Don’t Make Donations To ‘The Fire Department’ In Florida, ECFR Says
October 5, 2021
Escambia Fire Rescue is warning residents in Escambia County, Florida, that anyone soliciting donations for them on the phone is scammer. But that’s a different story for Alabama residents.
According to the county, they actually received a $35 check over the weekend from a citizen that received a phone call from a solicitor requesting a donation of either $35 or $100. The citizen said the person claimed they were with “the fire department”.
The battalion chief on duty delivered the check back to the citizen at their residence and explained that ECFR does not solicit any funds.
Escambia County Fire Rescue (in Florida) said they will not solicit donations from residents.
“Occasionally, other organizations, benevolent associations and non-profits will solicit funds by phone or door-to-door,” said Escambia County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Paul Williams. “These groups are not affiliated with ECFR and should be thoroughly researched by residents to determine if they want to make a donation.”
However, officials in Escambia County, Alabama, want residents to know the their fire departments still do solicit direct donations from Escambia County, Alabama, residents.
Get Tested For HIV For Free Thursday In Escambia County
October 5, 2021
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) will offer free HIV rapid testing this Thursday, October 7, at FDOH-Escambia’s Fairfield Drive location. The testing is open to the public, with no appointment needed.
What: Free HIV Rapid Testing
Who: Open to the public, no appointment needed
When: Thursday, October 7, 2021 between 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: FDOH-Escambia, 1295 W Fairfield Dr, Pensacola, FL
How: The rapid HIV test gives highly accurate results in as little as 15 minutes. All testing is confidential and conducted in a private clinic setting.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of their routine health care. People at higher risk should get tested more often.
Francis Elaine (Smith) Rodgers
October 5, 2021
Francis Elaine (Smith) Rodgers, age 52, passed away peacefully September 20, 2021, due to complications from COVID at Atmore Community Hospital. She was surrounded by her husband and sons. She was born on November 1, 1968, in Butler Springs, AL, to the late James and Kathryn Smith.
She married the love of her life, Kenneth Wayne Rodgers, on November 7, 1985, in Butler County, AL. Her last job was as a caregiver at The Meadows in Atmore, AL. She was a member of Unity Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Kathryn (Walker) Smith; mother-in-law, Donnie Lane (Kennedy) Rodgers; her brother, Jimmy Smith and one child.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Rodgers; her two sons, Jonathan (Danielle) Rodgers and Joshua Rodgers; her four grandchildren, Ryver, Blakeleigh, Jaxon and Hayden; her father-in-law, Herman Rodgers; three sisters, Peggy (Hill) Wood, Diane, Pat (Milton) Luckie; one sister through love, Ellen (Smith) Garrett; one brother-in-law, Richard (Sandy) Rodgers; many nieces and nephews and many more great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Antioch East Baptist Church in Greenville, AL.
Donations can be made at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home or Dunklin Funeral Home to help with burial expenses.
Belinda Kay Gohagan Wooten
October 5, 2021
Belinda Kay Gohagan Wooten of Bratt, FL passed away on October 4, 2021 at the age of 66. She was born on November 26, 1954 in Bratt, FL.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence “Buck” Gohagan and Mable West Eicher; her son, Chad Wooten and her brothers, Mike Gohagan, Eric Gohagan and infant baby brother.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Frank Wooten; her step-mother, Regina Gohagan; her children, Brad (Lyn) Wooten and Shane (Heath) Fillmore; her siblings, Anthony Hall, Larry Gohagan, Emily DeRidder and Kristen Branch; her grandchildren, Casey Lane Wooten, Cade Wooten, Brooke McGhee, Trey McGhee, Kelton Wooten, Daylon Wooten, Brandy Wooten and Raylee Wooten and her great grandchildren, Emerie, Kailen, Brynlee, Kynleigh, Knox, Hutson, Mckenna, River, Aubrey, Korbin, BK and Kaycelyn.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Steve Breceda officiating. Interment will follow at Bratt-Godwin Cemetery in Bratt, FL.
