Near Freezing Monday Night
January 29, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Man Armed With Machete Arrested After Standoff With Escambia Deputies In Bratt
January 28, 2024
A man allegedly armed with a machete was taken into custody after a standoff with deputies Saturday morning in Bratt.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 5700 block of Dortch Road, just off West Highway 4, after the residents reported that a man that does live there had barricaded himself inside the home with a machete and was refusing to leave.
According to the callers, “the suspect claimed he would die before going to prison,” Sgt. Melony Peterson said.
Responding deputies made entry after a short time to find 32-year old Nathan Arron Mack hiding under a bed. He was taken into custody without incident.
Peterson said it was later determined that Mack was originally welcomed into the home by the residents but later refused to leave.
“He started to act out of sorts which scared the victims, so they exited the home,” Peterson said.
There were no injuries reported in the incident.
Mack was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 29 Rollover Crash
January 28, 2024
There were no serious injuries reported in a rollover crash Saturday morning on Highway 29 in McDavid.
The teen driver lost control and ran off the roadway about 10:40 a.m. in the area of Champion Drive and the West Fraser Sawmill. The vehicle came to rest on its roof in brush in the ditch.
Reports indicated the teen was able to get out of the vehicle before firefighters arrived.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2024 Tate Lady Aggies Softball Rosters Announced
January 28, 2024
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Tate softball has announced their 2024 Lady Aggies roster. Play begins with a Pre-Season Classic at Tate February 13 and 15. The regular season begins February 20 as the Lady Aggies host Crestview.
VARSITY
- Kate Balagbagan
- Olivea Latner
- Kylea Gibbs
- Elizabeth Mcvay
- Lacy Wilson
- Tristen Showalter
- Amburleigh Laird
- Blakely Campbell
- Kara Wine
- Aubree Jordan
- Jordan Smith
- Carlyn Ham
- Peyton Womack
- Kaylie Mitchell
JUNIOR VARSITY
- Kinzlee Biggs
- Peyton Wilson
- Jordyn Banks
- Madison Smillie
- Aubree Gorum
- Kacie Tolbert
- Carmen Morris
- Keanna Smith
- Chloe Engle
- Olivia Messer
- Paisley Smith
- Kierstyn Phillips
- Kingsley Wann
- Tatianna Yahle
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
P.C. Wu Receives God In Government Award
January 28, 2024
Leaders from across the area gathered Saturday morning at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola for the 47th Annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast.
P.C. Wu was named the 2024 recipient of the God in Government Award.
The purpose of the 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.
The 2023 recipient Chip Simmons presents the 2024 God in Government Award recipient P.C. Wu. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary ‘Superheroes’ Celebrate Literacy Week
January 28, 2024
Students at Jim Allen Elementary School unleased their inner superheroes as they celebrated Litaracy Week last week.
For more photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Killed In Highway 29, Highway 196 Crash
January 27, 2024
A teen was killed in a crash involving a SUV and semi-truck Friday night near Molino.
A 17-year old male from Arizona in a Kia Soul was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. At least two other people in the Kia were reportedly injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the Kia Soul, a 16-year old from Pensacola, was traveling eastbound on Highway 196 when she stopped at the stop sign at Highway 29 but failed to yield to an oncoming semi-truck. The driver and a 16-year old passenger from Gulf Breeze were seriously injured.
The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on Highway 29 near Highway 196. Both vehicles left the roadway and came to rest in the woodline. The semi truck hit a utility pole, bringing power lines down across the truck’s trailer. Florida Power & Light reported that nearly 200 customers lost power as a result.
The truck driver was not injured.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Former Beulah Elementary Custodian Gets 16 Years For Possessing Child Porn Images And Videos
January 27, 2024
A former Beulah Elementary School custodian has been sentenced to just over 16 years in state prison for possessing child pornography images and videos.
Deantonio Jackson pleaded no contest to 15 counts of possessing photos of child sexual performance. He received 195 months 10 years of sexual offender probation. He also received 10 years probation to run concurrently on additional counts. He received 538 days credit for time served.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that two child sexual abuse video files were uploaded to a pornography website and two child sexual abuse images were uploaded to Google Photos.
The uploading IP address was traced to Jackson and his residence at 5829 Last Big Tree Lane. A search warrant was executed at the residence, where at least one child pornography images was found on a memory card concealed in his bedroom.
