Sheriff Chip Simmons Receives God In Government Award
January 29, 2023
Leaders from across the area gathered Saturday morning at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola for the 46th Annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast.
Sheriff Chip Simmons was named the 2023 recipient of the God in Government Award.
The purpose of prayer breakfast, which transcends denominational and political affiliation, is to encourage moral and spiritual values in government. The breakfast was started by a group of ministers from the Greater Cantonment-Ensley Ministerial Alliance and is today led by a diverse committee that believes in preserving the original mission of encouraging moral and spiritual values in government.
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Utility Work Continues Along 10 Mile Road
January 29, 2023
Utility work is continuing along East 10 Mile Road as part of Florida Power & Light’s storm-hardening upgrades.
A contractor is working to move electrical lines to new concrete poles to improve service reliability. Drivers can expect lane closures during the process.
Pictured: A contractor works to move electrical lines to new concrete utility poles along East 10 Mile Road Saturday between North Palafox Street and Chemstrand Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Navarre 8-1, Head To District Title Game (With Photo Gallery)
January 29, 2023
The No. 2 Tate Aggies and the No. 1 Gulf Breeze Dolphins area headed to the 6A District 1 boys soccer championship game.
In a Saturday afternoon semifinal, the Aggies beat Navarre 8-1 at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Senior Caleb Wise had six goals for the day for the Aggies. Jace Fryman and Levi Penfold each added a goal.
The No. 2 Aggies (10-2-3) will face No. 1 Gulf Breeze (17-2-1) for the district title at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
In Saturday afternoon’s other semifinal game, Gulf Breeze defeated No. 4 Pace 4-0.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks Highway 97 Hit And Run Driver; Victim And His Dog Uninjured
January 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver following a crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 97 in Davisville.
The driver of a 1991 Ford F150 was southbound on Highway 97 turning left onto Greenland Road when his truck was rear-ended about 12:40 p.m., according to reports. The hit and run vehicle was described as a mid-size black truck possibly driven by a white female with black hair. The black truck will likely have front-end damage from running up onto the trailer hitch and bumper of the victim’s truck.
The adult male F150 driver and his dog were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Anyone with information can call the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
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Library Friends Big Winter Book Sale Ends Today With $7 Bag Sale
January 29, 2023
The Friends of West Florida Public Library’s Big Winter Book Sale continues Sunday at the downtown library on Spring Street.
Thousands of hardcover, paperback and collectible books will be available for purchase, plus a variety of DVDs, CDs, puzzles and other items. Books will be sorted into different genre categories to make it easier to find favorites. Proceeds are used to fund programs and enhancements at West Florida Public Library (WFPL) branches.
Sunday, admission is free for the popular $7 bag sale from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. As much as will fit into a provided brown paper bag will be just $7.
Credit cards, cash and check are all welcome as payment. Carts will be available to assist in carrying bags.
Book Sale items include thousands of generous donations from the public and some library books retired from circulation, many of them now out-of-print. Novels and mysteries are sorted by author or into genres like Science Fiction and Westerns. Other book categories include arts and entertainment, children’s, cookbooks, history, holidays, home and hobbies, literature, foreign language, military, modern living, nature and gardening, religion, science, sports, technical, and travel. There are also recorded books, magazines and other media for sale.
The Collector’s Corner will feature an assortment of signed books, pre-1950s books, books by local and Florida authors and other special books that are great for gifts. These items are priced as marked and must be checked out separately, so shoppers paying by check should bring at least two of them.
Ensley Walmart Evacuated Due To ‘Suspicious Package’; All Clear Given
January 28, 2023
The Walmart on Highway 29 was evacuated Saturday evening due to a suspicious package, and a bomb squad was called out of precaution, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
By 7:30 p.m. the all clear had been given after the package was determined not to be any type of explosive device.
ECSO Sgt. Melony Peterson told NorthEscambia.com that they were called to the store after an “employee observed a suspicious package by the bathroom with batteries taped together sitting in a car seat. So they evacuated everyone out of the store, just being cautious.”
Shoppers said they were instructed to abandon their carts and immediately exit the store.
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Car Seats Credited With Saving Infant, Toddler In Bratt Rollover Crash
January 28, 2023
Car seats are being credited with saving two young children in a serious t-bone rollover crash Friday afternoon in Bratt.
The driver of a GMC Yukon was reportedly northbound on North Pine Barren Road when he pulled from a stop sign into the path of a Nissan Rogue that was westbound on Highway 168. The front of the Yukon collided with the passenger side of the Nissan. The Nissan rotated multiple times before rolling over, coming to rest on its roof. The Yukon, which was pulling a utility trailer, crashed into two road signs.
The adult female driver of the Nissan, a 9-month infant and a toddler were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS for evaluation. The driver of the Yukon, a male in his 60s, and his dog were not injured.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol and witnesses, the infant and toddler were restrained in properly installed car seats. Multiple first responders agreed that the car seats saved the children from serious injury.
