Another 240 COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 11, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
On Sunday, the Florida Department of Health reported 240 additional COVID-19 cases.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 25,393 (+240)
Non-Florida residents: 2,748
Recovered: 22,871*
Total deaths: 413
Long-term care facility deaths : 178
Current hospitalizations: 270
Number of tests reported last day: 1,112
Percent positive reported last day: 16%
Percent positive reported last week: 18.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 18,616 (+173)
Cantonment: 2,269 (+27)
Century: 1,052
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 314 (+6)
McDavid: 156
Walnut Hill: 46 (+1)
Bellview: 39
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 12,843 (+186)
Non-Florida residents: 159
Total deaths: 155
Long-term care facility deaths: 36
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 600*
Number of tests reported day: 551
Percent positive reported last day: 25.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 6,197 (+94)
Navarre: 2,516 (+25)
Gulf Breeze: 2,314 (+50)
Pace: 1,006 (+10)
Jay: 385 (+5)
Bagdad: 25
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,477,010
Florida residents: 1,450,620
Deaths: 22,912
Hospitalizations: 65,595*
*“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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations as a result, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***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 is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Century Asking The Florida Legislature To Fund Three Utility Projects
January 10, 2021
The Town of Century has prioritized three projects for funding requests to the Florida Legislature.
The three utility projects are:
1. Highway 29 Construction Utilities
The Florida Department of Transportation completed design on a project to improve portions of Highway 29. The town will be required to adjust the height of existing valves and manholes, and make changes to natural gas lines, water lines and sewer lines in one part of the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2022.
2. Water Meter Replacement Project
The town wants to replace all existing commercial and residential water meters with electronic meters than can be read remotely. They are asking for the funding needed to replace the meters, along with new software and training for a complete radio system.
3. Well And Water Plant Rehabilitation
The town is requesting funding to rehabilitate three existing water wells and water treatment plants. Work has already been done on the well located at the Century Correctional Institution and the well on Henry Street, but the well on Blackmon Street still needs repairs. The electrical and treatment equipment at all three wells needs to be rehabilitated, with much of it needing complete replacement. Each well house building needs cosmetic work, and the well located at the prison needs a permanent standby generator.
The requests will go to Rep. Michelle Salzman and Sen. Doug Broxson to be submitted for consideration during the upcoming legislative session.
Pictured: Century Town Hall. NorthEscmabia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Owen Jacobs Commits To Play Soccer At Belhaven University
January 10, 2021
Tate High School senior Owen Jacobs has committed to play soccer at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi.
Owen is the son of Brett and Merike Jacobs of Cantonment. Born in Pensacola, Owen has spent much of his life living abroad as an Air Force dependent. He competed in England with the Cambridge United and Norwich Soccer academies, the Gulf Coast Texans in Pensacola and Tate High School.
Owen, who was born completely deaf, is also on the roster with the U.S. Mens Deaf National Soccer Team.
He plans to study political science and Constitutional law with the goal of becoming a Constitutional lawyer. Owen will be joining his brother Brady, a 2018 Tate graduate, who also plays for the Belhaven men’s soccer team.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bristol Park Area Flooding FEMA Grant Public Meeting Is Monday Evening
January 10, 2021
Escambia County will hold a public meeting Monday evening to update progress on the efforts to address flooding in the Bristol Park area.
The county is applying for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to further the county’s acquisition and flood plain restoration initiative in this area. The county is looking to voluntarily acquire properties in the Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills neighborhoods from willing homeowners.
“Unfortunately, the Bristol Park area experienced substantial flooding again during Hurricane Sally,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “This meeting will provide a venue for homeowners to ask questions and gain additional information about an option that may be available to help them with their individual situation.”
The purpose of the meeting is to further gauge interest of homeowner willingness to participate and to address frequently asked questions and concerns about the grant application.
The meeting will me held at 5 p.m. Monday at the Escambia County Extension Office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
After the presentation, homeowners will have the opportunity to ask further questions in small groups or individually, and the county would like to make appointments for these time slots. Residents are asked to contact either Kelli Reddick (kelli.reddick@arcadis.com) or Rob McCracken (rob_mccracken@myescambia.com) prior to the meeting to schedule an appointment, ask questions about the grant application and/or see a pre-application package.
Pictured: Household items piled outside a home in the Bristol Park area that flooded during Hurricane Sally. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway In Molino, Art Contest Announced
January 10, 2021
UF IFAS Extension and the Escambia County Natural Resources Department will hold a drive-through tree giveaway from 9 to 11 a.m., or until supplies last, on Saturday, January 23.
