By The Numbers: FEMA Assistance Following Hurricane Sally
December 20, 2020
Here’s the latest update on FEMA assistance provided in Northwest Florida following Hurricane Sally as of last week:
- 7,802 individuals and households approved for $31.9 million in FEMA assistance, including:
- $24.9 million approved for housing assistance
- $7 million approved for other disaster-related needs
- 14,146 home inspections completed
- $75.3 million in SBA loans approved for 1,932 applicants
- 4,472 claims filed with the National Flood Insurance Program in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties; $121.1 million paid
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Spots
December 20, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. In observance of the upcoming holiday season, there will be no lane closures on state roads from 7 a.m. Thursday, December 24 to 12:01 AM Monday, January 4, 2021. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The intersection of North 17th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway will remain closed until spring 2021 as construction continues for the new 17th Avenue interchange. The Visitor’s Center remains accessible from 17th Avenue. In addition, the ramp from 17th Avenue to East Gregory Street remains open. Eastbound drivers on Bayfront Parkway should use North 14th Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) as a detour route. The bridge remains closed until Spring 2021.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)- Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures and shifts on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, Dec. 20.
- U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah Road to State Road (S.R.) 297 (Pine Forest Road)- Drivers on Beulah Road may be temporarily delayed by paving equipment crossing Beulah Road, on the north side of Nine Mile Road, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Dec. 23. The temporary delays are required to allow crews to perform daytime paving operations for the new westbound lanes. Traffic will only be impacted when paving machinery crosses Beulah Road. Additionally, drivers may encounter uneven pavement in this area.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Crews continue clearing trees and shrubs, asphalt removal, widening and concrete work on the north side of the project. Westbound traffic can expect intermittent daytime right turn lane closures.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The bridge remains closed until Spring 2021.
- I-10 Emergency Improvements at Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/ Exit 22)- Friday, Dec. 18 and Monday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Dec. 23, motorists will encounter nighttime far right, lane and shoulder closures and traffic shifts on the eastbound I-10 exit ramp as crews construct improvements to accommodate additional traffic due to the closure of Pensacola Bay Bridge. There will also continue to be alternating left and right nightly lane closures on both north and southbound S.R. 281. All lane closures will occur between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Old Chemstrand Road Area Boil Water Notice Has Been Lifted
December 19, 2020
Gonzales Utilities has rescinded a boil water notice that was issued Monday following a water main break on Old Chemstrand Road.
The utility said bacteriological sampling showed that the water is safe to drink.
The notice was in effect for residents on 2nd through 7th Avenues and 1415 to 1693 Old Chemstrand Road.
The water main break had closed Old Chemstrand Road on Monday, leading to detours.
Escambia County Names Interim Public Safety Director, Interim EMS Manager
December 19, 2020
Escambia County has announced top level public safety department changes.
Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore (pictured left) will become interim public safety director on December 24. He is taking on the position previously held by Jason Rogers, who announced his resignation recently due to family medical issues.
EMS Manager Jimmy Maddrey has announced he is stepping down to become an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy. He will be replaced by Billy Shipp, current Escambia County EMS operation manager. Shipp will become interim EMS manager effective January 4.
“I am proud to serve as interim public safety director for Escambia County,” Gilmore said. “I understand Jason Rogers needs to tend to his family.”
“In addition, while we are sad to see Jimmy leave our public safety department, he really stepped up as a leader during a difficult time for EMS. He will follow in his father’s footsteps by serving in law enforcement, and we are glad he is staying within our community.”
Shipp has more than 29 years paramedic experience.
“I feel confident in Billy’s abilities to lead the EMS department in the direction it needs to go,” Gilmore added.
Florida House Committee Assignments Are Out. Here’s How Local Reps Were Assigned.
December 19, 2020
Florida House committee assignments were announced on Friday.
Northwest Florida representatives were assigned to committees as follows.
