From SamWalkerOBXNews.com Commissioners in eight coastal North Carolina counties plan to adopt a joint resolution on Monday that will be sent to the General Assembly expressing their opposition to adding and raising tolls on state ferry routes Currituck and Dare board members are also expected to pass stand-alone resolutions Monday that oppose the addition of tolls on the routes specifically serving their counties Last month the North Carolina Senate approved a $32.6 billion state budget for the next two fiscal years that has been sent to the state House which is expected to reject and then propose their own version of a spending plan The toll changes are an effort to generate more revenue for the cash-strapped N.C Department of Transportation and specifically for the Ferry Division there has been considerable pushback from Outer Banks and inland legislators and the ferry toll proposals have drawn vocal opposition from local government leaders and business owners “(T)he imposition of tolls on routes that are currently free will constitute an unfair taxation burden and economic hardship on the residents and businesses of eastern North Carolina,” the leaders of Currituck “Toll increases on routes with existing tolls constitute an unfair taxation burden and economic hardship on the residents businesses and visitors of eastern North Carolina.” “(A) state-maintained ferry system which is free to residents and the public at large is as critical as the state maintained road system that ensures ease of travel access and commerce to all citizen of North Carolina,” Dare County’s stand-alone resolution reads “The Knotts Island community is geographically isolated from the rest of North Carolina and the Currituck/Knotts Island ferry serves as a lifeline to Currituck County and the mainland of our state,” said Currituck Commissioner Tony Angell who represents the island at the north end of Currituck Sound “It is the primary route our children take to attend school and travel with friends to and from the island,” Angell said “Expecting teenage drivers to pay $150 for a ferry pass or to drive a significantly longer route through Virginia—on narrow roads with hazardous conditions including deep ditches and frequent flooding to attend school — is both unreasonable and unsafe.” “The ferry also plays a vital role for senior citizens enabling them to travel to the county seat to access critical services and conduct necessary business,” Angell said “This connectivity supports their independence and ability to engage with the broader community “It is unreasonable to impose additional costs on residents simply because they live in a geographically isolated area where ferry service is essential for daily life and access to the rest of the state,” Angell said “This legislation was a surprise to many of us so we had a little over 24 hours to try and come up with a strategy to block this legislation,” Hyde County Commissioner Randal Matthews said the day after the provision first surfaced in the budget bill “We want the NC House to assess the economic impact and cost of creating toll collection which will certainly come out of the tight budget the ferry division is already working on,” Matthews said “We are arranging meetings with all of the chairs and co-chairs of Transportation Appropriation and the Appropriations Committee in the House,” Matthews said “Our lobbyist is reaching out to all the senators and representatives who may help us stop the N.C House legislation for additional tolling.” “I’ll be in Raleigh with several others sometime in early May Under the 439-page Senate Bill 257 the new toll schedule would be as follows: The current rates of the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island routes is $15 for vehicles under 20 feet Other rates are charged for motorcycles and bicyclists but those categories were not detailed in the Senate budget proposal which runs seasonally between mid-May and early September are $7.50 per passenger and $1 per bicycle The Senate bill does not mention bicycles on the passenger-only route between Hatteras Harbor and Silver Lake Tolls would also be added on the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach over the Neuse River and Bayview-Aurora over the Pamlico River at the same rate as Currituck-Knotts Island while increasing on the Fort Fisher-Southport route The Senate budget also creates an annual pass for commuters and priority boarding of commercial vehicles that would allow unlimited rides at a cost of $150 per vehicle According to the fiscal document attached to the budget bill the tolls would raise $6.4 million in each of the next two fiscal years that would be allocated to the Ferry Capital Fund for vessel replacements “The estimated fiscal impact of establishing tolls on previously untolled routes and increasing existing toll rates is based on the bill’s toll rates and ridership data from the Ferry Division’s monthly traffic report,” the fiscal note states Senate Transportation Appropriations Co-Chair Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) told The News & Observer the highway department faces numerous funding challenges that have led to delays of projects statewide while also rebuilding roads and bridges in the Western North Carolina washed away by Hurricane Helene “At this point it becomes an issue of fairness,” Sawyer who is from the Charlotte suburb of Mooresville “When I’m paying $25 for my family to be able to access the city of Charlotte, then these people who are going across the beautiful Pamlico River should be able to pay a toll as well,” Sen. Sawyer said in a 2023 interview with WBTV-TV She was referencing the I-77 Express lanes which use dynamic tolling to charge higher rates when traffic is heaviest along the direct connection between her hometown of Statesville and Uptown Charlotte rather than allowing all traffic to use the additional lanes has been a controversial subject in and around North Carolina’s largest metropolitan area They are similar to the express lanes recently added to I-64 in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach and along I-95 between Fredericksburg and the Capital Beltway in northern Virginia Another backer of previous ferry tolling attempts has been Sen whose district includes the Cape Fear River route between Fort Fisher and Southport that already carries a toll and is also a co-chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations committee along with other coastal and inland lawmakers have in the past been able to convince colleagues and leadership in both chambers to back off attempts to add tolls “We have a long history of connecting our rural citizens to areas of commerce they become part of our heritage,” Hanig said during floor debate on an amendment he ran last month to strip the toll provisions from the Senate budget “Now there are folks in this body that think it’s okay to start charging a toll so these hard working salt-of-the-earth North Carolinians can efficiently get to work have access to shopping or simply enjoy all of our beautiful beaches and should not be tolled with that,” Hanig said Hanig’s amendment was turned back on a 24-23 vote which featured a rare procedural issue that required Lt and a member asked to change their vote afterwards but was not allowed to do so under Senate rules Hanig later was the only Republican to cast votes against passing the full budget which he called “a risk” he was willing to take to block the ferry tolls The GOP has the majority in both chambers of the legislature with the Senate having veto-proof control by the Republican Party The House may have less of a stomach for tolls in their version of the budget who represents Hyde and part of Dare counties succeeded in blocking previous attempts and said he will continue to do so “I will again work against ferry tolls,” Kidwell told Coastal Review “Unless of course they want to toll all bridges that cross water in NC.” John Torbett (R-Gaston) went to social media to share his opposition to the ferry tolling plan “This will cost all North Carolinians who have to use the ferries to go to school, work, doctor, pretty much anywhere,” Torbett posted on Twitter Torbett said the tolls would not generate much revenue and that regular funding sources are enough to cover the costs of running the ferry system “The answer is simply to prioritize the need to include ferries or perhaps toll all bridges throughout NC for fairness I do not support tolls,” Torbett said Torbett is vice-chair of the House Appropriations Committee which will put forth its own version of a budget in the coming weeks The North Carolina Ferry Division is the second largest state-run operation in the country transporting an average of 712,282 vehicles and 2.4 million passengers over the last two fiscal years Operations and maintenance costs totaled $65.3 million Hatteras-Ocracoke is the most popular route in the state averaging 202,628 vehicles and 935,307 passengers at a cost of nearly $25.55 million over the two year period Currituck-Knotts Island route transported 15,605 vehicles and 92,148 passengers The Swan Quarter route averaged 37,354 vehicles and 57,871 passengers at a cost of $6.92 million The Cedar Island route carried an average of 42,209 vehicles and 94,784 passengers for $9.23 million with operations and maintenance costing $1.34 million Several other attempts have been made and shot down in the General Assembly to add tolls over the last 14 years the same year Republicans gained control of both chambers from Democrats their first budget added tolls to all routes But those tolls were rescinded prior to implementation due to local opposition with General Assembly members even considering eliminating tolls altogether at one point when a proposal was removed from the final version of a spending plan that was eventually vetoed by former Gov Log in to leave a comment © 2025 Island Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Website Design & Marketing by GCP The Ferry Pass Community Center is now open to the public at 8800 N friends and community groups to come together The community center offers a large meeting space with a stage multiple conference-size rooms and a warming kitchen making it a viable space for public events organized by residents who otherwise face difficulty finding suitable venues High-speed wireless internet is installed inside the center which will accommodate computer activities or presentations and there’s a playground and outdoor exercise equipment for active residents too County officials unveiled Ferry Pass' first community center on Tuesday during a bright-and-sunny afternoon with members of the community in attendance residents like Robin Adkinson and her family started taking advantage of the infrastructure immediately  “I like it because normally we’re going over into the city to play in those parks but I live right over here so we can just zip over anytime… I think it’s going to be great for community meetings