Escambia Reports 61 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week
June 19, 2021
There were 61 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate; the number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities has been removed.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,084 (+61)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 2.7%
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,482 (+41)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 7.0%
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 2,310,881 (+10,629)
Case positivity rate: 3.2%
Deaths: 37,555 (+43)
Gulf Power: We Are Ready For Any Power Outages
June 19, 2021
Gulf Power says they are ready to respond in the event of any outages from this weekend’s tropical weather.
“As this tropical system heads toward the Gulf Power service area, we are making preparations to ensure we are ready to respond quickly to restore power to any of our customers affected by the storm,” said Mike Spoor, vice president of Gulf Power, said Friday. “We have crews scheduled around the clock along with our contractors and tree-trimmers, if needed. Just as we are prepared, we’re asking customers to make safety their top priority and prepare their homes and businesses as well.”
Crews are prepared to work around the clock as long as winds are below 35 miles per hour, restoring power to customers that are affected.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mable Edna Hogan
June 19, 2021
In His infinite wisdom, Almighty God bent down and whispered to one of His children, “Come with me, my daughter, for it’s time to go home,” and so it was that Monday, May 31, 2021, God closed the eyes of our beloved Mable Edna Hogan (Mamaw) one month and one day short of her 100th birthday.
Mable was born July 1, 1921 in McCullough, Alabama to the late Hattie and Henry Goodson. She is preceded in death by her five siblings; Gerald, Paul, Lillian, Juanita and Ruby; her dear husband, Oscar W. Hogan; her beloved daughters, Marilyn Caraway Ellis and Melba Caraway Leonard and her grandsons, Jody Caraway and Shane Worthy.
Mable was an engaging, witty, and exuberant person who loved her family, telling stories, listening to gospel music, cooking for loved ones, attending church, singing in the choir, and listening to Billy Graham and David Jeremiah preach. Her beautiful smile lit up any room, and her infectious laugh made her someone you wanted to be near.
She worked at International Paper Company in Mobile, AL for over 30 years and sang in the choir at Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile for many years. Later in life, she attended Brooks Memorial Baptist Church in Atmore.
She leaves to cherish fond memories her son, Billy Caraway (Becky Caraway), her daughter, Mary Beth Keith (David Keith) and her son-in-law, Cecil
Ellis. She also will be greatly missed by her eight grandchildren, Kathy Ellis Trawick (Tony Trawick), Rob Ellis (Sonya Ellis), David Ellis, Jill Ellis Tatum (Lance Tatum), Jeff Caraway, Emma Kate Keith, Connor Keith and Owen Keith; her nine great-grandchildren, Ryan Trawick (Kelly Trawick), Brittany Trawick, Rachel Ellis Lindell (Rob Lindell), Blake Ellis, Zachary Ellis, Thad Tatum, Zoe Tatum, Matthew Worthy (Karita Worthy) and Mitchell Worthy and her great-great grandkids, Magnolia, Ezekiel and Jordan Worthy and Harper and Hudson Lindell. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. Her fun-loving spirit and energy will be missed by all. Her influence will remain in the lives of all who knew her.
In closing, we are extremely grateful for the loving care given by Marilyn and Cecil Ellis over the last several years and the care given by Mary Beth Keith and her family over the last year. Mable Hogan was so loved. Most of all, we would like to give the glory to God for a life well-lived.
Graveside funeral services were held Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Atmore, AL with Rev. James Boyd officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Vera Mae Powell
June 19, 2021
Vera Mae Powell passed away June 13, 2021, in Pensacola, FL. She was born on May 27, 1924, in Century, FL.
She is survived by her children, Jack C. Powell, Jr., Jimmie L. Powell, Mary Ann Magee, and Francis E. Powell; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Mike Mashburn officiating.
Burial was at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mike Barrett, James Scott, Fred Blum, Kenny Mayes, Ralph, and Mike Moore.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North has been entrusted with arrangements.
Friday’s Wahoos Game Postponed, Will Try For Saturday Afternoon Doubleheader
June 19, 2021
Friday night’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits at Blue Wahoos Stadium was postponed due to inclement weather. The two teams will try for a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.. Gates will open 3 p.m. and both games will be seven innings.
Fans with tickets to the postponed game may exchange them at the Blue Wahoos Stadium box office for tickets to any remaining 2021 regular season game (pending availability, excluding Saturday, July 3).
File photo.
Stephen C. Sidner
June 19, 2021
Stephen C. Sidner, 79, passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2021, peacefully surrounded by those he loved dearly.
Born December 22, 1941, Steve grew up in a large family in Pensacola, FL. He excelled in school, graduating from PHS with honors; and was recognized on the Deans List in college several times. Steve served in the United States Army during Vietnam until he was medically discharged due to a ruptured appendix.
Steve married the love of his life, Evelyn in 1967. Their sons Steve and Scott followed quickly and the family continued their journey in Pensacola, where Steve worked in the construction industry. He was an iron worker by trade, and spent the last 30 years as a loyal employee to Specialty Contractors. At nearly 80 years old, Steve was known to outperform the younger guys, always taking pride in his abilities.
