Freezing Cold Thursday Night
January 28, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Trend Downward
January 28, 2021
After setting a pandemic record of 291 two weeks ago, current hospitalizations in Escambia County have trended downward.
There were 200 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Escambia County on Wednesday.
“It’s important that we continue to work together to bring these numbers down for our community and for our hospitals,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Please be vigilant and take preventive actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often. Remember, the City of Pensacola still has an ordinance in place that requires face coverings to be worn while inside businesses within city limits.”
According to Escambia County, there were 16 adult ICU beds available in Escambia County Wednesday night — none at Baptist, six at West Florida and 10 at Sacred Heart.
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: Escambia County, City of Pensacola. Graphics: City of Pensacola, Escambia County.
Appeals Court Upholds Conviction Of Man That Nearly Bit Off His Cousin’s Nose At Century Gas Station
January 28, 2021
The First District Court of Appeals on Wednesday unanimously upheld the conviction of a Pensacola man that nearly bit his cousin’s nose off at a Century gas station.
Anthony Darnell Powell, 33, was found guilty of aggravated battery causing bodily harm and carjacking by an Escambia County jury. He was sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to three years in state prison.
On July 27, 2019, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Marathon gas station on North Century Boulevard at East Highway 4 to find a bloody man with his nose barely hanging on by a piece of skin, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim told deputies that he had agreed to drive Powell, his cousin, to Castleberry, Alabama, for $20 in gas money. They stopped in Century for gas, and the victim asked for the cash.
Powell yelled at his cousin and accused him of trying to kill him. The men fought for the car, with Powell biting the victim’s hand and almost biting his nose off. The victim back off, and Powell sped away with the car and his cousin’s cellphone, according to court records.
Powell is scheduled for release from state prison in July 2022.
Florida Lottery Has Highest Sales Week On Record
January 28, 2021
With over $1.7 billion up for grabs last week in the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings, the Florida Lottery reported record tickets sales of $239.8 million.
That, according to the Florida Lottery, generated an estimated $64.6 million in contributions to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
“We are extremely excited and grateful to our loyal players for this unprecedented sales record,” said Florida Lottery Secretary John F. Davis. “This record sales week translates into more prizes for players, higher commissions for Lottery retailers, and best of all, more revenues to enhance education in our great state.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Register For Virtual 2021 Panhandle Row Crops Update Series
January 28, 2021
The annual spring UF/IFAS Extension Panhandle Row Crop meetings are moving to a virtual format for 2021.
To update growers with current research findings and provide pesticide safety CEUs to licensed applicators, the Panhandle Ag Team will offer a four-session virtual series to replace traditional regional meetings this year. Each meeting will be provided at no cost to participants and will have a specific focus: cotton, peanut, soybeans/corn, or precision agriculture.
To learn more about the programs and registration, click or tap here.
No Injuries When Driver Rear-Ends Bus With 20 Students On Board
January 28, 2021
There were no injuries when an Escambia County school bus with 20 students on board was rear-ended on Davis Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 26-year old man in a Honda Civic rear-ended the bus on Davis Highway at Airport Boulevard. The school bus was transporting 20 students to Workman Middle School at the time of the collision.
There were no injuries.
Five New COVID-19 Deaths, Another 306 Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 28, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were five new COVID-19 deaths and 306 additional cases reported Wednesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 29,903 (+306)
Non-Florida residents: 3,121
Recovered: 23,042*
Total deaths: 506 (+5)
Long-term care facility deaths : 218 (+2)
Current hospitalizations: 200 (-10)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,213
Percent positive reported last day: 18.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.5%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 22,154 (+231)
Cantonment: 2,715 (+35)
Century: 1,116 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 401 (+7)
McDavid: 178 (+1)
Bellview: 49 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 47
Perdido Key: 21 (+1)
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 15,013 (+120)
Non-Florida residents: 188
Total deaths: 209 (+3)
Long-term care facility deaths: 65 (+2)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 678*
Number of tests reported last day: 327
Percent positive reported last day: 24.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 7,241 (+71)
Navarre: 3,016 (+21)
Gulf Breeze: 2,791 (+17)
Pace: 1,193
Jay: 466 (+8)
Bagdad: 31
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,676,171
Florida residents: 1,645,507
Deaths: 25,833
Hospitalizations: 71,155*
*“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, 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.