too,” Adkinson said adding that she’d like to see the county pursue similar community-oriented projects in the future The vision for the facility started in 2018 when Robert Bender the former Escambia County Commissioner for District 4 took note that the Ferry Pass area didn’t have a single community center Bender said his team settled on the Ninth Avenue property after looking through potential sites for the project taking into consideration what would or wouldn’t work for the community and started moving forward with their plans in 2021 The new Ferry Pass Community Center used to be a UWF multipurpose facility but it was acquired by Escambia County when they bought the approximately four-acre parcel it stands on for $671,250 in March 2023 Escambia County Public Works officials then pivoted to redeveloping the space into an 8,870-square-foot facility and were issued a development order for the project last March from the county’s Development Review Committee While the vision for the community center started under Bender the project was carried to the finish line under the district’s new County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger Both officials were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting on Tuesday “I think it just demonstrates the beauty of the property and also how the community can come together and use all the facilities that we have here,” Bender said “It’s really helped us kickstart the CRA for this area Hopefully it leads (to) some redevelopment being able to add some other amenities throughout the neighborhood.” Hofberger told the News Journal there aren’t any similar projects underway in the district right now but she wants to build upon this step with more “responsible development” during her tenure “I think there’s always room to gain efficiencies and see where we can do things better so I want to make sure we’re developing the right things at the right time and have the infrastructure to support that,” Hofberger said “There’s a huge appetite on the Board of County Commissioners for giving kids a safe space to play in So anything we can do to continue to invest in that is absolutely what we want to move forward on.” County officials are looking at a few more areas for new playgrounds and they’re working with members of the community as well as neighborhood organizations to determine where they’ll invest their resources I like to seek out advice from those who have visited before While I was planning a family trip to Venice many sources on the internet and people in real life said springing for an unlimited ferry pass was essential Because Venice is built around a series of canals ferries are the city's main form of public transportation I can say the passes weren't worth it for my family Like hundreds of thousands of fellow residents I am an avid public-transportation user at home in Washington I've purchased passes for unlimited rides on public transportation everywhere I sometimes use subways or buses in a new place just for the experience Trying it out almost always adds to my experience This is to say that when I heard the advice to get a vaporetto pass first thing after arriving in Venice The three-day unlimited passes for me and my two children cost more than $120 — about $49 for me and about $36 for each of my kids The price of the unlimited passes shocked me But I was even more surprised to learn that a single ride costs $10 we'd start saving money after taking just four rides or two round-trip journeys I handed over my credit card and put the paper passes in a hidden pocket where I knew I wouldn't lose them and historic buildings around every corner I thought the vaporetti would enrich my experience in the Italian city but I would've missed out on so much if we didn't walk around Even though I wish I hadn't bought pricey passes I'm glad I had the chance to ride a vaporetto All of the boats we took had small outdoor decks. Though it wasn't exactly the same as a gondola ride standing on the deck was still lovely — especially when we got to take in some nice views of Venice at night But I think one ride would've been enough for us If you're planning on visiting nearby islands such as Murano the ferry is a much cheaper option than hiring a water taxi It's also a nice way to get a taste of Venice's storied canals But I don't think buying an unlimited pass makes sense for tourists I'm still not sure why so many people recommended it to me Walking around the small city was far more interesting to us so we could've saved a lot of money on the passes Serving North New Jersey and New York City World Financial Center and Pier 11/Wall St Belford Edgewater Hoboken 14th St. Hoboken/NJ Transit Lincoln Harbor Paulus Hook Port Imperial Belford Hoboken 14th St. Hoboken/NJ Transit Paulus Hook Port Imperial Belford Edgewater Hoboken 14th St. Hoboken/NJ Transit Liberty Harbor Paulus Hook Port Imperial Please refer to our Privacy Policy © 2025 NY WATERWAY All rights reserved. TERMS & CONDITIONS -- A visiting northerner who spends six months a year with us was looking for a way to fill some of her time A nearby school was looking for exactly what she had to offer This Angel and her companion are the perfect match and have students excited about hitting the books at Ferry Pass Middle School "We were reading a story in class about reading buddies and the kids were saying how much they would really like to have their own reading dog here," Ferry Pass Middle School language arts teacher Kaylee Pruitt said 'Why don't we turn it into a project and do research on it You guys can write a letter and do a presentation to the principal to try to persuade them to bring reading buddies here.'" At the same time Pruitt was lobbying with her class Kathy Young was wintering in Pensacola from the upper peninsula of Michigan She just happened to be in her neighborhood near Ferry Pass Middle School looking for some place to spend her time The retired teacher of 30 years was used to having her pet partner therapy dog with her in class "If I could instill the love of reading in a child it would open up all the doors for the children to make them feel important and comfortable reading out loud or to others and sharing the love of books," Young said She'll just listen to everybody read to her and she doesn't complain or correct you or anything else." Kathy and her three-year-old German shepherd The students now have their very own reading buddy and they can't wait to share stories every week "It feels extra comforting because she can't correct you," 6th grader Annabelle Fleck said "Especially since I'm a fast reader and sometimes I have to slow down more when I'm reading out loud knowing that she can't make fun of me." "It makes it a calmer environment because dogs are very social creatures," 6th grader Levi Armand said "It's soothing having them here in the library when you're reading It feels like it doesn't really matter if I make a mistake while reading Cedar is used to a school setting and she volunteers in a hospice residence and Ronald McDonald House Kathy says she's helped some children with more than their reading "When I have students that may be afraid of her finally go up and actually do touch her and start petting her fate or divine intervention -- the students are grateful for whatever it was that brought them their Reading Buddy and their Angel "People who use their time to help other people are good very nice people," 6th grader Javon Taylor said It makes us feel good and and hopefully we are making a difference in their lives," Young said A Daily News Service of the North Carolina Coastal Federation More Articles More Articles More Articles More Articles More Articles 12/27/2024 by Staff Report Vendors wanting priority loading on the state-run ferry traveling between Hatteras and Ocracoke Island will need to purchase individual priority passes for each vehicle The General Assembly passed a new law during the 2024 session that now requires each vendor vehicle traveling between Hatteras and Ocracoke to have a priority pass multiple vehicles from the same vendor could share a single pass Cost is $150 per pass. Applications are available on the Ferry Division website Permanent residents of Ocracoke Island are eligible for a free priority pass to place on the driver-side windshield Applicants must apply in person at the Ocracoke Silver Lake Terminal A valid driver license and a vehicle registration card that both have an Ocracoke address are required The story was compiled by staff members of Coastal Review Winner of seven North Carolina Press Association awards in 2024. © 2025 North Carolina Coastal Federation. All rights reserved.↑ -- A death investigation is underway in Escambia County after a 73-year-old woman was found dead outside Windermere Memory Care amid Tuesday's winter storm Debra Adcock's family tells WEAR News that doctors worked on her for more than an hour before pronouncing her dead Tuesday night The family says they're told that Adcock's core temperature was 75 degrees when she was found around 8 p.m wanting to know how long Adcock was outside the Kipling Street facility in Ferry Pass he warned staff to watch his wife carefully because she liked to go outside you need to make sure she does not go outside,'" he told WEAR News "They had previously known she's prone to go out," son Alexander Adcock said "So you would think that they would watch her more judiciously." The Escambia County Sheriff's Office says an autopsy will determine Adcock's cause of death WEAR News reached out to Windermere Memory Care on Thursday "I just want answers," said Alexander who's one of Adcock's three sons "I want to know why my mother was out in the snow in the only snowstorm we've had in my recent memory at least." Stick with WEAR News for updates on this story -- A man and a woman were arrested Wednesday for the murder of a 30-year-old man in Ferry Pass last September were both booked into Escambia County Jail Wednesday afternoon on murder charges Stewart is also charged with weapon possession and failure to appear Stewart and McCants -- who are both listed as homeless -- are being held without bond The fatal shooting happened on September 20, 2024, on Country Walk Drive in Ferry Pass Deputies say a neighbor woke up and found a man dead in a front yard with a gunshot wound The family has identified the victim as Larry Spires III WEAR is working to obtain the arrest report The National Weather Service in Mobile given preliminary confirmation that an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 95 mph touched down in the Pensacola area on Tuesday several boats were pushed into fencing with a few boats overturned The tornado moved northeast across an industrial complex causing significant damage to some metal roofs Metal side paneling and doors were also blown out on a few buildings Three minor injuries were reported in this area The tornado quickly weakened as it moved north of Copter Road and lifted near