Walnut Hill Man Charged With Felony Battery
March 5, 2021
A Walnut Hill man was charged after allegedly beating a man in Bratt.
Thomas Zachariah Mason, Sr., age 31, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of felony battery.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he spent the night with his girlfriend at her sister’s home somewhere on Bratt Road. He and the girlfriend got into an argument and she told him to leave, but he refused because he needed sleep before going to work, an arrest report states.
Mason allegedly went to the residence after a Facebook message from the victim’s girlfriend. At the home, Mason and another man allegedly beat the victim, causing a concussion, multiple bruises, a rib fracture and eye damage, an arrest report states.
Through a search warrant, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office obtained Facebook messages showing the girlfriend contacted Mason and informed him of the altercation between her and the victim, at which time Mason stated that he was on the way, according to an arrest report.
Mason was released from jail on a $25,000 bond.
Community Health Northwest Florida Holding Vaccination Clinics Friday And Saturday
March 5, 2021
Community Health Northwest Florida will hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Friday March 5 and Saturday March 6 at Brownsville Community Center for all Florida residents who qualify, including those covered under the governor’s latest Executive order; the amended order expands the groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida to include persons under 65 who are “medically vulnerable,” as well as individuals 50 and older who hold specific jobs that put them at high risk.
Vaccine supply is limited and will be administered by appointment only. Preregistration is required.
Any eligible individuals who would like to receive the vaccine may schedule an appointment by calling the Community Health Northwest Florida COVID vaccination scheduling call center at (850) 439-3358. The call center is open Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. (or whenever all appointment slots are filled).
All participants will be required to show photo ID as well as proof of qualifying condition or job at their appointment.
Partly Sunny Friday, Rain Late Friday Night
March 5, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Northview Beats PHS; Tate Freshmen Over Navarre
March 5, 2021
Northview 17, Pensacola 4
The Northview High Chiefs beat the Pensacola High Tigers 17-4 Thursday night in Pensacola.
Bryce Korinchak drove in four runs on two hits. He had runs on a second inning single, a walk in the fifth and a sixth inning single.
Luke Bridges, Jamarkus Jefferson and Rustin Pope each had two hits for the Chiefs. Kaden Odom and Trent Knighton had a hit apiece.
Jefferson pitched five innings, allowing six hits with four runs and striking out seven. Josh Landis was on the mound for a single inning, sitting down two with no hits
Tate 12, Navarre 5 (Freshmen)
The Tate Aggies Freshmen defeated Navarre 12-5 Thursday.
Joseph Polk went three innings on the mound for Tate, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out three.
Cole McNair pitched two innings, allowing one run, one hit and striking out three.
Conner Hassell had three hits for the Aggies, while McNair had two. Trey Rebber, Ketch King, and Damian Cullen had one hit each.
Pictured: Jamarkus Jefferson on the mound for Northview. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Additional Deaths, Another 65 COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
March 5, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 65 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths in Escambia County reported Thursday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,959 (+65)
Non-Florida residents: 3,505
Recovered: 33,116*
Total deaths: 635 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths: 27 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 81
Number of tests reported last day: 1,266
Percent positive reported last day: 4.4%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 25,307 (+52)
Cantonment: 3,063 (+12)
Century: 1,159 (+2)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 481
McDavid: 201
Bellview: 56
Walnut Hill: 51
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,252 (+32)
Non-Florida residents: 217
Total deaths: 267 (+5)
Long-term care facility deaths: 79 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 805*
Number of tests reported last day: 598
Percent positive reported last day: 5.4%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,246 (+11)
Navarre: 3,544 (+16)
Gulf Breeze: 3,213 (+1)
Pace: 1,369 (+2)
Jay: 531 (+1)
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,930,232
Florida residents: 1,894,722
Deaths: 31,387
Hospitalizations: 80,338*
*“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.
Cynthia Diana Kimberl
March 5, 2021
Cynthia Diana Kimberl was born January 14, 1955, in Pensacola, Florida, and was a lifelong resident. She went home to the Lord peacefully on March 1, 2021, with her husband and three daughters by her side. She was a graduate of Escambia High School. She was employed with Faith Chapel Funeral Home for the past 15 years. Cindy married Steve, the love of her life, on July 6, 1973, celebrating 48 years of marriage this year. Cindy loved being a mother to her three girls and nana to her six grandchildren. She loved being involved in her girls’ activities of Tate colorguard, Tate softball and many other activities. Her hobbies were crafting, antiquing, shopping and knitting. Our mamma struggled for the past several years to breathe on her own and now leaves a void in our family but she is able to breathe her own “Heavenly Air” now.
