Atmore Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash
November 9, 2020
A motorcycle crash ha claimed the life of an Atmore man.
William Van Cooey, 71, was killed when his 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle left the roadway and overturned on Jack Springs Road about eight miles north of Atmore, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Troopers are continuing their investigation into the crash that occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
EREC Awards Scholarships To Students After Washington Youth Tour Is Canceled
November 9, 2020
Two students were awarded scholarships by Escambia River Electric Cooperative after their youth tour trip to Washington, D.C., was canceled due to COVID-19.
The $2,000 scholarships were awarded to Amber Gilman from Northview High School and Katelyn Mayo from Jay High School.
EREC awards high school juniors an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. each June as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour program. About 1,800 teens from electric cooperatives across the country convene in the nation’s capital to learn more about government, cooperatives and rural electrification.
“The cancellation of the trip was unfortunate,” said EREC CEO Ryan Campbell. “But these bright young ladies deserve to be commended for the efforts they put forth to win the Youth Tour competition. We are happy to offer them scholarships to further their education at the college of their choice.”
Pictured: EREC CEO Ryan Campbell awards scholarships to Amber Gilman from Northview High School (top) and Katelyn Mayo from Jay High School (below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County, Pensacola Census Self-Response Rate Better Than State Average; Century Below
November 9, 2020
Escambia County’s self response rate to the 220 Census was below the national response rate, but better than the state level.
The self-response rate in Escambia County was 64.6% (including 49.9% on the internet). The national rate was 67%, and the state rate was 63.8%.
Escambia County ranked 25th out of Florida’s 67 counties. Santa Rosa County was third statewide at 71.6%.
Century’s total self response rate was just over half at 50.1%, with 24.4% of those responses coming from the internet. The City of Pensacola was above average at 68.8% with 55.7% online.
Florida Gas Prices Declining Below $2 A Gallon
November 9, 2020
It appears the state average price for gas is set to fall below $2 a gallon for the first time since June, according to AAA.
The average price per gallon in Florida was $2.01 Sunday, down 17 cents compared to a month ago.
In Escambia County, the average price was $2.07. Drivers could find a low of $1.98 Sunday night in Cantonment and $1.81 in Pensacola.
“Demand concerns – related to surging cases of COVID-19 - continue to weigh on the global fuel market, leading to lower prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although US gasoline demand is not nearly as low as it was in April, it remains 9% lower than what’s common, this time of year. Florida drivers should see another round of discounts this week. The state average should slip below $2 a gallon and sink to $1.95 by the weekend.”
FHP Looking For Driver Involved In Fatal Hit And Run
November 9, 2020
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a driver that struck and killed a pedestrian Sunday morning in Escambia County.
About 6 a.m., the driver of a vehicle describe by FHP only as a sedan hit a 59-year old female on Saufley Field Road near St. Ann’s Catholic Church. The pedestrian did not survive.
The vehicle then fled the scene but was located in a dtich a few miles away on Blue Angel Parkway. The driver had fled on foot.
Anyone with with information is asked to call troopers at *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
About 1,000 More Pre-Orders Needed To Make Blue Angels License Plate A Reality
November 9, 2020
Almost 2,000 people have placed pre-orders for the new Blue Angels license plates, but about 1,000 more are needed to make the tag a reality.
The Florida Department of Motor Vehicle’s process to establish a new specialty license plate requires the foundation to sell 3,000 vouchers before the plate goes into production.
“This support moves us one step closer to making the Blue Angels license plate a reality for the state of Florida,” said retired Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. “The ordering process is easy and the plates are available to registered Florida drivers across the state.”
The voucher is redeemable for the plate once the sale requirement has been met and the plates are in production. Purchasing a voucher ensures the plate will go into production as quickly as possible.
Florida drivers can now purchase a voucher in person at a local tax collector’s office or online. The online service is available to all Florida residents residing in any county.
It’s not necessary to wait for a vehicle’s registration to need renewal to purchase the Blue Angels license plate. For $30, a new plate can be ordered at any time without affecting the vehicle’s registration cycle.
As a process to gain public support, the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation is offering numbered Commemorative Challenge Coins to the first 3,000 Floridians who purchase a voucher from the Escambia County Tax Collector’s website. The 1.5” antique bronze coin showcases the Blue Angels crest on the front and the words “I Helped Make History” on the back. This exclusive coin is a way to thank those who helped make the Blue Angels license plate a reality for Florida.
Gulf Power Offering Direct COVID-19 Relief To Past Due Customers; Disconnects Resuming This Month
November 8, 2020
Gulf Power has announced plans to begin offering direct relief to customers significantly behind on their energy bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to those small business customers who have diligently paid their bills but still have a deposit with the company.
