Escambia Voter Turnout Approaches 25 Percent; Polls Open Until 7:00
August 28, 2018
Escambia County was approaching a 24 percent voter turnout by about 3:00 Tuesday afternoon, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Most polling places were reported to have little or no waiting.
For more information on what you need to know to vote today, click here.
Pictured: The polling place at the Quintette Community Center Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Nine Mile Road Crash
August 28, 2018
Three people were injured in a two vehicle crash about 10:50 Tuesday morning on Nine Mile Road at I-10. Further details have not been released as the Florida Highway Patrol continued their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Residents, Businesses Want Solutions After Cantonment Railroad Crossing Blocked For Hours
August 28, 2018
Residents and business owners are continuing to call for solutions after a stopped train blocked a Cantonment crossing for over two hours Tuesday morning.
They said blocking the Becks Lake Road crossing, just east of Highway 29, leaves residents and business employees no other way in or out, creating a potential public safety issue by blocking emergency services from entering the area. A local business representative said it also impacts their business because employees can’t get to work.
An Escambia County spokesperson said 911 dispatchers were not notified by the railroad that the crossing was blocked.
We reached out to CSX, but have not received a response.
Pictured: A train blocking the Beck’s Lake Road Tuesday morning. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Primary Election: What You Need To Know In Escambia County
August 28, 2018
Here is the information you need to know about primary voting today in Escambia County, including Pensacola and Century:
- Confirm the location of your polling place. It is listed on your sample ballot, voter information card, online at EscambiaVotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Several polling locations have changed since the last election. Click here for more information.
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.com, e-mail soe@escambiavotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present an approved form of ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
- A sample ballot was mailed to all eligible voters, and you can view your sample ballot online at EscambiaVotes.com.
- Florida holds closed primary elections. In partisan primaries, you are only eligible to vote in contests for the party in which you are registered, unless it is a universal primary or nonpartisan contest.
- Remember to make only one selection per contest on your ballot.
- Registration books closed on July 30 – new registrations and party changes for this election may not be made at the polls.
- You may not return your completed vote-by-mail ballot to your precinct on Election Day – it must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 p.m.
- If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot but chose not to return it and wish to vote at your polling place instead, please bring your unvoted ballot package with you so it can be cancelled.
- If you have not yet voted or did not request a vote-by-mail ballot by August 22, you must go to your designated precinct on Election Day.
Thousands Vote Before Election Day
August 28, 2018
More Floridians have voted before Tuesday’s elections than in past primaries.
In Escambia County, 29,880 votes were cast before the polls opened on a Tuesday, a 14.28 percent turnout already. Of those, 17,779 votes were cast by mail and 12,100 were cast early. There aer 209,031 registered voters in Escambia County.
Nearly 1.86 million votes had been cast statewide as of Monday, with almost 1.2 million vote-by-mail ballots returned and another 658,800 ballots cast at early-voting sites, according to the Florida Department of State. Florida has 13 million registered voters.
Volunteer Firefighters Practice Water Shuttles – Something That Saves You Money
August 28, 2018
Volunteer firefighters from four North Escambia fire stations practiced moving a lot of water quickly Monday night at the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Rescue.
The firefighters from Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill learned about tanker truck and drop tank set up procedures…a process that is part of keeping fire insurance ratings and insurance costs lower for local residents.
Tanker trucks and a “drop tank” holding thousands of gallons are used to shuttle and supply water to firefighters when there is no or an inadequate water supply from a nearby fire hydrant.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Election Day Forecast: 40 Percent Chance Of Rain
August 28, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Labor Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
$646K Grant To Stabilize Gully Threatening Local Neighborhood
August 28, 2018
Escambia County will use a grant to stabilize a gully that is threatening homes and property in local neighborhood.
The $646,930 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program Grant will be used to stabilize the Motley Court Clear Creek Gully, which begins at the end of Motley Court north of East 10 Mile Road.
The drainage way is located within a 30-foot right of way starting at the north end of Motley Court and extending about 1,700 feet to Clear Creek. An open ditch has eroded into a meandering gully, ranging from 10 to 40 feet wide, 3-20 feet deep and extending to University of West Florida property.
At one location along the gullet an almost vertical slope has been identified adjacent to a property owner’s privacy fence on Crooked Oak Drive. Should this gully be left unattended, Escambia County officials said damage to private properties, homes and and continued degradation of eroded sediment in Clear Creek is eminent.
Escambia County has awarded a $75,265 contract to HDR Engineering, Inc. for design services for the project.
Weapons Stolen From Escambia Sheriff’s SWAT Vehicle
August 28, 2018
Three teens are accused of stealing weapons from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, and those weapons are still missing.
About 11 p.m. Saturday night, several items including a fully automatic .223 caliber M4 and several magazines of ammunition and a Taser were stolen from an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT sergeant’s vehicle. Three juveniles – Tahier Harper, 16, Torrance Sumler, 17, and Erick Smith, 17 – were charged in connection with the vehicle burglary.
A silver Ford Escape were seen fleeing the area following the burglary.
The ECSO High Intensity Patrol Unit located the vehicle, and after a brief pursuit Smith and Harper were apprehended. Several items belonging to the Sheriff’s Office were found in the vehicle, according to investigators.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the weapons and other items.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 433-STOP or Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620.
The investigation is in connection with several other vehicle burglaries in the same area, the ECSO said.
New Hours For Splash Pad In Atmore
August 28, 2018
New hours have been announced for the City of Atmore splash pad. It will now be open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. The splash pad is located at South Trammel Street and West Craig Street, just behind Heritage Park on South Main Street. It will close for the season on September 30. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
