Escambia Sheriff’s Office Molino Precinct To Reopen Next Month
January 24, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will reopen their Molino Precinct next month.
The public will be invited to the opening with Sheriff Chip Simmons on Saturday, February 20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served.
Following his swearing in on January 5, Simmons told NorthEscambia.com that he would reopen the precincts in Molino and Perdido.
The reopening ceremony for the Perdido Precinct has been set for Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with Simmons. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be served.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Discount Available Through January 31 On Escambia County Real Estate, Tangible Taxes
January 24, 2021
An available two percent discount on the payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Sunday, January 31, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford
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To receive the two percent discount, payments must be:
- made online by midnight, February 1, 2021, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a January postmark; or
- left in a drop box available at all locations by close of business, February 1, 2021.
Since all offices are closed on January 31, customers who make their payment in person at any tax collector office on Monday, February 1, 2021. will receive the two percent discount.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit our virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Our online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services.
Customers who decide to visit one of our four convenient offices can join the line online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com and manage their time their way. Citizens select an office location and type of service, receive a message with approximate service time and then continue their regular activities until the service time approaches.
To check the status of your taxes, pay online or print a receipt, visit our payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola MESS Hall Distributing Science Kits To Schools Thanks To IP Foundation, Ascend Cares
January 24, 2021
The Pensacola MESS Hall is distributing free Kits for Classrooms to provide elementary teachers with engaging, hands on science lessons for their students, thanks to help from two local organizations.
Two different kits, one focused on the science of light and the other focused on the science of water, target learners in 3rd and 4th grade. Both kits will be provided for free to twenty-five local high need schools thanks to generous support from Ascend Cares Community Impact Grant and International Paper Foundation.
Each kit contains the instructions and materials for fifty or more students to explore and discover. The kits are designed to be used for many years to come.
In a typical year, thousands of young learners would visit the MESS Hall on school field trips, including many who might never have the chance to visit the MESS Hall otherwise. With the loss of field trips from the pandemic, the MESS Hall is eager to inspire curiosity about science by delivering these kits to teachers. As teachers have had to adjust their lessons to accommodate social distancing, providing materials for all students becomes even more important.
Schools interested in receiving one of the limited sponsored kits or purchasing one for their students should contact the MESS Hall at info@pensacolamesshall.org or by calling 877-YES-MESS (937-6377).
Pictured: Volunteers sort materials for Pensacola MESS Hall Kits for Classrooms. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Voters Approved The Escambia Children’s Trust. Member Volunteers Are Needed Now.
January 24, 2021
Escambia County is seeking applications from county residents to serve on the Children’s Services Council (CSC).
In November, voters approved the creation of the Children Services Council to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust of Escambia County will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
Once members are appointed to the CSC, the newly formed government body is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs which must then be submitted to the Escambia County Commission. The CSC, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the board as required by Florida law.
To be considered for the CSC, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24-month period and are willing to submit an annual statement of financial interests form. Florida law also requests that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the county’s population.
After the application deadline of Jan. 30 has past, the eligible applications will be compiled for the BOCC’s consideration during the Feb. 18 meeting. In order to narrow down the pool of applicants to the 15 nominations that will be submitted to the governor, each commissioner will nominate two applicants and the full board nominates five additional applicants.
The governor will have 45 days to make a selection or request a new list of candidates.
Resumes and both applications may also be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or by mail to:
Shamara Jernigan, Program Coordinator
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 1591
Pensacola, FL 32502
Clouds Sunday, Rain Chance Returns Monday Afternoon
January 24, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Cloudy, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Escambia County Unemployment Rate Improves Slightly
January 24, 2021
The unemployment rate in Escambia County decreased slightly in December, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 5.4% in December, down from 5.6% in November. That represents 7,823 people out of work out of a county workforce of 144,460. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was just 2.8%, or 4,028 people.
Two major industries in the Escambia County area gained jobs over the year in December 2020: professional and business services (+500 jobs); and construction (+400 jobs). Th Escambia County area private-sector employment decreased by 4,600 jobs (-2.9 percent) over the year. The industry losing the most jobs in the area over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 3,500 jobs.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in December 2020, down 0.2 percentage point from the revised November 2020 rate, and up 3.2 percentage points from a year ago. There were 614,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,143,000.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in December.
