AAA: Gas Prices Likely To Rise After Production Cuts
April 3, 2023
Florida gas prices increased 10 cents per gallon last week, and additional price hikes are likely to come, after Saudi Arabia unexpectedly announced plans to cut oil production, according to AAA.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ countries announced surprise plans to cut oil production by more than a million barrels per day, beginning in May. The cuts are reportedly an effort to prop up oil prices, which recently plummeted to 15-month lows due to fuel demand concerns created by the banking crisis.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.27. A North Escambia low of $3.18 was at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Pensacola prices were as low as $3.08 at the warehouse clubs.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Charles Albert (Chuck) Thames
April 3, 2023
Charles Albert (Chuck) Thames, born July 8, 1957 in Natchez, MS died April 2, 2023 at his home in Chumuckla, Florida after an aggressive battle with cancer.
Chuck grew up in the Pine Ridge area of Natchez and graduated from Adams County Christian School.
As a young boy his grandfather, Earl, taught him the early skills of carpentry which Chuck honed into a lifelong career (46 yrs), from renovating furniture to supervising the construction of hotels on Pensacola beach. It was during the early 80’s when he attended Mississippi State that he met his future bride, Ann Keating, during a football game.
After moving to Florida, Chuck worked for Sharpe Inc. in the mid 80s, followed by Terhaar & Cronley General Contractors for 25 years until forming his own construction company (Mullin & Thames) which he co-operated until his death.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Doyle E. Thames and Etta Lyvell Fortenberry (Pat Bradshaw), his step-brother Randall K Bradshaw, Albany, LA, and step-brother-in law Dennis Smith, Meadville, MS.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ann Marie Keating Thames, sons: Zachary C. Thames (Patricia), Benjamin L Thames, sisters: Dana Toney, Peggy Tucker (Charles), brother: Rayford Bradshaw (Jeanette) step sister: Bobbie
Bradshaw Smith, step-sister-in law: Alita Bradshaw, grandchildren: Phoebe, James, Nora, Moriah, and Anneliese Thames, 3 nieces and 5 nephews.
A devoted Christian husband, father, and grandfather, Chuck was deeply involved in both his church community and his family. He previously attended Elizabeth Chapel UMC (now Chumuckla Community Church), but more recently was a member of Woodbine Church in Pace. He was also deeply involved with the Blue Lake Emmaus Community, and spent many years mentoring young men as Committee Chairman for Boy Scout Troop 427.
The world will miss this strong, silent man who was ready for a challenge and always willing to work towards a solution and help others. Yet, if something needed to be said, he would speak to shed more light on a subject.
Thank you, Lord, for such a loving Husband, Dad, Brother, Papa and Friend. We will always love him.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Woodbine Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Interment will be at Chumuckla Community Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Rhonda A. Reynolds
April 3, 2023
Mrs. Rhonda A. Reynolds, age 74, passed away, Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Mobile, AL. She resided most of her life in Booneville, AL; and was a member of Judson Baptist Church. She was a retired highway contract mail courier with many years of service.
Mrs. Reynolds enjoyed spending time with her family, and the “rock” that held it together; and a very devoted wife and mother. She really enjoyed interior decorating, and also enjoyed landscaping her yard. She was always a very good cook, and she really enjoyed going to Chehaw Park. She was a very good mail courier that enjoyed delivering mail to the residence on her route.
Mrs. Reynolds is preceded in death by her parents, Marvin Lee (Linda Ellison) Murph, and one brother, Ual Murph.
She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Lee Reynolds, of Booneville, AL; three sons, Dewayne (Sharon) Wicker, of Bay Minette, AL; Steven (Lisa) Reynolds, of Atmore, AL; Chad (Beth) Reynolds, of Water Town, SD; two daughters, Paige Reynolds, of Atmore, AL; Kim (BJ) Mitchell, of Atmore, AL; two brothers, Gary (Bunkie) Murph, of Flomaton, AL; Gordon Murph, of Booneville, AL; two sisters, Josalyn Barnett, of Atmore, AL; Kay (Pat) Mullen, of Evergreen, AL; seven grandchildren, Heather, Payton, Macy, Parker, Aspen, Cameron, Brooklyn, one great-grandchild, Daegan, one sister-in law, Ann Murph, of McCullough, AL; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be held Monday, April 3, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. with Rev. Don Parker officiating.
Burial will follow at McCullough Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 2, 2023 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Parker Reynolds, Cameron Reynolds, Daegan Martin, David Murph, Michael Murph, and Jeremy McMath.
Tate High Students Prepare 57,600 Meals For The Needy (With Gallery)
April 2, 2023
Tate High School FFA and volunteers worked Friday to package 57,600 meals for the community through Meals of Hope.
“Food insecurity is real within Escambia County,” said Austin Courson, agricultural educator and FFA advisor. “It’s important to FFA and other local organizations to partner together and help fight food insecurity for many within the Pensacola region. This gives our students hands-on experience while encouraging them to work together to meet the needs of our community.”
They exceeded their goal of feeding 55,000 with the Meals of Hope project by packaging these meals in under three hours.
