Rain Or Shine: Cantonment Food Giveaways Continue
July 8, 2020
For four months now, the volunteers of the Cantonment Improvement Committee have distributed food weekly to those in need. And Tuesday was no different, despite a steady rain.
Hundreds upon hundreds of families have been served, including 276 in need last week.
The CIC accepts food donations each Monday at 3 p.m. for distribution at 3 p.m. Tuesdays at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested For Homicide Of Woman Whose Body Was Found Near Pensacola Boulevard
July 8, 2020
An Escambia County man was arrested Tuesday for the murder of a woman whose body was found along Pensacola Boulevard.
Andrew Justin Missal, 39, was charged with first degree felony homicide for death of Melisa Tody.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tody’s body was found near the intersection of Pensacola Boulevard and Boone Street on May. 23.
Missal was arrested Tuesday without incident near the intersection of Fairfield Drive and I-110, according to the ECSO.
Escambia Commissioner May Selected To Serve On FAC COVID-19 Committee
July 8, 2020
Escambia County District 3 Commissioner Lumon May has been selected to serve on the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee.
“I am extremely proud and honored to serve on the COVID-19 Committee for the Florida Association of Counties,” said District 3 Commissioner Lumon May. “Since the arrival of the pandemic in Escambia County, I have worked closely with local hospitals to ensure everyone had access to testing. I am looking forward to working with leaders statewide on COVID-19 related policies that will help return our state and counties back to normal while keeping residents safe and healthy.”
Frank Ronald Stryker
July 8, 2020
Frank Ronald Stryker – “Lightnin” “Paw Paw” – passed away on June 30, 2020, at the age of 87. He was born April 29,1933, in Lutheranville, NY to Fred and Esther Stryker. The family lived in several places in NY and NJ. His favorite memories were living on a farm in upper state NY where he played baseball and football in Worcester, NY, Schenevus, NY, and in Cooperstown, NY in 1951 and was in the parade. He was very proud of that accomplishment. After graduation, he joined the Navy and was stationed at Great Lakes, IL, and Norman, OK. Paw Paw was proud of his boxing days in the Navy. His last deployment was at Whiting Field, Milton, where he met and married Virginia Mathis. They had three children, Randy, Ronnie and Susie. In 1976, he married Mary Bunch. He retired as an Aircraft Electrician Forman at NARF and served as the secretary for the Pensacola Bass Club. He enjoyed telling fish stories and remembered each and every fishing partner.
He is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Randy; two brothers, and one sister.
Dad is survived by his wife, Mary; his son, Ronnie; daughter, Susie, daughter-in-law, Lorene; step-son, Dave (Michele); step-daughter, Cheryl, ten grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Kelley (Walt), Katie, Cody (Amy), Jake, Ben, and Isaac; as well as six great-grandchildren, Christian, Brooke, Summer, Caislynn, Ryker, and Bo.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 6, 2020, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Burial will follow in Clear Springs Cemetery, Robertsdale, AL.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, is entrusted with arrangements.
Alicia Celene Brown
July 8, 2020
Mrs. Alicia Celene Brown, 62, of Atmore, AL passed away July 1, 2020, surrounded by her family. She was born in Mobile, AL on February 19, 1958. She was a loving mother, sister, aunt and friend.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Ervie Sellers Bray.
She is survived by her children, Daniel Keith Griffith (Donna) of Huxford, AL, Shawn Edward Brown of Atmore, AL and Robby Edward (Jessica) Brown of Poarch, AL and Shaina Megan Brown of Atmore, AL; five grandchildren, Alexandria Brown, Reha Hall, Jaselyn Brown, Fonzie Price and Kara Brown; one sister ,Gina (Steve) Harrison of Atmore, AL; and one special niece, Heather (Chris) Hughes of Atmore, AL; and one special cousin, Vickie Carrier.
Graveside Services were held Monday, July 6, 2020, at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Atmore, AL with Bro. Michael Roley officiating.
Active pallbearers were Shawn Brown, Daniel Griffith, Michael Roley, Lloyd Copeland, Chris Hughes and Robby Brown.
Please use social distancing requirements due to the healthcare crisis for the safety of the family and others.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
City Administration Recommends Removal Of Pensacola’s Lee Square Confederate Monument
July 7, 2020
City administration is recommending that the Pensacola City Council approve the removal of the Lee Square Confederate monument.
In a memorandum Tuesday, City Administrator Keith Wilkins also recommended that the Mayor Grover Robinson be given the authority to award a contract for the removal.
