COVID-19 Testing Offered Five Days A Week In Cantonment
November 23, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida is now offering COVID-19 testing five days a week in Cantonment.
The testing is Monday through Friday behind Community Health Northwest Florida’s Cantonment Pediatrics. It is drive-through with no prescreening required for all ages. Bring a photo identification and insurance card (if insured).
Rapid testing is now offered for symptomatic individuals by appointment only. These patients must call the Ascension Sacred Heart call center at (850) 746-2684 to be prescreened and scheduled.
For more information on Community Health testing, call (850) 436-4630.
Gulf Power Foundation Contributes Nearly $100,000 To Community Organizations
November 23, 2020
The Gulf Power Foundation recently awarded nearly $100,000 to local charitable or nonprofit organizations to support our communities throughout Northwest Florida.
“Gulf Power is proud to support the communities in which we live and work, and our quarterly grants through the Gulf Power Foundation help build strong and sustainable communities here in our region,” said Sandy Sims, executive director for the Gulf Power Foundation. “Our mission at the Foundation is to improve the lives of Northwest Florida residents, and during difficult and uncertain times like we currently face, we are honored to be able to give back to others through these grants.”
Recent quarterly grant recipients for the region are:
- Bay Youth Summer Work Foundation – $3,000
- Every Child A Reader in Escambia – $3,800
- Florida Insititute for Human and Machine Cognition – $8,500
- Food4Kids – $10,000
- Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders – $12,000
- Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center – $5,315
- Studer Community Institute – $5,000
In addition, the Gulf Power Foundation awarded two other grants in partnership with its parent company’s charitable foundation, the NextEra Energy Foundation:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast – $37,500
- Boys & Girls Club of Bay County – $12,500
The Gulf Power Foundation has operated for 30 years as an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, partnering and investing in communities throughout Northwest Florida. The Foundation is one of the region’s largest corporate foundations, funded entirely through resources independent of Gulf Power’s customers.
Florida Thanksgiving Gas Prices Set To Be Lowest In 12 Years
November 23, 2020
The average fuel price in Florida was up four cents last week, setting up the lowest Thanksgiving price in more than a decade.
Drivers across the state are paying an average price of $2.03 per gallon. Sunday’s state average is 7 cents less than a month ago, and 34 cents less than this time last year.
A gallon of regular unleaded averaged $2.09 Sunday night in Escambia County, down just a penny from one week ago. A low of $1.97 could be found on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while the discount warehouse clubs in Pensacola bottomed out at $1.83 Sunday night.
“Drivers are likely to find the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in 12 years,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices are inching higher, due to vaccine news, but reports of rising cases of coronavirus should prevent any significant gains at the pump.”
FDOH Reports 143 Additional COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County
November 23, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 143 additional COVID-19 cases reported Sunday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Total cases: 15,926 (+143)
Non-Florida residents: 1,706
Total deaths: 296
Long-term care facility deaths : 136
Current hospitalizations: 81 (-2)
Number of tests last day: 696
Percent positive last day: 6.0%
Percent positive last week: 8.6%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 11,611 (+64)
Cantonment: 1,181 (+4)
Century: 952
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 185 (+1)
McDavid: 93
Bellview: 25 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 14
Gonzalez: 8
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 7,014 (+53)
Non-Florida residents: 88
Total deaths: 97
Long-term care facility deaths: 22
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 415*
Number of tests last day: 242
Percent positive last day: 17.7%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:
Milton: 3,332
Gulf Breeze: 1,064 (+13)
Navarre: 1,023 (+16)
Pace: 579 (+2)
Jay: 169
Bagdad: 13
Florida cases:
Total cases: 938,414
Florida residents: 924,614
Deaths: 17,991
Hospitalizations: 53,403*
*“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. Most of these people are longer be 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.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Fire Burns Through Storage Shed In Molino
November 22, 2020
Fire heavily damaged a shed in Molino Sunday morning.
The shed was located near a home in the 1400 block of Brickton Road, just east of Highway 95A. Escambia Fire Rescue was able to quickly knock down the blaze.
There was no damage to the home and no injuries reported.
There were no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey
November 22, 2020
Wednesday, the volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for Thanksgiving, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road at your appointment time between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $30 per turkey or turkey breast is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850) 377-6236 with questions or to schedule your appointment (leave a message if no answer). Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited and appointments take priority.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly
November 22, 2020
The unemployment rate in Escambia County increased in October, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 5.5% in October, up from 5.3% in September. That represents 7,975 people out of work out of a county workforce of 143,717. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was just 2.9%, or 4,327 people.
DEO announced the Pensacola area private-sector employment decreased by 6,200 jobs (-3.9 percent) over the year. The Pensacola area’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in October. The local industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality (-4,000 jobs). Construction was the only major industry to gain jobs over the year in October 2020 (+100 jobs).
September labor statistics reflect the continued effects of COVID-19 and the efforts to reopen businesses and services, according to DEO.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in October 2020, down 0.7 percentage point from the revised September 2020 rate, and up 3.6 percentage points from a year ago. There were 659,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,109,000.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in October.
‘We’re Calling About Your Auto Warranty’ – State Fines Company $345K For Unsolicited Calls
November 22, 2020
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued an administrative fine of $345,000 for 171 alleged violations against a West Palm Beach-based company conducting unsolicited telephone sales calls to consumers on the “Florida Do Not Call” list.
The FDACS actions follow an investigation into 69 consumer complaints submitted to the Department between September 11, 2019 and March 23, 2020 against Fidelity Mutual Life, Inc. and Turnkey Auto Group, Inc. The complaints claimed that the entity was conducting non-solicited telemarketing calls to market auto warranties directly to consumers, including Florida residents. As a result of the investigation, FDACS determined that Turnkey Auto Group, Inc. had indeed made unsolicited telephonic calls to telephone numbers on the Department’s “Florida Do Not Call” list.
“Businesses allegedly conducting unsolicited calls in disregard of the ‘Florida Do Not Call’ list aren’t just violating consumer trust, they’re violating the law,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried. “
As the state agency responsible for consumer complaints, our Department will continue to investigate all potential violations of the ‘Florida Do Not Call’ list to hold bad actors accountable for their actions.”
Want to add your number to the Florida Do Not List or file a complaint? Click or tap here.
Dry Cold Front Moving Through Sunday Night
November 22, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thanksgiving Day: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Calm wind.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Spots
November 22, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no lane closures on state roads from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY:
• Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The bridge remains closed until 2021.
• U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers may encounter the following lane closures the week of Sunday, Nov. 22:
» Motorists traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage, median and pavement operations.
• East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures as crews continue construction activities. Eastbound traffic can also expect daytime, right turn lane closures.
• West Fairfield Drive (State Road (S.R.) 295) Turn Lane Construction for Family Dollar – The inside eastbound lane will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 through Tuesday, Nov. 24 for turn lane construction.
• U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97) – Motorists can expect intermittent and closures from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 through Tuesday, Nov. 24 as crews lay the final layer of asphalt.
• Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. as construction activities continue.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY:
• Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The bridge remains closed until 2021.
• S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4 – Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
• I-10 Emergency Improvements at Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/ Exit 22)- Sunday, Nov. 22 through Tuesday, Nov. 24, motorists will encounter nighttime shoulder closures and traffic shifts on the eastbound I-10 exit ramp as crews construct improvements for accommodating additional traffic due to the closure of Pensacola Bay Bridge. Alternating and intermittent lane restrictions will take place on Avalon Boulevard at the I-10 intersection from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. as crews perform widening and turn lane extensions.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.