One Dead, Two Injured In Escambia County Triple Shooting
March 19, 2020
One person was killed and two others were injured in a triple shooting Thursday afternoon in Escambia County.
It happened at a home on 61st Avenue not far from Fairfield Drive. The three victims were found inside the home. The two injured persons were transported to an area hospital suffering from gunshot wounds.
Caleb Gladden, 19, was taken into custody by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Additional information has not been released as the investigation is underway.
City Of Pensacola Closes Restaurant Dining Rooms, Movie Theaters; Escambia County Could Follow
March 19, 2020
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson has ordered restaurants in the city to close their dining rooms for two weeks starting Monday. The order also closes movie theaters and other entertainment venues.
Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, speaking at a press conference at Pensacola City Hall, said the Escambia County Commission will consider similar closures during a special meeting Friday morning.
“These were incredibly difficult decisions, and they are not ones that I take lightly,” Robinson said. “I know the impact on our restaurant and local business industry will be felt by many, but the safety and health of our community is my top priority. In this unprecedented situation that we are facing, I would rather take aggressive preventative action to protect the public than to not do enough and risk an even greater negative impact to our community.”
Robinson’s order includes all restaurants in the city limits with seating for eight or more people. The order does not apply to dining at the airport or hospitals.
Robinson encouraged the restaurants to offer drive-thru, curbside pickup or delivery.
Click to read the city ordinance.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Beaches To Remain Open; Okaloosa And Walton Beaches Close
March 19, 2020
The beaches in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will remain open for now. Gatherings should still be limited to 10 or fewer people following CDC guidelines, officials said Thursday.
Hotels on Pensacola Beach will reduce occupancy to 50%.
Okaloosa and Walton counties closed their public beaches Thursday morning.
In Alabama, beached will close at 5 p.m. Thursday under order from the governor.
Pictured: Pensacola beach on Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Police Make Arrested In 35-Year Old Cold Case Using DNA, Cigarette Butt
March 19, 2020
After 35 years, an Escambia County man has been charged with murdering a woman in Pensacola.
Daniel Leonard Wells, 57, is charged with homicide and sexual battery in the death of 23-year old Tonya Ethridge McKinley.
She was killed in the early-morning hours of January 1, 1985. Her partially nude body was found on the side of Peak Drive near Scenic Highway about four hours after she was last seen alive at Darryl’s Restaurant behind what was then University Mall. The investigation found she had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted.
Wells was developed as the suspect after a DNA sample from the crime scene ran through a database identified some of his’ relatives. Police created a family tree and tracked him down. They surreptitiously obtained a cigarette butt discarded by Wells and made a DNA match to the crime scene.
Second COVID-19 Case Confirmed In Santa Rosa; No New Cases Announced In Escambia
March 19, 2020
A second positive COVID-19 case in Santa Rosa County has been identified by the Florida Department of Health. The person is a 48-year old male with a travel history to the United Kingdom, according to FDOH.
Santa Rosa County’s first case was announced March 5. The 71-year old man traveled to Egypt, Israel and Jordan. He died at Baptist Hospital In Pensacola.
The number of positive cases announced by the health department in Escambia County remains at one, a 53-year old male that traveled to France.
There are currently 390 cases in the state — 360 positive cases in Florida residents and 30 positive cases in non-Florida residents. There have been eight total deaths in Florida as of Thursday morning.
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Gun, Other Items From Godmother While She Was In Jail
March 19, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with stealing a gun and other items from his godmother’s home in Cottage Hill while she was in jail.
Travis Paul Sterback, 23, was charged with armed burglary, two counts of grand theft of a firearm, petit theft and criminal mischief.
Sterback allegedly stole multiple items from the home on Cottage Hill Road, including a .22 caliber rifle, a six-round magazine, a cell phone, camcorder and an antique Thermos valued at $20, an arrest report says. A small $40 safe was also forced open with paperwork missing, according to the victim.
The rifle was later pawned by Sterback, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia County COVID-19 Patient Traveled To France
March 19, 2020
We are learning more about the travel histories of the two people from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties confirmed to have COVID-19.
On Monday, the Florida Department of Health announced Escambia County’s first case. New information shows he was a 53-year old man that had visited France.
A Santa Rosa County patient died last week while being treated at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. He was a 71-year old man with underlying medical conditions that had traveled to Egypt and Israel.
