Gulf Power: We Are Prepared For An Active Hurricane Season
June 2, 2021
June 1 marked the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and Gulf Power says they are prepared.
As part of Florida Power & Light Company, preparing for hurricane season is a year-round process for Gulf Power, including an annual intensive weeklong drill involving thousands of employees throughout the state. The company also invests in continuously improving the energy grid to make it stronger, smarter and more storm-resilient, which results in better reliability for customers in both good weather and bad.
“As we saw last year during Hurricane Sally, a storm can change course at any time, and we must all be ready for whatever comes our way,” said Mike Spoor, vice president of Gulf Power. “That’s why we prepare throughout the year, leverage technology and learn from previous storms so that we can continue to make improvements. Every Gulf Power employee has a storm assignment and we work hard to make sure we are ready to be there for our customers when they need us most. We urge our customers to use this time to prepare as well.”
Between 2020-22, Gulf Power is investing nearly $250 million in storm hardening and reliability improvement efforts that help to reduce the frequency and duration of outages in good weather and bad: Long-term storm hardening efforts include replacing wooden transmission structures with concrete or steel; hardening the distribution main power lines to extreme wind loading criteria; and the undergrounding of certain lines, a process that will go beyond 2022.
Reliability improvements underway include the installation of automated lateral switches and other smart devices to create additional self-healing networks, assessing the condition of power lines and other infrastructure using drones, clearing vegetation and continuing to work with FPL to implement best practices to improve the customer experience.
4-Year Old Airlifted To Hospital After Near Drowning Near Walnut Hill
June 2, 2021
A 4-year old boy was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after a near-drowning near Walnut Hill Tuesday evening.
The child was found in unresponsive in a pool at a home on Rockaway Creek Road just south of the state line about 6:40 p.m., according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Melanie Peterson. He was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital by MedStar Air Care 2. An update on his condition was not immediately available.
The ECSO is investigating.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Atmore Fire Department also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
It’s The Last Day Of School In Escambia County (And Here’s The Graduation Schedule)
June 2, 2021
Wednesday is the last day of school is Escambia County, and graduations will take place over the next several days.
Escambia County has opened all graduations with no capacity limits and no tickets needed.
The Pensacola Bay Center has increased arena capacity to 100% for graduations. Seating inside the Pensacola Bay Center arena is first come, first served, and no admission ticket is needed to enter for high school graduations.
CDC guidelines indicate that individuals who are immunized no longer need to wear a face covering. Those individuals who are not immunized are encouraged to wear face coverings, according to the school district.
The Escambia County School District graduation schedule is below.
The following graduations will be held at 6 p.m. June 3 at Pensacola High School:
- Escambia Virtual Academy
- George Stone Technical Center
- Success Academy
The following graduations will be held at the Pensacola Bay Center:
June 4
- Washington High School 9 a.m.
- Pensacola High School 12:30 p.m.
- Escambia High School 4 p.m.
June 7
- Tate High School, 9 a.m.
- Northview High School, 12:30 p.m.
- West Florida High School, 3:30 p.m.
- Pine Forest High School, 7 p.m.
The following graduations will be held at 6 p.m. June 3 at Pensacola High School:
- Escambia Virtual Academy
- George Stone Technical Center
- Success Academy
Additional graduations:
- District Extended Graduation, June 2, 9:30 a.m., Hall Center Room 160
- Westgate graduation was held May 21 (read more, photos)
Santa Rosa County has also opened all their graduations with capacity limits. For Santa Rosa County schools will outdoor venues, tickets may be provided in the event graduation must be moved indoors due to weather.
Health Department Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Walk-In Hours, Community Health Offers Two Clinics
June 2, 2021
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) has expanded walk-in hours for their COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1295 West Fairfield Drive. Same-day appointments can be made by calling (850) 595-6554. Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at (850) 595-6500, option 6.
Community Health Northwest Florida will vaccination clinics on Thursday, June 3 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Friday, June 4 from 8 a.m until 3 p.m. at 2315 Jackson Street. For more information, call (850) 439-3358.
Fog Overnight, Showers Possible By Thursday
June 2, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Strong Pitching, Timely Hitting Lead Blue Wahoos To 4-3 Win Over Mississippi
June 2, 2021
Devin Hairston joined the Blue Wahoos less than two weeks ago with a focused mission.
