Century Struggles With A ‘Breach Of Contract’ For A Wedding, And A Nonprofit Group’s Lease
August 5, 2021
The Century Town Council voted this week to allow a wedding to be held in a town community center for free due to a bad contract, and considered how to best solve a lease problem with a nonprofit group.
Community Center Wedding
Nancy Riley of Ewing Drive in Atmore rented the Century Community Center, also known as the Ag Building, for November 13, 2021, for $380, including security provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as required by the town. Ewing and town employee Emily Easterling signed the agreement on June 22. Riley stated the building would be used for a wedding and reception.
The problem, according to Council President Luis Gomez, is that the agreement was “null and void” because it was made using an updated contract that has not yet been approved by the council. It was an draft of an updated form containing language referencing CDC guidelines and illnesses. The council is still in the midst of updating rental policies with no formal action to date on that version.
“I think you should get it for free for breach of contract,” Gomez told Riley at a recent council meeting.
Stating “this is religious ceremony” Gomez asked for a motion to allow Riley to use the building for free. The motion passed 4-0, with no opportunity provided for public comment. Council member Leonard White was not present.
Community Group Lease
Northwest Florida Community Outreach (NWFCO) is a nonprofit that has held several food giveaways and other public benefit events over the last year at the Century Business Center on Pond Street, a former school site. The most recent food giveaway was held there on July 31.
Representing NWFCO, former mayor Henry Hawkins approached the council asking for the renewal of the group’s lease for one classroom in the building and requested to lease a second room so the group can expand their food giveaways and other benefit events. The original lease would have been signed during Hawkins’ term as mayor, which ended January 4.
Interim city manager Vernon Prather said he does not think the town has a copy of that lease, if it was every formally executed.
Hawkins said there was a lease that expired earlier in the summer, and the charity wanted assurance with a new lease that they could continue to operate from the town-owned building. Hawkins said he had tried in good faith with current Mayor Ben Boutwell to obtain a lease extension.
Gomez offered a temporary solution — allow Hawkins to bring his copy of the lease to town hall, add the other classroom, and sign.
“You come down here tomorrow and present your contract. Let them run a copy off and y’all make a new agreement on the spot,” Gomez told Hawkins, saying that would cover the group legally until a formal contract is completed.
“What should be happening is they just continue up under the terms of the old contract until they come up with a new one,” council member Dynette Lewis concurred.
“Whatever the number building that he wants added, please put it on the old contract, give him that contract to sign, and then send it to us (the council) so we know that he has it. Then you are covered, and then you (Hawkins) don’t have to come back,” council member James Lewis stated.
The council voted 4-0 for “what Mr. Smith just said,” with no chance for public comment.
NorthEscambia.com made a formal public records request Tuesday morning for any lease between the town and Northwest Florida Community Outreach. Our request extended to any executed lease, any draft, or any copy provided by Hawkins or another person. As of Thursday night, related to NWFCO, we had only received an unsigned draft lease agreement from January 2021.
Pictured: A previous Northwest Florida Community Outreach food distribution at the Century Business Center on March 27, 2021. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mystery Solved: The One Where The USPS Returned Mail To Sender Six Years Later
August 5, 2021
We now know what likely happened with a letter that was returned to a local utility this week nearly six years after it was mailed.
Central Water Works mailed the pictured water bill to a local address on September 16, 2015. Monday, almost six years later, the bill arrived back at the water company on Byrneville Road with a yellow U.S. Postal Service “Return to Sender” sticker dated July 31, 2021.
After NorthEscambia.com posted the story, we heard from two other companies that also received multiple pieces of years-old mail returned from the same address on Monday.
It appears the mail was properly delivered back in 2015 and the next year or so to the address in Century. It sat in a mailbox perhaps at an abandoned address and was just recently placed back into the mail system.
“In the case of the mailpieces returned to sender recently, it appears the items in question were delivered; however, the recipients may have moved and did not retrieve the letters,” Carol Hunt, U.S. Postal Service strategic communications specialist in Dallas told NorthEscambia.com. “Such occurrences are rare and we regret the items were not properly returned sooner. Local management is aware and is ensuring all mail is handled correctly.”
