Florida Gas Prices Trend Downward A Couple Of Cents
February 1, 2021
Florida gas prices on average trended downward a couple of cents last week, according to AAA. Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.38, two cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.34 for a gallon of regular unleaded, unchanged since last week.
The lowest price Sunday night in North Escambia was $2.25 per gallon at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. The bottom dollar per gallon price in Pensacola was $2.21 at a convenience store on East Olive Road.
“Drivers got a break from rising prices at the pump, last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil prices have lost upward momentum, due to lingering concerns about how rising cases of coronavirus will hamper global fuel demand. Gas prices should hold steady or even slip a little lower this week, unless oil prices rise again.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Library Is Closed For The Next Three Weeks For Remodeling
February 1, 2021
The Century Branch Library will be closed for the next three weeks for an extensive interior remodel.
The remodel will feature an expansion of the children’s area by reducing on-site storage. There will also be improvements to the public service desk for increased accessibility, an improved adult reading area, new carpet, new paint, new lighting and new furnishings.
An additional sidewalk, benches, bicycle area and tables have already been added outside the library.
While the library will be closed, Feeding the Gulf Coast youth meals will be available for the week each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Library materials that have been reserved through the library’s website will also be available each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Borrowed items can be returned during the closure by using the outdoor book drop on the south side of the building.
Pictured: Some of the outside improvements at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Healthy Kids Data Hacked
February 1, 2021
Floridians who were enrolled or applied for coverage from a children’s health insurance program between 2013 and 2020 are being urged to take steps to protect their finances after a cyber attack.
Florida Healthy Kids says a vendor, Jelly Bean Communications Design, experienced a cybersecurity incident. The company hosted the FHKC website at the time of the incident. The security incident involved the personal data of online applicants and enrollees. FHKC has no confirmation at this time that anyone’s personal information was removed from the system.
FHKC was notified that several thousand applicant addresses had been inappropriately accessed and tampered with. These addresses are collected as part of the online Florida KidCare application. FHKC engaged independent cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough review of the incident to confirm the scope and severity of the security incident.
The cybersecurity experts identified significant vulnerabilities in the hosted website platform and the databases that support the online Florida KidCare application
The tampering of applicant addresses, together with the potential exposure of personal information dating back to November 2013, constitutes a reportable data breach under Florida and federal law.
The types of information that may have been exposed include:
- Full Name and Date of Birth
- Email Address and Telephone Number
- Physical Address and Mailing Address, if different
- Social Security Number
- Financial Information, to include wages, alimony, child support, royalties, other income, and tax deductions
- Family relationships of those individuals included on the Florida KidCare Application (i.e. mother of child, sister/brother of applicant, etc.)
- Secondary Insurance Information
What Consumers Can Do To Protect Themselves
Individuals who applied or enrolled with Florida KidCare coverage between November 2013 – December 2020 are encouraged to take readily available steps to protect themselves from potential harm, including:
- Fraud alerts – Fraud alerts are a free service offered by all three national credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) and requires potential creditors to contact an individual before any new account is opened. Fraud alerts remain in place for one year, and consumers only need to contact one credit agency for all three credit agencies to place a fraud alert on an account.
- Security freezes – Security freezes are beneficial tools for parents to protect children who have no need for credit accounts. A security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, is the best way to prevent new accounts from being opened without a person’s permission. It is a free service offered by all three national credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) that prevents new credit accounts from being opened under someone’s name without written authorization. Be aware that a security freeze will impact the ability to apply for new credit (such as a car loan, home loan, credit card, etc.). Unlike a fraud alert, consumers must contact each credit reporting agency separately to set up a security freeze.
- Monitoring – Close monitoring of all credit card, bank, and credit agency reports for any unusual activities is recommended. For additional information on how to protect one’s identity and to report identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov.
