Strong Or Severe Storms Becoming Possible By Late Tonight; Flash Flood Watch Issued
March 3, 2020
There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms late Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Potential threats include damaging winds, large hail and a brief tornado. There is also an elevated threat of flash flooding with 3-5 inches of rain expected across the area with localized heavier amounts.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from midnight Tuesday through late Wednesday night.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog after 9pm. Low around 64. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Areas of fog before 8am. High near 70. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 57. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers. Areas of fog before noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Super Tuesday: Alabamians Head To The Polls
March 3, 2020
Alabamians are headed to the polls on this Super Tuesday.
There are 14 Democratic candidates for president on the Alabama ballot, even though about half of them have already dropped out of the race. On the Republican ballot, there are just two candidates for president — Donald Trump and Bill Weld.
Other high profile races are the Republican contest for U.S. Senate and House.
There are seven candidates on the Republican ballot for U.S. Senate:
- Northwest Alabama businessman Stanley Adair
- Southwest Alabama U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne
- Shelby County state Rep. Arnold Mooney
- Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore
- Activist Ruth Page Nelson
- Former U.S. Sen. and ex-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions
- Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville
There are five candidates in the race for Byrne’s U.S. House seat representing southwest Alabama:
- Businessman Jerry Carl
- Veteran John Castoriani
- Former state Sen. Bill Hightower
- Business owner Wes Lambert
- State Rep. Chris Pringle
Both ballots include numerous races for party delegates.
Click below for sample ballots from Escambia County, Alabama:
Polls are open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary Election is March 17.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Gulf Power: We Delivered Best-Ever Service Reliability In 2019
March 3, 2020
Gulf Power Company says they delivered their best-ever service reliability in 2019, thanks to the company’s efforts to make the energy grid stronger and more storm-resilient, according to information filed today with the Florida Public Service Commission.
“Our ongoing investments in strengthening the grid are delivering real results and improving service for our customers,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “We’re continuing to step up our investments over the next several years in storm hardening projects and smart grid technology that will help us deliver even more reliable service to our customers, in good weather and bad.”
The average amount of time that a Gulf Power customer experienced an outage was approximately 25% less than in 2018, the company said in thanks to investments to strengthen the energy grid. The company also achieved best-ever performance for the average number of momentaries or flickers experienced by customers, which are most commonly caused by animals or tree limbs touching power lines.
Between 2019-21, Gulf Power is investing nearly $100 million in storm hardening and reliability improvement efforts. The long-term storm hardening efforts include replacing wooden transmission structures with concrete or steel; hardening the distribution power lines to extreme wind loading criteria; and upgrading flood monitoring at several substations, which will go beyond 2021.
Reliability improvements underway include the installation of 5,500 automated lateral switches by 2021, with the first 2,000 completed last year. Automated lateral switches on power poles help detect and respond to a power outage on a line without having to send a lineworker out. The device can decrease the number of customers affected by outages and prevent temporary issues on the grid, such as a tree branch that falls across a line without breaking it, from becoming extended outages.
Other smart grid investments, such as self-healing network devices, are helping reduce outage times and, in some cases, avoid outages altogether for customers.
Other measures Gulf Power uses to increase reliability include:
Assessing the condition of power lines and other infrastructure using drones, which are more efficient, safer and can spot potential outage issues before they occur.
Clearing vegetation – a major cause of power outages – from more than 9,000 miles of power lines each year.
Inspecting all of the company’s distribution power poles within an eight-year cycle.
While weather plays a part in electric service reliability, the investments Gulf Power is making to improve reliability can help offset those impacts. For example, this January Northwest Florida had three times the number of lightning strikes compared to January 2019, but Gulf Power’s reliability was twice as good this January compared to a year earlier.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile, Highway 29 Closure Rescheduled For Sunday Night
March 3, 2020
The nighttime lane and road closure on Highway 29 and Nine Mile Road have been rescheduled due to forecasted inclement weather.
Drivers traveling Highway and Nine Mile Road in Escambia County will experience the following lane and road closures from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday as crews pour the deck for the final section of the new bridge.
- Southbound Highway 29: The outside, southbound lane will be closed.
