Cantonment Woman Charged With Battery of Two People Over Age 65
November 14, 2022
A Cantonment woman is accused of the battery of two people over age 65.
Wendy Jean Allen, 52, was charged with two counts of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older in a domestic violence situation.
Allen stands accused of hitting her 69-year old mother in the face with a purse after the two got into an argument over a cell phone. Allen allegedly snatched the cell phone out of the victim’s hand before striking her with the purse.
Her 66-year old stepfather then attempted to make Allen leave the residence at which time Allen grabbed him by the shirt, according to an arrest report.
Allen’s mother had blood on her face at a cut on her finger, deputies said.
Allen remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning without bond due to a probation violation charge.
Operation Christmas Child Collections This Week At Highland Baptist, First Baptist Bratt
November 14, 2022
Highland Baptist Church in Molino and the First Baptist Church of Bratt are Operation Christmas Child collection sites.
The collection continue through Monday, November 21.
Churches can drop off their OCC boxes during the times below for them to be packed for processing.
Highland Baptist Church
- Monday, Nov. 14 – 1:30 – 3:30p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 15 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 16 – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 17 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 18 – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 19 – 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 20 – 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 21 – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The church is located at 6420 Highway 95A North in Molino. For more information, contact the church office at (850) 587-5174.
First Baptist Church of Bratt
- Tuesday, Nov. 15 – 9- noon
- Wednesday, Nov. 16 – 9- noon, 5 -8 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 17 – 3 – 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 18 – 9- noon
- Saturday, Nov. 19 – 9- noon
- Sunday, Nov. 20 – 4 – 7 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 21 – 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
The church is located at 4570 West Highway 4 in Bratt.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts—filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys—to children worldwide since 1993. Anyone can pack a shoebox! In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Indoor Play Area Opens At Bratt Elementary School
November 14, 2022
A new covered play area and indoor multipurpose room at Bratt Elementary School are now open.
The first classes were held in the building on Friday.
The $2.1 million bid for facility construction contact was awarded in September 2021 to A.E. New, Jr., Inc. There were three other bidders, ranging from $2.134 million to $2.44 million.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
16 Escambia Schools To Share $1.5 Million In School Recognition Awards
November 14, 2022
Sixteen Escambia County schools will share in just over $1.5 million in School Recognition Awards recently announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
These awards are going to 1,400 schools across the state that demonstrated student growth and teaching excellence in the 2021-22 school year. To be eligible, schools must receive a school grade of “A” or improve at least one letter grade from the prior year.
Schools can use the funding for a variety of provisions, including:
- Bonuses to the faculty and staff;
- Educational equipment or materials to assist in maintaining and improving student performance; or
- Temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance.
The exact distribution of funds is determined by the school’s staff and school advisory council.
Schools in Escambia County receiving the award are:
- Molino Park Elementary School – $89,892
- Hellen Caro Elementary School – $124,076
- N.B Cook Elementary School – $95,244
- Cordova Park Elementary School – $111,898
- Navy Point Elementary School – $75,541
- Pensacola High School – $235,963
- A.K. Suter Elementary School – $94,417
- Warrington Elementary School – $57,793
- Workman Middle School – $133,692
- Holm Elementary School – $72,508
- Brown Barge Middle School – $94,937
- Lincoln Park Elementary School – $44,567
- Hope Horizon at Judy Andrews Center – $6,676
- West Florida High School – $216,652
- Pensacola Beach Elementary School – $24,487
- Escambia Virtual Academy – $44,489
UWF Football Earns No. 3 Seed, Will Host Limestone On Saturday
November 14, 2022
The University of West Florida football team was awarded the No. 3 seed in Super Region 2 of the 2022 NCAA Division 2 Football Championship as announced by the NCAA on Sunday.
UWF will face Limestone on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. at Pen Air Field on the UWF campus.
UWF is 9-1 on the year and shared the Gulf South Conference championship at 6-1 for the second-consecutive season. The Argos have one of the top offenses in the country, ranking tenth with 473.2 yards of total offense and seventh in rushing offense at 243.2 yards per game. Their 43.8 points per game are fourth nationally.
The Argonauts are making their fourth appearance in the NCAA Playoffs and have a 9-2 all-time record, making them the winningest team in D2 history at .818. UWF won the 2021 national championship and was the 2019 national runner-up prior to last year’s first round loss to Newberry. UWF is 53-20 in its history after starting play in 2016.
Limestone won a program-record eight games this season to finish 8-3 after going winless in 2021. The Saints went 7-2 in the South Atlantic Conference to tie four other schools for the top record in the league. UWF is 3-2 all-time against SAC programs.
TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices are $15 for Home Side chairback seats and $10 for East Side bleachers behind the visiting team bench. UWF student tickets are $5.
Tickets will go on sale Monday morning at 10 a.m.
PARKING INFORMATION
Tailgating and parking lots will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Season ticket holders with a parking pass in their package can use the blue NCAA Postseason Parking Pass that was included in your packet at the beginning of the season. All other game day parking will be $10 for cars and $40 for RVs. All RV parking is located in Lot 5.
Stadium gates will open at noon.
Pictured: The Argonauts have been four of the last five NCAA playoffs. Photo Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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.