Near 80 Again Today
November 12, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 54. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Volunteers Needed For Escambia County Extension Council
November 12, 2020
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Extension Council for zones 2, 5, 10 and 12.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Extension Council, who meet the requirements noted in the job description below, are asked to submit an information sheet and letter indicating their desire to serve by 5 p.m., Friday, November 13. Info sheets and letters should be submitted via email to shendrix@ufl.edu or by mail to: Susan Hendrix 3740 Stefani Road Cantonment, Florida 32533.
The zones are as follows:
Zone 2 — South of intersection @ Highway 164 & Highway 97 to North side of Tungoil Road.
Zone 5 — North side of Quintette Road to South side Molino Road
Zone 10 — At Large
Zone 12 — At Large
The Escambia County Extension Council was established in accordance with Chapter 67-1366, Section I- 8 Florida Statutes. The purpose of this council is to study the needs of the county in developing its natural resources, its families and youth; to provide for the organization of planning committees in various agricultural commodities, in youth and in all phases of home economics important to Escambia County; to provide for close liaison between the committees, county extension agents and the council; and to coordinate the reports of all committees into a single Escambia County resource development program designed to d
evelop the county’s resources and its people through programs for which the Cooperative Extension Service has a responsibility for initiating or coordinating. Council members serve a two-year term of office.
Emily West Named Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher Of The Year
November 12, 2020
Third grade teacher Emily West has been named the Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
WSRE’s Documentary About Country Star Hank Locklin To Air Tonight
November 12, 2020
A new documentary produced by WSRE in Pensacola about country star Hank Locklin will air tonight.
Following the success of “Please Help Me, I’m Falling,” country crooner Hank Locklin became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Novemver 12, 1960. In celebration of his 60th Grand Ole Opry anniversary, the documentary about his music and career will air at 8 p.m. Thursday on WSRE, channel 23.
“Hank Locklin: Country Music’s Timeless Tenor” recalls the unquestionable talent, unorthodox career path and notable contributions of the prolific songwriter, Grammy-nominated recording artist and international country star. The story is told by his youngest son, Hank Adam Locklin, with help from music industry friends and admirers: Bill Anderson, Jimmy Capps, Dave Cobb, Ralph Emery, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, William Lee Golden, Buddy Kalb, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jeannie Seely, Ray Stevens, Alan Stoker, Marty Stuart, Jesse Wells and Dwight Yoakam.
For viewers everywhere, starting at 8 p.m.Thursday, WSRE will offer a limited-time streaming of the film at wsre.org/HankLocklinFilm.
Escambia County Records One New COVID-19 Death, 114 Additional Cases
November 12, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
There were 114 new COVID-19 positive cases and one additional death reported Wednesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Total cases: 14,609 (+114)
Non-Florida residents: 1,528
Total deaths: 283 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths : 132
Current hospitalizations: 89 (+9)
Number of tests last day: 1,049
Percent positive last day: 8.3%
Percent positive last week: 7.3%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 10,651(+79)
Cantonment: 1,078 (+8)
Century: 945
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 164
McDavid: 80 (+2)
Bellview: 21
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 10
Gonzalez: 8
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 6,374 (+73)
Non-Florida residents: 78
Total deaths: 89
Long-term care facility deaths: 20
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 392*
Number of tests last day: 242
Percent positive last day: 24.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:
Milton: 3,129 (+22)
Gulf Breeze: 947 (+15)
Navarre: 871 (+2)
Pace: 538 (+3)
Jay: 162
Bagdad: 14
Florida cases:
Total cases: 858,012
Florida residents: 846,321
Deaths: 17,300
Hospitalizations: 51,115*
*“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.
Jay Fire Department’s New Engine 27 Is Now In Service
November 12, 2020
The Jay Fire Department’s new Engine 27 is now in service and running calls.
The Pierce Saber Chassis truck has a 1,000 gallon tank and a variety of rescue and firefighting equipment.
In addition to answering calls in the Jay area, the Jay Fire Department also responds toother districts in Santa Rosa County and mutual aid calls in northern Escambia County in Florida including Century, and Escambia County in Alabama including Flomaton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Ernest Ward Middle Band Director Sentenced To Prison On Child Sex Charge
November 11, 2020
A former band director at Ernest Ward Middle School has been sentenced to state prison on a child sex charge.
