Escambia County Unemployment Rate Increases
July 17, 2021
The unemployment rate in Escambia County increased last month, according to data recently released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 5.6% in June, up from 4.8% in May. That represents 8,576 people out of work out of a county workforce of 153,520. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 8.8%, or 12,571 people.
The area’s private sector employment increased by 4,800 jobs over the year, an increase of 3.1 percent. The industries gaining the most jobs over the year include professional and business services, increasing by 1,400 jobs; leisure and hospitality, increasing by 1,000 jobs; and education and health services, increasing by 1,000 jobs.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in June 2021, up 0.1 percentage point from the May 2021 rate, and down 6.6 percentage points from a year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in June.
Blue Wahoos Fall 4-0 To Chattanooga
July 17, 2021
In his first start back from the Futures Game, Jake Eder produced another quality start but was not backed by the offensive production he needed as Pensacola was defeated 4-0 by Chattanooga Friday night.
Eder pitched six complete innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits to fall to 3-3 on the season.
The Blue Wahoos did not have a hit until Demetrius Sims’ infield single in the sixth inning. Peyton Burdick and Galli Cribbs Jr. picked up a hit a piece but the Wahoos struggled with runners in scoring position.
Mac Sceroler pitched four hitless innings for the Lookouts and Randy Wynne (W, 2-4) tossed a clean fifth inning to secure the win.
The series continues tomorrow with RHP Zach McCambley (2-5, 4.48) getting the start for the first time in Pensacola.
Escambia Reports 390 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week
July 17, 2021
There were 390 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health. That’s compared to 208 new positives reported in the week prior.
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate; the number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities has been removed.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,845 (+390)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 13.6%
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,999 (+219)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 15.0%
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 2,361,360 (+45,604)
Case positivity rate: 11.5%
Deaths: 38,388 (+59)
Still Time To Register For Tate Youth Football Camp
July 17, 2021
There is still time register in advance and save money on the 2021 Tate Youth Football Camp, which will be held July 19-20 from 5-8 p.m.
The camp will be directed by the Tate coaching staff, assisted by Tate football players. This is an opportunity to work on fundamentals, practice agility, run through drills and learn about being part of a team.
The cost is $50 in advance, or $60 on the day of the camp. Attendees will receive a t-shirt. No football equipment will be needed. Cleats are recommended but not required.
To register, click or tap here. For more information, click the graphic on this page to enlarge.
Escambia County Apartment Fire Displaces 37 People, Destroys 16 Units
July 16, 2021
About three dozen people were left without a home after fire ripped through an Escambia County apartment complex overnight.
The three-alarm fire was reported about 12:18 a.m. at the Peachtree Commons Apartments on Twin Oak Drive, off New Warrington Road.
All 16 apartments in one building were damaged, displacing 37 occupants, according to Escambia County. No occupants were injured, but two firefighters were treated on scene and released. One was related to heat stress and fatigue and the other was struck by falling ceiling debris. One at was located and rescued during the search.
“Smoke alarms were present and operated allowing most residents to self-evacuate,” said Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale.
The American Red Cross is assisting, and the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson was called in to investigate the cause.
“Upon arrival, heavy smoke and flames were visible from the second story end unit of a two-story wood frame apartment. The fire was already in the attic and void space of three additional units upon arrival. Firefighters had the fire under control at 4:28 a.m. The total scene time for the first alarm assignment was nearly six hours,” Coale said.
“Initial companies arrived within five minutes of the initial dispatch, crews and performed a rapid interior fire attack and search. Advanced fire conditions and challenges with the building construction (double roof and numerous voids) caused the initial quick knockdown and progress to be lost eventually causing heavy fire damage to the entire 2nd floor with significant water damage to the entire first floor. Rapid search and evacuation procedures prevented any civilian injuries, and crews spent a great deal of time during overhaul salvaging and returning important items to the occupants,” according to Escambia County.
Charter Review Committee Votes To Change Century’s Form Of Government
July 16, 2021
The Century Charter Review Committee decided Thursday that the town’s form of government needs to be changed, transferring most of the mayor’s powers to a city manager.
The committee is tasked with updating the charter — the document that legally establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The committee has meet periodically since October 2019, and Thursday evening was the first formal vote taken.
