City Administration Recommends Removal Of Pensacola’s Lee Square Confederate Monument
July 7, 2020
City administration is recommending that the Pensacola City Council approve the removal of the Lee Square Confederate monument.
In a memorandum Tuesday, City Administrator Keith Wilkins also recommended that the Mayor Grover Robinson be given the authority to award a contract for the removal.
On June 11, the city council began discussions about the monument and initiated a 30-day waiting period for potential action, and staff started their discussions.
The Pensacola City Council will make a final decision on the monument at a special meeting on July 14th.
According to the memo:
“Under careful consideration and with Pensacola’s collective heritage and historic landscape in mind, staff has determined that Lee Square and the monument does not reflect our current values nor strive to create a more inclusive City. Although the Confederate monument remembers those that lead, fought and died for the Confederacy, it also promotes a post-Reconstruction “Lost Cause” narrative that memorializes a divisive time in American history reflective of “white supremacy” and the Jim Crow era. The Square and Monument are not equitable representations of all our citizens. To achieve a stronger and more unified community, staff recommends the complete removal of the Lee Square Confederate monument.”
To read the full 17-page memo on removing the monument, click here.
Pictured: The Lee Square Confederate monument in Pensacola was fenced off last week. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Orders All Schools To Reopen In August
July 7, 2020
Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has ordered all public schools in the state to reopen in August while offering “the full panoply of services” to students and their families.
“There is a need to open schools fully to ensure the quality and continuity of the educational process, the comprehensive well-being of students and families and a return to Florida hitting its full economic stride,” the emergency order released Monday states.
The order requires that all public schools reopen in August at least five days a week and provide all services that are required by law, including in-person instruction and services for students with special needs.
“Required services must be provided to students from low-income families, students of migrant workers, students who are homeless, students with disabilities, students in foster care, students who are English-language learners, and other vulnerable populations,” the order states.
Both public school districts and charter school boards must submit their reopening plans to the Florida Department of Education that show how they will fully open and offer all services to all students. They will also be required to project the number of students that are expected to continue with remove learning as was used after the March statewide shutdown.
“Although it is anticipated that most students will return to full-time brick and mortar schools, some parents will continue their child’s education through innovative learning environments, often due to the medical vulnerability of the child or another family member who resides in the same household,” the order says.
School districts are also instructed to follow any executive orders from Gov. Ron DeSantis along with any advice from state or local health officials.
Tap or click to read the full order.
Brenda Spencer Appointed To Century Town Council. She’s A Former Escambia County Legal Secretary.
July 7, 2020
The Century Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Brenda Spencer to a vacant seat on the board.
Spencer is a Century native who retired in 2012 after 21 years as a legal secretary and co-office manager for the Escambia County attorney and deputy attorney. She has previous experience as medical secretary and was secretary to the plant manager at Wayne Dalton Corporation in Century from 1980-1988.
She will be sworn in during the next regular meeting of the council on July 20. Spencer will remain in office until an elected council member take office the night of January 4, 2021.
The seat was was left vacant when Ben Boutwell resigned in early June in order to run for mayor. That put his Seat 3 position on this year’s ballot, and allowed the council to appoint a new member for the rest of the year to fulfill the remainder of his term.
Pictured: Brenda Spencer. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Bratt Highway 4 Wreck
July 7, 2020
One person was injured in a two-vehicle crash Monday night in Bratt.
A Jeep Renegade and a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck collided at the intersection of West Highway 4 and Still Road about 7:43 p.m. One person was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered serious by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash that closed the roadway for at least half an hour.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Staff COVID-19 Cases Increase At Century Prison
July 7, 2020
The number of COVID-19 staff members at Century Correctional Institution has grown, but there are still no reported cases among inmates at the facility on Tedder Road.
There are now five positive correctional workers at Century CI, up from three in late June. Six inmates have been tested, and all have received negative results. Four inmates are being monitored in medical quarantine, but have not been tested, all according to a report from the Florida Department of Corrections. There have been no inmate deaths related to coronavirus at CCI.
Across the state, the FDC has reported 2,443 inmates and 622 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 25 inmate deaths, with the most recent coming over the weekend.
At Blackwater Correctional Facility in Milton, which is operated by the GEO Group, a total of 101 inmates and 16 staffers have tested positive. Another 1,824 inmates were negative.
Escambia Tax Collector Requires Face Masks, Establishes Protocols For Offices And Services
July 7, 2020
Escambia County Tax Collector is requiring masks or face coverings for everyone at his office, and they may only be removed for an official photo.
