Gulf Power Expects To Complete Restorations By Midnight; EREC Has Restored Two-Thirds Of Outages
October 29, 2020
Gulf Power expects to restore most Hurricane Zeta outages today, and Escambia River Electric Cooperative has restored about two-thirds of their outages.
ESCAMBIA RIVER ELECTRIC
Escambia River Electric was hit particularly hard by Hurricane Zeta with over half of their customers in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties left without power. Of the 6,126 that lost power, EREC had restored about two-thirds. There were 1,715 still without power as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
“We are following the proper steps in power restoration to bring the largest number of members back online in the shortest amount of time. All substations are now energized, and crews are working on main distribution lines and, in some areas, individual tap lines,” EREC Vice President Sabrina Owens said. “Work on our power system will not stop until every member’s electricity has been restored.”
GULF POWER
About 17,000 Gulf Power customers were in the dark after Hurricane Zeta in Escambia County. By late afternoon, service had been restored to all but 457.
“We estimate that power will be essentially restored to all customers by midnight,” Gulf Power said in a statement.
Pictured: Post Hurricane Zeta power restoration efforts by Gulf Power (above) and Escambia River Electric Cooperative (below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Early Voting In Escambia County Resumes Following Hurricane Zeta
October 29, 2020
Early voting in Escambia County reopens at 11 a.m. Thursday.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections has confirmed all 10 locations are ready to go following Hurricane Zeta.
The early voting sites in Escambia County are:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N Century Blvd, Century
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Mobile Hwy/Pine Forest Rd Early Voting Center, 6675 Pine Forest Rd, Suite 11
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, University Parkway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Each location will be open until 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Pictured: The early voting location at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century is one of 10 in Escambia County. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
3-Year Old Abducted By His Mother Now Safe, ESCO Says
October 28, 2020
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says Takei Smith has been safely located. No additional information was provided.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says a toddler was abducted by his mother on Wednesday.
The ECSO said Takei Dejayy Smith was taken by his mother Jaclyn Smith.
Jaclyn Smith does not have legal custody of Takei. They were seen leaving the 1600-block of Dogwood Place, near the New Warrington Spur and Mobile Highway. Takei was wearing a white shirt and has green dreads.
Jaclyn Smith is wanted for violation of a domestic violence order and interfering with child custody. If you have any information about their whereabouts, call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
The ECSO said no photo of Jaclyn Smith was available.
Man Charged With Changing Voter Registration Information Of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
October 28, 2020
A Naples man has been arrested for changing the voter registration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Steven Guevara, 20, is charged with unauthorized access of a computer and altering a voter registration without consent.
FDLE agents began investigating Monday after Governor DeSantis learned his address in the Florida voting registration database was changed to an address in West Palm Beach.
FDLE said the registration address was changed via computer over a web browser. Agents were able to identify Guevara as the suspect and arrested him at his home following a search warrant Tuesday night.
Agents believe Guevara also accessed the voter registrations of U.S. Senator Rick Scott and sports celebrities Michael Jordan and LeBron James, but made no changes.
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “I am proud of the quick and detailed work of our agents on this case and appreciate the hard work of the offices of State Attorneys Amira Fox and Jack Campbell. FDLE is committed to ensuring the voting rights of Florida citizens are protected, and we will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners in ensuring the security of our elections.”
Guevara was booked into the Collier County Jail on a $5,000 bond. This case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.
Early Voting Hours Changed By Zeta; Over 100,000 Ballots Cast So Far In Escambia County
October 28, 2020
Over 100,000 votes have been cast so far in Escambia County. Early voting will continue through Saturday, but hours will be abbreviated due to Hurricane Zeta.
Due to the storm, the 10 early voting locations in Escambia County will close at 3 p.m. Wednesday and reopen at 11 a.m. on Thursday, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
As of Tuesday night, a total of 101,913 ballots have been cast in Escambia County, a 43.88% voter turnout one week before the election. The total was almost evenly split between vote by mail with 51.111 ballots received and early voting with 50,768 ballots cast since October 19.
The 10 early voting sites in Escambia County are:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N Century Blvd, Century
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Mobile Hwy/Pine Forest Rd Early Voting Center, 6675 Pine Forest Rd, Suite 11
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, University Parkway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Regular 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. early voting hours will resume on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.
Pictured: The early voting location at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century is one of 10 in Escambia County. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Skanska: Yes, We Are Securing Our Barges
October 28, 2020
Skanska said the company is securing their barges and other equipment in advance of Zeta.
The company released the following statement:
“As the Gulf Coast prepares for inclement weather, we are closely monitoring Hurricane Zeta’s path in conjunction with our partners with the goal of ensuring the safety of the community and our workers. Skanska is in the process of making necessary storm preparations, including securing barges and cranes, and mobilizing equipment into safe harbor.
“To date, we have recovered 18 of the 23 barges that ran aground as a results of Hurricane Sally, including all of those barges that impacted private property. Three barges that were under the Pensacola Bay Bridge have been retrieved with a fourth ballasted and anchored under the bridge. The remaining barges that have yet to be retrieved are being reinforced and secured in place in anticipation of possible storm impacts.”
Pictured: Skanska barges along Bayfront Parkway in downtown Pensacola, not far from the Pensacola Bay Bridge. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
October 28, 2020
One person was injured in a crash Tuesday night in Cantonment.
The vehicles collided on Highway 95A at Archer Road. One person was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS, and four other people refused transport. Three of the people involved were reportedly minors.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
65 New COVID-19 Cases, One Additional Death Reported In Two County Area
October 28, 2020
There were 65 new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties by the Florida Department of Health.
The death of a long-term care facility resident was also reported in Santa Rosa County.
Here is the latest data:
Total cases: 13,375 (+47)
Non-Florida residents: 1,325
Total deaths: 269
Long-term care facility deaths : 125
Current hospitalizations: 45 (+1)
Number of tests last day: 794
Percent positive last day: 5.5%
Percent positive last week: 4.4%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 9,756 (+37)
Cantonment: 983 (+6)
Century: 940 (+1)
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 155
McDavid: 74
Bellview: 19
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 9
Gonzalez: 7
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 5,894 (+18)
Non-Florida residents: 66
Total deaths: 87 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 20
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 357*
Number of tests last day: 217
Percent positive last day: 8.1%
Santa County cases by location:
Milton: 2,987 (+6)
Gulf Breeze: 858 (+5)
Navarre: 776 (-1 data adjustment)
Pace: 498 (+5)
Jay: 159
Bagdad: 15 (+1)
Florida cases:
Total cases: 786,311
Florida residents: 776,215
Deaths: 16,505
Hospitalizations: 48,512*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
No Injuries In East Kingsfield Road Rollover
October 27, 2020
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover Tuesday afternoon on East Kingsfield Road.
The Kia Soul came to rest on its side in the roadway just off the bridge over Eleven Mile Creek, about a half mile east of Highway 297A.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Person Dies In Fire At University Parkway Business
October 27, 2020
One person died Monday night in a commercial fire at an Escambia County business.
Firefighters responded to the MedPro Solutions at 8201 University Parkway about 7:30 p.m., arriving at the three-alarm blaze to find flames showing from the roof of the office building.
One person that was trapped inside the building was found deceased. Their identity has not yet been released.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating. Firefighters from Escambia Fire Rescue, Santa Rosa County and the U.S. Navy responded.
MedPro Solutions is located between Olive Branch Health and Rehabilitation Center and Olive Baptist Church, near West Florida Hospital.
Pictured: A commercial building fire on University Boulevard Monday night, prior to the arrival of firefighters. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.