Highway 29 Bridge Over Nine Mile Road Closed Sunday And Monday Nights
July 25, 2020
Drivers traveling the Highway 29 bridge over Nine Mile Road in Escambia County will experience the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Sunday, July 26 – Southbound traffic will be redirected to the off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road.
- Monday, July 27 – Northbound traffic will be redirected to the off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road.
The closures may be extended into Tuesday and Wednesday due to weather.
Weekend Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
July 25, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Low around 72. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 85. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
New Program Connects UWF Students And Alumni With Employers For Micro-Internships
July 25, 2020
The University of West Florida’s Office of Career Development and Community Engagement has partnered with Parker Dewey to help students and alumni gain meaningful job experience and launch their careers during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Parker Dewey offers a platform to connect current students with employers to complete micro-internships, which are paid assignments similar to those given to new hires or interns. These experiences are short-term assignments that occur in a mostly virtual environment. The opportunities typically range in length from five to 40 hours of work, and students have the option to apply for more than one opportunity during a semester.
“We’re really excited about this new partnership with Parker Dewey and the additional access to real-world experience it will provide to UWF students,” said Lauren Loeffler, executive director for Career Development and Community Engagement.
“Now more than ever, we must think creatively about these experiences and not just rely on the traditional forms of experiential education.”
This new partnership complements existing campus recruiting efforts, including semester-long internships and multi-term co-ops, which continue to be available to students on the University’s career development platform, Handshake. These opportunities help students sharpen their skills, build a network of professional contacts and gain new skills they can leverage as they seek future opportunities—especially in the current economic climate.
“Micro-internships provide a safe alternative during the pandemic since all micro-internships are offered remotely,” said Sarah Fox, associate director for high-impact practices/experiential learning. “Students can still improve their career readiness skills in a safe environment that will make them strong candidates when they apply for future jobs while supplementing their income.”
Employers who are interested in learning more about micro-internships and how to post assignments can contact the Office of Career Development and Community Engagement or visit the UWF Parker Dewey page at http://info.parkerdewey.com/uwf.
Students are encouraged to visit uwf.edu/career for more information on how to apply for opportunities.
Visitor Ban At Florida Prisons Extended Until Mid-August
July 25, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic visitation suspension at Florida prisons has been extended again, the Florida Department of Corrections has announced.
The visitor ban is in effect this time until at least August 17.
“The decision to reinstate the normal visitation schedule will be evaluated in consultation with public health experts,” the FDC said.
Inmates will continue to have access to their loved ones through mail, phone calls and video visitation. Legal visits will not be impacted, although attorneys are encouraged to consult with their clients via phone, email or mail during this time
As of Monday, 24 inmates have died from the virus, 1,963 have tested positive and 438 corrections staff have been infected, according to the agency.
Blue Wahoos To Hold Summer Spectacular On Saturday, August 8
July 25, 2020
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos will host a family-friendly Summer Spectacular at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday, August 8 featuring a showing of the classic baseball film The Sandlot on the videoboard at the ballpark and an extended post-movie fireworks show. Admission to the event is $10 and tickets are available now at the stadium box office and at BlueWahoos.com and include both the movie and fireworks show.
“We’re excited to bring our massive Fourth of July fireworks show to our fans, even if it’s a few weeks late,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “A big thanks goes out to Hancock-Whitney Bank, Covenant Care, and Cat Country 98.7 for helping us re-schedule and transform our Independence Day event into a family-fun Summer Spectacular. We can’t wait to safely welcome the community to the ballpark for a great baseball film and our longest fireworks show of the year.”
Gates at Blue Wahoos Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m. with the film beginning at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks show will follow the conclusion of the movie.
Guests will be welcome to sit in the stands at the ballpark to enjoy the movie and fireworks or on the field itself. Fans may bring blankets and pillows for their comfort, but chairs, strollers, and wagons are not permitted inside the ballpark. Concessions will be available throughout the stadium.
Guest safety remains a top priority. Face masks are required inside of Blue Wahoos Stadium and should be worn whenever guests are moving throughout the ballpark. Masks may be removed when eating or drinking or when seated to enjoy the show with proper physical distancing.
Three More Deaths, 223 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
July 24, 2020
THIS REPORT IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
Three additional COVID-19 deaths and 223 new cases were reported Friday in Escambia County.
The Escambia County deaths were males ages 46 and 64, and a 78-year old female. One was a long-term care facility resident.
Escambia County cases increased to 6,684. An additional 141 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 2,288.
Of the 1,461 tests results returned on Thursday in Escambia County, 12.7% were positive, and 22.3% were positive from 490 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 12.6%.
