Need To Get Rid Of A Real Christmas Tree? ECUA Will Pick It Up
December 30, 2023
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is ready to help you dispose of that real Christmas tree.
ECUA will turn it into compost.
Place the real tree or wreath out by the curb on your regular pick-up day, and it will be picked up as part of ECUA’s regular yard waste collection. Just make sure that the natural tree or wreath is free of ornaments, tinsel and stands.
ECUA will compost the trees with other yard waste at their Biosolids Composting Facility.
Allie Eubanks Named Beulah Academy of Science Teacher of the Year
December 30, 2023
Allie Eubanks is the Beulah Academy of Science Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is wrapping up 2023 by honoring the Teachers of the Year from North Escambia schools over the next several days. Escambia County’s overall Teacher of the Year will be named in February.
Second Florida Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Begins Next Week
December 29, 2023
As students head back to school in January, Florida is hold its second, two-week ack-to-School Sales Tax Holiday from Monday, January 1, 2024 through Sunday, January 14, 2024.
Parents will get a break from the state’s sales tax on school-related items, just like each Fall.. No Florida sales tax or local option tax will be collected during this time on the sale of the following items:
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories with a sales price of $100 or less per item
- Certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less
- Personal computers, laptops, monitors, and certain computer-related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use
Among the allowed school supplies are the following: calculators, colored pencils, crayons, pens, construction paper, lunch boxes, notebooks, glue, paste, staplers, markers, rulers, and scissors.
Examples of learning aids and jigsaw puzzles include electronic or interactive books, flashcards, memory games, puzzle books, search-and-find books, toys intended to teach reading or math skills, and stacking or nesting blocks or sets.
For detailed information, click or tap here (pdf).
Florida Commerece: Escambia Area Adds Jobs In 2023
December 29, 2023
FloridaCommerce announced that the Escambia area industry gaining the most jobs over the year was education and health services, increasing by 2,400 jobs. The Pensacola area’s private sector employment increased by 1,600 jobs, an increase of 0.9 percent over the year in November 2023.
The Escambia area’s labor force increased by 5,383 in November 2023, a 2.3 percent increase over the year. The Pensacola area unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in November 2023, up 0.6 percentage point from 2.6 percent from one year ago in November 2022.
Florida’s labor force continues to thrive, with 350,000 more people entering the labor force at an annual growth rate of 3.2 percent, faster than the national growth rate of 2.3 percent. Florida continues to outpace the nation in labor force growth for the 30th consecutive month. Florida’s private sector employment increased by 0.3 percent (+28,300 jobs) over the month in November 2023. Florida’s unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in November 2023, 0.8 percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent and marking the 37th consecutive month Florida’s unemployment rate has remained below the nations.
In November 2023, the education and health services sector gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 11,800 jobs from the previous month, followed by construction, adding 6,300 jobs.
Pensacola Launching New Parking App January 1
December 29, 2023
The City of Pensacola has partnered with ParkMobile to launch a new parking app for downtown city-owned parking spaces beginning Monday, Jan. 1.
The decision to partner with ParkMobile LLC, the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in the United States, was based on results from the city’s recent Downtown Parking Survey. 45 percent of survey respondents said they prefer to use an app to pay for parking, while 18 percent said that their biggest concern when parking downtown is difficulty using available payment methods.
“In Pensacola, a lot of drivers want to pay to park with an app,” Mayor Reeves said. “They also want an app that’s easy to use. That’s the number one goal of our partnership with ParkMobile — to help create a user-friendly downtown parking experience.”
The ParkMobile app has 50 million users across North America — more than 8 million in Florida — and holds the highest user rating for functionality with more than 1.2 million reviews.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 1, ParkMobile will be 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.
Tonight Is The Last Night To For Christmas Lights, Hayrides, Goats In Pajamas At Bratt Ranch
December 29, 2023
There’s one more chance planned for Friday night, December 29 to see tens of thousands of Christmas lights at Runamuck Ranch in Bratt.
And see the goats in pajamas.
The lights festival will be open Friday, December 29 from 5:30 until 9 p.m. The gate closes at 8:30 p.m., and the last hayride is at 8:15 p.m.
Nestled on three or four acres in the woods off Rigby Road, the display is walk-through (not a drive-through). Admission and parking are free, but donations are accepted.
Visitors walk a short distance from the parking lot down a lighted path and cross a small foot bridge into the Christmas wonderland. It’s in an open, park-like setting with lots of lights, inflatables, and animated displays.
Concessions are available — hot cocoa, popcorn, cotton candy, hot tea, bottled water and more are mostly $1 each. A S’mores kit will set you back just $3. Only cash is accepted. There are picnic tables and lounge chairs, and propane patio heaters if it’s cold.
Runamuck Ranch is located at 4951 Rigby Road in Bratt (about 1.5 miles from Bratt Elementary). Take Still Road south off West Highway 4 turn left on Rigby Road and look for the signs. Don’t expect to see a lot of lights from the road; it’s a driveway back to the parking lot. (We found that Google Maps was a bit off on the location; click here for a map to the driveway.)
Pictured: The Christmas lights festival at Runamuck Ranch in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured: The Christmas lights festival at Runamuck Ranch in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Offers Fireworks Safety Tips; Fireworks Blamed For Multiple Residential Fires
December 29, 2023
As Escambia County prepares for New Year’s Eve festivities, Escambia County Fire Rescue encourages residents who choose to purchase and display their own fireworks to utilize extra precautions and safety measures during the holiday.
As numerous Floridians choose to purchase their own fireworks, the number of residential structure fires has increased during holidays that are celebrated with fireworks.
Between 2017 and 2023, Escambia County experienced nine residential structure fires caused by fireworks. Seven of those fires were caused by fireworks that were improperly disposed of after their use.
Residents are also encouraged to use caution while using sparklers. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under five years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.
ECSO: Molino Man Attacked His Girlfriend With A Sword And Hammer On Christmas Eve
December 28, 2023
A Molino man allegedly attacked his girlfriend with a sword and hammer on Christmas Eve.
Dawain Bryant Baxter II, 46, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and battery by strangulation, both domestic violence related.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she invited Baxter, her boyfriend of four months, to come over for Christmas. He began to threaten and told her he would “bash your head in so you never wake up”, according to an arrest report.
Baxter then hit the woman in the forehead with a hammer, struck her across the chest with a sword and choked her until she passed out, the report continues. Deputies noted that she had injuries consistent with her allegations.
ECSO deputies later located Baxter at a convenience store on Highway 29 in Cantonment and found him with the sword.
Baxter said the woman had hit him in the stomach with a hammer. A deputy stated in his report that he only had a small scratch that did not appear to be caused by a hammer.
Baxter remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000.
Escambia Man Gets 23 Years For Beating 5 Kids With Belts, Cords
December 28, 2023
An Escambia County man has been convicted and sentenced to 23 years in state prison for child abuse.
Eric Suggs was convicted of aggravated child abuse and multiple additional child abuse charges.
On November 9, 2022, officers responded to a call regarding child abuse of five children between the ages of 13 months and 11 years. Subsequent investigation revealed that all the children had injuries from abuse with the 13-month old’s being the most extensive. According to the other children the 13-month-old was maliciously punished by being beaten with belts and charging cords to make the child walk.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
December 28, 2023
Jim Allen Elementary School has named third graders Aubrey Dorris and Januelle Soriano as Students of the Month for November. Also pictured below is October Student of the Month, fourth grader Sarah Simpson, who was absent when the award was presented the previous month. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
