Ida Pearl Buck
October 26, 2020
Mrs. Ida Pearl Buck, 90 was transformed into God’s presence Wednesday, October 21, 2020. She was born October 14, 1930, in Wilcox County, GA to the late Walter P. and Ida M. Whittle Summerford.
Ida was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, George Buck; her son, Bruce; granddaughter, Julie; brother, Herman Summerford; and sister, Pauline Ervin.
Ida is survived by her daughter, Marquita (Robert) Rector; sons, Walter (Patricia), William (Faye); daughter-in-law, Kathy (Bruce); sister, Georgia Furris; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.
Ida was a member of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton, FL. She retired from Monsanto (Chemstrand) in 1977. She enjoyed her daily Biblical devotions, gardening her flower beds, decorating cakes and crocheting not only afghans, but clothing for her grandchildren. For many years she was known for her wonderfully decorated home during the Christmas holidays.
Funeral services were held Sunday, October 25, 2020, at Faith Chapel North with Brother Mike Wiggins officiating.
Burial was at Cottage Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Cantonment. Pallbearers will be close family.
The family asks that visitors wear face coverings.
28 New Cases, No New COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Two County Area
October 26, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST UPDATE.
There were 28 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths reported Sunday in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 13,296 (+14)
Non-Florida residents: 1,314
Total deaths: 269
Long-term care facility deaths : 125
Current hospitalizations: 50
Number of tests last day: 527
Percent positive last day: 2.6%
Percent positive last week: 4.4%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 9,700 (+13)
Cantonment: 976
Century: 937 (+1)
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 155
McDavid: 74
Bellview: 19
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 9
Gonzalez: 7
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 5,863 (+14)
Non-Florida residents: 66
Total deaths: 86
Long-term care facility deaths: 19
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 356*
Number of tests last day: 167
Percent positive last day: 8.2%
Santa County cases by location:
Milton: 2,976 (+3)
Gulf Breeze: 851
Navarre: 784 (+5)
Pace: 492 (+2)
Jay: 159
Bagdad: 13
Florida cases:
Total cases: 778,636
Florida residents: 768,653
Deaths: 16,429
Hospitalizations: 48,207*
*“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. Most of these people are longer 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.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Dollie Byrd
October 26, 2020
Dollie Byrd, 71 of Cantonment, FL, left her earthly home to be with her Lord after a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Byrd.
Dollie leaves behind a brother, Bennie Ard (Frances); a sister, Laura Ard, both of Cantonment. One of her most precious achievements here on earth were her children, George Sundberg (Shelly) of Cantonment, Terry Meredyk (Timothy), Katherine Sundberg, and Kevin Byrd; a very special grandson, Devin Creamer; along with numerous other family members and friends who will miss her earthly presence. She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill.
Funeral services will be held 12 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2020, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Interment will immediately follow in First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Florida Gas Prices At Lowest In Nearly A Month
October 26, 2020
AAA says Florida prices at the pump are sinking to their lowest level in nearly a month.
Florida’s state average sits at $2.08 per gallon. That’s 4.5 cents less than a week ago and 33 cents per gallon less than this time last year. The state average has declined the past 22 consecutive days, for total discount of 11 cents.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.10. A low of $2.03 could be found at a Highway 29 station in Cantonment, and $1.88 at an Airport Boulevard station in Pensacola.
“Sub-$2 gas prices are beginning to pop up in various Florida cities,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices are drifting lower as COVID concerns creep back into the fuel market. Gasoline demand is already 15% lower than this time last year. Meanwhile, fuel supplies remain strong. It’s possible the state average could dip below $2 a gallon in the coming weeks. If that happens, it would be the first time since June.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Navy Identifies Instructor, Student Aviator Killed In Foley Plane Crash
October 25, 2020
The U.S. Navy has identified the two-person aircrew killed in a crash Friday in Foley.
They are U.S. Navy Lt. Rhiannon Ross, 30-years old from Wixom, Michigan, and U.S. Coast Guard Ensign Morgan Garrett, 24-years old from Weddington, North Carolina.
A U.S. Navy T-6B Texan II trainer aircraft crashed in a residential area of Foley at approximately 5 p.m Friday. No civilians were injured as a result of the crash, but a house did partially burn.
Local and Navy emergency personnel responded to the scene to secure the area and ensure the safety of the local community. The Navy is working with local authorities to investigate the incident.
Ross, an instructor pilot, and Garrett, a student aviator, took off from Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton on a routine training flight.
“Their spirit, friendship, and devotion to their country will not be forgotten,” the Navy said in a statement.
Pictured above; U.S. Coast Guard Ensign Morgan Garrett (left) and U.S. Navy Lt. Rhiannon Ross.
Escambia County Public Input Meeting On Future Land Use Agricultural Areas Is Monday Evening
October 25, 2020
Escambia County Development Services Department will host a citizen engagement meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. about the proposed transitional future land use category for agricultural areas.
The Agricultural Residential (AR) future land use category is intended for routine agricultural and silvicultural (forestry related) related activities and low to medium density residential uses. It also allows for commercial activity limited to those endeavors ancillary to agricultural and silvicultural pursuits or in support of agricultural activities such as seed, feed and food outlets, farm equipment and repair and veterinary services.
The category would allow for a residential maximum density of one dwelling unit per four acres.
The meeting will be held on Monday, October 26 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex at 3363 West Park Place. It will be live streamed on the county’s Facebook page.
Agenda items will include:
- Proposed draft Ordinance amending the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of establishing the “Agriculture Residential” (AR) future land use category; and
- Proposed draft Ordinance amending the Escambia County Land Development Code for the purpose of implementing the new AR future land use category.
A form for additional public input will also be made available after the meeting.
For more information, call (850) 595-3466 or email ADHOLMER@myescambia.com.
Click map to enlarge.
FDC Offering $1,000 Hiring Bonuses At Century And Santa Rosa Correctional Institutions
October 25, 2020
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced $1,000 hiring bonuses continue 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.
High In The Middle 70s For Sunday
October 25, 2020
A burn ban remains in effect for Escambia County south of Nine Mile Road.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Becoming partly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Windy, with a southeast wind 30 to 40 mph becoming south 10 to 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots
October 25, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities
Escambia County:
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Bridge is closed until 2021.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers may encounter the following lane closures the week of Sunday, Oct. 25:
o Motorists traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage, median and pavement operations.
- · East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures as crews continue construction activities. Eastbound traffic can also expect daytime, right turn lane closures.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations. Motorists are also advised to watch for debris as cleanup efforts are still underway from Hurricane Sally.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Bridge is closed until 2021.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
Skanska Says They Have Removed 16 Of 23 Barges, Including Three From Under The Bay Bridge
October 25, 2020
Skanska has now removed 16 of the 23 barges that ran aground during Hurricane Sally
The contractor said late last week that three of the four barges left under the Pensacola Bay Bridge have now been “retrieved”.
“Each barge represents a unique and technically complex recovery operation that we are managing carefully with our partners to mitigate further physical or environmental damage,” Skanska said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: Skanska barges along Bayfront Parkway, not far from the Pensacola Bay Bridge, in downtown Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
