Gulf Power Is Upgrading Their Billing System. That May Cause Problems For Some Customers.
January 22, 2020
Gulf Power will upgrade their customers information and billing system, and that will cause limited functionality for some customers over the next few days.
Some customers will experience limited functionality during an upgrade of Gulf Power’s customer information and billing system, planned for Jan. 22 – 26. During normal operations, this system enables customers to gain information about their energy usage, check their balance and make a payment on their Gulf Power account.
“We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as we work to create a better customer experience,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “We are committed to delivering the best possible service for our customers, and will work cooperatively to address any concerns that may arise during this short period of limited functionality.”
Here is an overview of what customers can expect from Jan. 22 – 26:
- The initial system upgrade will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 22. From 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on this day, the customer information system will have limited functionality and all customers will be unable to make a payment during this time. Customers will not incur any adverse impact to their account due to the timing of this transition.
- From Jan. 23 – 26, approximately 30% of Gulf Power’s customers will continue to have limited functionality during the system upgrade. During this short window of time, the customer information system will continue to be unavailable for those customers, including the ability to make a payment or check account balance through the website or by calling Gulf Power’s customer service phone number. Again, customers will not incur any adverse impact to their account due to the timing of this transition.
- The 30% of Gulf Power customers included in the system upgrade from Jan. 22 – 26 have received direct mail and, in some cases, email communication to inform them of the limited system functionality during this time.
On Jan 27, Gulf Power’s new customer experience system will be available for these customers; all other customer accounts are expected to transition to the upgraded system in late February. We will continue to communicate with customers as more information becomes available.
Gulf Power said the new system will offer:
- Improved automated phone options to deliver 24-hours assistance to customers
- Additional no-fee bill payment option
- New ways to understand and manage your energy usage
- Seamless web experience on all devices
- New and informative bill design
15 Escambia Schools Receive Five Star School Award
January 22, 2020
Fifteen schools were recognized Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board as 2018-2019 Five Star Award winning schools.
The award is bestowed upon schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into the school environment to enhance student learning.
In Escambia County, Five Star Schools Award winners were:
- Jim Allen Elementary – Rachel Watts, principal
- Beulah Elementary – Monica Silvers, principal and Mat Taylor, assistant principal
- Blue Angels Elementary – Jayne Murphy, principal and Vanessa Griffin, guidance counselor/5-Star committee
- Hellen Caro Elementary – Sandy Moore, principal and Julie Pearson, assistant principal
- N.B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts– Lalla Pierce, assistant principal
- Cordova Park Elementary – Aggie Bauer, principal and Tammy Douglas, assistant principal
- Ferry Pass Elementary – Catrena Fieg, principal and Jessica Bryan, assistant principal
- R.C. Lipscomb Elementary – Barbara Quarells, assist. principal
- L.D. McArthur Elementary – Dr. Tamma Vaughn, principal and Kristin Arnold, assistant principal and Evelyn Ball, 5-Star Chairman
- Molino Park Elementary – Lisa Barnes, prinicipal, Angela Hassebrock, 5-Star committee and Gena Daniels, 5-Star committee
- Montclair Elementary – Hollie Wilkins, principal
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Robin Maloy, principal and Gina Hoyland, curriculum coordinator
- Pleasant Grove Elementary – Sunday Tindell, assistant principal
- Scenic Heights Elementary – Shelly Cox, principal
- A.K. Suter Elementary – Russell Queen, principal and Dr. Patrice Moody, assistant principal
The complete criteria for the Five Star School Award is as follows:
• Have a strong community/business partnership program and provide recognition, training and opportunities for the school’s partners to be actively involved in the school.
• Have strong family involvement including an active PTA, booster program or the like; offer educational opportunities and support to families; offer joint parent/student training; offer outreach activities; use a variety of techniques to communicate with families; and provide current information about school policies, practices and school performance.
• Have a strong volunteer program with 80% of school staff having participated in school-based volunteer training; have a designated volunteer coordinator who provides leadership; a total number of hours in volunteer service must equal twice the number of students enrolled in the school; and recognize volunteers.
• Must encourage and support student community service by providing learning opportunities that focus on community needs; have a minimum of 50% of the students involved in community activities.