To set up a fraud alert or security freeze, contact the three national credit reporting agencies below:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation is a nonprofit, public-private partnership created by the Florida Legislature to expand access to affordable, child-centered health insurance
Leigh Ann Macks
February 1, 2021
Mrs. Leigh Ann Macks, age 42, passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2021 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mrs. Macks was born in Pensacola, FL, former resident of Century, FL and had resided in Jay, FL for the past 20 years. She was a loving wife, mother and daughter. Her favorite activity was being with her family and friends on a river bank or the beach, spoiling her babies. She was involved with the children ministries, loved singing in the church with her sons and praising the Lord. She enjoyed woodworks and crafts, fishing and hunting. She was a rural mail carrier with over 12 years of service. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Orria and Betty Stuckey and Lester and Virginia Pierce and aunt, Sandra Stuckey.
She is survived by her father and step-mother, Paul & Karen Pierce of Ramsey, IL; mother and step-father, Judy & Donnie Waters of Canoe, AL; husband of 21 years, Don Wesley Macks of Jay, FL; two sons, Tanner Lee Macks of Jay, FL and Todd Wesley Macks of Jay, FL; two brothers, Sam (Ashleigh) Pierce of Jay, FL and Brian (Tracy) Pierce of Frisco City, AL; two sisters, Christina (Randy) Hoover of Mulberry, IL and Robin (Rico) Padilla of McDavid, FL and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Eric Bryan officiating.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 12:30 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers family request memorials are made to the PNH Research and Support Foundation at 4330 East West Highway, Suite 230, Bethesda, MD 20814.
FDOH Reports 159 New Escambia County COVID-19 Cases
February 1, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 159 additional coronavirus cases reported in Escambia County Sunday by the Florida Department of Health. There were no additional deaths reported in the county.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 30,942 (+159)
Non-Florida residents: 3,223
Recovered: 23,114*
Total deaths: 528
Long-term care facility deaths : 227
Current hospitalizations: 180 (-11)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,428
Percent positive reported last day: 8.8%
Percent positive reported last week: 15.2%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 22,962 (+118)
Cantonment: 2,806 (+18)
Century: 1,118
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 426 (+1)
McDavid: 184
Bellview: 52
Walnut Hill: 48
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 12
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 15,486 (+95)
Non-Florida residents: 196
Total deaths: 215 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths: 66 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 691*
Number of tests reported last day: 592
Percent positive reported last day: 13.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 7,463 (+41)
Navarre: 3,101 (+16)
Gulf Breeze: 2,890 (+20)
Pace: 1,236 (+11)
Jay: 480 (+3)
Bagdad: 31
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,721,377
Florida residents: 1,689,700
Deaths: 26,479
Hospitalizations: 72,294*
*“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.
Jerry Mack Stuckey
February 1, 2021
Jerry Mack Stuckey, age 73, passed away on January 27, 2021. He was born on January 7, 1948 in Atmore, AL to the late Matthew and Callie Louise Baker Stuckey. He was a member of Dry Springs Community Church. He was a pipe fitter most of his life and retired from Swift Lumber Company where he was employed as a security guard.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois Yvonne Stuckey; his brother, Matthew “Chic” Stuckey and his sister, Farristean Adams.
He is survived by his daughter, Pamela “Renee” Boyington of Atmore, AL; his sons, Jerrywayne (Tracy) Stuckey of Walnut Hill, FL and Clifford (Katrina) Stuckey of McDavid, FL; twelve grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held Monday, February 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Joe Gipson and Bro. John Spence officiating. Interment will follow at Pineville Cemetery in Pineville, FL.
Active pallbearers will be Clifford Stuckey, Troy Stuckey, Dustin Boyington, Dakota Stuckey, Jerrywayne Stuckey and Tony Hadley.
Visitation will be Monday, February 1, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
For the safety of you and others, please practice social distancing requirements, though wearing a facial mask is strongly encouraged.
Sheriff: Two People Shot By Century Correctional Officer At Birthday Party Near Flomaton
January 31, 2021
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
Two people were shot at an adult birthday party near Flomaton Saturday night, and the suspect was identified as a correctional officer.
