Gas Prices Down Another 9 Cents Last Week
May 8, 2023
Florida gas prices declined for the second consecutive week. The state average declined 9 cents per gallon last week. Florida’s state average has now declined a total of 16 cents, since setting a new 2023 high of $3.72 per gallon on April 21st.
On Sunday, Florida drivers paid an average price of $3.56 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price in three weeks. In Escambia County, drivers paid an average of $3.22 a gallon. North Escambia stations were as low as $3.11 on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while the lowest price across the county was $2.92 at stations on Pensacola Boulevard, Nine MIle Road and Airport Boulevard.
“Florida gas prices should move even lower this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices are still coming back down from the spike caused by the flooding in South Florida. Additionally, the oil market suffered its third consecutive week of declines, which should apply more downward pressure on prices at the pump.”
Photo Gallery: Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show
May 8, 2023
Large crowds attended the Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show in Century on Saturday.
The day included entertainment, free history museum tours, grilled hamburger meals, crafts, free exhibits, a car show and more.
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For festival show photos, click here.
For a car show photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pérez Dominates As Blue Wahoos Finish Series With Win Over M-Braves
May 8, 2023
Eury Pérez may have just left a lasting impression with the Blue Wahoos.
If so, it became a memorable one.
Pérez, ranked as the top prospect in the Miami Marlins minor league system, overcame a first-pitch home run to start the game then matched his best start of the season as the Blue Wahoos hung on in the ninth inning Sunday for a 5-4 victory against the Mississippi Braves.
A crowd of 4,567 at Blue Wahoos Stadium watched the home team win for the fifth time this week and 10th win in the past 11 games, enabling the Blue Wahoos (16-11) to finish the first month of the season with the best record in Southern League.
This was the third consecutive strong outing by Pérez, rated the No. 11 overall prospect in Minor League Baseball by MLB Pipeline. He dazzled Sunday by retiring the next 12 batters in order following the leadoff home run. He threw just 39 pitches through four innings, then pitched out of a bases-loaded jam get out of the fifth inning when Cal Conley was called for runner’s interference on a slow roller that Pérez fielded.
That became the game’s pivotal moment.
Pérez (3-1, 2.32 ERA) finished the sixth inning throwing 79 pitches in the game, 51 for strikes with nine strikeouts and two walks. In the sixth inning he threw a 100 mph fastball, followed by a 99-mph fastball, to coax a flyout from M-Braves slugger Drew Lugbauer, the club’s all-time home run leader, for the final out and final batter Perez faced.
The Blue Wahoos offense backed Pérez with a four-run third inning, highlighted by Griffin Conine’s solo homer, followed by Nasim Nuñez hitting a two-run blast. The other run scored on an infield throwing error.
The Blue Wahoos made it 5-1 in the fourth inning when Will Banfield walked, moved over to third on a pair of hits, and scored on a bases-loaded balk.
Conine completed a big weekend at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and his second homer in two days. He now has three for the season. Nuñez also went 2-for-3.
The first two relievers to follow Pérez, Patrick Murphy and Jefry Yan, pitched scoreless innings.
But the game got suspenseful in the ninth inning after the M-Braves hit a pair of home runs against Austin Roberts to trim a 5-1 lead into having the tying run at the plate with none out.
After Blue Wahoos pitching coach Dave Eiland visited the mound to calm Roberts, the righthander retired the last three batters in order to end the game.
It led to the large crowd being able to enter the outfield to toss baseballs and have kids 12-under run the bases in what has become a popular Sunday event.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before traveling to Birmingham, Ala. to begin a six-game series against the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago White Sox affiliate, beginning on Tuesday at Regions Field. The Barons took four of six games from the Blue Wahoos in their only Pensacola meeting two weeks ago.
written by Bill Vilona, photos Blue Wahoos
Escambia Fire Regional Training Facility In Gonzalez Gets $1 Million In Legislative Funding
May 8, 2023
The Florida Legislature has approved $1 million toward the Escambia County Regional Fire Regional Training Facility in Gonzalez.
The funds are the state’s 2023-24 budget, which has not yet been signed by the governor.
