Local Unemployment Rate Declines
October 21, 2017
The latest job numbers show the employment rate falling in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in September, down front 4.1 percent in August.. There were 4,928 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 5.1 percent.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.0 to 3.1 percent from August to September. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,470 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.7 percent.
Florida’s jobless rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September — to 3.8 percent — even though the number of people with jobs fell by 42,000 from August. Gov. Rick Scott attributed the drop in the state’s unemployment rate to Hurricane Irma, a massive storm that swept throughout the state early last month. The estimated figures posted Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity also stripped Monroe County — still reeling from the powerful storm that made initial landfall in the Keys on Sept. 10 — of its long-held position of the state’s lowest jobless mark.
“Hurricane Irma was the largest storm we have seen, which affected our entire state and led to the largest evacuation and power restoration effort,” Scott said in a release Friday. “Obviously, our jobs numbers were affected because of this. Florida is a resilient state and we are working around the clock to rebuild and recover from this unprecedented storm.”
The state figures mirror the federal rate, which fell to 4.2 percent in September from 4.4 in August, but also saw jobless claims grow, in large part to Hurricane Harvey’s impact on Texas.
The jobless numbers released by the state do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Man Convicted Of Murdering His Girlfriend Near Jay
October 21, 2017
Friday, a Jay man was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend in Santa Rosa County last year.
Christopher Warrick shot and killed Barbara Wolfe outside a home on Tractor Trail just south of Highway 89 near Jay during July 2016.
Wolfe’s daughter Kimberly Horne was also shot in the leg but survived.
Warrick will be back in court for sentencing on December 12.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Partly Sunny Today, Rain Sunday Into Monday
October 21, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 69. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Byrneville Elementary Holds Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
October 21, 2017
The annual Byrneville Elementary School Family Fall Festival was held Friday evening at the school. The event food, games, a silent auction, a sweet shop, a corn hole tournament, cupcake walk, lots of candy and prizes, horse drawn buggy rides, and much more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Fall Carnival (With Photo Gallery)
October 21, 2017
The Molino Park PTA Fall Carnival was held Friday at the school.
The event featured a variety of carnival games, carnival food including popcorn and bake-off goodies, food vendors and a live auction.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Possible Scam
October 21, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a possible fraud.
A potential victim recently received a call from someone who claimed to work for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He told the victim that if she did not send money by electronic payment right away, he would issue a warrant for her arrest for failure to appear for jury duty.
Anyone receiving such a call is asked not to send money and report the call to the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
There are multiple variations of this scam currently going around, and fraudsters are constantly devising new and innovative ways to take your hard-earned money. Here are a few ways you can avoid becoming a victim of fraud, from the ECSO:
- Always be suspicious of any threatening calls claiming to be from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office or any other business – especially if it is coming from a business that you do not normally patronize.
- A legitimate business will not resort to threats as a first response to a late or missed payment.
- Always suspicious when asked to send an electronic payment, “green dot” card payment, or wire transfer.
- Always rust your instinct. If you feel that something “just isn’t right”, call your local law enforcement agency and report it. It is much easier to prevent fraud in the first place than to recover your money after the fact.
In Photos: Crews Work To Complete Nine Mile Road Bridge
October 21, 2017
Crews are continuing construction work on the new Eleven Mile Creek bridge that will accommodate eastbound traffic on Nine Mile Road. This work is part of a $46 million effort to widen Nine Mile Road from two to four travel lanes, between Beulah Road and Highway 29.
Pictured below, construction workers are tying reinforcing steel, also known as “rebar”, for the bridge deck. The concrete will be placed once all the reinforcing steel has been installed. The reinforcing steel is good in tension and the concrete is good in compression and together they make for a strong bridge deck.
Pictured bottom, wet concrete is pumped from the concrete delivery truck using a specialty pump truck to the new bridge deck. Crew members consolidate the concrete into the deck forms with concrete vibrators.
In the top photo is the entire concrete deck placement sequence. On the right side of the photo is the wet concrete being delivered to the placement location by the concrete pump truck. The crew member in the white hard hat on the far right uses a remote control to move and position the discharge hose from the pump truck.
The “screed” moves back and forth to strike off the wet concrete to a smooth and uniform surface. Crew members ensure a uniform head, which is slightly above the finished surface, of the wet concrete is consolidated as the screed moves forward. Next, crews use a work platform to hand finish any small imperfections and ensure a uniform finish.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pace Tops Tate 42-41
October 21, 2017
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 42-41 Friday night in Pace.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Patriots took an early 3-0 lead with a field goal to cap their first drive of the game.
Just 19 seconds later, Hunter Riggin was in on a 64-yard touchdown run to put the Aggies on top 7-3 with 8:01 to go in the first quarter.
Tate expanded their lead to 14-0 as a 45-yard drive ended with a Shemari Jones touchdown from a short 3 yards out with 10:32 remaining in the second. After a 77-yard touch down drive from the Patriots, Jones scored his second touchdown of the night on a second 3-yard run to expand Tate’s lead to 21-10 with 2:32 to go before the half.
The Patriots were going to close the gap before heading to the lockers; Pace scored on a 30-yard run with 1:26 in the half. But Tate scored again with just 44 seconds in the half on a 43-yard pass to Jaderian Johnson. The Aggies were looking good with a 28-17 advantage at the half.
Tate struck early in the third with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Simmons. With 10:34 in the third, the Aggies lead Pace 35-17.
The Patriots added another touchdown but missed the extra point with 2:24 to go in the third, 35-29.
Pace took a 36-35 lead with 10:13 left, but the Aggies hit again on a Riggan run from the 10, Tate on top 41-.36.
With 5:22 in the game, Pace scored from the 9. A missed two point conversion and Pace was up 42-41.
The Tate Aggies will host their last home game of the season next Friday night against the Pine Forest Eagles.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
October 21, 2017
Here are Friday night finals from around the area:
FLORIDA
Pace 42, Tate 41 [Read more...]
Tallahassee Godby 19, Pine Forest 12
West Florida 52, Panama City Arnold 3
Washington 30, Catholic 7
Pensacola 14, Mosley 7
Jay 44, JU Blacksher 7
OPEN: Northview, Escambia
ALABAMA
Carroll 28, Escambia County 6
Autauga Academy 42, Escambia Academy 20
Flomaton 35, Excel, 20
Andalusia 52, W.S. Neal 28
Bayside Academy 17, T.R. Miller 14
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Alexander Ryan Cox
October 21, 2017
If living a successful life means making other people happy along the way, then Alex Cox was a success story.
Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Alex attended Tate High School where he participated in the band as a tuba/trumpet player, and was also involved in the Army JROTC program. He loved animals of all types, but was best-known for his love of people and music. Alex truly believed in the “One Love” philosophy in which all people are equal in the eyes of our Creator, the Almighty God. He lived by this philosophy, and had a well-earned reputation of having a big heart with those lucky enough to cross his path. He was a comforter, and a protector, and always tried to help when there was a need. His kind, giving spirit will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Rest peacefully Alex, your reward has been prepared and is waiting for you in Heaven!
He is survived by his loving mother and stepfather, Brian and Christina Thomann; brother, Brandon Richtmyre; sister, Casey Stout; father, Aaron Richtmyre; grandparents, Carolyn and David Richtmyre, and Albert and Elaine Roberti; grandfather, David Coker; and grandparents, Carl and Debbie Thomann.
Services will be Saturday, October 21, 2017, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with a Celebration of Life service at 5:30 p.m.
Reverend Don Coker will be officiating.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.