Five New COVID-19 Deaths, 31 New Cases In Escambia County
March 27, 2021
The Florida Department of Health reported five additional COVID-19 deaths and 31 new cases in Escambia County on Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 34,689 (+31)
Non-Florida residents: 3,590
Recovered: 33,203*
Total deaths: 663 (+5)
Long-term care facility deaths: 277
Current hospitalizations: 31 (+3)
Number of tests reported last day: 770
Percent positive reported last day: 3.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 2.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 25,864 (+27)
Cantonment: 3,122 (+1)
Century: 1,172 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 484
McDavid: 209 (+1)
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,684 (+11)
Non-Florida residents: 221
Total deaths: 277 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 81 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 848*
Number of tests reported last day: 380
Percent positive reported last day: 3.6%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,436 (+7)
Navarre: 3,651 (+2)
Gulf Breeze: 3,278 (+1)
Pace: 1,419 (+5)
Jay: 545
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,033,179
Florida residents: 1,995,548
Deaths: 33,116
Hospitalizations: 84,406
*“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.
Early Morning Molino Tom Thumb Robbery Under Investigation
March 26, 2021
An early morning robbery at the Molino Tom Thumb store is under investigation.
A man walked into the store about 1:12 a.m., pushed the clerk and took cigarettes, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, before fleeing in a white sedan.
The suspect was described only as a white male wearing a blue shirt and dark shorts. He did not display a weapon, and the clerk was not injured.
“We are following leads right now,” Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Commander Andrew Hobbs said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Hitting, Killing Man On Golf Cart
March 26, 2021
An 81-year old Escambia County man was killed when his golf cart was hit by a pickup truck Thursday, and the driver that hit him is now jailed.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man on the golf cart was attempting to cross over Barrancas Avenue from Weis Lane about 5:05 p.m. He was ejected and pronounced deceased on the scene.
James Ward, Jr., age 75, was charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and possession of marijuana by the Florida Highway Patrol’s Traffic Homicide Division. FHP said was driving his truck at a high rate of speed west on Barrancas Avenue. Prior to the fatal crash, he ran of the roadway multiple times, colliding with the concrete barriers on the Bayou Chico Bridge.
“Mr. Ward displayed obvious signs of impairment during the investigation at the scene, due to struggling to stand and maintain his balance, for his safety Field Sobriety Exercises had to be stopped. The team was afraid for his safety, appearing to be a fall risk and injuring himself,” FHP Lt. Jason King said.
The FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
Four Critically Injured In High Speed Crash With A Tree On University Parkway
March 26, 2021
Four people were injured when a car traveling at a high rate of speed slammed into a tree early Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
It happened about 2:30 a.m. on University Parkway near Governor’s Drive.
The 21-year old male driver and three female passengers — ages 20, 21 and 22 — were transported by Escambia County EMS with critical injuries to Sacred Heart Hospital. Two of the victims were trapped in the vehicle for nearly 10 minutes as firefighters worked to extricate them.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation.
The Ferry Pass, Ensley and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Struck And Killed By Truck On South Main Street In Atmore
March 26, 2021
A man was struck and killed by a semi-truck early Friday morning in Atmore.
It happened about 1:20 a.m. in the 1700 block of South Main Street, near David’s Catfish House.
Atmore Police arrived to find 31-year old Clemente Terrance Sims of Iron City, Georgia, under the vehicle’s trailer, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks.
Sims was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Brooks said the APD investigation is continuing.
File photo.
Commission Approves Funding For Body Cameras For Escambia Deputies
March 26, 2021
The Escambia County Commission on Thursday unanimously approved the purchase of body cameras for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
In January, Sheriff Chip Simmons followed through on a campaign pledge and asked commissioners for $912,727 to purchase body cameras for his deputies.
The cameras and their operation will be funded as follows as follows:
- In fiscal year 2021, purchase 268 body worn cameras to equip all patrol officers
- In fiscal year 2022, the Sheriff’s Office operating budget will increase $250,000 per year for four new positions to support administration, monitoring and data storage related to the cameras
- In fiscal year 2023, it is anticipated an additional $50,000 per year will be required for additional storage
CARES Act funds will bee used to purchase the body cameras to equip all patrol officers. The purchase will outfit all deputies, and the equipment will sync will existing vehicle cameras. Warranties and software as needed will also be included in the purchase price.
“I appreciate the fact that we can work together,” he said. “Whether it’s the board of county commissioners or it’s the sheriff — we can look and say, ‘This is important to our community. This is important for evidence. This is important for critique and for training.’ It’s certainly important for transparency.”
The first deputies are expected to have their body cameras in about two months, and all deputies should have them by October.
BOCC Approves Daytime Paid Crew For Beulah Fire Station
March 26, 2021
The Escambia County Commission on Thursday approved a plan to add paid firefighters in Beulah to supplement the volunteer firehouse.
An Escambia Fire Rescue analysis, completed at District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh’s request, estimates the bottom line cost at about $220,000 per year for a three-person fire company in Beulah for nine hours a day, Monday through Friday. The crew would consist of one lieutenant and two firefighters, one of which would be a paramedic to provide Advanced Life Support on medical emergencies.
He said that even with the paid daytime crew, volunteer firefighters would reman a crucial part of the fire service in Beulah. He said that he expects the volunteers ranks to grow at Station 2.
“I look forward to that station being the model of a volunteer firehouse working together, integrated with the support of some paid firefighters to provide the citizens everything that they need,” Bergosh said.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue is staffed much like the new plan for Beulah. Century has a paid firefighter crew on duty from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Volunteers provide coverage nights and weekends.
Large Boat Blocks I-10 For Hours After Escambia Man Loses Control Of Trailer
March 26, 2021
A large boat that was being hauled by an Escambia County man near Crestview blocked I-10 for hours Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 64-year old man was hauling a 38-foot boat with a pickup truck and trailer. As he traveled westbound across the Highway 85 overpass, the boat trailer started swaying violently from side to side. The right side of the boat trailer collided with the guardrail on the west side of the overpass. The resulting collision cause the boat to break loose from the trailer and overturn several times.
The boat came to rest across both westbound lane of I-10.
There were no injuries.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Chances Continue For Friday, Decrease For Saturday
March 26, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Cantonment Rotary Donates 1,500 Books To Tate High School Students
March 26, 2021
The Cantonment Rotary Club, in partnership with Dickerson Literacy Initiatives, donated over 1,500 hardback books from Gregory Zuckerman’s Rising Above series students at Tate High School
The series includes motivational stories from some of today’s most successful athletes including Simone Biles, Venus and Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Tim Howard and others.
“Their powerful stories were captured to inspire students to work hard to overcome any obstacles life throws at them and to ‘rise above’ those challenges to be successful adults. Each of our 9th and 10th grade students will receive a free copy of the book and have an opportunity to view a presentation by the author in which he discusses his relationship with these athletes and what motivated him to write the series,” said Tate High School innovation specialist Stefany Tompkins.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
