Century High School Class of 1974 To Celebrate 50th Reunion
September 1, 2024
The Century High School Class of 1974 is gearing up for their 50th reunion. The celebration will take place on Saturday, September 21, at 5 p.m. at The Loft at Driskells in Byrneville.
The evening will kick off with a social gathering, followed by a dinner.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Sandra Greenwell at (850) 572-4310.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Stock Up on Storm Supplies Tax Free In Florida
September 1, 2024
Shoppers in Florida can stock up on storm supplies tax free through Friday, September 6 during a Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
This year, Floridians are expected to save millions on vital disaster preparedness supplies such as pet supplies, tarps, batteries, generators and flashlights, which are all included in the list of items eligible to be purchased tax-free.
Below is a list of all qualifying items:
Selling for $10 or less
- Wet dog or cat food if sold individually or the equivalent if sold in a box or case
Selling for $15 or less
- Manual can openers
- Collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls for pets
- Cat litter pans
- Pet waste disposal bags
- Hamster or rabbit substrate
Selling for $20 or less
- Reusable ice packs
- Leashes, collars, and muzzles for pets
- Pet pads
Selling for $25 or less
- Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds
Selling for $40 or less
- Candles
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Pet beds
Selling for $50 or less
- Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios
- Gas or diesel fuel tanks
- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only – a AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt
Selling for $60 or less
- Nonelectric food storage coolers
- Portable power banks
Selling for $70 or less
- Smoke detectors or smoke alarms
- Fire extinguishers
- Carbon monoxide detectors
Selling for $100 or less
- Tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting
- Ground anchor systems
- Portable pet kennels and carriers
- Ratchet straps
- Tie-down kits
- Dry dog or cat food weighing less than 50 pounds
Selling for $3,000 or less
- Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in a power outage
A previous two-week isaster Sales Tax Holiday was held June 1-14.
Labor Day Closures, Trash Schedule Info
September 1, 2024
Are government office and services will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day.
Escambia County Closures
The following Escambia County offices will be closed Monday, September. 2:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (all departments)
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Waste Services Administration
- Escambia County Area Transit Administration and Customer Service
Escambia County Exceptions
- The Perdido Landfill will be open with regular hours Monday, September 2.
- ECAT buses and the UWF trolleys will not run service Monday, September 2. The Pensacola Beach Trolleys will run their last day of regular service. Normal operations will resume Tuesday, September 3.
Town of Century
Town of Century offices will be closed on Monday, September 2
ECUA
ECUA business offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. ECUA offices, including our Customer Service Department, will reopen on Tuesday, September 3, at 8:30 a.m.
Residential and commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers will be unaffected by the holiday and will be carried out as usual.
City of Pensacola
The following City of Pensacola offices and facilities will be closed Monday:
- City of Pensacola administrative offices
- City Hall
- City of Pensacola community resource centers
City of Pensacola Exceptions
- Osceola Golf Course and Roger Scott Tennis Center will remain open.
Pensacola Sanitation Service Changes:
Some City Sanitation customers will experience a change of schedule the week of Monday, September 2, with Monday and Tuesday services occurring one day later than their normal pickup day. This only applies to City of Pensacola Sanitation customers.
- Customers who normally receive service on Mondays will receive service on Tuesday, September 3.
- Customers who normally receive service on Tuesdays will receive service on Wednesday, September 4.
- Thursday and Friday customers will see no change.
Road Construction Remains On Hold Through Labor Day; Lane Closures Return Tuesday
September 1, 2024
For the Labor Day holiday period, the Florida Department of Transportation has announced there will be no lane closures or other activities that impede traffic on major state roads beginning at through 12 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3.
Beginning Tuesday, Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects 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 Eight Mile Creek Bridge through mid-2025 while crews replace the bridge. Signage is in place to detour 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) – I-10, between U.S. 29 and I-110, is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction. From Tuesday, Sept. 3 through Thursday, Sept. 5, drivers will also encounter intermittent lane closures on I-10 near U.S. 29 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is also closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 4, upon entering the U.S. 29 southbound exit lane to access the I-10 eastbound ramp, drivers will follow a slight detour to a temporary ramp. These closures and detours allow crews to perform shoulder and bridge work to widen the interstate.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Tuesday, Sept.3 through Thursday, Sept. 5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. These closures are required as crews construct a temporary detour.
