Century Correctional Officer Assaulted By Convicted Murderer
March 19, 2020
A correctional officer was recently assaulted at Century Correctional Institution by convicted murderer, according to information released by the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate Demetrius Benjamin assaulted an officer by striking them in the face with a closed fist. Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued, FDC said.
Benjamin remains at Century CI, serving a 25-year sentence for second degree murder (dangerous act), according to prison system records.
Escambia County Woman Takes Uber To Rob Credit Union, ECSO Says
March 19, 2020
An Escambia County woman took Uber to rob a credit union, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The ECSO said 22-year old Dajsha Ashely Sledge walked into the Gulf Winds Credit Union on North Blue Angel Parkway, placed a gun and brown bag on the counter, and demanded money.
She fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash in a red Dodge Journey driven by the Uber driver.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers were able to locate the Uber vehicle, but Sledge was not inside. The FHP learned she had been dropped off at a Tom Thumb on Blue Angel Parkway at Mobile Highway. Deputies said that while inside the store she changed her clothes and wig to alter her appearance before leaving the store.
Deputies were able to track Sledge to her home in the Crystal Lake Mobile Home Park in 7000 block of Pine Forest Road.
Sledge was charged with robbery with a firearm, using or displaying a firearm during a felony and possession of a firearm.
She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $55,000 bond.
First Day Of Spring Will Be A Warm One
March 19, 2020
Today is the first day of spring, and it’s going to be partly sunny with a high in the 80s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Annual Blue Jacket Jamboree, Livestock Show Canceled
March 19, 2020
The annual Blue Jacket Jamboree and the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show have been canceled due to the coronavirus.
“This decision has not been an easy one to come to, but the safety of our students and community are our most important priority. I would like to thank our Alumni and FFA members, vendors, and community for continuing to support this event in the years past,” said Northview FFA Alumni President Mitchell Singleton.
Organizers plan for the event to return for 2021.
For a look back at the 2019 Blue Jacket Jamboree, click here.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com each year.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘Presumptive Positive’ Employee At Navy Federal Was Not Previously Tested, Health Department Says
March 18, 2020
The Florida Department of Health says the Navy Federal employee the company announced as presumptively for COVID-19 was not previously tested. The Navy Federal employee is not the one positive case previously announced by the health department in Escambia County.
Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County said an investigation is underway to determine of the person is positive for the virus.
“A lab report from a qualified commercial or hospital laboratory, or from the Florida Bureau of Public Health laboratory is required for a person to be declared for a person to be declared presumptive positive for COVID-19. The Navy Federal employee believed to be presumptively positive for COVID-19 was not previously tested,” Lanza said Wednesday morning. “A public health investigation is currently being conducted to confirm or rule out the presence of the COVID-19 virus in this individual.”
“We’ve asked the Florida Department of Health to provide to all the businesses, and really everyone in our community and state, a statement as to what they should do when a similar situation occurs,” he continued. “So that hopefully that information will be available soon.”
Tuesday afternoon, Navy Federal issued a statement that an employee working at its Pensacola campus tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. The company said the employee last reported to work on Saturday, March 14 before seeking medical treatment.
The Tuesday Navy Federal statement said they are working with health officials. We reached out to a Navy Federal spokesperson for additional comment Wednesday, and we were referred back to Lanza and his staff.
NorthEscambia.com image.
Cordova Mall Closes Due To Coronavirus
March 18, 2020
Cordova Mall will close at 7 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed until March 29, owners Simon Property group said in a press release.
“The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is of paramount importance and we are taking this step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said David Simon, CEO of Simon Property Group.
The closure is to address the spread of COVID-19, the company said, and includes all of their properties nationwide.
Central Water Works Closes Office Lobby
March 18, 2020
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.
Central Water Works serves about 1,000 members in the McDavid, Century and Flomaton areas.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thomas: Escambia Schools Set To Reopen April 16, Employees Back To Work, Graduation Questionable
March 18, 2020
The Escambia County School District currently plans to reopen schools on April 16 and will implement a virtual learning program until that time, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Wednesday afternoon as he updated the district’s plans. Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered schools to close until April 15.
Remote instruction for students will begin on April 1, with most student completing virtual online coursework. Teachers will call parents or students by April 1. If the call is not received by April 3, Thomas said parents should call their child’s school.
Thomas said the district is still finalizing a plan on how to best reach students that have limited or no available internet at home, a problem he said that impacts a lot of North Escambia students because high speed internet is simply just not available in some areas. For those students, the district will likely resort to delivering paper lesson packets.
“Student success is a priority for us,” the superintendent said.
All state and district testing has been canceled, and all extracurricular activities, athletic practices and athletic events are canceled for the remainder of the school year
Thomas said graduation ceremonies have not yet been canceled, but it’s not looking likely that they will occur due to the fact the state has already ordered the cancellation of state college graduations.
“It’s a big moment and it’s important to those students,” Thomas said. “We want to celebrate that.”
For the remainder of the year, all district employees will continue to receive their regular pay.
On Monday, March 30, 2020, all district employees, with the exception of transportation employees, will return to their regular work locations. Hours of operation for the district from March 30 through April 15 will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
When employees arrive, they must go directly to their office or classroom and not congregate in groups of 10 or more in any common area. School district transportation department employees will receive communication from their immediate supervisors, with instructions on when and where to report to work.
“The district will make every effort to work with parents and employees experiencing hardship situations. In addition, if employees are experiencing symptoms of illness, have traveled out of the country, or been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, they need to remain at home and contact their immediate supervisors.”
