Escambia Completes Hurricane Sally Debris Removal; Anything Left Behind Is On You
December 26, 2020
Escambia County has completed Hurricane Sally debris removal; anything left behind now will be the responsibly of the property owner.
Contractors hauled 80,485 loads, collecting 4,221,633 cubic yards of Hurricane Sally generated debris. This equals 660 football fields with debris stacked 3 feet high, or enough debris to fill 91% of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Any remaining debris or bulk items should be prepared for collection by the resident’s respective waste hauler or residents may dispose items at the Perdido Landfill. The Perdido Landfill will be closed on Friday, January 1 in observance of the New Year’s holiday.
Escambia County will reopen the drop-off recycling site at the Perdido Landfill beginning Tuesday, Dec. 29, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents may drop off aluminum and steel cans; plastic bottles and jugs; paper and cardboard for free.
Residents wishing to dispose of organic Christmas trees can do so by simply placing the tree curbside with all decorations, ornaments and any attached tree stands removed. Trees or segments of trees should not be more than six feet in length. Do not place Christmas trees in recycling or garbage containers. For more information, please contact your waste service provider. Christmas trees are typically collected on your normal trash collection day.
Blue Angels License Plate Reaches 3,000 Orders Needed To Put Plate Into Production
December 26, 2020
The Blue Angels specialty license plate will become a reality after the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation received more than the necessary 3,000 voucher presales in less than three months.
In September 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law approving the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation’s Blue Angels specialty license plate. On October 1. he Escambia County Tax Collector, in partnership with the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, began accepting online voucher orders to collect the 3,000 commitments needed for production to being.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles should place the plate into production sometime after the first of the year. The production process will happen over the coming months and then the plates will be distributed to the various county tax collector offices throughout the state.
If you purchased a voucher for the Blue Angel plate, your voucher is being held electronically in the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles database under your name and driver license number. If you purchased the voucher for someone else, the voucher is being held under the recipient’s name and driver license number.
Until the physical plates are available, Florida drivers can still purchase a voucher in person at their local tax collector’s office. y. Vouchers are available for cars, trucks, RVs or boat trailers.
Christmas Morning 2020 Was The Coldest In 25 Years. This Is How Cold It Was.
December 26, 2020
Christmas Day 2020 was officially the coldest on record in Pensacola in 25 years.
The official low Christmas morning 2020 was 31 at the Pensacola International Airport – the location of the official National Weather Service thermometer. That’s the lowest low temperature in Pensacola since it bottomed out at 26 degrees on Christmas morning 1995.
While not an “official” recording location, the weather station thermometer at Northview High School dropped to 29 degrees on Christmas morning.
The all-time record low for a Christmas morning in Pensacola was 11 degrees in 1983.
Another Freezing Night
December 26, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 29. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 57. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.
New Year’s Day: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
FDOT Still Targeting March To Reopen The Pensacola Bay Bridge. Here’s The Latest Update.
December 26, 2020
As the year comes to a close, the vendors under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continue to focus on removing debris and driving piles for the reconstruction of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. While these efforts will continue over the next several weeks, most of the debris removal is near the bottom of the bay.
Concurrently, multiple teams are working around the clock to ensure pile driving efforts remain on schedule. Crews are moving the pile driving template ahead and working on pier removal at night to keep ahead of the daytime pile driving crews. An additional pile driving hammer is onsite to increase the ability to drive piles in less time. Beams are also being set at several spans on the Pensacola Bay Bridge and deck work has begun to reconstruct the roadway.
The current numbers on the demolition and repair activities to date include:
- Seven fully damaged spans removed.
- Eight partial damaged spans removed.
- 16 damaged pedestrian path beams removed.
- 61 damaged I-beams removed with eight replaced.
- Four damaged trophy pieces removed.
- 11 replacement piles driven.
In addition to these efforts, FDOT has directed Skanska to review all mooring and/or securing methods to assure the safety and protection of the public and their property in the Pensacola Bay area after a construction barge owned Skanska broke loose this past weekend and became stuck against private docks near the Pensacola Bay Bridge. FDOT is also monitoring Skanska’s investigation with state and local authorities to determine if the line connecting the barge to the sea floor had been severed.
