Gulf Power In Midst Of System Transition To FPL; Here’s What Won’t Work For Now.
January 1, 2022
Gulf Power is in the midst of a full transition to Florida Power & Light (FPL).
Until January 3, Gulf Power customers will be unable to manage their accounts, make a payment or report an outage on the website, mobile app or through the automated phone system. Customers can call (800) 487-6937 to report an outage.
NextEra purchased Gulf Power from the Southern Company in January 2019, but the companies were not immediately merged to operate as one. FPL is the largest electric utility in the state with about five million customers. Gulf Power has about 470,000 customers in eight Florida Panhandle counties, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
By The Numbers: What A 40,000 Pound Food Distribution Looks Like
January 1, 2022
A 40,000 pound food distribution was held December 18 in Cantonment.
We shared the story the following day. Now, organizers have a tallied the numbers from the day.
Here’s a look at the distribution, by the numbers:
275 vehicles
1,022 people served
349 under the age of 18
277 over age 60 served
351 packages distributed
Sponsors for the event included Salzman, Barry, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Feeding the Gulf Coast, and community partners including Farm Share, Pinewood Presbyterian Church, Cantonment Improvement Committee, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Trailer Parts Plus.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Homicide Of Elderly Woman, Stealing Her Vehicle
December 31, 2021
A Cantonment man was arrested Thursday night for the homicide of an elderly woman earlier in the day.
Lukas Mackenzie Snelson, 24, is charged with homicide, vehicle theft, and resisting officers. He was booked into the Escambia County jail where he is being held without bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Snelson killed the elderly woman before stealing her vehicle and fleeing the scene at the end of Candy Lane in Cantonment.
The ECSO has not released the victim’s name or if there was any previous connection between Snelson and the victim.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt House Fire Marked By 18th Red Bulb In Keep The Wreath Green Campaign
December 31, 2021
A fire in Bratt Wednesday is represented by the 18th red bulb on the wreath in Escambia County’s Keep the Wreath Green fire safety campaign.
The blaze began as a grease fire in the kitchen, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
Firefighters were quickly able to contain the fire inside the 2,500 square foot brick home on Ashcraft Road. There were no injuries.
Each time in December that Escambia County firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green bulb is replaced with a red one of the “Keep the Wreath” green wreaths on display at county fire stations and other public buildings.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Dies Week After Couple’s Vehicle Hit By Suspect Fleeing From Atmore Police
December 31, 2021
One of the two people injured when their vehicle was hit by a man fleeing from police in Atmore has passed away.
Family members said 62-year old Andy Moye of Flomaton died Thursday at a Pensacola Hospital. His wife, 48-year old Donna Theresa Moye, is continuing to recover.
On December 23, Atmore Police attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by a man allegedly involved in a theft at Walmart. Officers pursued the white Chevrolet Avalanche south on Main Street but terminated the pursuit at Howard Street.
The suspect, later identified as 33-year old Joseph A. Weese — continued south on Main Street for about half a mile to Church Street where he collided with a Ford Ranger by the Moyes. Both were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Weese fled on foot but was captured a short distance away.
Weese was initially charged with felony first degree assault, but additional charges are expected to be forthcoming. He remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton Friday morning without bond.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Melissa Caldwell Named Escambia Westgate Teacher Of The Year
December 31, 2021
Melissa Caldwell was named the Escambia Westgate Teacher of the Year. She is the school’s speech language pathologist.
Here is how Escambia Westgate described Caldwell:
“Her smile is radiant and she is always eager to work with students. She is kind and patient with all students on a daily basis. She is an advocate for students and their voices being heard although the students are considered non-verbal. Non-speaking does not mean her students do not have a lot to say and Ms. Caldwell listens! She trials devices and uses multiple methodologies to improve communication for all students. She consistently works with teachers and parents to create communication partnerships to improve student performance and outcomes. Ms. Caldwell is one of a kind and we are truly blessed to have her on our team.”
Motorcycle Hit By Vehicle On River Annex Road
December 30, 2021
A motorcyclist was injured in a crash Thursday afternoon in Cantonment.
The collision happened on River Annex Road and Jacks Branch Road.
The injuries to the adult male on the motorcycle were not considered life threatening. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Begins Transitioning To Florida Power & Light. Here’s What That Means For You.
December 30, 2021
Gulf Power is making the full transition to Florida Power & Light (FPL) tonight.
Gulf Power customers will be unable to manage their accounts, make a payment or report an outage on the website, mobile app or through the automated phone system. Customers can call (800) 487-6937 to report an outage.
“Rest assured, there will be no disconnections or adverse impacts to the status of customers’ accounts while our system is unavailable,” Sarah Gatewood, Gulf Power communications manager, said Wednesday in email.
Starting Jan. 3, 2022, customers can visit their new web experience at FPL.com and log in with their existing username and password to manage their account. The FPL Mobile App will also be available for download to provide customers with instant, secure access to their account. In addition, customers will be able to report an outage through FPL.com and the new FPL Mobile App,” Gatewood added.
NextEra purchased Gulf Power from the Southern Company in January 2019, but the companies were not immediately merged to operate as one. FPL is the largest electric utility in the state with about five million customers. Gulf Power has about 470,000 customers in eight Florida Panhandle counties, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
Sacred Heart To Restart COVID-19 Drive-thru Testing Next Week
December 30, 2021
In response to an increase in coronavirus cases in the area, Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart will restart a drive-thru COVID-19 testing center on Tuesday, January 4.
The drive-through will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5192 Bayou Boulevard. No pre-registration or appointment is needed. The testing site will offer the traditional PCR swab test that will be sent to the hospital laboratory at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. Lab results will be available in 24 hours.
Ascension Medical Group will bill a patient’s insurance if they have it, but the service will be provided with no out-of-pocket charges for the test. Those seeking a test should bring a valid form of identification and insurance card.
“We know the State of Florida is seeing unprecedented numbers of new COVID-19 cases and we expect the new Omicron variant will bring a rapid surge of cases into Northwest Florida in the weeks ahead,” said Justin Labrato, chief operating officer at Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. “Hospitalizations are starting to climb so we are responding again to a community need for more accessible testing. Testing can help to identify the virus early, slow the spread, and allow infected people to isolate and seek treatment as needed.”
Decisions about Ascension Sacred Heart’s testing beyond next week have not been made yet.
The Ascension Sacred Heart team was among the first in Florida to open a drive-through testing site when the coronavirus first arrived in Pensacola in March 2020. The site continued to operate for 54 consecutive weeks. After ceasing operations when cases dropped later in 2021, Sacred Heart resumed its drive-through when Pensacola had its third and worst surge of the coronavirus during August and early September. At the height of the summer surge, the drive-through staff provided swab tests to more than 500 people in only four hours. In total, the drive-thru center has tested approximately 100,000 people.
Escambia Firefighters Rescue Dog Stuck In Cinder Block
December 30, 2021
Earlier this week, we told you about Escambia Fire Rescue saving a kitten stuck in a piece of furniture. Firefighters also rescued a dog this week.
The dog managed to get its head stuck in a cinder block. Firefighters used an air chisel to free the dog’s head from the block. In order to keep the dog calm, ECFR personnel accessed the crawl space underneath a home to provide comfort before use of the air chisel.
The dog is doing just fine, according to Escambia County.
Photo for NorthEscambia.co, click to enlarge.