- Nine Mile Road: All traffic will be directed to the on and off-ramps at the U.S. 29 overpass. Traffic control officers will be on site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to Highwya 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
- Additionally, Highway 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers should use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone, and watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Highway 29 southbound at Nine Mile Road Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Second Arrest Made In Social Media Shooting Threat Against Middle School In Atmore
March 3, 2020
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson has confirmed a second arrest in connection with a social media threat against Escambia County Middle School in Atmore.
One other juvenile was previously arrested for the threat made February 25 alleging violence the following day. The names of the juveniles have not been released.
In a post widely shared, someone wrote that “I will be shooting up the shooting up the school tomorrow I will hurt everybody”, and it continued with a list of student names and the name of a staff member (redacted from the image).
Extra security was on campus as a result of the threat.
“All emergency protocols were activated and due to efforts by school staff, administrators, parents, and law enforcement, we were able to insure that no child was placed in a dangerous situation and we were able to maintain the goal of educating our children in a safe environment,” Jackson said Monday. “We would like to ask the parents in the community to monitor their children’s social media platforms and remind them that threats are not something to joke about.”
UWF Dance Marathon Raises Record Amount For Children’s Miracle Network
March 3, 2020
The eighth annual University of West Florida Dance Marathon raised a record $87,838.21 on Feb. 29 in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for pediatric hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children’s health issues. All proceeds from UWF’s event will be donated to the oncology unit at Pensacola’s Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, a member of the Children’s Miracle Network.
During UWF Dance Marathon, participants stand on their feet and dance for 10 hours in support of children who cannot. The event was held in the UWF Field House.
“Dance Marathon at UWF is an amazing event for a great cause,” said Dr. Brandon Frye, associate vice president, Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs. “I am very proud of our students, and excited about the work that they have done with the Dance Marathon event over the last eight years.”
The amount raised smashed the previous Dance Marathon record of $60,890.59, set in 2018. Mya Clark, a senior journalism major and executive director of the event, credited initiating Dance Marathon fundraising activities earlier than in previous years for the record amount. The fundraising activities kicked off in October during Homecoming Week with a cookout on the Cannon Green.
“We were more engaged and had more activities to get people involved and excited about it,” Clark said. “The cookout on the Cannon Green got things going in the right way. People were excited from the start.”
The Miracle Network Dance Marathon is held at more than 400 locations across the country and has raised over $300 million since 1991.
UWF fraternities, sororities and other student organizations raised funds as teams for the event and competed in the “Miracle Ball” to see who could raise the most money and create the most awareness for the event through social media and spirit nights. A total of 453 students from 17 teams participated in UWF’s 2020 Dance Marathon. Miracle Ball winners were split into three divisions based on the number of members in the organization:
Cannon Division (less than 30 members): Argonettes Dance Team
Nautilus Division (30-75 members): Pi Kappa Alpha
Argonaut Division (more than 75 members): Kappa Delta
Reward Increased To $54,000 In Case Of Dolphin Found Shot On Pensacola Beach
March 3, 2020
Authorities are stepping up their efforts to solve the case of two dolphins found shot on Florida beaches including one on Pensacola Beach.
Last week, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge experts recovered a dolphin with a bullet in its left side along Pensacola Beach. Florida late last week. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also discovered a dead dolphin off Naple late last week. The animal was fatally wounded from what appeared to be a bullet and/or a sharp object.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and agency partners are offering a reward of up to $54,000 for information on the recent dolphin deaths.
NOAA officials are seeking information from anyone who may have details about these incidents. Please call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. Tips may be left anonymously.
Harassing, hunting, killing or feeding wild dolphins, or attempting to do these activities is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Violations can be prosecuted either civilly or criminally. They are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year in jail per violation.
Walnut Hill Man In Murder, Attempted Murder Case Back In Jail After Bond Revoked
March 2, 2020
UPDATE 2:40 p.m. : Less than three hours after a NorthEscambia.com was published about the search for Christopher James Logan Stacey, he turned himself in and is back behind bars in the Escambia County Jail. He is charged with accessory to homicide and accessory to attempted homicide.
He had been released on bond in a 2018 murder case in which two people were shot and before being dumped in Alabama. An Escambia County Judge revoked his bond last week at the request of the State Attorney’s Office.
