Florida Gas Prices Up 12 Cents Last Week
November 14, 2022
Florida gas prices jumped 12 cents per gallon last week. The state average increased from $3.46 per gallon last Monday to $3.58 on Thursday. However, the state average then slipped 2 cents by the weekend. Sunday’s state average was $3.56 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $3.30. A low of $3.25 could be found Sunday night at several stations in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices were as low as $2.98 at the warehouse clubs.
“It appears that Florida gas prices have now fully adjusted to a recent oil price hike and the reinstatement of the state’s gas tax,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil and wholesale gasoline prices took a step back last week, which should cause gas prices to plateau.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Thanksgiving Food Distribution Held, Benefiting About 500 Families (With Gallery)
November 13, 2022
Hundreds of people received a helping hand Saturday during a Thanksgiving food distribution in Gonzalez.
Rep. Michelle Salzman, with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Ascend Performance Materials, International Paper, Florida Power & Light, Farm Share, The Butcher Shoppe, State Farm (Tyler Kercher), Gonzalez United Methodist Church, and many other community members sponsored the event.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Over 40 volunteers gave away boxes of food to almost 500 families, along with 320 chickens plus Thanksgiving goodies, and 300 Walmart gift cards.
Vehicles began to line up about 5 a.m. for the 30,000 pound distribution at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Rotary Presents Two Culinary Scholarships
November 13, 2022
Cantonment Rotary Club Culinary Endowed Scholarships were present to two students at Pensacola State College. Cantonment Rotary’s Ray Ascherfeld and Tony Lee presented the scholarships to Savannah Barwick (left) and Heather Harvill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s A Wrap: Blue Angels End 2022 Season With Pensacola Show (Photo Gallery)
November 13, 2022
The Blue Angels wrapped up their 2022 season Saturday with their homecoming air show aboard NAS Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Locations
November 13, 2022
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:
- Highway 97 –Motorist should expect single lane closures from Tungoil Rd. to south of Mason Rd. on Highway 97 Mon. – Fri, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Flaggers will be on site to direct motorist through the work area.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The front parking lot is temporarily closed as crews work to resurface pavement. The other parking areas remain open. Temporary sidewalk modifications are also in place while work is underway.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Nov. 13 through Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to perform miscellaneous construction activities on the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- Saufley Field Road (State Road (S.R.) 296), from the Naval Air Station Entrance to West of Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) – Drivers will encounter single lane closures with traffic flagging operations on Parda Road as crews remove and reconstruct a portion of the roadway. The closures will continue for the next several weeks.
- Pace Boulevard from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and sidewalk closures on Pace Boulevard and side streets, between Barrancas Avenue and North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) through Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will allow crews to adjust manholes, mill and pave the roadways, and make sidewalk and curb improvements. Pedestrians will be detoured to the signalized intersections to access the sidewalks on the other side of Pace Boulevard.
- Barrancas Avenue Routine Maintenance from Manchester Street to the Bayou Chico Bridge – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on Barrancas Avenue, between Manchester Street and the Bayou Chico Bridge, Sunday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 20. The closures will allow crews to perform final work list items.
- East Nine Mile Road. (U.S. 90A) 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 now share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete summer 2023.
- North Ninth Avenue (S.R. 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement – The Ninth Avenue northbound bridge over Carpenter’s Creek is open with four travel lanes, two in each direction. Drivers will continue to encounter intermittent and alternating lane closures as crews place the final layer of asphalt and perform final work activities.
- Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) from Brent Lane (S.R. 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 17 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298), 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 may encounter intermittent lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Highway, for erosion control operations. Shoulder closures will be present throughout the project for erosion control installation.
- Garden Street Routine Maintenance Between Tarragona Street and Jefferson Street – Motorist will encounter intermittent lane closures Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine maintenance.
- I-10 Routine Bridge Inspection over Blackwater River – Motorist will encounter intermittent lane closures west of S.R. 87 Tuesday, Nov. 15 and Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a routine bridge inspection.
- I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Florida, Georgia, and Alabama Railroad Overpass – Motorist will encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 17 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for a routine bridge maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, Nov. 13 through Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to perform miscellaneous construction activities on the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River - Construction crews have temporarily shifted eastbound traffic to the westbound bridge over Simpson River. The shift is expected to be in place through March 2023. During this time, there will be two westbound travel lanes and one eastbound travel lane using the westbound bridge. Due to the traffic shift, there will not be dedicated bike lanes on the bridge. Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they will be temporarily sharing the bridge with cyclists. Drivers are also reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent nighttime lane closures Monday, Nov. 14 through Friday, Nov. 18 for construction activities.
