Pete The Cat Wins ‘Kids Votes Count’ Poll At West Florida Libraries
September 3, 2024
Pete the Cat was named the overwhelming winner of the 2024 Kids’ Votes Count poll at the West Florida Libraries.
“It was not even close,” Assistant Director of Library Services Christal Bell-Rivera said.
The program was designed to help engage kids of all ages in the voting process by encouraging them to exercise their right to vote for their favorite literary character. The voting coincided with the August Primary early voting period for adults.
Over 600 kids voted during the event, choosing from a field of candidates that included:
- Eragon
- Groot
- Harry Potter
- Luffy
- Pigeon
- Nancy Drew
- Amelia Bedlia
- Pete the Cat
- Katniss Everdeen
Pigeon fished a distant second in the voting, while Harry Potter came in third.
Pictured top: Reading Pete The Cat at the Molino Branch Library recently were: (L-R) Molino Library Branch Manager Rachel Kahalley, WFPL Assistant Director of Library Services Christal Bell-Rivera, and Director of Library Services Todd Humble. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The 2024 Kids’ Votes Count at the Century Branch Library.
Bonus Photos: Northview Cheerleaders, Fans, Band And NJROTC
September 3, 2024
Here’s a bonus NorthEscambia.com photo gallery highlighting the cheerleaders, band, NJROTC and fans from the Destin at Northview game.
For the gallery, click or tap here.
For a game action story and gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Don’t Sleep At The Wheel: It’s Florida Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
September 3, 2024
The Florida Legislature designates the first week of September each year as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to educate the public on the dangers of driving while drowsy.
The intent is to educate the public on the dangers of driving while drowsy and to honor the memory of 8-year-old Ronshay Dugans. Ronshay Dugans was killed in 2008 when her school bus was hit by a driver that fell asleep at the wheel.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said do not drive when you are tired, because fatigue can:
- Slow down your thought process and reaction time.
- Affect your judgment and vision.
- Impair your sense and abilities.
- Cause micro-sleeping (“nodding off”) or falling completely asleep.
Neighborhood Nuisance: Abandoned Dilapidated Mobile Home Finally Removed From Century Roadside
September 2, 2024
Residents of a Century neighborhood can finally breathe a sigh of relief after an abandoned dilapidated mobile home that had become a neighborhood nuisance was finally removed.
According to Escambia County, the trailer was abandoned along the roadway in the 200 Block of East Hecker Road on July 25, quickly becoming a source of concern
Escambia County was prepared to remove and destroy and abandoned depilated mobile home was sitting near the entrance of Showalter Park for over a month, but by September 1, the trailer had been removed by someone.
According to a report submitted by the Florida Highway Patrol, the tractor trailer that was hauling the mobile home through Century broke an axle in the middle of the intersection of East Hecker Road and Jefferson Avenue. Highway Patrol contacted Ace Towing to assist with removing the tractor trailer and mobile home from the intersection. Ace Towing left the mobile home on the right-of-way, at the 200 block of East Hecker Road, but towed the truck to their row yard because it was unregistered.
Due to complaints by residents to the office of Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., Escambia County Code Enforcement was called to address the mobile home and posted a notice on the trailer to remove it from the right of way. A sheriff’s deputy that responded to the incident told the county that the driver of the truck, Martin Flowers, from Grand Bay, Alabama, removed the mobile home from the property of 9441 Old Flomaton Road in Century which is owned by Amy Terhune. On August 8, Code Enforcement went to the property and attempted to make contact with the owner but was not successful.
This Thursday, the Escambia County Commission was scheduled to vote on a recommendation to order the removal and disposal of the mobile home,
Escambia County provides code enforcement services in Century under and interlocal agreement.
Picture above and first below: A dilapidated mobile home was abandoned immediately next to Hecker Road in Century on July 25. Pictured below: Someone removed the mobile home by September 1, just a few days before Escambia County was set to approve its removal and destruction. Photos for NorthEscambia.com and NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Car, Semi Collide Sunday Night On Highway 29 In Cantonment
September 2, 2024
There were no serious injuries reported in a crash involving a Dodge and a semi truck Sunday night in Cantonment.
The crash happened about 8:40 p.m.on northbound Highway 29 near Woodberry Circle.
The driver of the car was being evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS for injuries that were not considered serious. The driver of the truck was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
D
Beulah Academy Of Science FFA Names New Officer Team
September 2, 2024
The Beulah Academy of Science FFA has named their 2024-2025 officer team recently.
They are:
- President: Addyson Creighton
- Vice President: Kal Paaaina
- Secretary: Trinity Mangan
- Treasurer: Becca Decoux
- Reporter: Luci Graham
- Sentinel: Justin Washburn
- Jr Advisor: Aubree Jones
- Chaplain: Kamron Alim
- Public Relations: Liv Bramlett
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bicycling Flomaton Man Arrested On Drug Charges In Century
September 2, 2024
A Flomaton man was arrested on drug charges in Century as he was riding his bicycle between dollar stores.
