Garcon Point Bridge Toll Suspension Extended Again
April 9, 2021
The toll suspension on the Garcon Point bridge has been extended through May9, 2021, the Florida Department of Transportation announced Friday morning.
“The extension allows the Garcon Point Bridge to continue serving as a temporary detour route while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired from damage sustained during Hurricane Sally,” FDOT said in a news release. The toll suspension was previously set to expire Friday, April 9.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge is expected to open the week of May 31.
County Approves Firefighter’s Idea For Perdido River Boat Ramp For First Responders, Small Personal Craft
April 9, 2021
A volunteer firefighter’s idea to improve response time to victims along the Perdido River was unanimously approved Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission.
The commission approved a gated boat launch at the Otto Hill Recreation Area to allow first responders access to the Perdido River, and provide the public with a place to launch small craft.
Commissioner Steven Barry said the launch was the idea of Mark Butler, who is employed by the county as a road corrections officer and is also a volunteer firefighter in Molino.
“He is intimately familiar with some of the challenges and some of the issues they’ve had trying to get to people that are in dire situations on Perdido River in that area,” Barry told his fellow commissioners. “I want to thank Mark Butler for bringing it to me…It is going to be a very good thing for my constituency…not an expensive thing.
“I consider this to be just as important for water safety in your district as lifeguards out on Pensacola Beach,” Commissioner Doug Underhill told Barry. “And this certainly costs a whole lot less, so outstanding work on this one.”
Escambia County will enter into an interlocal agreement with the Northwest Florida Water Management District, design and build a 10-foot wide boat launch with a gate at the Otto Hill. It will be constructed at the site of a former primitive boat launch. The gate across the launch will prohibit nonessential vehicle access by the public. Gate keys will be provided only to county staff and emergency personnel, water management staff, Escambia Search and Rescue, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
While the public will not have vehicle access to the launch, there will be walk-around space to allow the public to hand launch and retrieve canoes, kayaks and small boats.
The Otto Hill Recreation Area is located at 2401 Jacks Branch Road, just south of Fillingim Landing. It has a pavilion, portable toilet and reservation only campsite in addition to river access.
There are several short hiking trails — one of which leads to a picturesque sandbar approximately 100 yards from the main camp site. Under normal conditions, the river is shallow enough in this area to provide a fantastic swimming spot for children, according to the water district.
A short swim or paddle across the river leads visitors to another sandbar and more sunbathing opportunities.
Pictured: The Otto Hill Recreation Area on the Perdido River off Jacks Branch Road. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Severe Storms Overnight
April 9, 2021
A large area of thunderstorms is expected to develop over inland southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama by late tonight eventually evolving into a significant squall line. The tornado threat has increased and the potential for large hail and tornadoes will be possible with any storm that develops out of ahead of this line and/or embedded within the line (a strong tornado cannot be ruled out). The line is expected to track east with time through Saturday middday. Widespread damaging winds up to 80 mph is likely and remains the primary threat.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind around 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 74. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Northview Gets District Walk-off Win Over Paxton In Extra Innings (With Gallery)
April 9, 2021
The Northview Chiefs had a walk-off district win over the Paxton Lady Cats 3-2 in extra innings Thursday night in Bratt.
The game was tied at two in the bottom of the eighth when Kailyn Watson singled on a 3-2 count to score one run. Payton Gilchrist went 3-4 for the night, and Gilmore was 2-3.
Emma Gilmore gave up five hits in eight innings while striking out 11.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
You Can Browse The Shelves At West Florida Libraries Beginning April 15
April 9, 2021
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, patrons will once again be able to browse the shelves at West Florida Public Libraries beginning Thursday, April 15.
Online order pickup is still available. Requests for library materials placed prior to arrival will be retrieved and ready for pickup at your vehicle. Designated online order pickup spaces will be marked. Drive-thru services are closed.
West Florida Public Libraries also increased eBook, eAudiobook and eMagazine titles for electronic access during COVID-19.
Pictured: The Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Crashes Into Tree In Front Yard Of Highway 29 Home
April 9, 2021
One person was transported to the hospital after crashing into a tree in the front yard of a home on Highway 29 Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened about 3:35 p.m. just south of Duxbury Avenue in Molino. The driver’s injuries were not considered life threatening.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Earns 3-1 District Win Over Jay (With Photo Gallery)
April 9, 2021
The Northview Chiefs topped Jay 3-1 for a district win Thursday night in Bratt.
Northview’s Josh Landis tossed a complete game, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four and walking one. Andrew Diamond took the loss for Jay, going six innings allowing three hits, three runs and striking out five.
Cody Thomas led Northview at the plate, going 2-3 with one RBI. Luke Bridges was 1-3, with an RBI.
Carson Walters was 1-3 with a run for Jay, and Diamond also went 1-3.
The Chiefs are 11-3 on the season, 7-0 in district play. Northview will travel Jay Friday night; a Chiefs’ win would secure the top seed in the district tourney.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball Beats Niceville 5-1; Pace Tops Tate Softball 3-1 (With Gallery)
April 9, 2021
Tate 5, Niceville 1
The Tate Aggies defeated Niceville 5-1 Thursday night.
Josiah Glodfelter pitched a complete game for the Aggies, allowing one run on four hits and striking out 12.
The Aggies took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo homerun from Drew Reaves. Reaves was 2-2 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs. Jadon Fryman, Zak Licastro and Jordan Jarman also had two hits each for Tate, while Dalton Bowen, Frankie Randall and Bray Touchstone had one each.
For a photo gallery, click here.
SOFTBALL
Pace 3, Tate 1
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 3-1 Thursday night in Pace.
Abbie Burks pitched six innings for Tate, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out three.
Christina Mason and Michayla Kents had one hit each for the Aggies.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals JV Tops Northview 10-0 (With Gallery)
April 9, 2021
The junior varsity Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 10-0 Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
Daniel Riggs started on the mound for Northview, allowing 15 hits and 10 runs and striking out three in five and a third innings. Rylan Minor completed the final two-thirds of an inning allowing one hit and striking out one.
K. Strength was on the mound for Jay, surrendering no runs and no hits over six innings, striking out 10.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Reports 40 New COVID-19 Cases
April 9, 2021
THIS IS ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 40 new COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday in Escambia County. There were no new deaths reported.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,067 (+40)
Non-Florida residents: 3,628
Recovered: 34,178*
Total deaths: 670
Long-term care facility deaths: 280
Current hospitalizations: 20 (-6)
Number of tests reported last day: 545
Percent positive reported last day: 6.4%
Percent positive reported last week: 4.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,154 (+32)
Cantonment: 3,157 (+5)
Century: 1,173
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 487 (+1)
McDavid: 210
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,865 (+22)
Non-Florida residents: 231
Total deaths: 279
Long-term care facility deaths: 81
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 865*
Number of tests reported last day: 473
Percent positive reported last day: 4.6%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,515 (+10)
Navarre: 3,685 (+5)
Gulf Breeze: 3,319 (+3)
Pace: 1,435 (+3)
Jay: 546 (+1)
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,104,686
Florida residents: 2,065,122
Deaths: 33,906
Hospitalizations: 86,499
*“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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***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 is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.