Application Deadline Is Thursday For State Program To Help Landowners Combat Southern Pine Beetle Outbreak
August 4, 2020
The Florida Forest Service is announcing that applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, the known range of the southern pine beetle, and open to non-industrial, private forest landowners through August 6, 2020.
The southern pine beetle (SPB) is one of the most economically devastating forest pests of the Southeast, with periodic outbreaks leading to deaths of millions of pine trees. Since 2015, over 460 SPB infestations have been reported in Florida, killing trees on more than 2,200 acres. This pales in comparison to the last major outbreaks between 1999 and 2002, which caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses on over 24,000 acres.
Since it was first offered in 2005, the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program has been implemented on more than 197,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners.
“Southern pine beetle activity is relatively low in Florida right now, but it can increase rapidly,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “Awareness is key, and we want to help landowners improve the health and productivity of their pine forests.”
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the United States Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning and offers partial cost reimbursement for activities, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than the loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. Qualified landowners can apply for up to two different practices per year, and funding requests may not exceed $10,000. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
Visit FDACS.gov/SPBPrevention to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Program or click here to obtain an application.
“Pine forests are an essential part of Florida’s ecosystem,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Helping landowners take preventative action significantly reduces the risk and impacts associated with the southern pine beetle and is critical to preserving the benefits that forests provide Floridians and visitors alike.”
Monday: Escambia COVID-19 Cases Up By 118, Santa Rosa Just 30; No New Local Deaths
August 3, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases reported in Escambia County increased by 118 on Monday, with no new deaths reported in the two county region.
Escambia County cases increased 99 to 8,125. An additional 30 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 3,484. While the daily increases dropped, the number of test results reported also decreased.
Of the 825 tests results returned on Monday in Escambia County, 11.3% were positive, and 12.4% were positive from 234 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 12.1%.
There were 217 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Monday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 97 deaths in Escambia County, 59 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 22 deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and three in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 491,884 cases including 486,384 Florida residents. There have been 27,366 hospitalizations* and 7,157 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 — 8,125 (+118 since Sunday)
Non-Florida residents — 860
Pensacola — 6,365 (+95)
Cantonment — 594 (+3)
Molino— 92 (+1)
Century — 76 (+5)
McDavid — 39
Bellview — 10
Walnut Hill — 9
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 217
Deaths — 97
Male — 3,178
Female — 3,960
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 38
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 3,484 (+30 since Sunday)
Non-Florida residents — 24
Milton — 1,955 (+11)
Gulf Breeze — 507 (+2)
Navarre — 412 (+13)
Pace — 254
Jay — 93 (+2)
Bagdad — 7
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 162*
Deaths — 24
Male — 2,020
Female — 1,425
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39
Florida cases:
Total cases — 491,884
Florida residents — 486,384
Deaths — 7,157
Hospitalizations — 27,366*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals 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. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
Pensacola Splashdown: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Returns To Gulf Of Mexico (With Photo Gallery)
August 3, 2020
Two NASA astronauts splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola Sunday for the first time in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft, returning from the International Space Station to complete a test flight that marks a new era in human spaceflight.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, carrying Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, splashed down under parachutes at 1:48 p.m. Sunday and was successfully recovered by SpaceX. After returning to land at Pensacola Naval Air Station, the astronauts were flown back to Houston.
For a photo gallery, click here.
(article continues below each photo, scroll down)
Pictured above: The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft is lifted onto the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after it landed in the Gulf South of Pensacola.
“Welcome home, Bob and Doug! Congratulations to the NASA and SpaceX teams for the incredible work to make this test flight possible,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “It’s a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together to do something once thought impossible. Partners are key to how we go farther than ever before and take the next steps on daring missions to the Moon and Mars.”
Behnken and Hurley’s return was the first splashdown for American astronauts since Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, and Donald “Deke” Slayton landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii on July 24, 1975, at the end of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
Pictured: above: NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley are seen inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after having landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola
NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight launched May 30 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After reaching orbit, Behnken and Hurley named their Crew Dragon spacecraft “Endeavour” as a tribute to the first space shuttle each astronaut had flown aboard.
