice.
A funeral mass for Lillian will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Little Flower Catholic Church in Pensacola at 12 noon, with a rosary preceding that at 11:30 a.m. Interment will closely follow at 1:30 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Father Matthew Worthen will officiate.
There Were 1,495 Distracted Driving Crashes Last Year In Escambia County. Six Were Fatal.
April 3, 2022
In 2021, there were 1,496 traffic crashes involving distracted driving in Escambia County.
Six of those crashes were fatal.
A map showing distracted drive crashes in Escambia County is below.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has launched a campaign aimed at educating Florida motorists on the importance of avoiding distracted driving, and is informing motorists of current laws against distracted driving.
According to FLHSMV data, distracted driving crashes resulted in 333 fatalities across the state in 2021 – the highest recorded in Florida in at least eight years.
“When you get behind the wheel you only have one job, and that’s to ensure you and your passengers reach your destination safely,” said FLHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes. “More than 56,000 distracted driving crashes happened last year in Florida alone, and 75% of those crashes were caused by the driver being inattentive behind the wheel. Today and every day, pledge to drive how you would want others to drive around you and your loved ones – distraction free.”
On average, there were more than 1,000 distracted driving crashes every week across the state last year.
“It is extremely dangerous when you drive distracted on Florida roadways,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, FHP director. “FHP wants to remind drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and their minds on driving. Focused attention on driving increases your reaction time to dangerous driving situations and keeps the ones you love safe as well as your fellow citizens.”
Safety Tips for Driving
- If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
- Designate your passenger as your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
- Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
- Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.
Put Your Phone Away or Pay
- When you get behind the wheel, be an example to your family and friends by putting your phone away. Just because other people do it doesn’t mean texting and driving is “normal” behavior.
- In 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, texting while driving is an illegal, ticketable offense. You could end up paying a hefty fine and get points on your license.
- If you see someone texting while driving, speak up. If your friend is texting while driving, tell them to stop. Listen to your passengers: If they catch you texting while driving and tell you to put your phone away, put it down.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Jordan Chase Torrez Competes On American Idol Sunday And Monday Nights
April 3, 2022
Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez is set to appear on American Idol Sunday and Monday nights.
On Sunday, he will find out who his duet partner will be for the duets challenge in Hollywood.
Torrez is a 2019 graduate of Tate High School.
American Idol airs locally from 7-9 p.m. both Sunday and Monday on WEAR 3.
Annual Spring Fling Youth Summit Was Held Saturday At Carver Park
April 3, 2022
The Annual Spring Fling Youth Summit was held Saturday at Carver Park in Cantonment.
There were free prizes, free food, music, arts and crafts, sports competition, educational and career information (grades 5-12), and lots of fun for grades kindergarten through high school.
The Spring Fling Youth Summit was sponsored by Ascend Performance Materials, IP, and the Escambia County CRA and was hosted by the Cantonment Improvement Committee.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
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Sunshine Today; Watching Severe Weather Potential Headed Into Tuesday
April 3, 2022
We are watching the potential (2 of 5) for severe weather late headed into Tuesday. Damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes will all be possible. We’ll have further updates on timing and threats as we get closer.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 77. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast: