Warm, Chance Of Showers For Wednesday
October 7, 2020
For the latest updated on Hurricane Delta, click here.
A burn ban remains in effect for Escambia County in Florida. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Tropical storm conditions possible. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday: Tropical storm conditions possible. A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Columbus Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
High Speed Chase From Gonzalez To Nine Mile Road Ends With Arrest Of Molino Man
October 7, 2020
A high speed chase that started in the Gonzalez area Tuesday night ended with the capture of a Molino man behind a Nine Mile Road business.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said they were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for a gun charge on Trey Edward Hudson when he fled in a vehicle from Batson Lane. Deputies gave chase, with Hudson making his way to I-10.
He exited I-10 onto West Nine Mile Road and ran from his vehicle. He was taken into custody behind Beard Equipment Company at 3195 West Nine Mile Road and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Hudson is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, failure to appear, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and fleeing and eluding at a high speed.
He is being held without bond.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Child Cruelty For Allegedly Spanking Girl With Extension Cord
October 7, 2020
A Cantonment woman has been charged after allegedly hitting a child multiple times with an extension coard.
Baretha Kendra Grandison, 35, was charged with felony child cruelty. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $50,000.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Grandison had spanked her with an extension cord. That left “bruises, marks and welts”, according to an arrest report.
The report states Grandison said she had spanked the victim on the buttocks with a black leather belt but never used an extension cord. Grandison said the underage victim had been caught sending photos to teenage boys on her phone.
The age of the victim, and the relationship between the victim and grandison were redacted from the arrest report.
Century Still Finalizing Plan To Begin Hurricane Sally Debris Pick Up
October 7, 2020
The Town of Century is still finalizing their Hurricane Sally Debris pick up plan, three weeks after landfall.
An interlocal agreement between the town and Escambia County is in its final stages. Under the agreement, Escambia County’s north end debris contractor, Roads, Inc., will pick up debris in the town, and Century will foot the bill for the portion not reimbursed by FEMA and the state. Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather said that would amount to a 12.5% share for Century.
In an email to Prather, Century town attorney Matt Dannheisser cautioned that the agreement should specify that the town will only be responsible for removal cost for debris collected within the town limits, not in nearby unincorporated areas.
Lawyers for the town and county will finalize the agreement, with the caveat that Century wants t to be notified if and when the total cost hits $100,000 for a town cost of $12,500. That’s because, according to Prather, Century’s general fund has limited funds.
He said the town was financially ill prepared for a disaster.
No New Deaths, 18 More COVID-19 Cases Reported Tuesday In Escambia County
October 7, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST REPORT.
The Florida Department of Health on Tuesday reported no new deaths and 18 more COVID-19 cases in Escambia County.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 12,512 (+18)
Non-Florida residents: 1,146
Total deaths: 243
Long-term care facility deaths : 113
Current hospitalizations: 50 (-4)
Number of tests last day: 627
Percent positive last day: 2.3%
Percent positive last week: 2.7%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 9,148 (+9)
Cantonment: 936 (+1)
Century: 933
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 149
McDavid: 74
Walnut Hill: 18
Bellview: 16
Gonzalez: 7
Perdido Key: 7
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 5,464 (+27)
Non-Florida residents: 51
Total deaths: 77 (-1 data adjustment)
Long-term care facility deaths: 17
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 327*
Number of tests last day: 178
Percent positive last day: 12.8%
Santa County cases by location:
Milton: 2,841 (+20)
Gulf Breeze: 790 (+1)
Navarre: 687 (+1)
Pace: 454 (+3)
Jay: 155
Bagdad: 12
Florida cases:
Total cases: 720,125
Florida residents: 711,358
Deaths: 14,767
Hospitalizations: 45,005*
*“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.
Atmore Runoff Election: Incumbent Harrison Defeats Gideons For Council Seat
October 7, 2020
Incumbent Chris Harrison was reelected to a third term on the Atmore City Council during a Tuesday runoff election.
With 121 votes, Harrison defeated challenger Bub Gideons with 100 votes for the District 5 seat.
“There are no words to express my gratitude for your support,” Harrison wrote on social media Tuesday night. “I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve as your councilman. I will strive to do my best in the efforts to make this city even better. Serving you is priority.”
In August, Gideons was on top with 124 votes in a three-way race that included Harrison with 106 votes and Sandra Gray with 98. A runoff was forced since no candidate received a majority of votes cast.
There will be two new council members –Eunice Johnson in District 3 and Shawn Lassiter in District 4 — when the Atmore council is sworn in next month. In addition to Harrison, incumbents Web Nall in District 1 and Jerome Webster in District 2 were also reelected for another term.
Atmore Mayor Jim Staff was also reelected in August for a third term.
Pictured: Atmore council member Chris Harrison listens to a speaker during a council meeting. NorthEscamba.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Deal With The Pensacola Bay Bridge, Those Barges And Hurricane Delta
October 7, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation says they are actively monitoring Hurricane Delta, and they are preparing for possible impacts including heavy rain, flooding and storm surge in Northwest Florida. And those Skanska barges.
“FDOT has made clear it expects the contractors on the Pensacola Bay Bridge to properly secure all equipment ahead of the storm,” according to a statement Tuesday.
A statement released by Skanska USA said, “We continue to closely monitor Hurricane Delta’s path and remain in communication with key partners. Due to the impending hurricane, we are actively securing the project site and all floating equipment. Our main priority remains the safety of the surrounding community and our workers.”
Bridge inspection teams are at the ready to monitor the possibility of bridge closures in the region and crews stand prepared to respond to damage resulting from the storm.
FDOT and its partners have made the reopening of the Pensacola Bay Bridge a top priority with numerous efforts underway. Additional dive teams have been deployed, bringing the total to eight, to assist with the final inspection.
Demolition is focused on three of the spans with the purpose of removing the damaged portions while preventing any further damage to the structure. In the interest of safety, crews are also utilizing remote controlled jack hammers on portions of the structure.
The contractor has ordered three additional cranes to replace existing cranes that were damaged or lost to assist in the process. Two additional subcontractors are also on site with additional equipment and 40 additional personnel to expedite demolition.
Recommended repairs to the damaged areas of the Pensacola Bay Bridge will take approximately six months to complete.
“FDOT recognizes that businesses impacted by the closure of the bridge are concerned about the extended time this critical connection will be out of use,” the agency said in a statement Tuesday.
Pictured: A remote controlled jack hammer being used to demolish a collapsed portion of the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
Category 4 Hurricane Delta Track Shifts Slightly Westward
October 6, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE THE FRONT PAGE OF NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Hurricane Delta’s wind decreased to 130 mph as of the 10 p.m. advisory. That is is still a Category 4, but down from 145 mph earlier in the day Tuesday.
As of the 4 p.m. update, Northwest Florida is out of the cone of uncertainty as the forecasted track shifted slightly westward. However, there is still uncertainty about the track and intensity at this time, and residents of Escambia County should continue to monitor the storm. Additional track changes are likely before landfall.
The National Hurricane Center believes it will weaken slightly as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast late this week.
“Even if Delta makes landfall to our west, the local area will still see a threat for storm surge, dangerous surf/rip currents, heavy rain, strong winds, and isolated tornadoes,” the local National Weather Service in Mobile said.
Now is the time to review your hurricane plan and restock any items you may have used during Hurricane Sally.
The latest information on the Hurricane Delta is in the graphics on this page.
Four Injured In Highway 29 Wreck
October 6, 2020
Four people were injured in a two vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon on Highway 29 in front of the paper mill in Cantonment.
One person was taken to the hospital as a trauma alert, and three others suffered injuries that were not considered life threatening in the crash involving a Dodge Ram 2500 and a Hyundai Genesis about 12:45 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Voter Registration Deadline Extended Until 6 PM After Website Failure
October 6, 2020
Secretary of State Laurel Lee has extended the voter registration deadline after the state’s online portal crashed on Monday.
Any applications received on Florida’s Online Voter Registration system today, October 6, before 6 p.m. central time, will be included in the registration for the November 3 general election. Paper applications postmarked by today, Tuesday, October 6, will also be included. Additionally, any applications received in person today, Tuesday, October 6, 2020, before 7 p.m. local time, through the following channels will be accepted.
- Escambia County Supervisors of Elections Office (open until 7 p.m.)
- Local Tax Collector’s Offices
- Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ Driver’s License Offices
Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.gov and click Am I Registered? to check.