Cindy is survived by her husband of 48 years, Steve Kimberl; daughters, Rene’ Jones, Maureen & Justin Walker and Bridget Allen; six grandchildren, Makayla Levins, Zacharie Jones, Bailey Allen, Brooklynn Allen, Jaxon Walker, Blake Allen and her two sisters, Rose Ellen Pace and Janet Duncan and too many more loved ones to list.
Pallbearers will be Donald Brewer, Neil Jones, Spencer Lowe, David Milsted, Justin Walker and Bryan Webb. Honorary pallbearers will be Senior Chief Duncan USN, Chris Kimberl, Joey Kimberl, Mark Kimberl, and Capt Robert Williams USN.
Visitation will take place at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, Monday, March 8, 2021, 9-10 a.m. with funeral services starting at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Homeowner Shoots Suspect During Home Invasion; Six Charged
March 4, 2021
Six people were arrested after a home invasion in which one suspect was shot, and the homeowner’s granddaughter is accused of orchestrating the crime.
During the early morning hours Thursday, ECSO deputies were called to the 7400 block of Jackson Street.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Probably Won’t Reopen In March; More Damage Found
March 4, 2021
The Pensacola Bay Bridge is unlikely to open on March 22 as previously announced by the Florida Department of Transportation because more damage has been found.
As FDOT contractors were conducting repairs to the Pensacola Bay Bridge, it was determined that additional repair work was needed for one of the bridge’s trophy pieces. FDOT said the full replacement of the trophy piece will uphold FDOT’s commitment to provide the safe and efficient reconnection of the communities of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola and the delivery of a bridge that has a 75-year design life.
FDOT is currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of the replacement to determine how it will affect the current reopening schedule. FDOT previously announced its goal to re-open the Pensacola Bay Bridge in phases beginning with restoring two lanes of traffic by the week of March 22.
Trophy pieces, when placed atop piles, constitute bridge piers that are mounted at the end of each span to support the superstructure and transfer loads to the foundations.
Multiple crews are working around the clock to complete repair projects critical to the opening of the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
To date, completed repairs include:
- 30 piles driven.
- Five trophy pieces installed.
- Twenty of 36 beams set.
- Five of eleven partial decks replaced.
- One of two full decks replaced.
FDOT’s phased approach will open two lanes of traffic (one in each direction) for the first 4,000 feet on the Pensacola side. The remaining approximate two miles of the bridge will be open to four lanes of traffic (two in each direction). During this initial phase, the speed limit will be temporarily set at 35 mph and emergency refuge areas will be available on the bridge. The second phase consists of opening the remaining 4,000 feet to four lanes of traffic.
All Florida Teachers Now Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccinations Regardless of Age
March 4, 2021
COVID-19 vaccinations are now open to all Florida teachers and staff, along with child care workers, regardless of age.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the new policy on Thursday following a Biden administration mandate. An order previously issued by DeSantis allowed vaccines for only those educators age 50 and over.
“The federal government put that order in,” DeSantis said from a press conference early Thursday. “So they’ve made the teachers, regardless of age, eligible. So they are eligible to get vaccinated per that order.”
But DeSantis said Florida will continue to push for the vaccination of seniors.
“Our view is just if your are 25, you are at less risk that somebody that’s 80. That’s just the bottom line,” the governor said. “The age based approach, we think, is the most effective to reduce mortality. At the same time, the federal government is one sending us the vaccine. If they want it to be for all ages, then they have the ability to go and do that.”
“But one our number one goal right now is to get through the senior population.”
Pictured: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about teacher vaccinations at a press conference in Crystal River Thursday morning. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Gov. Ivey Extends Mask Mandate One Final Time, Says It Will Be Lifted For Good April 9
March 4, 2021
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has extended the state’s mask mandate for another five weeks, but after that it will end, she announced during a press conference Thursday morning in Montgomery.
“Let me be abundantly clear. After April 9, I will not keep the mask order in effect,” Ivey said.
“Folks, we are not there yet, but goodness knows we are getting closer,” Ivey said. “If we keep it up and get through Easter, I think we will be in much better shape.”
Other changes announced by the governor included:
- Outdoor programs will be allowed at senior centers within guidelines
- Summer camps will be able to resume operations this year
- Seating limits at restaurants will be lifted
- Up to two caregivers will now be allowed to visit people in nursing homes and hospitals
“We are finally rounding the corner,” Ivey said.