• Have an active School Advisory Council.
• Must complete a portfolio that documents the requirements; and must
• Have a school grade of “C” or better, as determined by the Florida DOE.
Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Murdering Three Family Members For Money
January 22, 2020
Trial got underway Tuesday for an Escambia County man accused murdering three family members over four years ago.
The case against 63-year old Donald Hartung began with state describing it a triple murder for money. He is facing three counts of first degree premeditated murder in the death of his mother, 77-year old V Voncile Smith and two half-brothers, 47-year old John Smith,and 49-year old Richard Smith. All three bodies were found on July 31, 2015, in their home on Deerfield Drive. All three were beaten with a claw hammer and their throats slit, and Richard Smith was also shot in the head.
Prosecutors say Hartung was intentionally left out of his mother’s will with everything set to go to John and Richard Smith. The state says the interhertience was Hartung’s was motivation, and the only way he would collect any cash would be to kill all three.
Hartung allegedly hit John Smith with a hammer and slit his throat, just before his mother met the same fate. He took steps to hide the bodies, according to prosecutors, before brother Richard — a Department of Homeland Security IT professional — came home. Hartung, the state said, shot him in the head and also slit his throat.
The defense claimed on Tuesday that Hartung never saw the will or knew that he was not in it, questioning how that could be a motivation.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Make Your Mailbox Your Ballot Box
January 22, 2020
It’s less than 60 days before the Presidential Preference Primary Election, and voters can prepare now to vote by mail, according to Escambia Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
One of three convenient ways to vote is by mail, which allows voters to avoid the lines on election day and vote from the convenience of their home. Escambia County voters will be receiving a postcard from Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford with instructions on how to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the March, August and November elections.
Voters have several ways to make their request:
- Visit EscambiaVotes.com and click the Vote By Mail tab. Follow the instructions for completing the online request form, or
- Contact the Supervisor of Elections office by phone (850) 595-3900, or in person, or
- Complete, sign, and return the postage-paid vote-by-mail request form attached to the postcard.
Vote-by-mail voters may track the status of their ballot by using the Track My Ballot feature at EscambiaVotes.com. In addition, a voter can verify their registration status, party affiliation, precinct number and polling location, and view important future election information with the Am I Registered? feature on the home page.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Council On Aging In Desperate Need Of Space Heaters For The Elderly
January 22, 2020
The Council on Aging of West Florida is in desperate need of space heaters for elderly clients who often have no reliable source of safe warmth over the winter.
Donations can be made at 875 Royce Street or online at coawfla.org/donate.
The Council on Aging cannot accept donations of used heaters, because the agency cannot verify the safety of used appliances. Safety information is distributed with each space heater.
Individuals age 60 and over that are suffering in the cold should call (850) 432-1475 to request a space heater and verify heaters in stock before picking one up from 875 Royce Street in Pensacola. They are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and based on need.
Former Longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings Passes Away
January 22, 2020
Former longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings has passed away while on vacation in Georgia. He was 75.
Jennings served as Brewton’s mayor from 1998 to 2012, and also worked as a local pharmacist.
Jennings is former president of the Alabama League of Municipalities where he continued to work with the League and the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund as a staff member of Millennium Risk Managers.
He is survived by his wife Susan, five children and numerous other relatives and friends. Funeral services have not yet been announced.
Century Heat Defeats Atmore
January 22, 2020
Youth basketball (ages 5-7) score:
Century Heat 33, Atmore Kings 6 (Tuesday)
Rain Becoming Likely By Thursday
January 22, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 56. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 50. East wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Calm wind.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Calm wind.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Fire Destroys Shed; Firefighters Save ATVs, Camper
January 21, 2020
Fire destroyed a shed in Cantonment Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were able to save two ATVs in a nearby enclosed hauler and a large camper trailer in the 2200 block of Welcome Road. They were also forced to contend with several propane tanks stored in the area.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Overnight Fire Destroys Flomaton Mobile Home
January 21, 2020
Fire destroyed a mobile home in Flomaton early Tuesday morning.
The fire in the 800 block of a Martin Luther King Drive was reported about 3:20 a.m. The woman that lived in the mobile home escaped without injury.
The Flomaton, Lambeth and Friendship fire departments and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