The adult males were shot outside a home on McMurphy Lane off Old Atmore Road, about four miles west of Flomaton.
James Scott Lassiter, age 51 of Flomaton, was charged with two counts of attempted murder. Lassiter was identified by Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson as a correctional officer at the Century Correctional Institution.
Jackson told NorthEscambia.com shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday that Lassiter had just been taken into custody after he was located by a K-9. The sheriff said a motive for the shooting had not yet been established.
Both victims were transported to area hospitals in critical condition. Their names have not been released.
Lassiter was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
McMurphy Lane is about two miles north of the Florida-Alabama line.
Traffic Alert: Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots
January 31, 2021
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this week as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The intersection of North 17th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway will remain closed until spring 2021 as construction continues for the new 17th Avenue interchange. The Visitor’s Center remains accessible from 17th Avenue. In addition, the ramp from 17th Avenue to East Gregory Street remains open. Eastbound drivers on Bayfront Parkway should use North 14th Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) as a detour route. The bridge remains closed until March 2021.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)- Traffic impacts for the week of Sunday, Jan. 31 include:
- The U.S. 29 median crossover at Hood Drive will be temporarily closed until 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1 to adjust the elevation of the median crossover at this location. Motorists approaching U.S. 29 from Hood Drive will be required to turn right onto U.S. 29. The signal will be placed in flash-mode and signage will be in place.
- Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures and shifts, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent right turn lane closures beginning Monday, Feb. 1.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Pine Forest (State Road (S.R.) 297) to U.S. 29 -Drivers will experience intermittent traffic stoppages at the intersection of Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 through Wednesday, Feb. 3 as crews pave the intersection. Traffic control officers will be on-site to direct traffic. Additionally, the Nine Mile Road westbound right turn lane to access Pine Forest Road will be closed during these same hours as crews reconstruct the turn lane.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive- Early construction activities including utility relocations, clearing, excavation, and drainage improvements have begun. Clearing and excavating of areas for the stormwater ponds are currently underway. There will be no traffic impacts associated with the construction of the ponds, but nearby residents and businesses may experience some noise. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained. Major roadway construction activities are anticipated to begin summer 2021.
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – For the latest information visit FDOT.gov/Pensacola Bay.
- S.R. 87 Mardi Gras Parade From Stewart Street in Milton between Raymond Hobbs Street and Elva Street – Motorists will encounter lane closures Saturday, Jan. 30 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the Mardi Gras parade.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Maintenance over Saltman Bayou – Motorists will encounter a westbound lane closure from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 for bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation over Pond Creek – Motorists will encounter a westbound lane closure from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3 while crews perform bridge repair work.
- S.R. 87 Bridge Maintenance over East Bay River – Motorists will encounter a southbound lane closure from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3 for bridge maintenance.
- S.R. 87 Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation over East Bay River – Motorists will encounter a northbound lane closure from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 while crews perform bridge repair work.
- U.S. 90 (S.R. 10) Turn Lane Construction for New Discount Tire Store – Motorists will encounter nighttime, intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Wednesday, Feb. 3 and continuing to Thursday, Feb. 18 as crews construct an east and westbound turn lane for the New Discount Tire Store.
- S.R. 89 North, S.R. 87 North and S.R. 89 Bypass Roadway Maintenance Operations- Drivers may encounter intermittent lane restrictions through Sunday, April 25 as crews perform roadway maintenance activities along the corridors. Off duty law enforcement will be on-site to assist with traffic control.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: Approaching the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road as seen on Thursday. NorthEsambia.com photo.
NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field Conducting Anti-Terrorism Exercise
January 31, 2021
Naval Air Station Pensacola and Whiting Field will hold an annual force protection exercise February 1-12.
Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2021 will be conducted on Navy installations in the continental U.S. It is a regularly scheduled exercise and is not a response to any specific threat.
Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.
Photo: U.S. Navy.
Clearing And Turning Colder
January 31, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 67. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 10 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.