Nearly 19 hours later, Crew Dragon docked to the forward port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module May 31.
“On behalf of all SpaceX employees, thank you to NASA for the opportunity to return human spaceflight to the United States by flying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley,” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. “Congratulations to the entire SpaceX and NASA team on such an extraordinary mission. We could not be more proud to see Bob and Doug safely back home—we all appreciate their dedication to this mission and helping us start the journey towards carrying people regularly to low Earth orbit and on to the Moon and Mars. And I really hope they enjoyed the ride!”
Pictured above: Support teams and curious recreational boaters arrive at the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft shortly after it landed south of Pensacola.
Behnken and Hurley participated in a number of scientific experiments, spacewalks and public engagement events during their 62 days aboard station. Overall, the astronaut duo spent 64 days in orbit, completed 1,024 orbits around Earth and traveled 27,147,284 statute miles.
The Demo-2 test flight is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which has worked with the U.S. aerospace industry to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil to the space station for the first time since 2011. This is SpaceX’s final test flight and is providing data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown, and recovery operations.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos courtesy NASA/Bill Ingalls and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pictured above: NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola.
Century Accepting Lease Proposals On Large Industrial Building Until Thursday
August 3, 2020
The Town of Century is seeking lease proposals for a 40,390 square foot building in the town’s industrial park, and the deadline is this Thursday.
Known as the Helicopter Technology Building — named for the defunct company that was based there — it has been empty since 2008.
The town is still footing the bill for utilities, insurance, maintenance and other costs for the vacant property, and they are looking to turn it into a positive cash flow and create jobs along the way.
Lease proposals will be accepted until 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 6. Proposal requirements include the proposed monthly lease fee, desired start day, and number of employees associated with the proposed lease. The town council will review the proposals and reserves the right to reject any or all of them. Click or tap here for the complete requirements and procedure (pdf).
In 2017, the building was appraised for $550,000 with a fair market rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month). The office and warehouse space has full climate control, sprinkler system, new HVAC and energy efficient lighting.
Last Potential Lessor Was Rejected
The most recent company seeking to lease the building was rejected by the town council.
In May 2019, West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who were in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company offered an $8,000 deposit, pay the first month’s rent in advance, and pay for any upgrades to the building. At the end of the lease term, they would have had the opportunity to buy the building for $100. The building would have been used primarily for cotton storage.
A motion by then council member Ben Boutwell to proceed with negotiations and work on an agreement failed on a 3-2 vote with council members James Smith, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Luis Gomez voting against. The dissenters expressed objections against the business because it would likely not create any jobs.
“I don’t see the benefit for us,” Smith said at the time. “Where’s the employment?”
Smith and Gomez expressed concerns at the May 2019 meeting that if the council were to lease the building below market value, the town would not have any available industrial space if another company wanted to located in Century with new jobs.
“Someday it could produce jobs, even it’s 10-15 jobs for Century,” Gomez said.
“Let’s talk about y’all’s track record and my track record,” Baxley said after pointing out that no company had seriously considered the building in the past decade but he had developed several similar properties. “For 46 years now, I’ve been making payroll.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Felon Charged With Firing Gun During An Argument With His Mother
August 3, 2020
A convicted felon from Molino was jailed after allegedly firing a gun after an argument with his mother.
Clifford Bernard McFann, Jr., 32, was charged with discharging a firearm in a residential area and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired disturbance in the 1000 block of Barth Road. McFann’s mother said she and her son got into an argument, and he went outside. She said she heard two shots, but was not sure if they were aimed at her or her residence, an arrest report states. There were no injuries.
Deputies learned McFann left headed southbound on Highway 29 in a vehicle driven by a female.
An ECSO deputy stopped the vehicle on Highway 29 at Archer Road.
