Manna Launches Fundraiser For COVID-19 Response And Recovery Relief
April 23, 2020
Manna has launched the Manna Cares Campaign to raise much-needed funds for Manna’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
The campaign goal is $200,000, the equivalent of 120,000 meals for neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Those who have already committed significant contributions to Manna include Florida Blue; Gulf Breeze Rotary; Kerrigan, Estess, Rankin, McLeod & Thompson, LLP; retired NFL guard Josh Sitton of Bear General Contractors; and Kevin Russell Home Builders.
In response to the effects of coronavirus, Manna has focused on supporting the needs of at-risk, vulnerable populations served pre-COVID-19, as well as those who suddenly find themselves unemployed or with reduced hours. As a result, Manna has nearly doubled the amount of food distributed to accommodate the needs of our community.
Donations to the Manna Cares Campaign can be made online at www.mannahelps.org or by sending a check to Manna, 3030 North E Street, Pensacola, FL 32501. All donations will support Manna’s efforts to feed our neighbors in need and will remain in our local community.
“COVID-19 has presented many challenges for our community. Many of our neighbors are struggling when it comes to food,” said Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker. “Manna is diligently working to identify gaps in service and provide hope to the hungry in our community. We are committed to seeing this through.”
One of the many programs Manna continues to support through the COVID-19 crisis is the School Resource Officer (SRO) Food Program. Even though schools are closed, Pensacola Police Department and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SROs continue to check-in on families and deliver food to those in need.
“I think that it’s important for our community to know how critical it is to keep Manna funded so we can continue to feed children and families in need,” said Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter. Josh Sitton of Bear General Contractors and Kevin and Laura Russell of Kevin Russell Home Builders recognize how important it is too. They’ve directed their contributions to the School Resource Officer Food Program to ensure students and their families are fed.
“A large segment of our community doesn’t have enough food to last a few days, and most of these families in need have children. Manna can feed a family of four 12 meals for as little as $20, so every donation makes a difference,” said Lyter.
Manna has reinforced established programs to provide additional support and has established new partnerships to serve those most in need in the two-county area. At this time, Manna is providing food (in the form of groceries) to the following partners/programs: Healthy Seniors Food Program at Westminster Village; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast; Manna’s own Monthly Senior Food Program at Main Pantry; Gulf Coast Kids’ House; Santa Rosa Kids’ House; Pensacola Police Department; Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; OASIS Florida; Backpacks4Teens program through the Santa Rosa County School District; United Way of West Florida’s AmeriCorps VISTAs; representatives of the hospitality and service industry; Community Health Northwest Florida; Gulf Breeze Interfaith Disaster Resource Council; Salvation Army; Saint John Divine Baptist Church; Pensacola State College; Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola (REAP); and Children’s Home Society.
Free Food Distributions In Both Century And Flomaton Saturday Morning
April 23, 2020
There will be two different food giveaways on Saturday in both Century and Flomaton, thanks to the efforts of the mayors from both towns to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Century Food Distribution
A food distribution will be held in Century on Saturday Morning, April 25 at 10 a.m. at the Century Business Center at 400 Pond Street. The drive-thru event is sponsored by Mayor Henry Hawkins “and friends”. Persons will stay in their vehicle at all times.
The food is provided by Feeding the Gulf Coast and the First Baptist Church of Ferry Pass and is available while supplies last.
Flomaton Food Distribution
At the most recent meeting of the Flomaton Town Council, Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr. suggested the creation of a town food bank for persons in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons do not have to be a resident of Flomaton to receive food.
The Flomaton food giveaway will be held Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m. the Flomaton Community Center at 600 McCurdy Street. Persons are asked to follow the route in the map below provided by the Flomaton Police Department. Signs and police officers will direct people in the direction they need to go. Persons receiving food must stay in their vehicle at all times. Each person will be also asked a few simple questions.
The food distribution is in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Agriculture, USDA and Feeding the Gulf Coast.
Three COVID-19 Testing Locations Closed Thursday Due To Severe Weather Threat
April 23, 2020
Three COVID-19 testing locations in Escambia County will be closed Thursday due to the threat of severe weather.
Community Health of Northwest Florida’s drive- sites at Cantonment Pediatrics and the Brownsville Community Center will be closed. The mobile testing unit will be at Morris Court Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Brownsville Community Center and Cantonment sites will resume operations Monday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prescreening is required for drive-thru testing, but is not required for walk-up testing. Call (850) 746-2684 to be prescreened.
Ascension Medical Group’s drive-thru site will also be closed on Thursday. Testing will resume on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For required pre-screening, call (850) 746-2684.
All three sites are outdoor locations.
Hospitals Support Reopening Local Beaches With Conditions
April 22, 2020
Local hospitals support the limited reopening of local beaches, Baptist Hospital CEO Mark Faulkner said Wednesday morning. He offered little insight into the conditions.
Faulkner said the CEOs of the major hospital in Escambia County will send a letter to the county commissions in Escambia and Santa Rosa county supporting the opening of beaches “with conditions”.