All the packaged meals will be distributed to families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Sponsors include the Florida Farm Bureau, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Big John’s Heating and Air, The Mathes Group, and Pensacola Energy.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Volunteers included current students in Tate’s FFA, softball, baseball, football, Early Childhood Academy and Tate FFA Alumni.
Meals of Hope is a nonprofit organization that is committed to bringing people together to fight the hunger epidemic.
Pictured: Tate High School students and volunteers prepared 57,600 meals for the community through the Males of Hope program on Friday. Photos by Erica Langton and Avery Kreiser/Tate High School Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Honors Kara Santorelli As Prom Queen, With Mural On Graffiti Bridge
April 2, 2023
Northview High School named Kara Santorelli as prom queen Saturday night.
The 18-year senior died in a collision with a wrong-way driver early the morning of March 17 on Highway 29 just south of Quintette Road.
Students honored her by naming her prom queen, dedicating the prom to her, and with a mural on Graffiti Bridge.
“Kara. Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not.”
Pensacola’s Graffiti Bridge was painted Saturday in remembrance of Santorelli. T
Also Saturday night, senior Rustin Pope was named prom king.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain Sunday Night And Monday
April 2, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 79.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.
Century Special Election Results Certified; Swearing In On Good Friday
April 2, 2023
The results have been officially certified for last Tuesday’s Century special election for two council seats, and the new members will be sworn in on Good Friday, April 7.
Good Friday is a holiday. The Century Town Hall will be closed, but will open for a 6 p.m. Friday for a swearing in ceremony. The town charter requires that council members be sworn in 10 days following a special election.
The Escambia County Canvassing Board met late last week to certify the results. There were no changes in the vote totals we first reported.
In January, Shelisa McCall and Alicia Johnson were appointed to the council after no one ran for two seats during the 2022 election. Both won during the special election by about a two to one margin.
Century Town Council Seat 3
- Shelisa McCall – 89 votes (66.92%)
- Evelyn Webber – 44 votes (33.08%)
Century Town Council Seat 4
- Eddie Hammond – 43 votes (32.58%)
- Alicia Johnson – 89 votes (67.42%)
Turnout was just 14.06% (136) of the 967 eligible registered voters cast a vote. There were 32 votes cast by mail and 104 in person at Century Town Hall.
Photos: Bratt Community Easter Egg Hunt
April 2, 2023
The First Baptist Church of Bratt held a community Easter egg hunt Saturday morning at Travis Nelson Park in Bratt.
In a light rain, dozens of children hunted eggs and enjoyed snacks after learning about Easter and the Resurrection.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Remains Of Soldier Killed In Korean War Are Home For Burial In Escambia County
April 2, 2023
The remains of an Escambia County soldier killed during the Korean War have returned home, and his funeral service will be held Tuesday.
In the summer of 1950, U.S. Army Pfc. Ithiel E. Whatley, 19, of Pensacola, was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korean War Service Medal and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Whatley was a member of M Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 12 after this unit was engaged in a fighting withdrawal south of Chochi’won, South Korea, towards the Kum River. While it is possible Whatley was captured, there was no record or eyewitness accounts of him being held as a prisoner of war, and no recovered remains were ever identified as him. The Army issued a presumptive finding of death on January 4, 1954 and declared Whatley non-recoverable in January 1956.
On October 6, 1950, a set of remains, designated X-143 Taejon, was recovered from the Kum River and transported to the United Nations Military Cemetery Taejon, where they were buried with 164 sets of remains previously recovered from the area where Whatley is believed to have gone missing. X-143 was sent with other unidentified remains to the Central Identification Unit – Kokura in Japan in 1951, but was unable to be identified. They were then transported to Hawaii in 1956 where they were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as Punchbowl Cemetery, with the other unknowns from the Korean War.
In July 2019, during Phase 2 of DPAA’s Korean War Disinterment Project, X-143 Taejon was disinterred from the Punchbowl and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for analysis.
To identify Whatley’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.
Whatley’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are still missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
Graveside services with full military honors will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery Tuesday, April 4 at 3 p.m.
He was survived by his mother, Willie Inez Whatley Warren and brother Nathaniel Mack who have both since died and his sister Roylene Mack Hairelson who is still living.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Zones
April 2, 2023
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 on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, April 2 through Saturday, April 8 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform paving operations. On Tuesday, April 4, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing Between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through April. The 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 at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until summer when the Welcome Center improvements are complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- 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 (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, April 2 through Thursday, April 6 from 8 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 will encounter nighttime lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder widening work.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter outside lane closures on Navy Boulevard southbound, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, Friday, March 31 through Friday, April 7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be working on curb, gutters and sidewalks.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road - Crews will be performing concrete work near the right turn lane from Sorrento Road to Bauer Road southbound nightly between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Flagging operations will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- S.R. 289 (North 9th Avenue) Routine Utility Maintenance North of Ash Drive – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, April 2 and Monday, April 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for routine utility maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, April 2 through Saturday, April 8 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform paving operations. On Tuesday, April 4, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- 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 April 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:
- 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, April 2, through Friday, April 7, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- S.R. 87 Routine Utility Maintenance South of the East River Bridge – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Tuesday, April 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for routine utility maintenance.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.