Secretary Of The Navy Honors Escambia Deputies Who Responded To NAS Pensacola Shooting
June 23, 2020
Naval Air Station Pensacola held an awards ceremony Monday to recognize members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that responded to the December 6, 2019, terrorist attack on the base.
Six deputies received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Secretary of the Navy for their heroic actions that morning.
The deputies honored were:
- Jonathan Glass
- Matthew Housam
- Michael Hoyland
- Matthew Keebler
- Grant Lopez
- Matthew Tinch
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Yearbooks Distribution Is Tuesday And Wednesday; Extras Are Available For $55
June 23, 2020
Ransom Middle School yearbooks have will be distributed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Pick up for yearbooks that were pre-ordered will be in the car rider line in front of the school from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday.
There are 80 yearbooks available for purchase for cash only on a first-come, first-serve availability during the listed times.
For more information, email Mrs. Johnson at ljohnson7@ecsdfl.us.
COVID-19 Cases Up By Four In Escambia County; Statewide Total Surpasses 100,000
June 22, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. THE LATEST INFORMATION IS ON NORTHSCAMBIA.COM.
There were four new positive COVID-19 cases reported Monday in Escambia County as the statewide total surpassed 100,000.
The number of cases in Escambia County is now 1,202 and Santa Rosa County increased by six to 350.
Of the 41 deaths in Escambia County, 32 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been nine deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 100,217 cases including 98,047 Florida residents. There have been 13,119 hospitalizations* and 3,173 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 1,202 (+4 since Monday)
- Pensacola — 842
- Cantonment — 66
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid — 2
- Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 16
- Century — 7
- Perdido Key – 1
- Hospitalizations: 75*
- Deaths — 41
- Male — 399
- Female — 552
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 350 (+6 since Sunday)
- Milton — 195
- Navarre — 56
- Gulf Breeze — 45
- Pace — 26
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 26*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 218
- Female — 127
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 98
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 100,217
- Florida residents — 98,047
- Deaths — 3,173
- Hospitalizations — 13,119
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
Century Water System Plan Could Mean Significant Rate Increase
June 22, 2020
A significant rate increase could be in the future for Century water customers. if the town council follows a plan they recently approved.
A Century Water System Asset Management and Fiscal Sustainability Plan created by the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) found the need for the rate increase, plus increased costs for commercial customers, the prison and possibly water system customers that are outside of the town limits.
For an average family using 5,000 gallons per month, the monthly average water bill is currently about $21.36.
“Although this rate may be minimally sufficient for current operations, the improvements recommended may require a cost adjustment to be financially sustainable,” the Florida Rural Water Association found, also noting commercial accounts currently pay the same rate as residential customers, and that should be changed.
“Although this rate may be minimally sufficient for current operations, the improvements recommended may require a cost adjustment to be financially sustainable,” the report stated.
The Century Correctional Institution accounts for just over half of all the affluent into Century’s wastewater treatment plant, “yet is billed very little comparatively”, and the FRWA recommended that the Florida Department of Corrections pay their fair share.
Without increased rates for the prison and commercial accounts, the FRWA said “an overly cumbersome burden” will be placed on residential customers to pay for mandated rehabilitations.
In order to accomplish an estimated $561,305 in needed capital needs water system improvements and to set aside needed reserve funds, water rates would need to be increased 32.3% in year one with additional smaller increases in each of four additional years.
The plan is only recommendations from FRWA. A rate study would likely first determine the exact amount of any rate increase before it is implemented with the approval of the town council.
Escambia County Graduations Are This Week At The Bay Center. Here’s The Schedule.
June 22, 2020
Graduations are this week for schools in Escambia County.
The graduation schedule is below. Doors will open one hour before ceremony time.
