The Bill Is In The Mail? USPS Returns Mail To Sender Six Years Later
August 3, 2021
An employee at Century Water Works received a few unexpected surprises in the mail.
Central Water Works mailed the pictured water bill to a local address on September 16, 2015.
Monday, almost six years later, the bill arrived back at the water company on Byrneville Road with a yellow U.S. Postal Service “Return to sender” sticker dated July 31, 2021.
It was one six pieces of mail addressed by Central Water Works to the same person over a three-month period in 2015 that were all just returned by the post office.
We’ve reached out to the U. S. Postal Service (by email, not postal mail) for any possible explanation, and we’ll let you know what they say.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County (AL) High School Coach Dies In Mobile Wreck
August 2, 2021
A local high school coach died in a wreck Monday in Mobile.
The Mobile Police Department said 39-year old Kasuan D. Bullard was pronounced deceased at the scene of a traffic crash Monday morning on the Cochran Causeway. Bullard was a football and basketball coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Bullard was attempting to make a U-turn when his vehicle collided with a dump truck, according to Mobile Police.
The driver of truck was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Monday Armed Robbery Of Pine Forest Road Dollar General Under Investigation
August 2, 2021
The search continues for a suspect in the Monday armed morning robbery of an Dollar General store on Pine Forest Road.
A white male armed with a gun walked into the Dollar General on Pine Forest just north of Highway 297A about 9:23 Monday morning and asked the clerk for $5. He fled in a yellow car with “small amount” of cash, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
No additional information was available. We will post an update if surveillance images or additional details are released.
File photo.
Central Water Works Temporarily Closes Business Office After COVID-19 Exposure
August 2, 2021
Century Water Works has temporarily closed their business office to the public due to staff exposure to COVID-19.
The office is expected to remain closed until at least August 9.
Central Water Works serves about 1,000 members in the McDavid, Byrneville, Century and Flomaton areas from their business office on Byrneville Road.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Staffing Issues Temporarily Close Century Work Camp; Inmates Moved To Main Prison
August 2, 2021
The Century Work Camp has been temporarily shut down due to staffing issues.
About 60 inmates have been moved from the Century CI Work Camp into the main unit at Century Correctional Institution, Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Press Secretary Paul Walker told NorthEscambia.com.
“Staff recruitment and retention is a top agency priority,” Walker said.
Century Correctional Institution is one of several facilities across the state currently offering $1,000 hiring bonuses for newly certified correctional officers.
“Currently, a large number of FDC’s major institutions are at or below critical staffing levels. FDC is working through various measures to mitigate this staffing crisis, including the temporary suspension of some work squads. Work squads will resume when staffing levels allow them to operate while also adequately staffing the institution,” Walker said.
Some of the measures FDC is implementing to address critical staffing at institutions across the state include:
- Transitioning correctional institutions from 12-hour shifts to 8.5-hour shifts, as recommended by national experts and strongly supported through data analysis of safety trends and attrition rates
- Offering $1,000 hiring bonuses at institutions with 10% or more staff vacancy rate
- Offering $1,000 hiring bonus for returning certified staff
- Increased rate of pay to $33,500 for (noncertified) correctional officer trainees
- Opened positions for part-time OPS Certified Correctional Officers
- Reduced the wait time for Correctional Officer Trainees to enter the academy for certification
- Changed the framework of correctional officer academies to allow for mid-course entry
- Temporarily closing dorms
- Suspended FDC-supervised work squads
- Consolidating some work camps and annexes into main institutions
The Century Work Camp is located on Tedder Road, just west of Century Correctional Institution.
Pictured: The Florida Department of Corrections Century Work Camp. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Takes The Chess Challenge To Homeless Camp Under I-110
August 2, 2021
Rafael Lopez of Cantonment loves the game of chess, and he is passionate about sharing that love.
Sunday, he set up his oversized chess board in what might seem like a very unlikely place — a homeless camp under I-110 in Pensacola.
Lopez was met by a large group of men and women that call the tent city home. It was hot, almost noon, when Lopez arrived.
“You could see the mood change instantly when we pulled up. Curiously at first, then once they knew we were there for good, many of them assisted me with putting the board together,” he said.
He supplied the pizza, doughnuts and water. And he gave away about 20 chess boards to those who wanted to play in the future.
“They asked me if I was going to come back and it’s hard for me to turn down a game of chess with anyone, so I agreed to another Sunday at the end of the month,” he said.
“The Chess Challenge” is Lopez’s charity. He said it will help the community by teaching better decisions through chess. He wants to create a “chess culture” in Escambia County and will fund a competitive tournament that will award a scholarship, cash or prizes.
“We brought a bunch of strangers at a homeless encampment together, and they were united through chess,” Lopez said.
Anyone that wants to help Lopez or participate in his next event can contact Lopez at RILopez818@gmail.com or call (850) 208-1996.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: Pensacola State College Reverses Course On Excused COVID-19 Absences For Unvaccinated, Rescinds Mask Mandate
August 2, 2021
Pensacola State College has rescinded a previously announced mask mandate that was set to begin Monday August 2, and the college has reversed course on not allowing excused abscesses related to COVID-19 for the unvaccinated.
The mask policy would have applied to vaccinated and unvaccinated students, faculty, employees and visitors indoors on a PSC campus.
In an email to students on Sunday (pictured below), PSC President Ed Meadows rescinded that policy, announcing instead that mask are only recommended, especially for unvaccinated persons. He also announced that only those who are vaccinated or exempted for medical reasons will be excused for any absences due to COVID-19 infections or quarantines.