- 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 the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street. One travel lane in each direction remains open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes. The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through fall 2024. 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, is now open to traffic, as crews have completed reconstructing Canoe Creek bridge.
- U.S. 98 Routine Bridge Inspection on Pensacola Bay Bridge – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine bridge inspection.
Santa Rosa County:
- State Road (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, Tuesday, Sept. 3 through Friday, Sept. 6 as crews install signage and place thermoplastic striping.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 90 lane closures, between Avalon Boulevard and Stewart Street, Tuesday, Sept. 3 through Thursday, Sept. 5 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:\
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Blue Wahoos Comeback Falls Short Saturday In Ninth-Inning Heartbreak
September 1, 2024
written by Bill Violona
The bases-loaded pitch exited off Andrew Pintar’s bat faster than it entered across the plate, instantly igniting a ninth-inning roar from Saturday’s capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A second later, however, a collective groan ensued.
Pintar’s rocket line drive was caught by Mississippi Braves shortstop Cal Conley, who then made an easy flip to second base for a game-ending double play in the M-Braves’ 7-5 win against the Blue Wahoos.
The solace for the crowd was fireworks, which soon lit the sky as the traditional post-game Saturday show – this one sponsored by Woodlands Medical Specialists – brought cheers after Pensacola’s disappointing loss.
The game was also designated as Star Wars Night, complete with 18 costumed characters who were part of the large crowd.
The Blue Wahoos rallied from another galaxy after trailing 6-0 in the second inning. They got within a run after chipping away, scoring their fifth run in the seventh inning. The M-Braves, as they have done all week, manufactured an insurance run in the eighth and let their bullpen handle the rest.
Saturday’s loss, coupled by the Biloxi Shuckers’ home win against the Montgomery Biscuits, drops the Blue Wahoos (64-59 overall, 26-29 second half) four games back with 13 games left in a three-team race for a second-half playoff spot.
It’s going to be a tall order from this point. First, the Blue Wahoos will try and split this six-game series with the M-Braves in Sunday’s homestand finale.
The game Saturday began with a thud. Blue Wahoos starter Robby Snelling, making his second home start, had his roughest outing since joining the team as part of a July 30 trade the Miami Marlins made with the San Diego Padres.
Five of the first six batters that Snelling faced all scored. Snelling plunked Conley, the game’s leadoff batter. Second baseman David Fletcher followed with a single. Fletcher is the two-way player who started Thursday’s game throwing his knuckleball.
Both players advanced on a double steal. Conley scored on an infield hit. A run-scoring single followed, then a two-run triple by Cody Milligan, who then scored on an infield groundout.
In the second inning, what could have been a double-play groundout was instead an error, allowing leadoff batter Brandon Parker to advance and score on Fletcher’s single for a 6-0 lead.
But from this point, Snelling settled into a groove and retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced in order.
The Blue Wahoos got back into the game with Paul McIntosh. He blasted a two-run homer in the second, then a solo homer in the seventh inning that made it a one-run game.
An inning earlier, Nathan Martorella hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning.
In the ninth, trailing by two runs, an opportunity existed when Joe Mack led off with a single. Cody Morissette was hit by a pitch with one out, and Shane Sasaki walked.
M-Braves reliever Jorge Juan was struggling with command. And his pitch to Pintar was hit on the barrel and could have been the game-tying shot. Instead, it became the game-ender.
The Blue Wahoos will try to finish with a split of the series when Patrick Monteverde, who pitched so well in Tuesday’s win, returns for his second start in the second-to-last Sunday home game of the season.
Beulah Man Charged With 20 Child Porn Counts Can Remove GPS Monitor On Bond, Judge Rules
August 31, 2024
A 50-year-old man arrested last month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on 20 felony child porn counts will remain free on bond and will be allowed to remove his GPS monitor, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Charles “Billy” Danielson was charged July 10 with 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials and one count of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
According to court records, Danielson was released from the Escambia County Jail after posting a $210,000 bond and pleading not guilty.
Danielson filed a motion to remove a GPS monitoring requirement from his bond conditions.
Prosecutors did not object to the GPS monitor being removed, and Judge John Simon granted the motion Wednesday. However, Simon additional condition to the bond.
Danielson “must move back to the state of FL by Oct 1st”, according to court documents. A previous pretrial release agreement restricted him to remaining within 100 miles of his residence, but die not directly address leaving the state.
