FDOH Escambia Offers Free HIV Testing On Monday
June 26, 2022
In observance of National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County will offering testing in two locations on Monday.
HIV testing will be available at:
- University of West Florida Commons (Bldg. 22), second floor in room 259, 265, and 268 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
- Walgreens, 700 North Pace Boulevard on the FDOH-Escambia mobile unit from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Testing at both locations is for individuals age 13 or above.
Two Injured In Highway 29 Crash In McDavid
June 26, 2022
Two people were injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday night in McDavid.
A Kia Optima and Chevrolet pickup truck collided about 9:35 p.m. on Highway 29 at Highway 164.
Two people were transported by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash. The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Mobile Home On Roberts Circle
June 26, 2022
Fire damaged a mobile home Saturday night on Roberts Circle, just north of East Roberts Road.
The fire was reported to Escambia County Fire Rescue about 8:55 p.m.
There were no reports of serious injury, and no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Minor Injuries In Highway 97 Crash North Of Molino
June 26, 2022
One person received minor injuries in a single vehicle crash Saturday afternoon north of Molino.
The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into heavy brush along Highway 97 near Hendrix Lane. The driver was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Signs Alzheimer’s Education Bill
June 26, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted record funding for Alzheimer’s disease as he signed a senate bill to establish the Ramping up Education of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia for You (READY) Act.
Additionally, the Governor announced that the final pillar of the five-part Dementia Action Plan, created in 2019, has been fulfilled with the establishment of the Florida Alzheimer’s Center for Excellence.
The Florida House version of the READY Act was filed by District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman.
“My legislation will require community health clinics across the state to educate their patients on the signs and symptoms of early onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s as well as provide them with assistance in finding resources for treatment and care. It is a known fact that the sooner you are diagnosed, the better your future as well as the more prepared your family is to help provide the care, ” Salzman said.
“Supporting Floridians suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia is an important part of supporting our seniors,” said DeSantis. “We are working to make sure that any Floridian suffering from this terrible disease can access resources while also supporting innovative technologies that will open up doors for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in the future.”
The Freedom First budget recently signed by DeSantis includes $52.3 million for the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative Program, an increase of $12 million over the previous year. Additionally, $91.7 million is included for the Community Care for the Elderly Program, an increase of $9 million over the previous year. This program assists functionally impaired seniors to remain in the least restrictive, most suitable environment for their needs.
The bill signing took place in Fort Lauderdale.
Pictured: Florida House District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman, left, watches as Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Ramping up Education of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia for You (READY) Act during a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Partly Cloudy, Lows 70 Tonight
June 26, 2022
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph becoming north in the evening.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp Is Monday And Tuesday
June 26, 2022
The Tate High School kids football camp is coming up Monday and Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. each day.
Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. Monday, and the fee is $40 paid by check, cash or card. No experience is needed in this camp for kids 8-13 years old.
The camp will be directed by the Tate coaching staff, assisted by Tate football players. This is an opportunity to work on fundamentals, practice agility, run through drills and learn about being part of a team.
Participants are not required to live in the Tate district.
Pictured: The 2021 Tate football camp. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Michael Anthony Toliver
June 26, 2022
Michael Anthony Toliver, 72, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on May 27th, 2022. He was born in Washington, D.C on March 04, 1950. He was proud of his country and served in the United States Navy for twenty years until he retired. Michael enjoyed the simple things in life. Such as, reading a good book, working on computers, listening to rock and roll and spending time with his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his parents John and Virginia Toliver. He is survived by his loving wife Carmelita; stepchildren Ronnie Leal, Connie Leal, Carol Leal and Christina Leal; brothers John Toliver and Chris Toliver. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 27th, 2022 from 11am to 12 pm.
Service will begin at noon with interment to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, Florida is entrusted with arrangements.
Wahoos Weather Late Biloxi Rally In 8-7 Win
June 26, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos withstood a furious late-inning rally on Saturday night, holding on to beat the Biloxi Shuckers 8-7 despite allowing the final five runs of the game.
Jeff Lindgren (W, 2-1) was dependable as always, recording his sixth quality start in eight Double-A appearances this year with 6.0 innings of two-run ball.
The Blue Wahoos had only one hit through the first six innings, but turned a Thomas Jones double into the game’s first run in the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from Troy Johnston.
Thomas Dillard, Friday’s walk-off hero for Biloxi, evened the score with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, but Lindgren quickly settled into a groove. The righty allowed a career-high nine hits, but all were singles as the game remained tied 1-1 going to the seventh.
Pensacola put up four runs in the top of the seventh against Luis Contreras (L, 1-2) to take a 5-1 lead. Jones brought home Bubba Hollins from first base with his second double of the game, and scored on a J.D. Orr single past a drawn-in infield. Ray-Patrick Didder walked before Orr scampered to third on a wild pitch and scored on a subsequent throwing error. Johnston capped the rally by scoring Didder from third on his second sacrifice fly of the night.
Lindgren departed after allowing a pair of baserunners in the seventh, but Eli Villalobos worked out of the jam with only one inherited run allowed. Villalobos was handed three more runs of support in the eighth thanks to a three-run homer from Norel González, but gave two back in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer from Biloxi’s Nick Kahle.
In the ninth, Dylan Bice surrendered a leadoff homer to Felix Valerio before walking back-to-back batters. Colton Hock (S, 7) entered in a save situation, allowing an RBI double to Cam Devanney and an RBI single to Yeison Coca, but stranded the tying run at third as he worked out of the crisis to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up the first half against the Shuckers on Sunday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
DeSantis Signs ECUA Term Limits Bill
June 25, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday that establishes term limits for Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA) board members.
“Any person elected to two consecutive full terms as a member of the Board subsequent to July 1, 2021, is not eligible for election to the Board for the next succeeding term,” the bill states. That means in the future, no one can run for more than two consecutive terms on the board.
“The ECUA bill was one of my passion projects from my campaign trail. After knocking 14,000 doors accountability was one of the biggest concerns of constituents,” Rep. Michelle Salzman, bill sponsor, told NorthEscambia.com Friday evening. “Creating a more collaborative relationship with all government agencies was a goal of mine that I knew would address a majority of the issues I heard from folks.
A 2018 grand jury report, which was not made public until September 2020, recommended term limits for ECUA. The grand jury found that a lack of term limits “has created a sense of complacency and has fostered an overreliance on the executive director and attorneys”.
“The grand jury report was a guide to the other actionable steps — which included the suggestion of term limits. Having spoken to thousands of voters, I knew that they wanted term limits as well,” she said.
The bill also creates a faster process for filling any vacant seats on the ECUA board.
On January 20, 2019, District 3 board member Elvin McCorvey passed away at age 74. DeSantis did not appoint anyone until late November 2019 when he named Cedric Alexander to the seat.
Under the bill signed Friday, if the governor fails to make an appointment within 90 days of the vacancy, the chair of the ECUA board will nominate two people from the district with the vacancy as potential replacements. The remaining members, excluding the chair, will select one of the nominees by majority vote.
“We used the opportunity to review many components of the law and were able to update other key components of the bill to help create a more efficient process for things such as filling vacant seats on the board,” Salzman added.