Schools, Colleges Remain Closed Today And Friday
January 23, 2025
Schools in Escambia County, Florida, and Santa Rosa County, Florida will remain closed Thursday and Friday.
Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida will also be closed Thursday and Friday.
Schools in Escambia County, Alabama, will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.
The National Weather Service forecasts cold weather remaining in the area overnight Wednesday and stretching into Thursday and early Friday, which could affect safe travel on area roads and bridges. In an abundance of caution, all schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled in the districts.
“We expect to resume normal district operations will on Monday, January 27,” stated Escambia (FL) Superintendent Keith Leonard. “Of course, we’ll continue to work closely with local emergency operations officials to determine what is safest for our families and staff.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA Further Delays Some Pick Ups, Cancels North Escambia Collections
January 23, 2025
(UPDATED — New info at bottom of story)
ECUA has updated their collection schedule based upon winter conditions, and that means no pick up this week for some locations.
Sanitation collection services will resume on Friday, January 24. Due to the impact of the recent winter weather, road conditions, and limited landfill operations, collection schedules have been adjusted as follows:
- Wednesday collections will resume on Friday.
- Thursday collections will take place on Saturday.
- Friday collections will take place on Sunday.
- Monday’s and Tuesday’s collections will resume as normal next week. Tuesday’s North Escambia route (pictured in yellow below), which covers the northern park of the count, was deferred for safety reasons until next week as many roads in the northern portion of the county may still be impassable.
UPDATE: Here is more information from Bruce Woody, ECUA executive director on why these decisions were made:
Sanitation staff are advised to report to work on Friday, January 24, 2025, as scheduled. Sanitation will run Wednesday’s route on Friday, Thursday’s route on Saturday, and Friday’s route on Sunday. That also means that there will not be a collection of the Tuesday route this week. This was a difficult decision, but was influenced by the following:
- The Perdido Landfill will be closed on Thursday. The city of Pensacola trash collection will also not run on Thursday. Republic services will also not be operating (commercial operations).
- The Perdido Landfill is being very helpful by opening up on Sunday for the ECUA for a full day’s operation so we can collect our Friday route.
- Tuesday is our largest and longest route day. This is mainly because on Tuesday we pick up in the north part of the county, all the way up to the Alabama state line. These rural roads will be even more difficult negotiate, as many of the side roads receive less traffic. Many are also not paved and will thaw more slowly. If we were to alter our route schedule and put it at the end of our schedule to allow more time for snow and ice to melt, then we wouldn’t get it until Monday, and that is the day before we would normally be picking up on Tuesday.
- On Monday we pick up on Pensacola Beach and need staff for that route, making Monday a difficult day to double up by also picking up a full day route.
Pictured: ECUA cans await pickup on Tuesday on North Highway 99 in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Winter Conditions Delay Appointment To Vacant Century Town Council Seat
January 23, 2025
A decision on who will be appointed to a vacant seat on the non-partisan Century Town Council has been delayed to next week due to this week’s snowstorm.
Seat 4 was left open when Alicia Johnson was appointed interim mayor after Luis Gomez, Jr. resigned.
The town council was set to meet last Tuesday night to choose on of three applicants, but the meeting was delayed by Tuesday’s snow. Century has followed Escambia County’s lead in closing offices due to ongoing ice issues.
The council will now meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 28.
The three applicants are:
- Constance Brookhart, who described herself as a very detailed person that is a supervisor at a water utility with over 20 years’ experience in dealing with people and finances. She would love to see Century “as a vibrant business area” that should be clean and decorated.
- Kathryn Fleming, who previously worked as a mental health case manager for about two years in Brewton that describes herself as a problem solver. She said Century is a gateway to Pensacola beaches and aviation that should draw tourists, and the county is growing north. She served on the Century Charter Review committee from 2022-2023.
- Lizbeth A. “Sparkie” Harrison, who has lived and worked as a director of PSC Century Center for two years that is “driven by the desire to help others and enhance the quality of life for all who call Century home. She attached a cover letter and a three-page “Vision Plan for Century” to the town’s basic application.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Latest Escambia County Winter Weather Update
January 23, 2025
Here is the latest update from Escambia County:
Escambia County is under an extreme cold warning through Thursday morning, Jan. 23, according to the National Weather Service Mobile, Alabama. Wind chills and air temperatures will drop as low as 10 degrees. Although sunny conditions have melted some of the snow, ice is expected to form after sunset, leading to icy roadways. Residents are strongly urged to stay off the roadways. All roads and bridges in Escambia County should be considered impassable until further notice due to hazardous driving conditions.
Emergency vehicles should be the only vehicles on the road until further notice. Road conditions will remain hazardous as the melted snow turns into ice.
Additional County Updates:
- Public Safety is continuing to operate and respond to emergency calls.
- County offices are closed through Friday, Jan. 24.
- Escambia County Fire Rescue has responded to several calls for burst pipes due to the cold weather. Residents are reminded to cover pipes and allow outdoor faucets to slowly drip to prevent them from freezing and breaking.
- County Public Works crews have been working throughout Escambia County to clear snow from roads and bridges to make them accessible for emergency vehicles to respond to calls.
Escambia County offices will remain closed Thursday, Jan. 23 and Friday, Jan. 24 due to continued hazardous road conditions from Tuesday’s winter snowstorm. Essential employees such as first responders will remain available.
