Florida Property Tax Deadline Extended To April 15. Here’s How To Pay In Escambia County.
March 26, 2020
The 2019 property tax deadline in Florida has been extended to April 15.
Over $20 million in property taxes remain unpaid in Escambia County, according to Tax Collector Scott Lunsford, representing approximately seven percent of the tax roll. Penalties of three percent for real estate taxes and one and one-half percent for tangible taxes will be assessed on April 16.
Payment options in Escambia are:
- online by midnight CDT, April 15, 2020, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with an April 15, 2020 postmark;
- left by midnight CDT, April 15, 2020 in a 24-hour drop box, currently available at Downtown, Marcus Pointe and Molino locations; or
- by joining the phone queue at EscambiaTaxCollector.com by close of business April 15, 2020.
Payments for current taxes can be made by eCheck with no extra fee, or with a credit or debit card (convenience fee will apply).
Escambia County Tax Collector lobbies and the call center are closed due to COVID-19. At this time, drive-thrus are reserved for picking up complete transactions only.
Newly Obtained Data Shows 2,000 Tested For COVID-19 In Escambia County; Health Dept. Director Says There Is No ‘Community Spread’
March 26, 2020
UPDATE – New data obtained by NorthEscambia.com Thursday morning shows that close to 2,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 at hospitals and drive-thru testing sites in Escambia County
The report shows that 1,968 individuals have taken the test. Of those, 163 tests were done at hospitals and 1,805 were done at drive-thru testing. The report indicates that the information includes data from Community Health of Northwest Florida, West Florida Hospital, Baptist Hospital and Ascension Sacred Heart.
The data does not include any information about the number of positives or negatives or how many of the nearly 2,000 people are still waiting for results to come back from a lab.
PREVIOUS STORY:
One thousand or more COVID-19 tests have been done in Escambia County, but exactly how many remains unclear.
Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, said early Wednesday morning that “1,000 or so” tests have been done by the hospitals in the county. The samples have either gone to private labs or now Sacred Heart has in-hospital capabilities to run 50 or more tests per day.
The state’s official data dashboard, as of Wednesday night, shows only 237 total tests in Escambia County. Lanza said those tests are the ones that have been processed by the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Florida and don’t necessarily reflect the hospital tests. The data shows 217 of those tests were negative, and three are still pending.
Wednesday night the state was reporting 17 total confirmed positive tests in Escambia County. The health department says the increasing number is due to the increased number of tests processed.
“The most testing you do, the more chance you are going to find positives,” Lanza said. He said the positive rate in Escambia County is about 1%, compared to 9-10% on average for the state and country.
“That also indicates the lack of community spread here because we are only getting 1% positives,” he said, adding that New York state is at 25%.
Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown, according to the CDC.
As for testing protocol — who gets a test and who does not — Lanza explained it comes down to screening questions. Those questions, according to a FDOH Escambia news release, include:
- Are you experiencing symptoms, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath?
- Have you returned from travel to an affected area, or been on a cruise within the last 14 days?
- Have you been around someone diagnosed with COVID-19? Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
When asked how someone would expect to know if they have come in contact with a diagnosed COVID-19 case, Lanza said it’s not likely that has occurred.
“Since there is not a declared clear community spread, the the chances are you have not come in contact with someone with COVID. If there is community spread, then that would be a different answer and the criteria might change at that point,” Lanza said.
Cantonment Man Charged With Strangling His Wife In Local Trailer Park
March 26, 2020
An Escambia County man is facing a felony charge after allegedly strangling his wife at a Cantonment trailer park.
T
he Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance trailer park in the 1300 block of Tate School Road where they were met by a juvenile advising Alonzo Thompkins, Sr. was holding his wife down “right now” inside a mobile home.
The deputy ran inside the residence where he found Thompkins, 52, in a bedroom holding his wife down by her hair as she was screaming “please get him off me”. The deputy pulled Thompkins off and took him into custody.