His father, Christopher Alan Stacey, 37, was indicted for first degree premeditated murder and attempted first degree premeditated murder for the shooting on Highway 164. If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life without parole. Stacey’s ex-wife, 30-year old Jessica Nichole Thomas, was charged with accessory after the fact to homicide and accessory after the fact to attempted homicide. Alexis Ileene Shiffner-Cain, 21, were each charged with accessory to homicide and accessory to attempted homicide. All three remain jailed as they await trial.
Dalton Davis was found dead in a truck in Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road near Atmore, and Troy Boutwell was found near the road after crawling from the truck, according to an arrest report. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital and then airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile in critical condition at the time.
Alabama detectives learned that Boutwell had been at his friend’s house in the 5900 block of Highway 164, just east of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. Deputies responded to find the three suspects and another individual in the home.
An Escambia County, FL, investigator was contacted by Atmore Police to relay information on the shooting location. He instructed deputies to respond to the home where they found a couch burning in the backyard (photo below). Deputies extinguished the fire. Victim Boutwell later said he was shot on the couch in the home’s living room of the home, which is about nine miles from where the men were found with the truck.
According to the report, an AR-15 was found in one of the bedrooms and a 12 gauge shotgun was found in another bedroom. The report does not specify if either was the murder weapon. A bullet hole was found in an interior wall.
Christopher Alan Stacey was seated on a bucket across the road from the residence watching as investigators processed the crime scene, while his son sat a wooden chair in front of a neighboring home (both pictured below). Cain and Jessica Thomas were placed in the back of ECSO patrol vehicles as investigators worked.
Florida investigators also responded to the truck at Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road in Alabama to process that crime scene with Alabama agencies. The straight-line location of the truck was about 1,000 feet north of Alabama-Florida State line.
Christopher Alan Stacey, resided with Thomas her at the home on Highway 164. Boutwell told law enforcement that he was shot because of an argument with her ex-husband. The son, Christopher James Logan Stacey, also resided in the home, the report states.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Above: Suspects Christopher James Logan Stacey (left) and Christopher Alan Stacey (right) watch as investigators process a murder scene in Walnut Hill Sunday.
Above: A deputy questions Jessica Thomas as she sits inside a patrol vehicle in Walnut Hill.
Above: Deputies found a burning couch in the backyard of the Walnut Hill home.
Above: Florida investigators arrive at the scene on Deere Creek Road in Alabama.
Man Charged With Attempted Homicide After Shooting Sunday In Escambia County
March 2, 2020
A man has been arrested in connection with a shooting Sunday, March 1 in Escambia County.
Airon Carmack, 21, was charged with attempted homicide.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Detroit Boulevard and Redwing Drive for a shots fired call. They arrived on scene to find a male victim who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Two Presumptive Cases Of Coronavirus In Florida; Governor Calls For Public Health Emergency
March 2, 2020
Florida has its first two presumptive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Tampa Bay area, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday night as he ordered the health department to declare a public health emergency.
The first patient is an adult Manatee county resident without travel history to countries identified for restricted travel by the CDC. This person did seek health care, is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. The Florida Department of Health is working closely with the patient, their close contacts and health care providers to isolate and monitor persons who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and implement testing of anyone who may develop COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
The second patient is an adult resident of Hillsborough county with a history of travel to Italy. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials.
“Despite these cases in Florida, the overall immediate threat to the public remains low,” the Florida Department of Health said in a statement.
“I have been working with federal partners and our Department of Health to ensure that communities are ready to handle the challenges presented by COVID-19.,” DeSantis said. “The dedicated professionals at our county health departments, as well as those working at local medical providers, are well equipped to address these and future cases.
“This is the scenario that we prepare for every day in public health. The Department is moving forward with the appropriate plans, and we are working directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local medical providers to ensure these individuals receive the proper treatment and that anyone who has come into contact with them is following the necessary protocols, limiting or stopping any further spread,” said Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees.
About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. As a reminder, the Department always recommends everyday preventive actions to help impede the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
- Staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with persons in poor health;
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
- Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then disposing of the tissue;
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty; and
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The CDC does not recommend that asymptomatic, healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
A person that experiences a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and any other destination under CDC travel advisory should call ahead to their health care provider and local county health department (CHD) and mention their recent travel or close contact.
If a person has had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area or been in contact with a person with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, they should call ahead to a health care professional and the county health department. The health care professional will work with the Department to determine if the person should be tested for COVID-19.