There were 231 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Friday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 76 deaths in Escambia County, 49 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 19 deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and two in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 402,312 cases including 397,470 Florida residents. There have been 23,225 hospitalizations* and 5,653 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
Total cases — 6,684 (+223 since Thursday)
Non-Florida residents — 749
Pensacola — 5,209 (+189)
Cantonment — 476 (+20)
Molino— 75 (+2)
Century — 49 (+2)
McDavid — 31
Bellview — 9
Walnut Hill — 8
Perdido Key — 4
Gonzalez — 5
Current hospitalizations: 230
Deaths — 76 (+3)
Male — 2,578
Female — 3,190
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 37
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 2,288 (+141 since Thursday)
Non-Florida residents — 16
Milton — 1,019 (+103)
Gulf Breeze — 423 (+9)
Navarre — 346 (+6)
Pace — 208 (+12)
Jay — 77 (+1)
Bagdad — 3
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 121*
Deaths — 19
Male — 1,126
Female — 1,109
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 37
Florida cases:
Total cases — 402,312
Florida residents — 397,470
Deaths — 5,653
Hospitalizations — 23,225*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
Century Renews Garbage Pick Up Contract; Can’t Afford Own Truck; Doesn’t Consider ECUA
July 24, 2020
The Town of Century has renewed a contract with Republic Services to provide solid waste collection and disposal to residents.
The five-year contract renewal is at the same rate the town currently pays, plus an annual adjustment each December based upon the consumer price index.
Residential sanitation customers in Century pay a monthly fee of $23.63. That’s broken down to $17.42 per residential container and $6.21 for biweekly yard waste pickup. Century does not offer recycling services.
Republic charges the town $14.44 a month for each residential container, so the town retains $2.98 each. With 533 containers, Century makes $1,588.34 per month that pays the town for providing customer service and billing.
Council member James Smith questioned why the town could not take care of the garbage collection themselves. Interim City Manager Vernon Prather said it would cost an estimated $400,000 to purchase a garbage truck and about $100,000 to purchase the containers.
The town gave no consideration to contracting the services to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. ECUA provides residential service in Escambia County, including all sides of the Century town limits except the northern border with Alabama.
ECUA customers pay $24.16 per month for one weekly 90-gallon container pick up, a 90-gallon weekly recyclables pick up and one weekly pick up of yard trash. Up to three additional 90-gallon garbage containers are available for $4.02 per month per container. ECUA also offers free pickup of large items like furniture and toilets. Recycling service includes the free collection of car or truck batteries, tires, propane tanks, appliances, bulk cardboard and household electronics like televisions and computers.
Updates: Tropical Storm Hanna In The Gulf; Tropical Storm Gonzalo In The Atlantic
July 24, 2020
Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and Tropical Storm Gonzalo continues to churn in the Atlantic.
Tropical Storm Hanna is in the Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana, and it’s tracing westward toward Texas, according to forecasters. For Northwest Florida, Hanna will mean dangerous Gulf of Mexico rip currents and increased rain chances.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo is moving toward the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic. It’s intensity forecast is currently uncertain, but it may reach hurricane strength by the time it reaches the Windward Islands on Saturday. There’s a reasonable shot that Gonzalo will dissipate by the time it reaches the Caribbean, and it won’t reach the Gulf of Mexico. But that’s not yet a certainty, so we will continue to keep an eye on Gonzalo.
Unity In The Community School Supply, Uniform Giveaway Saturday In Atmore
July 24, 2020
The annual Unity in the Community Festival (COVID-Style) will be held Saturday at Grace Fellowship in Atmore with free school supplies and school uniforms.
The event normally includes entertainment, bounce houses, food and activities, but it’s drive-thru only this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 1-4 p.m.
The giveaways are for school-aged children. Grace Fellowship is located at 1412 East Nashville Avenue in Atmore.
ECSO Seeks To Identify Skeletal Remains Found Near Pine Forest Road In 2004
July 24, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to solve a 2004 cold case homicide.
On December 18, 2004, Escambia County deputies were called after a human skeleton was located inside a mobile home near the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road, close to I-10.
Media coverage in 2004 did not result in any tips, the Sheriff’s Office said.
A facial reconstruction was completed to create a sketch. It is believed the body found is that of a 35-55 year-old black male, between 5′4″ and 5′10″, a slight to average build, and with a predominant gap in the front teeth.
Clothing found at the scene was determined to be “oversized” consisting of 36×32 Levi jeans, a large blue Starter shirt, size 10 men’s running shoes, a 38′ belt, a gold necklace, and a blue hat with “Butler Transport” on it.
Anyone with information on the man’s identity is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