James Nicholas Jordan, 43, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He remained in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola Monday awaiting extradition to Escambia County, AL, on an outstanding warrant for forgery first degree.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy in the parking lot of the Food Giant on North Century Boulevard observed Jordan ride his bicycle up to the nearby Family Dollar store at 8 p.m. on August 20. The deputy watched as Jordan rode his bicycle across North Century Boulevard to a Dollar General store, noting that the bicycle did not have any working lights. The deputy waiting outside the Dollar General for Jordan to exit.
Deputies spotted a clear glass smoking pipe in plain view in a cup holder on the bicycle, according to an arrest report. Inside a green cap that appeared to be from a soft drink bottle, deputies reported finding a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Also in a bag on the on the bike, deputies located a gold in color smoking pipe with residue.
Blue Wahoos Drop Series Finale In Last-Ever Meeting Against M-Braves
September 2, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos knew that a revamped roster, pitchers getting elevated, plus an extended road trip in August could bring some difficult challenges in the season’s final weeks.
It’s proven steeper than imagined.
In a homestand where they hoped to improve their position in the second-half race, the Blue Wahoos’ 9-3 loss Sunday against the Mississippi Braves was their fourth in a tough week at Blue Wahoos Stadium. And it brought a three-week record to 4-14.
But the crowd of 4,325 mostly stayed for what Sundays have been following games. Children ran the bases. Parents took video and cellphone photos. Families stayed to toss baseballs in the outfield.
With 12 games now remaining, the Blue Wahoos (64-50 overall, 26-30 in second half) remain four games back of the Biloxi Shuckers and now trail the M-Braves by three games in the chase for the second qualifying playoff spot.
This game marked the final time the M-Braves and Blue Wahoos played. Next season, the M-Braves are moving to Columbus, Georgia and into a revamped 98-year-old stadium on the riverfront to form a new franchise and Double-A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves.
Once again, Sunday became a scenario where an opportunity for a mid-game rally didn’t happen and the M-Braves seized upon their chances to take the series 4-2.
Patrick Monteverde was set to make his second start Sunday, following his best outing of the season in a Tuesday win that snapped the team’s six-game losing streak.
But Monteverde was summoned to rejoin Triple-A Jacksonville and the Blue Wahoos’ pitching staff was further thinned.
The game started well for the Blue Wahoos. Andrew Pintar led off with a single, then scored on Jared Serna’s RBI ground out.
Nathan Martorella blasted his 12th home run in the third inning for a 2-1 lead. After the M-Braves regained the lead on sacrifice fly and Bryson Horne’s solo homer off Pensacola starter Tristan Steves, the Blue Wahoos had their chance to answer.
They loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning. But newcomer Josh Zamora hit a roller back to the M-Braves’ pitcher Jhancarlos Lara, who went to the plate to trigger a pitcher-catcher-first base double play to end the inning.
The M-Braves then added two more runs in the fifth, another in the sixth and the Blue Wahoos had only two singles the rest of the way.
The Blue Wahoos’ Paul McIntosh and Johnny Olmstead each had a pair of hits in the game, getting the bulk of the team’s seven hits.
Stevens absorbed the loss on the mound after giving up three runs in four innings. Relievers Tyler Eckberg, Adam Laskey and Woo-Suk Go all yielded runs in relief.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before traveling to Birmingham on Tuesday to begin a six-game trip against the Birmingham Barons.
Fire Destroys Large Detached Garage In Cottage Hill For Second Time In Four Years
September 1, 2024
For the second time in just over four years, fire destroyed a large, detached garage in Cottage Hill on Saturday afternoon.
The fire on Williams Ditch Road east of Handy Road was reported about 3:15 p.m. The first units for Escambia County Fire Rescue arrived to find the two-car garage fully involved in fire. Firefighters immediately went to work to prevent the fire from spreading to a nearby home.
The homeowner tells NorthEscambia.com that radio-controlled car batteries had been placed on chargers in the garage just before the fire. Escambia County Fire Rescue conducted the investigation and determined lithium-ion batteries on the charger caused the fire. .
The garage had been rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire about 8 p.m. on April 27, 2020. Information on the cause of that fire was not available Saturday.
Pictured above and first two photos below Fire rips through a large, detached garage in Cottage Hill Saturday afternoon. Picture bottom photos: The same garage burned in April 2020. NorthEscambia.com and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed On Pine Forest Road
September 1, 2024
A man died after being struck by a vehicle Saturday night on Pine Forest Road in Cantonment.
The incident happened about 9:20 p.m. on Pine Forest just north of Highway 297A. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 17-year-old female from Pace was traveling southbound on Pine Forest Road approaching Jasper Street as a 52-year Pensacola man was walking his bicycle southbound in the roadway. Trooper said the teen failed to see the man in the roadway and struck him.
The man was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased after being transported by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details on the crash.