Runaway Juvenile From Century Found Safe Days After She Went Missing
July 1, 2020
Here’s an update to a story we brought you June 25. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday afternoon that a missing runaway 14-year from Century has now been located and is safe.
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The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a missing runaway juvenile from Century.
Taniyah Paige, 14, was last seen June 23 in the 100 block of Henry Street in Century.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Photo courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Health Care Leaders ‘Stand United’ In Urging Face Mask Use In Escambia County
July 1, 2020
Local health care leaders have sent a letter to each Escambia County commissioner urging the use of face coverings in the county.
The letter stops short of asking the commission to enact an ordinance mandating mask use. The Pensacola City Council passed a mandatory masking ordinance Tuesday night that includes fines for non-compliance.
Baptist Hospital Mark Faulkner said Wednesday that the hospitals are simply reinforcing the CDC guidelines.
“As the positive case counts of COVID-19 continue to rise in our community, and as we see a key driver of this rise being asymptomatic spread, we strongly urge all public to follow the CDC recommendation that people wear masks or cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain or people choose not to follow social distancing measures. Other than mass closures, masks and cloth face coverings are one of the few tools currently available as we seek to mitigate the spread of the disease while we move into a “new normal” of life with COVID-19 among us,” the letter stated.
“We know that in our community, this virus is being spread by people who do not display any symptoms and do not know they are infected. This is why it is critically important for everyone to wear masks or cloth face coverings in public settings and to continue to practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from other people. In situations where a safe distance cannot practically be maintained, it becomes even more imperative for every individual – with or without symptoms of the virus – to wear a mask or cloth face covering,” the letter continued.
The letter was signed by Faulkner, West Florida Hospital CEO Gay Nord, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola President CEO Dawn Rudolph and Community Health of Northwest Florida Executive Director Chandra Smiley with the statement, “..we stand united in our support of all wearing masks or cloth face coverings for the protection of our community”.
“The letter is not actually us mandating masking obviously, but we are asking and strongly encouraging based upon the science,” Nord said during a morning “Coffee With the Commissioner” online virtual meeting with District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. “The evidence is there that it works…Now that things have opened back up, we want to err on the side of caution and make sure that we do encourage our citizens to wear masks.”
The Escambia County Commission meets Thursday afternoon at 5:30. Mandatory face coverings are not on the released agenda.
NEP 7/8 Wins Coach Pitch Tournament Championship
July 1, 2020
NEP’s 7/8 team won a weekend coach pitch tournament with a 12-8 victory in the finals over the Daphne Trojans. They were 4-0 in the tournament. Pictured: (front, L-R) Max Hall, Peyton Jarman, Parker Jarman, Frederick Woods III, Kingston Brown, (middle) Tucker Gregson, BB Barton, Eli Nelson, Braxton Reid, Mason Hoock, Jaiden Stanton, (back) coaches Steven Gregson, Brian Hoock and Ben Nelson . Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Council Affirms Mask Requirement, Approves Fines For Violations
July 1, 2020
The Pensacola City Council unanimously approved an emergency mask ordinance Tuesday night.
The council’s vote affirms an order issued last week by Mayor Grover Robinson requiring face coverings by employees and patrons in Pensacola businesses, and it also adds fines for violations.
The fine for violating the ordinance is $50 for the first offense, $125 for the second offense, $250 for the third offense. A fouth violation carries a fine of up as much as $500 and potentially 60 days in jail.
The ordinance applies only within the city limits of Pensacola, not in unincorporated Escambia County.
The ordinance order does not apply to:
- A child under 6 years of age (updated from 2 years old).
- A person who has one or more medical conditions or disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering, including anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. A person asserting this exception for medical conditions or disabilities is not required to carry or produce documentation verifying the health condition to a business or law enforcement.
- An individual who is obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
- Public safety, police, fire, and other life safety and health care personnel whose personal protective equipment requirements are governed by their respective agencies and employers.
- A person in a government building owned or controlled by the federal, state, or Escambia County governmental entity or agency, the Escambia County School Board, or a County constitutional officers. If the governmental entity or agency occupies only part of a building, this Emergency Ordinance does not apply to that portion of the building.
- A person exercising while observing at least six feet of distancing from other persons.
- Persons while eating or drinking. It is the intent of this provision that a face covering be worn while traversing a business for ingress and egress, to use the restroom facilities, and while standing when persons are unable to maintain at least six feet of distancing.
- Business owners, managers, and employees who are in an area of a business that is not open to customers, patrons, or the public, provided that six feet of distance exists between persons. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation area of a business – those persons must wear face coverings.
- An individual in a lodging establishment who is inside of the lodging unit, including, but not limited to, a hotel room, motel room, vacation rental unit, timeshare unit, or similar unit.
- Children in a business operating as a daycare or children’s camp so long as the business is following CDC and Escambia County Department of Health guidelines for those activities.
