Northview High Names 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
May 20, 2024
Northview has named their Class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian.
They are valedictorian: Sarah Bailey (pictured left) and salutatorian Maggie Godwin.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Virginia Snyder Named County Math Teacher Of The Year
May 20, 2024
Virginia Snyder from Tate High School was named the High School Math Teacher of the Year by the Escambia County Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Joint Beulah Master Plan, Frank Reeder Road Improvements Meeting Is Thursday
May 20, 2024
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and Escambia County staff will host a joint meeting to discuss the Beulah Master Plan and Frank Reeder Road improvements on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Beulah Middle School, 6001 West Nine Mile Road.
This joint meeting will showcase the Frank Reeder Road design improvements and findings from previous Beulah Master Plan public outreach efforts. Sigma Consulting Group will also present the first draft of the Beulah Master Plan. Representatives from Consor Engineers and Sigma Consulting Group will hold a question-and-answer session following the presentations, and county staff will be in attendance to answer any additional questions from residents.
The Beulah Master Plan is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the RESTORE Act program.
Three Tate Aggies Track And Field Athletes Place At State
May 20, 2024
Three Tate High School track and field athletes placed in the FHSAA 4A state championships Saturday in Jacksonville.
In women’s shot put junior Tina Lett placed third in Florida with a distance of 12.30 meters.
In men’s javelin, senior Ward O’Brien placed third in the state with 55.76 meters.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, senior Lattrell Dukes placed 10th in the state with a time of 55:58.
Pictured top: Tate High School held a send-off for Lett, O’Brien, and Dukes on Friday. Photo by Tate High School Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Inch Lower Ahead Of Memorial Day Travel
May 20, 2024
Florida gas prices increased six cents early last week, but those gains were quickly erased by the weekend. Sunday’s state average of $3.45 per gallon is the same as a week ago.
“Pump prices are drifting lower as a record-setting 2.5 million Floridians prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, public relations manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, ongoing geopolitical tensions could prevent pump prices from falling below year-ago levels, during the holiday weekend.”
Florida gas prices averaged $3.41 per gallon on Memorial Day 2023. This year, nearly 2.3 million Floridians are forecast to take a road trip for Memorial Day weekend. That’s a new all-time record and nearly 106,000 more Floridians on the road than last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was at $3.25. A low of $2.93 could be found Sunday at a station on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, a low of $3.08 was available at a station on South Highway 29 in Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Campbell’s Gem Lifts Blue Wahoos To Series Finale Victory
May 20, 2024
written by Erik Bremmer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos ended their second series of the year versus the Montgomery Biscuits with a 2-0 victory on Sunday. Despite an overall series loss for Pensacola, Sunday’s win assures that the Wahoos (22-17) begin next week with a share of first place in the Southern League’s South Division.
In a game dominated by pitching, early Pensacola offense ultimately proved to be the difference. Three straight singles by the Wahoos began the top of the second versus Montgomery starter Cole Wilcox (L, 2-2), including an RBI single from third baseman Bennett Hostetler that scored second baseman Cody Morissette.
Blue Wahoos starter Paul Campbell (W, 5-1) made the lone run stand up over the course of a dominant outing. The righthander’s fourth quality start of the year (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K) stymied the Biscuits all afternoon. In the fifth inning, the Wahoos tacked on another run of support for Campbell when designated hitter Joe Mack doubled to right-center to score center fielder Jakob Marsee.
The Wahoos’ bullpen held its 2-0 lead the rest of the way thanks to work from Angel Macuare and Austin Roberts (S, 8), who entered the game to strand runners at the corners in the ninth inning. The shutout win marked the fourth time the Wahoos have blanked an opponent so far this year.
Cantonment Woman Tased After Leading Troopers On Highway 29 Chase
May 19, 2024
A chase on Highway 29 in Cantonment ended with a woman tased in the Lakes of Carrington neighborhood in Cantonment.
Sharvonta Nashia Alston, 34, was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and eluding, felony resisting with violence, and misdemeanor offenses of DUI and driving with a suspended license. She was also cited for an open container and unlawful speed.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper noticed a four-door sedan traveling north on Highway 29, recklessly weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed. Once the trooper activated his emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop, the Nissan fled, continuing northbound on Highway 29, turned on Quintette Road and then Carrington Lakes Boulevard. She pulled into a parking space in the 8500 block of Carrington Lakes.
