Florida Gas Prices Down A Little This Week
October 12, 2020
Florida gas prices were down three cents last week, even as Hurricane Delta made landfall along the Gulf Coast refinery region.
Florida drivers are currently paying an average price of $2.16 per gallon at the pump. The state average declined 3 cents after reaching as high as $2.19 per gallon eight days ago. Florida gas prices are 27 cents per gallon less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $2.13 Sunday night. In North Escambia, a low of $2.04 could be found on Muscogee Road, while the discount clubs in Pensacola were at $1.91.
“It’s still a little early to know what, if any impacts Hurricane Delta will have on gas prices in Florida,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said Sunday night. “For now, wholesale gasoline prices are at a level that could allow pump prices to drop another 5 cents in the short term. However, prices in the coming weeks will likely be swayed by news coming out of the Gulf Coast, as crews assess any storm damage to refineries and pipelines.”
Preliminary reports suggest the storm had more of a limiting effect on regional demand than supply. Most of the refineries in the storm’s path were already shut down from Hurricane Laura – which blew through the region more than a month ago. However, the storm knocked out power to Colonial Pipeline, which carries fuel from the Gulf Coast oil refineries to markets across the southeastern United States, ending in North Carolina. Line one, which carries gasoline was restored on Saturday. However, Line 2 – which carries Diesel fuel remained shut down as of Sunday night.
ECUA Is Getting Back To Recycling, Normal Collections This Week
October 11, 2020
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is getting back to a normal collection schedule this week, including recycling.
Recycling in Escambia County was temporarily put on hold after Hurricane Sally substantially damaged the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at the Perdido Landfill.
“Repairs to the Material Recycling Facility have progressed well and we are resuming processing operations with a soft restart by processing recyclables collected by our ECUA sanitation crews,” ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said.
The MRF sustained about $800,000 in damage to the structure and equipment during Hurricane Sally, and a contractor was on site to begin repairs within a few days.
Recycling trucks will collect recycling cans this week and deliver the recyclables to the MRF to be processed. But if recycling loads are found to be too contaminated they will be disposed of in the landfill, Bowers said.
ECUA will also return to collecting yard trash and bulk waste this week — but only if the items were not debris from Hurricane Sally. Hurricane debris is being collected by FEMA contractors in Escambia County, totally separate from the services provided by ECUA.
“The yard trash crews will be directed to pick up only ‘green’ limbs and branches, that appear to be freshly cut and are within normal ECUA yard trash collection limits,” Bowers said. “Any piles of ‘brown’ limbs and branches are considered storm debris and will not be collected by ECUA crews.”
ECUA Bulk waste collection crews will resume their collections. However, the bulk waste crews will be directed not to pick up any items which appear to be storm debris. No building materials, carpet, fencing, or other storm-related debris will be collected by EUCA.
ECUA customers with questions can call their customer service at (850) 476-0480.
Pictured: Hurricane Sally damage to the ECUA Material Recycling Facility at the Perdido Landfill. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sorry Kids. Monday Is Not A Day Out Of School.
October 11, 2020
Monday, October 12, will be a regular school day for Escambia County (FL) students.
The original school calendar for this year showed that Monday was a teacher planning day, but that all changed due to COVID-19 opening delays. On July 28, the school board updated the calendar, making Monday a regular school day for students and teachers.
Monday is also Columbus Day, but sorry kids, that still does not make it a school holiday.
Here’s The List Of Road Construction Delay Spots This Week
October 11, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities
Escambia County:
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge — closed.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers may encounter the following lane closures the week of Sunday, Oct. 11.:
o Southbound U.S. 29 traffic between Carolina Drive and I-10 will shift onto the newly constructed southbound lanes at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. This place all southbound traffic from I-10 to Nine and Half Mile Road onto the west side of the median.
o Motorists traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and pavement operations.
- · East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures as crews continue construction activities. Eastbound traffic can also expect daytime, right turn lane closures.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- There will be intermittent daytime lane restrictions at various locations as crews perform construction activities. Motorists may also encounter intermittent lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 through Thursday, Oct. 15 for paving operations. Drivers are reminded to use caution as clean-up efforts from Hurricane Sally continue.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge – closed.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
Krul Lake Campground In Blackwater River Forest Reopens On Monday
October 11, 2020
The Krul Lake Campground in the Blackwater River State Forest will reopen on Monday.
It will be open at a reduced capacity, and Krul day use will remain closed. All other Blackwater River State Forest campgrounds and recreation areas have reopened.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia To Up CARES Family Grant Award To $3,000 For COVID-19 Losses
October 11, 2020
Escambia County families suffered financial hardships due to COVID-19 may get more funding from the county than they originally applied to receive.
The county commission wants to increase the Escambia CARES Family Assistance Program grant amount from $2,000 to a maximum of $3,000 by moving about $3 million from a similar business grant program.
The application periods for both grants has closed. There were 9,331 that applied for the family program, but only about 300 applied for business assistance.
As of last week, 634 of the family program applicants had been approved for at least the $2,000. In order to qualify, families or individuals were required to prove a COVID-19 like being laid off, a reduction in hours or a health impact that required quarantine.
The BOCC is expected to take a final look at the plan on Thursday.
Florida’s Silver Alert Missing Senior Program Celebrates 12 Years, And Numerous Success Stories
October 11, 2020
Last week marked the 12th anniversary of Florida’s Silver Alert program. Since the program’s inception in 2008, about 2,400 Silver Alerts have been issued, and Florida’s Silver Alert program has been directly responsible for 248 recoveries of missing senior citizens.
Silver Alerts are activated statewide at the request of local law enforcement after a senior with Alzheimer’s or related dementia goes missing in a car. Once a Silver Alert is issued, information about the missing senior is communicated to the public through local media outlets, lottery terminals and highway message signs.
One of those Silver Alert success stories was four years ago this month when an 83-year old Beulah woman found near Century a week after she was reported missing.
She was located off Highway 29 on North Canoe Road, a non-maintained dirt road. Her car was stuck deep in the sand of the roadway, where she had apparently spent most of the week. She was located by two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies who responded to a report of a suspicious person.
She had apparently been living out of her car, which had a dead battery. She had food…an uneaten loaf of cinnamon bread was on the passenger seat after her rescue. But her major problem was a lack of liquid. She was transported to an area hospital suffering from dehydration.
Pictured: A Silver Alert missing senior was found in her stuck car on North Canoe Road. Pictured inset and immediately below: There was food in the Hyundai Sonata. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FEMA Has Provided $7.5 Million In Hurricane Sally Assistance To 1,716 Households So Far
October 10, 2020
One week after FEMA individual assistance was made available to Florida residents due to Hurricane Sally, 1,716 Florida individuals and households in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties have been approved for about $7.5 million in funding from FEMA.
The assistance was provided for temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs and other essential disaster-related needs.
Survivors can register with FEMA in the following ways:
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
- Download the FEMA App
- Call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time
Mobile registration centers are also available. They are closed on Saturday due to weather, but are otherwise open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. The centers are located at:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- Escambia County Extension Service – 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Southwest Branch Library - 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center – 3200 W. DeSoto St.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- Pensacola State College South Santa Rosa Center – 5075 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze
No Serious Injuries In Molino Dirt Bike, SUV Crash
October 10, 2020
There were no injuries in a wreck involving a dirt bike and a SUV in Molino Friday night.
The crash happened on Highway 95A near Molino Road about 7:20 p.m.
The 19-year old male biker was evaluated on scene and refused transport. The driver of the SUV was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Food Giveaway Sunday Morning In Cantonment
October 10, 2020
The Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment will hold a food distribution on Sunday morning, October 11.
The church will provided 1,000 free boxes of food beginning at 9:30 a.m. and continuing while supplies last. The church is located at 591 Booker Street in Cantonment.