The event will be held at the Escambia County 4-H Camp and Livestock Facility located at 5701 Highway 99 in Molino. The giveaway begins promptly at 9 a.m., and attendees will need to follow instructions from volunteers related to entry and route. To keep everyone healthy, attendees will be asked to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask when approached by volunteers. Each vehicle will receive two free native 1 gallon trees. Species available include overcup oak, willow oak, sweetgum and Savannah holly.
Participants and anyone interested in tree care are encouraged to watch a free online seminar at noon on January 21 entitled, “Tree Planting: More than Digging a Hole,” to learn proper tree planting and care techniques. The presentation will go over the types of trees being given away, as well. Registration for the webinar can be found at: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0gfLeX5SRpGCvJmbD_Qo0w
Arbor Day Mail Art Contest
Escambia County Extension will also host their 4th annual Arbor Day Mail Art Contest this year. To participate, mail a drawing, painting, photograph or mixed media artwork with the theme, “Renew, Regrow, and Reforest” to Arbor Day Art Contest c/o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Please include your name, age, and contact information on the back of your artwork. Contest entries must arrive by mail or be dropped off by January 25.
First place winners of the art contest will receive prizes including a seven-gallon tree, a shovel and a tree book. Second place winners will receive a tree book and third place winners will receive gardening supplies. Categories include children (12-under), teen (13-18) and adult (over 18). Winners will be announced via Facebook Live on January 29, and prizes given out by appointment. Resource Management Services provided support for the art contest.
A Very Cold Rain By Morning
January 10, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A slight chance of showers between midnight and 3am, then a chance of rain after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Light northeast wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday: A chance of rain before 9am, then showers, mainly after 9am. High near 47. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
FEMA Hurricane Sally Update: $33 Million Approved For Individual Assistance, How To Get More Info
January 10, 2021
Following Hurricane Sally, FEMA approved 7,986 individuals and households for $33 million in FEMA assistance, including $25.7 million approved for housing assistance and $7.3 million approved for other disaster-related needs.
Another $81.2 million in SBA loans were approved for 2,081 applicants. And 4,472 claims were filed with the National Flood Insurance Program with $121.1 million paid out.
How to check status of your FEMA application
Survivors in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties who registered with FEMA can check the status of their applications, ask questions and get information in several ways:
- By visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
- Using the FEMA App for mobile devices
- Calling 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.
DisasterAssistance.gov
Individuals and households that have registered with FEMA may check the status of their application and upload documents on DisasterAssistance.gov.
Hurricane Sally Florida Recovery Resources & Information Portal
After the immediate response to a disaster, the focus of disaster operations shifts to recovery. FEMA Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC) helps communities plan long-term recovery and provides resources to help them build capacity.
Recovery after a disaster presents complex challenges that require coordination among federal, state, local, private and non-governmental partners. IRC helps communities develop strategies to recover from the economic, social and other impacts of Hurricane Sally.
IRC has developed the Hurricane Sally IRC Recovery Resources & Information Portal for important updates and guidance, grant opportunities, fast-track webinars, resources, links and much more. To access the portal, sign in as a guest here: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/dr4564sally/.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Traffic Alert: These Are This Week’s Trouble Spots
January 10, 2021
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The intersection of North 17th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway will remain closed until spring 2021 as construction continues for the new 17th Avenue interchange. The Visitor’s Center remains accessible from 17th Avenue. In addition, the ramp from 17th Avenue to East Gregory Street remains open. Eastbound drivers on Bayfront Parkway should use North 14th Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) as a detour route. The bridge remains closed until spring 2021.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)- Crews continue road widening and drainage improvements. Traffic impacts for the week Sunday, Jan. 10 include:
-
- Nine Mile Road median crossovers at the U.S. 29 interchange will be temporarily closed Friday, Jan. 15 from 8 p.m. until Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 a.m. The temporary closures are required to adjust the elevation of the median crossovers at the interchange. Drivers will not be able to make left turns across the median during the temporary closure. The following detour routes will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road to U.S. 29 northbound drivers should travel north on Cove Avenue, then east on Nine and a Half Mile Road, then travel north on U.S. 29.
- Westbound Nine Mile Road to U.S. 29 southbound drivers should travel south on North Palafox Street, then west on Hood Drive, then south on U.S. 29.