Navy Federal Credit Union reported Tuesday evening that an employee that last worked March 14 on the Pensacola campus had tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. Health officials say he had no relation to the other Escambia County, and they are working to confirm his presumptive diagnosis.
Four other Florida Panhandle cases have been reported in Okaloosa County. The latest was a 24-year old woman that traveled to Colorado. Other Okaloosa County cases are a 66-year old female that traveled to Japan, a 78-year old female that had traveled to Italy and a 61-year old female with a travel history that included Florida, California and Mexico.
City, County, Sacred Heart To Open Drive-Thru Testing Site In Brownsville
March 19, 2020
Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart and Community Health Northwest Florida have partnered to open a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Brownsville Community Center at 3200 West De Soto Street. It will open on Monday, March 23.
All patients are required to be screened before arriving at the drive-thru testing center by calling the Ascension Sacred Heart COVID-19 Screening Call Center at (850) 746-2684. Those who have not been screened over the phone will not be provided access to the drive-thru test center.
Once patients have been pre-screened through the call center for symptoms, they will be sent to the testing center for a nasal swab.
The screening call center will be open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The drive-thru clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We believe resources need to be in every neighborhood,” said District 3 County Commissioner Lumon May. “After much conversation with local leaders we decided to do something that could benefit the entire neighborhood. I am very proud of this partnership with our health care providers, faith-based community and local government to make our community better during this unprecedented global event.”
Flomaton To Strictly Enforce Nightly Curfew For Minors
March 19, 2020
The Town of Flomaton will be strictly enforcing a curfew for minors, according to Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson.
No unaccompanied minor under the age of 19 will be allowed in any public place or establishment from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m during the week or 12:01 a.m. until 6 a.m. on the weekends. Parents and guardians of minors can also be guilty of allowing a minor to violate the ordinance. Any owner, operator or employee of any establishment can be convicted for allowing a minor to remain on the premisseesduring curfew hours.
The ordinance has been on the books in Flomaton since 1998.
“Now it is very important especially with the current issues with minors being out of school,” Flomaton Police Chief Chance Jackson said. “Our officers will be strictly enforcing this ordinance to help assure the safety of our community’s children.”
The curfew does not apply when the minor was:
- Accompanied by the minor’s parent or guardian;
- On an errand at the direction of the minor’s parent or guardian, without any detour or stop;
- In a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel;
- Engaged in an employment activity, or going to or returning home from an employment activity, without any detour or stop;
- Involved in an emergency;
- On the sidewalk abutting the minor’s residence or abutting the residence of a next door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain to the police department about the minor’s presence;
- Attending an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the town, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or going to or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by the town, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor;
- Exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and the right of assembly; or
- Married or had been married or had disabilities of minority removed in accordance with the appropriate state laws.
Flomaton has also closed all parks to persons of all ages.
Update: How ECUA, Century, Molino, Central Water Works And Farm Hill Utilities Are Adapting To COVID-19
March 19, 2020
Here is how local utilities are adapting business practices during the current COVID-19 situation:
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA)
ECUA has suspended the discontinuation of services for non-payment during the pandemic period. This will apply to all residential and commercial accounts and will be in effect until further notice.
Town Of Century
The Town of Century has closed their lobby. Town business — such as utility payments — can be conducted at the building’s drive-thru window during regular business hours. The town has not made any changes to utility service due dates. Century does not offer online payments.
Central Water Works
Central Water Works has closed their office lobby to customers due to the current COVID-19 precautions. Payments by check, money order or cash can be made at a secure drop box at the front door. A supply of envelopes is available at the box. Customers can pay their bill online securely at centralwaterworks.com using a credit card, debit card or electronic check. Central Water Works customers can also pay by phone using a credit or debit card by calling (850) 256-3849 during regular business hours.
Molino Utilities
Molino Utilities has closed their lobby and is conducting business only thru their drive-thru window. Payments can also be made in a drop box on the side of the building or by mail. There have been no changes to water service due dates, and hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 a.m., Monday-Friday. Online payments are not offered. For information call (850) 587-5538.
Farm Hill Utilities
The Farm Hill Utilities lobby is closed, and business hours have changed to 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., Monday-Friday. All business must be conducted in the drive-thru, and payments can also be made via drop box, phone using a card or check or at www.farmhillutilities.net. Outside business hours, call (850) 554-5023.