Alabama Sheriff Says If You Litter, He Wants You Sentenced To Pick Up Trash For 40 Hours
July 28, 2021
The sheriff of Escambia County, Alabama, says if you are caught littering on a public road in his county, he’ll ask the judge to sentence you to pick up roadside trash.
Sheriff Heath Jackson asked, “How hard is it to use a trash can?”
His comments came Tuesday after eight inmates picked up a full trailer load of trash on county roads in just eight hours (pictured).
“We should be ashamed of ourselves,” Jackson said. “If we catch you throwing trash out of your window, I will be asking the judge to assign you to an inmate crew for 40 hours of community service to see how you like it. We are better than this!”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged In 2020 Fatal Hit And Run
July 28, 2021
An Escambia County man was arrested Tuesday for a fatal hit and run that claimed the life of a pedestrian last year.
Brian Justin Morgan, 50, was charged in connection with the death of a 59-year old female killed November 8, 2020. The Florida Highway Patrol said Morgan’s vehicle collided with the woman on Saufley Field Road near St. Anne Catholic Church.
FHP said the woman was just outside her neighborhood when she was hit. She was thrown onto the shoulder and remained on the shoulder with fatal injuries for an unknown period of time, according to troopers
An FHP investigation determined Morgan and his vehicle were involved.
Morgan was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond on felony charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and driving with a suspended license.
With Seven Homers, M-Braves Beat The Wahoos 9-3
July 28, 2021
After being no-hit for five innings, the M-Braves clubbed seven homers en route to a convincing 9-3 win on Tuesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The end of the game distracts from its start, which featured a brilliant pitching performance from Kyle Nicolas in his Double-A debut.
The right-hander consistently flashed a fastball in the upper 90s while striking out a bevy of M-Brave batters. He struck out one in the first, then another two in the second, before striking out the side in the third. Despite four walks on the night, Nicolas finished his outing with no hits allowed and eight strikeouts across five shutout innings.
There was a brief injury scare when Nicolas was struck by a line drive from the last batter he faced in his outing (Trey Harris). Fortunately, the ball hit off his back and popped up to the second baseman Demetrius Sims, who made the catch to end the inning.
The game also started positively for the Wahoos in the first inning when they took a 1-0 lead. After JJ Bleday doubled, he scored on a two-out RBI base hit from Lazaro Alonso in his first game back in over a month with the Wahoos.
Once Nicolas left the game, things turned south for the Wahoos very quickly. The bullpen surrendered seven homers in the final four innings, including four solo homers in the top of the seventh. Six different M-Braves hit home runs, and top Atlanta’s top catching prospect, Shea Langeliers turned in a multi-homer performance.
The Wahoos scored two runs late, but never seriously mounted a comeback challenge as Pensacola dropped its fifth game in a row, and its ninth in 10 tries.
The series continues tomorrow evening as the Wahoos try to tie up the series on Wednesday night. RHP Max Meyer (4-1, 1.80) takes the hill for Pensacola against RHP Bryce Elder (3-1, 3.60
Escambia County Agrees To Provide $450,000 For Century Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
July 27, 2021
The Town of Century and Escambia County have entered into an interlocal agreement under which the county will provide $450,000 to improve wastewater infrastructure in Century.
Century will use the funding for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant, including the rebuilding of a clarifier, replacement of pumps and controls, repair of a filter, repair of cracks and more. In addition, nine sewage lift stations will be rehabilitated and the master lift station for the Century Correctional Institution will be repaired and improved.
The necessary upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant, lift stations, and associated infrastructure will allow Century to achieve compliance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
Century will be required to submit invoices and other documentation in order to receive payment from the county on a reimbursement basis.
In February 2020, the Escambia County Commission approved the use of Deepwater Horizon oil spill RESTORE funds for the Century wastewater project. In March 2021, the BOCC moved $450,000 in local option sales money from a West Roberts Road/Eleven Mile Creek Regional Stormwater Ponds Project to the Century project, and moved RESTORE funds from the Century project back to the West Roberts/Eleven Mile Creek project.
Essentially, both projects kept the fully allocated amount, just from different funding sources through the county.
The funding source switch was made due to Century’s need for a match requirement for Florida Department of Environmental Protection Revolving Loan Fund. The RESTORE funding would have been a lengthier process. The funding structure will allow both projects to proceed without schedule delays, according to county documentation.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County New COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Almost Double In A Week
July 27, 2021
The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Escambia County have both almost doubled in the past week.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said as of Monday afternoon there were 107 COVID-19 patients in Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. A week before, were a combine 58 COVID-19 patients in the three major hospitals.
“Obviously the concern is we went for a long period of time where we were under 50, to now where we are at 107. To have that almost really go up 50 people since last weekend, obviously there are concerns,” Robinson said during a Monday news conference.
