Pensacon Rescheduled For Late May, Face Masks Required
January 26, 2021
Pensacon has rescheduled its 2021 pop culture convention for May 21-23.
Attendees will be required to wear face coverings while on all Pensacon grounds and within all Pensacon venues, outside of designated, distanced eating spaces. Among other precautions, hand-sanitizing stations will be set up throughout the convention, and social distancing policies, including seating/capacity limitations at some venues, will be employed.
For those who have already purchased tickets for the original February dates, tickets have already rolled over to the new dates, and no further action is needed. For those who are unable to attend in May, unused tickets will be rolled over to Pensacon 2022, which is expected to return to the convention’s usual February time frame.
Tickets are available at pensacon.com. Weekend passes, which include admission for all three days of the convention, are $80. Single-day tickets are available at a cost of $35 for Friday, May 21; $45 for Saturday, May 22; and $40 for Sunday, May 23. VIP Experience weekend passes are $155, and include early admission to the Pensacola Bay Center, preferred seating at panel venues, front-of-line privileges for celebrity autographs and photo ops, and exclusive T-shirt, space-available parking and other perks. Additional taxes and fees apply to all tickets.
Pictured: “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” star Jason David Frank (left), one of the featured celebrity guests for this year’s Pensacon, and CEO Mike Ensley announced the new dates for the pop culture convention. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
That COVID-19 Vaccine Phone Number You Saw On TV? It’s Not Valid In Escambia County. Here’s The Local Plan.
January 26, 2021
That COVID-19 vaccine registration number you may have seen on the local TV news is not valid for Escambia County, the local health department said Monday.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) currently does not have a COVID-19 vaccination automated scheduling system or call center. Phone numbers published are unique to each county; the number that aired over the weekend on local TV stations is only for some residents of south Florida.
When an automated scheduling system becomes available in Escambia County, more information will be published.
The health department in Escambia County is continuing to work through a list of individuals age 65 and older that previously completed a COVID-19 vaccine online interest form. Registration via the form has since closed.
During the week of January 18, 2021, FDOH-Escambia administered a total of 410 COVID-19 vaccines and distributed approximately 2,450 doses of vaccine through community partners. Those vaccine locations included Molino, Century and Pensacola.
As of Monday, 22,751 Escambia County residents have been vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed as follows this week in Escambia County:
- Ascension Sacred Heart: 600 doses
- Baptist Health Care: 600 doses
- Community Health Northwest Florida: 800 doses
- FDOH-Escambia: 500 doses
- West Florida Hospital: Assessing distribution
FDOH-Escambia and partner organizations are in the process of contacting these individuals to schedule appointments. Please do not contact the providers directly for these appointments.
Jay Second, Northview Third In District Girls Weightlifting Meet
January 26, 2021
Here are results from the District 1-1A weightlifting meet.
- Baker
- Jay
- Northview
- South Walton
- West Florida
- Freeport
The following Northview and Jay athletes qualified for the regional meet:
101 Pound Class
- Holley Gilley, Northview
- Chloe Criswell, Northview
- Heather Flowers, Jay
119 Pound Class
- Alex Pabo, Jay
- Lily Land, Jay
129 Pound Class
- Kaitlyn Fretwell, Jay
- Brianna Dunsford, Jay
139 Pound Class
- Christa Sanders, Jay
- Bentley Glover, Jay
154 Pound Class
- Landry Cato, Jay
- Aaliyah Goolsby, Jay
- Taylor McMinn, Northview
169 Pound Class
- Carlyn Watson, Jay
- Naudia Carach, Northview
- Audrey Geotter, Northview
- Brianna Hart, Jay
183 Pound Class
- Jada Lawry, Jay
- Leah Woods, Northview
- Madison Mathis, Jay
199 Pound Class
- Kelson Cook, Jay
Unlimited Pound Class
- Maggie Amerson, Northview
- Joselynn Helton, Northview
Pictured: Athletes that placed in the 1A District Weightlifting meeting. Pictured next to bottom: Northview High School team members. Pictured bottom: Jay High School team members. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Finalists Named For Escambia County Fire Chief As Selection Nears
January 25, 2021
Four finalists to be the next Escambia County Fire Rescue chief will take part in one-on-one meetings with county officials this week.
The four will meet individually with Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley and the department directors in Public Safety.
“If there is a candidate that really stands out, hopefully it will be a March start date for that person,” county spokesperson Laura Coale said. She said Gilley will make the final decision on a new fire chief, and it will not require the approval of the Escambia County Commission.
