Cantonment Improvement Committee Continues To Feed Kids Weekly. Here’s How You Can Help.
April 22, 2020
The Cantonment Improvement Committee was able to provide food bags to kids again on Tuesday.
For week seven of the ongoing project, food donations will be accepted on Monday, April 27 at 3 p.m., and food distributions will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Donations can also made to $CICfunding on Cash App.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another Round Of Severe Storms Possible For Thursday
April 22, 2020
There is an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) of another rounds of severe weather in the North Escambia area.
Potential threats include damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 76. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 62. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Florida SNAP Recipients Can Now Shop For Groceries Online
April 22, 2020
Florida SNAP recipients can now buy their groceries online at select retailers.
Online shopping became available on Monday at Walmart and Amazon. The Florida Department of Children and Families will continue to coordinate with the USDA and the Florida Retail Federation to expand the network of retailers participating in the pilot program.
The USDA approved adding the online shopping program in Florida. The online option is currently available in six other states.
“Removing barriers and enhancing access to critical services, while supporting Florida’s infrastructure, remains a top priority for this agency, “ said DCF Secretary Chad Poppell. “I commend Governor DeSantis for taking yet another proactive action to equip Florida families with resources, while keeping their health and safety at the forefront. This is an innovative, common sense efficiency that will strengthen our families during this time of uncertainty.”
Walmart already accepts SNAP benefits at all its brick and mortar locations in the United States. Customers will be able to use their EBT cards and opt for curbside pick-up. Utilization of food assistance benefits remains limited to the purchasing of eligible grocery items and cannot be used to pay for delivery services.
13-Hour Police Standoff In Atmore Ends With Arrest
April 21, 2020
A 13-hour police standoff ended with a suspect in custody Tuesday night in Atmore.
John Bradley James was taken into custody about 8 p.m. He is charged with two counts of kidnapping first degree, and Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told NorthEscambia.com that additional charges will be filed on Wednesday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Brooks said he received a phone call about 7 a.m. from a personal friend reporting a domestic situation on Sneed Drive.
James went out to smoke about 5 a.m. and his father followed. James “became extremely irritated. He then threatened to kill his father and then fired a warning shot into the air,” Brooks said.
James then held his mother and father against their will for a couple of hours until the mother was able to sneak out of the home, and he later allowed the father to leave the home after Brooks arrived on scene, the chief said. There were originally two small children also in the home
Brooks said James made statements that he would kill people and injure officers if they came into the house.
An armored tactical vehicle from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and a SWAT team made their way to the home on Sneed Drive about 5:30 p.m. For the next couple of hours, our reporter was able to hear a negotiator on a loudspeaker urging James to come out of the home. Periodically, there was also the sound of teargas canisters being fired into the home.
Brooks said they were able to communicate with James for a few minutes, but he stopped responding
“At that time, we made a decision to go ahead ahead and start putting teargas into the home, the chief said, adding that there were no gunshots fired during the incident.
James was not injured.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Atmore Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency all responded .
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Records Tenth COVID-19 Death, Adds 25 Cases Tuesday
April 21, 2020
A tenth death from COVID-19 was reported Tuesday in Escambia County as the number of positive cases in the county increased by 25, according to the evening report from the Florida Department of Health.
The new fatalities were a 71-year old male with no travel history and no contact with a known case and a 85-year old female with no travel history an unknown contact with a previous case.
The number of Escambia County cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increased by 17 to 86. The number of long-term cases in Santa Rosa County increased remained at 10.
There are now 340 total COVID cases in Escambia County, up by 25 since Monday. Santa Rosa County’s total was adjusted downward to 139.
Statewide, there were 27,869 cases including 27,127 Florida residents. There have been 4,226 hospitalizations and 867 deaths.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 340 (+25 since Monday)
- Long-term care cases — 86 (+17 since Monday)
- Pensacola — 273
- Cantonment — 36
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 1
- Century — 1
- Residents: 263
- Nonresidents — 19
- Hospitalizations: 32*
- Deaths — 10
- Male — 148
- Female — 170
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 98
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 139 (data adjustment down since Monday)
- Long-term care cases — 10 (+0 since Monday)
- Milton — 75
- Navarre — 29
- Gulf Breeze — 24
- Pace — 10
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 20*
- Deaths — 6
- Male — 97
- Female — 43
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 27,869
- Florida residents — 26,761
- Deaths — 867
- Hospitalizations — 4,226*
*“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.