As of Friday, Baptist Health Care has treated a total of 65 patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19. Of those, 57 were unvaccinated.
The Florida Department of Health reported 757 new COVID-19 cases in Escambia County as of Friday, up from 390 new positives in the week prior. The positivity rate in Escambia County stands at 19.9%.
Robinson said a mask mandate had been discussed with the hospital, but for now that’s not seen as the best course of action right now.
“We all agreed the best action was to encourage mask for those unvaccinated but to really push for vaccinations. The vaccine is much more effective than the mask and we encourage all of those eligible to get it,” the mayor said.
NWS Adding New ‘Destructive’ Severe Thunderstorm Warning That Will Alert On Your Phone
July 27, 2021
The National Weather Service is adding two new thunderstorm warning categories, one of which will trigger an alert of your phone.
Severe thunderstorms can be life-threatening, but not all severe storms are the same. Hazardous conditions range from tornadoes, large hail storms, and widespread straight-line winds called derechos, to cloud-to-ground lightning and flash flooding. Starting August 2, the National Weather Service will work to better convey the severity and potential impacts from thunderstorm winds and hail by adding a “damage threat” tag to severe thunderstorm warnings, similar to tornado and flash flood warnings.
The NWS developed three categories of damage threat for severe thunderstorm warnings. The categories, in order of highest to lowest damage threat, are destructive, considerable, and base. These tags and additional messaging are designed to promote immediate action, based on the threats:
- The criteria for a destructive damage threat is at least 2.75 inch diameter (baseball-sized) hail and/or 80 mph thunderstorm winds. Warnings with this tag will automatically activate a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones within the warned area.
- The criteria for a considerable damage threat is at least 1.75 inch diameter (golf ball-sized) hail and/or 70 mph thunderstorm winds. This will not activate a WEA.
- The criteria for a baseline or “base” severe thunderstorm warning remains unchanged, 1.00 inch (quarter-sized) hail and/or 58 mph thunderstorm winds. This will not activate a WEA. When no damage threat tag is present, damage is expected to be at the base level.
On average, only 10 percent of all severe thunderstorms reach the destructive category each year, nationwide. Most of these storms are damaging wind events such as derechos and some of the larger, more intense thunderstorms, called “Supercell” storms that can typically produce very large hail in their path. The new destructive thunderstorm category conveys to the public urgent action is needed, a life-threatening event is occurring and may cause substantial damage to property. Storms categorized as destructive will trigger a WEA to your cell phone.
Hot, Steamy, And A Chance Of Rain For Tuesday
July 27, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
AG Consumer Alert: Beware of Scammers Trying to Exploit Child Tax Credit Payments
July 27, 2021
Attorney General Ashley Moody today issued a Consumer Alert warning that scammers may attempt to target recipients of the Child Tax Credit payments. Eligible parents have started to receive a monthly advance payment on the Child Tax Credit as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. An estimated 36 million families will continue to receive payments from the Internal Revenue Service of up to $300 per child, per month.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Anytime the federal government is doling out huge amounts of money, scammers pounce — trying to make a quick, dishonest dollar. With this latest round of federal stimulus money slated to be distributed, parents should be on the lookout for scams.”
Attorney General Moody is asking eligible Floridians to stay informed about the payment schedule to avoid scams and to seek out verified sources of information, such as the IRS, to stay up to date. The following tips will also help Floridians spot and avoid scams related to the Child Tax Credit payments:
- Eligible families will receive payments automatically and do not have to sign up or register for Child Tax Credit payments;
- The IRS will never randomly call, text, email or direct message anyone asking for money or personal information. If asked, hang up immediately and directly contact the business or agency that the fraudster was impersonating;
- The IRS will never ask for payment via gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency; and
- Any offers to speed up the delivery time of a Child Tax Credit payment is a scam.
Boil Water Notice Lifted For Residents In Stacey Road, Quintette, Highway 95A Area
July 27, 2021
On Tuesday, Cottage Hill Water Works lifted a precautionary boil water notice that was issued Monday following a 4-inch water main break on Stacey Road. The boil water notice was rescinded after the satisfactory completion of bacteriological sampling.
The boil water notice was effect for customers that reside on Stacey Road north to Quintette Road, and Highway 95A north to St. Matthews Lane.
For more information, call Cottage Hill Water Works at (850) 968-5485.
Cantonment Man That Went Missing On His Way To Work Found Safe
July 27, 2021
A Cantonment man that went missing July 19 after leaving for work has been found safe, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
Michael L. Lady, 62, was last seen about 5 a.m. on July 19. He left Petty Street, just off Tate Road, on a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 motorcycle headed to work in Panama City.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