Addison Drive with only some small tree debris noted Pensacola tornado aftermath: 'It was just a freak storm': Tornado hits Pensacola, repeat today 'can't be ruled out' the tornado had a width of approximately 30 yards traveled a total of a half a mile and dissipated at 4:22 p.m. The information is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data The weather service has cautioned that more severe weather is on the way spurred by back-to-back winter storms and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico Damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and the threat of tornadoes are possible The first round of weather is expected to hit between 11 a.m mostly through southeastern Mississippi into interior southern Alabama The next bout is slated later Wednesday night and will encompass the Pensacola area stretching from Escambia through Okaloosa counties -- Residents in an Escambia County neighborhood say a major sewage leak over the weekend is a recurring problem on their street The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority says more than 48,000 gallons of sewage leaked off of Wildflower Lane in Ferry Pass Sunday after a 16-inch cast iron sewer main was broken for roughly four hours Crews were able to recover roughly 4,500 gallons and divert an additional quarter-million gallons preventing further spillage A majority of the spill entered into the nearby Graveyard Branch Concerned neighbors say they want answers on the constant work being done while the problems persist Arlene Fulton lives nearby and says she reported the spill then there was probably about half a dozen trucks out there," she said Fulton says ECUA crews have been a familiar sight in the neighborhood over the past year But she claims they haven't been transparent with residents on why the leaks are happening or what's being done to fix it "This whole road has sort of been under semi repairs for about a year," Fulton said ECUA says it's in the process of replacing more than 8,000 linear feet of cast iron force main with PVC material While detailed plans aren't available the flags along the neighborhood are part of a survey for the next phase of the project Fulton says crews cleaned up the previous messes swiftly she feels more transparency would be helpful while the work continues "I really just wanna know what's going on "Maybe give us a notice of what's going to happen and when it's going to happen The construction will take roughly six months They're still working to finalize design plans for a section of the project Tragedy struck Ferry Pass on Tuesday afternoon when a tornado tore through Ellyson Industrial Park on Copter Road The storm tore through multiple buildings within the industrial park at 4:20 p.m. tossing some of the smaller items inside the building into the air alongside other vulnerable items like Dumpsters Escambia County officials say three individuals were injured during the storm and two of them were transported to local hospitals The county performed search-and-rescue operations to ensure no one was trapped inside any of the buildings while simultaneously assessing the structural damage left behind by the storm several tornados have sprung up in the region throughout the month of February neither Escambia County or the National Weather Service were aware of conditions that could have formed this harsh of a storm meteorologist Brandon Black of the NWS Mobile office confirmed it was a tornado "We'll be sending someone out this morning to survey" the damage and return with more details on strength path and length of time it was on the ground Residents in the area are facing more severe weather tonight and "we can't rule out a tornado once again," Black said Pensacola tornado? Tornado in Pensacola not confirmed but video provides clear picture. Watch and decide. While county officials performed their searches and assessed damage employees of a nearby business were collectively shocked they were each grateful to walk away unharmed “I had just started my shift… what I saw was just heavy rain and the power went out once We thought it was just the rain,” said Kyle Nordstrom an employee at Overhead Doors/Wayne Dalton Sales Center (the) lights completely shut down… I look through the garage door and just see things thrown across Employees hunkered down in their metal workplace across the street it totally took everyone by surprise,” Nordstrom continued “It was fast… all of a sudden it just ripped through.” is no stranger to dangerous weather events as he was in the area during Hurricane Sally five years ago he described Tuesday’s experience as “surreal” for the Pensacola area’s standards “It was kind of surreal if I’m being honest… we get rainstorms here all the time so it was nothing out of the ordinary (at first) Then the lights started flickering on and off then I heard the transformer blow,” Dave told the News Journal “Right around the corner is a large steel door it sounded like someone drove a truck right through it and hit it a couple times.” Dave said no one had a clue what was happening his personal experience during Hurricane Sally where a transformer blew in his neighborhood kept him steeled while he navigated the situation “I think people didn’t really have time to process until the aftermath.” Tompkins said staff from the National Weather Service’ Mobile office will come to the scene Wednesday morning to assess the site “On some (recent tornadoes) there was prior notification that they had seen something that looked like it was going to be coming in,” said Tompkins there was nothing that was forecasted that would’ve shown this was going to happen today We’re coordinating with them and we’ll let them determine whether it was a tornado or a straight-line-wind appearance.” While county officials and citizens alike were uniquely unprepared for this storm Tompkins told the News Journal that neither a lack of manpower nor resources at the NWS contributed to Tuesday’s surprise The eastbound lane of Copter Road opened back up shortly before 6 p.m as county officials conducted a final round of search and rescue before exiting the scene Escambia County first responders are responding to a possible tornado in Ferry Pass that reportedly injured several people and caused damage to several buildings in the area in the 3300 block of Copter Road in the Ellyson Industrial Park Several injuries have been reported and are being treated on scene by Escambia County EMS Three patients have been transported by EMS to a local hospital and the exact number of injuries is unknown at this time Several commercial buildings were damaged in the incident with one building sustaining severe roof damage Video and photos posted on social media by people at the scene of the incident appear to show damage to roofing a semitrailer tipped onto its side and even a small tree that was uprooted Escambia County has notified the National Weather Service of Mobile and is working to determine the nature of the weather incident Several meteorologists posted on social media that they suspect that it may have been a small tornado touchdown shared pics and video taken from the scene and attributed it to a tornado "This damage happened due to a tornado that touched down in the Pensacola metro near Copter Road on Tuesday evening around 4:20PM," he wrote "No tornado warning was in effect as the rotation was in a low-topped shower." "Looks like a small tornado has touched down in the northern part of Pensacola within the past hour…" The National Weather Service in Mobile has cautioned that the region may see damaging winds gusts up to 60 mph and a few tornadoes through Wednesday The severe weather threat will come in rounds Wednesday with the first round impacting Southeast Alabama and Northwest Florida from 10 a.m The second round will begin Wednesday night and be concentrated mostly west of Interstate 65 from around 9 p.m then shift west of I-65 until around 5 a.m -- The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide that occurred in Ferry Pass on Friday morning Deputies say neighbors woke up and found a man dead in the lawn with an apparent gunshot wound Those who live in this part of Country Walk Drive were shocked when they woke up to find a man lying dead in the front lawn of a home Neighbor Keaundra Fegin says she heard nothing out of the ordinary Friday morning "It is a very heartbreaking scene to just come out and see the police officers and the crime scene tape like that," says Fegin "I've never experienced anything like that." When deputies arrived to the complex Friday morning they determined the man's death was a homicide The man's identity has not been released Fegin says she's lived in this area for months and said this part of the area is normally quiet But said the violence around Escambia County has gotten worse a very sad situation to see how Pensacola has.. "And the violence and the homicides and everything has gotten extremely worse The most recent act of gun violence in the Ferry Pass area happened in July Deputies say a shootout took place in the parking lot of the Dreamland Skate Center No suspects have been identified in that case Crime scene investigators spent the morning canvassing the neighborhood looking for any information to determine what lead to the man's death Investigators were seen looking at home surveillance cameras and looking through a vehicle that was hauled away from the scene "My prayers go out the family," says Fegin "I've been in a situation like that before It's not an easy thing to endure." If you have any information that may help the investigation you're asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week With a subscription to the Pensacola News Journal you will receive full access to the work done by our journalists and photographers as they head out every day to help inform and explain the important issues affecting your community Aldi has struck a new deal to sell a chunk of the Winn-Dixie stores it purchased last year as part of its expansion plan back to its parent company Full story: Aldi sells back Winn-Dixie stores. One Pensacola store is still slated to be converted a multibillion athleisure clothing brand that is opening its first Pensacola-area store inside the mall Lululemon will move into the space formerly housing Loft and they've already started canvassing the area for employees with an active job opening on Linkedin for a store manager “Cordova Mall is thrilled to announce Lululemon and Lovesac will be opening this year,” said Cordova Mall Manager Chris Tilley Jr “The addition of these new retailers and updates to the property continue to elevate the retailer mix and customer’s experience at the center.” Full story: Lululemon is opening at Cordova Mall along with several other stores Last week at the University of West Florida, a group of 200 people protested Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment of Boise State Professor Scott Yenor to the UWF board of