FHP is continuing their investigation. The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded.
For more photos, click or tap here.
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Teen Gets 30 Years For Armed Carjacking That Ended With Cantonment Wreck
January 28, 2023
A teen has been sentenced to three decades in prison for a May 2022 armed carjacking in Brownsville that ended with the car wrecked in the front yard of a home on Highway 297A in Cantonment.
Shawn Albert was sentenced this week to 30 years for carjacking with a deadly weapon and robbery by sudden snatching.
On May 7, 2022, Albert and his co-defendant Zacharias Jackson-Holley charged at the victim as she was walking from her vehicle to her front door. Both suspects were wearing ski masks, and Jackson-Holley was carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle.
The victim’s phone and wallet were snatched from her person and her car keys were taken. Both defendants took the victim’s wallet and phone while displaying what appeared to be an “AR-style” rifle . The suspects then took her 2020 Dodge Charger out of her driveway.
The ECSO later received reports of the Dodge Charger being driven recklessly in the area of Pine Forest Road and Highway 297A.
Responding deputies arrived shortly after the stolen vehicle hit a tree and flipped into the yard of a home on Highway 297A and Sandicrest Lane, near the Heritage Baptist Church. Deputies were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Albert was found lying next to the upside-down stolen Dodge Charger, according to deputies, and the gun was also found. It was later determined to be a BB gun.
At the sentencing hearing, prosecuting attorney Ashley Courtney argued that “the defendant (has) four prior serious felony convictions. His behavior is escalating, and he is a danger to the citizens of Escambia County, Florida.”
Jackson-Holley, Albert’s accomplice, has pleaded no contest and will be sentenced in April. Both were 17 years old at the time of the carjacking.
For more photos, click or tap here.
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Rain Likely On Sunday
January 28, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 46.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Here Are Next Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Areas
January 28, 2023
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties next week as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing Between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Travel lanes have been shifted to accommodate construction activities in the work area. These shifts will remain in place through the end of May. Two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot will be temporarily closed for construction beginning Monday, Feb. 6. The parking lot will remain closed until summer when the Welcome Center improvements are complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Feb. 4 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews place barrier wall and perform striping work. In addition, traffic on the Pensacola Bay Bridge will be slowed on Monday, Jan. 30 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to allow for demolition of a submerged pier from the old (1960-era) bridge. Drivers may experience increased congestion. Law enforcement personnel will be available to control traffic on the bridge during the work.
- Pace Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 292) Resurfacing from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and sidewalk closures on Pace Boulevard and side streets between Barrancas Avenue and North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Sunday, Jan. 29 through Thursday, Feb. 2 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will allow crews to perform paving operations as well as sidewalk and curb improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the signalized intersections to access the sidewalks on the other side of Pace Boulevard.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements from Chemstrand Road to East of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit on this section of East Nine Mile Road has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (S.R. 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, Jan. 29 through Thursday, Feb. 2 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298) Resurfacing from North of U.S. 98 to East of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures from U.S. 98 to Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, Jan. 30 through Friday, Feb. 3 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for drainage improvements and erosion control operations.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers may encounter outside southbound lane closures on Navy Boulevard, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, Friday, Jan 27 through Friday, Feb. 3 from 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. while crews remove and replace existing concrete curb and gutter.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures and lane shifts at the Sorrento Road and Bauer Road intersection as crews install drainage pipe. Flagging operations will be in place to direct drivers.
- Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Routine Utility Maintenance from Bellview Ave to Saufley Field Road – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Jan. 30 through Friday, March 10 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for routine utility maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Feb. 4 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews place barrier wall and perform striping work. In addition, traffic on the Pensacola Bay Bridge will be slowed on Monday, Jan. 30 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to allow for demolition of a submerged pier from the old (1960-era) bridge. Drivers may experience increased congestion. Law enforcement personnel will be available to control traffic on the bridge during the work.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River - Construction crews have temporarily shifted eastbound traffic to the westbound bridge over Simpson River. The shift is expected to be in place through March 2023. During this time, there will be two westbound lanes and one eastbound travel lane using the westbound bridge. Due to the traffic shift, there will not be dedicated bike lanes on the bridge. Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they will be temporarily sharing the bridge with cyclists. Drivers are also reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- The median crossover at the intersection of Bayshore Road and U.S. 98 will remain closed to perform necessary road widening activities.
- 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, Jan. 29, through Friday, Feb. 3, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Settlers Colony Boulevard will remain closed to complete necessary drainage improvements. 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.
- Gulf Breeze Parkway (U.S. 98) Turn Lane Operations at the Corner of S.R. 399 – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Jan. 30 through Friday, Feb. 10 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane construction at the new Cefco.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.