Incumbent Republican Michelle Salzman Reelected To Florida House Seat
November 6, 2024
Incumbent Republican Michelle Salzman easily defeated Democratic challenger Franscine Mathis for the Florida House District 1 seat by a 2-to-1 margin Tuesday.
- Salzman 58,566 (65.81%)
- Mathis 30,420 (34.19%%)
“I am grateful that we had a huge win for this community,” Salzman said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my constituents for another term and focus on public safety and infrastructure, also homeowners insurance and care insurance.”
Salzman was first elected to the Florida House in 2020.
Matt Gaetz Reelected To U.S. House
November 6, 2024
Congressman Matt Gaetz was reelected Tuesday to represent Florida’s First Congressional District.
Republican Gaetz received 66.05% of the vote to Democratic Challenger Gay Valimont’s 33.95%
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz during an appearance in Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Library Closed Saturday For Town’s Parking Lot Work
November 6, 2024
The Century Branch Library will be closed Saturday for parking lot work.
The Century Council recently approved a low bid of $11,265 from Gulf Coast Asphalt Maintenance for parking lot sealant, striping and sign replacement.
The library, which is adjacent to the town hall and shares a parking lot, will be closed all day Saturday for the planned work. All programs and events for Saturday have been canceled.
Other West Florida Public Libraries will be open as usual on Saturday.
The Century Library will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, November 12. All WFPL locations will be closed for Veterans Day Monday, November 11.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fiery I-10 Crash Claims Life Of Cantonment Man
November 5, 2024
A fiery crash on I-10 in Santa Rosa County claimed in life of a Cantonment man early Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 62-year-old was eastbound in his SUV on I-10 about 3:50 a.m. when his SUV left the roadway and struck several trees. After impact, the vehicle burst into flames.
Troopers said the man succumbed to the fire. His name has not been released.
New Convenience Store Planned For Highway 29 At Highway 97 In Molino
November 5, 2024
Plans are in the works once again for a new convenience store at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Fikes Wholesale of Texas submitted the plans to the Escambia County Development Review Committee for a Casey’s Convenience Store.
This is associated with Casey’s, the third largest convenience store and fifth largest pizza chain in the US,” Casey’s Directo of Communications Katie Petru told Northescambia.com. She said a timetable for opening is not yet known since the project is in the very early stages.
Casey’s is a Fortune 500 company operating over 2,600 convenience stores. According to a July press release, Casey’s announced the acquisition of Files Wholesale, owner of CEFCO Convenience Stores, in an all-cash transaction for $1.145 billion for 198 stores.
Plans show the Casey’s in Molino to be 4,360 square feet with parking lot access from both Highway 29 southbound and Highway 97 north of the Crabtree Church Road intersection. The plans, which contain just one small low-quality image, appear to show six pumps in front of the store.
The Development Review Committee will hold a pre-application meeting on the project on Wednesday, November 6.
Plans were filed for a convenience store in the same location back in 2017 and 2019 by an Atmore company, but those projects were never finalized. The new store will be across Highway 97 from an existing Cumberland Farms store that is still operating under Tom Thumb branding.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Century Cancels Council Meetings Due To General Election
November 5, 2024
The Century Town council has canceled their meetings for the first week of November due to council chambers being used as a general election voting precinct today.
The town had their first meeting for November set for November 5, but that is election day, and they won’t have access to use their council chambers since town hall is a precinct. The meeting was first rescheduled for November 6, but council members voted to move it to November 4. The council then canceled the November 4 meeting because the room will be closed after the delivery of voting equipment.
The council normally meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Their next regular meeting is set for November 19.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Bratt Elementary Students Learn About Fire Safety
November 5, 2024
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS recently spent a morning teaching Bratt Elementary School students about fire safety.
During the event, Bratt Elementary students wear able to see a fire truck, ambulance and other tools used by first responders.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate, Jim Allen, Ernest Ward, Century Inviting Veterans To Ceremonies
November 5, 2024
Several schools and organizations are inviting veterans and community members to ceremonies over the next week.
Tate High School – Nov. 5
Tate High School will hold two ceremonies on Tuesday, November 5 to honor veterans. The ceremonies will be held in the Fryman Gym at 12:45 p.m. and 1:40 p.m.
Jim Allen Elementary School – Nov 5
Jim Allen Elementary School is inviting veterans to join the school for a parade through the halls and a special presentation in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 5 at 8:15 a.m.
Ernest Ward Middle School – Nov. 7
Ernest Ward Middle School invites veterans, parents, and community members to attend a special Veterans Day assembly in the school’s gymnasium on Thursday, November 7, at 10:30 a.m. Parking for attendees will be available in front of the gym, and a reception will follow the assembly in the gym lobby.
Century Area Chamber of Commerce – Nov. 11
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Veterans Day Celebration Cookout on Monday, November 11 from 2-5 p.m. at Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard at Bradley Street.
Veterans Memorial Park – Nov. 11
The Veterans Memorial Park Foundation invites active duty military personnel, veterans, families, and all community members to attend a Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, November 11 at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 200 S. 10th Avenue in Pensacola.
SEC Soccer Quarterfinals Are Today At Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park
November 5, 2024
The SEC Soccer Tournament continues today with quarterfinal action at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park off 10 Mile Road.
Today’s games are:
- No. 2 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Georgia, 11:30 a.m.
- No. 3 Texas vs. No. 11 LSU, 2 p.m.
- No. 1 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Tennessee, 4:30 p.m.
- No. 4 South Carolina vs. No. 12 Alabama 7 p.m.
Winner advance to the semifinals Thursday at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are now one sale at pensacolasports.org. All-tournament passes are $45. Individual session tickets for the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are $12 for adults and $7 for students/military. Tickets for the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 10, are $17 for adults and $12 for students/military. Taxes and service fees are included in the listed ticket prices. Kids 12 and under wearing a soccer jersey get in free with a paying adult on Sunday, Nov. 3 and on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A clear bag policy is in effect for this event. Admission is free for children 5 and under at all games.
For a photo gallery LSU vs. Auburn, click here.
Pictured: The LSA Tigers defeated Auburn 2-1 Sunday afternoon in the SEC Soccer Tournament. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Deputies Seek Five Points Carjacking Victim; Suspect Arrested
November 5, 2024
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to identify the victim of an attempted carjacking Monday night at the Five Points intersection in Pace.
The incident happened about 8:40 p.m. at the Circle K located at 5661 Quintette Road. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a reported two-vehicle collision with injuries. Dispatchers learned that one of the occupants has exited their vehicle and was walking around armed with a tire iron. Deputies arrived and advised suspect to drop the object, but he ignored them and fled on foot to the Circle K.
Deputies said the suspect, later identified as 50-year-old Brian Joseph Stacken, tried and failed to enter an unoccupied car before he tried to jump through the passenger window of a moving vehicle.
“Due to the suspect being armed, the victim was instructed to drive away to prevent the suspect from entering,” SRSO Public Information Officer Christi Cole said. “Due to the suspect resisting arrest Deputies deployed non-lethal use of force and took him into custody.” Stacken was transported to Santa Rosa Media Center for evaluation before being booked into the Santa Rosa County Detention Center without bond.
Stacken (pictured) was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on specified personnel, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed burglary and resisting arrest with violence.
Santa Rosa deputies are seeking to locate the carjacking victim to assist in the investigation for further potential felony charges against Stacken.
The victim’s vehicle was described as a black or dark blue 2015-16 Volkswagen Jetta with a light colored or white graphic on the rear right passenger window and a similar graphic around the fuel door.