Gulf Power To Begin Construction On Huge North Escambia Solar Farm Soon; Second Solar Farm Planned Nearby
January 11, 2021
Gulf Power will begin construction on a huge solar farm near McDavid in the next few months, and NorthEscambia.com has learned plans are in the works for a second solar facility in the same area.
At 74.2 megawatts, the Cotton Creek Creek Solar Energy Center will generate enough electricity to power 15,000 homes annually, according to Gulf Power. The Escambia County Development Review Committee granted approval for the Cotton Creek solar farm in November 2020.
“We are excited to announce that construction will begin on Cotton Creek in the late part of the first quarter of this year or early part of the second quarter,” Gulf Power spokesperson Kimberly Blair said. “However, you may see some site preparation work being done before the start of construction. Our anticipated completion date is the end of 2021.”
NorthEscambia.com was first to report in December 2019 that facility was planned for West Bogia Road. Documents show the project to be about 640 acres, only 353.18 acres of which will be disturbed. The development is planned for an area north of West Bogia Road between South Pine Barren Road and Highway 29, just west of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
And now Gulf Power is seeking the necessary permits for the First City Solar Energy Center off Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid. It will be 74.5 megawatts, also enough to power another 15,000 homes annually.
“We are in the early stages of developing the proposed First City Solar Energy Center on our company-owned property in North Escambia,” Blair said. “We are currently applying for permits to construct the 74.5 megawatt site. We won’t have a construction start date for First City until the permitting is approved.”
The First City Solar Center will encompass about 554 acres with about 458 acres to be disturbed for approximately 300,000 solar panels.
Both projects are expected to create 200-250 jobs during peak construction.
Pictured top: Plans for the First City Solar Energy Center. Pictured below: Plans for the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center. NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Crash Claims Life Of Escambia County Woman
January 11, 2021
An Escambia County woman died in an early morning crash Sunday.
It happened about 2 a.m. on Navy Boulevard near Chaseville Street.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 35-year old woman was travel east on Navy Boulevard when she lost control and ran off the roadway. Her SUV struck a business sign before colliding with a concrete pole. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of traffic accident victims.
Cloudy And Cold Tonight
January 11, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 51. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58
Florida Gas Prices Up By About A Dime In The Past Week
January 11, 2021
Florida gas prices increased by more a dime last week. Florida drivers are now paying $2.30 per gallon at the pump on average.
The state average is 11 cents more than last week and 16 cents more than last month. Even still, Florida drivers are paying 21 cents per gallon less than this time last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $2.25. The lowest price in North Escambia Sunday night was $2.17 at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Florida drivers are now finding some of the highest prices at the pump since March 2020,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices are still being propped up by continued optimism in the fuel market, because of the long-term hopes that a vaccine will help struggling demand recover. Also motivating the market is Saudi Arabia’s agreement to cut crude oil production, which helped drive oil prices to an 11-month high.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Habitat Closes On 29 Homes In 2020
January 11, 2021
Amid the great local need for affordable homeownership, Pensacola Habitat finished up the year with 29 closings despite the pandemic and challenging hurricane season.
Though delays and setbacks had occurred with less than average volunteer participation due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the 29 closings took place. Three of them were on December 16, just in time for Christmas.
“The experience with [Pensacola] Habitat was an amazing adventure. There was some good and not necessarily bad, just setbacks”, said Danielle Johnson, one of the three homeowners who closed on their home in December.
Johnson, a single mother of three, put forth the sweat equity hours, attended the required classes and paid her down payment to complete the program and purchased her own affordable home. She and her children were able to spend their first Christmas in their brand-new house in Northeast Pensacola.
“It can be frustrating; however, the good side is it always came out good. We have to remember that God has perfect timing. To have something of my own for my children is amazing. I’m so thankful for everything. The thing that tops it all is that my kids have their own rooms!” Johnson continued.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Win Regional Championship
January 11, 2021
The Tate High School Aggie Cheerleaders won the FHSAA Region 1 Championship for the Medium Varsity All-Girl Division over the weekend, their fourth regional championship in a row.
The Aggie cheerleaders will advance to the state finals in two weeks. In December, the squad earned a bid to nationals.
The Tate varsity cheerleaders are:
- Kyndell Ammons
- Landry Bellard
- Lanie Brown
- Jaiden Bryant
- Lauren Freeman (co-captain)
- Hagyn Helton
- Erin Johnson
- Karigan Kowal
- Paige McKinney
- Emily McNair
- Ashlyn NeSmith (Captain)
- Lainey Patrick
- Emma Romero
- Alyssa Roye
- Angelena Tamoria
- Morgan Warrington (co-captain)
Last school year, the Tate Aggie cheerleaders won a state championship and placed fifth in the nation.
