Driver Extricated After Two Vehicle Crash In Molino
March 28, 2022
There were no serious injuries reported a two vehicle wreck Monday morning in Molino.
The crash was reported about 6:50 a.m. at the intersection of Molino Road and Sunshine Hill road and involved two pickup trucks. Firefighters performed a simple extrication to remove one driver from their vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FPL Rates: We Took Our Questions All The Way To CEO
March 28, 2022
[NorthEscambia.com EXCLUSIVE] – With rising local concern over electric bills, we took our questions all the way to the top.
In an exclusive interview, Florida Power & Light Chairman and CEO Eric Silagy told NorthEscambia.com where the company stands amid mounting backlash.
“We’re working really hard to have bills that are below the national average, which they are today,” Silagy said. “But even getting them even lower as well as obviously reliable and clean energy. The way you do that is you invest in technology that pays off day in and day out.”
The CEO said rising costs across the board have impacted FPL and, in turn, local customers.
“Unfortunately, as we’ve seen, gas prices are up whether it’s natural gas, or gasoline at the pump for a variety of reasons, including, of course unfortunately, what’s happening in the Ukraine. And while we can’t control that, we’re trying to figure out ways to burn less of it so we don’t have to buy as much of it and that helps with customers’ bills,” he said. “We understand it’s a tough time right now. Gasoline’s up, food prices are up, medical is up, housing is up. You know, inflation across the country and the world is up. So we’re committed to doing everything we can to make sure customers have affordable, reliable and clean energy as well.
“Future generations deserve that. I’m very very proud of what we’ve already done in the three years we’ve been here. We’ve invested two and a half billion dollars in Northwest Florida. Some of the things we’ve done as an example, as at the old Plant Crist, we tore down the coal. We built very fuel efficient natural gas. The air quality is now 30% better than it was just last year. We’re reducing the amount of water we use and at the same time, we’re actually improving reliability. So reliability has actually improved 58%.
“My goal is to continue on that march. It’s not a sprint; none of this happens overnight. We all know investing in infrastructure can take some time,” Silagy continued. “But if you do it, you do it wisely, then generations will benefit and that to me, is what the duty and the responsibility is for all of us is to do the right thing not just for today.”
Last week, FPL dedicated the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in North Escambia. For more information and photos, click here.
Pictured: Florida Power & Light Chairman and CEO Eric Silagy during the opening of the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in North Escambia. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Jobless Rate Drops By Half A Percentage Point
March 28, 2022
The Escambia County unemployment level declined by half a percentage point last month, according to newly released data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 3.2% in February, down 3.7% in February. That represented 4,667 people out of work out of a county workforce of 146,368. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 5.5%, or 7,938 people.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Pensacola area labor force in January 2022 increased by 7,885 over the year, a 3.5% increase. The area added 8,200 new private sector jobs over the year, a 5.3% increase. The Pensacola area industry gaining the most jobs over the year was trade, transportation, and utilities, increasing by 2,700 jobs.
The area added 8,200 new private sector jobs over the year, a 5.3% increase. The Pensacola area industry gaining the most jobs over the year was trade, transportation, and utilities, increasing by 2,700 jobs.
The Pensacola area added 7,100 private sector jobs over the year, a 4.6% increase. The area industries gaining the most jobs over the year were trade, transportation, and utilities, increasing by 2,600 jobs; and leisure and hospitality, increasing by 2,400 jobs.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in February 2022, down 0.2 percentage point from the January 2022 rate, and down 2.3 percentage points from a year ago. There were 348,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,471,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in February.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
March 28, 2022
Northview High School has named Students of the Month for February. They are sophomore Jacquez Moorer and junior Audrey Goetter. They are pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: GCA & NRYO Livestock Show
March 28, 2022
The Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show was held Friday and Saturday in Molino in conjunction with the Blue Jacket Jamboree.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Results will be published Tuesday or Wednesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Continue Downward Trend, AAA Says
March 28, 2022
Florida gas prices have been on a downward trend the past two weeks. However, AAA says that downward trend may level out, after the price of oil rebounded last week.
On Sunday, Florida’s average price for gasoline was $4.12 per gallon. That’s six cents per gallon less than a week ago, and 26 cents less than the record high of $4.38 – set a little more than two weeks ago. Despite the recent dip, pump prices remain 93 cents per gallon more than the 2022 low and 1.93 per gallon more than the lowest price in 2021.
In Escambia County, drivers were paying an average of $4.04. A North Escambia low of $3.97 could be found on Highway 29 in Cantonment Sunday night, while Pensacola stations were as low as $3.88
“Global fuel supply concerns continue driving extreme volatility in the fuel market, leading to big swings in the price of oil,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “After seeing strong drops two weeks ago, oil rebounded last week to a level that should cause falling gas prices to level off.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Mayhem Take Second In Benefit Tournament
March 28, 2022
The Molino Mayhem took second place for 10U in the Aubreigh’s Army DIPG tournament in Semmes, Alabama. The tournament raised money for research into DIGP, a rare, aggressive form of brain cancer.
Have news from your North Escambia area team? Email news@northescambia.com.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Double Pedestrian Fatal On Highway 29; Another Pedestrian Killed On Michigan Avenue
March 27, 2022
Two pedestrians were struck and killed early Sunday morning in Ensley, and another pedestrian was killed on Michigan Avenue.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a sedan driven by a 25-year old Pensacola man was traveling north on Highway 29 in the outside lane about 12:05 a.m. As the car entered the intersection on a green light, a 43-year old man and a 40-year old female from Iowa were walking in an undetermined direction in the path of the vehicle.
The pedestrians were walking near our outside of the crosswalk when they were hit. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the car and his 20-year old passenger received minor injuries.
“It is unknown at this time the purpose or direction of travel of the pedestrians prior to the collision,” FHP said.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call *FHP.
Michigan Avenue
A 30-year old woman from Pensacola was also struck and killed about 8:25 p.m. Saturday on Michigan Avenue at Chicago Avenue.
The Florida Highway Patrol said she was walking across Michigan Avenue and stepped into the path of a Honda driven by a 21-year old Pensacola man. She was pronounced deceased.
“Any charges will be pending the outcome of the traffic homicide investigation,” FHP said.
Cantonment Man Dies After Crashing Pickup During Medical Emergency
March 27, 2022
A Cantonment man was pronounced deceased following a traffic crash Saturday afternoon in Escambia county.
The 65-year old man was traveling north on Pine Forest Road approaching Nine Mile Road when he lost control of the vehicle for a medical issue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
His pickup travelled off the southbound lanes, ran off the roadway, collided with a sign post and hit a dirt embankment.
FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
File photo.
Atmore Now Allows Earlier Sunday Alcohol Sales, Hoping To Keep Tax Dollars Out of Florida
March 27, 2022
In an action intended for convenience, and to keep tax dollars from crossing the line into Florida, Atmore has approved earlier Sunday alcohol sales.
Off-premise beer and wine sales can now begin at 5 a.m. on Sundays, according to the Atmore City Council’s actions.
Sunday alcohol sales in Atmore after 10 a.m. became legal on March 25, 2018, following approval by the Alabama Legislature.
Since February 2021, alcohol sales in Escambia County, Florida, are legal everyday of the week — including Sundays — except between 2:30 and 6 a.m. Prior to 2021, alcohol sales did not open on Sundays in Escambia County, Florida, until 1 p.m.