FDLE said the investigation began in February after agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a social media user uploading images of child pornography.
On July 10, agents served a search warrant at Danielson’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices for examination. Agents said they found numerous images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of male and female children, some as young as infants and toddlers.
Danielson is due back in court in late November with trial currently set for December.
Escambia County Misses Chance To Sink SS United States For A Reef
August 31, 2024
Escambia County has missed out on acquiring the SS United States to sink offshore as an artificial reef.
Okaloosa has signed an agreement to be ratified next week to purchase the historic ship for $9 million.
Escambia County had discussed potentially buying the ship. Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said in July that it would take a commitment of $10 million, but Escambia never made an offer.
The Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee is expected to discuss the idea at a Monday afternoon meeting.
The SS United States is 990 feet long, 100 feet longer than the Titanic. It is just over 101 feet wide, and 53,330 tonnes. The draw at the load line was 36 feet-4 inches. The ocean liner was built between 1950 and 1951 for Unite States Lines. It was taken out of service in 1969.
The nonprofit SS United States Conservancy is working to relocate the ship from Philadelphia to comply with a court order.
Earlier this summer, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Anita Brody ruled that the SS United States’ landlord, Penn Warehousing, could not double dockage fees without notice in its effort to force America’s Flagship from Pier 82 in Philadelphia. However, the Court also directed the Conservancy to remove the irreplaceable national symbol from Pier 82 in Philadelphia by September 12, 2024.
Neptune Leads Tate As The Aggies Roll Over Gulf Breeze 41-0
August 31, 2024
The Tate Aggies added another to the win column with a decisive 41-0 victory over the Gulf Breeze Dolphins on Friday night. The dominant performance showcased the Aggies’ offensive prowess and defensive tenacity.
Christian Neptune led the way for Tate, showcasing his versatility with big plays both on the ground and through the air. Early in the game, Tate quarterback Taite Davis threw between the defensive back’s hands to find Neptune to put the Aggies up 7-0.
Demorian Clay scored from two yards out to extend the Aggie lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter.
Neptune wasn’t done, racking up yardage on seven straight runs after halftime in Gulf Breeze. On a screen pass, the senior broke free for a 53-yard touchdown on a screen pass. The Aggies converted the two-point conversion, giving them a comfortable 21-0 advantage with just under eight minutes on the clock in the third.
But wait…there was one more TD from Neptune when he had a long reception from 44 yards out and another score.
Tate recovered the ensuing kickoff and Taite Davis connected with Elijah West from seven yards out for another score that put it 34-0 after three.
The Aggies’ defense was equally impressive, shutting down the Dolphins’ offense throughout the game. Their ability to limit Gulf Breeze’s offensive opportunities was a key factor in the victory.
After back-to-back shutouts, the Aggies improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2017.
Next week, the Aggies will wrap up a three-game road series at the Pensacola High Tigers.
Northview Chiefs Drop Road Game To Opp
August 31, 2024
The Northview Chiefs suffered a 34-7 defeat at the hands of the Opp Bobcats on Friday night in Opp, Alabama.
The lone bright spot for the Chiefs came in the third quarter, when junior quarterback Dane King connected with sophomore JJ Jacobs for a touchdown (pictured top).
Northview, now 1-1 on the season, will look to regroup and bounce back next week. They will travel to Freeport to take on the Bulldogs, who are coming off a 34-0 shutout loss to the Jay Royals Thursday night.
The Chiefs will return home to Bratt for their Senior Night game against Central on September 13.
Photos by www.joeleeimages.com (sports photographer for the Opp Bobcats) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Animal Welfare Offers Free Pet Adoptions
August 31, 2024
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is making it easier than ever to bring a furry friend home. From now until September 7, adoption fees for all dogs and cats one year or older will be waived.
Puppies will be available for $50, and kittens can be adopted for just $25. An $11 licensing fee will apply to all adoptions for Escambia County residents.
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 West Fairfield Drive. The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 12-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The shelter will be closed on Monday, September 2, for Labor Day.
For more information, call (850) 595-3075.
Picture above:
- Drake is a 1 year, 5 month old neutered male mixed breed dog that has been at the Escambia shelter since Jul 18, 2024.
- Flame is a 3-year-old domestic shorthair cat that has been in the shelter since August 16.
Both were available for adoption as of the close of business Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.