ECUA Ending COVID-19 Relief Plan, Resuming Non-Pay Disconnects
June 3, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority suspended disconnections to lend a helping hand to families experiencing financial hardships. In less than two weeks, ECUA will return to cutting off water service for non-payers.
On March 16, the ECUA board suspended their overdue account policy, but ECUA is only able to legally extend this courtesy for 90 days. The suspension on water disconnects due to non-payment and delinquent accounts will end on June 15.
“We encourage anyone with an ongoing hardship to contact us about their account and discuss setting up a payment plan,” said Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer.
To establish a payment plan or inquire about an account, call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480.
Molino Mid-County Historical Society Presents Two Scholarships
June 3, 2020
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society recently presented two $1,000 scholarships.
The winners were Emma Barlow from Tate High School and Raeleigh Woodfin from Northview High School. Barlow (pictured above) plans to major in pre-med at the University of South Alabama, and Woodfin will major in communications at Troy University.
The scholarship checks were presented by Sarah Jenness, president of the Molino Mid-County Historical Society.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wet Pattern And Keeping An Eye On Cristobal
June 3, 2020
The latest on Cristobal is in the graphics on this page, click any image to enlarge.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 82. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Click any graphic to enlarge for additional information.
The Escambia (AL) Sheriff’s Office Has Warrants For These 12 People. Have You Seen Any Of Them?
June 3, 2020
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office is looking for a dozen people with active warrants for failing to report to Escambia County (AL) Community Correctoins.
If you have information on anyone pictured below, contact the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251)809-0741 or your local law enforcement agency.
Info source: Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Missing Barth Road Woman Found Safe
June 3, 2020
A 67-year old woman that went missing Tuesday from the Barth community north of Molino has been found, according to family members and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She was reportedly in good condition.
Mary Smith Middleton was last seen about 6 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of Barth Road. She was wearing a blue and black tie-dyed shirt.
The ECSO and Escambia Search and Rescue searched the area Tuesday night.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors 8th Graders With Fence Photos
June 3, 2020
Ernest Ward Middle School honored their graduating eighth grade class by lining the school fence with banners featuring a photo of each student. The students did not return to school following spring break due to the coronavirus.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Rare Sea Turtle Lays Eggs On Pensacola Beach
June 3, 2020
Visitors to Pensacola Beach were treated to an exciting sight Tuesday – a rare female Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle crawling ashore to nest and lay her eggs. She was the third turtle to nest on Escambia County Beaches this season, with two loggerhead nests recorded earlier this week.
“She dug a hole about 1.5 to 2 feet deep and when she got down in the hole she laid about 50-100 eggs. She used her flippers to cover the eggs with sand so you can’t see them and then she headed back to the water. She may come back up,” said Brenda Sexton, sea turtle volunteer of approximately 10 years. “Some of them come back up two or three times laying eggs and then they are exhausted and they go back home for two or three years. It’s kinda cool.”
Four species of sea turtles visit Escambia County beaches May through October to lay their eggs. Loggerheads are the most common visitor, however leatherback, green and Kemp’s Ridley nests have also been recorded on county beaches.
Typically, female sea turtles wait for nightfall before crawling ashore to dig their nests. Kemp’s Ridley are the only species that nest during the daylight hours. After 60 days, hatchlings wait for nightfall before emerging all at once, using the light of the moon and stars to find their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Sea turtles of all sizes face many threats. Excessive artificial lights can disorient both nesting and hatchling turtles, leading them away from the Gulf of Mexico and into danger. Furniture and other personal belongings left on the beach overnight can trap and injure turtles. Plastic pollution and other debris can entangle turtles and cause sickness when accidentally eaten.
Search Suspended Until Morning For Boater Missing On The Escambia River
June 2, 2020
CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY.
UPDATED 6 p.m.: The search has been suspended until Wednesday morning for a 76-year old boater missing since Monday on the Escambia River near Cantonment.
Miles Morris went fishing Monday morning but did not return in the early afternoon like he normally does, according to family members. Family and friends started searching along the river and the lakes off the river about 6 p.m. before finding his boat about an hour later on Blue Lake . But there was no sign of Morris.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified of the missing boater Monday night and began a search using boats and a helicopter. Escambia Search and Rescue (ESAR) and KlaasKids regional search teams are also taking part in the search.
“KlaasKids K9 teams are working from the FWC boat. ESAR divers are standing by,” said Jim Walters, ESAR public information officer. “ESAR boats are equipped with side scanning SONAR for searching the bottom of waterways. Our K9s are scenting for the skin cells that float away from persons in the water.”
Blue Lake is about two miles directly east of Becks Lake Fish Camp, but it is about a four mile trip by boat.
Pictured: A search along the Escambia River for am missing boater on Tuesday. Pictured bottom: A map of the area. Photos by Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, and NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Tropical Storm Cristobal Forms, Expected To Head North Later This Week
June 2, 2020
Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Bay of Campeche (southern Gulf of Mexico) Tuesday afternoon.
It is expected to remain in the same general area and meander in the southern Gulf through late Wednesday before beginning to move north.
It is too early to forecast when and where it will make landfall. A Northwest Florida landfall is not currently likely, but cannot be ruled out. We will keep you updated on NorthEsambia.com.
Click any graphic to enlarge for additional information.
Another COVID-19 Death, 16 New Cases Reported In Escambia County
June 2, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE.
One additional COVID-19 death and 16 new cases were reported Tuesday in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The death was an 83-year old female long-term care facility resident.
The number of cases in Escambia County is at 848, and Santa Rosa County increased by one to 248.
Of the 34 deaths in Escambia County, 27 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 57,447 cases including 56,001 Florida residents. There have been 10,412 hospitalizations and 2,530 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 — 844 (+16 since Monday)
- Pensacola — 601
- Cantonment — 51
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 11
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 65*
- Deaths — 34
- Male — 278
- Female — 398
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 248 (+1 since Monday)
- Milton — 153
- Navarre — 40
- Gulf Breeze — 30
- Pace — 17
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 177
- Female — 68
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 57,447
- Florida residents — 56,001
- Deaths — 2,530
- Hospitalizations — 10,530*
*“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.