NEP Ducks Win Coach Pitch Championship
July 6, 2020
The NEP Ducks won a recent coach pitch championship. Pictured are players and coaches. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Donate Blood At OneBlood And Find Out If You Have The COVID-19 Antibody
July 6, 2020
If you donate blood with OneBlood you will find out if you have the coronavirus antibody.
That’s because the non-profit OneBlood is testing all donations for the COVID-19 antibody.
The antibody test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. Donors will be able to see their results approximately 48 hours after donating by logging into their donor portal.
OneBlood was one of the first blood centers to begin testing for the coronavirus antibody and plans to provide the antibody testing for the foreseeable future.
Due to social distancing measures that OneBlood has in place, all donors are required to make an appointment to donate. Appointments can be made online at www.oneblood.org or by calling 1-888-9DONATE.
Application Deadline Is Wednesday For Florida Forest Service Longleaf Pine Private Incentive Program
July 6, 2020
The Florida Forest Service has announced the launch of the 2020 Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program. Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, July 8.
The primary objective of the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program is to increase the acreage of healthy longleaf pine forests in Florida by assisting eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners with the long-term investment necessary to establish and maintain the valuable longleaf pine ecosystem.
Longleaf pine forests are native to the southeastern United States and are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Longleaf pines provide high-quality wood products and are valued for their resistance to damage by insects, disease, wildfire and storms. Due to urbanization and conversion to other land uses, longleaf pine forests have been dramatically reduced and now cover less than four percent of their historical range. Florida is home to more than 2 million acres of longleaf pine ecosystems, which represents more than half of all current longleaf pine forests.
The Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program offers incentive payments for the completion of timber stand improvement, invasive species control, prescribed burning, planting longleaf pine, establishing native plant understory and mechanical underbrush treatments. Private lands located within the 58 counties north of Lake Okeechobee, the historical range of longleaf pine, are eligible for the program.
To learn more and access an application, visit FDACS.gov/LongleafIncentive or contact your local Florida Forest Service county forester. In Escambia County, call Cathy Hardin at (850) 587-5237 or email.
COVID-19 Testing Available In Century This Week For Escambia County Residents
July 6, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida is bringing COVID-19 testing back to Century this week.
The drive-thru/walk-up testing will be available Friday from 9 a.m. until noon on East Hecker Road at the Head Start building (former elementary school) for Escambia County (FL) residents only. There is no pre-screening required, and the testing is available for any age regardless of symptoms. A photo identification is required.
Testing will be provided weather permitting while supplies last.
According to Community Health:
- The tests are no-cost to the individual. If you have health insurance, your insurance will cover the cost. If you do not have insurance, you can still be tested free of charge. Bring an identification and insurance card (if you have insurance).
- Testing is not a doctor visit. You will not receive a medical examination. Community Health will only be collecting a specimen to send to a lab for processing, and then you will be free to go.
- Once your test is complete, is it critical that you go home and self-isolate, wear a face covering and keep way from other people (including family members) to the best of your ability until results are known.
- Community Health will call to share test results when they are available along with instructions on what to do next. They should have a good working contact number for you. They will not leave test result information on a voicemail message.
Pictured: Community Health Northwest Florida COVID-19 testing in Century on May 13. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bobbie Barlow Jones
July 6, 2020
Mrs. Bobbie Barlow Jones, age 84, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at her home in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Jones was a native of Pineville, FL and had resided in the Atmore area for most of her life. She was a retired bookkeeper with 25 years service and was a member and director of WMU with Presley Street Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Robert Jones; parents, Taylor and Lena Barlow; three brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by numerous loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 4, 2020, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Joseph Simpson officiating.
Burial was at the Pinebarren Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Cole Graves, Mason Graves, Eddie Mitchell, Randy Lucas, Billy Young and Taylor Young.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia County Man Killed In Klondike Road Rollover Crash
July 5, 2020
An Escambia County man was in killed a crash Sunday morning in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 36-year old man was traveling south on Klondike Road approaching Dunaway Lane when he lost control of his Ford Focus and began to leave the roadway. His car traveled sideways, hit a fence and rolled over.
The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The FHP no longer releases the name of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sunday Report: Escambia County COVID-19 Positives Increase By 212
July 5, 2020
THIS REPORT IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Escambia County COVID-19 cases were up by 212 in the Sunday report from the the Florida Department of Health.
Escambia County cases increased to 2,809, and Santa Rosa cases were up by 52 to 867.
Of the 1,080 test results returned on Friday, 15.2% were positive in Escambia County and 15.5% were positive from 288 tests in Santa Rosa County.
