Weather Alert: Enhanced Risk Of Severe Storms Thursday
April 17, 2019
An enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) has been issued for the entire North Escambia area for Thursday. Severe storms are expected with damaging winds 70 mph or greater and possibility of a strong tornado (EF2 or higher). Storms will begin late tomorrow afternoon and progress into the overnight hours.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers after 4am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 56. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Interim Escambia County Administrator Lovoy Resigns
April 16, 2019
Interim Escambia County Administrator Amy Lovoy has resigned, saying it’s hard to work in an environment filled with “allegations of any variety” that can ruin a person before they can respond. She is the fourth top level administrator to step down from the county this month.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my years with the County and will miss the incredibly hardworking and talented employees. They are of the finest caliber, and I have always admired all they accomplish every day,” Lovoy wrote in her letter of resignation Monday afternoon. She worked for the county for nearly 20 years.
“I find it difficult to continue performing my duties in a place where allegations of any variety can be made and reputations ruined before an individual is allowed to answer for the charges against them. Behind all the immediate distractions, I know the county is a better place than that,” Lovoy continued. Her last day on the job will be July 12.
Earlier this month, Fire Chief Rusty Nail and Human Resources Director Erik Kleinert resigned. Public Safety Director Mike Weaver also stepped down after questions were raised about the county’s EMS department.
Lovoy was named acting interim administrator after the Jack Brown stepped down from the administrator post due to his wife’s health condition.
The county commission plans to interview the final candidates for administrator on April 29.
Pictured: Interim Escambia County Administrator Amy Lovoy during a county commission meeting last week.
72-Year Old Cantonment Man, Woman Facing Prostitution Charges
April 16, 2019
A Cantonment man and a Pensacola woman have been charged with prostitution by the Pensacola Police Department.
Vaughn Franklin Lowe, 72, was charged with purchasing the services of a prostitute, carrying a concealed weapon and driving with a suspended license. Melanie Anne Goodwin, 37, was charged with felony prostitution.
A Pensacola police officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Lowe after it was spotted on a wooded service road near power substation in the area of “S” Street and Chase Street.
Lowe told the officer he was “just giving her a ride,” according to an arrest report, but recanted that statement when informed Goodwin has an “extensive” history of prostitution. Goodwin told police he paid Goodwin $20 for oral sex, the report states.
Lowe and Vaughn admitted to “several” previous encounters for cash, police said.
Inside the driver’s door pocket of Lowe’s F150, police reported finding a billy club, which lead to the concealed weapon charged. He was also cited for driving with a disqualified license, having an expired registration and failure to stop when exiting a private drive.
Lowe was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,000 bond. Goodwin remained jailed Monday with bond set at $5,000
Century Finds Hundreds Of Customers Are Not Being Billed For Utilities
April 16, 2019
The Town of Century has discovered hundreds of customers that are not being billed for utilities.
Century Gas Superintendent Wally Kellett told the told council Monday night that 268 customers are not being billed each month for some combination of services including gas, water and sewer. He said there may be a few duplicates in the 268 number, but there is still a “significant amount”.
“It’s a billing problem; it’s in the system somewhere,” Kellett said, adding that it has been an ongoing problem for a long period of time. “This didn’t happen overnight. I knew there were some issues, and we found them.”
Kellett, Town Clerk Kim Godwin and billing clerk Toni Simmons attended a two-day training on the town’s billing software last week in Texas and made the discovery. The training cost the town $4,000 plus travel expenses.
Kellett said that armed with new training and insights into the software, the town should see the billing bottom line improve.
In addition, he said a new gate station meter has now been installed to measure and verify the amount of gas received from the town’s supplier. A recent grand jury investigation found Century could not account for 40 percent of the natural gas purchased from their supplier.
The gas superintendent also told the council that a new natural gas meter has been installed at the Century Correctional Institution, and it will lead to additional revenue due to more accurate billing. Under a provision of the contract between the town and the Florida Department of Corrections, Kellett said the state will be back-billed for additional gas believed to have been used by the prison.
