Scattered Evening Storms Likely
August 3, 2024
A heat advisory is in effect again Saturday for a heat index reaching up to 110 degrees.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. East wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Suspended By Rain In Chattanooga
August 3, 2024
Friday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts was suspended due to rain in the top of the fifth inning, with the Lookouts leading 4-2 and the Blue Wahoos at the plate.
In a battle of two young arms, Pensacola righty Jacob Miller was greeted rudely in the first inning of his Double-A debut with a two-run homer from Southern League home run leader Nick Northcut.
The Blue Wahoos answered back in the second against Chattanooga’s Chase Petty, stringing together four hits and tying the game 2-2 on an RBI single from Nathan Martorella followed by an RBI double from Cody Morissette.
The Lookouts reclaimed a 4-2 lead in the third with RBI singles from Ruben Ibarra and Austin Callahan. Pensacola began to threaten in the top of the fifth, putting two runners aboard with one out for Joe Mack, before rain arrived just shy of the game becoming official.
The game will be completed on Saturday, August 3 at 5:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. CT, with the regularly scheduled game to follow no earlier than 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT.
McDavid Woman Charged With Stealing From Relative In Rehab
August 3, 2024
A McDavid woman has been charged with the alleged fraudulent use of her uncle’s debit card while was was away at rehab.
Lindsey Dawn Kelley, 41, was charged with petit theft, grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card over $300, and fraudulent use of a credit card two or more times to obtain goods over $100.
The victim told deputies that between July 15 and July 21, 2024, he was enrolled in a rehab program and was not at his residence. The total charges made on his card were $811 in Florida and $1,011.90 in Alabama, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, there was video evidence of the alleged withdrawals.
The victim told deputies that Kelley did not have permission to use his debit card or obtain money from his accounts.
Kelley said she had only used the debit card in the past with permission when the victim was with her, an arrest report states, before saying she definitely did not use it while he was away in rehab. The report states she changed her statement when confronted with the existence of video evidence.
Kelley may also face additional charges from the Flomaton Police Department, according to the report. She was released from the Escambia County (FL) Jail on a $17,000 bond.
Gregory Connor Weekes
August 3, 2024
Gregory Connor Weekes , age 31 , of Jay , Florida passed away July 31, 2024.
A visitation will be held Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Church , 14047 Alabama Street , Jay , Florida .
Funeral services will be held Friday , August 9, 2024, at noon at Cornerstone Christian Church .
Jay Funeral Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.
NHC Issuing Advisories On Storm
August 2, 2024
The National Hurricane Center is now issuing advisories for Potential Tropical Cyclone Four as it heads toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Confidence has slowly increased on most impacts staying well east of our area; however, be sure to continue to monitor the forecast into the weekend.
PTC 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby by Saturday night.
A tropical storm warning is now in effect for the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach. A tropical storm watch is now in effect for the Florida Keys south of the Card Sound Bridge including the Dry Tortugas, the southern coast of the Florida peninsula east of East Cape Sable to the Card Sound bridge, and for the west coast of the Florida peninsula north of Bonita Beach to Aripeka.
The latest details are in the graphic aboce.
Breakfast And Lunch Are Free For Every Student At 44 Escambia Schools; Others Must Apply
August 2, 2024
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, regardless of income, during the upcoming school year at 44 schools and centers in Escambia County. Applications must be submitted for free or reduced price lunches at all other schools.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program means that parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Meal program at that school. However, siblings attending schools not on the CEP list will need to apply for eligibility.
The free meal schools are selected based upon income levels.
Meal applications, or payment, will be required at: Beulah Elementary, Blue Angels Elementary, Cook Elementary, Cordova Park Elementary, Hellen Caro Elementary, Kingsfield Elementary, Suter Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, Ransom Middle, Tate High, and West Florida High.
Parents at these schools should plan on providing their child with money for their meals until eligibility is established to avoid creating a deficit in their account. Funds can be added to student accounts online at myschoolapps.com.
This program has been in place since 2015 in Escambia County and was not related to the pandemic.
