Flomaton Man Charged With Trafficking Meth Into The Escambia, Florida Jail
May 21, 2023
A Flomaton man was charged with allegedly introducing a trafficking amount of meth into the Escambia County (FL) Jail.
Caleb Eli Turk, 31, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and introduction of a controlled substance into a detention facility.
Turk was arrested in Florida on an outstanding warrant from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama. He was searched and transported by a Florida deputy to the jail in Pensacola.
The deputy notated that Turk was fidgeting on the left side of his body during the transport. At the jail, the deputy again asked if there was “anything on him”, but he replied “no”, according to an arrest report. A jail corrections officer found a plastic bag containing 21.4 grams of meth concealed in his waistband, the report states.
Turk’s bond on the Florida charges was set at $15,000. He remained in the Escambia County (FL) Jail awaiting extradition.
Beulah Middle Holding 6th Grade Open House On Wednesday
May 21, 2023
Beulah Middle School will hold a Sixth Grade Open House on Wednesday, May 24.
Incoming sixth graders are welcome to attend the open house for a quick tour of the school, a chance to meet with club and sport sponsors, and learn more about what Beulah Middle School has to offer.
Attendees are asked to arrive at the cafeteria at 6001 West Nine Mile Road. The event will be from 11 a.m. until noon.
Tate High Class of 1963 Holds 60th Class Reunion (With Gallery)
May 21, 2023
Thirty members of the Tate High School Class of 1963 held their 60th class reunion Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Photos courtesy Bonnie Exner for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Areas
May 21, 2023
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 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 21 through Saturday, May 27 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 23, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until summer when the Welcome Center improvements are complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements from Chemstrand Road to East of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit on this section of East Nine Mile Road has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- · Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and intermittent turn lane closures Sunday, May 21 through Thursday, May 25 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews place thermoplastic pavement markings on the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (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 shoulder and lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, May 22 through Friday, May 26 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder construction.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on Navy Boulevard Friday, May 19 through Friday, May 26.
- Alternating nighttime lane closures, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews mill and resurface the roadway.
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- Daytime lane closures from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sunset Avenue, Winthrop Avenue and Barrancas Avenue intersections for signalization work.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through May. The two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- I-10 Coring Operations near Interstate 110 – Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures Monday, May 22 through Thursday, May 25 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for coring operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30/Gulf Breeze Parkway/Navarre Parkway) Resurfacing of select areas from Abercrombie Road to Calle De Palencia Street - Drivers on U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway), between S.R. 87 and Calle De Palencia Street, may encounter intermittent nightly lane closures from Friday, May 19 through Thursday, May 25 from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 21 through Saturday, May 27 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 23, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Widening of the westbound bridge over Simpson River has been completed. The westbound structure now supports two westbound lanes, two eastbound lanes, and dedicated bike lanes. Drivers may encounter temporary and intermittent lane closures on the bridge for crews to address any maintenance issues that may arise. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- 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 Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road Sunday, May 21 through Friday, May 26, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Beginning the week of Sunday, May 21, eastbound travelers will encounter a new traffic configuration from west of College Parkway to east of Portside Drive as lanes will be shifted slightly south to allow for widening activities.
- Beginning the week of Sunday, May 21, westbound travelers will encounter a new traffic configuration from east of Portside Drive to Green Briar Parkway as lanes will be shifted slightly south to allow for widening activities.
- I-10 Resurfacing from S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists will encounter nighttime east and westbound lane closures Monday, May 22 through Friday, May 26 for paving operations.
- I-10 Routine Underground Utility Maintenance at the S.A. Jones Road Overpass – Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures Wednesday, May 24 starting at 8 a.m. to install cable.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather
Pensacola’s Comeback Foiled In 13-6 Loss To Tennessee
May 21, 2023
The Blue Wahoos are now on the wrong kind of streak.
After this week started with a pair of wins and a club-record 10-game winning streak, the Tennessee Smokies won their third in a row Saturday by answering the Blue Wahoos’ comeback attempt with a pair of 3-run homers in the eighth inning of a 13-6 blowout win.
A sellout crowd of 5,038 became energized when the Blue Wahoos rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the fifth inning and had a tying run thrown out at the plate to end the sixth inning.