The facility will be located at the former Escambia Charter School at 319 90 & 9 Ranch Road, just behind Gonzalez Utilities on Old Chemstrand Road.
The project will include the construction of a live fire training building and remodeling of an existing building with classrooms at a kitchen.
“Activities will vary from classroom leadership settings to hands on practical exercises including live fire training, roof ventilation, search and victim removal, forcible entry, rope operations, and shoring. Additional training on the site will be driving, water supply, land navigation, and more. Partnerships with local and regional law enforcement departments would allow for building clearing, classroom classes, rope training, or any need that the design of the building would support; this would also be applicable for EMS in patient removal and emergency management in local disaster exercises,” according to a legislative funding request.
The county said implementing a fire training facility for ECFR will be instrumental in the success of the department and improving training needs. ECFR will be able to train career and volunteer firefighters faster and specifically to the standard operating guidelines and expectations.
The Escambia Charter School closed after 22 years at the end of the 2017-2018 school year due to declining enrollment.
Photos/map for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$4.7 Million Highway 29 Project In Century Remains At A Standstill Over A Water Pipe
May 7, 2023
Work on a $4.7 million Highway 29 construction in Century remains at a standstill weeks discovery of an unmapped water pipe that must be relocated.
Early this year, two northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane were closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street with traffic shifted into just two lanes. It was that a normal traffic pattern would return by the end of April, but that was put on hold until about the end of May.
What the Florida Department of Transportation termed an “unknown Town of Century water main” was discovered under the roadway during excavation. Two and a half weeks ago, FDOT told us that it should be relocated in about two weeks.
Construction on the resurfacing project will continue after the water main is relocated.
Century’s engineer said the problem pipe is a 2-inch water main, and there are no service disruptions anticipated during the work.
Pictured: Highway 29 traffic in Century remains at two lanes during a construction zone as seen Saturday afternoon, May 6. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
District 5 School Board Member Slayton To Hold Town Hall Monday
May 7, 2023
Escambia County School Board District 5 member Bill Slayton and Superintendent Tim Smith will hold a town hall meeting Monday evening.
The town hall will take place at 6 p.m. in the Tate High School cafeteria and is open to the public.
The other four school members previously held town hall meetings over the past several weeks.
Lexi Nelson Named Tate FFA Rodeo Queen
May 7, 2023
Lexi Nelson was named queen of the 32nd Annual Tate High School FFA Alumni Association Rodeo that took place Friday and Saturday nights. Kyrie King was first runner-up.
She is the daughter of Edwin and Lisa Nelson and a big sister to Bradley and Charlie. She is a junior at Tate High School. She is a member of Tate’s FFA, agriculture sales team, and National Technical Honor Society.
Lexi got her first horse at 9-months old and was riding competitively by age 4. She rides and trains her own horses daily. Lexi has multiple horses but rode her favorite horse “Foxy” in the rodeo.
Eight cowgirls competed for the rodeo queen title. Each girl had to write an essay, be interviewed by judges, perform a riding pattern and queen’s salute on their horse, and demonstrate how to tack up a horse correctly.
RELATED: Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Photo Galleries
NorthEscambia.com photo (above) and photos for NorthEscambia.com (below), click to enlarge.
Beginning Quilting Lessons Offered At The Molino And Bellview Libraries
May 7, 2023
Beginning quilting lessons are available at the the Molino and Bellview branches of the West Florida Public Libraries.
During May, the Pensacola Quilter’s Guild schedule is 10 a.m. Tuesdays at the Molino Library and 10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Bellview Library.
Seating is limited. Call the Molino Library at (850) 435-1760 or the Bellview Library at (850) 471-6360 to reserve a spot.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cox Recognizes Inspirational Student Heroes
May 7, 2023
At the annual Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards this week, Cox Communications recognized 54 students who have overcome extreme hardships in their lives.
“Every year, these students remind us how difficult life can be, but our response to those adversity is what really matters,” said Cox Gulf Coast market vice president David Deliman. “These students have faced these hardships while still inspiring others around them on a daily basis. They are true heroes and deserve their time in the spotlight.”