Free meal schools are:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
- Bellview Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- C.A. Weis Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- O.J. Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Beulah Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Workman Middle
HIGH SCHOOLS
- Escambia High
- Northview High
- Pensacola High
- Pine Forest High
- Washington High
OTHER SCHOOLS AND CENTERS
- Acceleration Academy
- Achieve Academy
- Capstone
- Escambia Westgate Center
- Hope Horizon
- Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
- Success Academy
Free/reduced meal applications are available here.
Pictured: An Escambia County School lunch. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Pays $3.5 Million To Settle Federal Medicare Fraud Lawsuit
August 2, 2024
Escambia County has paid $3.5 million to resolve federal allegations that the county violated the False Claims Act by falsely billing government healthcare programs for emergency medical services and transportation.
The settlement resolves claims against Escambia County arising from ambulance and emergency medical technicians lacking the requisite certifications who then provided healthcare services via emergency medical services and transportation with Escambia County EMS during the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020.
“This settlement with Escambia County demonstrates our commitment to protect federal health care funds and to hold providers accountable for fraudulent billing especially when it impacts the safety and well-being of our citizens,” said Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Our office will continue to uphold the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs and vigorously pursue health care providers that defraud the government.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Rayme Edler. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.
This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Escambia County, nor a concession by the United States that its claims were not well-founded.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matte
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Big Parking Changes In Effect In Downtown Pensacola
August 2, 2024
As of August 1, big parking changes are in place in downtown Pensacola.
Those changes include:
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First 30 minutes of a paid session is free
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$1 per hour for on-street parking
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$1 per hour for North Palafox Lot (601 Commendencia Lot and South Palafox Marina Lot)
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$1 per hour for Jefferson Street Garage
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The 2-hour-only parking option will be eliminated.
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Paid Parking boundaries will be expanded.
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The hours of paid parking will be standardized in downtown.
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Paid Parking will be in effect from 8 am until 11:59 pm, Monday-Saturday.
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Sundays and National Holidays remain free
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Those parking in downtown will continue to enjoy their first half-hour of parking for free, after a parking session is initiated on the PARKMobile app or at a parking kiosk. New kiosks have been installed in the expanded areas.
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Palafox Street from Gregory Street to Main Street
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Zaragoza Street from Palafox Street to Tarragona Street
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Government Street from Palafox Street to Tarragona Street
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Jefferson Street from Government Street to Zaragoza Street
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Community Maritime Park - Surface lot (Excluding special events)
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Bayfront Parkway – Surface lot
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Belmont-DeVilliers – Surface lot
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South Palafox Marina – Surface lot (During select hours)
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601 Commendencia – Surface lot (During select hours, excluding special events)
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Spring Street
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Rues Street
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Main Street
The ParkMobile app is available for both iPhone and Android devices and may also be accessed on a mobile web browser. To pay for parking via the ParkMobile app or website, users will enter the zone number or scan the QR code found on the signs located within the parking zone, choose the duration of time they wish to park and select the “start parking” button.
Florida Attorney General Activates Price Gouging Hotline During State Of Emergency
August 2, 2024
Attorney General Ashley Moody has Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline following a state of emergency declaration for areas of the state preparing for Invest 97L, including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Florida’s price gouging law applies to items and services essential to getting ready for, or recovering from, a storm within the areas of a declared state of emergency.
“Invest 97L is expected to bring heavy rain and powerful winds to much of the state. To help Floridians prepare for this event, we are activating the price gouging hotline to accept reports of extreme price increases on essential commodities. As the system approaches, I’m urging Floridians to finalize their storm preparations, monitor weather reports and follow the guidance of local authorities. Stay Safe, Florida,” Moody said.
During a storm-related declared state of emergency, state law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities, such as equipment, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, lumber and water needed as a direct result of the weather event.
Anyone who suspects price gouging can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. For more information on price gouging, access Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging resource by clicking here.
Back To School Bash Saturday At Molino Library
August 2, 2024
The Molino Branch of the West Florida Libraries will host a Back to School Bash on Saturday.
The event will be held from noon until 2 p.m. with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) themed activities, a petty zoo, carnival themed games. and exhibitors.
The Molino Library is located at the Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A in Molino.