Florida Gas Prices Declining Below $2 A Gallon
November 9, 2020
It appears the state average price for gas is set to fall below $2 a gallon for the first time since June, according to AAA.
The average price per gallon in Florida was $2.01 Sunday, down 17 cents compared to a month ago.
In Escambia County, the average price was $2.07. Drivers could find a low of $1.98 Sunday night in Cantonment and $1.81 in Pensacola.
“Demand concerns – related to surging cases of COVID-19 - continue to weigh on the global fuel market, leading to lower prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although US gasoline demand is not nearly as low as it was in April, it remains 9% lower than what’s common, this time of year. Florida drivers should see another round of discounts this week. The state average should slip below $2 a gallon and sink to $1.95 by the weekend.”
FHP Looking For Driver Involved In Fatal Hit And Run
November 9, 2020
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a driver that struck and killed a pedestrian Sunday morning in Escambia County.
About 6 a.m., the driver of a vehicle describe by FHP only as a sedan hit a 59-year old female on Saufley Field Road near St. Ann’s Catholic Church. The pedestrian did not survive.
The vehicle then fled the scene but was located in a dtich a few miles away on Blue Angel Parkway. The driver had fled on foot.
Anyone with with information is asked to call troopers at *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
About 1,000 More Pre-Orders Needed To Make Blue Angels License Plate A Reality
November 9, 2020
Almost 2,000 people have placed pre-orders for the new Blue Angels license plates, but about 1,000 more are needed to make the tag a reality.
The Florida Department of Motor Vehicle’s process to establish a new specialty license plate requires the foundation to sell 3,000 vouchers before the plate goes into production.
“This support moves us one step closer to making the Blue Angels license plate a reality for the state of Florida,” said retired Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. “The ordering process is easy and the plates are available to registered Florida drivers across the state.”
The voucher is redeemable for the plate once the sale requirement has been met and the plates are in production. Purchasing a voucher ensures the plate will go into production as quickly as possible.
Florida drivers can now purchase a voucher in person at a local tax collector’s office or online. The online service is available to all Florida residents residing in any county.
It’s not necessary to wait for a vehicle’s registration to need renewal to purchase the Blue Angels license plate. For $30, a new plate can be ordered at any time without affecting the vehicle’s registration cycle.
As a process to gain public support, the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation is offering numbered Commemorative Challenge Coins to the first 3,000 Floridians who purchase a voucher from the Escambia County Tax Collector’s website. The 1.5” antique bronze coin showcases the Blue Angels crest on the front and the words “I Helped Make History” on the back. This exclusive coin is a way to thank those who helped make the Blue Angels license plate a reality for Florida.
Gulf Power Offering Direct COVID-19 Relief To Past Due Customers; Disconnects Resuming This Month
November 8, 2020
Gulf Power has announced plans to begin offering direct relief to customers significantly behind on their energy bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to those small business customers who have diligently paid their bills but still have a deposit with the company.
Residential and small business customers may be eligible for a bill credit of up to $200 based on the status of their account and how long the account has been past due. To receive the direct bill relief, eligible customers will need to pay their total outstanding balance, net of the bill credit. For example, an eligible customer who has a total outstanding balance of $600 would need to pay $400 to qualify for the maximum one-time credit of $200.
Eligible customers have been pre-identified based on their account status. Gulf Power will communicate directly with eligible customers through email or direct mail to explain the steps required to obtain the bill relief. Customers who are past due on multiple bills can also go online to their Gulf Power account to check for eligibility and view offer available.
“We remain committed to doing everything we can to support customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, including offering direct bill relief to eligible customers to help them get back on their feet,” said Gulf Power President Marlene Santos. “While most of our customers have continued to pay their bills on time, others may be struggling – and we want to help.”
In addition to direct bill relief, Gulf Power continues to help customers with payment extensions and connecting them with available financial assistance. Gulf Power is also planning to accelerate deposit refunds for eligible small business customers, depending on rate class; the company already returns deposits for residential customers after 12 months of on-time bill payment.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect our customers early this year, Gulf Power immediately offered payment extensions and information on financial assistance for customers experiencing hardship due to the pandemic, policies that remain in effect. The company has also suspended disconnections for nonpayment. Through a measured approach, Gulf Power will resume issuing final notices beginning with customer accounts that have been past due since before COVID-19 became widespread in March. For customer accounts that receive a final notice but do not pay their past-due balance or contact Gulf Power to make payment arrangements, disconnections are planned to begin in mid-November.
FDOT Advancing Demolition Efforts On Pensacola Bay Bridge; 22 Of 27 Barges Recovered
November 8, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is advancing demolition efforts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge as final underwater inspections are nearing completion.
Three bridge contractors mobilized by FDOT are focusing their efforts at the outermost spans of the bridge to facilitate construction and minimize impacts to the existing structure. Along with the complete removal of two damaged spans of the bridge and debris removal from two other spans, crews are removing damaged portions from two additional spans. One barge remains under the bridge. To date, 22 of the 27 barges have been removed from the area.
After approving modified pier design plans, FDOT is reviewing design plans for the permanent repairs that address the reconstruction of spans for the bridge and reestablishment of four lanes of traffic on the bridge at the same condition as expected for new construction.
The fabrication of multiple concrete piles, piers, and beams continues in preparation for reconstruction. The inventory of concrete piles and beams continues to increase with production coming from the Pensacola precast yard and a facility in Tampa. Replacement piers will begin casting by mid-November 2020.
