Century Woman Wanted On Tennessee Charges Arrested After Highway 29 Traffic Stop
January 6, 2021
A Century woman wanted on multiple charges in Tennessee is behind bars after a traffic stop in Escambia County.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 37-year old Amber Hixon Bradshaw was traveling “in excess of 90 mph” when a deputy stopped her vehicle on Highway 29 in the area of Mystic Springs Road.
A records check revealed Bradshaw had outstanding warrants from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for two counts of petit theft and failure to appear on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of Xanax, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bradshaw remained in the Escambia County Jail as a fugitive from justice awaiting extradition back to Tennessee.
Farmers, Forest Landowners Can Now Apply For Hurricane Sally FSA Emergency Assistance
January 6, 2021
Local farmers and forest landowners can now apply for additional Hurricane Sally assistance.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages eligible producers to apply for for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). Registration opened Monday and will continue through March 4.
The activation of the ECP and EFRP programs are for those with farmland and private forestland damaged by natural disasters in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties. This assistance is in addition to FSA disaster loans through the Secretarial designations for Hurricane Sally-impacted producers in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Holmes, Washington, Calhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, and other contiguous counties. Enrollment for ECP and EFRP will be facilitated by county FSA offices, as with loans and other disaster assistance programs.
“Farmers and producers in the Florida Panhandle have suffered serious natural disasters and setbacks the past few years, including major flooding and up to 100 percent crop losses from Hurricane Sally,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “With enrollment for additional federal disaster assistance opening today, I encourage all impacted producers to contact their county Farm Service Agency office and apply before the deadline, as they replant and rebuild in 2021.”
USDA has developed a disaster assistance discovery tool specifically targeted to rural and agricultural issues. The tool walks producers through five questions that generate personalized results identifying which USDA disaster assistance programs can help them recover from a natural disaster. USDA also encourages residents and small businesses in impact zones to contact USDA offices which meet their individual needs. Producers can find more information on programs and services at farmers.gov.
Pictured: Hurricane Sally damage in Escambia County. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Supervisor Of Elections David Stafford Sworn In For Fifth Term
January 6, 2021
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford was sworn in Tuesday for his fifth term.
The Honorable William H. Stafford, Jr. presided over the small ceremony with family members and staff at the Supervisor of Elections office.
Stafford was first elected as Escambia County supervisor of elections in November 2004. A graduate of the University of Florida, Stafford is a past president of the Florida Supervisors of Elections and the current legislative co-chair of the National Association of Election Officials.
Florida CFO Rallies Support In Pensacola To Limit COVID-19 Business Liability
January 6, 2021
Tuesday, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis hosted a ‘Rally at the Restaurant’ event at The Fish House in Pensacola to advocate for vital COVID-19 liability protections for Florida businesses.
Joined by state leaders, lawmakers and business owners, CFO Patronis encouraged Floridians to patronize and support local businesses and asked Legislators to work together to pass meaningful liability protections to get Florida’s economy back on its feet. Over the last several months, CFO Patronis has emphasized the need for COVID-19 liability protections for businesses and highlighted his three guiding principles to help shape legislation in the upcoming Legislative Session.
“I was proud to be joined in Pensacola today by local leaders and small business owners to Rally at the Restaurant at The Fish House and fight for vital COVID-19 liability protections for all Pensacola businesses. As a former small business owner myself, I’ve spent most of my life in the restaurant industry and I know how hard it is to make payroll on a good day, much less when hampered by the financial impacts of COVID-19,” Patronis said. “No doubt, unless we take action to protect our small businesses, we’ll see big problems: businesses will close, insurance rates will continue to grow, and critical services will get squeezed. I’m confident that we can pass meaningful liability protections and add Florida to the list of 21 other states that have enacted some sort of liability shields for businesses.”
Members of the local legislative delegation stood in support with Patronis.
Senator Doug Broxson said, “Covid 19 has created enormous pressure on our small businesses and restaurants. For any legal or governmental institution to take advantage of these hardworking individuals during this time is especially egregious. I am thankful that CFO Patronis, a business owner himself, understands these concerns and I stand with him in protecting these restaurants and their employees.”
Representative Michelle Salzman said, “I am proud to stand with CFO Patronis on this critical issue affecting our businesses. If Florida’s business owners are following the proper guidelines they should not have to live in fear of frivolous litigation. By passing these important protections, our business community will be able to reopen and operate in confidence.”
Representative Alex Andrade said, “I appreciate CFO Patronis’ commitment to provide common sense business liability protections. The pandemic has created a tremendous burden on our small business. Knowing that Florida’s elected officials are concerned and working to address inappropriate liability tactics will go a long way in our state’s economic recovery.”