Four More COVID-19 Deaths, 288 New Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 24, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were four more COVID-19 deaths and 288 new cases reported Saturday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 29,045 (+288)
Non-Florida residents: 3,050
Recovered: 22,986*
Total deaths: 487 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths : 208 (+3)
Current hospitalizations: 233 (-19)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,880
Percent positive reported last day: 12.7%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.4%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 21,503 (+127)
Cantonment: 2,613 (+19)
Century: 1,109 (+6)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 381 (+9)
McDavid: 175
Bellview: 48
Walnut Hill: 47
Perdido Key: 20
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 14,611 (+190)
Non-Florida residents: 184
Total deaths: 195
Long-term care facility deaths: 59
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 665*
Number of tests reported last day: 663
Percent positive reported last day: 21.7%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 7.051 (+88)
Navarre: 2,930 (+37)
Gulf Breeze: 2,713 (+43)
Pace: 1,170 (+22)
Jay: 447 (+5)
Bagdad: 31 (+1)
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,639,914
Florida residents: 1,609,953
Deaths: 25,164
Hospitalizations: 70,002*
*“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, 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. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Howard Wayne (Trace) Penton III
January 24, 2021
Howard Wayne (Trace) Penton III was unexpectedly called home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
Trace was born in Pensacola, Florida on August 18, 1997 to Howard Wayne Penton, Jr. and Rebecca Elizabeth (Rush) Penton.
Trace was a bright light who added so much joy to the lives of his family, friends and teammates. He graduated from J. M. Tate High School in 2016 and from the University of West Florida in 2019. He recently excelled on the Medical College Admissions Test and was looking forward to pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor.
While at Tate High School, Trace served as President of the Student Body and lettered in football and baseball. He also played two years of baseball for the UWF Argos.
Trace was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church and was a gentle soul who touched the lives of everybody he encountered. He loved the beach and spending the 4th of July with all his family on Lake Keowee in South Carolina. He was passionate about going to the gym, Marvel Comics, Star Wars, Disney World, fishing, sports of ALL kinds, going to brunch and hanging out with his family and friends. He always strove for perfection and there was not much that he could not do and do well.
Trace was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Howard Wayne Penton and Thornwell Frank Rush. He is survived by his parents Howard and Rebecca, his brother Jackson Rush Penton, his grandmothers, Elaine Connell Penton and Ann Warren Rush, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who love him dearly.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel North on Tuesday, January 26 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 2:30 pm at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Road, with burial following at Bayview Cemetery on Scenic Highway.
Active pallbearers will be Trace’s brother Jackson, his cousins David Jayce Boyd, Matthew Warren Rush, Robert Kemp Wilson IV and friends Benjamin Michael Fulton and Sawyer Bailey Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be his many teammates and friends.
The family greatly appreciates the overwhelming support and generosity they have received from so many in the community over the past few days. We know our loss is being shared by countless others who loved Trace and even some who never had the opportunity to know this extraordinary young man. Trace loved animals, and in lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to the Pensacola Humane Society.
Gulf Power Plant Crist Gets New Name With Conversion To Natural Gas
January 23, 2021
Gulf Power’s Plant Crist, which was recently converted from coal to natural gas, has been renamed Gulf Clean Energy Center.
“Plant Crist has been a powerful force in our region for 75 years, generating power that has supported our communities and sustained economic growth across the Panhandle,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “We’re honored to be able to continue that legacy by modernizing the plant to be able to continue to serve Northwest Florida as Gulf Clean Energy Center, delivering greater reliability, lower operating costs and cleaner emissions as we meet the ever-increasing energy needs of our customers well into the future.”
Gulf Power constructed a 39-mile long natural gas pipeline through North Escambia from Century to the plant.
Converting the coal-burning units to run on natural gas is a major piece of the modernization underway at the plant, along with the addition of four new, highly efficient combustion turbines to provide greater reliability and efficiency for the energy grid. By eliminating the use of coal, Gulf Clean Energy Center carbon emission rates will be reduced by 40% — the equivalent to taking an estimated 297,000 cars off the road annually — and reduce operating costs for customers, according to Gulf Power.
North Escambia plays a key role in Gulf Power’s plans to rely more on solar energy with two solar farms on about 1,200 acres in McDavid, as first reported by NorthEscambia.com.
Construction will begin in the spring on the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in the area of Bogia Road. At 74.2 megawatts, Cotton Creek will generate enough electricity to power 15,000 homes annually, according to Gulf Power.
Gulf Power is now seeking the necessary permits for the First City Solar Energy Center in the area of Cox and Roach Roads. It will be 74.5 megawatts, also enough to power another 15,000 homes annually.
“As part of FPL, the largest generator of solar in Florida and one of the largest in the nation, we are continuing the company’s clean energy legacy by transforming the way that we generate power for Northwest Florida,” Santos said.
Tate Softball’s Madison Holland Signs With Coastal Alabama North
January 23, 2021
Tate High School Softball senior Madison Holland of Molino signed Friday to play with Coastal Alabama North in Monroeville. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
