No Deaths, 33 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Sunday In Escambia County
August 30, 2020
There were 33 new COVID-19 positives and no new deaths reported in Escambia County on Sunday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Escambia County cases increased to 11,151. An additional 25 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 4,659.
Of the 818 tests results returned in Escambia County, 3.9% were positive, and 9.7% were positive from 224 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 5.5%.
There were 132 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Saturday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 186 deaths in Escambia County, 89 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 55 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and 10 in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 621,586 cases including 614,753 Florida residents. There have been 38,410 hospitalizations* and 11,119 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.
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
Escambia County cases:
Total cases — 11,151 (+30)
Non-Florida residents — 1,001
Pensacola —8,151 (+29)
Century — 910 (+1)
—-including 768 Century prison inmates
Cantonment — 782 (+2)
Molino— 128
McDavid — 63
Walnut Hill — 16
Bellview — 11
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 6
Current hospitalizations: 132
Deaths — 186
Male — 4,922
Female — 5,134
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 39
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 4,659 (+25)
Non-Florida residents — 42
Milton — 2,533 (+12)
Gulf Breeze — 674 (+3)
Navarre — 571 (+2)
Pace — 357 (+2)
Jay — 130 (+1)
Bagdad — 9
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 266*
Deaths — 55
Male — 2,595
Female — 2,015
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 40
Florida cases:
Total cases — 621,586
Florida residents — 614,753
Deaths — 11,119
Hospitalizations — 38,410*
*“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.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Man Facing Charges After Running From Highway 29 Wreck With Injuries
August 30, 2020
A man that ran from a wreck on Highway 29 Saturday is facing criminal charges.
At least two people were injured in the two vehicle crash on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road. They were transported by Escambia County EMS to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Witness told authorities that the driver of a SUV rear-ended a vehicle in front of the Burger King before he jumped out and ran away. He was tracked down a short time later by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man, identified as 28-year old Dylan Roger Jon Ankney, was booked into the Escambia County Jail charged with felony hit and run and driving with a suspended license. He remained jailed Sunday with bond set at $2,500.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released details about their crash investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Empty Building, Empty Promises. Here’s The 12 Year Story Of Century’s Big Industrial Building. And No Jobs.
August 30, 2020
As the town of Century works toward deciding to sell the “Helicopter Technology” building or lease it, NorthEscambia.com is taking a look back at what has happened over the last 12 years the town-owned building has sat empty.
It’s a story of an empty building, and plenty of empty promises.
Federal Raid Shuts Down Helicopter Business
In June 2008, agents with the U.S. Office of Transportation raided Van Nevel Helicopters in the Century Industrial Park, seizing business records of the business and its owner, Georges Van Nevel. “Van Nevel is suspected of improperly refurbishing helicopters and helicopter parts, selling unapproved aircraft parts, performing improper repairs on helicopters and misleading the aviation community by false advertisements,” according to federal documents from the Office of Transportation obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
The company never reopened, and Van Nevel fled the country.
Judgements And Foreclosures Against Helicopter Company
Following a federal raid that shut down Helicopter Technology, a Costa Rican company won a $424,550.72 judgment against the company in federal court. In July 2009, Century’s foreclosure on Helicopter Technology was completed with a $740,999.43 judgement awarded to the town
Century Decides To Buy The Building, Unless Someone Has $800,000
The Town of Century decided in August 2009 that they did not want to part with the former Helicopter Technology building in the town’s industrial park — unless someone was willing to write checks that would total over $800,000. In late August 2009, the town bought the building at public auction for $1, and then-mayor Freddie McCall said he hoped to put a business in the building “right away” and bring jobs to town.
Hundreds Of Jobs Possible, Mayor McCall Says.
In 2010, Mcall said that two different companies had expressed interest in the building. One said it would expand to employee 100, and another said it would start with 20 employees and grow to 330 within three years. Nothing ever moved forward.
The Building Did Generate ̶R̶e̶v̶e̶n̶u̶e̶ Petty Cash In 2014. One Man’s Trash….
In October 2016, the building did generate $1,075.10 for Century. The town held an auction to sell items left behind by Helicopter Technology. Couches, desks, shelving, outdated computer equipment and other items were sold at a Saturday auction to clean out the building and make it more marketable.
Four Years Later, Hint Falls Flat
In mid-2016, then Mayor Freddie McCall hinted that interest had been expressed in the building, “If it works out, it is going to be great for Century,” he told chamber members. “Something is going to happen sooner or later for Century.” The hint never turned into reality.