- 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, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 18 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Settlers Colony Boulevard will remain closed to complete necessary drainage improvements. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will access Settlers Colony Boulevard via Venetian Way and Coronado Drive. Detour signs will be in place. Residents may experience noise, vibrations, and dust during daytime hours as part of this drainage improvement effort.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Seventh Ranked Argos Roll Into Postseason After Blowout Win At Mississippi College
November 13, 2022
On the team’s coldest football game of this season, UWF’s offense could not have been any hotter.
The seventh-ranked Argos (9-1) scored touchdowns with their first eight possessions in a 56-21 blowout win against Mississippi College that sends road-thriving UWF into the NCAA Division II playoffs with another full steam of momentum.
With a 42-degree temperature at kickoff at Robinson-Hale Stadium, the Argos quickly served notice of their proficiency by scoring in just four plays on the game’s opening series.
Quarterback Peewee Jarrett threw the first of his four touchdown passes on a perfect play call and 54-yard delivery to David Durden, who finished with 173 yards in receptions and two scores. Jarrett’s four touchdown passes on a 9-for-11 day with for 246 yards, were complimented by his two rushing touchdowns. Of the 16 times he either threw the ball or ran it, he accounted for six touchdowns.
“Just everything clicked,” said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. “(Mississippi College) tried to do some different things than they did the first game (a 45-17 Argos’ win on Oct. 22), so it really opened a lot of our passing lanes and Peewee just picked up right where he left off last week… on fire.
“So it was very exciting to see us firing on all cylinders.”
In fact, UWF did not punt until the final minute of the game with their backup players on the field.
This 15th consecutive road win assured UWF of a home playoff game next Saturday (Nov. 19) – the first-ever, on-campus postseason game at Pen Air Field. The Argos were a No. 3 seed in this week’s NCAA Super Region 2 rankings and will learn their playoff matchup during the Division II selection show at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
UWF traveled back Saturday night knowing this might have been the team’s most complete game of the season.
The Argos churned out a school-record 12.4 yards per play with 483 yards of total offense on just 39 plays – the fewest in UWF’s 73 all-time games.
The Argos led 35-14 at halftime, after scoring in just nine seconds, another Jarrett long pass, after a kickoff followed a Mississippi College touchdown.
Mississippi College starting quarterback John Henry White sustained a shoulder injury after leading the Choctaws to a tying touchdown in the first quarter. From that point, UWF took advantage and was able to contain the Choctaws’ triple-option, run-oriented attack.
“(Defense) was fantastic across the board. We challenged them to show up and play great football, challenged them to get-after it and they did,” Shinnick said. “It was very exciting to see them play that way. Now, going into the playoffs I feel good about the way we have prepared and now we just have to keep this thing rolling.”
Remarkably, UWF has not lost a road game since November 9, 2019 at Valdosta State in a game that decided the GSC Champion that year. The Argos started the streak two weeks later with a win at Wingate.
And what happened after that? Well, the Argos finished 13-2 by winning the NCAA Division II national championship in only their fourth season, including five post-season wins away from Pensacola.
They enter the playoffs having attained their fourth season of nine or more wins, all of which have resulted in playoff trips for a football program only six years in existence.
Like so many of UWF’s football feats, it’s something unheard of in collegiate football history.
“Well, looking back, we wanted to be competitive, we wanted to find a way to get into the playoffs, but what we really wanted to do is just become one of the best teams in this area,” said Shinnick, who has been UWF’s head coach since being announced in January 2014, two years before the team began playing.
“We don’t take anything for granted. We didn’t assume any of this would happen, but we are really blessed how our guys have worked and to be in the position we are in.”
Saturday’s game at Mississippi College did not count in the Gulf South Conference standings, but it was vital for UWF’s overall record in keeping its region seeding and playoff aspirations. The GSC opted to have the final Saturday of the 2022 regular season be rematch games within the conference, because of the difficulty in scheduling.
UWF only played 10 games after one opponent opted against playing UWF this year.