Late Monday afternoon, the college announced that COVID-19 absences will may excused for any student or employee (emails below).
“COVID related absences are now being treated as all other illness related absences. Excused absences for COVID-19 are not guaranteed and students should work with their instructors regarding the possibility of making up missed assignment,” Meadows said in an email.
Here is the full text of the email from Meadows on Sunday:
Here is the full text of emails sent to students and employees on Monday:
Florida Gas Prices Remain Steady
August 2, 2021
Florida gas prices have seen little change during the past week. The state average of $2.97 per gallon is the same as last week, according to AAA.
That’s four cents per gallon less than a month ago, but 43 cents more than one year ago.
The average price in Escambia County was $3.01. In North Escambia, a low of $2.89 could be found at three Cantonment stations. In Pensacola, the warehouse clubs were at $2.81.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
It’s Still Hurricane Season, And We Are Climbing Toward The Statistical Peak
August 2, 2021
Now that we are in August, we’ve started the climb toward the statistical peak of hurricane season.
So far, 2021 is already on its way to being an active year. We’ve seen five named storms, including one hurricane (Elsa). Normally by August 1, we would have seen just two named storms with none of them becoming a hurricane.
As we get further along into August and September, storm tracks into the Gulf of Mexico become more climatologically favored.
The National Weather Service says don’t wait to prepare for the rest of hurricane season. Review your plans now, check your disaster supplies and know what you will do if a storm threatens our area.
Above: Typical August hurricane tracks.
Above: Typical September hurricane tracks.
Blue Wahoos Breakout With Big Win On Jay High Day At The Ballpark
August 2, 2021
The Blue Wahoos touted tandem, outfielders J.J. Bleday and Griffin Conine, made sure Sunday was a fun day — Jay High Day at the ballpark.
And maybe a well-needed one, too.
After what had been a rough homestand, both with weather and team results, Bleday and Conine put a charge into the mood by producing two big hits apiece and six runs batted in, as the Blue Wahoos busted out with an 11-3 victory against the Mississippi Braves in the final game of their series.
While the M-Braves took four of the six games, what occurred Sunday among an energized crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium left a good mood to finish the weekend.
“We want to just keep building off (Sunday),” said Bleday, who went 2-for-5, scored three runs and scorched the ball in four plate appearances. “We have been struggling.. We have been letting some games affect us, but today we did a really good job.. We came out hot.”
That started with Bleday’s lead-off single in the first inning, followed an out later by Conine’s two-run blast off a 99-mph fastball. The moon shot exited his bat and carried 441 feet over right center wall, bounced on the concourse, then bounded out of the stadium.
It continued Conine’s lead as the top home run hitter (26) in Minor League Baseball.
“This series (M-Braves) did a really good job of fastballs up every at bat,” said Conine, who was elevated a week ago from the Beloit Snappers, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate where he hit 23 homers.
“(M-Braves pitchers) all throw 96 to 98 (mph) and that is tough to get on top off. So (Sunday) I really put emphasis in pregame work with fastball machine.
“Getting one (homer) in the first (inning) was awesome. It was a lot of fun out there today.”
The enjoyment carried through the stadium. It was Jay Day at the ballpark, complete with Jay High School’s band, their cheerleaders and their principal all part of pregame activities.
They started the festivities, then the Blue Wahoos followed with their performance.
Riley Mahan followed Conine’s homer with a solo shot in the first. The Blue Wahoos then knocked out M-Braves starter Victor Vodnik with a four-run second inning, highlighted by Bleday’s 2-run triple.
Vodnik was strong in Mississippi’s win Tuesday in the first game of the series, but faced only 12 batters Sunday when pulled with one out in the second on Jay High Day at the ballpark.
Seven of the nine batters in the Blue Wahoos lineup factored into the scoring. The big boost came from the bottom of the order with J.D. Orr, Connor Justus and Galli Cribbs Jr. combining for five hits, six runs scored and they reached base a combined 10 times in the game.
After the Blue Wahoos game Friday night was rained out, the team ended a seven-game losing streak by winning Saturday’s first game of a doubleheader and followed Sunday with one of the top performances this season.
“I think (postponement) allowed guys to get some rest and hit the reset button,” Bleday said. “These last two games we won were a good area where we want to be at.”
Will Stewart, as he’s so often done this season, delivered a quality start on the mound. He worked five innings, allowed just hits, one walk and struck out six to earn his fourth win.
Four relievers followed. The Blue Wahoos turned three double-plays and new catcher Santiago Chavez threw out the M-Braves’ Justin Dean trying to steal third in the first inning.
In all, the Blue Wahoos got 11 runs on 11 hits. They will now head to Biloxi for a week-long series against the Shuckers at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
His first week in Pensacola left Conine with a good impression of the crowd setting at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“The ballpark is awesome,” said Conine, 24, the son of Jeff Conine, a 17-year Major League player, two-time All Star, who led the Marlins to both of their World Series titles.
“It is really fun,” he said. “The fans are really into it. I know Beloit is getting a new ballpark (opens Tuesday), but playing in the old one, I’m definitely not used to the fan electricity and the buzz at the ballpark like here.”
It was Jay Day in a big way at the ballpark. The Jay HS band entertained fans outside the stadium before the game with various songs. The band then performed the National Anthem.
The Jay High varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads also performed before the game.
New principal Benjie West, a Jay graduate who took over June 4, threw out the first pitch. In addition, the Jay 10-under girls softball team was honored before the game for winning a state tournament championship.
by Bill Vilona, Senior Writer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos