Escambia County Renews Contract For Lake Stone Caretaker
June 2, 2024
The Escambia County Commission is extending their caretaker agreement for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Dennis Keith Cole will continue to manage the facility for another year, until May 31, 2025. He will be paid $13,200 in 12 equal monthly installments of $1,100 with housing and utilities provided. Cole was first named Lake Stone caretaker in June 2013.
Lake Stone Campground is a 100-acre campground and boat ramp facility located at 801 West Highway 4. The campground has 77 campsites for everything from big RV rigs to tents. Lake Stone is the Escambia County’s only facility located on a freshwater lake. The facilities include a boat ramp , indoor public use pavilion, a playground, showers, restrooms, a fishing pier, security lights, electrical and water hookups, a sewage dump station, picnic areas and the lake.
The Lake Stone pavilion or campsites can be reserved by calling the Lake Stone campground manager at (850) 256-5555 or Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the County has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker/management services at the facility.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl After Nine Mile Road Traffic Stop
June 2, 2024
A woman was arrested for trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine after a traffic stop Saturday morning in Beulah.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Ashley Diane Carter at Nine Mile Road and Bridlewood Road.
Deputies said they found 115 grams of methamphetamine, 31.4 grams of fentanyl, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Carter was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
ECSO said Carter also had three active warrants out of Santa Rosa County for two counts of failure to appear for felony charges and trafficking in methamphetamine.
Photos by ECSO for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
June 2, 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:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek through mid-2025 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Signage is in place to direct 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) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform utility work:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Lane closure on North Palafox Street between Hope Drive and the bridge over I-10, beginning Tuesday, June 4 at 8 a.m. and lasting approximately six hours. In this configuration, north and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane with flaggers to direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews place barrier wall and perform median work:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Outside lane closures on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – 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 June as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 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.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures after 9 a.m. on North Palafox Street for drilled shaft installation work at the intersection of Leonard Street/Cross Street, Monday, June 3 through Tuesday, June 4 and at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue, Wednesday, June 5 through Thursday, June 6. Police will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Westbound over Blackwater River Resurfacing Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent I-10 westbound lane closures, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (Exit 28) to the east end of the Blackwater River Bridge, Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for crews to place thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, June 3 through Friday, June 7 as crews perform shoulder grading and sodding operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street - Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, June 2 through Thursday, June 6 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform roadway widening and sidewalk reconstruction work.
- 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, June 2, through Friday, June 7, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
New Coffee Shop, Pet Groomer Open In Molino
June 2, 2024
Grand opening celebrations were held Saturday for two news businesses in Molino.
The Parking Latte coffee shop and Cozy Corner Grooming and Boarding, both locall owned, are now open at 4178 North HIghway 29, between the Molino fire tower and Highway 196.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Furious Comeback Helps Wahoos Beat Shuckers 8-7
June 2, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the Biloxi Shuckers 8-7 on Saturday night.
Buoyed by a season-high three home runs and a strong performance from the bullpen, Pensacola got back in the win column and secured a series victory with one game to go in their weeklong set against the Shuckers.
Despite the win, the Blue Wahoos fell to 2.0 games back of first-place Montgomery with 19 games to play in the first half. The Biscuits swept a doubleheader over the Braves in Mississippi, gaining a half-game on Pensacola.
Leadoff batter Jakob Marsee started the game with a bang, hitting a solo home run off starter Bradley Blalock for an immediate 1-0 lead. It was Pensacola’s first leadoff home run since Kameron Misner in September 2021, ending an unusual drought for the franchise and beginning a 3-for-4 night for Marsee with three runs scored.
Pensacola starter Paul Campbell, who had completed at least 5.0 innings in each of his first seven starts, struggled mightily. The Shuckers put up six runs on three hits and three walks, bouncing Campbell after just 0.2 innings. The big blow came from catcher Andy Yerzy, who turned around the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer and a 6-1 Biloxi lead.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away with solo homers from Sean Roby in the second and Nathan Martorella in the third. In the fourth, Blalock was removed from the game after back-to-back walks. Will Childers (L, 0-2) fared little better, allowing a bunt single to Marsee before Paul McIntosh hit a two-run double to draw the Wahoos to within a run at 6-5. Marsee scored on a wild pitch to tie the game before McIntosh came home on a fielding error from shortstop Eric Brown Jr. to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 7-6.
Marsee singled, took second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on an error and scored on a McIntosh sacrifice fly in the sixth inning for an insurance run that would prove to be the game-winner.
Adam Laskey (W, 2-0) led a dominant relief effort for Pensacola, working 3.1 scoreless innings. Matt Pushard, Dale Stanavich and Raffi Vizcaíno (S, 3) held the lead for an 8-7 final.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their road trip in Biloxi on Sunday. First pitch from Shuckers Ballpark is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
Family Seeks Answers In Century Murder Of Young Father, Former High School Football Player
June 1, 2024
Jaheem Durant, 20, was murdered in Century last year.