- Northbound U.S. 29 to westbound Nine Mile Road drivers will make a U-turn at Nine and a Half Mile Road to merge onto U.S. 29 southbound; then, exit onto Nine Mile Road westbound.
- Southbound U.S. 29 to eastbound Nine Mile Road drivers will make a U-turn at West Hood Road, then travel north on U.S. 29 to exit onto Nine Mile Road eastbound.
- Motorists can expect nighttime intermittent lane closures and shifts on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass the week of Jan. 10 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road median crossovers at the U.S. 29 interchange will be temporarily closed Friday, Jan. 15 from 8 p.m. until Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 a.m. The temporary closures are required to adjust the elevation of the median crossovers at the interchange. Drivers will not be able to make left turns across the median during the temporary closure. The following detour routes will be in place:
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Westbound traffic can expect intermittent daytime right turn lane closures as crews continue paving operations.
- S.R. 296 (Brent Lane) (Service Roads Only) Paving Operations – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11 through Wednesday, Jan. 13 as crews install asphalt at the widening areas.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive- Early construction activities are beginning in preparation for the widening and improvements of the 4.25-mile section of U.S. 98 from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive. These activities include utility relocations, clearing, excavation, and drainage improvements. As part of the upgraded drainage system, the project includes construction of five stormwater ponds. There will be no traffic impacts associated with the construction of the ponds, but nearby residents and businesses may experience some noise. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained at all times. Major roadway construction activities on the $70.4 million project are anticipated to begin summer 2021.
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The bridge remains closed until spring 2021.
- I-10 Emergency Improvements at Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/ Exit 22)- Monday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 15, motorists may encounter nighttime far right, lane and shoulder closures and traffic shifts on the eastbound I-10 exit ramp as crews construct improvements to accommodate additional traffic due to the closure of Pensacola Bay Bridge. There will also continue to be alternating left and right nightly lane closures on both north and southbound S.R. 281. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
- U.S. 98 Utility Work from Palo Alto to Whispering Pines Boulevard – The eastbound, outside lane will be closed Monday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as utility crews perform operations.
Eight More COVID-19 Deaths, 285 New Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 10, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
Eight additional COVID-19 deaths and 285 new cases were reported Saturday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 25,153 (+285)
Non-Florida residents: 2,717
Recovered: 22,847*
Total deaths: 413 (+8)
Long-term care facility deaths : 178(+4)
Current hospitalizations: 270 (+5)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,331
Percent positive reported last day: 16.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.8%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 18,443 (+215)
Cantonment: 2,242 (+25)
Century: 1,052 (+6)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 308 (+3)
McDavid: 156 (+4)
Walnut Hill: 45 (+3)
Bellview: 39
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 12,657 (+133)
Non-Florida residents: 158
Total deaths: 155 (+7)
Long-term care facility deaths: 36 (+4)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 596*
Number of tests reported day: 491
Percent positive reported last day: 21.3%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 6,103 (+43)
Navarre: 2,491 (+32)
Gulf Breeze: 2,264 (+40)
Pace: 996 (+13)
Jay: 380 (+10)
Bagdad: 25 (-1 data adjustment)
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,464,697
Florida residents: 1,438,579
Deaths: 22,804
Hospitalizations: 65,401*
*“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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations as a result, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***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 is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Charles Billy Turner
January 10, 2021
Mr. , age 85, of Prattville, AL, passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at Baptist Medical Center, South in Montgomery, AL.
Mr. Turner was born in Flomaton, AL, and had been a resident of Prattville since 1996 coming from Cleveland, TN. He worked as a purchasing agent for many construction companies, and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He was a member of East Memorial Baptist Church in Prattville and was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Katie Sunday Turner; wife, Frances Holt Turner and sisters, Margarette Helen Turner and Katherine Turner Welch.
He is survived by his son, Jeffrey Turner of Prattville, AL; daughter, Robbie (Roger) White of North Augusta, SC; brothers, James Turner of Flomaton, AL, T.J. (Charlotte) Turner of Athens, AL, Melvin ‘Cowboy’ Turner of Flomaton, AL , Ed (Ouida) Turner of Brewton, AL; grandchildren, Evan White of North Augusta, SC, Emily White (David) Piekut of San Diego, CA, Eric White of Easley, SC, and great-grandson, Luke Piekut.
Graveside services will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 2 P.M. at Pleasant Home Holiness Church Cemetery with Bro. Bryan Easley officiating.