NorthEscambia.com image.
Baptist Hospital Restricts Patient Visits
March 18, 2020
Baptist Hospital is asking family members and friends not to visit loved ones in the hospital or outpatient care areas.
Instead, the hospital is recommending visits be conducted by phone, mobile device or programs such as Facetime or Skype.
Exceptions will be made for patients whose loved one is crucial to the delivery of their treatment and care. This caregiver must be well and not exhibiting any signs of illness.
Florida Public Schools Will Remain Closed Until At Least April 15; All State Testing Canceled
March 18, 2020
For an Escambia County specific update to this story, click here.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday ordered that all public schools in the state will remain closed until at least April 15 due to the coronavirus, and all state testing has been canceled.
Virtual classes will implemented in most districts after spring break.
The Santa Rosa County School District said they will begin a virtual learning program, but their are still working on specifics. By midnight Tuesday, the Escambia County School District had not issued any additional statements, but previously said they were working on a contingency plan for just such an occurrence.
DeSantis announced that all remaining assessments for school readiness and voluntary prekindergarten and all testing requirements for K-12 will be cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year, regardless if students return. Grade promotion, final report grades and graduation won’t depend on state testing results.
He said parents will be able to keep their student in the same grade for the next school year if they choose.
“The containment of COVID-19 is essential, and this is not a decision we made lightly. Districts have taken action and have instituted distance learning as a necessary precaution to protect students, educators, families, and Florida’s overall public health,” said Florida Department of Education Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “We are working with our local school districts to provide guidance and help children who need access food during this time. Our number one priority is keeping our families safe and healthy and stopping the spread of this virus.”
Here are the actions effective immediately taken by the Florida Department of Education:
School Districts
- All public and private K-12 and career and technical center campuses are closed through April 15, 2020.
- Schools are encouraged to operate virtually or through other non-classroom-based means to the greatest extent possible to implement distance learning.
- School districts should be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30, 2020, to the extent feasible and necessary.
- For Collier, Duval, Sumter and Union county school districts, which are all completing their extended spring break on March 20, 2020, school campuses will remain closed through April 15, 2020, although they will begin instruction virtually on March 23.
- To support students with identified IEP-related services who may have a disruption in services, school districts are given flexibility for the remainder of the school year to provide alternative services or delay services until later in the summer months, in coordination with a student’s parents and IEP team.
Assessments, Accountability and Promotion
- All remaining assessments for school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten and K-12 assessments are cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Requirements for graduation and promotion, and final course grades will be evaluated as though those assessments which were cancelled did not exist.
- K-12 school grades will not be calculated for 2019-2020 and schools in turnaround may continue their current status for 2020-2021 to avoid disruption to school leadership and operations.
- Eligibility for Florida Bright Futures scholarships shall be based on available data and results. Tests that were not available to be taken shall not be counted.
Instructional Hours
- The Commissioner may reduce required instructional hours as necessary to accommodate for closures.
Funding
- The Florida Department of Education and K-12 school districts are instructed to redirect unspent 2019-2020 funds from Reading Scholarship Accounts, the Reading Instruction Allocation, the Digital Classroom Allocation and the Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program to help low-income students purchase digital devices and establish Internet services.
- In order to facilitate the remote connection between teachers and students, K-12 school districts are further permitted to redirect unspent Title 2 funds to help low-income students purchase digital devices and establish Internet services.
- K-12 school districts are permitted to redirect unspent 2019-2020 funds from the Safe Schools and Mental Health allocations to virtual and telephonic mental health counseling services for students who need emotional support due to COVID-19.
- All school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten, K-12, career and technical centers and state college programs will receive their full allocation of funding, and therefore staff and contractors can be paid fully, through June 30, 2020, as though there was no disruption in education.
Teachers
- For the next 120 days, exam fees for teacher certification-related examinations will be waived, and test takers who were unable to take an exam due to test site locations closing will be granted an extension to meet these requirements.
District School Board and State College Board of Trustees Meetings
- All district school board and state college board of trustees meetings through June 30, 2020, are postponed and may only be scheduled for emergency purposes only by the respective school district superintendent or college president.
- These meetings must be convened virtually or telephonically.
- If there is a vacancy or inability to serve on the part of the superintendent or college president, then the respective board chair may convene an emergency meeting.
- School districts and state colleges must ensure that meetings held by virtual means are accessible by interested members of the public.
Mass Gatherings and Community Events
- Commissioner Corcoran urges adherence to the CDC’s guidance for higher-risk populations by cancelling any mass gatherings, community events and extracurricular activities, including sports of more than 10 people in a single occupied space at any educational program, school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten, public and private K-12, career and technical centers, and public and private colleges and universities.
School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs
- Commissioner Corcoran strongly recommend school readiness and voluntary prekindergarten programs adhere to the CDC’s guidance for higher-risk populations by limiting students and employees to no more than 10 people convening in a single occupied space, therefore breaking students into groups as necessary, maintaining social distancing best practices and proper hygiene.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services Offices
- All services provided by the divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services to clients shall be provided solely though virtual and telephonic methods to the extent possible.
- The Department will work with appropriate federal authorities to seek waivers for any federal requirements that may be impacted.
Postsecondary Institutions
- All public state colleges, and private college and campuses and buildings are closed for the remainder of the spring semester.
- Colleges are encouraged to operate virtually or through other non-classroom-based means to the greatest extent possible.
- Colleges should be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30, 2020, to the extent feasible and necessary.