Work to widen 2,000 feet of northbound and southbound S.R. 281 south of the I-10 interchange and the eastbound I-10 off ramp at S.R. 281 to two lanes to improve travel time on the detour route is nearing completion. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge have been suspended through Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge has a targeted re-opening date of March 2021. Once repairs are complete, all four lanes will be open with no load restrictions. As each repair method is developed, FDOT will be conducting reviews to ensure the contractor is hitting all milestones in the established schedule.
$3K Reward Offered For ‘Armed And Dangerous’ Man Wanted In Santa Rosa County
December 26, 2020
A $3,000 reward is being offered for a wanted man the Santa Rosa County Sherriff’s Office says should be considered armed and dangerous.
Arthur Lee Cheever, 28, has outstanding warrants for:
- grand theft up to $10,000
- reckless driving with damage to person and property
- fleeing/eluding law enforcement
- driving while license suspended – subsequent offense
- vop: obstruct criminal investigation (3 counts)
- possession of controlled substance (3 counts)
- possession of marijuana over 20 grams (3 counts)
- petit theft (3rd conviction) (3 counts)
- use of anti-shoplifting device (3 counts)
Cheever is a white male about 5’10” tall and 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
The SRSO said if you know his whereabouts, don’t approach him. Instead, call Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP (7867) or your law enforcement agency.
Willie “Bea” Polk
December 26, 2020
Willie “Bea” Polk, 97, was called to glory on Christmas Eve evening Dec. 24, 2020. She lived a long, full life serving Jesus, her Lord and Savior.
Bea was preceded in death by her husband, Emmitt Polk; sons, Jerry Walter Smith and Larry Edward Smith.
Survivors include daughter, Linda Liggon; son, Steve (Melissa) Smith; nine grandchildren, Tammy Smith, Craig Liggon, David Broxson, Janine Broxson, Greg Smith, Stephanie Smith, Justin Smith, and Jonathan Smith; sixteen great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Wes Enfinger officiating. Interment will follow in Cottage Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 from 6PM to 8PM at the funeral home.
Merry Christmas! The Story Of The Greatest Gift Of All
December 25, 2020
Today’s lead story on NorthEscambia.com is a story that happened over 2,000 years ago today — the birth of a boy child.
It is story that was first delivered by an angelic choir. It was the news that changed the world…a Savior had been born in a little town called Bethlehem. It was a humble scene. A little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
It was the world’s first ever Christmas gift on that very first Christmas morning, the gift of a Savior with the promise of eternal life.
It’s good news for all of us on this Christmas. Good news that Emmanuel, the Lord Jesus, was born. It’s story that was reported by Luke in the New Testament in the Bible, the widest circulated publication in history. It’s reprinted below for you to read, and for you to share the Good News with someone you care about this Christmas.
From our NorthEscambia.com family to you and yours, Merry Christmas!
- And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
- (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
- And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
- To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
- And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
- And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
- And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
- And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
- For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
- And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
- And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
- And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
- And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
- And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
- But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
- And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
First Responders Put On Christmas Light Show For Children’s Hospital Patients
December 25, 2020
“This evening we gathered our friends and family to make sure the kids at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart had a Merry and Bright Christmas. May you each welcome the morning with joy. Merry Christmas Pensacola.” – Pensacola Police Department
The Pensacola Police Department, Pensacola Fire Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and others put on a Christmas light show Christmas eve night at Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
Photos courtesy Pensacola Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shop With A Cop Makes Christmas A Little Brighter For Local Kids
December 25, 2020
Christmas was a little brighter this year for 38 children across Escambia County, thanks to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Shop with a Cop.
Shop with a Cop looked a little different in 2020. Ordinarily, the children go shopping with the deputies. This year, each child submitted a wish list, and a deputy shopped for them. Their gifts were wrapped and placed in a winter wonderland. The children rode with their deputies to the ECSO where they met Rudolph, the Grinch, the Escambia County Mounted Posse and received their gifts.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
