More Rain Today, Flash Flooding Possible
June 22, 2021
A flash flood watch is in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery, Felony Child Abuse
June 22, 2021
A Cantonment man is facing charges after allegedly throwing a child across a room and hitting a woman.
Jacky Ray Mills, 45, was charged felony child abuse and misdemeanor battery.
Mills became angry after the victim played a practical joke on his son. Mills pinned the child against the wall before picking him up and throwing him across the room, according to an arrest report.
The adult victim stated she slapped Mills in defending the child, prompting Mills to grab her around the neck and push her down a hallway before hitting her.
The age of the child was redacted from the report, but he was old enough to be questioned by deputies. The nature of the practical joke was not specified in the report.
Mills was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,500 bond.
Escambia County Unemployment Rate Decreases
June 22, 2021
The unemployment rate in Escambia County decreased last month, according to data recently released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 4.7% in May, down from 4.9% in April. That represents 7,090 people out of work out of a county workforce of 151,713. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 11.3%, or 16,181 people.
The area’s private sector employment increased by 9,100 jobs over the year, an increase of 6.1 percent. The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, increasing by 2,800 jobs, and professional and business services, increasing by 2,300 jobs.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in May 2021, up 0.1 percentage point from the April 2021 rate, and down 9.3 percentage points from a year ago. There were 503,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,314,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in May.
Pfizer Vaccine Available In Century Today
June 22, 2021
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination will be available in Century today from Community Health Northwest Florida.
The vaccine will be available to anyone ages 12 and up from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Century Pediatrics at 501 Church Street (go to the “dental” entrance on the side of the building).
Walk-ins are welcome, or call (850) 439-3358 for available appointment times.
Meeting Wednesday Night To Discuss Longleaf Drive Improvements
June 22, 2021
A public meeting will be held Wednesday night discuss improvements to Longleaf Drive in the area of Pine Forest High School and other school campuses.
Improvements will be discussed on Longleaf Drive from Pine Forest Road to Marcus Bayou Bridge during the meeting from 5:30-7 p.m. at Longleaf Elementary School, 2600 Longleaf Drive.
Longleaf Drive is being redesigned to include improved mobility for vehicles and pedestrians connecting our neighbors to schools, parks and businesses within the corridor. Improvements include roadway, drainage, lighting, bridge, landscaping and a new trail within the existing rights-of-way. This will be a meeting to share concerns and opportunities with county staff, including District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
Fire Damages Home On Washington Street In Cantonment
June 21, 2021
Fire damaged a home in Cantonment early Monday morning.
The fire was reported about 5:30 a.m. on Washington Street at a home that appeared to be unoccupied or abandoned.
There were no injuries reported and no word on the cause of the fire.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Bridge Open As Perdido River Falls; Escambia River Still Rising
June 21, 2021
The Perdido River is falling, and the Escambia River is still rising following heavy rain from Tropical Storm Claudette.
The Barrineau Park Bridge has been reopened. After reaching a crest of 14.15 feet, above flood stage of 13 feet, the Perdido River at the bridge is falling. At noon Monday, the river was at 10.58 feet.
The Escambia River at Century was at 14.89 feet at noon Monday and is expected to crest at 15.2 feet late Wednesday early other Thursday. Action stage is 12 feet; flood stage is 17 feet.
Picture above and first below: The Barrineau Park Bridge over the Perdido River Monday morning. Pictured bottom: The bridge flooded on Saturday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ascend Park Probably Won’t Open This Summer; Playground Equipment To Be Replaced
June 21, 2021
The Ascend Park in Cantonment likely won’t be open this summer, and it has nothing to do with COVID-19.
The park was closed last year due to the pandemic, and Ascend officials say it is need of extensive renovations before it reopens.
“The playground equipment at Ascend park is nearing 20 years of use. Due to safety concerns, many deteriorating wooden sections are in need of replacement,” Tony Ferguson, senior communications specialist for Ascend Performance Materials, told NorthEscambia.com.
“We value our community and want to continue to provide children a safe place to play, so a plan is underway to replace the playground with new structures made from recycled plastics for better durability. The park will be closed until this process is complete,” Ferguson said. “At this time, we do not anticipate the park will be open this summer.”
NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated.
Pictured: A portion of the Ascend Park on Old Chemstrand Road. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Showers And Thunderstorms Tonight, Possible Heavy Rainfall
June 21, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 71. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Florida Chamber Grades Local Legislators
June 21, 2021
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has released its official 2021 Florida Chamber Legislative Report Card, showcasing grades earned by all 160 legislators in the Florida House and Senate based on their votes during the 2021 legislative session.
Sen. Doug Broxson earned 100% “A” with all of his votes matching chamber positions.
Newcomer Rep. Michelle Salzman earned a grade of 86% for a “B,” voting in favor of a bill not supported by the chamber. HB 651 would have authorized parents of adult children to recover damages for mental pain and suffering in medical negligence suits.
Rep. Alex Andrade earned a 94% for an A, losing points because he also voted for HB 651.
Salzman lost more points than Andrade because she cast more votes favor of HB 651 as a member of committees that considered the bill before a floor vote.
“The Florida Chamber’s 2021 Legislative Report Card is an annual opportunity to recognize members of the Florida Legislature who placed making Florida more competitive through private-sector job creation above special interests and attempts to protect the status quo,” the chamber said.
“Florida’s economy won with the Florida Chamber-backed, pro-jobs policy passed during the 2021 Legislative Session,” said Florida Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Wilson. “The actions taken by Gov. DeSantis and Florida’s lawmakers will go a long way in continuing to build momentum towards creating the more than 2 million jobs necessary to take Florida from the 17th largest economy in the world to the 10th largest by 2030 and securing Florida’s future.”