Deputies located a backpack containing a handgun and two magazines in the vehicle, and the driver said it belonged to McFann, the report states. The gun smelled as if it had been recently fired, according to the ECSO deputy.
McFann told deputies that he did get into an argument with his mother, but no firearm was involved. When told the gun smelled as if it was recently fired, McFann said he went into a brushy area near the intersection of Barth Road and Barth lane. The remainder of his statement was redacted from the arrest report.
He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $4,000 bond.
Local Gas Prices Increase To Local Average Of $2.10; Several Stations Below $2
August 3, 2020
Florida gas prices increased 10 cents last week and were unaffected by Isaias.
The state average price of $2.16 per gallon is the most expensive in 20 weeks, and the highest state average in the southeastern United States.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.09. Several North Escambia stations were still below $2 Sunday night, with one as low as $1.94 on North Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, at least two stations were at $1.84 Sunday night.
“Gas prices suddenly jumped 10 cents last Monday, then quickly leveled off for the rest of the week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The price hike came as a surprise, considering that both oil and wholesale gasoline prices have held steady for weeks, doing very little to justify the increase. Isaias was also not considered to be a factor, since it was never a threat to oil rigs and refineries in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Either way, it may be difficult for gas prices to linger at current levels,” Jenkins continued. “Crude oil and wholesale gasoline prices tumbled last week, by a margin that could eventually erase last week’s jump at the pump.”
ECUA Conducting Sewer Smoke Testing This Week In Pickwood Drive Area
August 3, 2020
ECUA crews will begin smoke testing of the sewer system lines in the Pickwood Drive area off East Nine Mile Road Monday through Wednesday.
White smoke will be circulated into the sewer lines and manholes to locate broken pipes and other defects, and will exit from vent pipes on home roofs. The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue, and creates no fire hazard. The smoke will not enter the house unless there is defective plumbing present or the drain traps are dry. If potential problems are found on private property, residents will be notified of repairs that may need to be made.
The testing will be done to determine if there are areas where stormwater or groundwater are entering the sewer system. An overload of stormwater into the sewer system can lead to overflows during periods of intense rain.
Testing will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, August 3-5. The testing area will include the following:
- Pickwood Drive
- Candlewood Circle
- Coachman Court
- Stillbrook Road
- Hollowbrook Drive, north to Quiet Creek Road
- Hollowbrook Circle
- Aurelias Place
- Dons Lane
- Grace Drive
- Sunshine Lane
- Peakview Drive
- Honey Terrace
Residents with concerns call call ECUA at (850) 476-0480.
Here’s The Very Latest On Isaias
August 3, 2020
Here’s the latest on Isaias, which is moving up the Atlantic coast.
There will be no impacts from Issaias in Northwest Florida or South Alabama. Our local North Escambia area forecast for this Monday calls for mostly sunny skies with typical afternoon showers.
The latest information on Isaias is in the graphics on this page.
Charles David Allen
August 3, 2020
Mr. Charles David Allen, Age 80, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2020, at his Castleberry, AL residence.
Mr. Allen was a lifelong resident of Brewton. He was a member of the W.S. Neal High School Class of 1958. He retired after a number of years of service from Conecuh Sausage. He enjoyed his cows, cooking, jigsaw puzzles, video games, and fishing. He attended Castleberry Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Pat Allen of Castleberry, AL; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles David Allen, Jr. and Jeana of Castleberry; two daughters, and sons-in-law, Charlotte and Tom Gulsby of Foley, AL and Cynthia Diane and Dempsey Kennedy of Castleberry; two grandchildren and their spouses, Kristin and Trenton Bell, and Logan and Ashlyn Allen; step-grandchildren, Paul, Amelia, Shaina, Justin, Matt, Anna, and Arthur; and his “fur baby” Bear.
A memorial service will be held from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 10 a.m. with Bro Bob Godbee officiating.
Mostly Sunny, Just A Few Scattered Showers This Week
August 3, 2020
For the latest on Isaias, click here.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.