Homes Briefly Evacuated In Cantonment Due To Gas Leak
July 20, 2020
A few homes in Cantonment were reportedly evacuated for a brief time Sunday night due to a natural gas leak.
The leak was reported about 9:35 p.m. in the 100 block of Mintz Lane, just north of Muscogee Road.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Pensacola Energy responded, securing the leak by 10 p.m. There was damage of any kind and no injuries.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Community Health COVID-19 Testing Tuesday In Cantonment For Any Age
July 20, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida is bringing COVID-19 testing back to Cantonment this week.
The drive-thru testing will be available Tuesday, July 21 from 8-11 a.m. at Community Health Northwest Florida Cantonment Pediatrics at 470 South Highway 29.
The testing is for Escambia County (FL) residents only. There is no pre-screening required, and the testing is available for any age regardless of symptoms.
Testing will be provided weather permitting while supplies last. Participants should bring a photo identification and an insurance card (if insured).
Pictured: Community Health Northwest Florida COVID-19 testing in Century on May 13. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDC Offering $1,000 Hiring Bonuses At Century And Santa Rosa Correctional Institutions
July 20, 2020
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced $1,000 hiring bonuses at prisons across the state, including Century Correctional Institution and the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution.
The bonuses are available for new hires who complete their correctional officer certification through either FDC or certain state colleges will be eligible for the bonus. Paid training is available.
FDC has expanded the applicant base for correctional officers within the state prison system. The minimum age requirement for a correctional officer is 18 years of age.
For more information, visit FLDOCjobs.com.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Move Lower, Shaping Up To Be Cheapest July In 16 Years
July 20, 2020
Florida gas prices slipped lower last week by about three cents over the last 11 days.
Florida gas prices reached a summertime high of $2.11 per gallon on Independence Day. Since that time, gas prices have mostly faced downward pressure. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Florida is now $2.08. That’s 2 cents per gallon less than a week ago, and 61 cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.07. Sunday night, the lowest price in the Cantonment area was $2.04, while a couple of Pensacola stations were at $1.88.
This is shaping up to be the cheapest July at the pump since 2004, according to AAA. So far this month, Florida gas prices have averaged $2.10 per gallon. That’s 13 cents per gallon more than the monthly average price in June 2020, and 29 cents per gallon more than the monthly average in May. Pump prices are higher than recent months, as Floridians returned to the road for the summer.
“Fuel market watchers remain concerned about the overall impact that elevated cases of COVID-19 could have on future fuel demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As a result, wholesale gasoline prices dropped nearly 10 cents last week. This could allow retail pump prices to slip even lower in the coming days.”
Hot, Humid, Maybe Some Thunder To Start Your Week
July 20, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 20%
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Tuesday At Carver Park In Cantonment
July 20, 2020
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a food distribution on Tuesday, July 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street. There will be 10,000 pounds of food distributed, including meats, fresh fruits, vegetables and more.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. Line up on Webb Street facing north.
Pictured: A 10,000 pound food giveaway that was held June 23 at Carver Park in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Cancels CRA Meeting, Will Appoint New Chairman To Oversee Blighted Area Improvement
July 20, 2020
The Town of Century CRA meeting planned for Monday has been canceled as the town council has been tasked with appointing a new chairperson.
Ben Boutwell had served as the CRA chairman, but he resigned his council seat in order to run for mayor. The town council is set to appoint another council member as CRA chair during their meeting Monday night.
The council sits as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board.
The CRA area is 510 acres, bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King. Click here for a detailed map (pdf).
The town previously declared a portion of Century as “blighted” as part of the process to form the CRA.
The CRA is tasked with working to improve conditions within the area. As property tax values rise, most of the increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements.
Eagles In The Outfield: Blue Wahoos Stadium To Be Transformed Into Golf Course
July 20, 2020
Blue Wahoos Stadium will be transformed into a golf course and fans will be able to book tee times to compete for the top score in the new Eagles In The Outfield stadium golf experience from July 30-August 2.
The course will feature one dozen targets set up at varying distances across the outfield. Golfers, teeing off from beyond the outfield fence, will compete to earn points by hitting the targets with their tee shots. Each tee time will give golfers an hour of unlimited shots from their tee box. In addition to the on-field golf course, all golfers will also receive a free round of mini golf on a brand new concourse putt-putt course.
Both right-handed and left-handed clubs will be available for participants to use, but golfers may bring their own clubs. Clubs that hit farther than 100 yards are not permitted for safety reasons.
A full schedule of available tee times can be found at MiLB.com/Pensacola/Events/Golf.
Five from every booking will be donated to the First Tee of Northwest Florida to help youth across the Panhandle learn life lessons and develop their character while gaining access to the game of golf.
Omar Helen Williams
July 20, 2020
Omar Helen Williams, 77, of Oak Grove, FL passed away on July 15, 2020. She was born on February 17, 1943 in Century, FL to the late Samuel Andrews and Lizzie Campbell Andrews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister Evelyn Bass and her son Christopher Henderson.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, William “Bill” Williams; two sons Robert (Leslie) Henderson of Oak Grove, FL and Johnny Williams of New York, NY; one daughter Jeanette (Roy) Moye of Flomaton, AL; three grandchildren Samuel Henderson, Emily Henderson and Naomie Lawson and one sister Eveline Hollingshead of Century, FL. Funeral service will be held Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Earl Harrison officiating.
Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Grove, FL. Active pallbearers will be Samuel Henderson, Rick Hammond, Donnie Boatwright, Brandon Smith, Michael Smith and Morgan Mason.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 19, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until the service time at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
For the safety of you and others, please use a facial mask and practice social distancing requirements due to the current health care crisis.
John Spickard Fuqua
July 20, 2020
Mr. John Spickard Fuqua, age 79, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2020 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Fuqua was a native of Memphis, TN and had resided in Pensacola, FL for most of his life. He was a veteran serving in the US Army, where he relocated the Atomic Cannon (M65) throughout Germany and Belgium during the Cold War. He was employed with the Lewis Bear Company as the draft beer department manager in Pensacola for 28 years and with Gray’s Tackle in Innerarity Point, FL for 10 years. He was a member at Temple Beth El Jewish Synagogue, a 32 degree Mason, Member of Hadji Shrine Temple and the Antique Car Club. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Nelson and Hattie Louise Fuqua; son, Lee West and great granddaughter, Audrey Lynn.
He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Fuqua of Pensacola, FL; two sons, Robert Nelson (Robin) Fuqua of Century, FL and Nathan Fuqua of Pensacola, FL; five daughters, Lee Anne Carroll of Bainbridge, GA, Roberta Carroll of Louisville, KY, Lori West (Fred) Voit of Waverly, GA, Carol Fuqua of Florla, AL and Jordan Fuqua of Pensacola, FL and ten grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 7:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be held Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Barrancas National Cemetery with Military Honors and with Rabbi Joel Fleekop officiating.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 22, 2020 from 5 to 7 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Robert Fuqua, Carol Fuqua, Caleb Barentine, Shawn Black, Nathan Fuqua and David Butler.