From Pencils And Clothes To Computers – It’s The Last Day Of The Back To School Sales Tax Holiday

August 9, 2020

From pencils and clothes to computers, Sunday is the lats day of the Florida Back To School Sales Tax Holiday.

Today, qualifying items will be exempt from tax, including:

Most school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
The first $1,000 of the sales price of personal computers, certain computer-related accessories, purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

For the complete, detailed list click or tap here. The sales tax holiday does not apply to:

Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
Any school supply item selling for more than $15
Books that are not otherwise exempt
Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
Rentals or leases of any eligible items
Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
Sales of any eligible items in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Six New Deaths, 606 New COVID-19 Cases In Escambia, Santa Rosa; Century Prison Behind Surge

August 8, 2020

THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

There were six new COVID-19 deaths and 606 new cases reported in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on Saturday by by the Florida Department of Health.

The Escambia County deaths were males ages 71, 91, and 92, and females ages 48 and 86. Two were reported as residents of long-term care facilities. The Santa Rosa death was a 74-year old female.

Escambia County cases increased by 540 to 9,297. The increase included 273 Century Correctional Institution inmates. An additional 76 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 3,857.

Of the 1,636 tests results returned on Friday in Escambia County, 24.9% were positive (skewed by the CCI inmates), and 11.3% were positive from 486 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 11.8%.

There were 200 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Saturday, according to data from the three local hospitals.

Of the 115 deaths in Escambia County, 66 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 36 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and seven in a long-term care facilities.

Statewide, there were 526,577 cases including 520,846 Florida residents. There have been 30,251 hospitalizations* and 8,109 deaths. 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 cases:

Total cases — 9,297 (+540 since Friday)
Non-Florida residents — 890
Pensacola —6,910 (+138)
Cantonment — 652 (+15)
Century — 596 (+373 — mostly CCI inmates)
Molino— 102 (+1)
McDavid — 45 (+3)
Walnut Hill — 13
Bellview — 10
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5
Current hospitalizations: 200 (+3)
Deaths — 120 (+5)
Male — 3,969
Female — 4,321
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 38

Santa Rosa County cases:

Total cases — 3,857 (+66 since Friday)
Non-Florida residents — 29
Milton — 2,147 (+18)
Gulf Breeze — 568 (+16)
Navarre — 464 (+15)
Pace — 285 (+6)
Jay — 97 (+2)
Bagdad — 8
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 189*
Deaths — 37 (+1)
Male — 2,206
Female — 1,607
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39

Florida cases:

Total cases — 526,577
Florida residents — 520,846
Deaths — 8,109
Hospitalizations — 30,251*

*“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. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently 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.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Here’s How To Save During Florida’s 2020 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday

August 8, 2020

The 2020 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday is underway in Florida. During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax, including:

Most school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
The first $1,000 of the sales price of personal computers and certain computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

For the complete, detailed list click or tap here. The sales tax holiday does not apply to:

Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
Any school supply item selling for more than $15
Books that are not otherwise exempt
Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
Rentals or leases of any eligible items
Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
Sales of any eligible items in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Early Voting Begins Saturday In Escambia County At These Nine Locations

August 8, 2020

Early voting begins Saturday in Escambia County at nine locations.

Early voting will continue through Saturday, August 15. Each location will be open from from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the exception of the Supervisor of Elections Office which will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
University of West Florida Conference Center, Building 22, University Parkway
Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway
Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring Street
Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street

Voters may choose any one of the nine locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device. Election workers will be wearing face coverings, and voters should bring their own to wear while inside the polling room. Hand sanitizer will be available at check-in along with a disposable stylus to sign in. Voters may use their own blue or black pen to mark their ballot and should practice social distancing. Commonly touched surfaces will be sanitized regularly and the number of voters inside the polling room may be limited, if necessary.

Another option for voters is to cast a vote-by-mail ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.gov, or by e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.com), phone (850) 595-3900, mail, or fax (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address, and must be received no later than Saturday, August 8. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day. Voters may now drop-off a vote-by-mail ballot during early voting hours at any of the nine area locations. The USPS recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date. Vote-by-mail participants may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.gov.

The third option for voters is to cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, August 18. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Thunderstorms For Some On Sunday

August 8, 2020

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Escambia, Santa Rosa Record Six Additional COVID-19 Deaths

August 7, 2020

THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.

There were six new COVID-19 deaths reported Friday in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties by the Florida Department of Health.

The Escambia County deaths were females age 59, 74 and 93, and a 69-year old male. One was a long-term care facility resident. The Santa Rosa deaths were a 72-year old female and an 83-year old male.

Escambia County cases increased 242 to 8,757. An additional 91 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 3,791.

Of the 1,158 tests results returned on Thursday in Escambia County, 19.9% were positive, and 15.6% were positive from 524 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 11.8%.

There were 200 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Friday, according to data from the three local hospitals.

Of the 115 deaths in Escambia County, 64 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 36 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and seven in a long-term care facilities.

Statewide, there were 518,075 cases including 512,421 Florida residents. There have been 29,730 hospitalizations* and 7,927 deaths. 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 cases:

Total cases — 8,757 (+242 since Thursday)
Non-Florida residents — 881
Pensacola —6,772 (+107)
Cantonment — 637 (+19)
Century — 223 (+110 — mostly CCI inmates)
Molino— 101 (+4)
McDavid — 42 (+2)
Bellview — 10
Walnut Hill — 13 (+3)
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5
Current hospitalizations: 197 (-5)
Deaths — 115 (+4)
Male — 3,370
Female — 4,136
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 38

Santa Rosa County cases:

Total cases — 3,791 (+91 since Thursday)
Non-Florida residents — 25
Milton — 2,129 (+62)
Gulf Breeze — 552 (+7)
Navarre — 449 (+11)
Pace — 279 (+8)
Jay — 95 (-1)
Bagdad — 8
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 180*
Deaths — 36 (+2)
Male — 2,131
Female — 1,527
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39

Florida cases:

Total cases — 518,075
Florida residents — 512,421
Deaths — 7,927
Hospitalizations — 29,730*

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Warm Friday, A Few Afternoon Showers

August 7, 2020

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.