Atmore Plans Incentives To Land New $82 Million Ag Processing Plant With 100 New Jobs
July 1, 2020
The City of Atmore is working to lure a new industry that will mean about 100 new jobs and millions of dollars invested in the community.
Mayor Jim Staff said the city plans to offer incentives to locate to locate an Alabama farmer-owned agricultural processing facility in Atmore. It will have a capital investment in excess of $82 million and will create at least 100 new full time jobs with an anticipated average hourly wage of $17, exclusive of benefits.
Staff said Atmore is partnering with the State of Alabama to land the industry.
The city is offering tax abatements and land for the construction of the facility and a railroad spur to service the plant. The state is offering cash rebates for jobs credits and investment tax credits for the capital investment in Alabama. Additionally, the state is offering direct cash reimbursement for training costs and additional in kind services by the Alabama Industrial Development Training Office.
The City of Atmore also intends to apply for grants which, if awarded, will allow the construction of an adjacent rail transfer yard which will service industries in Atmore and in the surrounding region with the ability to transfer products between highways and railways in a cost effective manner.
Projections show a direct impact of retail spending from payroll over the first 20 years of over $39 million and an indirect impact of over $28 million. The city is expected to receive a direct impact in retail spending from payroll in taxes of over $1 million and an indirect impact of over $700,000.
Complete details, including the name of the facility and their exact product, have not yet been announced.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Seriously Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash
July 1, 2020
One person was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 29 Tuesday night.
It happened about 10:50 p.m. near Wendy’s at Highway 29 and East Kingsfield Road. One victim was transported by Escambia County EMS as a trauma alert to an area hospital. A second person in the vehicle refused medical treatment.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Employee Airlifted To Burn Center After Accident At Ascend Performance Materials
July 1, 2020
One person was airlifted to a burn center following an accident Tuesday at Ascend Performance Materials on Old Chemstrand Road, according to Escambia County.
The injured employe was transported to the University of South Alabama Burn Center in Mobile by LifeFlight helicopter.
A spokesperson for Ascend confirmed that one employee was transported to the hospital, but did not offer specific details about the nature of the accident.
“I can confirm there was no chemical release outside of our plant. Our community members were not in danger,” Ascend Vice President of Global Communications and External Affairs told NorthEscambia.com in an email.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Cofounder Of Pensacola Christian College, Camp O’ The Pines, Passes Away
July 1, 2020
Beka Horton, the cofounder of Pensacola Christian College, has passed away at age 90.
“She was known for her dedication to Christian education and ministry, her significant role in PCC’s history, and her deep love for God and His truth,” the college said in announcing her death.
When the Hortons came to Pensacola in 1952 to start a small Christian school, they never dreamed how greatly their outreach would be enlarged. Throughout 60 years of ministry in Pensacola, Dr. Horton worked alongside her husband Dr. Arlin Horton in vital support and complement to his leadership.
In 1954, the Hortons founded what is now known as Pensacola Christian Academy (PCA).
“Rebekah Horton took a lead role in the curriculum development and instructional design used at PCA and became a vital contributor to the education and spiritual encouragement of countless area residents,” the college said.
Other Christian schools used the materials printed through the textbook publishing company that bears her name: Abeka Book.
The popular local summer camp, Camp o’the Pines in McDavid, was established under the Hortons’ leadership, where Rebekah Horton was once a cabin leader and program director.
In 1974, Pensacola Christian College was founded where Beka Horton served as Senior Vice President. She and her husband retired in 2012.
The funeral service were held in PCC’s Crowne Centre on Wednesday, July 1.
Century Considers New Franchise Fees And Agreements With Gulf Power and EREC
July 1, 2020
The Town of Century is considering new franchise fee agreements with Gulf Power and Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
In 1994, the franchise fees for both utilities were increased from 3% to 5%, and now in 2020 the council can legally raise the fee to as much as 6%.
While the franchise fee is technically charged to the utility, both Gulf Power and EREC tell NorthEscambia.com that they pass the full cost of the fee on to their customers.
The town council held a workshop this week on the franchise fees. The council will be required to approve the franchise agreements at a future meeting.
No Wahoos Ball This Year; Minor League Baseball Season Officially Canceled.
July 1, 2020
The Minor League Baseball season has been canceled for 2020.
“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
“It’s unfortunate and saddening that there will not be Blue Wahoos baseball at Blue Wahoos Stadium this season. However, the health and safety of our community is our number one priority, and we fully support the efforts by Major and Minor League Baseball to keep fans, players, and staff safe in communities throughout America,” the Pensacola Blue Wahoos said in a statement. “We will continue to be creative and innovative to create affordable, family-friendly stadium events to allow our fans to continue to enjoy unforgettable ballpark moments safely at Blue Wahoos Stadium until Blue Wahoos baseball is able to return.”
The Blue Wahoos will respond to questions about tickets, sponsorships and group outings at the Blue Wahoos Stadium on a case-by-base basis. For more information, email tickets@BlueWahoos.com or call (850) 934-8444.