Florida Gas Prices Jump A Dime; Pipeline Shutdown Threatens Another Increase
May 10, 2021
Florida gas prices increased 10 cents last week, in response to the crude oil and gasoline futures price gains, according to AAA.
The state average is now $2.88 per gallon; three cents less than the highest price so far this year.
In North Escambia, a low of $2.76 could be found Saturday night at station on Highway 29. A handful of stations in Pensacola were a few cents less.
Now there’s a threat of even higher prices as the country’s largest pipeline – for refined products like gasoline – has been shut down since Friday, due to a cyber attack. The Colonial Pipeline carries gasoline and diesel from refineries in Texas, supplying states with fuel across the southeastern US and up the eastern seaboard to the New York harbor.
“The longer the pipeline is down, the greater the threat of rising gas prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “If operations are restored on Monday, drivers may see very little to no impact at the pump. A lengthy downtime, like a week, would be a different story. Sunday night, gasoline futures prices were up less than a nickel.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
William Allen Wilson
May 10, 2021
William Allen Wilson, age 81, a native of Watsonville, California, and a resident of Molino, Florida, passed away at home on Tuesday, April 26, 2021.
He was a faithful servant as a member of the First Pentecostal Church where he worshiped his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He enjoyed his duties as door greeter, which he shared with his beloved Elizabeth before her death-welcoming fellow worshippers and visitors. He was Papa to three grandchildren and one great grandchild who all brought him great joy and happiness. Over the years, he spent many hours helping the older grandchildren with homework and providing guidance to these precious children while instilling them with his beliefs and values, which many were taught by example-to have faith and be strong during difficult times. He was a gentle and kind father to Ben with whom he spent many hours in conversation. He’s always been there when Ben needed anything-whether to hand him a tool, provide guidance or just simply be a good listener. Aside from his Lord and Savior and his family, Bill’s devotion was to the military.
Bill served the United States Navy over 27 years and retired as Master Chief.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth, his parents, Elmer Ray and Hanna Marie, his siblings Ray Wilson, John Wilson, and Alice Wylie. He is survived by his son, Ben Wilson (Lisa), one grandson, Gage, and two granddaughters Leigha (Daniel) Nielsen, Ellysia Wilson, and his first great-grandson, Daniel Nielsen, Jr., siblings Barbara Crombie, Shirley Wilson, Richard Wilson, Charles Wilson and Diane Wilson.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, May 10, 2021, at 4:00 pm, at the First Pentecostal Church, 6500 W Street, Pensacola, Florida.
Wahoos Drop Game To The Braves, Bring Series Win Back To Pensacola
May 10, 2021
Pensacola dropped the finale of their first series of the year in a 6-2 game shortened by rain.
Home runs were the story once again for the M-Braves as they scored five of their six runs via the long ball on Mother’s Day. C.J. Alexander hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first off Wahoos starter Will Stewart (L, 0-1) to put the M-Braves up 3-0.
Jerar Encarnacion had a quick response when he led off the second inning with a spectacular solo home run that landed in the parking lot well beyond the left field bullpen.
However, it was Mississippi who homered again, and this time Jacob Pearson hit a two-run shot off Stewart in the bottom of the fourth, pushing the M-Braves lead to 5-1. They would add another run in the sixth, and after the Wahoos scored in the seventh to make it a 6-2 game, the skies opened up and the game was called due to a heavy downpour.
RHP Matt Withrow made his first start for the M-Braves in almost four years, dating back to May 21, 2017 against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He pitched four innings, and allowed just the one run on two hits while striking out two.
Pensacola leaves Mississippi with its first series win in hand as they prepare for back-to-back homesteads, the first beginning on Tuesday, May 11th against the Birmingham Barons.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
William Kenneth “Sonny” Knowles
May 10, 2021
William Kenneth “Sonny” Knowles, age 79, a native of Flomaton, AL and a longtime resident of Century, Fl, passed away Thursday, May 6, 2021.
Mr. Knowles was a graduate of Flomaton High School. He served in the Army and National Guard before starting his career in the Oil and Gas Industry. He retired from Exxon and went on to work for various other companies managing the Flomaton Plant. He officially retired in 2010 and loved spending time with his wife Marcia and his horses. He was a member of the Flomaton Pentecostal Holiness Church and spent many hours reading the Bible.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lois Knowles and Mary Alberta McKenzie Knowles, and his loving wife Marcia Rice Knowles.
He is survived by his sisters Peggy (Paul) Cortichiato, Sue Watson and brother Paul (Karen) Knowles; two daughters Sylvia (Randy) Straley and Cindy Hemme; step children Kim Schroeder, Kathy Hovark, James Hovark and Danny Hovark; two grandchildren Elizabeth Hemme and Kelsey Plant; various very loved nieces and nephews.
He will be laid to rest with his loving wife at the Rock Cemetery on May 29th at 11:00am.
