No Injuries In Saturday Night Highway 29 Wreck
July 12, 2020
There were no injuries in a two vehicle crash Saturday night on Highway 29 at East Kingfield Road.
The crash happened about 8:40 p.m., about the time of a widespread power outage in the area. The wreck did not not cause the outage, but reports indicated that the outage and a non-working traffic signal may have contributed to the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man That Served Just Three Days As Florida Governor Has Passed Away
July 12, 2020
A man that served as Florida’s governor for just three days has passed away.
Wayne Mixon was Florida’s 39th governor from January 3 to January 6 in 1987. He assumed the officer of governor after then Gov. Bob Graham stepped down to take a seat in the United State Senate. Mixson served the three days until governor-elect Bob Martinez was sworn into office on inauguration day.
Mixson also served as the lieutenant governor and secretary of commerce. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives for six consecutive terms. President Jimmy Carter appointed Mixson as a special ambassador to Ecuador. He was also a veteran serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
“The First Lady and I mourn the loss of Wayne Mixson, a World War II veteran who served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Florida and was appointed U.S. Ambassador under President Jimmy Carter. We extend our condolences to his family as our state and country celebrate his legacy,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.
Sarah Gibbs Beyette
July 12, 2020
Sarah Gibbs Beyette, 83, of Atmore, AL, passed away on July 2, 2020. She was born on January 29, 1937, in Atmore, AL to the late Ardie D. Gibbs and Georgia Sarah Prestwood. She was an accountant for many years at Waller, Crook and Jones until her retirement and thereafter with Jerry Davis Farms. She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Atmore.
She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Ralph Gibbs and Larry Gibbs.
She is survived by one daughter, Cara Roxanne Beyette of Foley, AL; three sisters, Gloria Lovell of NC, Clara (Tommy) Burton of OR and Connie Ford of VA; and one grandson Christopher D. Beyette of VA.
A memorial service was held Friday, July 10, 2020, at First Baptist Church of Atmore with Rev. Arnold Hendrix and Bro. Kevin Garrett officiating.
Due to the current health care crisis and the safety of you and others, First Baptist Church of Atmore requires a facial mask.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Bender Selected For Florida Association Of Counties Finance, Tax And Administration Committee
July 12, 2020
Escambia County Vice-Chairman and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender has been selected to serve on the Florida Association of Counties Finance, Tax and Administration committee and the Water and Environmental Sustainability committee. He was also appointed to the Florida Counties Foundation Board of Directors which oversees the training and education institute for county governments.
“I am looking forward to making a positive impact on issues related to finance and environmental sustainability,” said Vice-Chairman and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender. “Escambia County will be well-represented at the Florida Association of Counties committees and the Florida Counties Foundation Board on many of the key components that make Escambia County a great place to live, play and work.”
Saturday: Escambia COVID-19 Cases Up 177; Santa Rosa Reports Additional Death
July 11, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
There were 177 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday in Escambia County and one additional Santa Rosa County death by the Florida Department of Health.
Escambia County cases increased to 3,662 and Santa Rosa cases were up by 57 to 1,142.
As of Friday morning, there were 137 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County.
Of the 1,079 test results returned on Friday, 13.5% were positive in Escambia County and 12.5% were positive from 435 tests in Santa Rosa County.
Of the 53 deaths in Escambia County, 39 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 11 deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 254,511 cases including 250,984 Florida residents. There have been 18,023 hospitalizations* and 4,197 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
Total cases — 3,662 (+177 since Friday)
Non-Florida residents — 529
Pensacola — 2,771 (+148)
Cantonment — 230 (+7)
Molino— 38
Century — 20 (+2)
Bellview — 7
McDavid — 13
Walnut Hill — 5 (+1)
Perdido Key — 3
Current hospitalizations: 137 (not cumulative, as of Friday)
Deaths — 53
Male — 1,406
Female — 1,717
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 37
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 1,142 (+57 since Friday)
Non-Florida residents — 9
Milton — 474 (+24)
Gulf Breeze — 225 (+7)
Navarre — 187 (+14)
Pace — 113 (+4)
Jay — 34 (+1)
Bagdad — 1
Hospitalizations — 65* (+4)
Deaths — 11 (+1)
Male — 571
Female — 552
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 99
Median Age — 34
Florida cases:
Total cases — 254,511
Florida residents — 250,984
Deaths — 4,197
Hospitalizations — 18,023*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals 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. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
Due To COVID-19 Staffing Shortages, Escambia EMS Calls In Supplemental Ambulance Crews
July 11, 2020
When seven vehicles wrecked at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment Friday evening, a Lifeguard EMS unit responded instead of an Escambia County ambulance. That’s because with employees out due to COVID-19, Escambia County EMS is shorthanded.
