AAA: 2020 Florida Gas Prices Were The Lowest In 16 Years
January 4, 2021
Florida gas prices are off to their lowest start to a new year since 2019. The state average is currently $2.19 per gallon. Last year began with drivers paying nearly $2.50 per gallon. In 2019, drivers started the year paying around $2.16.
The lowest price in North Escambia Sunday night was $2.15 at a station of Muscogee Road, while a low of $2.05 could be found at two Pensacola warehouse clubs.
“Florida drivers saw big swings at the pump last year, primarily because the pandemic caused lower fuel demand both nationwide and around the globe,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
- Florida’s highest daily average price in 2020 was $2.56 per gallon. That was 24 cents per gallon less than the highest price in 2019.
- Florida’s lowest daily average price in 2020 was $2.176 per gallon. That was 36 cents per gallon less than the lowest price in 2019.
Gas prices for the entire year of 2020 averaged $2.11 per gallon. That’s the lowest annual average price in 16 years. The annual average price in recent years was $2.49 in 2019, $2.65 in 2018, and $2.37 in 2017.
“Although the fuel market remains optimistic about the long term recovery of fuel demand, thanks to the coronavirus vaccine; the shot term future of prices at the pump will likely continue to be hampered by reports of rising cases of Covid-19,” Jenkins continued.
Florida gas prices have hovered around $2.20 per gallon for the past 20 days. Crude oil prices have held steady during that same period. The state average price for gasoline is 4 cents more than a month ago, yet 31 cents less than this time last year.
Photos: A Couple Of New Outdoor Spots To Enjoy A Good Book At The Century Library
January 4, 2021
Visitors to the Century Branch Library will soon have a couple of new spots to sit and enjoy a good book. A new bench and picnic table have been installed outside the library. There are also sidewalk improvements and an improved bicycle rack are on the way.
The Escambia County Commission approved the improvements last January.
Pictured: Improvements as seen outside the Century Branch Library on Sunday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Week Begins With Nice Sunny Days And Cool Nights
January 4, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
Four Additional COVID-19 Deaths, 192 New Cases In Escambia County, FDOH Reports
January 4, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVE STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
On Sunday, the Florida Department of Health reported four additional COVID-19 deaths and 192 new cases in Escambia County.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 23,206 (+192)
Non-Florida residents: 2,507
Total deaths: 383 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths : 168 (+3)
Current hospitalizations: 198
Number of tests reported last day: 709
Percent positive reported last day: 20.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.8%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 17,007 (+151)
Cantonment: 2,021 (+16)
Century: 1,027 (+6)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 280 (+1)
McDavid: 144 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 39
Bellview: 33
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 10
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 11,656 (+164)
Non-Florida residents: 147
Total deaths: 130
Long-term care facility deaths: 25 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 561*
Number of tests reported day: 371
Percent positive reported last day: 30.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 5,684 (+43)
Navarre: 2,285 (+37)
Gulf Breeze: 2,064 (+51)
Pace: 893 (+11)
Jay: 321 (+12)
Bagdad: 26
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,365,436
Florida residents: 1,341,287
Deaths: 21,987
Hospitalizations: 63,332*
*“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 be 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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations as a result, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***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.
Driver Crashes Into Mercedes Parked In Driveway Of Pine Forest Road Home
January 3, 2021
A driver crashed into a car parked just outside a Cantonment home early Sunday morning.
It happened on Pine Forest Road just north of West Roberts Road. The driver, described as an older female, crashed into a Mercedes 300 SD parked in the driveway of the home. Her injuries were not believed to be severe.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The house was not damaged. The Merecdes was for sale.
Reader submitted photo by Justyn DuLac for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Overall Crime Rate Falls 9.4% In Escambia County, FDLE Says
January 3, 2021
The overall crime index in Escambia County dropped 9.4% during the first six months of 2020 compared to the previous year, according to new data just released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
While the overall crime rate decreased, crimes such as murders, rapes, robberies and vehicle thefts increased. Aggravated assaults, burglaries and larcenies decreased.