District 1 – Michelle Salzman
- Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee
- Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
- Judiciary Committee
- Local Administration & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
- Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee
District 2 – Alex Andrade
- Education & Employment Committee Republican - Committee Whip
- Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee
- PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee
- Professions & Public Health Subcommittee
- Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee
District 3 – Jayer Williamson
- Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee - Chair
- Appropriations Committee
- Finance & Facilities Subcommittee
- Joint Committee on Public Council Oversight
- Joint Legislative Budget Commission
- Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee
- Rules Committee
- Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee
Tate High Vegetable Evaluation Team Places At State Contest
December 19, 2020
The Tate High School Vegetable Evaluation Team placed 20 out of 58 teams at the state contest.
Team members include athan O’Neal, Maliya Porter, Piper Pfeuffer-Ferguson and Jiana Dortch.
The Vegetable Evaluation CDE is designed to test skills and knowledge of students in the area of vegetable production and management. Event Highlights include evaluating classes of vegetables, identifying kinds and varieties of vegetables, insects, diseases, weeds, and seeds.
The team coach is Kristi Wise.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Stealing Newly Purchased Pickup From Couple
December 18, 2020
A Cantonment woman is charged with allegedly stealing a newly purchased used pickup truck from a local couple.
Kristi Nicole Mitchell, 43 was charged with felony grand theft of a vehicle, felony grand theft and criminal mischief.
The victim was out with friends when she told Mitchell that she would give her a ride to work, but the victim needed to stop by her house first, according to an arrest report. Shortly after arriving on Cottage Hill Road, the victim and her husband discovered that the 2002 two-tone Ford F150 pickup truck they had just bought was missing.
The truck, valued at $2,500, also contained $1,456 worth of personal property including a phone, two jackets, makeup and nail polish, sunglasses and a fire pit, the report states.
The phone was tracked, eventually leading to the discovery of the truck behind a residence on Cedartown Road in Molino. The resident stated that it had been dropped off for repairs, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report said. The truck had $1,550 worth of damage, including a dent in the rear bumper and damage to the passenger’s side mirror. In addition, the entire exhaust system was missing.
The stolen items that were in the pickup truck have not been recovered.
Mitchell remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $7,500.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Donates Hundreds Of Cans Of Stolen Baby Formula
December 18, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office donated 477 cans of stolen baby formula to the Gulf Coast Kid’s House and Manna Food Pantries.
The formula, along with many other items, had been stolen with the intent to resell. The ECSO could not determine where the formula was stolen from, so it was donated to help local families in need.
Photos for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
December 18, 2020
Tate High School has named their Students of the Month for November. They are Oliver Alvarez and Courtney Adams. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Caught At Pensacola Airport Sentenced For Plan To Smuggle Generator To Iran
December 18, 2020
A citizen of the United Kingdom that was arrested at the Pensacola airport has been sentenced for a plan to smuggle a turbine motor to Iran.
Colin Fisher, a citizen of the United Kingdom, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison on charges related to his attempt to export power generating equipment to Iran. He was also fined $5,000.
Fisher was arrested by federal agents earlier this year when he arrived at the Pensacola airport from the United Arab Emirates in order to complete the illegal transaction and obtain equipment for a buyer in Iran.
Fisher pled guilty in September to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and attempted smuggling. Between 2017 and the time of his arrest in August, Fisher, 45, worked to violate the Iranian embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States for delivery to an end user in Iran. This included participating in fraudulent invoicing and using coded language with conspirators to communicate about the illegal transactions. Despite these efforts, law enforcement authorities discovered the plan and were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user, a conspirator in Iran who is linked to an Iranian energy company. The turbine, which was valued at half a million dollars, could have been used to provide energy to the oil fields of Iran.
“The Iranian embargo is directly related to the national security of the United States, and by attempting to evade that embargo Fisher and his fellow conspirators placed this nation directly at risk,” U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe said. “It’s appalling to think that someone would place personal financial gain above the safety of the nation, but this case shows we will pursue and punish those who try.”
When Fisher was arrested on August 7, 2020, he had arrived at the Pensacola International Airport to meet with individuals he believed would help him finalize the illicit transaction. Instead, he was met by agents from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the FBI, who took him into custody. When he completes his prison sentence, Fisher will be removed from the United States.
James Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, in Pensacola, was previously convicted of conspiring with Fisher to export the turbine and parts from the United States to an Iranian recipient, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. Meharg is currently serving a 31⁄2-year sentence in federal prison.