FDOT has been continuously working to improve the traffic flow along the Pensacola Bay Bridge detour routes and has reduced the average commute time by 25 percent. Additional improvements are underway as construction has begun to widen 2,000 feet of northbound and southbound S.R. 281 south of the I-10 interchange and widen the eastbound I-10 off ramp at eastbound S.R. 281 off ramp to two lanes.
To reinforce FDOT Secretary Kevin J. Thibault’s, P.E. expectation of complete transparency and community assistance, FDOT’s outreach team has met with stakeholder groups, state and local officials, civic organizations and local business owners to discuss the bridge reconstruction as well as other actions that are being considered to efficiently restore regional connectivity. FDOT will continue to meet with multiple stakeholder groups throughout the course of the project.
FDOT continues to develop and improve alternative transportation solutions to move people and goods safely and efficiently through the region while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired. Examples include:
- Funding the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route to help transport passengers for free between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.
- Gathering information such as potential ridership, times of operation, and duration of service as well as reviewing existing facilities that would be necessary for the safe operation of a ferry.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge has a targeted re-opening date of early March 2021. Once repairs are complete, all four lanes will be open with no load restrictions. As each repair method is developed, FDOT will be conducting reviews to ensure the contractor is hitting all milestones in the established schedule.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge have been suspended through 6 a.m., Friday, November 13.
Ashley Salter Named Northview High School Teacher Of The Year
November 8, 2020
Ashley Salter, culinary arts instructor, was recently named the Northview High School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge..
Off-Road Vehicle Crash Victims Found Using Phone GPS
November 8, 2020
Volunteer firefighters were able to locate the victims of an off-road vehicle crash in northern Santa Rosa County thanks to GPS.
About 4:30 Saturday morning, the Berrydale, Jay and Allentown volunteer fire department were dispatched to the crash in the area of Highway 4 and Jack Floyd Road, east of Jay
Firefighters were able to located the victims with the help of the Santa Rosa County 911 Center using GPS from their cell phone.
One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Cox Donates $50,000 To Manna For Hurricane Sally Recovery
November 8, 2020
Cox Communications and Cox Automotive recently came together to support local nonprofits that provide assistance to families in the Gulf Coast recovering from Hurricane Sally. Manna Food Bank was awarded a $50,000 grant through the James M. Cox Foundation that will support local families as they continue to rebuild their lives following the storm. United Way of West Florida also received a $50,000 grant.
“We are proud to support these two great organizations,” said David Deliman, market vice president of Cox Gulf Coast. “They have always stepped to the forefront when people in our community need assistance, and their response to Hurricane Sally is no exception. We are happy to provide both Manna and the United Way with these funds to further help our neighbors recover.”
The James M. Cox Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. In response to the growing strain on the community from Hurricane Sally along with COVID-19, the foundation announced the two $50,000 donations to support people in need where Cox employees live and work.
“It was heartbreaking to see the amount of damage Hurricane Sally caused in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties,” said Anthony Pope, senior vice president and region manager of Cox’s Southeast Region. “We’re happy to do our part in helping these two outstanding organizations help get us further along the road to recovery.”
“We’re so grateful to Cox for this amazing gift of support to Manna and our community,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna Food Bank. “We know families in our area will be recovering from the effects of the hurricane for months to come. This gift will help us provide over 30,000 healthy meals to those in need.”
Local Man Wanted For Attempted Homicide, Kidnapping And Aggravated Battery
November 7, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Cantonment man that is now wanted for attempted homicide.
Michael DeWayne Robinson, 43, is also wanted for kidnapping and aggravated battery for an incident that occurred on Saturday, October 24 at a gas station in the 200 block of East Olive Road.
Robinson is considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached, according to the ECSO.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Investigators have not released any additional information about the incident.
At the time of of arrests as recent at 2017 in Escambia County, Robinson was a resident of Sheppard Street in Cantonment.
Northview Chiefs Beat The Jay Royals 41-7
November 7, 2020
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals 41-7 Friday night in Bratt to end the regular season for both teams.
It was the second matchup between the teams this season; Northview beat Jay 34-15 just two weeks ago.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview’s Jayden Jackson in fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game, currently averaging about 270 yards per game. He was also on top in Florida in total rushing yards.
Friday night, Jackson had nearly 140 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Northview opened scoring when Johnny Windham blocked a Jay punt. Jamarkus Jefferson 6 picked it up and was in on a 37-yard touchdown. The Chiefs were up 6-0 about three minutes into the first. Jackson added a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 12-nothing.
At 20-0 with a little over a minute to go in the half, quarterback Kaden Odom found Jamarkus Jefferson for an 87-yard touchdown run.
With the Chiefs up 41-0 in the fourth, Jay’s Bryce Stout had a 37-yard touchdown run to make it 41-7.
“I thought we did really well,” Northview Coach Wes Summerford said. “I’m so proud of our kids. The way we started….something we preach is fast start and make sure we have that. I thought we had that tonight. I thought early on we were firing on all cylinders, which is good.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Our offense has been explosive lately, and we just have to catch that defense, and I think we caught up tonight,” Summerford added. “We did a good job. The kids really responded well. ”
The Chiefs (6-1) will host Chipley (4-5) in the first round of the playoffs next Friday night. The Chiefs beat Chipley 45-13 last week. Also in round one, Jay (2-5) will be at Baker (10-0). The Royals lost to the Gators 18-13 in early October.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
