AAA: Prices Hold Steady As Florida’s Gasoline Supply Chain Recovers From Hurricane Milton
October 14, 2024
Florida gas prices are holding steady as the fuel supply chain recovers from the effects of Hurricane Milton, according to AAA. Sunday’s state average was $3.10 per gallon. That’s the same as last week, 5 cents less than last month and 27 cents less than last year.
Surging demand and power outages contributed to temporary gasoline outages across Central Florida and along evacuation routes. However, state officials say conditions are improving. Florida’s ports and all but two gasoline terminals are back open for tanker trucks to fill up and make round-the-clock deliveries.
As of Sunday night, state officials told AAA that 20% of gas stations in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties did not have gasoline. Meanwhile, there are others who id have fuel, but did not have electricity to power the pumps. State reps expected 85% of Florida filling stations to have gasoline by Monday night and supplies to be back to normal by Wednesday morning.
In Escambia County, there were no gas supply problems, and the average price per gallon was $2.90, which was 20 cents cheaper than the state average.
In North Escambia, prices were as low at $2.77 at one station on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while a Pensacola low of $2.69 was available on Nine Mile Road.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Heritage Festival Celebrates The Community’s History (With Photo Gallery)
October 13, 2024
Under beautiful blue skies with an 1880’s log schoolhouse as a backdrop, the Walnut Hill Heritage Festival on Saturday celebrated the community’s history Saturday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The day, sponsored by the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, featured dozens of vendors, daylong live music and entertainment, food vendors, hayride, bouncy houses, arts and crafts, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse, and much more.
The one-room log schoolhouse was built around 1880 at a cost of $40. It was flattened by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and rebuilt at its current home by the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino 7U Falcons Win Eastern Shore Fall Brawl
October 13, 2024
The Molino Ballpark 7U Falcons recently won the championship from the Eastern Shore fall Brawl.
Head coach for Falcons is Tanner Brooks.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Hopes To Find Owner Of Bible, Photos Found At Park In Bratt
October 13, 2024
A local family is hoping to a find the owner of a Bible that left in a Bratt Park.
The Bible was in the free little library in the Travis Nelson Park on West Highway 4. It contained the photo of two adults and several children, and the finder hopes to return the photos and Bible to the owner.
The New Testament in Spanish and English was published for free distribution by Gideons International, much like those distributed by the organization in hotels rooms for decasdes.
If you have information, email news@northescambia.com, and we will put you in touch with the family that has the Bible and photos.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Challenge To Help The Hungry Going On Now
October 13, 2024
The Peanut Butter Challenge, an annual jar collection for local food pantries hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension, is going on through the end of the month. Launched in the Florida Panhandle counties in 2012, the challenge is again spreading statewide this year.
Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated to the following locations throughout Escambia County now until Oct. 31:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Hwy. 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” Street, Pensacola
- Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 10650 Gulf Beach Hwy., Pensacola
- Gilmore Services, 31 E. Fairfield Dr., Pensacola
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor, Pensacola
Coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension and FAMU faculty, staff and volunteers, the competition among counties – for bragging rights only – was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop. The peanut, which is produced mainly throughout the northern regions of the state, contributed $137 million to the state economy in 2023, according to the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service.
Peanut butter is an ever-popular item in food pantries because of its nutrient density and shelf stability. The project took on new meaning in 2020 as it spread statewide for the first time as demand for food bank assistance had increased as an economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest numbers from the United States Department of Agriculture shows food insecurity affected roughly 12 percent of Floridians in 2023.
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Federation have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
Last year’s Peanut Butter Challenge collected a total of 27,769 pounds of peanut butter from 44 Florida counties.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Locations
October 13, 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:
- State Road (S.R.) 296 (Michigan Avenue) Construction from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – Drivers may encounter outside lane closures on Michigan Avenue, from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street, Sunday, Oct. 13 through Saturday, Oct. 19, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., while crews perform concrete work.
- U.S. 98 (Gregory Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to east of 14th Avenue – Drivers may encounter U.S. 98 (Gregory Street) westbound outside lane closures from North Tarragona Street to North Palafox Street, Monday, Oct. 14 through Thursday, Oct. 17 between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. while crews perform concrete work.
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek Construction – Interstate Circle is closed at the Eight Mile Creek Bridge through mid-2025 while crews replace the bridge. Signage is in place to detour 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) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions the week of Sunday, Oct. 13:
- I-10, between U.S. 29 and I-110, is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- A new, temporary on-ramp for U.S. 29 southbound drivers accessing I-10 eastbound is now open. Detouring traffic to the temporary ramp will allow crews to continue work to reconstruct the I-10/U.S. 29 interchange.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Traffic on U.S. 29 is 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 late 2024. The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph, and signs are in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- U.S. 29 between Rudolph Street and Green Street will be reduced to one lane Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. and last approximately four hours, as crews repair a manhole. In this configuration, north and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- U.S. 90 (Cervantes Street) Routine Underground Maintenance – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures between Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and North Spring Street Monday, Oct. 14 through Friday, Oct. 18 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground maintenance.
- S.R. 95 (North Palafox Street) Routine Underground Maintenance – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures between East Moreno Street and East Brainerd Street Monday, Oct. 14 through Friday, Oct. 18 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine underground maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing from north of S.R. 87 to County Road (C.R.) 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures on S.R. 89, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, Oct. 14 through Friday, Oct. 18 as crews place thermoplastic striping.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 90 lane closures, between Avalon Boulevard and Stewart Street, Sunday, Oct. 13 through Thursday, Oct. 17, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for paving 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, Oct. 13, through Friday, Oct. 18, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
Tate High School FCA Hosts Fields Of Faith (With Gallery)
October 13, 2024
Tate High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted Fields of Faith recently on Carl Madison Field in Pete Gindl Stadium.