The wife told deputies the couple of 10 years had been in a lengthy verbal altercation that ended when Thompkins jumped on her and hit her face multiple times, an arrest report states. The victim said at one time he pushed down on her throat and made breathing difficult, and he struck her in the face with a closed fist, according to the report.
Thompkins was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, a third degree felony.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was also contacted because a juvenile was in the trailer at the time of the altercation.
Thompkins was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
UWF Giving Housing Refunds, Offering All Courses Online For Summer 2020
March 26, 2020
The University of West Florida is offering housing refunds and will offer all courses online for the summer semester.
With exception of a small number of students with no other options, students were forced out of their campus housing due to COVID-19. Now, the university is offering flat-rate refunds ranging from $825 to $1,025 per student depending on the type of housing unit. Students are required to provide e-refund information by April 1 or a refund check will be mailed.
The college said they are still working with their vendor on refunds for student meal plans.
UWF also announced Wednesday that all Summer 2020 course will be offered online, with summer registration opening on March 30. Available courses will be posted at that time.
Complete information is below for housing and dining refunds as well as information on summer course offerings.
REFUNDS
Housing: Room and board costs will be prorated for all residential students who vacated campus housing through the rest of the Spring 2020 semester.
The University will provide students a flat-rate refund based on the type of housing unit:
- Residence Hall Single – $925.00 per student
- Residence Hall Double – $825.00 per student
- Apartment 4 Bedroom – $925.00 per student
- Apartment 2 Bedroom – $1,025.00 per student
Students with any outstanding balances with the University will have this amount deducted before they receive a refund.
Refunds will be provided via the UWF Student Financial Services BankMobile Disbursements. To expedite the refund process, make sure your e-Refund information is set up by Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 5 p.m. If the e-Refunds option is not selected, a refund check will be mailed to your address on file.
As a reminder, students with no relocation options are not required to check out of housing and should contact housing@uwf.edu for special accommodations. Residents who are on the list of special accommodations and residing on campus after March 30, 2020, will not receive a housing refund.
Students who need to retrieve their belongings should contact Housing and Residence Life before coming to campus at housing@uwf.edu. In an effort to have as few people on campus as possible, we ask that you comply with our efforts to coordinate move out.
Campus Dining Plans: University administration is actively working with our vendor to determine the specifics on refunds. Stay tuned for more details as soon as they are available.
If you have a critical financial need, please contact Case Management Services at casemanagement@uwf.edu for further information.
SUMMER 2020 COURSES
In an effort to provide flexibility to our students, faculty and staff, UWF will offer all courses online for Summer 2020. Summer 2020 registration will begin on March 30, 2020. Available courses will be posted at that time. Students should contact their academic advisor prior to registration.
For additional information on UWF’s COVID-19 efforts, please visit www.uwf.edu/coronavirus.
Community Health Suspends Dental Services In Century And Cantonment Due To COVID-19
March 26, 2020
Community Health of Northwest Florida has suspended dental services in Century and Cantonment due to COVID-19.
Due to mandates from the governor’s office and to keep patients, staff and the public safe, the Community Health Dental Department will not perform dental services at the Century Adults, Century Pediatrics and Cantonment Pediatrics through at least May 8.
Only emergency or urgent dental examinations and treatments will be performed at the Fairfield Drive location during expanded hours of 7:45 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Pictured: Community Health of Northwest Florida on Industrial Drive in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Publix, Walmart Installing ‘Sneeze Guards’ At Cash Registers
March 26, 2020
Publix and Walmart are among retailers that have announced they are installing “sneeze guards” to protect both employees and customers.
Publix will install the plexiglass barriers at all registers over the next two weeks. Walmart says the retailer started installing the plexiglass barriers at Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacy lanes and will install these guards at the regular Walmart registers over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
“At Publix, the health and well-being of our associates, our customers and our communities remains our top priority,” said Maria Brous, director of communications, in a statement.