“We are a league that not a lot of people want to play,” Shinnick said. “We only have eight D-2 games, because we had to play an NAIA opponent (Warner University in the season opener). So, this really gives everyone that ninth D-2 game that we are all fighting and scratching to do.
“Next year, we are discussing when this game should take place, but it is really so we can all have quality D-2 games. I know we have this set up the next couple years, because there are really not a lot of options.”
The Choctaws (4-7) came out early in Saturday’s game answering UWF’s fast start. After the first TD pass to Durden, the Choctaws tied the game on a 14-play, 86-yard drive that ate up eight minutes of the first quarter clock.
Jarrett, however, quickly got UWF back in front with a five-play, 76-yard series that was finished with a 38-yard pass to Jared Smith. After the Argos defense got a fourth-down stop at their 35, the Jarrett-Durden connection went for 30 yards and eventually set up Jarrett’s 1-yard rushing score.
Another defensive stop ensued and Durden returned a punt to the Choctaws’ 43. The next snap, Jarrett connected with Caden Leggett on a 43-yard TD with 5:38 in the half.
Jarrett ended his day before the third quarter ended. Backup Michael Rich Jr. completed his first two passes on a 4-for-5 day and led UWF to its final two scores.
By Bill Vilona, UWF. Photo: Morgan Givens/UWF.
Crowds Pack NAS Pensacola For Blue Angels Show (With Photo Gallery)
November 12, 2022
The Blue Angels returned to NAS Pensacola and a big hometown crowd Friday for their first air show on base since 2019.
An estimated 72,000 people were on hand for Friday’s show, and even larger crowds were expected for Saturday.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
For Saturday’s schedule and need to know information, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge
FDOT Announces The Completion Of I-10/I-110 Safety Improvements, Shortly After Fatal Crash
November 12, 2022
The same week after a 19-year old man died in a single vehicle wreck there, the Florida Department of Transportation announced that they have completed a $1.5 million safety improvement project at the I-10/I-110 interchange.
The man was traveling north on the I-110 ramp to I-10 westbound Wednesday morning when his SUV went off the roadway and collided with a guardrail and concrete traffic barrier about 9:10 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected.
The safety improvement project included reducing the speed limit from 45 to 35 mph on that ramp.
Other project improvements cited by officials included:
Milling and resurfacing ramps to improve ride quality.
Applying an anti-skid surface to all ramps.
Adding audible edge lines along the outside edges of the ramps to alert drivers of the edge of the roadway.
Installing raised rumble strips across the I-110 northbound to I-10 eastbound travel lanes.
Improving guardrails, signage, and pavement markings.
FDOT said the goal of the project over the last several months was to improve safety for the estimated 90,000 drivers who travel through the interchange daily.
Volunteers Needed For Escambia County Extension Council
November 12, 2022
Escambia County is seeking residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Extension Council for zones 4, 5, 7 and 8.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Extension Council, who meet the requirements noted in the job description below, are asked to submit an information sheet and letter indicating their desire to serve by 5 p.m., Friday, November 26. Info sheets and letters should be submitted via email to shendrix@ufl.edu or by mail to:
Susan Hendrix
3740 Stefani Road
Cantonment, FL. 32533
The zones are as follows:
Zone 4 — South side of Gibson Road at Highway 97 to north side of Molino Road
Zone 5 — North side of Quintette Road to south side of Molino Road
Zone 7 — Nine Mile Road to Kingsfield Road
Zone 8 — At Large
High School Football Playoff Scoreboard
November 12, 2022
Here are the Friday night football playoff scores from across the North Escambia area.
Class 1R
- Holmes County 49, Freeport 20
- Northview will host Holmes County on 11/18
- Baker 33, Bozeman 14
- Chipley will host Baker on 11/18
Class 2S
- Pensacola Catholic 45, Wakulla 21
- Catholic will be at Florida State University High on 11/18
- West Florida 35, Bay 0
- West Florida will be at Suwannee on 11/18
Class 3S
- Pine Forest 35, Rickards 15
- Pine Forest will host winner of Saturday game: St. Augustine vs. Choctawhatchee
- Escambia 42, Middleburg 18
- Escambia will host Columbia on 11/18
Class 4S
- Crestview 26, Niceville 21
- Buchholz 35, Pace 34
- Crestview will host Buchholz on 11/18
- Creekside 47, Navarre 20
ALABAMA
- Handley 27, T.R. Miller 14
- Saint James 42, W.S. Neal 21