trustees Yenor was elected to be the chairman of the board of trustees last month and has drawn controversy for past comments at the National Conservatism Conference in 2021 The Florida Senate must still confirm Yenor’s appointment to the UWF board of trustees During that 2021 speech he said women who put off starting families for careers are “more medicated meddlesome and quarrelsome than women need to be,” and that colleges are “citadels of our gynecocracy.” While Yenor’s comments caused controversy and notoriety he’s also become a lead critic of diversity DeSantis had Yenor advise the state on eliminating diversity equity and inclusion in the state university system In a series of tweets last month after the U.S Senate hearings on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Yenor posted political commentary that appeared to question the viability of Democrats as national leaders based on their age Full story: UWF chairman Scott Yenor implies only non-Jewish 'white men' are viable political leaders 'It was just a freak storm': Tornado hits Pensacola repeat today 'can't be ruled out'Tragedy struck Ferry Pass on Tuesday afternoon when an EF-1 tornado with 95-mile-per-hour winds tore through Ellyson Industrial Park on Copter Road The storm tore through multiple buildings within the industrial park at 4:20 p.m. Escambia County officials say three people were injured during the storm and two of them were transported to local hospitals 'It was just a freak storm': Tornado hits Pensacola Chef George Lazi’s first Pensacola restaurant, George Bistro + Bar, was the restaurant that helped build Lazi’s local legacy. Now with his second restaurant, Pearl & Horn Lazi uses his menu to share his roots in the country of Georgia and also his love for the coastal community of Pensacola Pearl & Horn has not just been raved about locally but has now stepped into the national spotlight According to USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year list Pearl & Horn has been named one of the top 44 places to eat in America See the full list: Pensacola restaurant named one of best in U.S. Escambia County Fire Rescue announced Monday the death of the Ferry Pass Fire Department Chief who served with the fire department for 34 years ECFR did not release the cause of Clark's death "It is with a heavy heart that Escambia County Fire Rescue announces the passing of Chief Mark Clark who faithfully served the residents of Ferry Pass for 34 years," an ECFR Facebook post says friends and his fellow firefighter brothers and sisters." Residents and commuters are reminded that the Port Authority of NY and NJ will close the Hoboken Terminal PATH Station 24/7 25 for significant track and station upgrades the Port Authority has coordinated with NJ Transit and other transportation partners to provide alternative transportation options for commuters and PATH customers The City also continues to collaborate with all transportation agencies and stakeholders to help minimize disruptions during the closure Residents are encouraged to leave extra travel time and prepare for increased traffic around Hoboken Terminal due to additional buses the Hoboken Terminal Hop pick-up and drop-off location will be temporarily moved to the bus shelter on the north side of Hudson Place east of River Street See below for more information on the Hop relocation The Port Authority will provide the following transportation alternatives for PATH customers: Ferries are scheduled to run every 10 minutes during peak hours from Hoboken Terminal and 14th Street in Hoboken, with extended evening service to Midtown/W. 39th Street.For more information on NY Waterway Ferry Service, including a step-by-step guide on how to purchase and use the special PATH Ferry Ticket, go to: https://www.nywaterway.com/path.aspx Free PATH Shuttle Buses to Newport and Exchange Place PATH Stations   PATH will provide free shuttle buses that will operate 24/7 between Hoboken and Exchange Place stations on the following schedules: Supplemental PATH Train Service will also be provided:   Increased NJ TRANSIT 126 Bus Service between Hoboken and Port Authority NJ Transit will supplement its regular Route 126 bus service along Washington Street Additional New York-bound buses will begin at the Hoboken Bus Terminal To accommodate the staging of additional commuter buses parking will be removed from the south side of Observer Highway between Bloomfield Street and Park Avenue 24/7 and on the east side of Washington Street between 10th and 11th Streets NJ Transit advises customers using the Route 126 bus service that they may encounter more crowded conditions than usual and that they should allow for extra travel time For more information on additional buses, staging locations, and gate assignments in New York, please see the NJ Transit website:www.njtransit.com/hobokenpath NJ TRANSIT Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Service NJ Transit’s website states it will continue to operate the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) on its regular schedule to and from Hoboken Terminal HBLR service is available between Hoboken Terminal and PATH’s Newport and Exchange Place stations for transfer to PATH trains Please note, an NJ Transit Light Rail ticket is required to ride the HBLR. Riders must validate their ticket before boarding. Tickets can be purchased in the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App or at an HBLR vending machine. For additional information, on the NJ Transit Light Rail tickets, go to www.njtransit.com/tickets/light-rail-tickets HOP drop-off relocated & Citi Bike Valet to remain operational   the Hoboken Terminal Hop pickup and drop-off location will be temporarily moved to the bus shelter on the north side of Hudson Place east of River Street The usual south side location will be used for Port Authority shuttles to Exchange Place and Newport PATH stations during this period This will require the temporary removal of parking on the north side of Hudson Place between River Street and Warrington Plaza the Citi Bike Hoboken Terminal valet on River Street between Hudson Place and Newark Street will remain operational during weekday morning and evening rush hours for as long as ridership levels justify For additional details about the Hoboken PATH closure, travel alternatives, and schedule updates,visit the Port Authority’s Hoboken Station Closure Web Page. For further details and updated travel information on NJ Transit services, sign up for My Transit Alerts, download the NJ TRANSIT app, and follow them on Social Media -- The Health and Hope Clinic is opening its new health and wellness wing Friday Back in July WEAR News told you about the increasing need at the clinic to expand this expansion aims to provide more to those uninsured and underserved "We just kept seeing it come through the front door of people needing support," said Sally Bergosh executive director of Health and Hope Clinic this empty plot of dirt and bricks became a brand new health and wellness wing for the Health and Hope Clinic "We knew that there was a huge need for more mental health support," Bergosh said "We went after it and said we want to do way more robust mental health counseling," she said "We'll be doing healthy cooking.. It can help with everything from dental care to opioid abuse with this health and wellness wing the last piece of the puzzle "Our rationale for putting this together was that we wanted to catch people on the front end," said Bergosh "We don't want it to become a Baker Act or a suicide We're trying to get in front of it all and do some preventative mental health care." The wellness wing isn't just for sitting and speaking with counselors "We do 100 boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables every single week for our most chronic patients," Bergosh said "And so we now have a teaching kitchen to open those boxes up and show them how they can explore these wonderful heart healthy recipes from American Heart Association." The clinic is going beyond the immediate care needed by providing support and education so patients can make an impact in their own health outcomes the clinic will teach people to grow their own food If you’ve driven past HCA Florida West Hospital in recent months you’ve likely noticed an ongoing construction project across the street from the hospital That construction site on North Davis Highway will be the future home of a Wawa the popular gas-and-convenience chain that made its entrance into the Pensacola region at the end of last year The project’s site plans show that developers intend for this Wawa store to have approximately 5,915 square feet with 71 parking spaces on a previously-undeveloped parcel that’s approximately 3.44 acres motorists will be able to access this Wawa using either East Johnson Avenue or North Davis Highway Pensacola’s first Wawa opened up on Boesch Lane in late December and the chain’s already been approved to build more stores across Escambia County customization choices and 24/7 availability began in 1964 in Pennsylvania and has branched out from the state in a rapid fashion Wawa has opened nearly 300 stores in Florida and employs about 10,000 associates across the state Wawa's existing Florida stores are mostly in the southwest across Central Florida and up and down the east coast but they plan to open up to 20 new stores across the Panhandle over the next three to five years as part of their expansion efforts Florida isn’t the only Southern state whose markets are being tapped into by Wawa; Alabama Georgia and North Carolina each have their first Wawa store planned to open soon The chain now has almost 1,100 stores operating in the U.S a Wawa offers all the things you'd expect from a convenience store − snacks − but they also offer a larger variety of fresh food than most fast-food restaurants such as their made-to-order fan-favorite hoagies and the hot breakfast "Sizzli" sandwiches Wawas also are famous for customer service free air for your tires and no-charge ATMs In 2022 Forbes ranked them #12 in their Halo 100 list of brands that consumers love other transportation modes into Manhattan and Jersey City will increase service Riders will have to show that they're PATH commuters to get the discount That's because they are "cross honoring" the PATH tickets Other News: Mom Of Cianna Lee, Girl Killed In Jersey City, Recounts Tragic Night But there are several ways to get the discount Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher noted in her newsletter Tuesday She's providing updates on her website Letter: PATH Riders' Council Responds To Hoboken Station Plans The city issued some reminders and updates about the closure on Tuesday. See those here. Get more details on the Port Authority's Hoboken Station Closure Web Page. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. -- "Unsafe and unhabitable," that's how some are describing certain units at Johnson Lake Apartments in Ferry Pass Tenants are now suing the building's owner because they claim repairs have not been done following damage from Hurricane Sally A judge issued a court order back in December 2023 related to this case the building is still accruing nearly $1,000 a day in fines because of open code enforcement cases An attorney for several tenants says they aren't asking for monetary damages "We're not asking for stars and moons," said John Mayes disaster coordination attorney with Legal Services of North Florida All Mayes' clients want is a safe and healthy place to live He represents five people who either currently live or have lived at Johnson Lakes we've had 15 cases on the property," said Timothy Day "Could be anything from not taking care of the pool to interior units where there's issues with wiring He explains the biggest issue in which residents are facing "There's a fair number of residents who don't have heat or air conditioning," Day said tenants are asking for nine things from the owners assistance in finding alternative housing and ceasing threats They also mention not notifying collection agencies and not renting to new tenants until all problems are fixed The lawsuit filed against Landmark Property Management Company alleges as of November 2023 It's a problem that's costing the company $750 a day Mayes says that complicates an issue with mold that they haven't been allowed to test yet "You have mold growing and then you have units that are not being properly cooled," said Mayes And then you have other units that do have central heating and air that are pumping this molded air [It's] throughout the entire complex." Mayes tried to hire a mold inspector to come onto the property An email from the owner's attorney said anyone who came on site would be arrested and trespassed WEAR News reached out to the lawyer representing Johnson Lakes they nor representatives from Landmark are advised to provide commentary on the matter "Our housing situation in Pensacola is not fantastic And so these people are really stuck and somewhat hopeless and helpless because a lot are on housing assistance," Mayes said There's a number of reasons that prevent them from easily being able to move They like the complex and it just needs to be an livable state." Mayes says they'll have a hearing to go over testimony and evidence With three locations already approved and under development across Escambia County, Wawa isn’t slowing down on its expansion plans for the area The Ferry Pass Wawa project was approved by Escambia County’s Development Review Committee on Wednesday Here’s what we know so far about the Wawa's plans for the project: Dutch bros is coming to Pensacola: National coffee shop chain coming to West Nine Mile Road The latest Wawa store proposed for Escambia County is planned for development at 8530 N The store is planned for development between the Courts of Praise Fellowship church and Davis Pet Hotel & Spa on Kildare Drive This Wawa is planned to have two access roads from East Johnson Avenue and North Davis Highway respectively The project’s site plans show that developers intend for this Wawa store to be approximately 5,915 square feet with 71 parking spaces on an undeveloped site that’s about 3.4 acres this store will have eight gas pumps and multiple EV-charging spots Why is Wawa so popular?Open 24 hours a day Where is Wawa across Escambia County?Wawa has been approved to develop three locations across Escambia County The first Wawa project to receive approval is planned for 5888 W The second Wawa in northwest Pensacola broke ground off of Pine Forest Road in late April The chain’s third-approved project is planned for 9262 W Highway 98 and received its development order from the county on May 29 The chain could have an additional location coming in Santa Rosa County after developers proposed a Wawa for the Pace area in March During an April groundbreaking event for their Pine Forest Road location Wawa’s Director of Store Operations Joe Collins said that they plan to open eight to 10 locations for the Pensacola market over the next five to eight years Each store will bring an additional 35 to 40 jobs to their respective areas I've lived in Miami for nearly seven years and I love experiencing the city's neighborhoods and beaches And with so many great options for day trips, it's no surprise people are moving to Florida en masse where the Key West Express ferry transports travelers from the Gulf Coast to Key West Driving from Fort Myers to Key West can take more than five hours so I wanted to see if this 3-½ -hour ferry ride was a good alternative The Key West Express operates daily ferry rides to Key West from Fort Myers and Marco Island The rates vary and depend on what day you take the ferry whether you book eight or more days in advance I also paid $17 in advance for parking in the ferry's private lot The ferry from Fort Myers departs at 8 a.m and everyone is meant to be on the vessel by 7:30 The parking attendants were cheerful and ready to direct me to the spot where I could leave my car which was only a short distance from the ship Key West Express provides luggage services for visitors who are spending more time on the island there were restaurant-style tables and airplane-style rows of seats so I initially sat in one of the corner booths toward the front of the ship That was a mistake. I felt every wave we hit, and it wasn't long before I felt a bit seasick I was free to move about the ship and switch my seats since they are not booked in advance I felt much better when I relocated to the outdoor seating on the second deck I was also able to purchase a motion-sickness pill for $1 on board The galley also had a stand selling other drinks and food On this particular trip, I was traveling by myself. However, I saw a good variety of families and other adult-only travel groups on the vessel Each indoor seating section of the ship had a direct view of a large television screen where the ship streamed different movies and shows throughout the ride but I only lost my cell signal for an hour or so as we got farther out into the Gulf We arrived on schedule, and I had more than five hours to explore Key West until the ferry home It felt like a good amount of time for a day trip Passengers got back on the ship at the main ferry terminal on the northwestern side of the island I was surprised at how early everyone was to get on the ferry to return to Fort Myers I sat in the center rows toward the middle of the ship The ride was way more enjoyable than earlier I liked the ferry because it was more convenient and quicker than driving I didn't have to pay for gas or parking in Key West and I had more flexibility on the ride than I would have if I were stuck behind the wheel "There's enough video and picture evidence to show it was a tornado," meteorologist Brandon Black of the NWS Mobile office said in a phone interview early Wednesday morning ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location ➤ Cold front, rain could affect Daytona 500. See what to expect in Florida The National Weather Service received multiple reports of a tornado touching the ground shortly before 4:30 p.m and causing damage at 1 NE Ferry Pass in the Ellyson Industrial Park on Copter Road in the Pensacola metro area ➤ 'It was just a freak storm' Roofs were ripped off buildings and power lines were knocked down according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center Escambia County officials said three people were injured during the storm and two were transported to local hospitals photos of Pensacola tornado shared on social mediaPensacola forecast: More severe weather with threat of tornado"Another round of severe weather is possible for the Florida Panhandle later tonight Another cold front is moving into the area from the west late tonight bringing drier and cooler temperatures after it passes through ➤ Back-to-back winter storms will bring plenty of rain to the Florida Panhandle this week we expect some damaging winds and we can't rule out a tornado once again." They're usually very small and difficult to see on radar," Black said "Yesterday's (storms) were a little more unique which makes it difficult to warn (people) on Typical severe weather from deeper and stronger thunderstorms are more noticeable for us." With most of the severe weather expected to arrive after midnight Black said it's important to "stay weather aware." Keep your phone charged and have a way to receive weather alerts that will wake you up if a warning is sent We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here -- Streets are flooded as heavy rain pours down in parts of Northwest Florida on Sunday A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Escambia County National Weather Service lists the following areas that could be impacted: Pensacola Some travelers are currently stuck as their vehicles have become submerged in the flood waters Pictures and videos were sent in by viewers showing the magnitude of the weather event One viewer said a tree fell on her shed in the backyard One video was recorded in Garcon Point by Tom Coffelt while the other is in Ferry Pass from Colenda Carr Megan Wages captured video inside a Pensacola Dillards of water making its way down the stairs Pensacola resident Monique Brown sent in footage from her doorbell camera that shows the moment lightning struck her neighborhood on North D Street The video was provided to the News Journal by James Anderson of Overhead Door/Wayne Dalton Escambia County has notified the National Weather Service of Mobile and is working to determine the nature of what they are referring to as a "weather incident." Possible tornado touches down: At least 3 injured, several buildings damaged in possible Ferry Pass tornado (WEAR) — The arrest report for the September 2024 Ferry Pass murder reveals that the 30-year-old victim was shot and killed in an apparent planned attack by his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend WEAR News previously reported that Derrick Stewart, 27, and Desirae McCants, 21, were arrested Wednesday for the murder of Larry Spires III on Sept while McCants is charged with principal to murder Both are being held in Escambia County Jail without bond The shooting happened around 3 a.m. outside an apartment at 8340 Country Walk Drive where McCants resided Spires' body was found in the grass later that morning with three gunshot wounds an investigation revealed that Spires and McCants had been in a past relationship but McCants and Stewart were in a current relationship Spires was with another person who told him that Stewart was now "seeing" McCants Spires then called McCants to talk about the situation -- telling her he was coming over to her Country Walk Drive residence and he would call when he arrived video surveillance showed the shooting unfolding a black Nissan Sedan -- with McCants driving and Stewart in the passenger seat -- arrived at the complex and backed into a parking spot it appears the