Escambia County School District Websites Go Down
September 27, 2021
The main Escambia County School District website was down for several hours Monday. Many, websites for individual schools and centers were also down.
The district is worked with the website host to correct the problem. The problem was reported before 10 a.m., and the sites were still down at 1 p.m. Service appeared to be restored when we checked about 1:45 p.m.
The normal district site can be accessed at:
http://ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/
The district established temporary website for use during the outage:
http://www1.escambia.k12.fl.us/
Body Of Pensacola Murder Victim Found In Wooded Area North Of Flomaton
September 27, 2021
The body of a Pensacola Murder victim was found north of Flomaton Sunday night.
Giles Curt Jones, 38, is charged with the premeditated first degree murder of 40-year old Latonya Antionette Baxter, and police have previously said they believed the body was dumped in the Century area on September 11.
Monday morning, Pensacola Police said the body was positively identified as Baxter.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson confirmed the body of adult female was found in a wooded area along Highway 113 about 4.5 miles north of the Flomaton city limits. He said the body was discovered by a passing motorist that pulled over and stepped into the woods to go to the bathroom.
A street sign and maps indicate the area is Carol Lane; however, It’s not a roadway, just a small dirt drive. The area is sparsely populated, but there is a house almost directly across Highway 113 from Carol Lane.
NorthEscambia.com was there Sunday night as investigators worked the case, including officers from the Pensacola Police Department.
According to an arrest report, Jones’ gray 2009 Nissan Maxima was caught on a camera as he headed north on Highway 29 through Century at 12:19 p.m. on Saturday, September 11. At 1:54 p.m., police say he took a photo on his phone of Baxter, who was deceased with obvious signs of trauma. At 3:09 p.m., his Nissan was again seen on camera it headed back south on Highway 29 in Century.
The distance from the spot Jones’ vehicle as seen on camera in Century September 11 to the location where the body was found Sunday night is just under nine miles. Driving near the speed limit Sunday night, the direct trip took our reporter about 12 minutes.
Baxter was reported missing on September 12 by her daughter, who stated that an air mattress and Baxter’s purse were missing. Investigators located blood in Baxter’s bedroom and other locations on the property, as well as in Jones’ vehicle, according to police.
Acting on a tip, Pensacola Police, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and KlaasKIDS searched an area along Highway 168 east of Pine Barren Road in Bratt last Monday and Tuesday, but northing was found.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Accidentally Shot Sunday Night In Cantonment, ECSO Says
September 27, 2021
A woman was accidentally shot Sunday night in Cantonment.
The incident happened about 8:45 p.m. on Nowak Road off County Road 97.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Morgan Lewis said it appeared a gun accidentally discharged, striking the woman. Her injuries were not considered life threatening, Lewis said.
Further details have not been made available.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison Inducted Into FHSAA Hall Of Fame
September 27, 2021
Legendary football coach Carl Madison was officially inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony Sunday night at the University of Florida.
The football field at Tate High School was recently remained “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the legendary coach that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
Madison, who turned 90 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semifamous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The then 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
In 2009, Madison briefly came out of retirement to once again take to the field at Tate, this time as an offensive consultant.
Escambia Man Charged With DUI After Crashed That Killed Woman
September 27, 2021
A man is facing charges following an Escambia County crash that claimed the life of a 38-year old on Navarre woman.
Randall McBride, 44, was initially arrested on charges of DUI with serious bodily injury and reckless driving with serious bodily injury following the two-vehicle crash on Beverly Parkway in Pensacola Saturday about 11:43 a.m. The charges are expected to be upgraded after the woman passed away Saturday night.
A Chevrolet driven by McBride swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with a Ford Escape driven by the Navarre woman. Both vehicles overturned.
Florida Gas Prices Decline A Few Cents, AAA Says
September 27, 2021
Florida gas prices have slowly declined the past 10 consecutive day, according to AAA. The state average is now $3.07 per gallon, after slipping 3 cents last week from the 2021 high of $3.10 per gallon.
“Although gasoline prices normally decline in the fall, they remain elevated due to the high price of crude and lower fuel supplies both domestically and around the world,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.03. In North Escambia, a low of $2.91 could be found at three stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment. In the Pensacola area, the lowest price Sunday night was $2.82.
