Coin Shortage: County Says Pay With Exact Change At Perdido Landfill, Oak Grove Center
August 11, 2020
Until further notice, Escambia County is asking citizens to use exact change when paying fees for waste services.
The county said that due to a nationwide coin shortage, they are able to provide change only if they can obtain coins from their bank.
If they can’t obtain coins, payments need to be made with exact change or by check at the Perdido Landfill and the Oak Grove Convenience Center. Debit and credit cars are also accepted at the Perdido Landfill.
The Oak Grove Convenience Center is only only on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Suspect Charged In Multiple Auto Burglaries
August 11, 2020
The Atmore Police Department has made an arrest in connection with several recent car burglaries.
Rodarius Tyrig Dailey, age 22 of Atmore, was charged with five counts of breaking and entering a vehicle, six counts of theft of property third degree and give counts of theft of property fourth degree.
“The arrest stems from complaints from citizens who reported their vehicles had been burglarized and personal items stolen,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said. The vehicle burglaries occurred July 24, July 25 and August 4.
Jail records indicated he was being held with bond set at $25,000.
First Sea Turtles Of The Year Hatch On Pensacola Beach
August 10, 2020
Pensacola Beach saw its first sea turtle hatch of the season Sunday night. Approximately 129 loggerhead hatchlings emerged on the county-patrolled portion of Pensacola Beach and made their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Sea turtles nest May through October along the Gulf Coast and nests incubate for around 60 days. Once the sun sets, hatchlings emerge all at once and make their way to the Gulf of Mexico. They will spend their first few days in a swimming frenzy to escape the many predators found in nearshore waters. Safer in the open ocean, they will use floating mats of algae to hide and feed until they are big enough to return to nearshore areas.
Sea turtle hatchlings face many threats long before they reach the water. Bright lights from homes, flashlights and cars can lead hatchlings away from the Gulf and into danger. Nearly 60% of hatchlings will be disorientated before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
Forgotten furniture, toys, sandcastles, and holes can trap hatchlings, causing injury, starvation, and dehydration. Food and other waste left on the beach attracts gulls, crows, stray dogs, and coyotes who also prey on hatchling turtles.
Escambia County recommends the following to protect sea turtles:
- Lights Out! Both hatchlings and nesting turtles need dark beaches to find the Gulf of Mexico. Leave the flashlights and cell phones at home or use a red flashlight when on the beach at night. Turn off beach-facing lights and close windows and curtains to keep our beaches dark.
- Leave No Trace! Remove all furniture and toys from the beach when you’re done for the day, including hammocks, tents, canopies, chairs, toys and sports equipment.
- Stow It, Don’t Throw it! Trash and food waste can entangle turtles and other wildlife and attract unwanted predators. Always dispose of trash in the proper receptacle and refrain from feeding wildlife.
If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings turtles on the beach, stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at 850- 426-1257.
Census Takers Will Be Knocking On Doors Beginning Tuesday. 39% Of Escambia Residents Have Not Responded.
August 10, 2020
Have your filled out your 2020 census? If not you may get a knock at the door soon. Census workers across the country will begin follow-up work on Tuesday, August 11.
In Florida 60.1% of people have complete their census response online, by phone or by mail. In Escambia County, 61% have responded.
In the two cities in Escambia County, 64.7% of Pensacola residents have completed the census, while 46.8% of Century residents have responded.
Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.
The Census Bureau will provide face masks to census takers and requires that census takers wear a mask while conducting their work. They will follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit. Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in neighborhoods.
Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.
If no one is home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.
Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
Additional COVID-19 Death Reported In Escambia County, Alabama
August 10, 2020
Another confirmed COVID-19 death was reported Sunday in Escambia County, Alabama.
The county’s death toll now stands at 17.
There have been 1,082 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Escambia County, Alabama, with 244 of those in the past 14 days.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Gas Prices Back Off 20-Week Highs
August 10, 2020
Florida gas prices are beginning to trickle lower. Retail prices are backing off from the 20-week high of nearly $2.16 per gallon, which was just over a week ago.
The state average declined 3 cents per gallon last week. Florida drivers are now paying an average price of nearly $2.13 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon is $2.07, down from $2.09 a week ago and on par with one month ago. A year ago, Escambia County drivers were paying $2.51.
The lowest price per gallon in North Escambia Sunday night was $1.97 at Highway 29 an Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Two wholesale clubs were at $1.82 Sunday night in Pensacola.
“Florida drivers continue to enjoy unusually low gas prices for this time of year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The cost for a full tank of gas is about $5 less than it was this time last year. The pandemic’s effect on fuel demand continues to weigh on crude oil and wholesale gasoline prices, preventing any monumental gains. Low oil prices make it cheaper to produce and sell gasoline.”
Over 2.2K Early Voting Ballots Cast Over The Weekend (With Location List)
August 10, 2020
There were 519 ballots cast in early voting Sunday in Escambia County, bringing the weekend total to 2,231.
There have also been 18,599 mail ballots returned for a nearly 12% turnout to date with 20,831 total ballots cast.
Early voting will continue until next Saturday, August 15 at the following locations:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- University of West Florida Conference Center, Building 22, University Parkway
- Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
Each location will be open from from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the exception of the Supervisor of Elections Office which will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Primary election day is Tuesday, August 18.
Want To Get Involved In Local Government? These Are The County Meetings This Week
August 10, 2020
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Monday, August 10
Special Tourist Development Council Meeting – 3 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Marine Advisory – 5:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Tuesday, August 11
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority Audit Committee – 4:30 p.m., (Teleconference)
Merit System Protection Board – 5 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Fourth Floor Training Room 0.605
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority Board Meeting – 5 p.m., (Teleconference)
Wednesday, August 12
Virtual Event: Coffee with the Commissioner, District 1, Jeff Bergosh – 6:30 a.m., (Link to Live Stream)
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority Public Hearing – 1:30 p.m., 700 S. Palafox St., Suite 310
Santa Rosa Island Authority Board Meeting – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach (Agenda)
Century Town Hall Remains Closed. Here Are The Days Utility Payments Can Be Made By Phone.
August 10, 2020
The Century town hall remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there area few upcoming dates when utility payments can be made over the phone.
Drive-thru service will not be available in the near future. Utility payments can be made 24/7 in a secure drop box next to the drive-thru window. Only checks or money orders are accepted in the drop box, not cash.
Credit card payments can be made by phone on August 11, August 14 and August 19. Century does not accept payments online.
For more information or further assistance call (850) 256-3208 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. or email kgodwin@centuryflorida.us or hhawkins@centuryflorida.us.
COVID-19 Cases Explode To Nearly 600 In Just Days At Century Prison
August 9, 2020
The number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Century Correctional Institution has exploded in the past few days.
As of Sunday, there were 595 positive inmates with 371 inmates waiting for their test results and another 563 inmates that tested negative, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. One week ago, there were six positive inmates.
There are six inmates being held in medical isolation and 643 in medical quarantine. There have not been any coronavirus deaths reported at Century Correctional Institution.
There have also been 25 staff members that have tested positive at the Century prison as of Sunday.
Inmates in medical quarantine are monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice a day for signs of fever. If an inmate begins experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, FDC will place the inmate in medical isolation and a COVID-19 test will be administered.
(This story was updated with the latest information at 11 a.m. Sunday.)
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.