Photos: Molino Library Hosts Back To School Bash
August 4, 2024
The Molino Branch of the West Florida Libraries hosted a Back to School Bash Saturday afternoon.
The event included STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) themed activities, a petty zoo, carnival themed games. and exhibitors.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Continues
August 4, 2024
Florida’s two-week back to school sales tax holiday continues until Sunday, August 11.
Many school supplies (including laptops and tablets) and clothing will be exempt from Florida’s usual 6% sales tax rate.
Shoppers can save on most items under a certain dollar amount. For instance, clothing must cost $100 or less per item, school supplies must cost $50 or less, personal computers and tablets $1,500 or less, and learning aids and jigsaw puzzles $30 or less.
There are many school supplies you can purchase tax-free in the state during the sales tax holiday, but here are a few highlights:
- Hats, shoes, shorts, pants, shirts, underwear, socks, and raincoats
- Backpacks, book bags, handbags, purses, and lunch boxes
- Cleated and spiked shoes and swimsuits
- Notebooks, scissors, pens, pencils, and calculators
- Printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, and routers
- Electronic books, flashcards, puzzle books, and matching games
- Hair accessories, wallets, and belts
For a details list of what does, and does not, qualify, click or tap here.
Do Online Purchases Qualify?
Online purchases can qualify, but delivery to a Florida address is required.
What Is Not Included?
While many eligible items are included in the two-week tax holiday, there are a few exceptions.
- Accessories like jewelry and watches are not tax-free nor are many types of gloves. A few additional exclusions apply.
- Clothing. Umbrellas and protective masks are taxable, as are roller skates, rented formal clothing, and non-prescription sunglasses and goggles.
- School supplies. Taxable items include printer or computer paper, and books not otherwise exempt.
- Electronics. Many electronics are taxable, including computer bags, CDs and DVDs, computers for recreational use, regular batteries (e.g. not for medical use), smartphones, surge protectors, tablet covers, game controllers, and digital cameras.
- Miscellaneous items. Furniture, luggage, garment bags, suitcases, and any rentals of eligible items are taxable and excluded from the tax-free holiday.
The sales tax holiday does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing with a sales price of more than $100
- Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50
- Books that are not otherwise exempt
- Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500
- Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
- Rentals of any eligible items
- Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
- Sales of any eligible items within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment,
- or airports
Hot With More Afternoon Showers And Storms
August 4, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 74. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
August 4, 2024
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:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek through mid-2025 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Signage is in place to direct drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – I-10, between U.S. 29 and I-110, has been reduced to two travel lanes in each direction. The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is also closed. Drivers on U.S. 29 northbound are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound. These closures allow crews to perform shoulder and bridge work to widen the interstate.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts while crews place concrete barrier wall:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Monday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 8 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
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- Inside lane closures on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Monday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 8 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) has been shifted to the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street. One travel lane in each direction remains open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes. The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through the summer. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- U.S. 29 (North Palafox Street) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to State Road (S.R.) 296 (Brent Lane) – Drivers may encounter daytime outside lane closures on North Palafox Street at the intersection of Leonard Street/Cross Street and at the intersection of Fairfield Drive, Monday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 9. Crews will be working on traffic signals. Law enforcement personnel will be available to safely direct traffic through the work zone
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 9 as crews perform paving and sodding operations.
- 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 Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, Aug. 4, through Friday, Aug. 9, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Beginning 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7 motorists traveling westbound along U.S. 98 will encounter a new traffic configuration from east of College Parkway to Ramblewood Drive as lanes will be shifted north. Additionally, motorists traveling eastbound along U.S. 98 will encounter a new traffic configuration from the beginning of the project to Villa Woods Circle as lanes will be shifted south. These traffic patterns are required for crews to perform necessary roadway widening operations in the median.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Game Suspended Again by More Chattanooga Rain
August 4, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Saturday’s plans to finish two games between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts were foiled by rain once again, as Friday’s suspended game was halted after just four at-bats.
After rain and wet grounds forced Friday’s contest to be suspended with the Blue Wahoos trailing 4-2 in the top of the fifth, the game resumed Saturday afternoon under cloudy skies. In the span of four batters, the Blue Wahoos collected RBI singles from Andrew Pintar and Nathan Martorella to claim a 6-4 lead before rain began once more.
The game, not yet official, will be picked up again on Sunday afternoon at 12:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. CT. A seven-inning contest will follow to conclude the series. As the Blue Wahoos and Lookouts have no more meetings in the 2024 season, one game in the weeklong set will be canceled.
Band Camp Tradition: Tate High Showband Preps For The Upcoming Season (With Gallery)
August 3, 2024
The Tate High School Showband of the South wrapped up two weeks of band camp, and annual tradition, this week.
The last week was four grueling 12-hour days, with nearly 200 band members working on this year’s new show — “Working 9 to 5″.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Band camp is where members learn community and teamwork, start with the basics before sharpening their skills, and get ready for the upcoming season. They practice the halftime show and the pep music that will set the tone for those upcoming Friday night lights.
NorthEscambia.com joined the band for the last hour or so of Thursday’s final band camp day, outside on the hot asphalt.
