Today’s The Last Day Of The Disaster Prep Sales Tax Holiday. Here’s What You Can Buy Tax Free.
June 4, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. THE TAX HOLIDAY ENDED JUNE 4.
Floridians can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday begins ends Thursday, June 4.
The following items are tax free until midnight:
For the complete, detailed information from the Florida Department of Revenue, click or tap here.
Nine Mile Road Set To Be Completely Closed At Highway 29 Thursday Night
June 4, 2020
Nine Mile Road is set to be complete closed at the Highway 29 overpass Thursday night.
The closure is planned for 8 p.m. to midnight as crews paint the newly constructed southbound bridge deck. Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
All Nine Mile Road traffic will be directed to the on and off-ramps at the Highway 29 overpass. Traffic control officers will be on site to help direct motorists.
Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to Highway 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road. Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
Throughout the week, drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the Highway 29 overpass and traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Click graphic to enlarge.
Here’s The Latest On Expected Local Impacts From Cristobal And Our Detailed Forecast
June 4, 2020
Cristobal has weakened to a tropical depression over land, but it is expected to regain tropical storm status. Cristobal continues to slowly move over the Yucatan today before drifting north into the Central Gulf this weekend.
At this point for Northwest Florida, there will a high risk of rip currents long the coast. Heavy rainfall is likely late Saturday night into early Monday morning. There is a possibility of some wind impact along the coast.
The latest on Cristobal is in the graphics on this page, click any image to enlarge.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 82. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Click any graphic to enlarge for additional information.
COVID-19 Deaths In Escambia County Increase To 35, Nine New Cases
June 3, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
One additional COVID-19 death and nine new cases were reported Tuesday in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The death was a 41-year old male, the youngest fatality to date in Escambia County.
The number of cases in Escambia County is at 853, and Santa Rosa County increased by two to 250.
Of the 35 deaths in Escambia County, 27 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 57,447 cases including 56,001 Florida residents. There have been 10,412 hospitalizations and 2,530 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 — 853 (+9 since Tuesday)
- Pensacola — 607
- Cantonment — 51
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 11
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 65*
- Deaths — 35
- Male — 281
- Female — 401
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 250 (+2 since Tuesday)
- Milton — 157
- Navarre — 39
- Gulf Breeze — 30
- Pace — 17
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 178
- Female — 69
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 57,447
- Florida residents — 56,001
- Deaths — 2,530
- Hospitalizations — 10,530*
*“Hospitalizations” 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.
Cantonment Man Facing Felony Drug Charges, Resisting Arrest After Traffic Stop
June 3, 2020
A Cantonment is facing multiple felony charges after a traffic stop.
Justin Michael Odom, 26, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, concealing evidence, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana. He was released on a $8,000 bond.
An Escambia County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not make a complete stop at a stop sign on Luis Street and Muscogee Road. An ECSO K-9 alert on the passenger side of the vehicle where Odom had been sitting. As deputy searched Odom and attempted to place him handcuffs, he pushed away and tried unsuccessfully to run away, according to an arrest report.
Deputies located a “cylindrical tube” on the ground near Odom that contained marijuana, three small bags of methamphetamine and Alprazolam, according to the report.
The driver of the vehicle was ticketed for running a stop sign.
ECUA Ending COVID-19 Relief Plan, Resuming Non-Pay Disconnects
June 3, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority suspended disconnections to lend a helping hand to families experiencing financial hardships. In less than two weeks, ECUA will return to cutting off water service for non-payers.
On March 16, the ECUA board suspended their overdue account policy, but ECUA is only able to legally extend this courtesy for 90 days. The suspension on water disconnects due to non-payment and delinquent accounts will end on June 15.
“We encourage anyone with an ongoing hardship to contact us about their account and discuss setting up a payment plan,” said Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer.
To establish a payment plan or inquire about an account, call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480.
Wet Pattern And Keeping An Eye On Cristobal
June 3, 2020
The latest on Cristobal is in the graphics on this page, click any image to enlarge.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 82. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Click any graphic to enlarge for additional information.
Missing Barth Road Woman Found Safe
June 3, 2020
A 67-year old woman that went missing Tuesday from the Barth community north of Molino has been found, according to family members and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She was reportedly in good condition.
Mary Smith Middleton was last seen about 6 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of Barth Road. She was wearing a blue and black tie-dyed shirt.
The ECSO and Escambia Search and Rescue searched the area Tuesday night.
Search Suspended Until Morning For Boater Missing On The Escambia River
June 2, 2020
CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY.
UPDATED 6 p.m.: The search has been suspended until Wednesday morning for a 76-year old boater missing since Monday on the Escambia River near Cantonment.
Miles Morris went fishing Monday morning but did not return in the early afternoon like he normally does, according to family members. Family and friends started searching along the river and the lakes off the river about 6 p.m. before finding his boat about an hour later on Blue Lake . But there was no sign of Morris.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified of the missing boater Monday night and began a search using boats and a helicopter. Escambia Search and Rescue (ESAR) and KlaasKids regional search teams are also taking part in the search.
“KlaasKids K9 teams are working from the FWC boat. ESAR divers are standing by,” said Jim Walters, ESAR public information officer. “ESAR boats are equipped with side scanning SONAR for searching the bottom of waterways. Our K9s are scenting for the skin cells that float away from persons in the water.”
Blue Lake is about two miles directly east of Becks Lake Fish Camp, but it is about a four mile trip by boat.
Pictured: A search along the Escambia River for am missing boater on Tuesday. Pictured bottom: A map of the area. Photos by Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, and NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Tropical Storm Cristobal Forms, Expected To Head North Later This Week
June 2, 2020
Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Bay of Campeche (southern Gulf of Mexico) Tuesday afternoon.
It is expected to remain in the same general area and meander in the southern Gulf through late Wednesday before beginning to move north.
It is too early to forecast when and where it will make landfall. A Northwest Florida landfall is not currently likely, but cannot be ruled out. We will keep you updated on NorthEsambia.com.
Click any graphic to enlarge for additional information.