Fire Marshal: It’s Time To Toss That Natural Christmas Tree. And Here’s How To Do That.
January 3, 2021
A top state official is warning it’s time to remove that natural Christmas from your home, and that’s an easy task if you are an Emerald Coast Utilities Authority customer.
State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said it’s important Christmas trees from your home quickly and safely this holiday season to avoid fire-related tragedies. More than 29 percent of home fires that begin with Christmas trees occur in January.
“A live Christmas tree can go up in flames in an instant, so it’s critical that you remove your tree and store your decorations quickly after the holidays. Make sure to safely remove lighting and check for any broken bulbs or wiring before storing them in a dry place. It’s important to keep your live trees and other disposable decorations away from your home while awaiting trash pickup. Always remember that dried wood and pine needles can be a fire hazard,” Patronis said.
ECUA Christmas Tree Collections
In Escambia County, ECUA will pick up Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.
“When it’s time to take down the Christmas decorations, place your real tree or natural wreaths out by the curb on your usual collection day for pick-up as part of your ECUA regular yard waste collection,” ECUA spokesperson Jim Roberts said.
Natural trees should be free of decoration and tinsel, and the tree stand should be removed. Trees should not be placed in he street.
The trees will be composted with other yard waste at the ECUA Biosolids Composting Facility.
The Florida Forest Service offers the following tips if you chose to burn your Christmas tree:
- Check local ordinances for requirements for outdoor burning.
- Burn only if significant rainfall has occurred in the last three or four days.
- Never burn on dry or windy days.
- Select a burn location that is at least 25 feet from natural areas, 25 feet from your home, 150 feet from other occupied buildings and 50 feet from any paved public roadway.
- Remove all decorations from the tree before you burn.
- Cut the tree into manageable sections, as necessary.
- Clear the burn area free of other flammable materials, such as leaf litter and pine straw.
- Keep a shovel and water hose handy in case the fire starts to escape containment.
- Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is out before leaving.
- Never burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove.
Six New COVID-19 Deaths, 379 New Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 3, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST UPDATE.
The Florida Department of Health reported six additional COVID-19 deaths and 379 new cases in Escambia County over the past two days.
The state did not release numbers Friday due to the New Year’s Day holiday.
Here is the latest data for Friday and Saturday:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 23,014 (+379)
Non-Florida residents: 2,493
Total deaths: 379 (+6)
Long-term care facility deaths : 165
Current hospitalizations: 198
Number of tests reported last day: 1,347
Percent positive reported last day: 15.3%
Percent positive reported last week: 13.6%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 16,856 (+510*)
Cantonment: 2,005 (+67)
Century: 1,021 (+11)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 279 (+8)
McDavid: 142 (+6)
Walnut Hill: 39
Bellview: 33 (2)
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 10 (+1)
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 11,492 (+312)
Non-Florida residents: 143
Total deaths: 13 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths: 24
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 554*
Number of tests reported day: 461
Percent positive reported last day: 20.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 5,642 (+127)
Navarre: 2,248 (+88)
Gulf Breeze: 2,013 (+51)
Pace: 882 (+32)
Jay: 309 (+11)
Bagdad: 26
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,354,833
Florida residents: 1,331,059
Deaths: 21,890
Hospitalizations: 63,148*
*“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.
Florida’s Minimum Wage Increases On The Way To $15 An Hour
January 2, 2021
Florida’s minimum wage increase by a minimal amount on New Year’s Day.
The minimum wage for non-tipped workers increased from $8.56 an hour to $8.65 an hour, and the minimum for tipped workers increased to $5.63. The increases were due to a legislatively mandated cost of living increase.
During 2020, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to eventually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour passed with about 61% of the vote, greater than the 60% needed to pass.
On September 30, 2021, Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $10 an hour and then increase by another dollar each year on the way to $15 an hour in 2026.
Escambia Man Struck And Killed While Standing Outside His Disabled SUV
January 2, 2021
An Escambia County man was struck and killed while standing behind his disabled vehicle.
The Florida Highway Highway Patrol said the 37-year old man was standing behind his disabled SUV on the Highway 90 Escambia River Bridge about 9 p.m. Thursday. A 22-year old Pace man traveling westbound on Highway 90 in a pickup truck did not see the stopped SUV and hit both the SUV and the man.
The man’s pickup continued into the eastbound lanes and struck another pickup truck. The 48-year old driver and his 14-year old passenger suffered minor injuries. Both were from Pace.
The 22-year old Pace man that struck the SUV suffered only minor injuries.
The FHP is continuing their investigation.
Upper 30s For Saturday Night
January 2, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Meet Zyan, Escambia County’s First Baby Of 2021
January 2, 2021
Meet Zyan Lovette, Escambia County’s first baby born in 2021.
He was born Friday at Ascension Sacred Heart at 7:13 a.m., weighing in at 6 pounds 8 ounces, to mom Savannah Lovett from Pensacola.
Photos Ascension Sacred Heart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County (AL) Students Will Return To School On Staggered Schedule
January 2, 2021
Escambia County (AL) students will return to school next week on a staggered schedule.
The schedule for traditional (on campus) students is as follows:
- Students with a last name beginning with A-G will return on Monday, January 4
- Students with a last name beginning with H-M will return on Tuesday, January 5.
- Students with a last name beginning with N-Z will return on Wednesday, January 6.
The staggered schedule applies to all students in all grades in the Escambia County (AL) School District.
Students at home on staggered days should be engaged through virtual/remote lessons, according to the district.
File photo.
United Way Of West Florida Names New Board Members
January 2, 2021
United Way of West Florida has installed eight new board members.