Alston was apprehended and placed under arrest. After she was arrested, troopers said she was able to move her handcuffs to the front and become combative.
FHP said Alston began to fight with a trooper on the ground and charged toward the trooper in an aggressive manner.
Knowing the suspect driver was willing to fight plus knowing the cuffs could be used as a weapon, the trooper was forced to deploy his Taser to gain compliance,” FHP Lt. Jason King said. “Once a second trooper arrived on scene and with the suspect driver being placed in the back of a patrol car, she became combative once again, at one point aggressively placing her hands around another trooper’s neck attempting to choke them.”
Once troopers gained control, Alston was medically cleared by Escambia County EMS before being transported to the Escambia County Jail.
Alston remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a probation violation charge.
Two Northview Shot Putters Place At State
May 19, 2024
Two Northview High Chiefs senior shot putters recently placed at the state level in Class 1A competition in Jacksonville.
In men’ shot put, Jacob Spence placed 13th in the state with 13.99 meters.
In women’s shot put, Amber Irby placed 11th in the state with 10.71 meters.
Pictured: (L-R) Amber Irby, coach Wanca Gafford, coach Doug Godwin and Jacob Spence. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Candidate Petition Deadline Passes; Here’s Who Had The Required Number Of Petitions
May 19, 2024
The deadline has past for local candidates to meet petition requirements. The following candidates in Escambia County received the required number of petitions:
County Commissioner
- District 1 – Jeff Bergosh
- District 1 – Steven Stroberger
- District 3 – Lumon May
- District 4 – Charles Mitchell
- District 4 – Ashlee Hofberger
- District 4 – Walker Wilson
- District 4 – Ron Helms
- District 5 – Steven Barry
ECUA
- District 1 – James Faxlanger
- District 1 – Vicki Campbell
School Board
- District 4 – Richard Holzknecht
- District 5 – Thomas Harrell
- District 5 – Joshua Luther
Candidates can also be placed on the ballot by paying a qualifications fee. Potential Town of Century candidates do not have the option to qualify by petition.
Candidates can begin submitting qualifying papers on Monday, May 27. The official qualifying period runs from noon June 10 to noon June 14.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots
May 19, 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 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 19 through Thursday, May 23 as crews place barrier wall.
- I-10 Welcome Center – A $6.5 million project to improve parking areas at the I-10 Welcome Center in Escambia County is complete. In addition to resurfacing entrance and exit ramps and parking areas, project enhancements included constructing windshield washing stations, replacing the wildlife perimeter fencing, constructing new sidewalks, upgrading drainage and installing new signage and pavement markings.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews perform median work and barrier wall installation:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, May 19 through Thursday, May 23 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Traffic on I-10 is shifted to the outside lane and will be in place until early 2025.
- Traffic on Nine Mile Road has shifted to the inside and will be in place until mid-2024.
- 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 the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signs are 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 the following traffic impacts:
- The left turn lane from Pace Boulevard to Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signs are in place to direct drivers traveling on Palafox Street to Pace Boulevard.
- The left turn lane from Palafox Street northbound to Pace Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signage is in place to direct drivers traveling northbound on U.S. 29 destined for Massachusetts Avenue or Pace Boulevard.
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) from north of I-10 to Davis Highway – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway, Sunday, May 19 through Thursday, May 23 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Traffic flaggers will be present to safely guide drivers through the work zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 from Hickory Hammock Road (C.R. 184) to Technology Avenue – A $3.1 million project to mill and resurface a 1.6-mile segment of S.R. 87 is complete. Additional project improvements included turn lane and radius widening at Hickory Hammock Road, drainage upgrades and new signs and pavement markings.
- 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, May 19 to Thursday, May 23, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for crews to install rumble strips and 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, May 20 through Friday, May 24 as crews perform paving and earthwork operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street - Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, May 19 through Thursday, May 23 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, May 19, through Friday, May 24, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Turn Lane Operations West of Tamarind Drive – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, May 20 through Friday, May 24 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. for turn lane operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.