Fire Burns Inside ECUA Recycling Center; Facility Not Damaged
January 16, 2022
Fire burned inside ECUA’s recycling facility at the Perdido Landfill Saturday night, but it won’t impact recycling operations.
Smoke was reported from the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) about 7:25 p.m. Escambia Fire Rescue discovered the fire in a roll off compactor located at the end of the processing line inside the facility. The compactor was partially extinguished and moved outside the 53,000 square foot facility before the fire was out.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and there were no injuries.
“There was no damage to the facility and no impact to recycling collections. All remain on their normal schedule,” Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer, said.
In July 2021, the ECUA recycling facility was damaged by fire and water, requiring significant cleanup and repairs. For about three months, the facility remained closed. During the downtime, ECUA collected residential recycling materials, but most everything was sent to the landfill.
Pictured: A compactor smokes after being moved outside the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility Saturday night at the Perdido Landfill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Trahan And Repine Compete In All America Classic In Orlando
January 16, 2022
Tate High School seniors Noah Trahan and Zane Repine played in the 2022 All America Classic game Saturday in Orlando.
The annual game, played at Camping World Stadium, showcases top high school players from across the county to college scouts while honoring those that have served in the armed forces or as first responders.
Trahan and Repine were members of the American team, which defeated the National team 28-27.
Pictured: Tate High School’s Zane Repine #52 and Noa Trahan #55 took part in the All America Classic game Saturday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Says Missing, Endangered Man Has Been Found Alive
January 16, 2022
UPDATE: Family members tell NorthEscambia.com that a missing, endangered man last see over a week ago was found alive Sunday morning.
Further details are not yet known.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 48-year Damon Douglas Gill is considered missing and endangered. He was last seen leaving the 7800 block of Lakeside Oaks Drive (near Beulah Road) on Friday, January 7.
His vehicle, a black 2021 Toyota Highlander, was later recovered on Northpointe Boulevard, but there was no sign off Gill.
Family members had planned a community search for 9 a.m. Sunday, but instead are rejoicing that he was located.
Details: Former Tate Homecoming Queen Gets Community Service, But She Won’t Have To Say She’s Sorry
January 15, 2022
A former Tate High School homecoming queen will have to stay out of trouble and log community service house, but she won’t have to say she’s sorry under the terms of a pre-trial diversion program.
Emily Rose Grover was a 17-year old juvenile at the time of her arrest in April 2021 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Prosecutors said she used her mother’s credentials to access the Escambia County School District’s FOCUS system to access the confidential information of hundreds of students at Tate High School. They say she then used the personal identification information of other students to fraudulently cast votes for Tate homecoming queen.
Grover, now 18, entered a plea of no contest this week and moved into a pretrial intervention (PTI) program administered by the Florida Department of Corrections.
Upon successful completion of the program, the state will allow Grover to withdraw the plea, and all charges against her with be dismissed. If she fails to complete the PTI program, the case will go directly to sentencing where she will face up to 16 years in state prison.
Under the agreement, she will be required to perform 100 hours of community service with no option of a buyout. She was ordered to pay court costs of $518, prosecution costs of $150 and $53 per month cost of supervision.
There are also a dozen standard terms, including employment or school, stay off and away from drugs and alcohol, no weapons, “follow all household rules”, “live with and obey parent or guardian”, and “show no disrespect to anyone”.
The original agreement, as obtained by NorthEscambia.com, also required Grover to write a “letter of apology to all other participants in the Tate High School Homecoming Court, Tate School and the Escambia County School District”, but that condition was removed before it was finalized.
Grover and her mother Laura Carroll, former assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, were charged by FDLE with one count each of felony offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices; felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device, felony criminal use of personally identifiable information, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
Carroll previously pleaded not guilty and is due on court next week.
Grover won Tate homecoming queen in the fall of 2020, but she was expelled and was stripped of the crown.
Latest Numbers: Escambia Had 5,010 New COVID-19 Cases Last Week
January 15, 2022
There were 5,010 new COVID-19 cases reported last week in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health report.
Here is the latest data from FDOH and the CDC:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 65,835 (+5,010)
Positivity rate last week: 47.2%
Current Case Rate per 100k: 1,572
People vaccinated: 167,104 (+1,021)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 55.9%
New hospital admissions: 192
Current hospitalizations (as of Friday): 179
Total deaths last 7 days: <10
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 38,814 (+2,862)
Positivity rate last week: 37.59%
Current Case Rate per 100k: 1,554
People vaccinated: 97,106 (+572)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 55%
New hospital admissions: 29
Total deaths last 7 days: <10
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 4,992,265 (+430,297)
Case positivity rate: 29.3%
Case Rate per 100k: 1,958
Deaths: 63,158 (+111)
Seigler Named New Northwest Florida Water Management Director
January 15, 2022
Lyle Seigler has been appointed Executive Director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Seigler replaces Brett Cyphers, who resigned to care for his oldest daughter as she undergoes cancer treatments. Cyphers served as the executive director for eight years and as the assistant executive director for two years.
“Our hearts are with Brett as he focuses on what is most important right now – his daughter and her health and his family,” Governing Board Chairman George Roberts. “We appreciate all he has accomplished for the residents of northwest Florida and applaud his dedication to protecting the precious natural resources in our part of the state.
