Cox Charities Awards Grants To Three Escambia Schools

June 5, 2022

Cox Communications employees have awarded eight grants to local schools, through Cox Charities Innovation in Education Grants. The program provides employee funded grants of up to $2,500 for classroom programs and curriculum that encourage and promote students’ ingenuity and imagination. Earlier this year, nearly 40 applications were submitted by schools in Escambia and Okaloosa Counties.

Cox Charities Innovation in Education grant recipients included the following in Escambia County:

Beulah Elementary School – Bringing Reading to Life ($500) – This program will help third graders transition learning by helping them better comprehend the stories they ready by providing them with engaging experiences and discussions. The class will develop projects and activities based on the books they read and discuss.

Escambia Westgate School – Westgate Sensory Picture Book Walk ($1,200) - The Sensory Picture Book Walk for the entire student population at Escambia Westgate will be an innovative way to meet many of students’ complex sensory needs, while also providing them educational activity. The multisensory component of this program will maximize the participation and engagement of our students with unique learning needs. To create this program, laminated pages from a picture book would be attached to signposts. The signposts would be placed along a winding path through our sensory garden at Westgate. As the students complete one page, they can move through the garden on to the next page of the story. The display book will be updated 3 to 4 times throughout the year, to provide a new story.

West Florida High School – Escambia County Living Shorelines Program ($2,000) - This coastal habitat restoration project is a collaboration between West Florida High School and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Marine Science students are teaming up with the Agricultural Sciences Academy to multiply and propagate emergent vegetation for planting in environmentally sensitive shoreline areas along the Gulf Coast. The partnership between FDEP and WFHS began as a program to engage youth of our area in making a positive environmental impact through mitigating shoreline erosion, creating habitat for marine life, and filtering out pollution. Through this grant students will: 1) Develop an understanding of shoreline ecology 2) Successfully propagate three species of emergent halophyte plants and, 3) Participate in a shoreline restoration planting.

Cox Charities is 100 percent funded by local employees through payroll deductions. A committee of 13 Gulf Coast employees then reviewed and chose grant recipients based on the amount of funding available.

Pictured: Beulah Elementary School was the recipient of a $500 Cox Charities grant. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Inmate Reported As Escaped From Atmore Prison Was Actually Released By Mistake

June 5, 2022

An inmate that was reported as escaped from the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore was actually released by prison staff due to a mistake, NorthEscambia.com has confirmed.

Corey Daniel Gable, 31, was “released due to a clerical error”, Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) spokesperson Kelly Betts told NorthEscambia.com in an email.

Gable was serving a 20 year sentence for first degree assault out of Mobile County.

On Tuesday, ADOC issued an “Inmate Escape Report” stating that Gable has “left from an assigned location” in Atmore, but did not provide a specific location before later telling us it was Fountain Correctional Facility. A few hours later, ADOC issued an “Inmate Recapture Report” that stated he was recaptured by U.S. Marshals in Prichard, Alabama.

“The ‘be on the lookout’ (BOLO) report was issued out of an abundance of caution. Gable was returned to Fountain shortly after he was mistakenly released”, Betts told NorthEscambia.com.

She said the ADOC Law Enforcement Services Division is investigating the incident.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Slight Chance Monday Rain

June 5, 2022

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 94.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

These Are This Week’s Construction Delay Spots

June 5, 2022

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

Escambia County:

U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, June 5 through Saturday, June 11 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Tuesday, June 7, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Motorists traveling on West Cervantes Street will encounter daytime single lane closures and lane shifts, between A Street and Dominguez Street, as crews install pedestrian fence.
North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement – All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the southbound side of the bridge as crews construct the northbound portion. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 10 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 10 for drainage operations.
Pace Boulevard from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – The sidewalks on the eastern side of Pace Boulevard, between Barrancas Avenue and Navy Boulevard, are closed as crews perform sidewalk and curb improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the signalized intersections to access the sidewalks on the western side of Pace Boulevard during this time.
Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) from Manchester Street to the Bayou Chico Bridge – The sidewalks on the northern side of Barrancas Avenue, between Manchester Avenue and Pace Boulevard, will be closed as crews work on sidewalk improvements. Detours to the sidewalks on the southern side of Barrancas Avenue will be in place for pedestrian use during this time.
Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) from Brent Lane to North of Interstate 10 (I-10) – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, June 5 through Thursday, June 9 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews work on sidewalk and curb improvements.
I-10 at the Interstate 110 (I-110) Interchange – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform milling and resurfacing work:

- Sunday, June 5 and Monday, June 6: alternating lane closures on the ramp from I-110 northbound to I-10 westbound.

- Tuesday, June 7 through Thursday, June 9: alternating lane closures on the Davis Highway on-ramp to I-110 southbound.
U.S. 98 (West Navy Boulevard) Routine Maintenance near Chaseville Steet – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures, Monday, June 6 through Thursday, June 9 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to install signs on cable structures.