driver's phone lights up and flashes several times as if getting a phone call," deputies noted in the report video showed Stewart exiting the passenger seat walking to where Spires is standing near his car and shooting him three times Stewart then sprints back to the car and jumps in the passenger seat before the vehicle takes off north at a high rate of speed The report states investigators obtained search warrants to analyze Stewart's and McCants' cell phone records from that night and the following day the cell records put them both at the crime scene that night then show they eventually traveled together to Atlanta later in the afternoon 23 -- after deputies put out a notice to all law enforcement about the black Nissan Sedan being used in a violent felony -- police in Brookhaven located the vehicle at an apartment complex in their area They then towed the vehicle to their police department Records show that Stewart has been arrested 11 times in Escambia County since 2012 as well as three times in Santa Rosa County since 2020 He served over a year in prison from 2015 to 2016 for a carjacking case then served over a year in prison from April 2023 to May 2024 for meth trafficking McCants does not have a past criminal history Cook Out’s first restaurant in the Pensacola area is still in the works after receiving another development order from the Development Review Committee (DRC) for plans to build a restaurant in Ferry Pass The project’s development order shows they have been approved to demolish a former Regions Bank and turn its 1.16-acre site at 1735 E. Nine Mile Road into a 1,500-square-foot restaurant with two drive-thru lanes and 26 parking spots that could be accessed using Baldridge Road or East Nine Mile Road Regions Bank sold the parcel to Cook Out Pensacola but the location hasn’t been developed yet because they never obtained a permit from the county’s Building Services Department for the project First Watch planning new location: Popular breakfast, brunch and lunch chain could expand in northwest Pensacola An amended proposal for Cook Out’s potential restaurant was reviewed on Oct 2 by the DRC for final application review since their previous approval from 2022 expired Development orders are no longer effective 18 months after they’re issued Cook Out’s plans for their Ferry Pass restaurant remain the same as no updated plans for the proposal were filed with Escambia County and its updated development order includes the same vision Cook Out's development would add another option to University Town Center’s choice of restaurants including businesses like Chick-fil-A a civil engineering and land surveying firm based in North Carolina that specializes in commercial restaurant and retail projects was behind Cook Out’s proposal to Escambia County in 2022 The DRC approved their plans two days after the company was acquired by another development firm named Sambatek planning and environmental services firm that provides commercial and residential land development services in addition to public infrastructure design What is Cook Out?Cook Out is an American fast-food chain often known for its cheap meals and quick service The fast-food chain’s signature “Cook Out Trays” offer two entrees two sides and a beverage as one combo meal Their menu hosts a range of options from quesadillas and barbecue plates to milkshakes and cajun fries the brand had expanded to 10 locations in North Carolina Cook Out’s first location outside of North Carolina was built in Spartanburg Cook Out opened their first store in Virginia and Tennessee respectively Cook Out now has more than 250 locations across 10 states -- Escambia County Fire Rescue saysChief Mark Clark passed away on Saturday Chief Clarkserved the residents of Ferry Pass for 34 years "Chief Clark passed away...surrounded by family and his fellow firefighter brothers and sisters,"Escambia County Fire Rescue says in a Facebook post CLAIRSVILLE — It was Hall of Fame night Friday at Red Devil Stadium and St Clairsville put forth a hall of fame performance in the first quarter then withstood a second-quarter challenge from Martins Ferry in a 55-21 victory The Red Devils (4-0) exploded for 28 points on just six offensive snaps a long punt return and four PATs by Tyler Harris “It was a fast start and there were a lot of big plays that almost took the breath out of us,” veteran St Clairsville head coach Brett McLean offered “We were on the field defensively a ton because we were scoring so fast after we got the ball We got ahead of ourselves and turned the ball over a couple of times.” After stopping the Purple Riders (3-1) on fourth down on the first series of the game Senior quarterback Brody Schafer play-faked into the line and then fired a strike down the middle of the field to a wide-open Brody Saunders Once again a Martins Ferry fourth down attempt came up short and the hosts needed just two plays — a 59-yard hookup from Schafer to Dino Burk and a 21-yard sprint by Burk off left end intercepted a Martins Ferry pass and returned it to the Purple Riders’ 30 Schafer teamed with Schoolcraft on a 35-yard completion that moved the ball to the 1 after scoring three touchdowns on four carries and catching a pair of passes for 81 Burk watched the second half from the sidelines after sustaining a left shoulder injury in the second quarter “I don’t talk about kids’ injuries,” McLean said Ollie Muhly fielded a Martins Ferry punt at his own 34 He started down the far sidelines before making a cut at the Purple Riders’ 25 and breezing into the end zone for a 28-0 reading “Ollie had a couple big punt returns and runs,” McLean added Martins Ferry finally got on the scoreboard two plays into the second quarter Jacob Theaker booted the first of his three PATs The Red Devils upped the margin to 35-7 when Burk found the end zone from 12 yards out and Harris was true The Purple Riders used some trickery to score on their next possession as Ludolph connected with Maurice Barnett on an 84-yard pitch-and-catch got to the corner and turned on the jets as he raced down the Martins Ferry sideline Martins Ferry’s Tev’n Williams got the ball back for his team when he picked off Schafer near his own 15 and returned it to midfield The Purple Riders needed seven plays ro cover the distance overcoming a touchdown pass that was called back due to holding Ludolph lofted a jump-ball to the left corner of the end zone that the 6-6 Alex Reese leaped to grab Theaker made it 42-21 with just over eight minutes left in the first half 49-yard drive that featured a 15 yard reception by himself His scoring run came from a yard out and bumped the count to 42-21 He then intercepted a pass late in the half “I don’t know if I’ve ever been prouder of a group of kids than I was tonight,” Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka said “To take those haymakers early and with such a young team to get up and dust ourselves off and start throwing haymakers back should be proud of the effort these kids gave tonight,” Kropka praised That’s what being a Purple Rider is all about.” Schoolcraft took a handoff from Schafer on a draw play and sprinted 46 yards to paydirt The Red Devils capped the scorefest in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Sam McLean found Guy Vcelka for a 7-yard scoring strike on fourth-and-goal James Parsons added the final point.” Schoolcraft ran for 180 yards and two scores on 14 carries Schafer completed 8-of-11 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown The Red Devils amassed 453 yards of total offense Clairsville kept the visitors off the scoreboard in the second half limiting them to no first downs in the third quarter and no points during the second half With Burk on the sideline nursing a sore shoulder The senior finished with a career-high 180 yards on 14 carries Schafer completed 8-of-11 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown.Seven different Red Devils caught at least one pass “Gavin made some big plays on both sides of the football,” McLean noted “This team is finding ways to win games right now but we’ve still got a long way to go.” Clairsville’s winning streak over Martins Ferry to eight games now The Red Devils have scored more than 50 points in four consecutive meetings Clairsville inducted four members into its Athletic Hall of Fame at halftime They included current Superintendent of Schools Walt Skaggs; current Director of Athletics Justin Clifford; Ken Holloway and Bethany Stranges Today's breaking news and more in your inbox PITTSBURGH (AP) — Stephen Kolek pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his first major league start and combined with .. MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and the Chicago Cubs’ Craig Counsell have a friendship that goes back .. | https://www.timesleaderonline.com | 200 S Four months after a fatal shooting in Ferry Pass Escambia County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Pensacola man and woman and charged both with second-degree murder Deputies arrested 27-year-old Derrick Stewart and 21-year-old Desirae McCants Wednesday in connection with the death of Larry Spires III on Sept "Due to the above stated facts and circumstances it is apparent that McCants and Stewart traveled to 8330 Country Walk (Dr.) to meet with Spires III," police records said "It is apparent that Stewart exits the black 2015 Nissan sedan regularly driven by McCants and shoots and kills Spires III shortly after exiting the vehicle." Family members of Spires told law enforcement that he may have had a problem with another man named "Bo." Since "Bo" was involved in a previous ECSO call investigators knew they were looking for Stewart Another witness who was in a "casual relationship" with Spires told investigators that he had "recently been seeing" McCants who was also in a relationship with Stewart the ECSO discovered McCants and Spires had made several phone calls with one another before the shooting "When McCants and Stewart arrive in the area of 8330 Country Walk moments before Spires III was murdered it is apparent based on video footage that McCants who was driving the vehicle parked in a preplanned position and location where flight from the scene would be quicker by backing into a parking space," records say The Office of the State Attorney has charged both McCants and Stewart with second-degree murder Stewart is additionally charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon Both are scheduled to be arraigned on their charges Feb The past year has been full of new restaurant openings particularly in and around the north central region Pensacola Here are 12 that have opened in the north central region this past year bringing everything from Venezuelan hand-patted empanadas to South Indian biryani Check back for more stories as we unpack some of the biggest restaurant openings of 2024 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties by neighborhood Downtown Pensacola restaurants: 13 