They are:
Megan Burke of Pensacola Opera and Pensacola Young Professionals
Matt Couch of Clark Partington
DJ Echols of LandrumHR
Johanna Freeman of Underwood Anderson Insurance
Wesley Hall of Escambia County Government
Aaron Jones of ServisFirst Bank
Kim LeDuff of the University of West Florida
Dan Schebler of Santa Rosa County.
Board officers for 2020-2021 are:
Jack Lowrey, chair
Amy Miller of Port of Pensacola, chair-elect
Marla Purvis of Lighthouse Health Plan LLC, secretary
Clare Haenszel of Warren Averett CPAs & Advisors, treasurer
Wes Hudgens of Gulf Power Company, campaign chair.
“Our board members go above and beyond to support UWWF’s work through their volunteerism and financial support,” said Laura P. Gilliam, UWWF president and CEO. “I am proud to work alongside this group of community leaders who are passionate about creating a better tomorrow for every person living in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.”
Raymond Chavers
January 2, 2021
Raymond Chavers, 79 of Molino, FL passed away December 30,2020 at his home surrounded by his family.
Raymond was born in Century, FL on September 22,1941. He met and married the love of his life, Myra in 1960. They settled in Molino and lived there ever since.
Raymond’s lifelong occupation was building and carpentry. He worked on residential as well as commercial properties and went on to own his own construction company (Dream Builders), until he retired. He was sought after in his profession for his attention to detail. Raymond was quiet but enjoyed a good prank. He loved his grandkids and often spent time with them on nature walks, bringing them interesting bugs, frogs and the occasional snake! He loved to travel including a mission trip to Guatemala where he used his skill repairing the malnutrition center, and of course he could not resist the zip line excursion.
Raymond was preceded in death by his wife Myra of 49 years, parents Clarence and Nettie Chavers, sister Clara Creamer, and brothers Clarence Chavers Jr and George Chavers.
Raymond leaves behind three children, Ramona (David) Preston, Lisa (John) Weaver and Raymond Chavers Jr, five grandchildren Peyton Chavers, Krista Weaver, Randi Weaver, Ben Preston and Starla Weaver, sister Ann Chavers and brother John Chavers and numerous nieces and nephews.
Words cannot begin to express our gratitude to Hannah Blakely, Sherri Purvis, D’arcy Deview , Becky Mills and Jim Stickle. Thank you for loving our Pop.
Pallbearers will be Raymond Chavers Jr., John Chavers, Randy Chavers, David Preston, Ben Preston and John Weaver.
The family will receive friends Monday, January 4, 2021, from 12:00-1:00 with funeral service at 1:00. Pastor Nathan Brown will officiate. Interment will be at Morgan Cemetery in Molino.
Michael Patrick Truitt
January 2, 2021
On December 30, 2020 Michael Patrick Truitt, 55, went home to be with his Lord. He is survived by Larren, his wife and best friend of 33 years. He is also survived by his children Corey Micheal Truitt with his wife Jessica and their precious children (his grandchildren) Emery, Ryanne, Naomi and Killian. His son Jourdan Alexander Truitt with his wife Rubi and their precious children (his grandchildren) Bryce, Jaxson (Devin’s) Adriel and Logan (and honorary daughter Devin and granddaughter Paisley). He is also survived by his mother Carolyn Vary, and his sister Sonya Snyder. He is preceded in death by his father, Floyd Scott Truitt.
Mike was an incredible man. He worked as a corrections officer with both the state and county offices for 20 years. He was an inspiration to all who took the time to know him. He was a man of few words but his words were always filled with wisdom and kindness. He eventually held the office of administrative assistant at the county Road Prison. He was fine officer and example to-all, full of integrity. Mike was a gentle quiet man with a heart of love to all those to whom his Lord put in his path. He was a servant. He looked for opportunities to help and serve others. Even in his illness he was trying to figure out ways to help others that were sick as well.
Mike loved to fish. He used a cast net and would catch so many fish at times others would have to run help him pull up his net. He could throw that net and could open it out to a perfect circle. He was the happiest out at the water enjoying Gods creation. He would always marvel like a little child over the shape of a shell or find the cross on a sand dollar and just bask in the beauty of nature.
To all those were blessed to know him personally, he was a true friend and faithful servant. There were special people that he had a God given family relationship with. First, there was his father in law Ted Walker who was more his father than father in law. Then, Br. Don Neese and Mike Neese whom were his brothers in Christ, true friends that were closer than a brother.
More than anything, Mike loved the Lord Jesus and could not do enough to serve Him. He honored the Lord in everything: his marriage and life with Larren. A truly faithful husband, provider, protector and loving friend. He loved her intentionally and unconditionally. There was never a time where he left her unsure or unsettled about his love for her. He proved his love for her by loving Christ and letting Him be the head of their home. He loved his children and lived a godly example to them. He taught them how to treat a woman by the way he loved and treated their mother. He lead by example by taking his family to church and instilling the Word of God in their home. Lastly, there no greater title than that of granddaddy that he enjoyed. That was his most proud accomplishment. He completely morphed into an amazing little child that connected with his grandkids on their level. He loved them and could not wait to spend time with them. He loved his church. Grace Valley Baptist Church was his home, his family. There’s not one person that at one time or another was not touched by Mike, wether it was at Camp Grace or by him bringing them some chicken noodle soup or some other wonderful food prepared with love and care. His servant’s heart is and will continue to inspire as we wait on the coming of our Lord and Savior. So much like Jesus, touching lives with such love and compassion. Go Mike, and hear those precious words from our Lord to whom you are so worthy, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” We will love you and honor you until we meet again.
Visitation will be Sunday, January 3, 2021, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM. Pastor Don Neece will be officiating. Interment will be at Cottage Hill Methodist Church Cemetery.