The countywide report covers crimes investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and other agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol, University of West Florida Police Department, and Pensacola State Police Department.
The number of reported murders during the period increased in Escambia County from 11 to 16, rapes from 91 to 94, robberies from 159 to 180, and motor vehicle thefts from 290 to 353. The number of aggravated assaults (including aggravated stalking) dropped from 625 to 552, burglaries decreased from 912 to 767 and larcenies dipped from 3,222 to 2,848.
During the first half of 2020, 35.6% of crimes in Escambia County were cleared, compare to 33.2% in 2019.
The report shows that crime is down across Florida, with crime volume dropping 11.7%, or 31,348 fewer reported index crimes, compared to the first six months of 2019.
Low In The 30s Tonight
January 3, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
Cantonment Man Facing Narcotics Charges After Running From Deputy
January 3, 2021
A Cantonment man is facing multiple narcotics charges after running from a deputy during an incident last year.
Roderick Vernell Lewis, 35, was recently arrested on outstanding warrants for resisting arrest without violence, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, possession of heroin with the intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.
On June 7, 2019, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Ruberia Avenue where a woman said she found her vehicle and the man that failed to return it.
A deputy observed Lewis standing with a large chain. He followed orders to put down the chain, and then ran from the deputy, according to an arrest report. The deputy chased Lewis through several backyards before finding him lying face down under a bush. Lewis refused commands to show his hands, forcing the deputy to draw his service weapon. After multiple commands, Lewis complied.
According to the ECSO, Lewis was observed removing a plastic bag from his pocket and begin digging in the dirt.
After Lewis taken into custody, deputies recovered the plastic bag containing multiple types of narcotics that had been buried in the dirt. The narcotics in the bag tested positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin.
Deputies determined no charges were warranted in connection with the original complaint involving a car that was not returned.
Roderick remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning with bond set at $26,500.
DeSantis Appoints Four To PSC Board Of Trustees
January 3, 2021
Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the appointment of Kevin Lacz, Marjorie Moore, Troy Tippett and Julian MacQueen to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees.
Kevin Lacz
Lacz, of Gulf Breeze, is a Physician’s Assistant with Regenesis and former Navy SEAL who served two tours of duty in Iraq, where his actions earned him a Bronze Star Medal with a Combat V, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He started Hunting for Healing and has served on the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees since 2015. Lacz earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and his master of medical science from Wake Forest University.
Marjorie Moore
Moore, of Pensacola, is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch. She has volunteered her time with Baptist Health Care, Manna Food Pantry, Favor House, Council on Aging of West Florida and the PACE Center for Girls. Moore earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia.
Troy Tippett
Dr. Tippett, of Pensacola, is a Neurosurgeon, Medical Director and Owner of The Neurosurgical Group. He served in and received Honorable Discharges from the United States Air Force and United States Army Reserve. Tippett has been involved with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgical Education and Research Foundation, Florida Medical Association and the Florida Neurosurgical Society. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and his doctor of medicine from the University of Tennessee.
Julian MacQueen
MacQueen, of Gulf Breeze, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innisfree Hotels. He has been recognized as the 2012 Business Leader of the Year by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and was inducted into the Hotelier Hall of Fame by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. MacQueen has also volunteered his time with Take Stock in Children, Sacred Heart Hospital, Independence for the Blind of Northwest Florida and From the Ground Up Community Garden. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Alabama.
These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
After A Two-Week Break, Road Construction Delays Return On Monday
January 3, 2021
After a two-week break for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, traffic disruptions will resume Monday on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The intersection of North 17th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway will remain closed until spring 2021 as construction continues for the new 17th Avenue interchange. The Visitor’s Center remains accessible from 17th Avenue. In addition, the ramp from 17th Avenue to East Gregory Street remains open. Eastbound drivers on Bayfront Parkway should use North 14th Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) as a detour route.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)- Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures and shifts on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Tuesday, January 5.
- · East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – The contractor will resume daytime asphalt paving operations Tuesday, Jan. 05, on the north side of the project. Westbound traffic can expect intermittent right turn lane closures during the day.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The bridge remains closed until spring 2021.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.