ECUA Hopes To Complete Recycling Facility Fire Repairs Soon
September 30, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority says they expect to return to recycling soon as there fire damaged facility comes back online.
“We are making excellent progress with repairs and are getting close to resuming operations,” ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said.
The ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) was damaged in a July 15 fire, putting a hold on the recycling program.
Bowers said ECUA projects to reopen the facility during the first half of October. They will begin with a “soft start”, clearing out some of the stockpiled recyclables and make sure everything is in working order.
The electrical contractor has completed their work. ECUA expects to complete the installation of a plastics sorting robot by the end of the week. A magnet used in the metal sorting area is on backorder until December, but the metals will be manually sorted until then.
ECUA is continuing to urge customers to stay in the recycling habit as repairs continue. The recyclables are being collected as normal, but they are being landfilled for now.
Pictured above and below: Inside the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at the Perdido Landfill as cleanup was beginning. Pictured bottom: Smoke pours from the MRF on Thursday, July 15. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Announces Homecoming Court
September 30, 2021
Northview High School has named their 2021 homecoming court.
Court members are (front, L-R) seniors Grayson James, Nevaeh Brown, Kaitlin Gafford, Kayla Dixon, Anna Adams; (back, L-R) juniors McKenna Simmons, Emma Gilmore, Jessica Stabler; sophomores Ty’Deasia McKenzie, Ava Gurganus, Carsyn Dortch; and freshmen Maddie Mae Driskell, Lacey Sapp, and Payton Daw. (They are dressed for homecoming’s Wild West Wednesday.)
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug, Weapons Charges After Traffic Stop
September 30, 2021
A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Cantonment man on drug and weapons charges.
David Ross Holmquist, 49, was charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Holmquist’s Pontiac sedan on Innerarity Point Road after he allegedly failed to come to a complete stop at a traffic light.
The deputy discovered that his driver’s license was suspended indefinitely for financial obligations. Nine 380-caliber rounds and ten 22-caliber rounds were found in the vehicle’s center console, according to an arrest report. Deputies also reported finding a baggie of alleged methamphetamine in the vehicle’s trunk and another bag of alleged crystal meth was found in his pants pocket, the report continues.
According to the ECSO, Holmquist was convicted of felony unarmed burglary in 1991.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $13,000 bond
Escambia County County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Fall
September 30, 2021
The number COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County continues to fall.
On September 29, there were 127 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. That compares to 158 a week ago and 368 about a month ago.
Chart data sources: Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. Graphic: City of Pensacola.
Discovery Of Nearly 200 Civil War Cannonballs Closes Portion Of Perdido Key Area
September 29, 2021
An area of Perdido Key is closed after the discovery of nearly 200 Civil War era cannonballs.
Following Hurricane Ida, military munitions were discovered near the far end of seashore’s Perdido Key Area. It’s a remote area that would be accessible only by boat, ATV or on foot. The discovery led to a temporary closure of the area, just in case more munitions are still buried.
The area where the munitions were found is closed and marked with signs. Visitors walking or boating in this area are prohibited from entering. Staff will be monitoring and patrolling the area regularly.
More than 190 cannonballs were detonated recently within park boundaries with help from other federal agencies. No more unexploded ordnances have been found so far.
“The park continues to monitor the area for newly discovered munitions and will secure the site(s) should any be found in the future,” said Darrell Echols, Gulf Islands National Seashore superintendent. “Our goal is to ensure that the area is safe for the visitors and staff, and that cultural resources are protected.”
Munitions found within national park boundaries are considered cultural artifacts and are protected by law. It is illegal for the public to harm, deface, damage, or remove these item
Gulf Islands National Seashore is working closely with the National Park Service, Southeast Archaeology Center, and Florida State agencies to conduct the cultural survey of a large area on the eastern end of Perdido Key.
Photos: Gulf Islands National Seashore
Missing UWF Student Located
September 29, 2021
UPDATE: UWF Police say this missing person has been located.
The University of West Florida Police Department is searching for a missing student.
Brandon Neal Smith, 24, was last heard from on Saturday, September 25. He is described as a white male with short brown hair and green eyes. He is about 5-feet, 9-inches tall and 150 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call UWF Police at (850) 474-2415
Lake Stone Camper Fire Under Investigation As Arson
September 29, 2021
A fire that destroyed a camper early Saturday morning at Lake Stone is under investigation as an arson.
“We are investigating this fire as an arson,” Lt. John Bell of the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday. “Due to this being an active investigation I am unable to provide any further details at this time.”
Other campers at the lake told NorthEscambia.com that they saw a gas can that did not belong near the camper after the fire, and they believed there may have been an attempt to block the camper doors from the outside. Those details have not been confirmed by the fire marshal. Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office referred us to the state for additional comment.
Bell said anyone with information about the incident should call 1-877-NoArson (1-877-662-7766).
The fire was reported about 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the campground area of the park just outside Century. The camper was reported to be fully involved when the first fire units arrived on scene. There were no injuries reported.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Flomaton Fire Department were dispatched to the fire.
Last year, two campers belonging to the same person were destroyed by fire.
In January 2020, a camper belonging to an 80-year old man burned. The cause of that fire was preliminarily determined to be a space heater. By February, he had moved into a used RV that was destroyed by fire in February 2020. The cause of that fire was never announced.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Minimum Wage Increases To $10 An Hour On Thursday
September 29, 2021
The first of six year increases to Florida’s minimum wage will take effect on Thursday.
The current minimum wage of $8.65 per hour will go up $1.35 to $10 per hour. The rate for tipped workers will go from $5.63 an hour to $6.98 per hour.
In November 2020, Florida voters approved changes to the state’s minimum wage, which will gradually increase from the $8.65 an hour to $15 an hour by September 2026
The current federal minimum wage, which neighboring Alabama follows, is $7.25 an hour.
Do Over: Century Meets Again To Approve Tentative Tax Increase, New Budget
September 29, 2021
The Town of Century held a special council meeting Tuesday evening to redo a previous meeting to pass a tentative property tax increase and budget for the next fiscal year after botching the process on the first try.
The votes taken Tuesday give tentative, approval to a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 7.61% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8553 mills. The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. Anything greater than the rolled-back rate is a tax increase.
The town gave tentative approval to a $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, up from $4.14 million during the current fiscal year. The increase is mostly due to income from grants.
Council member James Smith joined the meeting by Zoom audio in time for the budget vote, saying he had trouble getting into the meeting call. Council member Leonard White did not attend or take part in the Zoom call.
The town won’t officially have a budget in place when their new fiscal year begins on October 1. The council will vote on final final approval of the tax rate and budget during a meeting at 7:15 p.m. on October 4.
Pictured: A special Century Town Council meeting Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Pine Forest Road Head-on Collision
September 29, 2021
Two people were reportedly injured in a crash Tuesday afternoon on Pine Forest Road.
The head-on collision happened on Pine Forest Road near Graham Road, just north of the Pine Forest Assembly of God Church, just before 5 p.m.
Both drivers were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The roadway was closed about an hour by the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
