Gulf Power: We Are Prepared For An Active Hurricane Season
June 2, 2021
June 1 marked the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and Gulf Power says they are prepared.
As part of Florida Power & Light Company, preparing for hurricane season is a year-round process for Gulf Power, including an annual intensive weeklong drill involving thousands of employees throughout the state. The company also invests in continuously improving the energy grid to make it stronger, smarter and more storm-resilient, which results in better reliability for customers in both good weather and bad.
“As we saw last year during Hurricane Sally, a storm can change course at any time, and we must all be ready for whatever comes our way,” said Mike Spoor, vice president of Gulf Power. “That’s why we prepare throughout the year, leverage technology and learn from previous storms so that we can continue to make improvements. Every Gulf Power employee has a storm assignment and we work hard to make sure we are ready to be there for our customers when they need us most. We urge our customers to use this time to prepare as well.”
Between 2020-22, Gulf Power is investing nearly $250 million in storm hardening and reliability improvement efforts that help to reduce the frequency and duration of outages in good weather and bad: Long-term storm hardening efforts include replacing wooden transmission structures with concrete or steel; hardening the distribution main power lines to extreme wind loading criteria; and the undergrounding of certain lines, a process that will go beyond 2022.
Reliability improvements underway include the installation of automated lateral switches and other smart devices to create additional self-healing networks, assessing the condition of power lines and other infrastructure using drones, clearing vegetation and continuing to work with FPL to implement best practices to improve the customer experience.
4-Year Old Airlifted To Hospital After Near Drowning Near Walnut Hill
June 2, 2021
A 4-year old boy was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after a near-drowning near Walnut Hill Tuesday evening.
The child was found in unresponsive in a pool at a home on Rockaway Creek Road just south of the state line about 6:40 p.m., according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Melanie Peterson. He was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital by MedStar Air Care 2. An update on his condition was not immediately available.
The ECSO is investigating.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Atmore Fire Department also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Health Department Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Walk-In Hours, Community Health Offers Two Clinics
June 2, 2021
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) has expanded walk-in hours for their COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1295 West Fairfield Drive. Same-day appointments can be made by calling (850) 595-6554. Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at (850) 595-6500, option 6.
Community Health Northwest Florida will vaccination clinics on Thursday, June 3 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Friday, June 4 from 8 a.m until 3 p.m. at 2315 Jackson Street. For more information, call (850) 439-3358.
Strong Pitching, Timely Hitting Lead Blue Wahoos To 4-3 Win Over Mississippi
June 2, 2021
Devin Hairston joined the Blue Wahoos less than two weeks ago with a focused mission.
It has shown every game since.
Hairston again delivered in a clutch situation with a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lead the Blue Wahoos into a 4-3 victory against the Mississippi Braves in the series-opening game at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The win was the Blue Wahoos (16-9) ninth in their past 11 games.
It included another sensational outing from starting pitcher Jake Eder, who has been one of the best in all levels of minor league baseball the first month of the season.
“It is just the process,” said Hairston, a sixth-round pick out of Louisville in 2017 by the Milwaukee Brewers and signed in January by the Miami Marlins as a free agent. “I have lot of intent behind the work I am doing and it seems to be working.
“So me and (Wahoos hitting coach) Scott Seabol formulate a game plan and try to execute it.”
That became the case when Hairston, who went 2-for-4 Tuesday, stepped to the plate with runners on first and second. He smashed a one-strike changeup into the right field gap, scoring Demetrius Sims with the eventual-game winning run.
In the ninth, Blue Wahoos closer Colton Hock earned his sixth save and the team’s sixth win in the last seven home games.
“My approach usually stays the same in those situations. It’s a big situation so I tried to calm down a little bit and I was really trying to put the ball in the outfield,” said Hairston, whose .341 batting average since joining the Blue Wahoos leads Double-A in that period.
“First pitch breaking ball, I took it pretty well. I thought they might come back with it, so I was able to put in the outfield and Sims did the rest.”
It was another late-inning rally for the Blue Wahoos, who have made this habit-forming.
“It doesn’t matter who is at the plate, I feel like top the bottom, anybody can get the job done at every given moment,” Hairston said. “We have lot of belief, not only in ourselves but in each other. Nobody has too much stress in the batter’s box can get the job done.
“Good hitting is contagious and I feel we have a lot of guys that are hitting the ball well.”
On the mound, Eder continued the kind of performance he’s shown this month. His only run allowed was an opposite-field homer by the M-Braves’ CJ Alexander in the third inning. It was only the second run Eder – a former Vanderbilt star reliever – has allowed as starter.
He finished with eight strikeouts and just one walk. He began the game with an 0.46 ERA that was second-best in all levels of the minor leagues.
Jose Mesa Jr. relieved Eder after he struck out the first two batters in the fifth inning. Mesa Jr. worked through the seventh and was followed by Dylan Bice, who earned his second win with a clean eighth inning.