FloridaWest Inquiry Goes South
In July 2017, FloridaWest told the council they had a serious business inquiry about the building from a company that might bring 40 to 60 jobs to Century. The town paid for an appraisal on the building, but no company or jobs ever materialized. The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the region’s economic development organization.
Truck Company Proposal Was A Road To Nowhere
In June of 2019, the town received a “letter of intent” email to Mayor Henry Hawkins by Noble Trucking Solutions, LLC, of Sheridan, Wyoming.
The letter says the company specializes in oilfield water and sand hauling and wished to expand to Century, with the building service as a “multi-use facility that will house and serve as the Century Florida Annex for our Trucking, Logistics and CDL Trucking School with a CDL Certification Program”.
The project never went forward at all.
Cotton Storage Business Rejected
In May 2019, West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who were in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company offered an $8,000 deposit, pay the first month’s rent in advance, and pay for any upgrades to the building. At the end of the lease term, they would have had the opportunity to buy the building for $100.
The offer was rejected.
A motion by then council member Ben Boutwell to proceed with negotiations and work on an agreement failed on a 3-2 vote with council members James Smith, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Luis Gomez voting against. The dissenters expressed objections against the business because it would likely not create any jobs.
“I don’t see the benefit for us,” Smith said at the time. “Where’s the employment?”
Smith and Gomez expressed concerns at the May 2019 meeting that if the council were to lease the building below market value, the town would not have any available industrial space if another company wanted to locate in Century with new jobs.
“Someday it could produce jobs, even it’s 10-15 jobs for Century,” Gomez said.
Cotton Gin Makes Lease A Second Time.
West Florida Gin was the only company to respond to Century’s 2020 advertised request for proposals to lease the property The council tabled action on the proposal after receiving a purchase offer.
Project Fusion Business Wants To Buy Building, More Property
A company described as using an agricultural product to manufacture plastic alternatives has made a preliminary $879,000 offer for the building and adjacent property with a promise of employing 30 or more people within a couple of years.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots
August 30, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. In observance of the Labor Day holiday weekend, there will be no lane closures on state roads from 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4 to 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Aug 28:
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and pavement operations.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road (C.R.) 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road
(S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. - · Brent Lane (S.R. 296) Underground Utility Operations Near Davis Highway- Traffic will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, Thursday, Sept. 3, Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9 as crews perform underground utility work.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Aug 28:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
- · S.R. 89 Pavement Coring Operations from North of S.R. 87N to South of C.R. 178 – Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures Monday, Aug. 31 through Thursday, Sept. 3 as crews perform asphalt coring operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Want To Get Involved? Here Are This Week’s Escambia County Public Meetings
August 30, 2020
Here are this week’s Escambia County public meetings:
Tuesday, September 1
Planning Board/Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Tourist Development Council – 3 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Wednesday, September 2
Contractor Competency Board Exam Committee – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Contractor Competency Board Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Developmental Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Thursday, September 3
Executive Session – 8 :15 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Community Redevelopment Agency – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Public Hrgs & Reports – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Public Hearing-Navy Federal EDATE Ordinance – 5:33 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Unsettled Pattern: More Of Those Scattered Afternoon Showers And Storms
August 30, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Two New COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Escambia County, Alabama
August 30, 2020
Two additional COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in Escambia County, Alabama.
There have now been 22 reported deaths in the county with 1,209 total confirmed cases, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. There were 122 cases confirmed in the past two weeks, and there are 187 more probable cases.
As of Friday, the Escambia County Healthcare Authority said they have recorded 549 positive COVID-19 tests at Atmore Community Hospital and 230 at DW McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Is Your Child Enrolled In Remote Learning? Here’s How To Get Free Breakfast And Lunch For Them
August 30, 2020
Escambia County students enrolled in distance learning can receive meals through curbside service each school morning.
Families may pick up one breakfast and lunch per student each day school is in session at any location of their choice, regardless of the student’s assigned school. The meals for distance learners are designed to be carried away and consumed off campus (cafeteria/dining rooms remain closed for distance learners). Food items should be consumed when received or quickly refrigerated for consumption at a later time.
Distribution sites and times are listed below.
When parents arrive to pick up meals they will be asked for their students’ names and school ID numbers. Families with students that pay full or reduced price for meals, should put money on their student’s account online at myschoolbucks.com to cover the cost of the breakfast and lunch.
From 6:15 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. meals may be picked up at:
- Jim Allen Elementary School, 1051 Hwy. 95A North
- Kingsfield Elementary School, 900 West Kingsfield Rd.
From 6:30 – 7:00 a.m. meals may be picked up at:
- Bellview Elementary School, 4425 Bellview Ave.