The intrigue continued into the eighth.
That’s when the Tennessee Smokies Haydn McGeary blasted a first-pitch fastball from reliever Austin Roberts into the right-center berm for a 3-run homer.
The ball’s flight immediately had reliever Roberts kicking the mound in disgust.
The decisive moment then got worse for the Blue Wahoos (24-14) when reliever Zach Willeman gave up a walk, a single and second 3-run homer of the inning, this one by Bradlee Beesley, who went 2-for-3 in the game and scored four runs. The Smokies (21-17), leaders in the Southern League North Division, had 11 hits as every batter reached base.
But most of the crowd stayed around for the attraction of post-game fireworks presented by Navy Federal Credit Union.
Following the show, more than 130 Scouts of America youths, along with parents and scouting leaders, were part of a sleepover night at the ballpark.
Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer sustained his worst outing this season. He did not make it out of the second inning. When he was lifted with two outs, the Smokies already had a 5-0 lead.
Fitterer threw 69 pitches, only half for strikes, as he struggled with location unlike any prior start. The righthander yielded a season-high five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
In four prior starts, the 22-year-old Fitterer had allowed just five runs combined and recorded three consecutive wins in joining the team from High-A Beloit Sky Carp. He gave up four hits or fewer in each of those Pensacola starts.
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth inning, the Blue Wahoos started their comeback with Griffin Conine’s RBI single.
Troy Johnston then smashed a 3-run homer in the fifth inning, part of a night when he went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.
Will Banfield homered to lead off the sixth inning. Nasim Nuñez drove home Bennett Hostetler with a RBI single. Nuñez was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on Dane Myers’ hit. Nuñez went 2-for-5 and was among seven Blue Wahoos batters with at least one hit.
All of that led into the eventual eighth inning when the Smokies blew open the game.
The Blue Wahoos will now hope to salvage a split in the 6-game series when closing the homestand Sunday afternoon against the Smokies.
M.D. Johnson (0-1, 3.67), who began the week Tuesday with a solid start (6 innings, 3 runs), returns to the mound for a repeat against the Smokies, who will throw Porter Hodge (0-3, 5.47) for a second time.
The game will also feature renowned baseball organist Nancy Faust, who performed 41 years for the Chicago White Sox beginning in 1970, and is considered a pioneer in game entertainment. She will be performing on the concourse behind home plate with the same kind of vintage organ she used at Comiskey Park.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
May 21, 2023
Tate High School recently named their Students of the Month for March. They are Trey MacWhinnie (pictured left) and Caroline Paravicini. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FPL Seeks Slight Rate Decrease By July
May 20, 2023
Florida Power & Light customers could see a small decrease in their bills beginning in July.
The utility submitted a Florida Public Service Commission proposal on Friday seeking to reduce the fuel cost portion of bills by a total of $256 million reflecting continued downward revisions in projected natural gas costs for 2023 after last year’s high levels.
FPL customers in Northwest Florida using a 1,000 kilowatt hours average would see their bill drop from $158.86 in May to $154.91 in July. In the rest of the state, FPL customers will see their rates for 1,000-kilowatt hours drop from $139.95 to $136.
“This is more positive news for our customers,” said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of FPL. “We know that every dollar counts for our customers, and we are pleased to propose another rate reduction.”
Mental Health Task Force Releases Findings
May 20, 2023
Friday, the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida released its report of finding and recommendations.
The task force comprised a diverse group of over 100 participants, including front-line workers, community service organizations, religious groups, first responders, hospital administration and CEOs, judges, city council members, county commissioners, state legislators, and state agencies.
The reports are available at mentalhealthtaskforce.org.
“Now, the focus shifts to the crucial stage of implementing these recommendations,” Rep. Michelle Salzman said.
Molino Man Prefiles For Escambia School Board District 5
May 20, 2023
A Molino man is the first person to prefile for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County School Board.
Scott Taylor prefiled Friday with the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
Tate High’s Frankie Randall Signs With Coastal Alabama
May 20, 2023
Tate High School’s Frankie Randall has signed with Coastal Alabama South to continue his athletic and academic career.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