Three More COVID-19 Deaths, Another 224 Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 6, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST UPDATE.
There were 224 new COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths is Escambia County as reported Tuesday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 23,602 (+224)
Non-Florida residents: 2,544
Total deaths: 387 (+3)
Long-term care facility deaths : 170 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 267 (+19)
Number of tests reported last day: 691
Percent positive reported last day: 22.5%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.8%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 17,297 (+184)
Cantonment: 2,073 (+29)
Century: 1,035 (+7)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 284 (+3)
McDavid: 146 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 42 (+2)
Bellview: 33
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 11 (+1)
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 11,876 (+104)
Non-Florida residents: 151
Total deaths: 137 (+7)
Long-term care facility deaths: 28 (+3)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 570*
Number of tests reported day: 298
Percent positive reported last day: 25.9%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 5,763 (+25)
Navarre: 2,341 (+27)
Gulf Breeze: 2,107 (+21)
Pace: 909 (+5)
Jay: 342 (+5)
Bagdad: 26
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,392,123
Florida residents: 1,367,778
Deaths: 22,188
Hospitalizations: 63,882*
*“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.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Ascension Sacred Heart Opens New COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments. Here’s How To Sign Up Now.
January 5, 2021
Update: Ascension Sacred Heart’s website indicates all appointments are taken.
Ascension Sacred Heart plans to hold additional COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Thursday in Milton and Pensacola for local residents who are age 65 and older.
Both clinics are being organized in coordination with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and officials from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The clinics on Thursday are in addition to clinics to be held Wednesday.
The Pensacola clinic will take place in the gym of Olive Baptist Church, 1836 E. Olive Road, Pensacola, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In Santa Rosa County, the vaccination clinic will be located in the basketball gym of Milton Community Center, 5329 Byrom Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The vaccinations must be scheduled in advance. Persons without an appointment will not be eligible to get the vaccine.
To schedule a vaccination online, click or tap here. The available times for the Pensacola clinics are listed first, followed by the available slots for the Milton site.
Ascension Sacred Heart does not have enough vaccine yet to meet the great demand for the vaccine in the community, but it will schedule more clinics as Florida’s supply of vaccine continues to grow.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently announced a new executive order directing that the next priority group for vaccinations in Florida should be persons age 65 and older. The seniors group follows the first priority group, which is healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents an
UPDATE: Molino Library Closed For Cleaning After Positive COVID-19 Test
January 5, 2021
UPDATE: The Molino Branch Library was closed Tuesday for cleaning due to a positive COVID-19 test.
“It was temporarily closed due to someone testing positive for COVID-19,” said Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale. The library was expected to be reopen on Wednesday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Semi Truck Overturns On Highway 29
January 5, 2021
There were no serious injuries reported when a semi-truck overturned Tuesday morning on Highway 29 just south of Bluff Springs Road.
The truck hauling paper products came to rest on its side in the median about 9:35 a.m.
The highway remained open both north and southbound, but drivers were urged to slow and use caution in the area.
Escambia County EMS and Escambia Fire Rescue responded. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the wreck.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff Chip Simmons Sworn In; Commits To Reopening Molino Substation, Body Cameras
January 5, 2021
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons was sworn into office Tuesday morning.
“I will reinforce a commitment to service. We will be there when you need us,” Simmons said. “We will be there, and we will be brave. We will be courteous, and we will be compassionate.”
Simmons committed to reopening substations in Molino and Perdido and discuss the need for any other precinct in Escambia County. He will also place a request to use seized and forfeited funds be used for body cameras.
“We will work every day to be the sheriff’s office that you can be proud of. One that is courteous, one that is committed, one that is strong and professional, and one that is brave. A true reflection of the county that it serves,” Simmons said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Century Mayor And Council Members Sworn In; Council Elects New President And VP
January 5, 2021
A new mayor and two new town council members were sworn in Monday evening in Century.
Benjamin Boutwell was sworn in as mayor, and political newcomers Dynette Lewis and Leonard White took the oath of office for town council. Incumbent Luis Gomez was also sworn in for another term. Due to staggered terms, council members Sandra Jackson and James Smith were not up for election in 2020 and round out the five member council.
Gomez was elected as council president by his fellow council members, and Smith was elected vice president.
During the 2020 elections, Boutwell defeated incumbent Henry Hawkins. Lewis defeated incumbent council president Ann Brooks, and White was elected to the seat that was held by Boutwell until his resignation to run for mayor. Gomez was automatically reelected without opposition.
Pictured: The swearing in ceremonies Monday evening for Mayor Ben Boutwell (pictured above on the left), and council members Dynette Lewis (first below), Leonard White (second below) and Luis Gomez (bottom). All four were sworn in by Town Clerk Kim Godwin. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