It was all about timing, precision, music, memorization, marching coordinates, and just coming together as a team. And water breaks. Frequent water breaks due to the Florida heat. With a long legacy and 50 years of straight superior ratings, band camp is a tradition for the Showband.
Tate High School was founded in 1878, and the band was formed in the early 1940 and suspended in 1944 due to World War II. The band was back by 1947. The long history of the Tate band includes performances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York (twice), the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, Fiesta Bowl Parade in Arizona, Tournament of Roses Parade and special performances at Pearl Harbor and in Ireland, along with many others.
Each day of band camp included a mix of indoor rehearsals with sections and practices with the entire band, and time on the hot asphalt just outside Pete Gindl Stadium. And did we mention the July summer heat and water breaks?
Director of Bands Ronald Gray, in his first year at Tate, said the heat has been one of the Showband’s biggest battles this year. Otherwise, he said the band was ready for the upcoming football and marching season. They will kick things off with full band rehearsals next week and a showcase for parents Thursday evening, August 8.
“They are ready,” Gray said. “We are going have great season.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Tate High School Showband of the South rehearses on the last day of band camp 2021 on August 1, 2024. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dance Classes To Be Offered This Fall At Ashton Brosnaham; Registration Is Tuesday
August 3, 2024
Registration will be held Tuesday for dance classes that will be offered at Ashton Brosnaham Park off 10 Mile Road beginning August 12.
Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, which has offered classes in the Century and Byrneville areas since 1994, will hold the classes in the multipurpose building at the park.
The classes will include ballet, tap and jazz for ages two and up.
A 13-week session will be held from September 3 through December 17.
Registration will be held at Ashton Brosnaham from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6
For more information, click or tap here (pdf).
Intent Movement Worship Event Is Sunday With Sidewalk Prophets, Guest Speakers
August 3, 2024
The Intent Movement is coming to Atmore Sunday night with an event that includes a concert by Christian music’s Sidewalk Prophets, which has had four major studio albums, five No. 1 hits and eight top 5 songs.
General admission is just $5 or a VIP package for $25 with preferred floor seating. Cash, Venmo and Cash App will be accepted at the gate. The event will take place at the Poarch Cultural Arena at 6477 Jack Springs Road. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event starts at 7 p.m.
Worship leaders will be the Chapels and guest speakers will be Josh Davis and Courtney McBride.
The Intent Movement started about six or seven months ago in the minds of Davis, who is the youth and children’s pastor at Atmore First Assembly, and McBride, who is the principal at Flomaton Elementary School.
“We kind of came together and we had the same vision,” Davis said. Davis had been in El Salvador on a missing tip, and his 13-year-old suffered a brain injury back home. He’s 14 now and fully recovered.
“I had to trust God because his brain was swelling, and we were getting really close to having a craniotomy. God healed him; three months later, I returned to El Salvador and had my son with me.”
“But since that time, I decided that I’m no longer going to allow the enemy just to throw all the licks while I’m going to be on the defense. I’m going to be on the offense too.”
The event was planned as students, teachers and families prepare for going back to school.
“It’s a chance to renew, refresh that strength that comes from the Lord,” Morgan Hiebert, event organizer, said. “A chance to trust the Lord and know that He has given is something incredible.”
“I think people right now; I think they’re hurting; they’re hurting and oh there’s people that that have a lot of things that they keep with inside,” Davis said. “They keep it inside of them, and I want to expose the enemy. And I want them to, to leave here feeling refreshed and not leave here feeling condemned. But feeling that there is a God that sent his son Jesus to die for them, and He loves them. And He’s not upset with them, and nothing, nothing can separate them from God’s love. All He asks is that we live for Him and do our best.”
“I feel like this event is going to be significant,” Davis added.
Coming up Sunday on NorthEscambia.com, we will have a one-on-one interview with singer and songwriter David Frey, frontman of the Sidewalk Prophets.
Fire Destroys Vehicle Early Saturday Morning Near Barrineau Park
August 3, 2024
Fire destroyed a vehicle near Barrineau Park early Saturday morning.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the area of Jacks Branch Road and St. Elizabeth Street about 12:20 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find the vehicle fully involved on the side of the road.
Witness said that someone appeared by be abandoning the vehicle just before the fire, but exactly what happened was not immediately clear. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was working to locate the vehicle’s owner.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Going Shopping? Here Are The 2024 Escambia County School Supply Lists
August 3, 2024
The Escambia County Public School on Friday released this year’s school supply list for elementary schools in the county.
Middle and high school students are typically informed of needed supplies during the first week of school or at orientations. However, we have middle school lists for Ernest Ward and Ransom below.
A master supply list for all Escambia County Public School elementary schools is below. Also below, there is separate list for Byrneville Elementary School, which is a charter school and has different items listed.
For any specific questions about your school’s supply lists, contact the school. It’s also a good idea to check the school’s website and/or their social media pages for any deviations from the master list.
- For printable supply list pdf for Escambia County Elementary Schools, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Byrneville Elementary School, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Ernest Ward Middle School, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Ransom Middle School, click here.