Monday, June 22, 2020
- 9:30 a.m. Escambia Virtual School & George Stone at Pensacola High School
- 4:00 p.m. Escambia High School at Pensacola Bay Center
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. West Florida High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 2:00 p.m. Pine Forest High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 7:00 p.m. Tate High School at Pensacola Bay Center
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. Pensacola High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 2:00 p.m. Northview High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 7:00 p.m. Booker T. Washington High School at Pensacola Bay Center
Important safety measures will be added to these graduation ceremonies from those held in the past. In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the following information was provided by the Escambia County School District:
- Participation in graduation ceremonies is voluntary
- Face masks are encouraged
- Bags of any kind (tote bags, backpacks, etc.) are discouraged.
- All cameras are allowed, but no tripods or large camera bags.
- Seating is general admission, with six (6) tickets provided to each graduating student and distributed by their school
- Absolutely no replacement of lost tickets
- Graduation times have been scheduled to allow the Pensacola Bay Center to be sanitized after each ceremony
- No congregating after graduation ceremonies; graduates and families should go directly to their vehicles and exit the property promptly
- Graduates will be allowed to keep their cap and gown, and return these items to schools at a later date. This allows families to celebrate and take pictures with their graduates
- Graduates and guests will maintain social distancing while in the Pensacola Bay Center
- Anyone who has recently traveled outside of the country, had a fever within the last 14 days, or in contact with someone who was COVID-19 positive will be asked not to attend.
- All graduations will be live streamed for the general public for family members and friends who cannot attend, or to watch at a later time.
NorthEsambia.com file photo.
Shower And Thunderstorms Likely Through Wednesday
June 22, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Florida Gas Prices Hold Steady, Could See An Increase Of A Few Pennies This Week
June 22, 2020
Florida gas prices have basically held steady the past 10 days, according to AAA, and this week could bring an increase of a few pennies.
The average price at the pump is $2.02 per gallon. The state average price for regular gasoline is 15 cents more than last month and 26 cents more than the lowest price this year. Despite the recent uptick, Florida drivers are still paying 42 cents per gallon less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was an even $2 on Sunday, up from $1.97 a week ago and $1.77 a month ago.
The lowest price per gallon Sunday in North Escambia was $1.94 at a Highway 29 station. In Pensacola, the lowest price was $1.79 at a station on North Ninth Avenue.
“Drivers may see a slight uptick at the pump this week, due to a small increase in the wholesale price of gasoline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The increase in wholesale prices was likely driven by continued strength in demand for summertime gasoline. As a result, drivers could see an increase of a few pennies at the pump.”
Pictured: A gallon of regular unleaded gas was $1.94 Sunday at this Cantonment station. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Work Begins This Week To Pave Highway 87 In Santa Rosa County
June 22, 2020
Work will begin this week to pave Highway 87 from south of Clear Creek to north of Highway 4 in Berrydale in northern Santa Rosa County.
The $4.5-million project includes 14 miles of milling and resurfacing, replacement of damaged side drains and guardrail, and placement of new signs and pavement markings. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions.
Lane closure restrictions will not be allowed near Allentown Road Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. during active school periods. The 14-mile improvement project is anticipated to be complete winter 2020.
Escambia County, Alabama, Records Another COVID-19 Death, Cases Climb
June 22, 2020
An additional COVID-19 death has been reported in Escambia County, Alabama, as the number of positive cases continues a steady climb.
There have now been six fatalities in the county with a total of 148 confirmed cases as of Sunday night, according to the Alabama Department of Health. There have been 60 cases reported in the past two weeks out of 480 tests, a positivity rate of 12.5%.
Pictured: Atmore Community Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rotary Awards $5K To Manna Food Bank, Presents Grants To Other Groups
June 22, 2020
The Rotary Club of Pensacola has made a $5,000 donation to the Manna Food Bank to help provide food for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of their jobs.
Each year the club awards community grants by selecting several non-profits who submit applications for grants to help their organization with annual operating expenses. Applicants are chosen based on how they address the Rotary goals of improving the lives of people and the community.
A total of $15,000 was distributed to the following organizations: Thirty Million Words Sailing Regatta Pensacola Yacht Club Satori Foundation, Gulf Coast Kids House, AMI Kids, Rotary Youth Camp, ECARE, Ronald McDonald House, Council on Aging, YMCA NW FL, Emmaus Road Outreach, and Alfred Washburn Center.