Bond Upped To $250,000, Charges Upgraded Against Man That FHP Says Hit Two Kids On Quintette Road
April 21, 2020
Charges have been upgraded against the man accused of a hit and run that claimed the life of one juvenile and injured a second two weeks ago, and a judge increased his bond to a quarter million dollars.
On April 6 about 8 p.m., Hailey Locke and Rylee Simmons, both students at Ransom Middle School, were on Quintette Road approaching Carrington Lake Boulevard when they were struck by a Ford Escape driven by 58-year old Robert William Etheridge, according to the FHP. Troopers said he fled the scene and called the FHP about 24 minutes later to say he thought he had hit a deer.
The windshield was cracked in the crash, but not enough to obscure the driver’s view, according to an arrest report. The area in which the collision occurred was lit with multiple overhead lights, the weather was clear and there was a full moon, FHP said.
Etheridge was arrested Monday on an upgraded charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death. He is also still facing one count of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.
He was previously charged with two counts of leaving the scene of the crash with serious bodily injury and released from jail on a $30,000 bond on April 9.
Monday morning, Judge Jennie Kinsey ordered Etheridge to turn himself into the Escambia County Jail by 4 p.m., according to the State Attorney’s Office. She increased his bond on the original leaving the scene count from $15,000 to $50,000 and set bond at $200,000 for leaving the scene of a traffic crash involving death, for a combined total bond of $250,000.
Escambia County Jail records indicated he was released on a $250,000 bond 20 minutes after he surrendered to authorities Monday afternoon.
Grant Gets His Wish – A Really Big Rolling Birthday Parade (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2020
Almost every little boys loves cars and trucks.
Especially Grant, who was born with a congenital heart defect. He’s proudly celebrating his seventh birthday in Cantonment, and scores of people came together Monday evening to help him celebrate.
The procession included the public safety vehicles you might expect to see in any parade — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and motorcycles, Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County Mounted Posse, Florida Highway Patrol.
And there were race cars, lines of motorcycles, several car clubs, sports cars, antique cars, cement trucks, an old military vehicle, a fleet of wreckers and more. Even Pensacola’s boat car (it’s a car and a boat). Everything a seven-year old boy could wish for.
Grant was scheduled for a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip this year, but that was canceled for now due to the pandemic.
Instead, the community came together to give Grant, who was wearing his own personalized “Happy Quarantined Birthday” shirt, a rolling birthday parade to remember.
And he received his own set of wheels — a kid-sized four wheeler.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Meagan Kennedy and Alisa Sanders for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Oil Prices Go Negative. But What About Gas Prices?
April 21, 2020
Monday oil prices went into the negative for the first time in history. The price of US crude dropped nearly $56 per barrel or 30% to settle at -$37.63 per barrel. But that won’t necessarily mean big savings at the gas pump for consumers, according to travel group AAA.
The one-day drop is the largest on record dating back to 1983. The final price is far below the previous all-time low of $10.42 per barrel set on March 31, 1983.
The unprecedented drop comes as the global crude supplies begin to backup with nowhere for it to go. Fuel demand is down due to COVID-19 and storage facilities are at or near capacity.
“This doesn’t mean gas prices will go into the negative too,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group, on Monday. “Gasoline futures only lost 4 cents today. That’s because gasoline supplies are being throttled down. While three North American refineries have closed, others are reducing their production rates. Currently the state average is on track to eventually slip into the $1.40s, but this remains a very fluid situation, as with everything else during this pandemic.”
Escambia (AL) COVID-19 Cases Increase By Three
April 21, 2020
The Alabama Department of Health is now reporting 16 COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL), an increase of three since Sunday.
ADH is reporting 237 total COVID-19 tests have been performed in Escambia County, a positive rate of about 6.8%.
There have been no coronavirus related deaths in Escambia County.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 5,078 total positive cases in the state out of 45,712 tests. There have been 164 reported deaths statewide.
Century Secrets? Two Council Members Object To NorthEscambia.com Listening To Public Meeting
April 21, 2020
During a Monday night meeting, two Century town council members said NorthEscambia.com should not be listening to a council meeting being held by conference call.
Ordinarily, a majority of a governing body like the Century Town Council must be present in the same location in order to conduct a meeting in Florida, but that requirement was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis due to COVID-19 and social distancing. That allowed the council to hold the phone meeting and conduct town business. The March 20 executive order from DeSantis was very specific that no other portion of the Sunshine Law was suspended.
But that did not seem to matter to Century council members Luis Gomez and James Smith Monday night, as they complained that NorthEscambia might be listening to or recording the telephone conference call public meeting of the entire council.
The council has no legal right to require anyone to provide their name or speak aloud in order to attend a public meeting; public meetings in Florida are open to anyone.
The term “open to the public” as used in the Sunshine Law means open to all persons who choose to attend,” the 2020 Government in the Sunshine Manual states. The manual also states that a board “may not ban the use of non disruptive recording devices”, and “implicitly recognizes the public’s right to silently record public meetings”.
Florida does have a law that bans the recording of oral communications like telephone calls without the permission of all parties. But there’s a big exception. The law states that oral communication “does not mean any public oral communication uttered at a public meeting or any electronic communication”.
The council also ignored the fact that Florida statute requires the council to give the public opportunity to be heard on an item before a final vote. The public was not given any opportunity whatsoever to comment on any of the several items voted on by the council Monday night, and the council abandoned its usual public comment period. The City of Pensacola and Escambia County have taken great effort to continue public comment as required by law during their recent meetings, even providing online forms to submit comment in advance.
Here’s the exchange Monday night:
“Does everyone attending this meeting as a public record need to announce their self?”, Gomez asked during a 6:45 p.m. meeting advertised specifically for the purpose of discussing the town’s bills, not during the regular council meeting.
Council President Ann Brooks said a member of the public not announcing themselves verbally during a conference call would be very much like someone not signing an sign-in sheet that’s at every normal, pre-COVID-19 council meeting. It’s not required to provide your name to listen to or attend a public meeting.
“So it’s possible to be on this call without announcing (your name)?” Gomez asked.
“I would think that would be possible. That’s why I asked who is present,” Brooks responded. “If someone did not announce themselves, we would not know.”
“I would hate for someone to go out and restate something that they didn’t even announce that they was there. We need to find a record of how they are getting their information.”
“Is this pertaining to anything in particular? Like the newspapers or like there a reason why you actually asking this question,” Smith said, adding that he understands what Gomez was implying.
‘Why yes, I’m implying that because these meetings are public record. And if you are going to print, say or either repeat anything there has to be a trail to follow in which you got, you gain your information,” Gomez said.
“I can’t walk up on James Smith and record him secretly and then go back and say I recorded this secretly,” he continued. “That’s illegal to record secretly….The council president asked who is on the call an you remain silent, that’s pretty much like eavesdropping.”
“I think what he is talking about is there was a write-up in NorthEscambia, and I don’t recall the NorthEscambia individual saying that they were present,” Smith said. “…Is there are particular type of violation that is happening if you don’t announce yourself? We have no idea if you are present. ”
Smith continued, “When there’s something that governs newspapers or somebody’s that’s recording saying that we’ve said or repeating something they said that we’ve said. Then we are suppose to know that they’re present when they’re doing it.”
There was only one article published on NorthEscambia.com that mentioned Gomez or Smith following the last telephone conference call public council meeting. It involved comment from both council members stating that large groups of people were playing basketball in Century despite social distancing requirements. It’s the article that presumably Smith and Gomez had concerns about being recorded two weeks ago.
You can read that article here, and fact check their statements for yourself with these recordings:
- Recording 1 – Luis Gomez with an interjection of agreement from James Smith
- Recording 2 – James Smith
It’s worth noting that every Century council meeting is recorded by town staff in addition to taking notes for official minutes. Those recordings are public record. Almost every other local government in the area streams their meetings online and then makes recordings available in order to have as much public transparency as possible with citizens.
But the sunshine law does not appear as bright in Century as elsewhere.
Editor’s note: Why did NorthEscambia.com not announce a reporter’s presence on the phone during the telephone conference call public council meeting? First, it’s clearly not required. Secondly, we’ve been dialing into the meetings using an online telephone service on a laptop that allows the meetings to be recorded for accuracy in our reporting. The microphone is muted on the laptop to ensure a quality recording. Thirdly, no human was listening to most of the meeting in real time. We simply roll a recording to listen to later and be more efficient in our reporting. And finally, we fail to understand why a council member would care if the media was listening to a meeting. Unless there’s something they want to keep secret.