Residential and small business customers may be eligible for a bill credit of up to $200 based on the status of their account and how long the account has been past due. To receive the direct bill relief, eligible customers will need to pay their total outstanding balance, net of the bill credit. For example, an eligible customer who has a total outstanding balance of $600 would need to pay $400 to qualify for the maximum one-time credit of $200.
Eligible customers have been pre-identified based on their account status. Gulf Power will communicate directly with eligible customers through email or direct mail to explain the steps required to obtain the bill relief. Customers who are past due on multiple bills can also go online to their Gulf Power account to check for eligibility and view offer available.
“We remain committed to doing everything we can to support customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, including offering direct bill relief to eligible customers to help them get back on their feet,” said Gulf Power President Marlene Santos. “While most of our customers have continued to pay their bills on time, others may be struggling – and we want to help.”
In addition to direct bill relief, Gulf Power continues to help customers with payment extensions and connecting them with available financial assistance. Gulf Power is also planning to accelerate deposit refunds for eligible small business customers, depending on rate class; the company already returns deposits for residential customers after 12 months of on-time bill payment.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect our customers early this year, Gulf Power immediately offered payment extensions and information on financial assistance for customers experiencing hardship due to the pandemic, policies that remain in effect. The company has also suspended disconnections for nonpayment. Through a measured approach, Gulf Power will resume issuing final notices beginning with customer accounts that have been past due since before COVID-19 became widespread in March. For customer accounts that receive a final notice but do not pay their past-due balance or contact Gulf Power to make payment arrangements, disconnections are planned to begin in mid-November.
FDOT Advancing Demolition Efforts On Pensacola Bay Bridge; 22 Of 27 Barges Recovered
November 8, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is advancing demolition efforts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge as final underwater inspections are nearing completion.
Three bridge contractors mobilized by FDOT are focusing their efforts at the outermost spans of the bridge to facilitate construction and minimize impacts to the existing structure. Along with the complete removal of two damaged spans of the bridge and debris removal from two other spans, crews are removing damaged portions from two additional spans. One barge remains under the bridge. To date, 22 of the 27 barges have been removed from the area.
After approving modified pier design plans, FDOT is reviewing design plans for the permanent repairs that address the reconstruction of spans for the bridge and reestablishment of four lanes of traffic on the bridge at the same condition as expected for new construction.
The fabrication of multiple concrete piles, piers, and beams continues in preparation for reconstruction. The inventory of concrete piles and beams continues to increase with production coming from the Pensacola precast yard and a facility in Tampa. Replacement piers will begin casting by mid-November 2020.
FDOT has been continuously working to improve the traffic flow along the Pensacola Bay Bridge detour routes and has reduced the average commute time by 25 percent. Additional improvements are underway as construction has begun to widen 2,000 feet of northbound and southbound S.R. 281 south of the I-10 interchange and widen the eastbound I-10 off ramp at eastbound S.R. 281 off ramp to two lanes.
To reinforce FDOT Secretary Kevin J. Thibault’s, P.E. expectation of complete transparency and community assistance, FDOT’s outreach team has met with stakeholder groups, state and local officials, civic organizations and local business owners to discuss the bridge reconstruction as well as other actions that are being considered to efficiently restore regional connectivity. FDOT will continue to meet with multiple stakeholder groups throughout the course of the project.
FDOT continues to develop and improve alternative transportation solutions to move people and goods safely and efficiently through the region while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired. Examples include:
- Funding the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route to help transport passengers for free between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.
- Gathering information such as potential ridership, times of operation, and duration of service as well as reviewing existing facilities that would be necessary for the safe operation of a ferry.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge has a targeted re-opening date of early March 2021. Once repairs are complete, all four lanes will be open with no load restrictions. As each repair method is developed, FDOT will be conducting reviews to ensure the contractor is hitting all milestones in the established schedule.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge have been suspended through 6 a.m., Friday, November 13.
Ashley Salter Named Northview High School Teacher Of The Year
November 8, 2020
Ashley Salter, culinary arts instructor, was recently named the Northview High School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge..
Off-Road Vehicle Crash Victims Found Using Phone GPS
November 8, 2020
Volunteer firefighters were able to locate the victims of an off-road vehicle crash in northern Santa Rosa County thanks to GPS.
About 4:30 Saturday morning, the Berrydale, Jay and Allentown volunteer fire department were dispatched to the crash in the area of Highway 4 and Jack Floyd Road, east of Jay
Firefighters were able to located the victims with the help of the Santa Rosa County 911 Center using GPS from their cell phone.
One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.