His body was found with multiple gunshot wounds on a sidewalk along North Century Boulevard, near Ramar Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday. The body was just yards from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Substation in Billy G. Ward Courthouse building.
Now, over seven months later, his family and the mother of his 2-year-old child are still seeking answers.
“We don’t understand why it’s taking the police so long to make an arrest,” Kirsi Crawley, mother of Jaheem Durant Jr., told NorthEscambia.com. “Jaheem deserves justice for what they did to him, and his family deserves closure and answers3″
Crawley said family has received little information from investigators.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office tells us the case is still active, and the investigator speaks to Jaheem’s father frequently, most recently last week.
“We are still waiting for crime lab results and social media results,” Sgt. Melony Peterson said.
Durant played high school football for both the Northview Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes.
At Northview, Durant was named 2nd Team Defensive End for the Florida 1A All-State football team. He was a member of the Flomaton High School first ever state championship team.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured first below: Jaheem Durant gains yardage for the Northview Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge. Other photos above and below: Submitted photos of Jaheem Durant
Escambia County Receives New $36 Million Offer For 540 Acre Entirety Of OLF-8
June 1, 2024
Escambia County has received another offer for the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile road — this time $36 million for the entre 540 acres parcel.
The offer was received from Tri W Development, a subsidiary of Jim Wilson and Associates (JWA) of Montgomery, Alabama, along with CAH Developments, an affiliate of The 1559-Collective in Pensacola.
There’s still an offer on the table from Beulah Town Center, which increased their purchase offer in mid-May to $25 million for 290 acres.
If the county accepted the new offer for the entire 540 acres, they would likely lose a Triumph grant for Frank Reeder Road and other infrastructure improvements that can only happen on property owned by the county.
They are offering to donate 15-25 acres to the school board for construction of a public school.
JWA real estate projects have included Eastchase in Montgomery on 330 acres with retail, hotels, restaurants and shops; the Redstone Gateway business park in Huntsville on 470 acres with office, industrial, hotels, retail and restaurants; Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, a mixed use development with retail, hotels and office space; and New Park in Montgomery, a 1,000 acre master planned community that currently has 400 single family homes, a school, YMCA and more.
CAH developments include Ransley Station on 60 acres at the corner of I-10 and Pine Forest Road in Pensacola, and the East Garden District in Pensacola.
The new offer does not directly address how the current Master Plan for the property would be addressed.
The new offer is on the agenda for discussion at the next Escambia County Commission meeting on Thursday, June 6.
Pictured: The OLF-8 property as seen from Nine Mile Road in May 2024. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FWC Reports Nine Area Boating Under The Influence Arrests Over Memorial Day Weekend
June 1, 2024
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Northwest Region reported 15 boating under the influence arrests over the Memorial Day weekend.
Nine of the arrests were in Escambia County, five were in Panama City and one in the Tallahassee region.
“We know that a sober vessel operator is a safer vessel operator,” said Maj. Robby Creech, Northwest Regional Commander. “Our officers respond to too many accidents that could have been avoided if the operator had just
designated a driver who was not impaired, removing dangerous individuals from our waterways is a priority for us.”
The FWC The Northwest Region includes 16 counties encompassing Escambia County to Jefferson County.
Driver’s License, Tax Collector Services Available June 11 In Walnut Hill
June 1, 2024
Mark you calendars, driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Century on Tuesday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.
The Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the “Ruritan Building”, is at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the fire department.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five-run Sixth Sinks Wahoos In Loss To Shuckers
June 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with an 8-5 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night.
Despite a pair of two-run homers from Zach Zubia and Joe Mack, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t overcome a five-run sixth inning for Biloxi that proved to be the difference in the game.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos fell to 1.5 games back of first-place Montgomery with 20 games to play in the first half. The Biscuits were rained out in Mississippi, and will play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Jakob Marsee began the game by drawing a walk against Brett Wichrowski, and stole two bases before coming in on a Mack RBI groundout for a 1-0 Pensacola lead. Zubia’s two-run homer in the third put the Blue Wahoos up 3-1.
Pensacola starter M.D. Johnson worked 5.0 innings, surrendering an RBI double to Noah Campbell in the second and RBI singles to Mike Boeve and Carlos Rodriguez in the third to depart the game tied 3-3.
Chandler Jozwiak (L, 1-3) entered in the bottom of the sixth, and recorded only one out while allowing five runs on four hits. Campbell’s second double of the night gave Biloxi a 5-3 lead, and an Ethan Murray RBI single plus a pair of sacrifice flies put the Shuckers ahead for good.
Mack hit a two-run homer in the eighth against T.J. Shook (W, 3-6), but that was all the Pensacola offense could muster. Blake Holub (S, 1) recorded the final four outs for the Shuckers to nail down the win, snapping a franchise-record 10-game losing streak in the process.
For the second straight night, the umpire crew kept their pen and paper handy. Biloxi first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr. and manager Joe Ayrault were tossed arguing an out call in the bottom of the first, and Pensacola reliever Austin Roberts was ejected arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the eighth.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Biloxi on Saturday. First pitch from Shuckers Ballpark is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.