He said limiting the hours for the beach opening to just a few hours per day would lead to larger crowds at one time as opposed to a sunrise to sunset opening.
“When you are at the beach, it is a fairly low risk, low contact ” he said, “whereas at a setting of worship, or at a school, or a prison, where you have different constraints, it’s hard to just say we can open everything back up. We would certainly see a second wave.”
Santa Rosa County will vote on their beaches on Thursday, while Escambia County meets next Tuesday.
Faulkner’s comments came during a virtual “Coffee With A Commissioner” event hosted by District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
Pictured: (from top left, clockwide) Baptist CEO Mark Faulkner, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, County Administrator Janice Gilley, Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore during a virtual “Coffee With A Commissioner” event Wednesday morning.
Escambia COVID-19 Cases Soar To 415; Long-Term Care Cases Up By 52
April 22, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County soared by 75 Wednesday, while the number of long-term care facility cases increased by 52, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The age of the newly diagnosed patients ranged from one to 100, but most were over 65.
The number of Escambia County cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increased by 52 and a seventh facility death was recorded. The number of long-term cases in Santa Rosa County remained at 10.
There are now 415 total COVID cases in Escambia County, up by 75 since Monday. It was the largest single day increase since testing started. In North Escambia, a second case was reported in Century.
Escambia County has not provided any official reasoning for the rapid case county increase, but we do know concentrated testing as been done at long-term care facilities such as Southern Oaks.
Santa Rosa County’s total increased by one to 140.
Statewide, there were 28,576 cases including 27,791 Florida residents. There have been 4,445 hospitalizations and 927 deaths.
Editor’s note. There were some slight discrepancies in the numbers provided by the FDOH between their dashboard summary and a more detailed 516 page report Wednesday afternoon. We chose to report the numbers from the detailed report. Differences are very minor. There was also adjustments in the data numbers by the state, such as reclassifying cases by county that resulted in a three case decrease since Wednesday morning in Escambia County.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 415 (+75 since Tuesday, a data adjustment down by 3)
- Long-term care cases — 138 (+52 since Tuesday)
- Pensacola — 325
- Cantonment — 35
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 1
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 33*
- Deaths — 10
- Male — 150
- Female — 171
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 100
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 140 (+1 since Tuesday, data adjustment)
- Long-term care cases — 10 (+0 since Tuesday)
- Milton — 75
- Navarre — 29
- Gulf Breeze — 23
- Pace — 10
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 20*
- Deaths — 6
- Male — 96
- Female — 42
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 28,576
- Florida residents — 27,791
- Deaths — 927
- Hospitalizations — 4,455*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
North Escambia Storm Damage Was Not A Tornado, Says National Weather Service
April 22, 2020
The National Weather Service has determined that damage in the Quintette, Cottage Hill and Cantonment areas early Monday morning was caused by poweful straight line winds, not a tornado.
“Damage was typical of severe straight line winds with no evidence of a tornado path,” the NWS said. Winds were estimated at 80-85 mph.
A storm survey crew found a corridor of significant wind damage from West Quintette Road east-southeast through Cottage Hill toward the Escambia River. Damage included roof damage to some homes with significant tree damage across the area.
Once the storm passed into Santa Rosa County, it created a brief EF-0 tornado track from Ephrem Lane to Bradley Drive in Pace with winds estimated at 75 mph. But most of the damage in the Pace area was from straight line winds estimated at 80-85 mph.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia (AL) COVID-19 Cases Up By One
April 22, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL) in increased by one on Wednesday, the Alabama Department of Health reported on the day after the county record its first death.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Escambia County (AL) has increased to 18, with a total of 246 total tests performed.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 5,610 total positive cases in the state out of 48,387 tests. There have been 201 reported deaths statewide.
Burglary, Vehicle Theft Suspect Captured After Foot Chase On Muscogee Road
April 22, 2020
Steven Paul Griggsby, 43, was charged with burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, two counts of petit theft, criminal mischief with property damage and resisting arrest.
Griggsby is accused of stealing a vehicle Monday night from a used vehicle dealer on Palafox Street, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He’s also suspected of stealing catalytic converters.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received information that led to Griggsby at a location on Muscogee Road midday Tuesday. After a brief foot chase. he was taken into custody. An ECSO spokesperon said the clothing he was wearing in video from the car lot and catalytic converters were found inside the vehicle.
ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard said Griggsby may face additional charges, and there may be additional arrests in the case.
Griggsby remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $29,000.
Two Injured In Old Chemstrand Road Crash
April 22, 2020
Two people were injured in a two vehicle crash midday Tuesday in Cantonment.
The crash happened about noon on Old Chemstrand Road at the Mill Creek Trail, across from the Cypress Lakes Golf Club. At least one of the injured was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further information.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: Blue Angels And Thunderbirds Fly Over Escambia County
April 22, 2020
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew over Pensacola Beach and downtown Pensacola Tuesday afternoon. Pictured above and below: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell and Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
