Tropical Depression Forms In Bay Of Campeche; Likely To Become Tropical Storm Cristobal
June 1, 2020
Tropical Depression Three formed in the Bay of Campeche (southern Gulf of Mexico) Monday 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 will likely become Tropical Storm Cristobal.
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.
One Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Rear-End Collision
June 1, 2020
One person was injured in a rear-end type collision at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino Monday afternoon.
The crash happened 1:45 p.m. when the driver of passenger car rear-ended a Toyota 4Runner. One person was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Finalizes Graduation Schedule For June 22-24 At Pensacola Bay Center
June 1, 2020
The School District of Escambia County, Florida, has announced plans for 2020 high school graduation ceremonies. After consultation with local and state officials, dates for graduation ceremonies have been scheduled and will be held as follows:
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 is provided:
- Ceremonies will be live streamed. Remote viewing is encouraged
- Participation in graduation ceremonies is voluntary
- Face masks are encouraged
- Bags of any kind (tote bags, backpacks, etc.) are discouraged
- 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.
“The Escambia County School District is committed to recognizing and celebrating the educational successes of the Senior Class of 2020. Your hard work and persistence during these turbulent last few months has been admirable. We are eager and excited about coming together to celebrate the success of your high school career. We are finally going to make it happen and look forward to seeing you on June 22, 23rd and June 24th,” said Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “Congratulations to the Class of 2020 graduates. Best wishes in your future endeavors.”
State Closes COVID-19 Testing Site at UWF
June 1, 2020
UPDATE: THE SITE WILL REOPEN ON TUESDAY. CLICK OR TAP FOR MORE INFORMATION.
The state has closed a mobile COVID-19 testing site the University of West Florida after a month of operation.
The drive-through, no pre-screening required test site opened to Escambia and Santa Rosa county residents on May 2.
“The UWF COVID-19 Test Site will be closed until further notice. The site was run primarily by the National Guard, which has been activated by the Governor. We will notify you when the site reopens,” Escambia County said in a statement Monday morning.
The site was opened at the request of the Governor’s Office under the direction of the Florida Department of Health in conjunction with both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and assistance from the Florida National Guard.
The National Guard has been deployed to other parts of the state due to civil arrest following the death of George Floyd, a black man that died after a police officer in Minnesotan pushed his knee into Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Season Begins Today. Going To A Shelter Should Be A Last Resort Due To COVID-19.
June 1, 2020
Monday is the first day of hurricane season, and COVID-19 concerns are a bigpart of this year’s local planning.
Shelters will open in the event a named storm threatens Escambia County, but county officials say public shelters might not be the best first choice.
“This year with COVID-19, we really want to stress that residents have a plan rather than go to a shelter,” said Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore. “The county will provide shelters and will do everything possible to sanitize them, but we know that the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading increases when people are in close living conditions.”
“A shelter should be a last resort. We are asking residents to know their evacuation zone, and if they aren’t in an evacuation zone, it may be safer to stay at home and prepare accordingly. Better yet, please reach out to family and friends now to develop a plan to stay somewhere safe if you need to evacuate,” Gilmore said.
While June 1 marks the official start to the hurricane season, there have already been two named storms. And forecasters are calling for an above normal season.
Pictured: Hurricane Michael makes landfall in 2019.
Second Arrest Made In Robbery Of Jay Convenience Store
June 1, 2020
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the robbery of a convenience store in Jay last October.
Bradon Demarcus Brazile, 19, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail late last week on a charge of robbery without a firearm. A second suspect, 21-year old Demarcus Trey Brown (pictured right), was arrested for robbery without a firearm and obstructing justice on April 1.
The Exprezit Exxon Station in the 3800 block of Highway 4 was robbed the night of October 11. The clerk told the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office that two people completely covered by clothing entered the store. One of them jumped the counter and demanded that she empty the register as the second suspect walked around the counter. They emptied the money into a bag and ran out of the store, according to an arrest report.
Both remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Airlifted After Crashing On Dirt Road At Lake Stone
June 1, 2020
An adult male was seriously injured when his vehicle overturned at Lake Stone near Century Sunday afternoon..
The man lost control of a Ford Explorer on a dirt road adjacent to the lake and overturned into a tree about a quarter mile from the boat ramp. He was airlifted by Med Star Air Care helicopter to an area hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lowest Florida June 1 Gas Prices In 17 Years
June 1, 2020
June begins with the lowest gas prices in Florida since 2003.
The average price per gallon in the state was $1.90 per gallon, 70 cents less than one year ago.
In Escambia County, the average price was $1.80 per gallon Sunday night. In North Escambia, a low price of $1.67 could be found at a station in Cantonment.
“Pump prices remain stifled by lower-than-average fuel demand caused by Covid-19,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although gasoline demand has slowly recovered during recent weeks, it has not returned to a level that would cause pump prices to suddenly return to pre-pandemic levels.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Sunny Monday, High Around 90 Degrees
June 1, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
13 Additional COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County Monday
June 1, 2020
Thirteen additional COVID-19 cases were reported Monday in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties according to the Florida Department of Health.
The number of cases in Escambia County is at 828, and Santa Rosa County increased by two to 247.
Of the 33 deaths in Escambia County, 26 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 56,830 cases including 55,415 Florida residents. There have been 10,231 hospitalizations and 2,460 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 — 828 (+13 since Sunday)
- Pensacola — 593
- Cantonment — 51
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 11
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 64*
- Deaths — 33
- Male — 274
- Female — 394
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 247 (+2 since Sunday)
- Milton — 152
- Navarre — 40
- Gulf Breeze — 30
- Pace — 17
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 177
- Female — 67
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 56,830
- Florida residents — 55,415
- Deaths — 2,460
- Hospitalizations — 10,231*
*“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.