Gulf Power Seeks Extra Charge To Recover Hurricane Sally Restoration Costs
February 23, 2021
The Florida Public Service Commission is considering a proposal that will have Gulf Power customers paying $206 million for Hurricane Sally costs. PSC staff members have recommended that the charge be approved.
In its petition Gulf Power states that before Hurricane Sally the utility’s reserve fund was fully depleted and in a deficit position primarily due to Hurricane Michael costs.
If approved, the charge would be added to Gulf Power customer bills, including both residential and commercial, beginning March 2. For residential customers, the proposed charge would be $3 on a 1,000 kwh bill.
Gulf Power customers have been paying a Hurricane Michael recover charge since July, 1, 2020. That charged amounts to $8 a month for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month of electricity.
Pictured: Contract crews working for Gulf Power replace a snapped off pole along North Century Boulevard at Pond Street following Hurricane Sally. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Seven-Time Convicted Felon From Cantonment Arrested On Weapons And Drug Charges
February 23, 2021
A seven-time convicted felon from Cantonment is facing new weapons and drug charges.
James Lee Purifoy, Jr., age 28 of Robinson Street, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance (Xanax) with the intent to sell, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and possession of marijuana. He was also arrested for violation of probation and on multiple outstanding warrants.
Deputies received a tip that Purifoy was inside a vehicle in the driveway of a home on Besma Drive. When he was detained, deputies said he had a bags of marijuana in his pocket and in the vehicle. Deputies also found loaded pistol in the vehicle, along with 13.5 grams of methamphetamine, 4.4 grams of cocaine, 458 Xanax pills, a scale and empty plastic bags, according to an arrest report.
Purifoy was also charged with failure to appear in court on charges including driving while license suspended, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, and possession of opium or derivative with intent to sell.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Purifoy is a seven-time convicted felon.
Purifoy remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Tuesday morning.
Here’s Escambia County’s Vaccination Plan For The Week, Including Weather Delayed Doses
February 23, 2021
The health department has announced this week’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for Escambia County, and it includes extra doses that did not arrive last week due to winter weather across the county.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County will receive 2,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine for the week. This allocation is in addition 2,500 delayed doses originally planned for distribution for the week of February 15.
Escambia County’s 5,000 vaccine allocation will be distributed as follows:
- Ascension Sacred Heart: 900 doses
- Baptist Health Care: 900 doses
- Community Health Northwest Florida: 1,600 doses
- FDOH-Escambia: 1,000 doses
- West Florida Hospital: 400 doses
- Woodlands Medical Specialists: 200 doses
Some appointments will be scheduled using the statewide pre-registration system. FDOH-Escambia and partner organizations are in the process of contacting individuals to schedule appointments. Please do not contact the providers directly for these appointments.
The allocations of second dose vaccine for the weeks of February 15 and February 22 are still in the shipping process. Persons scheduled to receive second dose vaccinations prior to local receipt of second dose supplies will be contacted for a new appointment date and time.
Residents can call the toll-free line at, 866-201-1025 or preregister online at myvaccine.fl.gov.
ECUA Still Working To Replace Over 15,000 Blue Cans In North Escambia
February 23, 2021
ECUA is still working to replace over 15,000 blue cans in North Escambia. The cans were used in the Allied Waste service area that ECUA took over in January 2009.
ECUA customers are asked to leave their blue cans out at the curb after this week’s pick up as crews will be working each day to expedite the replacement process. Cans that already have the ECUA logo are not included in this effort.
“These can are at least 12 years old,” ECUA spokesperson Nathalie Bowers. “The old ones are going to be recycled. Many of them have broken hinges or wheels.”
The replacement cans are not a new expenditure for ECUA. The cans were used for ECUA service in Santa Rosa County, which came to an end on December 31. 2020.
“The replacement cans are at most five years old,” Bowers said. “They are cleaned before deeming them ready to deliver to a customer.”
ECUA customers will not be charged for their new can.
NorthEscambia.com file graphic.
Tate High Soccer’s Caleb Thompson Signs With Belhaven University
February 23, 2021
Monday, Tate High School’s Caleb Thompson signed to play soccer for the Blazers of Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi. Thompson, a senior, was goalkeeper for the Aggies. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Road Widening To Be Completed By Summer, FDOT Says
February 22, 2021
The Florida Department of Transportation expects the Nine Mile Road widening project to finally be finished this summer.
The $46 million project includes the widening of Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road to Highway 29. When announced in 2016, the project was due to be completed in 2019 but has faced delays — including Hurricanes Michael and Sally plus other tropical systems.
Median construction is underway between Beulah Road and Pine Forest Road to build a concrete curb, along with the resurfacing of the Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road intersection.
In late January, Nine Mile Road westbound between Klondike Road (near I-10) and Surrey Drive was shifted to the newly construct westbound roadway. That allowed crews to construct the new inside travel lanes, median, and turn lanes.
About 19,000 vehicles per day travel the portion of Nine Mile Road under construction, according to FDOT.
Pictured: Nine Mile Road at and near the intersection of Pine Forest Road on Saturday, February 20. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
February 22, 2021
Tate High School recently named Students of the Month for December. They are Gwen Ward and Adam Lee. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wreck North Of Milton Claims Life Of Escambia County Man
February 22, 2021
A Sunday morning wreck claimed the life of one Escambia County man and seriously injured another.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a pickup truck was on Highway 89 north of Milton when the 23-year old driver lost control, veered of the roadway and ran into a ditch. The pickup became airborne after colliding with a culvert. The driver and passenger were both ejected.
Both men were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital. The driver was pronounced deceased at the hospital, while the passenger was listed in serious condition.
Century Correctional Institution Staff Member Assaulted By Convicted Child Sex Offender
February 22, 2021
A staff member at the Century prison was recently assaulted by a convicted child sex offender.
Inmate Vincent J. Thomas, 30, assaulted a staff member at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Details of the assault were not released.
Thomas is serving a 15 year sentence on Lake County convictions for three counts of lewd and lascivious battery of child age 12-15 years, six counts of production of child pornography, two counts possession of child pornography, cocaine possession and possession of methamphetamine.
Arctic Blast Power Outages Lead To Surge In Florida Gas Prices
February 22, 2021
Florida gas prices shot up last week, as arctic weather wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast refinery region and caused a surge in fuel prices. Power outages knocked gasoline refineries in Texas and neighboring states offline and interfered with fuel shipments out of the area.
On average, Florida gas prices jumped 15 cents last week. Drivers are now paying an average price of $2.61 per gallon. That’s the highest daily gas price average since July 2019.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.57, up about 16 cents. The lowest price to be found Sunday night in North Escambia was $2.51 at a Cantonment station.
“This pump price hike is similar to what you’d expect if a hurricane struck the gulf coast region,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “Just like the aftermath of a hurricane, workers are working to return to normal operations. Any reports of extended downtime or significant supply impacts could cause another round of rising prices.”
Much of Florida’s gasoline comes from refineries in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. So an interruption to the supply line there has a direct impact on prices here. However, Florida is not alone. This region is a major source of gasoline in the United States, accounting for more than 45% of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity. This storm reportedly impacted a little more than half of refinery capacity in the Gulf Coast region.
Although there is not currently a gasoline supply shortage, concerns about reductions in gasoline production caused fuel prices to climb. Crude oil prices rose nearly 3% last week, reaching $61.14 per barrel. Wednesday’s settlement was the highest since January 2020. Wholesale gasoline prices jumped 7% last week, reaching a level not seen since July 2019.
File photo.