Holiday Hours For COVID-19 Testing, Including Rapid Test, In Cantonment And Brownsville
December 24, 2020
Community Heath of Northwest Florida has announced hours for COVID-19 testing in Cantonment and Brownsville during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
The testing sites at Cantonment Pediatrics and the Brownville Community Center will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The sites will be open regular hours all other weekdays, including New Year’s Eve.
Weekday hours are 9 a.m. until 1 p.m at Cantonment Pediatrics and 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center. Both locations offer drive-thru testing for individuals without symptoms. No pre-screening required, just show a photo identification and insurance card if insured.
Rapid testing is available at both locations for Escambia County residents that are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals seeking rapid testing must first call (850) 746-2684 to be pre-screened and scheduled.
For general questions about COVID-19 mobile testing, call Community Health of Northwest Florida’s main number at (850) 436-4630; do not call Cantonment Pediatrics or the Brownsville Community Center.
By The Numbers: Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increasing
December 24, 2020
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County is increasing.
As of Wednesday, there were 172 patients current hospitalized for COVID-19 in Escambia County.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations between the three local hospital systems are continuing to remain above 100 (now approaching 200), and we’d like to see those numbers go down,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Please be vigilant and take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often.”
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data source/graphic: City of Pensacola.
Escambia Reports One Additional COVID-19 Death And 299 New Cases
December 24, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY.
On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health reported one additional COVID-19 death and 299 new cases in Escambia County.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 20,737 (+299)
Non-Florida residents: 2,269
Total deaths: 352 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths : 159
Current hospitalizations: 172 (+13)
Number of tests last day: 1,600
Percent positive last day: 13.8%
Percent positive last week: 13.5%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 15,145 (+75)
Cantonment: 1,741 (+20)
Century: 995 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 261 (+3)
McDavid: 128 (+4)
Walnut Hill: 38
Bellview: 29
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 9
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 10,025 (+114)
Non-Florida residents: 121
Total deaths: 120
Long-term care facility deaths: 24
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 516*
Number of tests last day: 513
Percent positive last day: 17.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:
Milton: 5,049 (+69)
Navarre: 1,897 (+20)
Gulf Breeze: 1,721 (+13)
Pace: 766
Jay: 255 (+3)
Bagdad: 24
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,223,015
Florida residents: 1,202,660
Deaths: 20,754
Hospitalizations: 60,471*
*“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. Most of these people are longer be 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.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Manhunt For Stolen Vehicle Suspect In Cantonment
December 23, 2020
There was a manhunt in the area of Highway 29 in Cantonment Wednesday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle that had been reported stolen to Pensacola Police. The vehicle was found off the roadway in the area of Woodbury Circle and Highway 95A, not far from Highway 29.
A perimeter was established while deputies searched for a suspect that may have been in the area. There was no description of the suspect available and no word of any arrests.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck With Truck Hauling Vehicles
December 23, 2020
One person was injured when their vehicle was apparently rear-ended by a loaded truck hauling vehicles on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Extends Interim Town Manager’s Contract For Another Year
December 23, 2020
The Town of Century has extended their contract with interim Town Manager Vernon Prather by a year.
His employment agreement was in effect until December 1 and then went to a month to month basis. Monday night, the town council voted to extend it by a year, retroactive to December 1.
Council member Luis Gomez expressed concerns that he had approached Prather, Mayor Henry Hawkins and other town staffers for several months about the expiring contract, but no one would listen or place it on a council agenda.
“It seemed to me like it was blatant disregard,” Gomez said.
“My problem is you are looking over me,” he added. “I am part of this council.”
Each town council meeting includes a dedicated time for a council member comments, and council members can bring anything to the table for discussion or a vote during the meet. Gomez made no mention of Prather’s contract during council meetings during the last several months, until this past Monday night.
Most council members and Hawkins agreed that Prather had done an exceptional job over the past year, and council member Sandra McMurray Jackson recommended that his contract be extended by 90 days because a new mayor and two new council members take office in early January.
“We can’t afford to start anew right now. We have so many things hanging in the balance right now,” council member Brenda Spencer said. “Let’s just work together and get it done.”
Spencer made a motion to extended the contract by one year, with a performance review by the council at least every quarter.