“The Postal Service handles over 154 billion pieces of mail each year. We strive to provide exceptional service to our customers and any report of mail delivery issues is of great concern to us,” Hunt added.
Local COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Climb; Sacred Heart Implements New Visitation Policies
August 5, 2021
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County almost doubled in the past week.
On July 28, there were 131 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. By Wednesday, August 4, that number was at 242. On July 4, there were only 32 hospitalizations.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting vaccinated, and I encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are able,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said..
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Baptist Health Care Cases
Baptist Hospital has also implemented at least twice-weekly reporting with additional information for their facility. Between July 1 and August 3, Baptist Health Care has treated a total of 178 patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19. Of those, 150 stated they are unvaccinated.
Ascension Sacred Heart Visitation
Due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases within our hospital and the community, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has adjusted its visitation policies.
Effective August 5, the revised policy says:
Due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases within our hospital and the community, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has adjusted its visitation policies.
Effective August 5, the revised policy says:
– One designated visitor per patient is allowed in the main hospital. All visitors to the main hospital must be over age 12.
– One designated visitor is allowed to accompany or visit a patient in the emergency department or procedural areas.
– Two designated visitors per day are allowed to visit patients in Studer Family Children’s Hospital and the Maternity Center.
– One designated support person wearing adequate personal protective equipment is allowed to visit a patient with COVID-19. However, visitors are not allowed in a patient room where an aerosol generating procedure is being performed and may cause the release of airborne particles. Procedures include certain respiratory treatments, suctioning, and intubation.
– The hospital has reduced visiting hours in its Intensive Care Units.
– Visitors continue to be required to wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose, especially in patient’s rooms, regardless of COVID-19 vaccine status.
– All visitors should wash their hands before entering or exiting patient rooms.
NOAA Predicts The Rest Of Hurricane Season Will Be Active
August 5, 2021
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is well underway, and atmospheric and oceanic conditions remain conducive for an above-average hurricane season, according to the annual mid-season update issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service.
The latest outlook reflects that the number of expected named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater) is 15-21, including 7-10 hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), of which 3-5 could become major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5 with winds 111 mph or greater). This updated outlook includes the five named storms that have formed so far, with Hurricane Elsa becoming the earliest fifth named storm on record.
“After a record-setting start, the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season does not show any signs of relenting as it enters the peak months ahead,” said Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “NOAA will continue to provide the science and services that are foundational to keeping communities prepared for any threatening storm.”
NOAA scientists predict that the likelihood of an above-normal 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is 65%. There is a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
Atlantic sea surface temperatures are not expected to be as warm as they were during the record-breaking 2020 season; however, reduced vertical wind shear and an enhanced west Africa monsoon all contribute to the current conditions that can increase seasonal hurricane activity. These conditions are set against the backdrop of the ongoing warm phase of the Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation, which has been favoring more active hurricane seasons since 1995.
Here Are School Orientation Times And Dates For Escambia County
August 5, 2021
School registration in Escambia County is taking place over the the next few days.
The schedule is below. All elementary schools not listed below will hold orientation on Friday, August 6, from 9-11 a.m.
Pictured top: Ninth grade and new student orientation was held Thursday, August 4 at Northview High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alleged Check Kiting Lands Atmore Woman In Florida Jail On Fraud Charge
August 5, 2021
An alleged check kiting scheme landed an Atmore woman in the Escambia County Jail. Check kiting is a form of check fraud that involves taking advantage of the float time to make use of nonexistent funds in a bank account.
Sherry Williams Rudolph, 33, of Atmore, was charged with third degree felony fraud. She was released on a $10,000 bond.
Rudolph and another person had a total of six accounts with Pen Air Federal Credit Union. They opened a joint account for checking and savings, and individual accounts were later opened, according to court documents.
Shortly after opening these accounts Rudolph began to move money around between accounts, and they began to deposit worthless checks at drive-thru ATMs in Escambia County, the State Attorney’s Office said.
Investigators said Rudolph then wrote $2,820 in bad checks to herself and deposited them at Pen Air ATMs, mostly in Century. Pen Air records showed account balance inquiries to verify the funds were available, and then cash was withdrawn from ATMs, the report continues.
The second person followed the same process with bad checks, according to investigators.
All total, Pen Air reported a loss of over $5,000.
Escambia County court and jail records do not indicate the second party has been charged as of Thursday.
Wahoos Slug Their Way To Third Win In A Row
August 5, 2021
The Blue Wahoos won their third game in a row thanks to a five-homer night in a 9-6 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday night at MGM Park.
In the bottom of the first inning, Peyton Burdick and Griffin Conine hit back-to-back homers against Jesus Castillo (L, 3-6) to put the Wahoos up 2-0. After the Shuckers tacked an unearned run against Meyer in the bottom of the first, the Wahoos restored their two-run lead when Chris Chinea smoked an RBI double that scored Demetrius Sims.
The Wahoos soon put the game out of reach with a five-run fifth inning that extended the lead to 7-1. Galli Cribbs hit a two-run homer off Castillo in the inning for his first Double-A homer since August 24th, 2019. Later in the inning, Conine belted his second homer of the night off Castillo, his fifth with the Blue Wahoos and his 28th this season. After MJ Melendez hit three home runs tonight for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, both Conine and Melendez are tied for the MiLB lead in homers this year.
In the sixth, Burdick crushed his crushed his 17th homer of the year with a no-doubter to left. According to Trackman technology, the projected distance on Burdick’s home run was 457 feet and possessed an exit velocity of 114 mph. Burdick finished the evening with three hits and two RBI.
Other notable performances include Connor Justus, who finished the night 3-for-3. Justus has now hit safely in five straight games, and during that stretch is slashing .500/.545/.700. Chris Chinea also went 3-for-5 with two RBI for Pensacola.
The offensive explosion distracts from another fine outing from Max Meyer (W, 5-1) who now leads the team in wins. Meyer—who allowed baserunners in all five of his innings—demonstrated poise while neutralizing nearly every rally Biloxi attempted to orchestrate. With runners at first and third in the first inning, Meyer struck out Chad Spanberger to limit the damage to one unearned run. In the same scenario in the third, Meyer induced a Spanberger groundout to keep the Shuckers off the board. Ultimately, Meyer allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out six compared to one walk.
Despite a few late-inning runs from the Shuckers, the game was never seriously in threat for the Wahoos. Pensacola will attempt to make it four consecutive wins in Thursday’s contest against the Shuckers.
Escambia Health Department Offers Walk-In Covid-19 Testing And Vaccinations
August 4, 2021
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) has announced all COVID-19 services in Pensacola are available on a walk-in basis, no appointment needed, effective immediately.
COVID-19 Vaccine:
- When: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT
- Where: FDOH-Escambia Fairfield, 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL
- Who: FDOH-Escambia currently offers 3 authorized vaccines to eligible persons. Pfizer for ages 12 and up. Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson for ages 18 and up.
- How: Walk-in, no appointment needed.
- Additional Details: Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at 850-595-6500 option 6.
COVID-19 Testing:
- When: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
- Where: FDOH-Escambia Downtown Center, 1300 West Gregory Street, Pensacola, FL
- Who: All persons with or without symptoms.
- How: Walk-in, no appointment needed. Bring a valid form of identification. Cloth face coverings are required to enter the building for testing.
- Additional Details: Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at 850-595-6500 option 6.
Ascend Cares Volunteers Repair, Expand Boardwalk Trail At Escambia Westgate
August 4, 2021
Volunteers from Ascend Cares Pensacola worked to repair and widen the boardwalk at Escambia Westgate School.
The repairs will allow students with limited mobility to have access to a wooded area where they can enjoy and learn about nature.
The work was one of Ascend Care’s 10th anniversary projects.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All Escambia School District Students Will Receive Free Meals This Year
August 4, 2021
All Escambia County School District students will receive free meals this school year.
All traditional ECSD students in grades K-12 will receive free meals at school at no charge, according to the Escambia County School District Food Service Department.
“The USDA has made school breakfast and lunch available free to all Escambia County School District Students for the entirety of the 2021-2022 school year,” the district said, emphasizing that even students who are not ordinarily part of the free or reduced lunch programs will also be included in these free meal distributions.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.