A grand jury investigation revealed Century’s gas fund lost $527,738 in the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years. Their report indicated that there were between 500 and 600 total gas customers.
Pictured: Century Gas Superintendent Wally Kellett addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
First Asphalt Down On Nine Mile Road Widening West Of Beulah Road
April 16, 2019
A milestone of sorts was reached a few days ago as the first asphalt was placed for the widening of Nine Mile Road west of Beulah Road. The newly paved roadway will eventually become the eastbound travel lanes. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Beat T.R. Miller; Tate Freshmen Top Navarre
April 16, 2019
SOFTBALL
Northview 14, T.R. Miller 1
Northview 8, T.R. Miller 6 (JV)
The Northview Chiefs defeated T.R. Miller 14-1 Monday night in Brewton.
Tori Herrington earned the win with 11 strikeouts while going 2-4 with one RBI at the plate
Also for Northview: Kaitlin Gafford 3-6, 2 RBI; Ashley Ragsdale 2-4, 1 RBI; Aubree Love 5-5, 4 RBI; Mikayla Jeneske 2-5, 2 RBI; Nevaeh Brown 1-1, 1 RBI; Heather Knowles 2-5, 2 RBI; Rylee Huskey 1-1, 1 RBI.
BASEBALL
Tate 7, Navarre 3
The Tate Freshmen Aggies beat Navarre Monday 7-3. The freshmen are now 10-0-1 on the year and will have a home game against West Florida on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Escambia County Senior Community And Media Specialist Lagarde Named City PIO
April 16, 2019
Escambia County Senior Community and Media Relations Specialist Kaycee Lagarde has been named the public information office for the City of Pensacola.
Lagarde has submitted her letter of resignation from the county effective May 17. Her first day with the city will be May 20.
Sunny, Around 80 Tuesday And Wednesday
April 16, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 78. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 57. Windy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 49.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Blue Wahoos Top The Biloxi Shuckers
April 16, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos once again rode dominant starting pitching and timely offense to another one-run victory as they defeated the Biloxi Shuckers 4-3 at MGM Park.
Pensacola’s offense supplied the talented right-hander with three runs in the top of the first inning, capped off by Brian Schales’s two-run home run off Marcos Diplan (L, 0-1) to put the visitors up 3-0. At one point the Wahoos led 4-0 after Mark Contreras’s RBI sac fly that scored Jimmy Kerrigan.
Alcala’s only hiccup came in the sixth inning when he surrendered a two-run double to Biloxi’s Patrick Leonard. Manager Ramon Borrego went to the bullpen immediately after and brought in Jovani Moran, who recorded the final out of the inning.
Biloxi added a third when C.J. Hinojosa belted a solo home run to open up the eighth inning. Moran tried to finish out the frame, but after issuing a four-pitch walk to Leonard, Borrego again went to his bullpen and asked Dusten Knight to record the final four outs of the game.
After a sensational catch on a line drive from Luis Aviles Jr to end the eighth, Knight retired the Shuckers in order, including striking out the final two batters. After striking out Trent Grisham, Knight performed his signature backflip before celebrating with his teammates.
The Wahoos improved their Southern League-best record to 8-3 while Biloxi fell to 5-6. Game two of the series continues Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. Top pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol will start for the Wahoos and will be opposed by Trey Supak.
Works Begins Wednesday On $1.9 Million Project To Replace Highway 168 Bridge
April 15, 2019
A $1.9 million project is set to begin Wednesday to replace a bridge on Highway 168 between North Highway 99 and Pine Barren Road in Bratt.
The Florida Department of Transportation will replace the structurally deficient bridge on Highway 168 over an unnamed branch. The new bridge will consist of two 12-foot travel lanes with 6-foot shoulders and a concrete barrier wall.
A temporary bridge will be in place during the project.
The new bridge will consist of two 12-foot travel lanes with six-foot shoulders and a concrete barrier wall. The project also includes resurfacing the approaches to the bridge, new guardrail, drainage improvements, new pavement markingsand enhanced signage.
The current bridge was constructed in 1967.