Offices closing include:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – all departments
- County Administration offices
- West Florida Public Libraries – all locations
- Escambia County Tax Collector – all offices
- Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office – both locations
- Waste Services Administration and the Perdido Landfill
- Escambia County Extension Services
- Escambia County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller – all offices
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Area Transit and Customer Service
- ECAT buses and the UWF trolleys will not run Jan. 23 or 24. Normal bus service is expected to resume Saturday, Jan. 25.
- All Escambia County Early Voting locations will remain closed on Thursday, January 23. Decisions regarding Early Voting on Friday, January 24 will be made late Thursday afternoon, once conditions can be assessed. For the safety of the public and the election workers decisions will be made on a daily basis.
I-10 Closure Alert from FDOT:
- Beginning 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, FDOT will close I-10 from the Alabama/Florida state line to exit 192 (U.S. Highway 90) in Gadsden County in both directions due to hazardous road conditions. Please seek alternative routes until further notice. Conditions can change rapidly or bring unexpected circumstances. Unless travel is necessary, it is advised to stay off the roads.
Pictured: An Escambia County crew works to clear snow and ice from Highway 99A near Walnut Hill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
I-10 Closed From The Alabama/Florida Line To Near Tallahassee
January 22, 2025
Nearly 200 miles of I-10 across Northwest Florida are now closed due to snow and ice.
The Florida Department of Transportation has closed both directions of I-10 from the Alabama state line to Midway (exit 192) near Tallahassee. The closure is due to remaining snow, ice, and water on the roadway combined with incoming hard freeze temperatures overnight resulting in icy and dangerous conditions on bridges and roadways. Drivers should seek alternative routes until further notice.
Locally, all roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa County should still be considered closed. While some snow did melt during the afternoon, there is the likelihood of black ice by morning with lows forecast in the 10-15 degree range.
Early Voting Closed Through At Least Thursday
January 22, 2025
All early votings sites in Escambia County will be closed through Thursday due to the winter weather.
Decisions regarding early voting on Friday, January 24 will be made late Thursday afternoon, once conditions can be assessed. For the safety of the public and the election workers decisions will be made on a daily basis.
Early voting sites are:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Eligible voters may choose any one of the seven available locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device.
Three Early Vote locations that were open during the 2024 Election Cycle will not be open for the 2025 Special Primary Election. Those three locations are:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts in Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center
The 2025 Special Primary Election is for Republican voters only. The State of Florida holds closed primary elections, meaning only registered Republicans will be eligible for the 2025 Special Primary Election.
Pictured: Early voting at the Molino Community Center during the 2024 election cycle. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge
Escambia County Offices To Remain Closed For The Rest Of The Week
January 22, 2025
Escambia County offices will remain closed Thursday, Jan. 23 and Friday, Jan. 24 due to continued hazardous road conditions from Tuesday’s winter snowstorm. Essential employees such as first responders will remain available.
Offices closing include:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – all departments
- County Administration offices
- West Florida Public Libraries – all locations
- Escambia County Tax Collector – all offices
- Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office – both locations
- Waste Services Administration and the Perdido Landfill
- Escambia County Extension Services
- Escambia County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller – all offices
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Area Transit and Customer Service
- ECAT buses and the UWF trolleys will not run Jan. 23 or 24. Normal bus service is expected to resume Saturday, Jan. 25.
- All Escambia County Early Voting locations will remain closed on Thursday, January 23. Decisions regarding Early Voting on Friday, January 24 will be made late Thursday afternoon, once conditions can be assessed. For the safety of the public and the election workers decisions will be made on a daily basis.
Schools To Remain Closed Thursday And Friday
January 22, 2025
Schools in Escambia County, Florida, and Santa Rosa County, Florida will remain closed Thursday and Friday.
Schools in Escambia County, Alabama, will remain closed on Thursday.
The National Weather Service forecasts cold weather remaining in the area overnight Wednesday and stretching into Thursday and early Friday, which could affect safe travel on area roads and bridges. In an abundance of caution, all schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled in the districts.
“We expect to resume normal district operations will on Monday, January 27,” stated Superintendent Keith Leonard. “Of course, we’ll continue to work closely with local emergency operations officials to determine what is safest for our families and staff.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Snow Total Shatters 100+ Year Old Record
January 22, 2025
Pensacola absolutely shattered a snow total record that had stood for over 100 years.
Before Tuesday, Pensacola`s 24-hour snowfall record was 3 inches set in 1895.
By Tuesday night, the unofficial total at Pensacola was 7.6 inches. That also exceeded the all-time record for the most snowfall ever in Florida of 4 inches recorded near Milton. However, once the official totals are in, Milton may continue to hold the Florida record after receiving 8.8 inches.
It will take a few days to verify the snow totals and verify which city now holds the state record.
Across the rest of Escambia County, snowfall totals from 8-10 inches were reported across the area, including Molino, Bratt, Walnut Hill, McDavid and Cantonment. These totals however, are not official calibrated gauge and won’t be state records.
Pictured: Welcome to Florida signs on Highway 97 in Davisville (above) and on Highway 29 in Century (below). NorthEscambia.com photo (above) and submitted from Joan Carnley (below), click to enlarge.
All Escambia County Roads Considered Closed Again Today
January 22, 2025
All roads and bridges in Escambia County (both Florida and Alabama) should be considered impassable until further notice due to hazardous driving condition.
Escambia County (FL) said Tuesday night that emergency vehicles should be the only vehicles on the road until further notice. Drivers should suspend any travel on Wednesday. Road conditions will remain hazardous through at least Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Tuesday night, FDOT closed 65 miles of I-10 from Exit 5, the Pine Forest Road exit in Pensacola, to Exit 70, Highway 285 in Okaloosa County due to snow and ice.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.