The community came together to worship with a student-led band consisting of members from the Aggie Mountain Bike Team and the Hillcrest Baptist Church Student Band. Tate students Blakely Campbell, Faith Etheridge, and Taylor Dyer provided the welcome, shared scripture and opened the evening with prayer.
Guest speaker Mike Valarezo spoke about repentance, salvation and boldly sharing our testimony with others. Karl King mathematically demonstrated how reading the Bible for 14 minutes a day is 1% of 24 hours. Attendees were challenged to give the Lord a minimum of 1% of each day.
Fields of Faith is an interdenominational national event where thousands gather on over 500 athletic fields across the country to share their faith. It is a national student-led initiative where students meet and organizing the event. Students invite their peers, teammates, families and the local community to meet on the school’s athletic field to worship, pray, be challenged to read the Bible, and follow Jesus Christ.
Tate High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes is sponsored by Christy King, Karl King and Heather Maxwell.
The Northview High School FCA will host a similar Fields of Faith event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Argos Upset No. 19 Delta State
October 13, 2024
The University of West Florida football team put together one of its best all-around performances of the season on Saturday at PenAir Field to take down No. 19 Delta State in Gulf South Conference play.
UWF has now won two straight and are 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the GSC.
“It’s been a heck of a week,” said head coach Kaleb Nobles. “We’ve fought through some adversity. We had a couple tough games early in the season where we played a couple of very good teams. So there’s been a lot of people who’ve just forgotten about West Florida. But these guys are bought in. They’re showing up on time, going to study hall, showing up to weights on time. That stuff shows up.”
It showed up clearly in the stat lines.
The Argos put up 533 total yards of offense, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Stokes who had three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Stokes finished with 326 yards through the air, completing 17 of his 21 pass attempts and 55 yards rushing on eight attempts.
Corey Scott scored what was the game winning touchdown with 11:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Stokes hit Scott deep down the left-hand side of the field for a 70-yard pass. The score gave UWF a 33-28 lead after the Argos failed the two-point conversion. Scott was the game’s leading receiver with five receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
On UWF’s next offensive possession Stokes and Scott connected again for a touchdown following a 26-yard pass. The score gave the Argos a 40-28 lead with 5:46 remaining in the game to put the home team in the driver’s seat.
“The me and Marcus connection started off in the summer,” said Scott. “We are both from the same area. Even before we came here, we were catching and throwing.”
After taking the two score lead late in the fourth, the UWF defense put its stamp on the game by forcing a three-and-out for Delta State. A false start penalty pushed the Statesmen back five yards to a third down and 15 to go. Traevon Mitchell sniffed out a screen pass and batted it down to shut the drive down in Delta’s own territory. Mitchell was a force on the defensive end throughout the entire game. The junior defensive lineman had 10 tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass break up.
The Argos got the ball back with 5:22 remaining and never gave the ball back to Delta’s offense. Running backs Jay Sharp and TJ Lane chewed up clock with three first downs in the final drive which was also aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the visitors to close out the game. Lane finished with 115 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Sharp had 46 rushing yards.
UWF had a hot start to the game with touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. The Statesmen responded with back-to-back scoring drives to go up 14-13. But nearing the end of the first half was when the Argos stole all of the momentum back to carry into the second half. UWF found the endzone twice in the final 1:15 of the half. Stokes had a four-yard TD run to help UWF go up 20-14 and then Stokes found Jakobe Quillen for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining in the half. Quillen went for 109 yards receiving on the day.
Delta State finished with a balanced 143 yards passing and 140 yards on the ground.
Next up for the Argos is a long road trip to Murfreesboro, N.C. to take on Chowan on Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. CT.
Photos Jon Rose/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks Hit And Run Driver That Hit Scooter On Highway 29 In McDavid
October 12, 2024
A scooter rider was injured in a hit and run on Highway 29 in McDavid late Friday afternoon.
Witnesses told authorities that a white sedan changed lanes and collided with the Yamaha Vino scooter on Highway 29 southbound just south of Mystic Spring Road. The adult male ride was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered serious.
The witness was unable to provide a better description of the hit and run vehicle. White plastic from the vehicle was left behind at the crash site.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP.
The McDavid Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice Rescinded For Portion of North Century Blvd.
October 12, 2024
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS RESCINDED ON OCTOBER 18.
The Town of Century has issued a boil water notice for homes and businesses along a portion of North Century Boulevard, and the Century Branch Library is expected to be open Saturday after being closed for two days due to water issues.
Library Open Saturday After Two-Day Closure
The Century Branch Library was closed Thursday and Friday due to a water outage. County officials said the library was expected to be open regular hours on Saturday, October 12.
Boil Water Notice
The Town of Century has issued a boil water notice for addresses on the west side of the road between 7811 North Century Boulevard to 8321 North Century Boulevard. That is approximately from the Century Chamber of Commerce to near, but not including, Whataburger. Water pressure was lost in the area due to a water main repair, according to the town.
As a precaution, the town advises that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially immunocompromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.
A loss in system pressure could cause back siphonage of contaminants, such as e. coli bacteria, into the water system. water containing E. coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water. Disease symptoms caused by these bacteria may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headache and fatigue. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for e. coli to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Under this standard all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of E. coli bacteria exists within the water system. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Anyone with question should call the Town of Century at (850) 256-3208.