Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued
April 24, 2021
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 9 p.m.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Escambia 4-H Meat Judging Teams Place First, Second In Florida; Tate FFA Places Fourth
April 24, 2021
One Escambia County 4-H meat judging team has won a state championship, and another has place second.
The intermediate (ages 11-13) 4-H meat judging team placed first at the state 4-H meat judging contest at the University Of Florida in Gainesville. The team included A.T. Bridgers, Laney Clarke, Tucker Padgett and Hunter Taylor.
The senior (ages 14+) 4-H meat judging team placed second in their division with members Alan B., Gracie Meredith and Lilly Warne. J
Tate High School’s FFA also competed at their meat judging career development event and they placed fourth in the FFA competition.
Last year, both the intermediate and senior Escambia County 4-H meat judging teams place first at the virtual state competition.
Participants identified 40 retail cuts and placed six retail, primal, carcass classes. The 4-H meat judging program develops life skills through activities related to the processing of beef, pork, and lamb, including retail identification, factors relating to meat quality and cooking methods. Participants developed an understanding and appreciation of the basic scientific principles involved in eating and cooking quality, nutritional value and consumer appeal of meat. 4-H members on the team also learned life skills such as effective decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting and teamwork.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Road Traffic To Be Shifted Between Navy Federal Way, Allegheny Avenue
April 24, 2021
The Nine Mile Road westbound travel lane between Allegheny Avenue and Navy Federal Way will be shifted to the newly constructed westbound outside lane the week of Sunday, April 25. The traffic shift will allow crews to complete the new median and inside eastbound left turn lanes.
All construction activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Dr. James “Jim” Elwood Hall, Jr.
April 24, 2021
Dr. James “Jim” Elwood Hall, Jr.
February 21, 1943 – April 13, 2021
On April 13, 2021, Jim Hall was called home after 78 years of good and faithful service to God, his family, and his community. He will be remembered as a loving, funny, wisecracking family man, musician, dentist, dedicated Christian, and proud Florida Gator.
Jim was born to Margaret Jernagan Hall and J. E. “Bud” Hall on February 21, 1943 in Pensacola, Florida. He was the second of three children. Jim graduated from Escambia High School in 1961 where his dad was the principal. He was in the first Hall of Fame class, selected as an outstanding scholar athlete for the state of Florida, and voted “Best All Around” his senior year. Jim attended the University of Florida where he played football as a kicker and quarterback. He then attended Dental School at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Jim made life-long friends wherever he went and he cared very much for all of them. He also found a way to play music wherever he went playing his guitar with bands locally and in both Gainesville and Birmingham.
While in Birmingham, Jim met the love of his life, Karen Miller, and they were married in 1968. After Dental School he spent 2 years as a dentist in the United States Army. Jim and Karen returned to Pensacola in 1971. Jim kept a dental practice in the Pensacola area from 1972 to his retirement in 2008. In Pensacola, Jim and Karen raised 5 rambunctious boys who were the joy of their lives. Jim loved his family more than anything and he never let them forget it.
Jim’s greatest passion, besides his family, was music. There was always music in the Hall household thanks to Jim. He kept guitars everywhere in the house and he passed his passion for playing music on to all his boys. Some of his happiest times were when his boys played instruments or sang along with him whether it was publicly or just sitting around the house. Writing music was one of Jim’s life-long ambitions. He was known to even make up songs about the ones he loved. He was always taking down notes or talking into one of his many tape recorders, and he enjoyed being a part of a local songwriting community. Music was a big part of his life and he liked to share it with anyone he could.
Jim also loved to play music at church whenever he got the chance. Jim’s faith was central to his life. He was a long-time member of Pine Forest United Methodist Church where his family has been a part of the congregation since its inception. He loved the people there. He and Karen also attended Gonzalez United Methodist Church for several years when the twins were born. While practicing as a dentist, Jim took several medical mission trips to Central America with both churches. He was always ready to help the church in any way he could.
A loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Jim will forever be loved and remembered by his wife of 52 years, Karen; sisters Helen Correll (Ward) and Susan Hall; sons Jay (Kim) of Nashville, TN, Jody of Pensacola, Casey of Houston, TX, Kyle and Jacob of Pensacola; granddaughters Ashley, Kiara, and Piper; grandson Alex (Alisha); and a host of other relatives and friends.
A private funeral will be held with his immediate family in the coming days. A public celebration of Jim’s life will hopefully be held at a later date. Jim’s ashes will be interred in the columbarium at Pine Forest United Methodist Church Cemetery.
A special thanks to Emerald Coast Hospice for the care they provided to Jim and his family in his final months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s honor to the music ministry at Pine Forest United Methodist Church.
FHP: Man That Ran Red Light Had 160 Grams Of Pot, Over $18,000 In Cash
April 24, 2021
A man is facing several drug charges after being pulled over by a trooper for running a red light in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol charged 34-year old Cortney Wright with possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, possession with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell; possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, tampering with evidence, and a third or subsequent violation for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
FHP stopped his vehicle for running a red light a Saufley Field Road and Mitchell Lane. A search of the vehicle revealed a total of 160 grams of marijuana in clear plastic bags located throughout his Dodge Ram, an unspecified pill, digital scales and $18,570 in currency.