James David McAllister entered a plea to one count of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual conduct. He was designated as a sexual predator and sentenced to 24 months in prison to be followed by 12 months of sex offender probation.
McAllister, age 35 of Cantonment, was the band and chorus director at Ernest Ward Middle School. McAllister led the music departments at the school in Walnut Hill during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years.
He reportedly interned or completed his student teaching at Bailey Middle School prior to his tenure at Ernest Ward.
The charge against McAllister was in no way connected to his employment or time at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office undercover “Operation Rotten Pumpkin” ended with the arrest of McAllister and six other men in November 2019.
While chatting with McAllister using the app “Meet Me’, an ECSO investigator clearly identified herself as a 14-year old female. In graphic detail, McAllister stated he wanted to have sexual intercourse with the girl.
McAllister asked for and received the address to meet what he thought was the underage girl at a local hotel. He was instead met by the SWAT team and deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured above and below: James McAllister leads the Ernest Ward Middle School band and chorus during a Christmas program December 16, 2016. Pictured bottom: McAllister leads the entire Ernest Ward Middle School student body in Christmas carols on December 16, 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Accelerates Plans To Switch Plant Crist To Natural Gas Delivered Through North Escambia Pipeline
November 11, 2020
Gulf Power is accelerating plants to switch Plant Crist to natural gas delivered by a pipeline through North Escambia.
Tuesday, Gulf Power notified the Florida Public Service Commission that it plans to retire the plant’s coal assets early and switch to 100% natural gas. That, the company says, will result in benefits to the local community as well as cost savings for customers.
Converting coal-burning units to run on natural gas is a major piece of the modernization underway at Plant Crist, along with the addition of four new, highly efficient combustion turbines to provide greater reliability and efficiency for the energy grid and a new natural gas pipeline to provide additional natural gas for the plant. By eliminating the use of coal at Plant Crist, Gulf Power will reduce the plant’s carbon emissions rate by 40% – the equivalent to taking an estimated 297,000 cars off the road annually – and reduce operating costs for customers.
Over the past several months, Gulf Power has installed an underground natural gas pipeline that runs 39 miles from the Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline near Century, through McDavid, Molino and Cantonment, to the company’s Plant Crist.
The retirement of coal at Plant Crist was accelerated by Hurricane Sally, which caused damage to the plant’s coal equipment. The company determined that it is in the best interests of its customers to accelerate the modernization instead of repairing the coal equipment.
“Retiring coal at Plant Crist will end our use of coal in Florida and help usher in a new, cleaner energy era for Gulf Power,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “Ending our use of coal delivers benefits for our customers and our communities through lower costs along with cleaner emissions. We look forward to continuing to invest in cleaner energy solutions for Northwest Florida, including more efficient natural gas technology as well as emissions-free solar farms.”
Gulf Power is seeking approval to adjust the company’s Environmental Cost Recovery Clause (ECRC) factor for 2021 to reflect the savings associated with the early retirement of coal at Plant Crist and to begin recovering storm restoration costs for Sally. If approved by the FPSC, both adjustments to customer bills would likely take effect in March 2021 and result in a net decrease in the typical residential customer bill of $0.73.
Pictured top: Bright yellow new pipes threaded throughout the inside and outside of Plant Crist this year are the visible signs of the coal to natural gas conversion that will allow the plant to run 100% on U.S. produced natural gas. Pictured inset: A crane hoists one of the larger pieces of new equipment at Plant Crist, a gas heater, into place at the Plant Crist gas yard as part of the coal to natural gas conversion. The heater will warm the natural gas to keep it from freezing in the pressure control valves that send the gas from the pipeline to the power plant. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Veterans Day: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
November 11, 2020
On this Veterans Day, we say thank you to all that have served.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Tropical Storm Eta Making Landfall On Florida’s West Coast
November 11, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVES STORY.
Tropical Storm Eta will make landfall on Florida’s west coast and will not impact the North Escambia area.
The latest details on Eta are in the graphics on this page, click to enlarge.
