Gas Prices Likely To Rise This Week As Oil Spikes
June 24, 2019
Florida gas prices are currently the lowest in four months, but that could change soon. Crude oil prices surged nearly $5 per barrel last week, which means higher gas prices are likely on the way.
Crude oil and gasoline futures prices rebounded last week due to factors includng rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the downing of a U.S. drone on Thursday and a massive fire at a Philadelphia refinery – the largest refinery on the U.S. East Coast, which could require supplies to be redirected from other regions.
“Florida drivers could see gas prices rise 5-10 cents this week, due to both domestic and international issues that caused oil prices to spike,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, it’s unclear just how long this upward pressure will stick around, and whether things will worsen or get better this week. Even if the state average rises above $2.50, drivers would still be paying 20 cents per gallon less than this time last year.”
Florida drivers are paying an average price of $2.43 per gallon at the pump – the lowest daily average price since February
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon on Sunday for $2.41, down 3 cents from a week ago and 20 cents from one month ago. In Cantonment Sunday night, states were as low as $2.34 per gallon.
New Circle K Convenience Store Planned For Beulah
June 24, 2019
A new Circle K convenience store is planned for Beulah.
The 4,968 square foot store will be built at Nine Mile and Beulah roads, directly north of an existing Tom Thumb.
Circle K tells NorthEscambia.com that the store will be the most modern Circle K facility in Northwest Florida. At 4,968 square feet, along with 16 fueling positions, it will also be among the company’s largest locations in the area.
The Beulah location will include the standard Circle K beverage offers, hot prepared foods, a seating area and more.
Construction is expected to begin after the permitting process is complete.
Tate Offensive, Defensive Lines Place Second In USA’s Lineman’s Challenge
June 24, 2019
The Tate High School offensive and defensive lines brought home the second place trophy from the University of South Alabama Lineman’s Challenge. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NEP Gold 7U Finishes Second In League Championship Game
June 24, 2019
The NEP Gold 7U All-Star team placed second Sunday in the league championship game at Gulf Breeze. NEP fell 8-7 to Pace in nine innings. Pictured (L-R): Bottom row – Parker Jarman, Brogan Turley, Paul Lawrence, Frederick Woods, Brantley Rutledge; Middle row – Daniel Simpler, Braden Biggs, Maddox Pitts, Peyton Jarman, Braydon Noack, Camden Woodside; Top row: Coaches Will Rutledge, Ben Pitts, Robert Turley and Brian Noack. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jacksonville Evens Series 7-1 Over Wahoos
June 24, 2019
The Blue Wahoos past games this season against Jacksonville have been some of their most upbeat performances.
They’re hoping Sunday was the anomaly.
After starter Jorge Alcala was rocked for five runs in two innings, the Blue Wahoos were unable to generate any offense until the ninth inning in a 7-1 loss against the Jumbo Shrimp, which evened the teams’ series at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Blue Wahoos (40-34, 2-2 in second half), who had won 10 of the previous 13 games against Jacksonville (31-43), will try and generate a different experience Monday night (6:05 p.m.) in the deciding, series finale to begin the second-half schedule.
The Blue Wahoos were outhit 12-3 Sunday and struck out 15 times.
Jacksonville righthander Cody Poteet (5-3) continued his own performance surge, allowing just one hit in seven complete innings Sunday, while striking out 11 Blue Wahoos batters.
Poteet, a fourth round pick in 2015 by the Miami Marlins, after a solid collegiate career at UCLA, picked up his third win in his last six starts. His only rough outing occurred June 3 against the Blue Wahoos in Pensacola, when he gave up four runs in a no-decision.
He left no doubt this time.
Poteet faced the minimum 12 batters in the first four innings. After the Blue Wahoos’ Aaron Whitefield, who joined the team Thursday in promotion from High-A Fort Myers, hit a two-out single in the third inning, Poteet picked him off first base to end the inning.
That became the only Blue Wahoos hit until the ninth inning. Their only baserunners in the next five innings occurred from two walks and a fielding error.
Meanwhile, Alcala (5-5) struggled from the outset and sustained his third consecutive loss. He entered the game in the second inning, after Minnesota Twins’ reliever Adalberto Mejia pitched a scoreless first inning in a rehab assignment start.
Alcala gave up a lead-off single to J.C. Milan, but seemed in good shape to get out of the second inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Following a passed ball that allowed Milan into scoring position, Alcala walked Anfernee Seymour then gave up an RBI single to Corey Bird. On a double-steal play that caught Alcala off-guard, Seymour beat the throw home for the second run.
In the third inning, Joe Dunand hit a one-out double. Milan followed with a two-run homer. Stone Garrett made it back-to-back bombs with his shot to right field and suddenly the Blue Wahoos trailed 5-0.
The Jumbo Shrimp added two more runs in the sixth inning off Alcala on Seymour’s double and Riley Mahan’s single. Hector Lujan, who joined the Blue Wahoos earlier this week from Fort Myers, pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, giving up four hits.
