Bratt Elementary Students Donate Supplies, Goodies To Escambia Animal Shelter
March 25, 2024
Students at Bratt Elementary School collected a lot of supplies and goodies for the dogs and cats at the Escambia County Animal Shelter. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Decline 7 Cents After Setting New 2024 High
March 25, 2024
Florida gas prices are moving lower again after jumping early last week. The state average rose 10 cents by Wednesday, setting a new 2024 high of $3.56 per gallon. Since that time, the Florida average logged daily declines, falling a total of five cents.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.51 per gallon. That’s four cents more than a week ago, and 11 cents more than this time last year.
The average in Escambia County was $3.28 Sunday night. North Escambia prices were as low as $3.17 on Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, the low prices were $3.11 on Highway 98 and $3.12 on Nine Mile Road.
“Gas prices took a step back late last week, but there’s still plenty of upward pressure in the fuel market,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bluff Springs, Cotton Lake Recreation Sites Reopen, Williams Lake Still Closed By Flooding
March 24, 2024
The Northwest Florida Water Management District has reopened the Bluff Springs and Cotton Lake recreation sites in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area
The Williams Lake site remained closed due to flooding until further notice.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Jacket Jamboree, Livestock Show, Car Show Held Saturday In Molino (With Photo Galleries)
March 24, 2024
Hundreds of people attended the Northview High School FFA Blue Jacket Jamboree in Molino Saturday.
The Easter Bunny was on hand for a big egg hunt. The event also included arts and crafts vendors, a car show and more.
All proceeds from the Blue Jacket Jamboree will benefit Northview High School FFA students and their scholarship fund.
For a Blue Jacket Jamboree photo gallery (including the car show), click or tap here.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree was held in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show.
For a more photos from the livestock show, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Killed In Highway 4 Crash Near Bear Lake
March 24, 2024
A crash on Highway 4 in northern Santa Rosa County claimed the life of a motorcyclist Saturday afternoon in the Blackwater State Forest near Bear Lake.
A SUV driven by a 69-year-old Fort Walton Beach man was traveling west of Highway 4 when he made a left turn at the intersection of Red Morris Road, failing to yield to a motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 19-year motorcyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the SUV was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
March 24, 2024
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their February Students Of The Month. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Increasing Clouds Sunday; Rain Likely By Tuesday
March 24, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Cloudy, with a high near 69. Windy, with a southeast wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
Monday Night: A chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Windy, with a southeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 43.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Cottage Hill Man Charged After Allegedly Pouring Out Soda Inside A Pickup Truck
March 24, 2024
More details have been released in the arrest of a Cottage Hill man for theft charged after allegedly pouring out soda inside a pickup truck.
Joshua Glenn Mobley, 34, was charged with burglary, criminal mischief $200 to $1,000, and second degree petit theft.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help to find Mobley and said he was wanted for a March 17 burglary in the 1000 block of Grenelefe Drive near McKenzie and Handy roads in Cottage Hill.
According to an arrest report, Mobley reached into a pickup truck belonging to “the soon to be ex-husband of this current girlfriend” and poured some a six-pack of sodas that was inside on the driver’s side floorboard and stole the rest.The victim told deputies it would cost $500 to have the truck detailed to cleanup the sods, which was valued at $6.
Mobley remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning with bond set at $8,000. Additional charges of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were also filed against him.
Local Unemployment Rate Increases
March 24, 2024
FloridaCommerce has announced that the Pensacola area’s labor force increased by 2.5 percent (+5,955 jobs) over the year in February 2024. Private sector employment increased by 3,400 jobs, an increase of 2.0 percent over the year in February 2024.
The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, increasing by 1,400 jobs; education and health services, increasing by 1,200 jobs; and government, increasing by 1,000 jobs. The Pensacola area unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in February 2024, up 0.6 percentage point from the February 2023 rate of 2.8 percent.
Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 40 consecutive months. The national unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for February 2024, 0.8 percentage point higher than Florida’s rate. Florida’s private sector job growth rate increased by 2.3 percent (+194,200 jobs) over the year in February 2024. This is faster than the national rate of 1.6 percent over the same period.
Kathryn Sue Russell Hadley
March 24, 2024
Kathryn Sue Russell Hadley, age 87, of Atmore, AL passed away on March 10, 2024 in Brewton, AL. She was the daughter of the late Bill and Helen Russell of Bay Minette, AL. Sue was a 1954 graduate of Baldwin County High School and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Troy State University. She taught GED classes, college prep classes as well as post college prep classes in order to pass her college entrance exams. Sue’s career was in education, working as Secretary to the Dean of Education and to the President as well. During her career, she also taught on and off campus. She retired in 2001 from the Houston, Texas Windom Prison Facility.
She is preceded in death by her parents, W.J. “Bill” Russell and Helen Eubanks Russell; her husband, Arion “Little Boy” Hadley; her sons, John Alan “Johnny” Hadley and Robert Marion “Bobby” Hadley; her sister, Miriam “Bootsie” Russell; her brother-in-law, Marion “Big Boy” Hadley; father-in-law, John W. Hadley; her sister-in-laws, Marie Hadley Byrd and Mildred Hall, and her great grandson, Robert Everett “Rhett” Hadley.
She is survived by her son, Jimmy (Cathy) Hadley; her grandchildren, Robert Shane (Jessica) Hadley, Valisa Lee (Matthew) Lambert and Alece Hadley; her step grandchildren, D.J. Hunter and Tiffany Kelley; her great grandchildren, Nevaeh Hadley, Ashley Wilson, Jonathan Dunigan, Brandon Stone and Dalton Hadley; her step-great grandchild, Crimson Davis.
Graveside services will be held Friday, March 15, 2024 11:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.