“We are fortunate to have Lyle ready to step into this position and continue to guide the dedicated and talented staff at the District as they continue to best serve northwest Florida. Lyle has shown in his previous roles at the District he is more than ready for this assignment.”
Seigler has served as the District’s chief of staff for the past two years. Prior to that, he was the director of the District’s regulatory division.
His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The Northwest Florida Water Management District is charged with managing and protecting the water resources of the Florida panhandle in a manner that best ensures the continued welfare of the people and natural resources of its 16-county region, including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured: Lyle Seigler, center, has been named the new executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District. Also pictured (left to right) Governing Board member John Alter, Governing Board Chairman George Roberts, and Governing Board members Anna Upton and Nick Patronis. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Do A Little Cleaning This Weekend, Dispose Of The Hazardous Stuff Next Saturday In Molino
January 15, 2022
The next Escambia County Regional Roundup will be held next Saturday, January 22 at Molino Park Elementary School.
Regional Roundup events provide an opportunity to properly dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste and up to four tires per vehicle, all free of charge. Proof of Escambia County residency is required to participate in Regional Roundup, such as a driver’s license, power bill or voter registration card. This is a residential drop-off program only; no commercial waste accepted. Simply drive up and materials will be unloaded for you – no need to get out of your vehicle.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. until noon in the school parking lot at 899 Highway 97.
Items accepted include:
- Computers (monitors, terminals, keyboards and mice)
- Printers and copiers
- TVs and remotes
- DVD players
- Gaming systems
- Fax machines
- Stereo systems
- Cell phones and telephones
- Paint (up to 20 gallons)
- Fuel (up to 10 gallons)
- Waste oil (up to five gallons)
- Fluorescent lights (up to 10 lights)
- Tires (up to four per vehicle)
- Antifreeze
- Oil filters
- Lubricants and greases
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Fertilizers
- Batteries (rechargeable, lithium, computer, cell phone, etc.)
- Auto, marine and motorcycle batteries
- Propane bottles
- Pool cleaners
- Household cleaners
Items NOT accepted include:
- Commercial waste
- Electronics that have been gutted
- Appliances, including fans and air conditioners
- Household garbage
- Yard debris or limbs
- Scrap metal
- Medical waste
- Medications
- Furniture and mattresses
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
Registration Now Open For Clinic To Help Restore Driver’s License
January 15, 2022
Registration is now open for a a Driver’s License Clinic from the First Judicial Circuit to assist individuals whose licenses have been revoked, suspended, or cancelled.
The event will be held Friday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building. Due to COVID-19, it is possible that restricted access to the courthouse could resume and impact the clinic. If changes do occur, notification and instructions will be sent to all registered participants prior to the clinic.
Registration is open for the first 150 registered participants. To register, go to https://escambiacountydriverslicenseclinic2022.eventbrite.com.
Participants should closely monitor the email address provided at registration, as email will be the primary form of communication between participants and the clinic staff. Additional information may also be requested by email. Failure to provide requested information may result in cancelled registration.
Individuals who registered for previous clinics and failed to appear will be placed on the waiting list until all eligible participants have had an opportunity to register. Walk-ins will not be able to participate.
Staff from the Florida Department of Revenue, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Escambia County Clerk of Court, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the State Attorney, and the Office of the Public Defender, along with judges and court staff, will work together to assist registrants and provide individualized information relevant to each participant’s personal circumstances. The goal of the clinic is to provide “one-stop shopping” for citizens to interact with the appropriate state agencies and/or the court so they can determine how to regain their driving privileges. The clinic will not be able to assist individuals with licenses revoked, suspended, or cancelled due to out-of-state matters. Additionally, the clinic will not address pending criminal charges.
Driver’s licenses may be suspended for a variety of reasons, including failure to pay traffic tickets or child support, accumulation of too many points on one’s driving record, or designation as a habitual traffic offender. Licenses may also be revoked as a consequence of entering a plea to certain crimes, such as driving under the influence or certain drug-related offenses.
Rain, Low In The 30s Tonight; Windy And Cold For Sunday
January 15, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Low around 36. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Here Are Next Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
January 15, 2022
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties next week as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures between A and N streets as crews perform median improvements and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures and shifts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 through Wednesday, Jan. 19 between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 interchange to allow crews to place striping and perform worklist items.
- Sorrento Road (State Road (S.R.) 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closure from 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 to 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19. Also expect intermittent daytime shoulder closures Thursday, Jan. 20 and Friday, Jan. 21, as crews place a watermain.
- North Ninth Avenue (S.R. 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- Beulah Road (S.R. 99) Routine Maintenance at Kaheeley Ridge Subdivision – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 and Monday, Jan. 17, as crews perform paving operations.
Santa Rosa County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – The eastbound lane will remain reduced to one lane at the County Road 191 Overpass Bridge (Exit 26) until work associated with bridge approach construction is complete. Motorists can also expect intermittent lane closures from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. the week of Monday, Jan. 17 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Major roadway construction activities are currently underway. Improvements include widening the roadway from four to six-lanes with a raised median, safety, and drainage upgrades, resurfacing Avalon Boulevard from U.S. 98 to Garcon Point Bridge, extending the existing shared-use path on the south side of U.S. 98 from Gondolier Boulevard, and new signage and pavement markings.
- U.S. 90 Simpson River Bridge Project – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. as crews place temporary asphalt.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.