The lower fuel supplies are a result of both the pandemic and Hurricane Ida’s effects on the Gulf Coast. When the pandemic struck, global and American crude producers let off the throttle. U.S. crude production rates dropped as much as 25% in 2020. About half of that had returned before Hurricane Ida struck the gulf coast. Three weeks ago, U.S. crude oil production rates dropped another 13%, after Hurricane Ida temporarily shutdown oil refineries and offshore rigs. Fortunately, that reduction has been cut in half over the past two weeks, as refineries and offshore rigs work to reopen. In addition, refinery activity, gasoline supplies and production all logged weekly gains last week.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Woman Injured In Highway 4 Wreck
September 27, 2021
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Bratt.
The adult female driver of a Nissan Versa was westbound on Highway 4 near Godwin Cemetery Road when she ran off the road and crashed down into a concrete culvert at the entrance to Bratt Assembly of God Church.
She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Giving Back: 30,000 Pounds Of Food Distributed In Cantonment
September 26, 2021
Hundreds of people turned out for a 30,000 pound food giveaway Saturday morning in Cantonment.
Calling it an “amazing” morning, Rep. Michelle Salzman said all 30,000 pounds of food was distributed, with nearly half that weight in meat. She said over 500 cars came through the line at Carver Park, with many others walking up.
The event was sponsored by Salzman, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Pinewood Presbyterian Church, Cantonment Improvement Committee and Trailer Parts Plus of Florida.
Organizers said they plan to hold the large food distribution once per quarter.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Photos courtesy Phillips Salzman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia’s Newest Dollar General Opens; One More Opens Soon, Two Others In The Works
September 26, 2021
North Escambia’s newest Dollar General is now open, as another one is under construction and two more are planned in the area.
A quiet grand opening was held Friday for a new Dollar General at the corner of Highway 297A and West Kingsfield Road in Cantonment. Escambia County granted a conditional use to allow the 8,960 square foot store in an area that is zoned for low density mixed-use up 6,000 square feet. A conditional use in the zoning category allows for retail sales up to 35,000 square feet.
The Escambia County Board of Adjustment approved the conditional use with the stipulation that the store have a residential area design with wood siding and a shingled roof.
Construction is nearing completion on a new 9,291 square foot Dollar General store in the 7000 block of North Century Boulevard in Century. An opening date has not been announced.
Dollar General’s development company has development applications for two more North Escambia stores in the works. One is on 1.89 acres on the west side of Highway 29 between Ten Mile Road and Roberts Road, just north of Kingline Equipment.
The second is in Walnut Hill at 7100 Highway 97, on the north side of the intersection of South Highway 99. There are currently two residential structures on the 5.3 acre property, which is across the road from a former farm supply retail business.
Pictured: A newly opened Dollar General at the corner of Highway 297A and West Kingsfield Road in Cantonment as seen Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Areas To Watch
September 26, 2021
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
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement - Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Oct. 2. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure. Additional work will include installation of pier lighting.
- 17th Avenue interchange construction – 17th Avenue southbound is closed at Gregory Street. Access to the Pensacola Visitor’s Center and the boat launch remains open from 17th Avenue.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. In addition, drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter lane closures between Dominguez and Green Streets, Grandview and X Streets, P Street and Q Street, and N Street and L Street, as crews perform median improvement work and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals. Motorists are reminded the speed limit between Dominguez Street and A Street is 30 mph.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Pine Forest (S.R. 297) to U.S. 29 – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound traffic shifts between Pine Forest Road and U.S. 29 to allow crews to complete paving activities.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) – Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent east and westbound lane closures and traffic shifts between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for paving operations and other construction activities.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road (C.R.) 292A) – Motorists can expect daytime shoulder closures the week of Monday, Sept. 27 as crews place a watermain.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures and shifts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews perform paving operations.
- S.R. 298 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from North of U.S. 98 to East of Fairfield Drive – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27 Thursday, Sept. 30 as crews perform paving operations and other construction activities
- Bayfront Parkway (S.R. 196) form Tarragona Street to 9th Avenue, Pensacola Seafood Fest 2021 – Motorists will encounter temporary road closures on Bayfront Parkway from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 26 for festival activities.
- U.S. 29 Turn Lane Construction at the new Circle K Store – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures between West Roberts Road and Crowe Lane 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Sept. 30.
- U.S. 98 (East Garden Street) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance at Jefferson Street Intersection – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures the Thursday, Sept. 30 through Friday, Oct. 8, as crews perform underground utility 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 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Oct. 2. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure. Additional work will include installation of pier lighting.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures on the Blackwater River bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 through Thursday, Sept. 30 as crews perform paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: Highway 29 northbound in Ensley Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.