It has shown every game since.
Hairston again delivered in a clutch situation with a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lead the Blue Wahoos into a 4-3 victory against the Mississippi Braves in the series-opening game at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The win was the Blue Wahoos (16-9) ninth in their past 11 games.
It included another sensational outing from starting pitcher Jake Eder, who has been one of the best in all levels of minor league baseball the first month of the season.
“It is just the process,” said Hairston, a sixth-round pick out of Louisville in 2017 by the Milwaukee Brewers and signed in January by the Miami Marlins as a free agent. “I have lot of intent behind the work I am doing and it seems to be working.
“So me and (Wahoos hitting coach) Scott Seabol formulate a game plan and try to execute it.”
That became the case when Hairston, who went 2-for-4 Tuesday, stepped to the plate with runners on first and second. He smashed a one-strike changeup into the right field gap, scoring Demetrius Sims with the eventual-game winning run.
In the ninth, Blue Wahoos closer Colton Hock earned his sixth save and the team’s sixth win in the last seven home games.
“My approach usually stays the same in those situations. It’s a big situation so I tried to calm down a little bit and I was really trying to put the ball in the outfield,” said Hairston, whose .341 batting average since joining the Blue Wahoos leads Double-A in that period.
“First pitch breaking ball, I took it pretty well. I thought they might come back with it, so I was able to put in the outfield and Sims did the rest.”
It was another late-inning rally for the Blue Wahoos, who have made this habit-forming.
“It doesn’t matter who is at the plate, I feel like top the bottom, anybody can get the job done at every given moment,” Hairston said. “We have lot of belief, not only in ourselves but in each other. Nobody has too much stress in the batter’s box can get the job done.
“Good hitting is contagious and I feel we have a lot of guys that are hitting the ball well.”
On the mound, Eder continued the kind of performance he’s shown this month. His only run allowed was an opposite-field homer by the M-Braves’ CJ Alexander in the third inning. It was only the second run Eder – a former Vanderbilt star reliever – has allowed as starter.
He finished with eight strikeouts and just one walk. He began the game with an 0.46 ERA that was second-best in all levels of the minor leagues.
Jose Mesa Jr. relieved Eder after he struck out the first two batters in the fifth inning. Mesa Jr. worked through the seventh and was followed by Dylan Bice, who earned his second win with a clean eighth inning.
“It takes a lot of stress off the hitters to know we might only need two or three runs over the course of a game to get a win,” said Hairston. “It is awesome to know when we get that run in the bottom of the eighth that we have someone who is going to come in top of the ninth to close the door.”
The Blue Wahoos’ got their first run on a second-inning single from Riley Mahan. They retook the lead in the fourth on Lorenzo Hampton’s blast into the water beyond left field. Hampton is the son of former Florida Gators and Miami Dolphins running back Lorenzo Hampton Sr.
After the M-Braves took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh, the Blue Wahoos tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on JJ Bleday’s RBI double. Bleday, the Marlins’ top pick in 2019, had two hits and a walk in his night at the plate with his former high school coach at Panama City Mosley in attendance.
The teams will continue their six-game series Wednesday with the first mid-week, school’s out fireworks show following the game.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Washoo senior writer.
James Earl “Jim” Harrison
June 2, 2021
Mr. James Earl “Jim” Harrison passed away on Monday, May 31, 2021 in Mobile, AL. Mr. Harrison was born January 10, 1961 in Atmore, Alabama where he was raised and later moved to Bay Minette, Alabama and resided.
Jim loved God and enjoyed sharing his faith in God with others. He especially loved teaching his grandsons about God and the importance of praying for others in need. Jim was an avid Auburn fan who always rooted for his team win or lose! Jim attended Escambia County High School and also Lake Butler High School, FL., where he graduated Class of 1979. Jim was a skilled master mechanic and salesman for various companies across the Southeastern United States for over 35 years.