restaurants that opened in the downtown area this year Mr. Pollo has been a Pensacola favorite since it first opened at 6404 N with the rotisserie-style Peruvian charcoal chicken as star of the menu Pollo co-owners Eduardo Arraez and Maria Rodriguez announced they would be bringing a second store to Pensacola Pollo menu is broken up into a handful of soups desserts and the main attraction: the chicken meals juicy chicken that the restaurant is named after is first brined for four or five days before being placed in the charcoal oven it is sold in multiple sizes including the whole chicken Read more about Mr In June, Michael Huang brought Hawaiian comfort classics in a fast, street-food style to 2170 W. Nine Mile Road as Huang’s recipes are modeled after his uncle Tai’s Hawaiian cooking he grew up on Some of the fan-favorites include the gravy-doused Loco Moco Mixed Plate packed with barbecue short ribs Read more about Hulu Hawaiian Barbecue The cozy restaurant hosts an expansive menu combining the worlds of quick street foods and full-out lunch and dinner plates If customers want to create their own plate the eatery has a rotating hot bar of meats beans and sides that can be scooped onto a lunch or dinner plate for a quick meal on the spot you can hold out for one of the made-to-order menu items Among the best sellers is the “Patacones De Pollo Y De Carne” or a chicken or beef sandwich that stars two fried plantains that serve as the bread slices of a traditional sandwich Read more about Bedegon Sabor Latino Just last week, Oregon-based coffee franchise Dutch Bros Coffee officially opened its first Pensacola location Dutch Bros offers a wide range of beverages to choose from customers can get a taste of some of the Dutch Bros signatures that have developed a cult-following on the West Coast a vanilla and caramel breve with a caramel drizzle through either the drive-thru or walk-up window Read more about Dutch Bros Coffee From the makers of Pensacola Mexican restaurant Mama’s Tacos comes their brand-new venture − Sports Bar 850 − with two locations slated to open this year the first location at Mobile Highway opened its doors with some of the specialty menu items including The Famous Pensacola Shrimp Bowl Read more about Sports Bar 850 Wild Honey opened its first store on North Davis Highway in February of 2014 setting the stage for a decade of sweetness and community Wild Honey announced it would be making the move from North Davis Highway to a new location at the University Town Center in Ferry Pass where it will have twice the space The new location off East Nine Mile Road is the third store that Wild Honey has built in the last decade Aside from Wild Honey's award-winning frozen yogurt the family-owned business offers a variety of options that include gelatos sorbets and seasonal options like Italian ice Read more about Wild Honey Frozen Yogurt In February, Pensacolians could hardly contain their excitement when the wildly popular, fast-casual Okaloosa County-based restaurant opened its third location The Pensacola menu is built around its customizable plates with choice in size The first meat option is the teriyaki chicken which the Pounders family claims is “what they come for.” The boneless chicken thighs are marinated with a house-made teriyaki sauce overnight before being grilled smoky slow-roasted kalua pig and juicy garlic chicken Read more about Pounders Hawaiian Grill Rosalinda Sowell fulfilled her dream of opening a brick-and-mortar after beginning her business in a food truck in Pace While her restaurant offers a more expansive menu of traditional Mexican fare including her signature sopes − a Mexican street food made with a hand-patted homemade masa base − the tamales are cherished because they’re linked to one of her fondest memories of growing up in Mexico City While the tamales are likely to be a major piece of Los Panchos’ claim to fame the rest of the menu equally delivers in freshness and flavor Sowell keeps no secrets when it comes to what happens inside her kitchen Read more about Los Panchos Tamales Y Tacos In July, Jones’ Shakes made its debut in Pensacola mustering up a reputation for offering close to 300 flavors There’s a shake to fit your every mood – from breakfast shakes capturing all the nostalgic flavors of children's cereals to dessert shakes with brownies where owner Christopher Miller set out to create a milkshake that truly resembled the flavor after which it was named his team has been non-stop crafting shakes straight out of their wildest dreams From bacon-wrapped dates to honey siracha − no combo is too crazy Read more about Jones' Shakes In July, Jim ‘N Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q brought its mouthwatering barbecue to 7011 N with over 40 locations spanning the southeast Part of the company’s claim to fame is having no microwaves The smokers are visible from the dining room and the blend for the famous cheese biscuits is for sale at the counter if you want to try and recreate them yourself The recipes followed in the stores have been in use for decades which is why the food is reminiscent of something that would be passed around your family’s dinner table the Southern sides deserve recognition of their own brisket chili and creamy macaroni and cheese Read more about Jim 'N Nick's In January, Sree’s Kitchen started off the year strong with a new restaurant serving up from-scratch South Indian cuisine While many are familiar with the traditional Northern Indian favorites owner Sreelatha Pati said it was difficult to find anything reminiscent of the South Indian favorites her family grew up on The menu is split into snacks and main courses where you'll see traditional South Indian favorites scattered throughout vada (savory fried snacks) and puri (deep-fried bread) Some of the popular meal plates include the masala dosa (lentil rice crepes) with chicken curry a spicy Indian street food with mashed mixed vegetables in a buttery tomato curry which is what Pati anticipates the restaurant will become known for Read more about Sree's Kitchen Just last week, Smalls Sliders opened its first Florida location in Pensacola serving up mouthwatering miniature cheeseburgers the bright orange shipping container that serves as the roof of the fast-casual burger restaurant was lowered by crane creating a spectacle for curious drivers along North Davis Highway making their morning commute construction moved along quickly to create the quick service restaurant with a drive-thru walk-up order counter and outdoor dining area canopied by rows of alluring string lights You won't struggle to figure out what to order at Smalls since the concept is a simple one − miniature cheeseburgers the food is made fresh to order and designed to make a lasting impression amongst competitors Read more about Smalls Sliders Stay up to date on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter Sign up for the newsletter at profile.pnj.com/newsletters/pensacola-eats/ -- An Escambia County property owner claims ongoing sewage leaks have led to major damage in his backyard Trent Norman says the back deck at his home on Baybrook Drive is nearly gone after a sewage leak nearby flooded the creek that runs through his property Norman says Escambia County Utilities Authority isn't offering to help the fix the problems as the affected area gets worse The most recent leak happened just two days ago off Old Spanish Trail Road Norman says countless gallons of raw sewage flowed directly on his property -- essentially polluting the freshwater creek behind his home with human feces Norman noticed flooding in a dry creek bed on his property along Scenic Highway Norman says he couldn't escape the smell as the flow went on for eight hours Norman says the ECUA soon stopped the leak and pumped out thousands of gallons of sewage from the creek "And during the cleanup process they sprayed probably 250,000 gallons of freshwater mixed with detergent you can see the deck is now rotting dramatically and rapidly." He says the flood of material happened again this week "...You can still see the feces in there." Videos from Tuesday night show the rapid flood rushing through Norman's backyard He says ECUA addressed his issue and offered to pump out the sewage but Norman says they haven't agreed to fixing his deck WEAR News was told ECUA determined the deteriorated deck wasn't caused by the sewage "They sent out an inspector of their own and looked at the deck and didn't think the flood caused anything," Norman says "So they wrote me a check for $200 of gravel to fill up where the water had pushed it out "I don't want them coming through my property unless they agree to repair the damages they cause afterwards," he added "Just clean the human feces off my property and repair my deck ECUA sent WEAR News a public notice from the incident two days ago They determined the cause of the spill was due to a broken 16" force main An estimated 82,500 gallons of spillage entered the Graveyard Branch Creek Crews diverted an additional 140,000 gallons to nearby lift stations While ECUA says repairs were made and the area was cleaned Norman and others WEAR News have spoke to this year say the problems are piling up "This is a recurring theme," Norman says "This has happened to me on my property twice I've heard of other occasions in the past few months The fact of the matter is this is just not enough." Norman says the last time sewage was pumped out on his property it took four septic trucks with 20 men four hours He says this latest spill could take more manpower to clean it up -- A new community center will be coming to Ferry Pass Escambia County Commissioners are considering improvements to a currently vacant building in the area The estimated cost for the project is more than $650,000 WEAR News spoke with residents who say they’re happy with the idea of a community center close by to enjoy The building on N 9th Avenue in Ferry Pass will be revamped as a new community center for the area County Administrator Wes Moreno says this conversation started when Robert Bender was the Commissioner for the district Moreno says the county bought the property from the University of West Florida “What came to fruition was us perching that property and then beginning to work and plan to convert it into a community center," saysMoreno The Escambia County Board of Commissioners will be looking at a project to improve the property “There’s some work that had to be done on the inside which is still going on and of course there’s quite a bit of work that needs to be done on the site plan," says Moreno The project outlines things like a new parking lot The roughly 8,000 square foot building itself will be renovated by the county facilities management department Moreno says the plans for programs at the center have not been solidified yet He says people will be able to host events there and that there could be additions made to the facility "I think in the long term you'll