Prather is paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week ($62,400 yearly). He has complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he is not be paid overtime but will us allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He also receives a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but does not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.
Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when Buz Eddy came on board in July 2019 following a scathing grand jury report on town operations.
Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager, while Eddy retired as Gulf Breeze city manager in 2017 after 25 years on the job. Prather holds wastewater and water certifications in addition his on the job experience.
The Century Charter Review Committee was working on a revised charter that might have created a mayor-town manager form of government. Their efforts to have a revised charter on the 2020 ballot were sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pictured: Century interim town manager Vernon Prather addresses the Century Town Council in December 2019. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Dedria’s Gift Donates To Long Term Care Facilities For Residents At Christmas
December 23, 2020
Dedria’s Gift, with help from St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Century, was able to make donations to two long term care facilities for residents to use at Christmas.
The donations were made to the Century Center for Rehabilitation and Healing and West Gate Village in Brewton.
Dedria’s Gift makes donations and provides to the community in honor of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11.
Pictured: Donations presented to Dedria’s Gift to Century Center for Rehabilitation and Healing (above) and West Gate Village in Brewton (below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two North Escambia Men Arrested After Chase Across Multiple Alabama Counties
December 23, 2020
Two local men were arrested after a high speed chase across multiple counties in in Alabama.
Alabama State Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Hyundai near the Tuskegee exit on I-85 for a speeding violation.
Troopers said driver Joshua Davon Tyus, age 24 of Century, refused to stop and led them on a chase that led them some 70 miles. He eventually came to a stop at a rest area on I-65 near Greenville in Butler County.
Tyus was charged with reckless driving and attempting to elude and was booked into the jail in Lowndes County, Alabama.
The only passenger in the vehicle — 23-year old Devonche Xiaxian Brown of Molino — was also taken to the Lowndes County Jail to await extradition to Escambia County, Florida, on outstanding felony warrants.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Deposit Police Department assisted Alabama State Troopers in the chase.
Pictured: Suspect Devonche Xiaxian Brown in a 2019 Escambia County, Florida, mugshot. Current mugshots were not available from the jail in Lowndes County, Alabama.
Navy Federal Gives The Gift Of Christmas To 120 Local Families
December 23, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union team members put on their Santa hats to give the gift of Christmas to a record 120 local families in need. The spirit of giving supports Project Neighbors, the credit union’s 17th annual employee-driven holiday giving program.
“Our team looks forward to Project Neighbors every year,” said Sonya Cain, assistant supervisor at Navy Federal. “It’s our way to give back together and support the communities where we live and serve. This year especially, with the pandemic and Hurricane Sally, many families need the extra help.”
Sonya and the team adopted the Jones family, which included a recently widowed mother, Amanda, and her two children who lost their father to a massive heart attack in October. Amanda’s wish list, like many of the other families, asked for standard household items, toys and clothes for the children. Her major need was a new set of tires. Sonya and her team got to shopping, using their own personal funds, to cross off the items on the list.
When the Navy Federal team showed up to the Jones home to deliver the gifts, Amanda and her children were smiling from ear to ear. They had no idea of the surprise in store for them.
“One thing I love about our community is how we care for each other,” said Sonya. “When I called Vannoy’s Tires and told them about Amanda’s need for new tires, there was no hesitation in making it happen.”
Clayton Vannoy, regional manager of Vannoy’s Tires, shared the happy news with Amanda and tears came to her eyes.
“Since losing my husband, I’ve had to hit the ground running and haven’t processed it all,” said Amanda. “This is a true blessing. I can’t say thank you enough for caring for my family.”
Families selected for Project Neighbors were identified in partnership with teachers across Escambia and Santa Rosa County school districts.
In addition to the Project Neighbors program, Navy Federal’s Pensacola team also gave back this holiday season through gathering toys and donating $2,000 to the local Toys for Tots program lead by the United States Marine Corps.
Chance Of Severe Storms Tonight Into Early Thursday Morning Before Big Cool Down
December 23, 2020
There is a chance of severe weather with a passing cold front late tonight into early Thursday morning. The biggest threats are damaging wind and a few brief tornadoes.
And be prepared for a big cool down on Thursday with freezing temperatures overnight. Details are in the forecast below.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Steady temperature around 60. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers between 9am and noon. Temperature falling to around 41 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 43. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.