Of the 47 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 200,111 cases including 197,076 Florida residents. There have been 15,895 hospitalizations* and 3,702 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 — 2,809 (+212 since Saturday)
Non-Florida residents — 388
Pensacola — 2,089(+175)
Cantonment — 185 (+14)
Molino— 31 (+2)
Century — 16 (+2)
Bellview — 7
McDavid — 7 (+1)
Walnut Hill — 3
Perdido Key — 3
Hospitalizations: 110* (+3)
Deaths — 47
Male — 1,068
Female — 1,315
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 37
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 867 (+52 since Saturday)
Non-Florida residents — 8
Milton — 360 (+19)
Navarre — 139 (+6)
Gulf Breeze — 174 (+12)
Pace — 93 (+4)
Jay — 24 (+5)
Hospitalizations — 42* (+2)
Deaths — 9
Male — 447
Female — 410
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 98
Median Age — 34
Florida cases:
Total cases — 200,111
Florida residents — 197,076
Deaths — 3,731
Hospitalizations — 15,865
*“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.
38 More Escambia County Jail Inmates Test Positive For COVID-19
July 5, 2020
Sunday morning, the Escambia County Jail reported 38 new COVID-19 cases among inmates that were identified for testing by contract tracing.
Of 44 inmates that have been tested, there were the 38 positives, four negative and two that are awaiting results. The county said all of those that have tested positive have not presented any medical concerns.
None of the inmates who have tested positive are are presenting medical concerns. Two of the units in the jail have been turned into isolation zones to house the inmates who have tested positive to try to prevent the further spread of the virus.
On Thursday, the jail reported three positive inmates and 12 infected correctional officers with 13 waiting for their results. Sunday, Escambia County said there were still only 12 positive correctional officers, but did not specify if the 13 others had received their results. The officers are all quarantined at home. The corrections department has 575 employees.
“We are doing everything in our power to keep inmates and employees as safe as possible during this global pandemic,” Escambia County Corrections Chief Rich Powell said. “Our medical staff assured me that none of these inmates are presenting medical concerns at this time. Our priority remains the safety and health of our inmates and employees as we follow our infectious disease processes and CDC guidelines. We are continuing to work with the Florida Department of Health for guidance, and masks are available for all inmates, which we are strongly encouraging them to wear.”
Individuals can call the Escambia County Jail at (850) 436-9650 with questions about inmates.
One Of These 27 People Will Be The Next Escambia County School Superintendent
July 5, 2020
There were 27 people that submitted their application to be the next superintendent of the Escambia County School District.
In November 2018, Escambia County citizens voted to move from an elected to an appointed superintendent. Malcolm Thomas, the current elected superintendent, will retire in November.
Two of the candidates for the job are current Escambia County residents.
Keith Leonard of Cantonment is the current assistant superintendent of Human Resource Services and spent 13 years as the Escambia County School District director of Human Resource Services.
Claudia Williams of Pensacola has worked for the Escambia County School District for about 32 years and is currently a guidance counselor at Judy Andrews/Success Academy. She is a former District 3 board member and campaigned unsuccessfully for superintendent in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
An appointed Superintendent Search Citizens Advisory Committee will name semi-finalists in July, followed by finalists in mid-August. According to a school district timeline, finalists will be interviewed in late August. A special board meeting to select the new superintendent will be held September 1.
The start date for the new superintendent is set for November 17. The salary range is $145,000 to $175,00 a year.
The applicants are listed below in the order in which their applications were received. Tap or click on any applicant’s name to load their resume and application information in pdf format.
- Dr. Peri-Anne Chobot
- Dr. Terry L. Nelson
- Leigh Ann McCray
- Paul Grimaud
- Dr. Wayne Alexander
- Marques L. Stewart
- Dr. Andrei E. Ghelman
- Dr. Greg S. Shull
- Dr.. Raymond L. Bryant, Jr.
- Adam M. Taylor
- Dr. David M. Schmittou
- Dr. Michelle E. James
- Dr. Earl Johnson
- Dr. John Millay
- Dr. Monica Henson
- Dr. Debra L. Fountain
- Keith C. Rittel
- Dr. Timothy A. Smith
- Keith Leonard
- Dr. BrianT. Binggeli
- Dr. Brian J. Boggs
- Dr. Sumita SenGupta
- Dr. Vincent F. Cotter
- Dr. Robert E. Schiller
- Dr. Christopher R. Quinn
- Christopher N. Ruszkowski
- Claudia S. Williams
Searchable Escambia County Employee Salary Database Is Now Live
July 5, 2020
A new Escambia County employee salary database is now live on the county’s website.
The salaries of those employed by government agencies are public record in Florida because they are paid using public funds. The State of Florida has had a salary database live for some time.
To access the Escambia County Employee Wages searchable database, click or tap here.
All 87 pages of the database can be browsed, searched by name or viewed by department from fiscal year 2018 or FY 2019.