“It takes a lot of stress off the hitters to know we might only need two or three runs over the course of a game to get a win,” said Hairston. “It is awesome to know when we get that run in the bottom of the eighth that we have someone who is going to come in top of the ninth to close the door.”
The Blue Wahoos’ got their first run on a second-inning single from Riley Mahan. They retook the lead in the fourth on Lorenzo Hampton’s blast into the water beyond left field. Hampton is the son of former Florida Gators and Miami Dolphins running back Lorenzo Hampton Sr.
After the M-Braves took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh, the Blue Wahoos tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on JJ Bleday’s RBI double. Bleday, the Marlins’ top pick in 2019, had two hits and a walk in his night at the plate with his former high school coach at Panama City Mosley in attendance.
The teams will continue their six-game series Wednesday with the first mid-week, school’s out fireworks show following the game.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Washoo senior writer.
Century Charter Review Committee Sets Meeting Days For Remainder Of Fiscal Year
June 2, 2021
The Century Charter Review Committee has set meeting dates for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The committee will meet June 10, July 15, August 19 and September 23 at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4 at Industrial Boulevard at 5:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
The Century Charter Review Committee is working to revamp the town’s charter, the document that provides overall governance for the town. It has not been updated in about 40 years.
Man Struck And Killed By Train In Ensley
June 1, 2021
Nine Mile Road was closed for hours Tuesday after unidentified man was struck and killed by a train during the predawn hours.
The man was struck about 3:20 a.m. at the Ensley Street crossing south of Nine Mile Road. The stopped train also blocked the Nine Mile Road crossing east of Highway 29 as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted the death investigation.
Further details were not released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
It’s The 2021 Hurricane Season, And It’s Expected To Be A Busy One
June 1, 2021
June 1 was the first day of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020.
The name Ana has already been crossed off the list. Tropical Storm Ann formed on May 22 northeast of Bermuda but then weakened to a depression and dissipated.
For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
“Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver lifesaving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms.”
An average hurricane season produces 14 named storms, of which 7 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.
“Although NOAA scientists don’t expect this season to be as busy as last year, it only takes one storm to devastate a community,” said Ben Friedman, acting NOAA administrator. “The forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are well-prepared with significant upgrades to our computer models, emerging observation techniques, and the expertise to deliver the lifesaving forecasts that we all depend on during this, and every, hurricane season.”
.
Northview High Names 2021 Valedictorian, Salutatorian
June 1, 2021
Northview High School has named their valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2021.
The valedictorian is Amber Gilman, and the salutatorian is Libby Pugh.
The Northview High School Class of 2021 will graduate on Monday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m. at the Pensacola Bay Center. The event has no capacity limit and tickets are not needed.
Verizon Nearing Final Development Approval For New Cell Tower Near Walnut Hill
June 1, 2021
Verizon Wireless is nearing final Escambia County development approval for a new cellular tower in the Walnut Hill area.
At 280 feet tall, the self-supporting tower would be constructed near the end of Wilma Road, just north of Highway 164 about two miles east of North Highway 99.
“Given the demand in this area, this tower is critical to increasing the coverage area and providing a reliable signal for residents and emergency responders within the area,” Verizon wrote in their Escambia County development application..
“This site was specifically chosen due to the minimal visual impact on the surrounding area and allow the facility to function in accordance with minimum standards and technical design, as well as the site falling into the desired search area,” the company continued.
The tower would be located on a leased 6,400 square foot portion of a parcel that is currently zoned for agricultural use.
Verizon’s plans will go before the Escambia County Development Review Committee on Wednesday for a final hearing. If approved, Verizon must acquire building permits and approval from various agencies before the tower could be built. There’s no guarantee that the tower will ever reach the construction phase.
Pensacola Airport Adding Several New Destinations In June
June 1, 2021
Pensacola International Airport is adding several new destinations this month.
Spirit Airlines will begin service and Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines will add flights.
Beginning June 10, Spirit Airlines will begin service to seven destinations, becoming the eighth airline to service the Pensacola area. Spirit will offer the only nonstop flights to Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND) and Louisville (SDF), along with nonstop service Austin (AUS), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Kansas City (MCI) and St. Louis (STL).
With an already robust schedule of service, Southwest will add non stop flights to Austin (AUS), Baltimore (BWI), Denver (DEN), and Kansas City (MCI).
United Airlines began service to Cleveland (CLE), Milwaukee (MKE), Cincinnati (CVG), and Pittsburgh (PIT) expanding their service to eight non stop destinations.
Delta opens their service offered at the Gateway to the Gulf Coast with a non stop flight to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, located in the Queens borough of New York City. Delta will operate the flight between LaGuardia and Pensacola on Saturdays only.
These additions bring the total number of non stop destinations at PNS to 29.