Lunsford has established the following COVID-19 protocols:
- Services are limited to Escambia County residents only
- Masks or cloth face coverings are required for everyone entering the building (masks will only be removed for an official photo)
- Transactions and customers will be pre-screened prior to entering the building
- Customers’ temperatures will be taken with a non-contact thermometer prior to entering the building
- Only the customer directly involved in the transaction will be admitted to further comply with CDC social distancing guidelines
- Wait times currently are longer than normal
- To minimize your wait time, “Join the Line” for service and arrive closer to your service time
- Express services, such as tag renewals, business tax receipts, property tax, hunting and fishing licenses and handicapped parking placards are available online, by mail or through our convenient drive-thrus. These transactions WILL NOT be processed in the lobbies.
After joining the line, customers will receive an estimated wait time by text. Wait times currently are longer than normal. Customers should remain in their vehicles or outside until a text is received to report to a window.
The vision requirements have not been waived for driver license transactions, so a vision test will be given. If customers are uncomfortable with the vision machine, they can request a vision form be sent via email that can be taken to an eye care professional and completed before the customer visits our office.
Driving exams are being offered by appointment only for Escambia residents who have held their learner permit for at least one year. Parents are encouraged to email ectc@escambiataxcollector.com to begin the process to schedule an appointment. We are not offering walk-in, medical or special driving exams currently.
Full payment of fees is required at time of service, and payment may be made by eCheck, debit, or credit cards. Payments made by eCheck are fee-free. Credit and debit transactions are subject to convenience fees charged by the payment vendor(s).
“We ask our citizens to remember we also have been impacted by this pandemic and are short staffed. These steps will help keep both our employees and customers safe so we may continue assisting our citizens to the best of our ability,” said Lunsford. “Please be patient and kind. Our employees are happy to serve and continue to do so in a caring, efficient and safe manner.”
Blue Wahoos Stadium Reaches Finals For National Championship Of Best Of The Ballparks
July 7, 2020
Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos Stadium has reached the national championship round of the 2020 Ballpark Digest Best of the Ballparks contest.
In the final round, Blue Wahoos Stadium is competing against Amarillo’s “Hodgetown”, the defending Best of the Ballparks champion, for the title of Best Double-A Ballpark. The title will be decided by a national online fan vote, which is open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. Fans can vote once daily per device at this link (scroll down near the bottom of the page).
“The support we’ve received from our fans to reach the championship round has been incredible,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “We’re excited for the chance to bring recognition to the beautiful city of Pensacola and hopefully win a title in a year when there’s no baseball.”
The annual contest run by Ballpark Digest is Minor League Baseball’s most popular ballpark ranking competition, with the 2019 contest receiving over 400,000 votes from fans including over 110,000 in the Double-A bracket. Blue Wahoos Stadium previously won the contest in 2016.
Opened in 2012, Blue Wahoos Stadium has established itself as one of the nation’s premier Minor League facilities. A three-time recipient of the Southern League’s Ballpark of the Year, the stadium has ranked first or second in the league in attendance five times in eight seasons. The multi-use facility is utilized year-round, hosting Blue Wahoos baseball, University of West Florida football, and over 200 total events throughout the calendar year.
EREC Closes Jay Office Lobby After Local COVID-19 Cases Increase Five-Fold In A Week
July 6, 2020
Citing the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the local area, Escambia River Electric Cooperative has closed their lobby in Jay to the public until further notice.
The drive-thru in Jay remains opens, the EREC lobby and post office in Walnut Hill are also still open.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Jay have increased five-fold in a week – from five one week ago to 25 on Monday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The utility is encouraging members to utilize remote options to manage their electric service.
Payments may be made by mail, online at www.erec.com, telephone autopay, EREC app or by night depository. Services such as opening or closing an electric, water or internet accounts; making changes to services; inquiring about account balance and service orders. can all be handled by email or phone as well. Contact memberservices@erec.com or call (850) 675-4521 or (800) 235-3848 for assistance.
EREC has not reported any COVID-19 cases among employees.
Florida Gas Prices Increase, Average $2.06 In Escambia County
July 6, 2020
Although Florida gas prices increased last week, drivers found the lowest prices at the pump for Independence Day since 2004, according to AAA.
Florida gas prices increased eight cents last week. The state average of $2.11 per gallon is the highest price since March 19th. Despite the recent increase, drivers are saving an average of 57 cents per gallon compared to this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.06. The lowest North Escambia price was $1.84 per gallon at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment, while in Pensacola the lowest was $1.89 at two wholesale clubs.
“Gas prices remain very low for this time of year, due to the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on supply and demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Retailers raised gas prices last week, in anticipation of strong demand for the Independence Day holiday weekend.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NEP Ducks Win Coach Pitch Championship
July 6, 2020
The NEP Ducks won a recent coach pitch championship. Pictured are players and coaches. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.