- Bratt Elementary School, 5721 North Hwy. 99
- Brentwood Elementary School, 4820 N. Palafox St. (Hwy 29)
- Ensley Elementary School, 501 E. Johnson Ave.
- Ferry Pass Elementary School, 8310 N. Davis Hwy.
- Global Learning Academy, 100 North P St..
- Lipscomb Elementary School, 10200 Ashton Brosnaham Road
- L.D. McArthur Elementary School, 330 East Ten Mile Rd.,
- Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97
- Montclair Elementary School, 820 Massachusetts Ave.
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School, 6115 Lillian Hwy.
- Navy Point Elementary School, 1321 Patton Dr.
- Oakcrest Elementary School, 1820 N. Hollywood Blvd.
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School, 3000 Owen Bell Lane,
- Scenic Heights Elementary School, 3801 Cherry Laurel Dr
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School, 1250 E. Texar Dr.
- Sherwood Elementary School, 501 Cherokee Trail
- Warrington Elementary School, 220 N. Navy Blvd.
- C.A. Weis Elementary School, 2701 North Q St.
- West Pensacola Elementary School, 801 North 49th Ave.
From 6:45 – 7:30 a.m. meals may be picked up at:
- Escambia High School, 1310 N. 65th Ave.
- Pensacola High School, 500 W. Maxwell Street
- Pine Forest High School, 2500 Longleaf Dr.
- Booker T. Washington High School, 6000 College Pkwy.
From 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. meals may be picked up at:
- Northview High School, 4100 West Highway 4
From 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. meals may be picked up at:
- Jim C. Bailey Middle School, 4110 Bauer Rd.
- Bellview Middle School, 6201 Mobile Hwy.
- Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Rd.
- Ferry Pass Middle School, 8355 Yancey Ave.
- Warrington Middle School, 459 South Old Corry Field Rd.
- Workman Middle School, 6299 Lanier Dr.
From 7:30– 8:00 a.m. meals may be picked up at:
- Ernest Ward Middle School, 7650 Hwy. 97
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Saturday Report: Two New COVID-19 Deaths In Escambia, 55 Additional Cases
August 29, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
There were 55 new COVID-19 positives and two new deaths reported in Escambia County on Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The deaths in Escambia County were females ages 78 and 88. One was a long-term care facility resident.
Escambia County cases increased by 55 to 11,211. An additional 42 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 4,634.
Of the 993 tests results returned on Thursday in Escambia County, 4.4% were positive, and 14% were positive from 263 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 8.2%.
There were 132 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Saturday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 186 deaths in Escambia County, 89 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 55 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and 10 in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 619,003 cases including 612,206 Florida residents. There have been 38,314 hospitalizations* and 11,105 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 — 11,121 (+55)
Non-Florida residents — 1,003
Pensacola —8,122 (+34)
Century — 909 (+1)
—-including 763 Century prison inmates
Cantonment — 780 (+11)
Molino— 128
McDavid — 63
Walnut Hill — 16
Bellview — 11
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 6
Current hospitalizations: 132 (-14)
Deaths — 186 (+2)
Male — 4,900
Female — 5,123
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 39
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 4,634 (+42)
Non-Florida residents — 42
Milton — 2,521 (+15)
Gulf Breeze — 671 (+9)
Navarre — 569 (+8)
Pace — 355 (+1)
Jay — 129 (+1)
Bagdad — 9
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 263*
Deaths — 55
Male — 2,584
Female — 2,001
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 40
Florida cases:
Total cases — 619,003
Florida residents — 612,206
Deaths — 11,105
Hospitalizations — 38,314*
*“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.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Three Escambia Students COVID-19 Positive At Ransom, Jim Bailey And Ensley; 113 Students Possibly Exposed
August 29, 2020
After one week of school, the Escambia County School District reports three positive COVID-19 cases among students.
One case each was reported at Ransom Middle School, Jim Bailey Middle School and Ensley Elementary School.
A total of 113 students have been identified as exposed to the positive students as of Friday afternoon. The families of the students received specific contact from the schools, but parents of the entire student body at the three schools were also notified “in an abundance of caution and transparency”, according Escambia County School District Health Services Director Martha Hanna.
In Escambia County, any student who is determined to have had close contact with a COVID-19 case can’t return to school for two weeks. The students are able to continue with remote learning while out of school.
At Ransom Middle School, parents of students with close classroom contact received a letter (pictured here). The letter stated the students were last exposed on Thursday, August 27. Parents were instructed not to send those students back until September 14.
Pictured: A letter sent to parents of Ransom Middle School Students that were exposed to a COVID-19 positive student. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.