On June 11, the city council began discussions about the monument and initiated a 30-day waiting period for potential action, and staff started their discussions.
The Pensacola City Council will make a final decision on the monument at a special meeting on July 14th.
According to the memo:
“Under careful consideration and with Pensacola’s collective heritage and historic landscape in mind, staff has determined that Lee Square and the monument does not reflect our current values nor strive to create a more inclusive City. Although the Confederate monument remembers those that lead, fought and died for the Confederacy, it also promotes a post-Reconstruction “Lost Cause” narrative that memorializes a divisive time in American history reflective of “white supremacy” and the Jim Crow era. The Square and Monument are not equitable representations of all our citizens. To achieve a stronger and more unified community, staff recommends the complete removal of the Lee Square Confederate monument.”
To read the full 17-page memo on removing the monument, click here.
Pictured: The Lee Square Confederate monument in Pensacola was fenced off last week. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Additional Death, 117 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Tuesday In Escambia County
July 7, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Escambia County recorded an additional COVID-19 death as cases were up by 117 in the Tuesday report from the the Florida Department of Health.
The fatality was a 92-year old female that was not a resident of a long-term care facility.
Escambia County cases increased to 3,059 and Santa Rosa cases were up by 39 to 941.
Of the 508 test results returned on Monday, 15.6% were positive in Escambia County and 16.9% were positive from 197 tests in Santa Rosa County.
Of the 48 deaths in Escambia County, 36 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been nine deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 213,794 cases including 210,594 Florida residents. There have been 16,425 hospitalizations* and 3,841 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 — 3,059 (+117 since Monday)
Non-Florida residents — 435
Pensacola — 2,290(+86)
Cantonment — 196 (+4)
Molino— 34 (+2)
Century — 17 (+1)
Bellview — 7
McDavid — 7
Walnut Hill — 3
Perdido Key — 3
Hospitalizations: 120* (+10)
Deaths — 48 (+1)
Male — 1,164
Female — 1,435
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 37
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 941 (+39 since Monday)
Non-Florida residents — 8
Milton — 393 (+22)
Navarre — 149 (+5)
Gulf Breeze — 190 (+4)
Pace — 103 (+6)
Jay — 26 (+1)
Hospitalizations — 47* (+4)
Deaths — 9
Male — 482
Female — 443
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 98
Median Age — 34
Florida cases:
Total cases — 213,794
Florida residents — 210,594
Deaths — 3,841
Hospitalizations — 16,425
*“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.
Florida Orders All Schools To Reopen In August
July 7, 2020
Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has ordered all public schools in the state to reopen in August while offering “the full panoply of services” to students and their families.
“There is a need to open schools fully to ensure the quality and continuity of the educational process, the comprehensive well-being of students and families and a return to Florida hitting its full economic stride,” the emergency order released Monday states.
The order requires that all public schools reopen in August at least five days a week and provide all services that are required by law, including in-person instruction and services for students with special needs.
“Required services must be provided to students from low-income families, students of migrant workers, students who are homeless, students with disabilities, students in foster care, students who are English-language learners, and other vulnerable populations,” the order states.
Both public school districts and charter school boards must submit their reopening plans to the Florida Department of Education that show how they will fully open and offer all services to all students. They will also be required to project the number of students that are expected to continue with remove learning as was used after the March statewide shutdown.
“Although it is anticipated that most students will return to full-time brick and mortar schools, some parents will continue their child’s education through innovative learning environments, often due to the medical vulnerability of the child or another family member who resides in the same household,” the order says.
School districts are also instructed to follow any executive orders from Gov. Ron DeSantis along with any advice from state or local health officials.
Tap or click to read the full order.
Rain Chance Remains High For Tuesday Night
July 7, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Low around 72. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light west wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Brenda Spencer Appointed To Century Town Council. She’s A Former Escambia County Legal Secretary.
July 7, 2020
The Century Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Brenda Spencer to a vacant seat on the board.
Spencer is a Century native who retired in 2012 after 21 years as a legal secretary and co-office manager for the Escambia County attorney and deputy attorney. She has previous experience as medical secretary and was secretary to the plant manager at Wayne Dalton Corporation in Century from 1980-1988.
She will be sworn in during the next regular meeting of the council on July 20. Spencer will remain in office until an elected council member take office the night of January 4, 2021.
The seat was was left vacant when Ben Boutwell resigned in early June in order to run for mayor. That put his Seat 3 position on this year’s ballot, and allowed the council to appoint a new member for the rest of the year to fulfill the remainder of his term.
Pictured: Brenda Spencer. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.