“We are, as usual, honored to work with Cox Communications in honoring these deserving students,” said Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith. “Their stories are truly inspiring, and we are proud to call each and every one of them members of our ECPS family.”
The students were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity. Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a positive attitude and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.
During the event, Cox presented the students with a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor. The students were also presented with certificates of achievement from Congressman Matt Gaetz, State Senator Doug Broxson and State Representatives Michelle Salzman and Alex Andrade. They also received congratulatory letters from United States Senator Rick Scott, United States Senator Marco Rubio, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender presented a proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners, celebrating the students for their achievements overcoming obstacles.
Escambia County’s Cox Inspirational Student Heroes for 2023 are:
- AK Suter Elementary School – Audric Page
- Bellview Elementary School – Aiden Wetter
- Bellview Middle School – Harmoni Ford
- Beulah Academy of Science – Kailee Miller
- Beulah Elementary School – Lane Day
- Beulah Middle School – William McShane
- Blue Angels Elementary School – Thomas Gutierrez
- Bratt Elementary School – Calee Satterwhite
- Brentwood Elementary School – Jace Beam
- Brown Barge Middle School – Paarth Vaidya
- Byrneville Elementary School – Jayden Carter
- CA Weis Elementary School – Tre’asure Rigsby
- Cordova Park Elementary School – Maddy Bevzyuk
- Ensley Elementary School – Cindy Le
- Ernest Ward Middle School – Cade Carnley
- Escambia High School – Logan Ming
- Escambia Westgate Center – Troy Tanner
- Ferry Pass Elementary School – Dukayla Palmer
- Ferry Pass Middle School – Brooks Sun
- Global Learning Academy – Junior Lopez
- Hellen Caro Elementary School – Jordan Edmerson
- Holm Elementary School – Tia Grant
- Hope Horizon – Elementary – Jaxson Rosales
- Hope Horizon – Secondary – January Calligan
- Jim Allen Elementary School – Zariah Bradley
- Jim Bailey Middle School – Miranda Gibson
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Danielle Reisnour
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Gia-Paige Dorah
- Lipscomb Elementary School – Shamir Smith
- Longleaf Elementary School – Zoey Allen
- McArthur Elementary School – Ada Virtue
- Molino Park Elementary – Prestyn Harvell
- Montclair Elementary School – Johnnie Graphenreid
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Lakota Little
- N.B. Cook Elementary School – Kiyan Gregory
- Navy Point Elementary School – Samiaya Edwards
- Northview High School – Jamie Gruenwald
- Oakcrest Elementary School – Aida Mexicano Mora
- OJ Semmes Elementary School – Varian Major
- Pensacola High School – Madeleine Ritz
- Pine Forest High School – Joseph Hernandez
- Pine Meadow Elementary School – Annie Mathis
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Jaceyon Pittman
- Ransom Middle School – Elizabeth Burdeaux
- Scenic Heights Elementary School – Evie Woodruff
- Sherwood Elementary School – Quinntyn Goodson
- Success Academy – Billy Landreth
- Tate High School – Brianna Lynn White
- Warrington Elementary School – Nate Barker-Richter
- Warrington Middle School – April Bessent
- Washington High School – Nic Hrabak
- West Florida High School – Jansen Hosman
- West Pensacola Elementary School – Hunter Linebaugh
- Workman Middle School – Carson Kirton
The Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards program began 30 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. The program has spread to other Cox markets in the Southeast Region. To date, Cox has recognized nearly 4,700 students from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Macon, Georgia.
Man Killed When Driver Runs Light On Highway 87, Troopers Say
May 7, 2023
One person died in a two vehicle crash in Santa Rosa County Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 62-year old man driving a pickup truck failed to stop for a red traffic signal on Highway 87 at Hickory Hammock Road. His track crashed into the side of a car driven by a 54-year old Milton man.
The 54-year old Milton man was pronounced deceased at the scene. A 9-year old boy in the vehicle received minor injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck also received minor injuries. Troopers said charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation.
File photo.