Flomaton Votes To Cancel Fireworks Show With Century; Century Council Can’t Vote Without Quorum
June 9, 2020
It now looks certain that the annual Century-Flomaton fireworks show won’t happen this year for the Fourth of July.
The show is funded by both communities, and it alternates locations each year from Showalter and Anthony Pleasant parks in Century to Hurricane Park in Flomaton. This year’s show was set to be in Century.
Century Council President Ann Brooks called a special council meeting for Monday morning to discuss the future of the show, but only one other council member – Ben Boutwell – joined the teleconference meeting. Council members Louis Gomez, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and James Smith were virtual no-shows for the meeting\. Without a quorum of the members on the call, the meeting could not progress.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said Monday afternoon said he would be waiting to see what Flomaton wanted to do, possibly still contributing Century’s portion of the cost to Flomaton.
But Monday evening, the Flomaton Town Council voted not to take part in a fireworks show this year.
Barring any drastic last minute action by the Century Town Council at their next meeting on June 15, the fireworks show will not happen this year.
This year’s Sertoma 4 of July Fireworks Celebration in Pensacola has also been canceled due to the coronavirus, permitting issues, and a lack of funding.
Northview High Creates Senior Honors Video For The Class Of 2020
June 9, 2020
Northview High School created a video to honor the 70 members of the Class of 2020 that would have been recognized during the annual Senior Honors Night.
Gulf Power Donates $300K For Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grants; Application Deadline Is Friday
June 9, 2020
A second round of grants from the Florida SBDC at UWF will be available for eligible businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to an additional $300,000 contribution from Gulf Power through its economic development fund. The Northwest Florida Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program assists for-profit businesses in Northwest Florida with their immediate cash flow needs as a result of a demonstrated economic impact due to COVID-19.
“Once again we are grateful for Gulf Power’s support to continue this grant program that will benefit small businesses,” said Kelly Massey, Regional Director of the Florida SBDC at UWF. “We know that many businesses across Northwest Florida continue to suffer, and a grant program like this can help a local small business make it through these challenging times.”
Gulf Power initially contributed $250,000 earlier this spring, which provided 50 local businesses with grants of up to $5,000. The application period for the second round of grants opens next week.
“We are honored to be able to provide additional assistance to our local businesses as we continue to navigate this pandemic together,” said Gulf Power President Marlene Santos. “Gulf Power is dedicated to continuing to find innovative ways to support our customers and our communities during these unprecedented times.”
The application period for the second round of grants will be open until 5 p.m. Friday, June 12. Only grant applications submitted during this timeframe will be eligible for review. Grant awards will be up to $5,000, and some of the eligibility requirements include:
- Must be a for-profit, privately held small businesses established on or before January. 1, 2019.
- Must maintain a place of business, including a physical location (commercial building), within eligible Northwest Florida counties (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Calhoun and Bay).
- Must have 11 to 29 employees.
- Must have a demonstrated reduction in sales revenues of 25% or more due to the loss of business income related to COVID-19.
- Can’t have been awarded another recent local grant facilitated by the Florida SBDC at UWF (Such as the Escambia County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant)
The Florida SBDC at UWF will receive these applications, and send eligible applications to a third-party review board created to approve the award of grant funding to each applicant on a case-by-case basis. UWF will distribute the appropriate funds to businesses who have been awarded grant funds.
The full list of eligibility requirements, steps to apply, and grant application can be found by scrolling down to the grant information link found at https://sbdc.uwf.edu/
Tree Causes Sewage Spill In Cantonment
June 9, 2020
The Emerald Coast Utilities authority cleaned up most of a sewage spill in a Cantonment cause by a tree and worked to prevent a larger overflow.
An overflow of an estimated 800 gallons occurred in the 1200 block of Lake Drive on June 7 due to tree root damage to a four-inch sewer force main, with 500 gallons recovered by vacuum trucks and transported to an ECUA Water Reclamation Facility for proper treatment and disposal. ECUA crews diverted an additional 3,000 gallons from the site to tanker trucks, preventing a larger overflow. Bacteriological sampling has been initiated.
ECUA crews repaired the force main and cleaned the overflow area with a biocide agent to eliminate any contamination concerns.
Gulf Power Completes Service Restoration To 25,000 After Tropical Storm Cristobal
June 8, 2020
Gulf Power has now restored service to all 25,000 customers across their service territory that were impacted by Tropical Storm Cristobal. Gulf Power’s parent company, Florida Power & Light , and contract crews assisted with the power restoration across the utility’s seven county service area in Northwest Florida. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Peaceful Black Lives Matter Demonstration Held In Century (With Photo Gallery)
June 8, 2020
A peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration was held Sunday along North Century Boulevard.
A few dozen people lined the sidewalks at the Nadine McCaw Park, commonly called Roadside Park, holding mostly homemade signs with statements that included “Black Lives Matter’, “Stop Killin’ Us”, “End Systemic Racism”, “When They See Us, Am I Next?”, “I Cant’ Breathe”, and “1 Band, 1 Sound”.
They waved at passing traffic during the demonstration, and many drivers double-honked their horns in support after seeing a sign that said “Honk Twice for Black Lives Matter”.
One demonstrator said the group was not protesting against law enforcement.
Several people stopped by and donated food and water to the group.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Two Trapped About 20 Minutes After Highway 29 Rollover Wreck
June 8, 2020
Two people were injured in a single vehicle rollover crash in Cantonment Sunday evening.
A sedan rolled over multiple times and came to rest against a tree on Highway 29 near the Cantonment Post Office just after 6 p.m.
It took about 20 minutes to extricate both individuals from the wreckage. They were transported to a Pensacola hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment, Ensley and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded and performed the extrication.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Vehicles Hit Tree After It Crashes Down Across North Highway 99
June 8, 2020
Two vehicles hit a tree that was downed Sunday night on North Highway 99 near the Florida/Alabama state line during Tropical Storm Cristobal.
The large tree split at the trunk and came crashing down completely across both lanes of Highway 99 at Bradberry Road in Bratt about 9:50 p.m. There were no injures when the vehicles hit the tree on the dark roadway.
It took a little over a half an hour to cut the tree and remove it from the highway with the assistance of the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist with blocking the road.
The Florida Highway Patrol also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Man Shot Sunday On Davis Highway
June 8, 2020
One person was injured in a shooting early Sunday morning in Escambia County.
Three females went to the Circle K on Davis Highway near Olive Road about 3 a.m. and said they thought someone had fired shots at their vehicle. Responding deputies found a black sedan behind the Arby’s on Davis Highway with blood in the driver’s seat. There was no one in the driver’s seat.
A male with gunshot would arrived at the West Florida Hospital about 5 a.m. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office did not release his name or condition.
No information on any possible suspect was released.
Florida Gas Prices Headed Up
June 8, 2020
Florida gas prices are rising. The state average is $1.90 per gallon – the most expensive in 9 weeks. While the average price increased only two cents last week, even larger increases are possible in the coming days, according to AAA.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $1.89, up nine cents from a week ago and 27 cents from one month ago. The lowest price to be found in North Escambia Sunday night was $1.93 at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road, but in Pensacola gas was at $1.71 at a warehouse club.
The $1.90 per gallon state average is still 70 cents lower than this time last year.