Walmart is also installing floor decals in stores at both the entrances and in checkout lanes, making it easier for customers to judge the proper social distance from each other.
Publix has reduced store hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and designated Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7-8 a.m. as shopping hours for persons 65 and older. Walmart has cut store hours to 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m, and has senior shopping on Tuesdays one hour before the regular store opening.
Florida Attorney General Goes After Amazon Reseller Price Gouging
March 26, 2020
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued more than 40 subpoenas to third-party sellers in Florida accused of price gouging on essential commodities through accounts on Amazon.
The subpoenas come as Moody’s Consumer Protection Division continues to review allegations of unlawful price increases on essential commodities during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Allegations against the third-party vendors include excessive price increases on commodities such as face masks, hand sanitizers and disinfectants of up to 1,662 percent.
Moody said, “Floridians are searching for essential products needed to stay safe and healthy during this COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, when they find these products for sale online, they often discover that the price tag makes them unattainable. This is unacceptable and unlawful. My Consumer Protection investigators are working diligently to identify, investigate and bring to justice anyone trying to exploit this global health crisis to rip off Floridians, and we appreciate Amazon’s commitment to helping us stop third-party vendors trying to use its online platform to exploit the crisis.”
Before Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state emergency over the spread of COVID-19, activating Florida’s price gouging laws, Moody said she began communicating with Amazon and other retailers in an effort to protect Florida consumers. Since then, the Attorney General’s Office has worked with Amazon to:
Set up a system to quickly review and address the concerns of consumers who contact the Attorney General’s Price Gouging Hotline;
Provide refunds directly to Florida consumers—even if sellers were third parties;
Remove more than 35 posts selling products at inflated prices related to complaints made by Florida consumers to the Hotline; and
Create a specific point of contact for the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division to quickly address pricing and other consumer-related issues.
Toll To Pensacola Beach Is Now All Electronic, No Cash Accepted
March 26, 2020
The new all-electronic tolling system on Bob Sikes Bridge to Pensacola Beach went live on March 20, which was earlier than anticipated to adhere to social distancing for toll booth workers.
The toll remains $1, but cash and coins are no longer accepted.
All tolls are collected electronically. Motorists will use either SunPass, another interoperable transponder or be billed utilizing the Toll-by-Plate system. Toll-by-Plate customers will be charged a $1 toll for each trip, plus a monthly $2.50 administrative fee and will receive a bill by mail.
While the sandy part of the public beaches are closed at least until April 2 under a county order, the public is still welcome to drive to the beach
“Pensacola Beach establishments are still offering various take out food options while the public beaches remain closed,” said District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender. “While we social distance due to COVID-19, let’s help out our local businesses and all their hardworking employees by utilizing take out and to go options.”
Revenues from the toll are currently being used to pay for the 2020 bridge rehabilitation project and the bond payment for the widening of Via De Luna Lane through 2031. Revenues will also go toward a replacement bridge needed in approximately 15 years.
Warm Spring Day With Highs Near 90 For Thursday
March 26, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Now At 17 Coronavirus Cases, Santa Rosa At Eight
March 25, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE
Escambia County now has 17 confirmed coronavirus cases according to the Florida Department of Health. The Santa Rosa County total has also increased by one for a total of eight as of a late Wednesday afternoon update.
Eleven of the Escambia County cases are in Pensacola, and six are from Cantonment. They range in age from a 22-year old female to a 76-year old male.
Five of the Santa Rosa County cases are from Navarre, one is from Gulf Breeze, and two are from Milton. They range in age from two to 74. A 71-year old man from Santa Rosa County died, and at least four others are hospitalized.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the total number of Florida cases was 1,977 of which 1,867 are Florida residents and 110 are non-residents within the state. There have been 23 deaths reported across the state, including the Santa Rosa County man that died at a Pensacola hospital.