Forest Service Warns Of Wildfire Danger From Outdoor Burning (Including Grills, Campfires)
May 31, 2021
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are issuing words of warning due to the risk of wildfire.
“We all know it’s dry and folks just need to be careful,” said David Smith, operations administrator for Blackwater which handles wildfire response in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Florida has a 12-month risk of wildfires but March-early June typical see the peak of activity. Firefighters from Blackwater have responded to 36 wildfires since March and there 67 active wildfires throughout the state totaling more than 5,000 acres.
“It’s not out of the ordinary for this time of year,” Smith said. “We’ve had several large fires over the years impact our area on or around Memorial Day and it’s important that people are cautious with what they’re doing in regard to fire until we some significant rain.”
Residents are asked to refrain from any outdoor burning and to be extremely cautious with charcoal grills and campfires.
Those who chose to burn yard debris may do so in piles less than 8 feet in diameter as long as they meet the setbacks and there are no city or county ordinances against it. In addition to meeting the required setbacks, it is recommended that those who chose to burn have a charged water hose and shovel or rake on hand, never burn on windy days and never leave a fire unattended.
Blue Wahoos Beat Shuckers 9-1 To Win Series
May 31, 2021
Even without Max Meyer, the Blue Wahoos cruised to a 9-1 win over the Shuckers on Sunday that featured both dominant pitching and a barrage of hits from the Wahoos.
Pensacola outhit Biloxi 12-2 on a day where a win would guarantee another series victory, Pensacola’s third in four tries to start the year.
Meyer was making his fifth start of the season, and his second start against the Shuckers this week when he took the mound in the Sunday matinee. The right-hander was cruising through three innings when he had to exit the game with an apparent finger injury (blister). Though it looked minor, he removal was deemed precautionary. He finished the day with 3.1 innings pitched and allow no runs or hits walking three and striking out three.
Offensively, the Wahoos had little to show against Shucker starter Matt Hardy, who puzzled Pensacola’s bats through the first time though the lineup.
The second time around was a different story.
Pensacola’s crescendo-like offense began in the fifth, when Devin Hairston delivered a two-out, run-scoring single off Hardy to put the Wahoos up 1-0. However, the lead lasted no more than five minutes because Ryan Aguilar hit a homer in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
In the sixth, Lazaro Alonso came up with a two-out single off Cody Beckman to drive home two runs as Pensacola retook the lead, 3-1.
The floodgates opened in the seventh when Pensacola loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the seventh. Shucker manager made a bold move by bringing in RHP Cam Robinson to make his Double-A debut in a bases-loaded jam.
The move nearly paid off as Robinson struck out Peyton Burdick and JJ Bleday, and was a strike away from retiring Jerar Encarnacion. However, it was the Wahoos who came up with yet another two-out hit, and this time it was Encarnacion with a bases-clearing double to put the Wahoos up 6-1.
Pensacola added three more in the seventh courtesy of a three-run homer by Hairston, which was his second of the series and his fourth of the season (including his two homers in High-A Beloit).
Burdick also finished the game with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate, extending his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games.
After Meyer had left the game, the Wahoos used five different relievers in order to hold Biloxi to one run on two hits. The two hits allowed are the fewest hits by an opponent against the Wahoos this season.
Pensacola returns home to take on the Mississippi Braves for the second time this season, and the first time since the opening week of the 2021 campaign. LHP Jake Eder (1-1, 0.45) is expected to start for Pensacola, and he will be opposed by RHP Nolan Kingham (2-1, 4.43).
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos. File photo.
Escambia County Drops Scheduled COVID-19 News Releases
May 31, 2021
Escambia County has dropped scheduled COVID-19 news releases.
On March 13, 2020, the county established a Joint Information Center to streamline distribution of public information regarding COVID-19. The distributed 465 news releases related to the COVID-19 pandemic and updates from local partner agencies related to COVID-19 preventative actions, cancellations, preparedness activities, testing and vaccination information spanning over a year.
“Friday, May 28, will be the last scheduled COVID-19 news release as we move forward with hurricane season, which begins June 1,” Escambia County said in the last news release.
Vaccination and testing information will continue to be updated on the Escambia County website.
Escambia County Tops 108,000 Vaccinated People
May 30, 2021
Escambia County has now topped 108,000 people that have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
As of last Friday, there are 108,239 total people vaccinated in Escambia County — about one-third of eligible residents. That’s an increase of about 7,000 in the last two weeks.
There are 19,061 people that have received only the first dose, and 89,178 that are fully vaccinated. Of those, 8,794 received the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine, and 80,384 received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Local Scouts Place 51,000 Flags At Barrancas National Cemetery
May 30, 2021
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Saturday, local scouts and other volunteers placed 51,000 American flags at Barrancas National Cemetery on NAS Pensacola.
Each flag honors the men and women who lost their lives while serving our country.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Fire Destroys Chevy Z28 At Cottage Hill Convenience Store
May 30, 2021
Fire destroyed a Chevrolet Z28 Saturday afternoon at a Cottage Hill convenience store.
The fire was reported shortly before 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the First Stop Williams Ditch Road at Highway 95A. The vehicle was in the parking lot, but away from the structure.
There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Now That The Bridge Is Open, Here’s All The Beach Info To Know About Tolls, Trolleys, Ferries, ECAT And More
May 30, 2021
Now that the Pensacola Bay Bridge is open and Pensacola Beach is once again easily accessible, here’s the info you need to know about tools, free trolleys, ferry rides, ECAT buses and more.
Toll Payments – No Cash
When you drive over the Bob Sikes Bridge to Pensacola Beach there is an electronic toll in place. The method in which the $1 toll is collected changed in March 2020. Cash and coins are no longer collected in person. The county encourages motorists to plan ahead and use electronic toll collection devices (i.e. SunPass®, E-Pass, Annual Pass, NC Quick Pass, Peach Pass, E-ZPass), tolling apps (i.e. PayTollo) or TOLL-BY-PLATE from SunPass.
Free Trolley Service
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) has launched their free, open-air trolley service along Pensacola Beach. The beach trolley service will run through Labor Day weekend from 4 pm. until
midnight daily.
Ferry
Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry Service restarted Wednesday, May 19 with daily service, seven days a week, between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites.
ECAT Bus
Escambia County Area Transit has discontinued service for the Route 61 detour across the Garcon Point Bridge. Normal schedules for Route 61 and Route 64 Beach Jumper have restarted.
Beginning Tuesday, June 1 there will be the following schedule changes.
Regular Service: Routes: 1, 2, 32, 44, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59X, 60, 61 and 64 Beach Jumper
Modified Routes:
Route 31, 43, and 63: Runs Monday through Saturday every two hours (Saturday Schedule)
Route 45: Runs Monday through Saturday only every hour beginning at 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
UWF Trolley: (Summer Schedule) UWF Express Service runs Monday – Saturday
Schedules are located on goecat.com and the ECAT Ride guide.
New Pensacola Beach Traffic Hotline
Residents and visitors can now report beach traffic issues via the Pensacola Beach Traffic Hotline at (850) 595-0862 or email traffic@myescambia.com.
Monday Night Is Deadline To Pay Property Taxes Before Tax Certificate Sale
May 30, 2021
Monday night is the deadline to pay 2020 delinquent real estate taxes in Escambia County.
In order to prevent a tax certificate from being issued, property owners with delinquent taxes must make payment online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com by 8 p.m Monday, May 31 at EscambiaTaxCollector.com
According to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford, the tax certificate sale is an annual online auction where bidders can purchase a delinquent taxpayer’s debt in exchange for an annual interest rate, ensuring the majority of unpaid taxes are collected and distributed to taxing authorities. Last year, more than 7,400 certificates were sold for a total of over $9.7 million, recovering 97.5 percent of delinquent taxes.
Registration for the sale is open at Lienhub.com/Escambia and will continue until the sale ends June 1. The sale is a reverse auction, with interest rates on individual certificates starting at 18 percent. Bidders compete for the lowest rate, and certificates are awarded to those with the lowest bid. All unsold certificates will be issued to Escambia County at 18 percent annual interest.
Encarnacion Homers, But Blue Wahoos Fall 8-3
May 30, 2021
Nick Bennett (W, 1-0) impressed in his Double-A debut, puzzling Pensacola’s bats as the Wahoos lost 8-3 to the Shuckers, Saturday night at MGM Park.
The Shuckers got off to a quick start in the penultimate game of this six-game series, and never looked back. Will Stewart (L, 0-2) surrendered three runs in the bottom of the first inning after David Fry hit a three-run homer, his fourth round-tripper of the year. In the second, Ryan Aguilar and Brice Turang both tallied RBI singles, which brought the deficit up to five for the Wahoos.
It looked like the Wahoos might make it game when they hit a pair of home runs themselves. Devin Hairston uncorked his first home run of the season in the third inning against Bennett before Jerar Encarnacion launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning to make it a 5-3 game. For Encarnacion, it was his first home run since May 12 against the Barons.
Any hope for a Pensacola comeback ended in the bottom of the sixth when Brice Turang hit a three-run home run off Dylan Brice to put Biloxi back up 8-3. For the Brewers top prospect, it was his first homer of the season.
Pensacola still has a shot to clinch a series win tomorrow afternoon when the Wahoos send Marlins top pitching prospect, Max Meyer (2-1, 2.29) to the mound. He will be opposed by Matt Hardy (1-1, 3.46), who is making his eighth appearance of the year, and his first start.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
File photo.
Suspended Tate High Yearbook Editor Will Be Allowed To Walk At Graduation
May 29, 2021
Tate High School yearbook editor Samantha Guerrier will be allowed to walk at graduation on June 7.
Guerrier was suspended for the way a photo in the yearbook was altered, and that was going to prevent her from taking part in graduation.
The photo (below) shows the face of expelled student Emily Grover covered with clipart of a horse that resembles the school’s mascot. The horse’s rear-end was used to cover Grover’s face, and that led to the yearbooks being recalled. Grover and her mother were accused by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with hacking hundreds of student accounts to fraudulently cast homecoming queen votes.
Guerrier said she was instructed by her teacher to edit the photo, and the yearbook sponsor and principal were ultimately responsible for reviewing the yearbook pages before publication and distribution.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank God for taking control of this entire situation and keeping my head up for the last week and a half,” Guerrier posted on social media Friday night. “I would like to thank my parents and family for being relentless and doing everything in their power to bring awareness to my story. They worked around the clock, morning and night, doing everything they could to right this wrong. I would also like to thank all of those who signed, supported, shared, and advocated on my behalf. I could not be more grateful for all of the unconditional support that my community has shown for me.”
With a GPA over 5.0 Guerrier is an honors graduate, ranked number 18 in the Tate High Class of 2021.
An online petition “Let Samantha graduate” had over 6,200 signatures as of early Saturday morning
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