see a playground go in there for the kids and the youth and possibly even a walking track," says Moreno says this can be a good addition to Ferry Pass he says the center will help give the children nearby things to do "I'm not sure where the closest community center is from where we're at but I feel like it has to be a little bit further than some people have the ability to get to," Montaina said "I think this is the area that probably does need something like a community center." agrees saying the community center should also consider programs for seniors living in the area and making new friends," says Gilmore The Board of Commissioners will be talking about this project Monday morning in their regular meeting Wes Moreno tells WEAR News the community center could be open by fall of next year A new business could be coming soon to Ferry Pass following a proposal filed with Escambia County’s Development Review Committee (DRC) last month The project proposes developing a new commercial building on a corner lot of Baldridge Drive that will be near Kohl’s and Target off of East Nine Mile Road The building will be a "personal service establishment," according to the project’s narrative form filed with the county though exactly what business will inhabit the space is not yet publicly available local civil-engineering group Hammond Engineering was unable to provide comment on the proposal and their plans for the tenant at this time Here’s what to know about the commercial building proposal intended for Ferry Pass 7 Brew plans North Davis Hwy location: National coffee chain still trying to lay Pensacola roots. What to know about their plans. Developers proposed building this project at 9294 Baldridge Drive in Ferry Pass and also developing a new access road for its 0.61-acre site The commercial building itself is planned to be 3,200 square feet and have 11 parking spaces total The site of the potential project neighbors a family physician’s office however only trees stand on the land currently This is the second time that this project has been filed with the county What’s near the Baldridge Drive proposal?If approved by the county the Baldridge Drive Commercial project will be developed near Kohl’s in Ferry Pass and connected to a frontage road leading from the department store This is planned to be the only access road to the building A project to develop Pensacola’s first Cook Out is also in the works down the road from the Baldridge Drive Commercial project The chain is still underway with their project which was issued a Development Order from the DRC in 2022 In September 2000, ferry service began connecting the town of Haverstraw with the town of Ossining across the Hudson River during weekday rush hours Now that service has expanded to operate on weekends from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm with boats timed to connect at Ossining with Metro-North trains to and from Grand Central You can even get a weekly or monthly combination rail pass and ferry ticket (the UniTicket) at a discount making it cheaper and easier than ever to get from Rockland and Orange County to Westchester the Hudson Valley and New York City via Metro-North If you’ve never stepped foot on the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry don’t fret: We’ve created a short guide to riding it from one side of the Hudson to the other — a trip that takes less than half an hour each way and that quickly connects you to trains heading north and south on Metro-North's Hudson Line If you’re coming from Haverstraw, head to the ferry dock not far from Emeline Park and the Waterfront at The Harbors apartment complex. (If you drove, you’ll find a free parking lot nearby.) There, you’ll find the NY Waterway ferry ready to take you across the Hudson. Once you’ve purchased your ticket — which you can do at a ticket booth in Haverstraw or on the NY Waterway app — and made your way on board head to the small outdoor deck at the back of the boat sit back and enjoy the scenic views along the Hudson including Croton Point Park or the Governor Mario M From the dock in Henry Gourdine Park, you’re less than a minute from Ossining’s Metro-North station the ferries are timed to connect with Metro-North trains to and from Grand Central you’re well on your way to parts upstate or down into the city By the way, the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry is a great way for Yankees fans in Orange and Rockland counties to get to and from home games on the weekends; take the ferry and hop on a southbound Metro-North train to the Yankee Stadium-E 153 St station as bicycles are allowed on the ferry at all times If you’re making the trip from Ossining, check out what Haverstraw has to offer. For example: did you know that the oldest chocolate store in New York is located there? Lucas Candies (6 Main Street) has been in business since 1896 serving hand-made and high-quality chocolate A few doors down, you’ll find something just as unique: a museum dedicated to bricks. The Haverstraw Brick Museum pays tribute to the town’s time at the center of the Hudson Valley brick-making industry in the 19th century and its role in the development of the area at large as well as the importance and legacy of brickyards and brick-making in New York You’ll find excellent views of the Hudson at Emeline Park, right by the ferry dock. There's some Revolutionary War-era history on site, too, in the form of a monument noting the nearby location of Benedict Arnold’s infamous 1780 deal to hand over West Point to the British take a stroll along adjacent First Street and tour the houses along the block — a fun mix of styles ranging from Federal to Queen Anne Victorian to Italianate For a full ferry schedule between Ossining and Haverstraw, check out NY Waterway’s weekday and weekend service tables. Weekend service is currently scheduled to run until November 10. For more information on fares and the UniTicket, click here The ferry dock in Ossining is approximately a one-minute walk from Ossining Station © 2025 Metropolitan Transportation Authority Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Media Kit Subscribe to MTA Away's Newsletter The Department of Transportation is advising the public of a social media scam “promoting a three-month smart pass” for the bus and ferry “The Department of Public Transportation advises that an advertisement promoting a three-month smart pass has been circulating on various social media platforms “Please be aware that this is a scam not a promotion by the Department of Public Transportation or the Government of Bermuda The department is urging customers not to click on the link in the caption as it may lead to personal data theft or financial fraud “The Bermuda Police Service has been notified regarding the post.” #Scams #SocialMedia Category: All, News, technology Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed has any official from the Department of Public Transportation or the Government of Bermuda reported to the “social media” platforms that this is a scam That is not in anyone’s job description And no one in Government would ever be on social media during working hours Our egg-tossing preventative BPS patrols do not have time to deal with this Officers are being pulled from every department to combat a potential egg-tossing crime wave XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> -- A shootout took place in the Dreamland Skate Center parking lot on Sunday night in Ferry Pass It happened outside the Skate Center on the 2600 block of East Olive Road According to a spokesperson for Dreamland Skate Center the incident took place at a 4-year-old's private birthday party ECSO says there was a dispute between two people who fired at each other Investigators are trying to identify the suspects If you have any information on this incident contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office A long overlooked, historic Black cemetery in Warrington is getting some much-needed support from Escambia County The Board of County Commissioners agreed to give $25,000 to help maintain Good Hope A.M.E Cemetery at their regular meeting on Monday The money is allocated from the Tourist Development Council and is in addition to $225,000 already appropriated for the cemetery’s maintenance from West Florida Historic Preservation Cemetery funding: Warrington Cemetery has been lost to time more than once, but community won't let it go Kohler was approached by area civil rights activist Ellison Bennett about the overgrown conditions at the cemetery which dates back to the mid-1800s and where generations of Black residents are buried The cemetery has been lost and found more than once due to overgrowth and neglect The funds will be used to help maintain the cemetery and keep it in good condition Escambia commissioners also approved a contract to begin work on renovating and improving the Ferry Pass Community Center at 8800 N They agreed to spend $658,045 to hire contractors to begin the work designing and building a new parking lot There are also plans for Escambia County Facilities Management to renovate the existing 8,000-square foot building located on the site The project is being funded with American Rescue Plan Act monies Kitsap Transit has proposed a fare increase for its passenger ferry program starting October 1 and is looking for public comment before a public hearing to be held July 2 The fare increase would be the first in Kitsap Transit’s seven years of service since 2017. An announcement released on the service’s website and sent on rider alerts cited “ongoing inflationary conditions and growing urgency to preserve the long-term sustainability” of the fleet and facilities as occasion for the price bump Full fare for a westbound fast ferry ticket would jump from $10 to $12 while an eastbound ticket would remain the same and a monthly pass would now cost $196 instead of $168 The eastbound and westbound PugetPass would also be $432 when it used to be $360 Each respective fare price would increase again on October 1 Kitsap Transit’s bus/ferry pass would be eliminated Passholders would instead be offered fare-free rides on the foot ferries ACCESS and on-demand/dial-a-ride services for the month their pass is valid Parking fees would also increase at the Annapolis ferry terminal along with parking fines for all parking lots A daily parking fee would jump to $7 from $5 A full view of Kitsap Transit’s fare policy proposal can be viewed online at the service’s website would also be delegated authority to set special fare rates under the new policy The Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed fare increases on July 2 at 8:30 a.m and are opening a public comment period from May 18 until July 1 at 4 p.m Public comments can be submitted in a written form to clerk Jackie Bidon at 60 Washington Avenue, Suite 200; Bremerton, WA 98337 or by email at JacquelynB@kitsaptransit.com. Comments can also be submitted online by June 13.