In the ninth inning, Blue Wahoos newcomer Lewin Diaz, who had multiple hits in each of his first three Double-A games, broke an 0-for-3 day with an RBI single. He scored Travis Blankenhorn, who led off the ninth with a single.
Following Monday’s game, the Blue Wahoos will travel back to Pensacola and prepare for a nine-game homestand, beginning Tuesday with a five-game series against the Biloxi Shuckers at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Escambia EMS Director Hires A Lawyer, And He’s Telling The County Not To Talk To His Client
June 23, 2019
Escambia County’s EMS director has hired a lawyer, and he’s telling the county not to talk to her.
EMS Director Dr. Rayme Edler, M.D. has retained the The Health Law Firm of Altmonte Springs, according to a certified letter sent last week to Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers. The firm has an office in Pensacola.
“I have the honor and privilege of representing Rayme M. Edler, M.D.,” attorney George F. Indest III wrote in his letter to the county, “…in all aspects of her dispute with Escambia County over her job performance. Please do not to attempt to contact or communicate with Dr. Edler regarding any matters, except through me.”
County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh wrote on his blog Saturday night that he learned from the county attorney that “this is very, very unusual”.
“And then to not show up at the meeting where the vote was to take place on training requested by EMS….? What is up?” Bergosh wrote.
On Thursday, the Escambia County Commissioner delayed a decision on new EMS training until after a new county administrator is in place on July 1.
Last month, Edler asked the commission for an expedited purchase of training services for EMS hands-on training, but she did not attend last Thursday’s meeting.
After advertising for training services, the county only receive two bids. One proposal was from The Rescue Company 1, LLC, in the amount of $144,696.91, and the other from Emergency Educational Training Institute, Inc., in the amount of $243,250.
The Florida Department of Health is currently investigating allegations involving the possible falsification of training certificates by Escambia EMS and Public Safety. The county commission has hired attorney Ann Bittinger of Jacksonville, who specializes in health care law, to represent five county employees in the Florida DOH investigation.
Eight Months After Michael, Small Inland Towns Are Slow To Heal (With Photo Gallery)
June 23, 2019
Many families in Marianna are stuck in a living hell eight months after Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 monster about 60 miles away in Mexico Beach.
While some have started the rebuilding process, much of Marianna still looks much like it did last fall. The picture above? A family still lives there with little protection from summer’s weather. The trailer home pictured below in black and white? FEMA says it’s still livable. It’s just below the picture of the gas station that’s still open in Marianna’s “new normal”. And it’s the new normal for many other small towns well north of Michael’s coastal landfall in Mexico Beach.
These pictures, and many more like them, were taken this month and shared with NorthEscambia.com by U.S. Army combat photographer SPC Scott Hagan. Marianna is his hometown.
For a gallery of photos taken just a few days ago in Marianna, click here.
“I rode around the remnants of a town I called home. My first time being back in the City of Southern Charm since Hurricane Michaels initial landfall and I’m still in disbelief. These little farming communities that dot the landscape of the Panhandle of Florida remain unrecognizable. These pictures were not taken days, nor weeks, or even a couple months after the wrath of God stormed upon land,” Hagan said. “This is how people are living, working, and picking up the pieces of what’s left of not only their lives, but the communities we all call home.”
Hagan documented the destruction in his hometown and other small inland towns in the first few days after Michael.
“And once the storm was over, you don’t remember how you made it through the terror, or how you managed to survive it’s power. You aren’t even sure if in its aftermath, is the nightmare really over? But one thing is certain, when you came out of the hurricane, you were no longer the same the person who greeted the storm. That’s why God sent the storm in the first place; because smooth seas don’t make for skilled sailors,” he said.
Photos by SPC Scott Hagan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Reported Structure Fire In Walnut Hill
June 23, 2019
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a reported house fire in Walnut Hill Saturday night.
Shortly after 10 p.m. a resident of North Cypress Street awoke to find his house full of smoke. Firefighters discovered the source of the smoke was a pot of chicken on the stove in the small brick home. The fire did not spread to any part of the kitchen.
The adult male resident was evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS for possible smoke inhalation, but he refused transport to the hospital.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Nokomis (AL) Volunteer Fire Department and Atmore Fire Department were all dispatched to the fire. Many units were canceled prior to arrival.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northwest Escambia 12U All-Stars Place In State Championship Tourney
June 23, 2019
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars finished short of the title in the Alabama Cal Ripkin Baseball state championship tournament on Saturday in Sylacauga, AL. Earlier this month, the team won the Cal Ripkin Baseball District 7 championship (pictured). Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commission Begins Budget Meetings This Week
June 23, 2019
The Escambia County Commission will begin meetings this week on their 2019-2020 fiscal year budget.
The commission will hold Budget Committee of the Whole meetings Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., and they will meet again Thursday morning at 8:30 if needed. All meetings will be held on the first floor of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building at 221 Palafox Place in Pensacola.
The fiscal year for the county begins October 1.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.