Today Is Deadline To Request A Mail Ballot
March 7, 2024
Voters who wish to be mailed a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 19 Presidential Preference Primary Election must request their ballot by 5 p.m. today, March 7, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert D. Bender.
Voters can make their request by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.gov or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.gov), or fax (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth, address, and their Florida Driver’s License or Florida ID Card number or the last 4 digits of their social security number. Voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.gov.
The U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date. Return postage has been paid for the 2024 elections. Completed vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 19. Voters may also drop-off their vote-by-mail ballot at the Elections Office or at any of the ten area early voting locations during early voting hours
After Thursday’s deadline, a voter may still pick up a vote-by-mail ballot in person from the Elections Office through Monday, March 18.
The March 19 election is a Republican Party Primary. In Florida’s closed partisan primary elections, you are only eligible to vote in primary contests for the party in which you are registered. Democratic, non-partisan and minor party voters will have contests on the August 20 election ballot.
For further information on vote-by-mail ballots, early voting, or precincts and polling locations, contact the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.gov or visit EscambiaVotes.gov.
Jim Allen Names Florida 4-H Speaking Contest Winners
March 7, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School students participated in the Florida Power 4-H Speaking Contest. This contest promotes the skill of communicating your ideas in front of an audience. Students competed at the classroom level and the winners then went on to compete at the school level.
School winners were:
- 1st Place: Brady Echols
- 2nd Place: Michael Cooley
- 3rd Place Perfect Tie: David Craig & Jay Balabagan
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Severe Storms Possible From Late Friday Into Saturday Morning
March 7, 2024
Severe storms will be possible late Friday evening into Saturday morning. The storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and perhaps a tornado.
Here is your official North Esambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 66. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Ashton Brosnaham Park To Host NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship
March 7, 2024
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that it has selected Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park as its new home for the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship. The initial term of the agreement is two years and will conclude after the 2025 NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship in December and will be hosted by Pensacola Sports.
“We had a difficult choice ahead of us in the bid process, but Pensacola stood out amongst a very strong group of contenders,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Director of Championships. “Pensacola Sports will do a tremendous job and will give our NAIA student-athletes a special championship experience at a first-rate facility.”
Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park off 10 Mile Road is the current home to the SEC Women’s Soccer Championships and features a state-of-the-art layout that will be a great experience for teams and fans alike. Just last year, the facility underwent a large-scale upgrade that included a complete re-sod that was designed for high-level college soccer. This improvement, along with the addition of multiple locker rooms and flexible use space has made the facility an ideal location for the NAIA to crown a champion in the years to come.
“We are excited to crown champions in Pensacola and are hopeful for a long-term future there,” remarked Bennett.
“It’s the type of news that you hope comes when you make a commitment to a facility and a commitment to a tournament like we did with SEC women’s soccer that we’ve hosted a couple of times,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said Thursday night. “We’ve shown a commitment to the sport in hosting top shelf type tournaments.”
“It’s a great day in Escambia County to win hosting the NAIA Women’s Soccer national championships beginning next year. I want to thank Michael Rhodes, Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director, and Ray Palmer, executive director of Pensacola Sports Association, for their leadership and diligence in securing the partnership with the NAIA. There is a lot of momentum for great things at Ashton Brosanham and I can’t wait to see the next success involving one of our great amenities in District 5,” Barry added.
Pictured: The record-setting SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in October 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
I-10, Nine Mile Road Interchange Construction Will Not Include Diverging Diamond
March 7, 2024
Construction is beginning on a $55 million Florida Department of Transportation improvement project on I-10 at the Nine Mile Road interchange (Exit 5), but the exit will not be a diverging diamond.
In 2020, FDOT proposed a diverging diamond interchange for the Nine Mile Road Exit and held a public development and study meeting.
However, plants for the current improvement project do not show a diverging diamond traffic pattern.
Planned improvements include replacing the existing I-10 overpass at Nine Mile Road to increase vertical clearance and to accommodate future improvements. The project will enhance traffic safety and mobility for the 62,000 drivers who travel the interchange daily.
The project is expected to be completed by mid-2028.
Road Construction/Lane Closures
During construction, the speed limit on I-10 will be lowered to 60 mph and 35 mph on Nine Mile Road. Lane closures on I-10 will be permitted Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and lane closures on Nine Mile Road will be permitted between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Drivers will encounter lane closures and traffic pacing operations on I-10 near Nine Mile Road through Thursday, March 7 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform striping and barrier wall work. Vehicle pacing operations, also known as “rolling roadblocks,” are used to create gaps in traffic so that short-duration construction activities can be completed. In addition, traffic on I-10 will be temporarily shifted to the outside (right) beginning Sunday, March 3 so crews can begin bridge construction work. The shift will be in place until spring 2025.
What Is A Diverging Diamond Interchange?
According to the Federal Highway Administration, a diverging diamond interchange is a simple design innovation that improves safety and mobility, often at a much lower cost, compared to conventional interchange designs. The key to what makes a DDI work so well is how left turns are handled.
The DDI resembles a conventional diamond interchange, which is the most common form in the United States. Drivers make right turns at a DDI just as they would at a regular diamond interchange.