Photo for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another 240 COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 11, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
On Sunday, the Florida Department of Health reported 240 additional COVID-19 cases.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 25,393 (+240)
Non-Florida residents: 2,748
Recovered: 22,871*
Total deaths: 413
Long-term care facility deaths : 178
Current hospitalizations: 270
Number of tests reported last day: 1,112
Percent positive reported last day: 16%
Percent positive reported last week: 18.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 18,616 (+173)
Cantonment: 2,269 (+27)
Century: 1,052
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 314 (+6)
McDavid: 156
Walnut Hill: 46 (+1)
Bellview: 39
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 12,843 (+186)
Non-Florida residents: 159
Total deaths: 155
Long-term care facility deaths: 36
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 600*
Number of tests reported day: 551
Percent positive reported last day: 25.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 6,197 (+94)
Navarre: 2,516 (+25)
Gulf Breeze: 2,314 (+50)
Pace: 1,006 (+10)
Jay: 385 (+5)
Bagdad: 25
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,477,010
Florida residents: 1,450,620
Deaths: 22,912
Hospitalizations: 65,595*
*“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 as a result, 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.
Century Asking The Florida Legislature To Fund Three Utility Projects
January 10, 2021
The Town of Century has prioritized three projects for funding requests to the Florida Legislature.
The three utility projects are:
1. Highway 29 Construction Utilities
The Florida Department of Transportation completed design on a project to improve portions of Highway 29. The town will be required to adjust the height of existing valves and manholes, and make changes to natural gas lines, water lines and sewer lines in one part of the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2022.
2. Water Meter Replacement Project
The town wants to replace all existing commercial and residential water meters with electronic meters than can be read remotely. They are asking for the funding needed to replace the meters, along with new software and training for a complete radio system.
3. Well And Water Plant Rehabilitation
The town is requesting funding to rehabilitate three existing water wells and water treatment plants. Work has already been done on the well located at the Century Correctional Institution and the well on Henry Street, but the well on Blackmon Street still needs repairs. The electrical and treatment equipment at all three wells needs to be rehabilitated, with much of it needing complete replacement. Each well house building needs cosmetic work, and the well located at the prison needs a permanent standby generator.
The requests will go to Rep. Michelle Salzman and Sen. Doug Broxson to be submitted for consideration during the upcoming legislative session.
Pictured: Century Town Hall. NorthEscmabia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Owen Jacobs Commits To Play Soccer At Belhaven University
January 10, 2021
Tate High School senior Owen Jacobs has committed to play soccer at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi.
Owen is the son of Brett and Merike Jacobs of Cantonment. Born in Pensacola, Owen has spent much of his life living abroad as an Air Force dependent. He competed in England with the Cambridge United and Norwich Soccer academies, the Gulf Coast Texans in Pensacola and Tate High School.
Owen, who was born completely deaf, is also on the roster with the U.S. Mens Deaf National Soccer Team.
He plans to study political science and Constitutional law with the goal of becoming a Constitutional lawyer. Owen will be joining his brother Brady, a 2018 Tate graduate, who also plays for the Belhaven men’s soccer team.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bristol Park Area Flooding FEMA Grant Public Meeting Is Monday Evening
January 10, 2021
Escambia County will hold a public meeting Monday evening to update progress on the efforts to address flooding in the Bristol Park area.
The county is applying for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to further the county’s acquisition and flood plain restoration initiative in this area. The county is looking to voluntarily acquire properties in the Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills neighborhoods from willing homeowners.
“Unfortunately, the Bristol Park area experienced substantial flooding again during Hurricane Sally,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “This meeting will provide a venue for homeowners to ask questions and gain additional information about an option that may be available to help them with their individual situation.”
The purpose of the meeting is to further gauge interest of homeowner willingness to participate and to address frequently asked questions and concerns about the grant application.
The meeting will me held at 5 p.m. Monday at the Escambia County Extension Office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
After the presentation, homeowners will have the opportunity to ask further questions in small groups or individually, and the county would like to make appointments for these time slots. Residents are asked to contact either Kelli Reddick (kelli.reddick@arcadis.com) or Rob McCracken (rob_mccracken@myescambia.com) prior to the meeting to schedule an appointment, ask questions about the grant application and/or see a pre-application package.
Pictured: Household items piled outside a home in the Bristol Park area that flooded during Hurricane Sally. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.