Active pallbearers will be Cade Wooten, Daylon Wooten, Trey McGhee, Kelton Wooten, Baccari Ramer and Bailey Bass.
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:30 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
One Person Critically Injured In I-10 Rollover Crash
October 4, 2021
One person was critically injured in a rollover crash on I-10 Monday afternoon.
The crash happened before 3 p.m. on the eastbound side of the interstate between Pine Forest Road at Highway 29. A, 33-year old Grand Bay, Alabama woman was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the woman was traveling east when she lost drifted off the right side of the road, overcorrected to the left and suddenly veered to the right. She collided with a tree, causing her pickup truck to overturn and partially eject her.
I-10 eastbound was closed due to the crash, with one lane reopening shortly before 4 p.m. I-10 westbound remained open following the wreck, but traffic was moving very slowly.
By about 5 p.m., all lanes were reopened.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and has not released further details.
Photos courtesy ECFT and FDOT for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Facebook Was Down; But You Can Still Follow NorthEscambia.com Updates On Twitter
October 4, 2021
Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and Instagram were down for hours on Monday.
You can still follow news updates from NorthEscambia.com 24/7 on Twitter @NorthEscambia.
https://twitter.com/northescambia
Powerball Jackpot At $685 Million Ahead Of Tonight’s Drawing
October 4, 2021
The jackpot for tonight’s Powerball drawing has increased to an estimated $685 million, the sixth largest in the game’s history.
The jackpot has rolled over 40 times since the June 9 drawing.
Jackpot winners have the option to receive their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum cash option of approximately $485.5 million. In addition to the jackpot, players have the chance to win non-jackpot prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million by matching other number combinations.
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
October 4, 2021
Casey DeSantis, the wife of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I am saddened to report that Florida’s esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” DeSantis said in a statement released Monday morning.
“As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady. As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will have not only have my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state. Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up,” the governor continued.
The Governor and first lady DeSantis are parents to daughter, Madison, 4; son, Mason, 3; and daughter, Mamie 18-months, who is the first baby born in the Governor’s Mansion in more than 50 years.
A native of Troy, Ohio, she is a three-time National Champion equestrian, as well as a runner-up Division I NCAA Champion. She worked for the PGA Tour as a producer and on-air host. She earned an Emmy for on-air talent while working in Jacksonville.
Since becoming Florida’s first lady, DeSantis has launched four major initiatives, including “Hope Florida — A Pathway to Prosperity, Economic Self-Sufficiency and Hope.”
Pictured top: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, first lady Casey DeSantis and their three children (left to right) Mamie, Madison, and Mason
Century Receives First Half Of $924,576 In American Rescue Plan Funds
October 4, 2021
Century has received the first half of $924,576 from the American Rescue Plan.
The first half of the town’s award totaled $462,288. The second half will arrive in about one year.
To date, the town council has not discussed how to spend the money, but there is plenty of time left to decide. All funds must be allocated by December 31, 2024, and all expenditures must be complete by December 31, 2026.
The funds provide eligible governments such as Century with a substantial infusion of resources to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, and more equitable economy as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Treasury, the funds may be used to:
- Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health care, and certain public health and safety staff
- Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector
- Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic
- Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors
- Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet
Within these overall categories, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities.
Escambia County will receive a total of $61.7 million from the American Rescue Plan. The county has received the first payment of about $30.9 million with the second payment to arrive in 2022.
Flash Flood Watch in Effect Through Tuesday Night
October 4, 2021
A flash flood watch is in effect through Tuesday night.
The National Weather Service said residents of the North Escambia area can expect multiple rounds of very heavy rain through at least Tuesday night. Total rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are possible with locally higher amounts in areas where showers and storms repeatedly move across the same areas.
This heavy rain combined with saturated soils means flash flooding is likely. Some roads may be flooded or closed.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 81. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 77. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 82.