The crossover intersections are what make DDIs different, and they are meant to be intuitive for the driver. The crossovers gently transition – or diverge – traffic from the right side of the road to the left side of the road and then back again. Because traffic is on the left hand side between the crossovers, all left turns occur without having to cross opposing traffic. The road geometry, signs, and pavement markings all work together to make this very simple. In cities where DDIs have been built, drivers say they don’t even notice the crossover intersections. according to the Federal Highway Administration.
William Carl Madison
March 7, 2024
William Carl Madison was born January 16, 1931, and passed away March 3, 2024. Carl was preceded in death by his wife Grace, father TW Madison, mother Vivian Madison Williamson, brother Charles Madison, mother of his children Rachel Bricken Madison, and other beloved family members.
Carl is survived by his daughter Becky Madison Boglione, son Mark Madison (Janet), son Sky Madison (Cathy), stepdaughter Carla Rich (Russ Hardin), stepdaughter Catherine Halvorson (Brian), stepson Charles Lemley (Charlotte), numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, and very many special friends.
Carl was a veteran having served in the US Army during the Korean war. He lived a long and fulfilled life where there was hardly ever a dull moment. As a very successful high school football coach he was a legend in his own time. He had a career record of 326-129-7, won five state titles, a USA Today National title, National Coach of the Year, inductee into FHSAA Hall Fame, inductee into the FHSAA Coaches Hall of Fame, many other personal and team awards and honors, and the subject of the published book “The Chief”.
Although Carl earned many personal and team accolades, he was most proud of the success that his former players and assistant coaches created in their lives.
The family would like to give a big thank you to special friends Danny and Karen Retherford, Floyd and Betty Adams, Mike Emmons, Reverend Darrell Black, and the staff at Shelton Manor.
Funeral services be held at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 800 East Nine Mile Rd., Pensacola, Fl. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with services beginning at 3:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Mike Bennett, Ronnie Douglas, Erik Hector, Keith Leonard, Paul Madison and Jerry Pollard.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements.
David Walter Owens
March 7, 2024
David Walter Owen, age 58, of Cantonment, Florida passed away on Monday, February 26, 2024.
A visitation for David will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 West Nine Mile Road. A funeral service will occur Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola. An interment will occur Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 1:00p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola.
Escambia County Receives Increased $22 Million Beulah Town Center Offer For OLF-8 Property
March 6, 2024
Beulah Town Center, LLC (BTC) has submitted a revised $22 million offer for 290 acres of the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road, adjacent to the Navy Federal Credit Union campus.
In February, the Escambia County Commission voted unanimously to enter into two weeks of contract term negotiations with BTC. At that time, BTC’s offer was $20 million.
The commission will discuss the latest offer at their meeting on Thursday.
The offer will adhere to the Master Plan for the property, leaving 250 acres on the northern part of the field for the county to use for job creation. BTC will develop retail and restaurants along Nine Mile Road, “along with potential for a big box, big name retail store that everyone will celebrate”, District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said. An area will also be reserved for tennis courts to be developed adjacent to the new Navy Federal Recreation Park.
If the county accepts the offer, BTC will make a nonrefundable $10,000 deposit as earnest money. A half million dollar deposit into escrow will follow five days after the inspection closing date, along with an irrevocable half million dollar letter of credit.
There would be a six month due diligence period, with an option to extend.
Primary Sample Ballots Mailed To Barrineau Park Voters Had The Wrong Polling Place Address
March 6, 2024
Presidential Preference Primary Election sample ballots mailed to voters in the Barrineau Park area were printed with the wrong physical address for their polling place.
A NorthEscambia.com reader let us know that their sample ballot for Barrineau Park’s Precinct 19 showed their polling place to be at 5805 Beulah Church Road, which is the First Baptist Church of Beulah.
Precinct 19 is actually located at the Barrineau Park Community Center at 6055 Barrineau Park School in Molino.
“We have confirmed the error,” Escambia County Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections Sonya Daniel said in an email after being contacted by NorthEscambia.com. “The QR code is correct, but the address is not. We are in the process of making the correction and we will be resending all of the precinct 19 voters a new sample ballot. We sincerely apologize and are working quickly to correct it.”
Florida is a closed primary state. The 2024 Presidential Preference Primary is for Republican voters only.
Pictured: A sample Escambia County Presidential Preference Primary ballot. NorthEscambia.com image.
Man Charged With New Year’s Day Fatal Crash Near Flora-Bama
March 6, 2024
A 23-year old man from Daphne, Alabama, has been charged with a fatal DUI crash New Year’s Day near the Flora-Bama on Perdido Key.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Caleb Jonathan Scottt was eastbound on Perdido Key Drive at about 12:15 a.m. when the crash occurred.
“The investigation revealed the Ford Bronco traveling at a high rate of speed thru the crowds gathered in the area celebrating the new year, ” FHP said. “During that time, the Ford Bronco traveled over a speed bump, became airborne, and struck a light pole on the northern shoulder of the roadway. The Ford Bronco that was driven by Caleb Jonathan Scott became engulfed in flames. As a result of the crash, a family member was sadly killed during the crash and another occupant was seriously injured.”
One of Scott’s family members, a 56-year old Bay Minette man died in the crash. Another passenger, a 23-year-old man from Gulf Shores, was seriously injured..
Scott was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and DUE causing serious bodily injury. Scott was arrested in Baldwin County extradited to Escambia County, Florida, where he was being held on a $130,000 bond.