Wright was released from jail on a $15,000 bond.
53 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
April 24, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 53 new COVID-19 cases in Escambia County reported by the Florida Department of Health on Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,658 (+53)
Non-Florida residents: 3,666
Recovered: 33,243*
Total deaths: 675
Long-term care facility deaths: 281
Current hospitalizations: 38 (+2)
Number of tests reported last day: 500
Percent positive reported last day: 8.1%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,663 (+45)
Cantonment: 3,202 (+6)
Century: 1,175
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 490 (+1)
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 54
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,063 (+21)
Non-Florida residents: 246
Total deaths: 284
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 892*
Number of tests reported last day: 235
Percent positive reported last day: 8.2%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,614 (+9)
Navarre: 3,727 (+6)
Gulf Breeze: 3,335 (+2)
Pace: 1,464 (+4)
Jay: 549
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,196,502
Florida residents: 2,155,319
Deaths: 34,759
Hospitalizations: 89,201
*“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.
Skeletal Remains Identified As Virginia Woman Missing Since 2018
April 23, 2021
Skeletal remains found in Escambia County, Alabama, have been positively identified as missing Virginia woman that was headed to visit relatives in Alabama nearly three years ago.
On August 4, 2018, 70-year old Shari Christine Saunders left Norfolk, Virginia, on her way to Monroeville, Alabama, to visit with family, but never arrived. She was last seen fueling her 2010 red Toyota Corolla in Evergreen, Alabama. Saunders was listed as a missing person and entered into a nationwide database.
Saunder’s vehicle was located on a dirt road off Canaan Church Road in Conecuh County, Alabama, a few miles north of the Flomaton exit on I-65 and Highway 113 on August 13, 2018. A search of the area was completed by the Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe County Sheriff’s offices but Saunders was not located. Investigators continued to search for Saunders, conduct interview, and follow up on leads and information that came in on a weekly basis.
On December 26, 2020, skeletal remains were found in a wooded area off a gated private road that intersects with Canaan Church Road. The remains were submitted for forensic testing for a positive identification.
“A forensic laboratory has now positively identified the skeletal remains as that of Shari Saunders. Additional evidence is being evaluated by other forensic labs, and the sheriff’s offices are focusing on particular suspects,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “We would like to thank the community for their willingness to help in bringing this case closer to being solved and ask that you report anything that might be of evidentiary value.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office Investigator Smith at (251) 809-0741.
Four Candidates Under Consideration To Be The Next Escambia County Fire Chief
April 23, 2021
Escambia County once again has a list of four candidates that might become the next fire chief.
The four are set to meet with county leaders on Friday. In alphabetical order, they are:
- Pascal Arnes — chief, Decatur Township Fire Department, Indianapolis, Indiana. He has 28 years in fire service from volunteer to chief positions.
- Jason Catrambone — chief, Williston Fire Department, Williston, North Dakota. He has more than 25 years experience.
- Billy Cockman — fire chief, Coffeyville Fire Department, Coffeyville Kansas. He served in the Navy for 16 years, and has experience in Florida including Ft. Myers and Jacksonville
- Carroll Spriggs — deputy chief, Annapolis Fire Department, Maryland. He served as a deputy sheriff beginning in 1996 and became a firefighter in 2004.
There’s no word on when a final selection might be made.
“The job will remain open and posted until it is filled,” Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale told NorthEscambia.com.
Four finalists were also announced in late January, culled from a list of 60 applicants from a nationwide search. They were notified that none were selected and the search was continuing.
Escambia County’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and resigned in April 2019.
NorthEsambia.com graphic.
New 448 Area Code Coming To The 850 – Mandatory Change In How You Dial Is Coming May 22
April 23, 2021
A new area code is coming to Northwest Florida, a mandatory change in how you dial your phone begins in about a month.
Mandatory 10-digit dialing will be effective on May 22 for all calls, including local calls, for existing and new phone numbers in the 850 and the new 448 area codes. This includes landlines, cellphones and other devices.
“With Florida’s 850 area code running out of phone numbers, the 448 overlay plan and 10-digit dialing is necessary,” said PSC Chairman Gary Clark. “The good news is that Florida’s growing population and economy are driving this change. With today’s digital applications, programming 10-digit dialing into our contacts and devices is relatively easy.”
New customers, or requests for additional lines, are now assigned the new 448 area code. The PSC actually delayed mandatory 10-digit dialing implementation for three months—originally scheduled to begin in February—so that business customers in the overlay region had ample time to reprogram alarm systems and elevator operations.
Here are some other quick facts about the new 448 area code:
- Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911. You can also dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available.
- Telephone customers should remember to include their area code (3-digit area code + 7-digit telephone number) when giving their number to friends, family, business associates, and customers.
- Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 448 area code as a valid area code, and should continue to program 10-digit telephone numbers.
The 850/448 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle, including the cities of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee.
Risk Of Severe Storms Overnight
April 23, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 1am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 64. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 76. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.