Escambia Records 27 New COVID-19 Cases
May 10, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported 27 additional COVID-19 cases in Escambia County on Sunday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,191 (+27)
Non-Florida residents: 3,682
Recovered: 33,687*
Total deaths: 690
Long-term care facility deaths: 286
Current hospitalizations: 34
Number of tests reported last day: 224
Percent positive reported last day: 9.7%
Percent positive reported last week: 5.8%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,124 (+21)
Cantonment: 3,246 (+3)
Century: 1,179
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 494
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 58
Walnut Hill: 55
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,255 (+9)
Non-Florida residents: 249
Total deaths: 287
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 903*
Number of tests reported last day: 182
Percent positive reported last day: 4.7%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,708 (+2)
Navarre: 3,770 (+4)
Gulf Breeze: 3,362 (+2)
Pace: 1,486
Jay: 554 (+2)
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,269,806
Florida residents: 2,227,303
Deaths: 35,731
Hospitalizations: 92,086
*“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.
Barbara Ann McIlwain
May 10, 2021
It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we must announce the passing of our beautiful Barbara Ann McIlwain as she joins our Lord in Heaven after a yearlong battle with stomach cancer. She was a wonderful wife, loving mother to our two boys and cherished daughter to her father and stepmother. She was a beautiful person not only on the outside but also on the inside, as can be seen by the outpouring of love we have received from friends and family. There are no words to express how much she will be missed.
Barbara was born on January 31, 1968 in Pensacola, FL to Eddie and Nina Zarahn. She graduated from Tate High School then received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology at the University of South Alabama. She later earned her MPA from USA.
Barbara was preceded in death by her mother, Nina Zarahn, and her brother, Chad Zarahn. She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Rusty McIlwain, her twin sons Harrison and Parker McIlwain, her father and stepmother, Eddie and Adrienne Zarahn, and her two stepbrothers, Jason and Jarett Coleman.
Her legacy to her family is a love for Jesus Christ she demonstrated through word and deed.
Please join us in celebrating her life at Faith Chapel North, 1000 S. Highway 29, Cantonment, FL 32533. Visitation shall be from 6-8 PM on Thursday, May 13th and funeral services shall take place on Friday, May 14th at 12:30 PM, with burial to follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens at 7433 Pine Forest Road, Pensacola FL, 32526.
Structure Fire Sunday Afternoon At Ascend Performance Materials; Second Fire In A Week
May 9, 2021
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to another active structure fire at Ascend Performance Materials on old Chemstrand Road Sunday afternoon, the second fire at the chemical plant in a week.
The fire was in an area about 150 yards from the location of a fire at the plant last week.
Multiple Escambia Fire Rescue stations responded to assist Ascend’s internal fire department. Ascend requested two engines for assistance with an active fire, according to Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale. A total of 12 Escambia Fire Rescue units responded, including three engines, a squad truck and one ladder truck.
There was no danger to the public outside the plant, and there were no evacuations ordered.
There were no injuries.
Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to a structure fire at the plant on May 5.
Pictured. Escambia Fire Rescue responded fire Sunday afternoon at Ascend. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour. Click to enlarge.
UWF Holds In-Person Commencement (With Photo Gallery)
May 9, 2021
The University of West Florida held their Spring Commencement on Saturday.
Two ceremonies were held at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the first in-person commencement since the pandemic. UWF invited all 2020 graduates to attend the Spring 2021 commencement.
Graduates were socially distanced, and guests were limited to four per graduate. The ceremonies were streamed online, and many graduates chose to take part virtually.
For a complete list of graduates, click or tap here for the program.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Vaccine Demand Declining, Escambia Lagging Behind State Average
May 9, 2021
Escambia County’s health director says the demand for COVID-19 vaccine is decreasing, despite ample availability.
There have been 99,870 people that have received at least one dose in Escambia County as of May 7. That is 37% of the county population over age 16; the state average is 49%.
“We are below the state average for individuals vaccinated that are eligible,” said Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Administrator Marie Mott. “That’s one of the things we would like to see change.”
In March, Mott said a local vaccination target of 175,000 by May was was discussed among vaccine community partners.
“The supply has opened up, but it appears the demand is being maybe not as robust as it was in January, February,” she said.
Mott told the Escambia County Commission that the vaccine is readily available from multiple providers, hospitals, private medical practices and a number of commercial pharmacies. There have also been numerous vaccination clinics in several communities, including the pictured clinic last week at the Walnut Hill Community Center where 28 people received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“It’s pretty widely available. I think it’s getting people to decide to go ahead and go get it, or the time is right to go get it.”
“Our health care providers have done an excellent job of securing supply, but the demand has waned,” Commission Chairman Robert Bender said. He said Escambia County is 22nd in the state in terms of population, but about 26th or 27th in the number of people vaccinated.
“We want our recovery to continue. We feel the best way to do that is through our community getting vaccinated,” Bender added.
Pictured top: A clinic last week at the Walnut Hill Community Center where 28 people received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Pictured inset: Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Administrator Marie Mott addresses the Escambia County Commission Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
High Rain Chance Returns For Monday
May 9, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 74. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.