Jackson was quested at Beulah Elementary School. He stated that he did view child sexual abuse materials one time, allegedly on accident. He told investigators that he viewed adult pornography daily, and also watched adult pornography while siting in his vehicle at the elementary school, his arrest report states.
An analysis of Jackson’s cellphone found over 200 child porn images, “some of which depicted infants, toddlers, and children under the age of five”, the report states.
Investigators said thumbnails on his Google Drive account showed adults engaged in sexual acts. Those images were uploaded from Beulah Elementary School.
Traffic: Here’s Where To Expect Construction Delays Next Week
January 27, 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:
- U.S. 98 Pawdi-Gras Parade Downtown Pensacola – Motorists will encounter a road closure on east and westbound Garden Street and southbound Palafox Street Sunday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the 3rd Annual Pawdi-Gras Parade.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Northbound and southbound traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Lillian Highway (State Road (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 daytime lane closures and intermittent nighttime lane closures, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, Jan. 29 through Friday, Feb. 2 as crews perform concrete and striping work.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed until fall 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.
- Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Resurfacing from Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) to west of Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers may encounter daytime lane closures, between Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road, Monday, Jan. 29 through Friday, Feb. 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 3 and Sunday, Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as crews pave the roadway.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29/S.R. 95) from Cervantes Street (S.R. 10A) to Brent Lane (S.R. 296) – Massachusetts Avenue westbound, between Pace Boulevard and Palafox Street, will be closed permanently beginning Sunday, Jan. 28 as crews begin reconstruction of the area to accommodate a new traffic pattern. Signage will be in place to direct drivers traveling northbound on U.S. 29 destined for Massachusetts Avenue or Pace Boulevard. This closure is part of the new traffic configuration planned for the Massachusetts Avenue/North Palafox Street/North Pace Boulevard intersection.
- U.S. 90 (West Cervantes Street) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance from North Devilliers Street to North Barcelona Street – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Feb. 10 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground utility maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 City of Milton Mardi Gras Parade – Motorists will encounter a road closure between Raymond Hobbs Street and Elva Street Sunday, Jan. 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the City of Milton Mardi Gras Parade.
- 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, Jan. 28, through Friday, Feb. 2, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Drivers exiting S.R. 281 South will encounter a new traffic configuration as the northbound exit lanes and eastbound exit lanes will be closed at night to perform necessary utility improvements between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. This nighttime lane closure will remain in effect for approximately five days. This lane closure will allow crews to install new drainage structures and perform utility improvements. S.R. 281 South will be open during daytime hours. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will exit S.R. 281 South via Tiger Park Lane during these nighttime operations. Businesses may experience noise, vibrations, and dust during daytime hours as part of this drainage improvement effort.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River - The outside (right) lane of U.S. 90 eastbound on the Simpson River Bridge will be closed Monday, Jan. 29 through Thursday, Feb. 1 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities for the new bridge. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Hickory Hammock Road (C.R. 184) to Technology Avenue – Drivers may experience intermittent S.R. 87 single-lane closures, between Hickory Hammock Road and Technology Avenue, Monday, Jan. 29 through Friday, Feb. 2 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for turn lane construction and paving operations.
- I-10 Westbound at Blackwater River Resurfacing – Drivers will encounter intermittent single-lane closures on I-10 westbound, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (exit 28) to the Blackwater River Bridge eastern approach, Sunday, Jan. 28 to Thursday, Feb. 1 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for milling and paving operations. Additionally, the I-10 westbound travel lanes have been shifted slightly toward the inside of the roadway. This configuration is expected to remain in place through February 2024 while crews work in the construction zone behind the barrier wall.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Fatal Ensley Hit And Run Vehicle Recovered
January 27, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol has recovered the vehicle from a hit and run wreck that claimed the life of a scooter driver at West 9 1/2 Mile Road and Omar Avenue in Ensley Friday night, just west of Highway 29.
Trooper said the vehicle was a 2008 Toyota Prius that was traveling west on 9 1/2 Mile Road when it struck a 34-year old male on an electric scooter. The Prius stopped briefly before fleeing the scene west on 9 1/2 Mile Road.
Troopers did not say if an arrest was made.
FHP has released a possible suspect vehicle photo (above).
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.