On a motion by Michelle Cunningham, the committee voted 5-0 that a charter rewrite would form a city manager — council form of government, making the elected mayor a weak position, perhaps mostly a figurehead.
The city manager would control the day to day operations of the town, and the town council would continue to pass ordinances, resolutions and take care of other town business. The exact duties of the mayor will not become clear until the charter review committee moves forward with their work.
Chairperson Mary Hudson Bourgeois said it was time for the committee to make the crucial decision on a new form of government in order to move forward with the charter updates.
“We need to know where we are going, what direction, so we can start putting the pieces together,” she said. “This give us the opportunity to start working on the duties of each.”
At their next meeting, the charter review committee will look at the duties for the city manager, council and mayor.
The committee will then move forward with rewriting the charter. Once they are done, it will go before the town council before ultimately going on the ballot for a vote by Century residents.
Unless approved by voters, none of the committee’s actions will actually be implemented.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee member Michelle Cunningham made a motion Thursday change Century’s form a government. Pictured below: Committee member Brenda Spencer listens to the discussion. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Area Residents Indicted As Members Of A White Supremacist Gang For Violent Crimes In Aid Of Racketeering
July 16, 2021
Three Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents were among members of a white supremacist gang indicted for violent crimes in aid of racketeering, according to federal indictments unsealed Thursday.
According to the indictment, the defendants were members of Unforgiven, a racketeering enterprise engaged in acts of murder, violence, kidnapping, robbery, obstruction of justice, and other offenses. The indictment also alleges that Unforgiven used “corrupt law enforcement officers and state employees” to gather information about people, investigations, and prosecutions, and to smuggle contraband to incarcerated inmates. The indictment charges each of the 16 defendants with committing at least one violent act in aid of Unforgiven, including kidnappings, conspiracies to commit assault, threats of violence, and assaults with deadly weapons.
Maverick Maher (aka “Saxon”), age 39 of Pensacola, was charged with assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity, and multiple counts of threats of violence in aid of racketeering activity.
George Andrews II (aka “Shrek”), age 51 of Pensacola, was charged with assault in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity
Brandon Welch (aka “Scumbag”), age 34 of Milton, was charged with assault in aid of racketeering.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.
District 5 Quintette Neighborhood Cleanup Collects 24 Tons of Debris
July 16, 2021
Escambia County collected and disposed of approximately 24 tons (48,000 pounds) of debris during the District 5 Quintette Neighborhood Cleanup recently, as part of the county’s ongoing effort to help keep local neighborhoods and communities clean and safe. The event allowed residents to leave items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by the county and partnering agencies.
The cleanup on July 7 resulted in collection of 24.7 tons of debris, 400 pounds of household hazardous waste and more than 101 tires placed at curbside for pickup.
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive clean-up effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items. Since 2016, more than 3,259 tons (6,518,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
The county’s neighborhood cleanup program is hosted by the Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. Local partners include Escambia County Waste Services, Environmental Code Enforcement, Public Works, Animal Services and Road Prison, along with the City of Pensacola Sanitation Department.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets 25 Years For Hot Vehicle Death Of Her 2-Year Old Child
July 16, 2021
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to 25 years in state prison Thursday for the hot car death of her child. The child spent about nine hours in the vehicle.
Jessica Lynn Monell, 38, entered a plea of no contest to aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect. She previously entered no contest pleas to multiple charges involving possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia.
On April 10, 2019, Monell’s two-year-old child was found deceased in Monell’s van parked outside the home. The subsequent investigation revealed that Monell had ingested methamphetamine and forgot to remove her child from the van. The child was strapped in her car seat from approximately 6 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The medical examiner determined that the child’s cause of death was hyperthermia. At the scene, Monell consented to a blood draw and methamphetamine was found in her blood.
A search warrant was executed on the home and various drugs and paraphernalia were found. The child’s autopsy report revealed that the child had a trace amount of methamphetamine in her system as well.
Mission Outreach: Church Takes VBS To Century Park (With Gallery)
July 16, 2021
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia took their “Mystery Island’ Vacation Bible School on the road to a park in Century Thursday afternoon as missions outreach.
They invited neighborhood children to take part in music, Bible stories and more while at the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