Christopher Hatch is the only local candidate on the final four list.
The finalists for Escambia Fire Rescue chief are, in alphabetical order:
- William Beaty, Jr. has served as the fire chief at the Garden City Fire Department in Kansas since December 2019. He previously worked as the program coordinator at Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield, Illinois) from 2007 to 2019. He also worked with the Springfield (Illinois) Fire Department from 1996, to 2019, leaving as a captain.
- Roger Burton served in the Ohio Air National Guard from 2010 until 2020, retiring as installation fire chief.
- Clinton Cooke served with the South Monroe County Fire Department in Conroe, Texas, from 2009 to 2020 when he departed as Assistant Fire Chief. On his application he stated he reason for leaving as “agreement between the fire chief and I. Will discuss further in interview”.
- Christopher Hatch has worked with the NAS Pensacola Fire Department since 1986. He was a supervisory firefighter from 1986 to 2005 and has served as assistant fire chief of operations since 2005. He has also volunteered for Escambia Fire Rescue since 1982, serving in positions ranging from volunteer firefighter to assistant district chief and district chief. He is currently district chief of the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and serves as president of the Escambia County Volunteer Firefighters Association.
There were 60 people that applied to be the next fire chief.
The job has been open for well over a year. The county’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and submitted his resignation about a year later.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Westbound Traffic Shifting To New Roadway East Of I-10
January 25, 2021
Nine Mile Road westbound between Klondike Road (near I-10) and Surrey Drive will be shifted to the newly construct westbound roadway this week.
The traffic shift will allow crews to construct the new inside travel lanes, median, and turn lanes, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The work is part of a $46 million effort to widen and improve Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road to Highway 29. An estimated 19,000 drivers travel the roadway daily.
All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
ECAT Returns To Charging Regular Fares As Of Today
January 25, 2021
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) has resumed regular fares as of today and is continuing to require face masks.
Regular fares have been suspended since March 23.
Free face masks have been provided to ECAT riders since June 1 and will continue to be available. Face have been required on ECAT buses since Monday, December 21. If a passenger meets one of the Florida Department of Health requirements that prevents mask wearing, the passenger can notify the bus operator. Social distancing will still be encouraged on all ECAT vehicles.
Century Correctional Institution Officer Assaulted By Inmate
January 25, 2021
A correctional officer in Century was recently assaulted by an inmate.
Inmate Danny Tucker assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution by head-butting them, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Medical staff examined the officer and noted injuries.
Tucker, 32, is serving a three-year sentence out of Hillsborough County for aggravated assault with a weapon.
Florida Gas Prices Up About A Dime In The Past Week
January 25, 2021
Florida gas prices jumped another dime last week, reaching an average price of $2.40 per gallon. Sunday’s state average is up 20 cents from the start of the year, and the highest daily average price since February 2020. Despite the recent hike, Florida drivers are paying seven cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon was $2.34 in Escambia County, with lows of $2.29 in Cantonment Sunday night. In Pensacola, a low price of $2.22 was available.
“Gas prices have been dragged higher by crude oil prices which remain at 11-month highs,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “The gas price hike has likely hit its ceiling for now, as oil prices seemed to plateau last week. Despite optimism for the Covid-19 vaccine, crude prices slipped last week due to rising cases of coronavirus in two of the largest fuel consumers in the world: the United States and China.”
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Molino Precinct To Reopen Next Month
January 24, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will reopen their Molino Precinct next month.
The public will be invited to the opening with Sheriff Chip Simmons on Saturday, February 20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served.
Following his swearing in on January 5, Simmons told NorthEscambia.com that he would reopen the precincts in Molino and Perdido.
The reopening ceremony for the Perdido Precinct has been set for Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with Simmons. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be served.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Discount Available Through January 31 On Escambia County Real Estate, Tangible Taxes
January 24, 2021
An available two percent discount on the payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Sunday, January 31, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford
..
To receive the two percent discount, payments must be:
- made online by midnight, February 1, 2021, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a January postmark; or
- left in a drop box available at all locations by close of business, February 1, 2021.
Since all offices are closed on January 31, customers who make their payment in person at any tax collector office on Monday, February 1, 2021. will receive the two percent discount.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit our virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Our online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services.
Customers who decide to visit one of our four convenient offices can join the line online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com and manage their time their way. Citizens select an office location and type of service, receive a message with approximate service time and then continue their regular activities until the service time approaches.
To check the status of your taxes, pay online or print a receipt, visit our payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.