Donald “Duck” Phillips
January 28, 2021
Mr. Donald “Duck” Phillips, age 76, passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2020 at his home in Uriah, Alabama.
Mr. Phillips was a native of Little River, AL, former resident of Baldwin County, AL and had resided in Uriah, AL for the past 55 years. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, fishing, hunting and telling duck tails. He was a retired Forrester with Swift Lumber Company with 20 years of service and worked with Charles Gantt Gravel Company. He was a handyman, a “Mr. Fixit”. He is preceded in death by his parents, Drew and Maggie Phillips; twin brother, Ronald Phillips and brothers, Charles Phillips, Murray Phillips and Bill Phillips and daughter-in-law, Linda Johnson Phillips.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Doris Phillips of Uriah, AL; two sons, Chris Phillips of Uriah, AL and Shannon (Katrina) Gregson of Uriah, AL; one daughter, Tammy Gunn of Uriah, AL; three brothers, Jerry (Faye) Phillips of Cullman, AL, Jimmy (Carolyn) Phillips of Uriah, AL and Frank Phillips of Biloxi, MS; three sisters, Judy (Jamie) Peak of Pine Grove, AL, Myrtle Daszczuk of Foley, AL and Earnestine Owens of Uriah, AL; nine grandchildren, Amanda (James) Akins, Corey Phillips, Catelyn Phillips, Taylor Gunn, Shanna Gregson, Stormy Gregson, Nicole Phillips, Caleb Gregson and Tylan Gregson; five great grandchildren, Easton, Gracelyn, Zoey, Jaelyn and Ariella and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Cornelius Phillips officiating.
Burial will follow at the Poplar Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 29, 2021 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Developers Make $16 Million Unsolicited Offer For OLF-8 Property
January 27, 2021
Developers have once again made an unsolicited offer for the county-owned property on Nine Mile Road in Beulah known as OLF-8.
Hemmer Consulting of Pensacola, and 68 Ventures of Spanish Fort, made the $16 million offer Tuesday to purchase about 400 acres for $40,000 cash per acre. Escambia County would retain about 130 of the 530 total acres for roads, government buildings, parks, schools and a dedicated commerce or business park.
The developers will, according to their proposal, follow design aspects guidelines set forth in a master plan once it is approved by the Escambia County Commission. DPZ Codesign has developed four master plan concepts for OLF-8 (click or tap here to see the plans in detail). The county commission has finalized a master plan.
If the sale were to take place, the Hemmer and 68 Ventures will construct a main boulevard from Nine Mile Road to the property retained by the county, and the county would be required to continue the roadway to Frank Reeder Road.
Hemmer Consulting and 68 Ventures also made an $18 million unsolicited offer for the full 530 acres in early 2019. At that time, County Attorney Alison Rogers told commissioners that they would be legally obligated to declare the property surplus and sell it to the highest bidder, rather than accepting an unsolicited offer.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 helicopter field in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County at a total cost of about $18 million. A portion of the property was previously sold to Navy Federal to expand their campus.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Launching After-School Tutoring Program (With Free Snacks)
January 27, 2021
Ernest Ward Middle School is launching a new after-school tutoring program for students that comes with free snacks.
The middle school in Walnut Hill is offering the program to 80 selected students per week on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. The selected students have received a letter indicating the day or days of the week and subject area or areas (math, science, language arts or civics) in which they are eligible for tutoring.
“Ernest Ward Middle School students have been presented with an awesome opportunity,” said Principal Nancy Perry. “Our district is funding a tutoring program at EWMS beginning next week through March 26.”
Parents or guardians must provide transportation home; bus transportation will not be available.
The tutoring sessions will not be for regular homework. They will be true tutoring sessions delivered by teachers based upon student need as indicated by their assessment data, according to the district.
Nutritious snacks will be provided through a USDA program at no charge to students taking part in the tutoring sessions.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.