Santa Rosa County:

Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, June 5 through Saturday, June 11 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Tuesday, June 7, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Temporary median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road, Sunday, June 5 through Friday, June 10, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- Westbound travelers will encounter a new traffic configuration from east of Portside Drive to North College Parkway as lanes will be shifted slightly south to allow for widening activities on the outside lane.
- Settlers Colony Boulevard will be closed to complete necessary drainage improvements. This closure will remain in effect through Thursday, June 30. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will access Settlers Colony Boulevard via Venetian Way and Coronado Drive. Detour signs will be in place. Residents may experience noise, vibrations, and dust during daytime hours as part of this drainage improvement effort.
I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent nighttime lane closures Sunday, June 5 through Thursday, June 9 for construction activities.

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

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Wahoos Get Another Walk-off Win Over The Shuckers

June 5, 2022

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Biloxi Shuckers 8-7 on Saturday night, securing their third walk-off win in their past five games and extending their division lead.

Troy Johnston hit a pair of home runs, including a game-tying two-run blast in the ninth, and Luis Aviles Jr. sent a sellout crowd home happy with the walk-off sacrifice fly three batters later.

Johnston is batting .700 (14-for-20) with four home runs in his past five games against Biloxi this week, and is batting a blazing .553 (26-for-47) through the first 11 games of Pensacola’s homestand.

Pensacola starter Jeff Lindgren delivered a quality start, allowing two runs on four hits over 6.0 innings despite a career-high five walks. Thomas Dillard opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first, but Johnston leveled things up with a solo homer to left field in the bottom half of the inning.

Yeison Coca hit a solo homer from Biloxi in the fourth, his first of the year, but again the Blue Wahoos evened the score in the bottom half of the inning with a Ray-Patrick Didder solo homer. Paul McIntosh hit a solo homer of his own in the sixth to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 lead before Jason Lopez went deep for Biloxi in the seventh to tie the game 3-3.

Jefry Yan struggled in relief for the Blue Wahoos, allowing a go-ahead two-run double to Yeison Coca in the top of the eighth and a two-run single to Dillard in the ninth, but Colton Hock (W, 4-2) stranded two more baserunners to prevent further damage.

The Blue Wahoos scored an unearned run in the eighth against Taylor Floyd (L, 0-1), but needed three to tie in the ninth trailing 7-4. J.D. Orr started the rally with an infield single, and José Devers brought the tying run to the plate with an RBI triple. Johnston then unloaded a 3-2 pitch into the right-center berm for his second homer of the night to tie the game 7-7. Griffin Conine walked, McIntosh sent a double to the warning track in right center to bring the winning run to third, and Aviles hit a deep fly to center field to bring home Conine and end the game.

With the win, Pensacola’s lead in the South Division has grown to 2.5 games over the Shuckers and M-Braves with 19 to play in the first half.

The Blue Wahoos wrap up their homestand against the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday.

written by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

‘Human Power And The Wind’ – North Escambia Man Revisits America’s Tall Ship

June 4, 2022

Walking the deck of America’s Tall Ship was a step back in time Friday for one North Escambia man.

The USCGC Barque Eagle, is moored at Plaza De Luna in downtown Pensacola through Sunday morning.

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Bashore served six years in the Coast Guard, including sailing on the Eagle to Europe for the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.

In 1994, he was assigned as part of the permanent crew working the sails on the Eagle.

“It was old fashioned sailing,” he said. “Going up in the rigging, setting and furling the sails.”

The ship sailed the Atlantic to Rouen, France, for the Normandy 50th anniversary.

“What sticks with me is the powerful feeling standing in the cemeteries in Normandy and the sacrifice of the soldiers,” he said. “I was honored to be able to honor those guys.”

The Eagle represents the lost art of seamanship, Bayshore said.

“It’s amazing that a ship like that still sails today. It’s an honor for Coast Guard cadets to be able to learn sextants and know how to sail the way they did in the past. It’s a lost art now.” A sextant is a navigation instrument used to measure the distance between two visible objects, mostly between a star and the horizon. It’s how ships were sailed before modern GPS.

Bashore toured the ship with Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons and Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter Friday, giving them an insider’s look at the tall ship.

“Look in the mast, look up in the riggings and see the crosstrees,” Bashore suggested. “These kids are going up there sailing the ship. There’s not a machine sailing the ship. It’s just human power and the wind.”

To maneuver Eagle under sail, the crew must handle more than 22,000 square feet of sail and five miles of rigging. Built during the twilight era of sail, the design and construction of Eagle embody centuries of development in the shipbuilder’s art. A permanent crew of eight officers and 50 enlisted personnel maintain the ship year-round and provide a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for the training of up to 150 cadets or officer candidates at a time, gaining experience in leadership and teamwork for the furtherment of their careers.

The Eagle is the seventh U.S. Coast Guard cutter to bear the name in a proud line dating back to one of the original Revenue Cutters built in 1792. The square-rigged barque was built by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as Horst Wessel in 1936. The steel-hulled ship was taken as a war reparation after World War II, and a U.S. Coast Guard crew – aided by the German crew still on board – sailed the tall ship from Bremerhaven to New London.

For more photos of America’s Tall Ship USCGC Barque Eagle in Pensacola and a few photos from Bashore’s time on the ship, click or tap here.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Mostly Clear Tonight, Low Around 70 Degrees

June 4, 2022

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. North wind around 5 mph.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.