Mr. Harrison was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Ann (Smith) Parker, his step-mother, Barbara Ann (Dykes) Harrison, and father-in-law, Rev. Charlton Lee Calhoun.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jenifer Lynn (Calhoun) Harrison, daughter, Jessica Luanne (Chris) Harrison-Phillips; sons Stephen Earl Thomas Harrison, and Nicholas James Harrison; four grandsons, Jordynn Paul Harrison, Christopher Paul Phillips, Jr., Chosen Isaiah Phillips, Closure Elijah Kane Phillips, all of Bay Minette, AL; father, Rev. Hubert Earl Harrison of Atmore, AL; brothers, John Robert (Shannon) Harrison, of Stockton, AL; Kenneth Lee (Anita) Harrison, Edward Alvin Harrison, of Atmore, AL; and William Anthony (Lisa) Cody of Jay, FL. He is also survived by his mother in law and father in law Martha and Ronnie Jay of Bay Minette, AL; numerous nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of other family, church family members, and friends.
Visitation will be at Vision Ministries Church of God, Bay Minette, AL, Thursday evening, June 3, 2021, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. for family and from 6:00-8:00 PM for all other friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Vision Ministries Church of God, Bay Minette, AL with Rev. Earl Harrison, Rev. David Harrison, Rev. Ernest Calhoun and Bishop James Alan Blackmon officiating. Interment at Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church cemetery, Perdido, AL.
Pallbearers will be: John Robert Harrison, Stephen Earl Thomas Harrison, Jonathan Daniel Harrison, John Robert Ellis, Drew Andrew Ellis, Richard Clay Luker, Nicholas James Harrison, Jordynn Paul Harrison, and Kayden Ray Seale. Honorary pallbearers will be Andrew Ellis and Miles Bilinski.
The Harrison family would like to extend a special thank you to their loving neighbors and friends, Mr. Steve and Mrs. Linda Richerson for being the Godly example of “loving thy neighbor as thyself.”
Charles Carnie Lambeth
June 2, 2021
Mr. Charles Carnie Lambeth, age 95, passed away Monday, May 31, 2021 at his Flomaton residence.
Mr. Lambeth was born in Cantonment, FL and had been a life-long resident of the Flomaton area. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy. He worked as a Purchasing Clerk at Monsanto for a number of years, and was a member of Pleasant Home Holiness Church. Mr. Lambeth was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Nora Lister Lambeth.
He is survived by a son, Larry (Tracy) Lambeth of Flomaton; a daughter, Brenda (Terry) Powell of Flomaton; four grandchildren, Trent (Laura) Powell, Brandon (Alex) Powell, Lauren Lambeth, and Nick Lambeth, all of Flomaton; seven great-grandchildren, Jacob Powell, Ty Powell, Kyra Powell, Trinity Powell, Reece Charles Powell, Kayson Graves, and Sophia Powell, all of Flomaton.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, June 4, 2021 from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Bro. Andy Boutwell officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Flomaton Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M.
Pallbearers: Steve Lambeth, Dale Chavers, Allen Lambeth, Dan Walton, Bobby Franklin, and Steve Turner.
Honorary Pallbearers: Ralph Lambeth, Marty Lambeth, Tommy Simmons, and Jimmy “Hulk” Boutwell.
Century Charter Review Committee Sets Meeting Days For Remainder Of Fiscal Year
June 2, 2021
The Century Charter Review Committee has set meeting dates for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The committee will meet June 10, July 15, August 19 and September 23 at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4 at Industrial Boulevard at 5:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
The Century Charter Review Committee is working to revamp the town’s charter, the document that provides overall governance for the town. It has not been updated in about 40 years.
FDOH Reports 43 Additional COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County
June 2, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 43 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
FDOH did not issue reports over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Here is the latest data, with increases noted since the last report on Friday, May 28:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,633 (+43)
Non-Florida residents: 3,703
Recovered: 34,286*
Total deaths: 700
Long-term care facility deaths: 287
Current hospitalizations: 20 (-4)
Number of tests reported last day: 268
Percent positive reported last day: 5.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 4.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,473 (+32)
Cantonment: 3,298 (+3)
Century: 1,186 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 497
McDavid: 218 (+2)
Bellview: 59
Walnut Hill: 58
Perdido Key: 22 (+1)
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,556 (+34)
Non-Florida residents: 262
Total deaths: 291
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 919*
Number of tests reported last day: 110
Percent positive reported last day: 3.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,863 (+18)
Navarre: 3,819 (+8)
Gulf Breeze: 3,401 (+6)
Pace: 1,524
Jay: 561
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,326,755
Florida residents: 2,283,315
Deaths: 36,869
Hospitalizations: 95,210
*“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.