Under a mutual aid plan, at least two Lifeguard EMS from Santa Rosa County are stationed in Escambia County through the weekend.
Escambia County Public Safety Director Jason Rogers, who started his job just a few weeks ago, said on a regular day “when everybody comes to work” there are 18 ambulance crews on duty across the county during peak hours. There were 15 Escambia County ambulances, a quick response vehicle plus two Lifeguard units covering the county on Friday, and a similar arrangement is expected for Saturday and Sunday.
“That is as close to everybody coming to work and life being normal as possible as we can possibly get,” he said.
He said nine Escambia EMS staffers have tested positive for COVID-19, five are awaiting test results and others are isolated.
Rogers said he was not worried that EMS would reach a critical staffing level, but he reached out to the company that operates LifeGuard in advance when he saw the uptick in virus cases and isolations.
“I wanted to get these partnerships in place before it was an emergency,” he said Friday, adding that EMS staffing problems were happening around the country, not just locally.
“We have not reached a critical stage,” Rogers said.
Pictured: A Santa Rosa County Lifeguard EMS unit, which was stationed in Escambia County , responded to a seven vehicle crash Friday evening on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa County Hires Waste Pro To Replace ECUA; North End Residents To Pay More
July 11, 2020
Santa Rosa County has hired Waste Pro to replace ECUA as the sanitation provider in the north end of the county, and it’s going to cost resident more.
ECUA opted not to renew their contract to service the north end of Santa Rosa County after December 31.
This week, the Santa Rosa County Commission approved additional changes to the franchise agreement for Waste Pro to begin sanitation services to residents in the north end of the county beginning January 1, 2021.
The new contract will provide Santa Rosa County customers with weekly trash and yard waste pickup, on-demand bulk waste collection, and subscription-based recycling. On days that trash is collected, yard waste cans may be used as second trash can if needed. ECUA had collected waste twice per week, and recycling was free.
Resident customers will see their cost increase from about $66 per quarter to about $73.29 plus an additional fee if they choose to recycle.
The new Waste Pro agreement will offer recycling as a subscription service for an additional $27 per quarter for weekly recycling pickup if the customer elects to subscribe. Waste hauling rates are adjusted annually each January.
Vehicle Burns Miles Away From Where It Had Just Been Wrecked On Highway 97
July 11, 2020
A vehicle was destroyed by fire Friday afternoon over three miles away from where it had just been wrecked.
The Toyota Camry burned on North Highway 99, just north of the Oak Grove Park. The driver had reportedly run off the road on Highway 97 near Kansas Road, traveled through a ditch and a cotton field before he drove away on Highway 97. Vehicle parts including the front bumper were left behind in the field
The 22-year old male driver of the vehicle was evaluated by Escambia County EMS after the fire but refused transport to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the incident. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue extinguished the vehicle fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Community Health: 87 Take Advantage Of COVID-19 Testing Friday In Century
July 11, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida brought their mobile COVID-19 testing to Century Friday morning.
Community Health tells NorthEscambia.com that 87 people were tested at the drive-thru and walk-up testing that did not require any prescreening.
The tests were available to anyone for any reason from age newborn and up regardless of symptoms. Those that were tested were advised to go home and self-isolate, wear a face covering and keep away from other people, including family members, until they receive their test results.
Friday was the second time that testing had been offered in Escambia County north of Cantonment. There were 55 people tested in Century during the last Community Health event in mid-May.
Pictured: COVID-19 testing in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
High In The Upper 90s Sunday; Heat Index Up Around 110 Degrees
July 11, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 106. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 107. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.