Steve loved fishing, enjoyed softball and was an avid league bowler at Felton Bowling Alley for years. Steve, known by most as “Pops”, was adopted by many thru the years as an honorary grandpa. Steve’s greatest joy in life was watching his grandchildren succeed. He rarely missed a baseball game, cheer competition, football game, swim meet or car race. Steve made sure he was there for those babies!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Margaret Sidner; and his adoring wife, Evelyn.
He is survived by his sons, Steve (Lynn) Sidner and Scott (Serena) Sidner, 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers; two sisters and a host of nieces and nephews.
Steve will be laid to rest beside Evelyn on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Mitchell’s Cemetery in Seminole, AL. Pallbearers will be
Dayton Sidner, Brandin Sidner, Camden Sidner, Easton Sidner, Falcon Sidner and Patrick Perdue.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Tropical Storm Warning: Local Need To Know Information
June 18, 2021
Escambia County is under a tropical storm warning. Here is the local need to know information from Escambia County:
Potential for minimal tropical storm force winds (mainly in gusts of 40-50 mph) along the coast. Flooding and life threatening surf/rip currents are the primary threats with this system.
Escambia County Emergency Management is taking preparatory actions by up-staffing Public Safety for the next 36 hours. If flooding occurs residents should take pictures of flood water lines on their residences for documentation as soon as its safe to do so.
“Escambia County Emergency Management would like to continue to remind residents to prepare now for possible flooding and rip currents with this system,” said Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “Additionally, we would like visitors to take the red flag warning seriously and stay out of the water due to possible life-threatening rip currents. Please listen to the local lifeguards and officials to remain safe.”
For safety purposes, the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) has canceled the Pensacola Beach Island Trolley services on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19.
Free Sand Available
Escambia County is offering free sand for residentsliving in flood-prone areas. The sand is available on a first come. Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels to one of the following locations:
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Travis M. Nelson Park - 4541 Highway 4, Bratt
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297A
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St., Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School -available on northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
Flooding Safety Tips
- With possible flooding forecast for our area, please do not drive into hazardous flood water and remember to Turn Around Don’t Drown®. Follow these flood safety tips:
- Get to higher ground – Get out of areas subject to flooding.
- Do not drive into water – Do not drive or walk into flooded areas. It only takes 6″ of water to knock you off your feet and 2 feet of water to carry away a vehicle.
- Stay informed – Monitor NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com on Facebook, local radar, television, local radio, or weather radio.
Water Safety Tips
Red flags are flying – DO NOT GO IN THE WATER TO SWIM OR WADE – The water is closed to swimmers.
How Much Will Terminated Administrator Gilley Get In Severance Pay? And Here’s What She Thinks Of Her Job Performance
June 18, 2021
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday afternoon to immediately terminate Administrator Janice Gilley.
Under her contract, Gilley will receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 20 weeks of her $185,000 salary. That equates just over $71,150. The county will also provide for her health and detail insurance for six months under the sames terms as if she were an employee, in addition to any coverage that might be available under COBRA.
Before the commission’s 4-1 vote to end her contract about a year early, Gilley distributed a 16-page self-authored handout highlighting her accomplishments over the past two years. The document is below.
For more details on Gilley’s termination, click or tap here.
This Century Bridge Was Closed About A Year And A Half Ago. The Town Can’t Afford To Fix It.
June 18, 2021
A Century bridge remains closed nearly a year and a half after it was discovered to be near collapse, and the town can’t afford to fix it.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or have extreme deterioration.
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
Interim City Manager Vernon Prather said at a recent town council meeting that Century simply does not have the money to fix the bridge. Repair costs have been estimated to be more than $300,000.
Century is set to receive $780,000 from the American Rescue Plan, a federal COVID-19 stimulus program. The town will receive half the money this year, and the other half with another year. Prather told the council they could allocate those funds for repairing the bridge, but no formal action has been taken.
“We haven’t forgot about it,” Prather said. If there comes an opportunity for a grant or other COVID money, we will certainly present that to the council.”
In January 2020, Mott McDonald engineers conducted a limited inspection of the bridge and found the following problems:
- A backwall has deflected toward the water, pushing piles toward the water and causing them to rotate, split and no longer bear weight.
- One bridge piling has a split at the top of the pile, but it is providing some support.
- A second pile has been pushed completely out and no longer supports the bridge.
- A third pile has split, and only half the pile is providing support.
- A fourth pile has deterioration with only a three-inch diameter section remaining about six feet below the bridge. The outer pile section has broken.
- There is soil loss behind a backwall.
- There is a large void underneath the roadway on the east side the bridge
“We cannot predict when the…backwall lateral loads will complete fail…causing the bridge the collapse,” engineer Bart Hendricks wrote in his report. “We also cannot predict when the roadway over the void on the southeast corner will collapse”
The age of the bridge was not provided to the engineer, but he determined the timber pilings may be at or beyond the typical life of 30 years. “A better long-term financial decision may be to replace this structure rather than perform repairs,” Hendricks wrote.
Photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are Some Rainy Weekend Summer Reading Resources From The Escambia County School District
June 18, 2021
The Escambia County School District is encouraging students to read over the summer, and they are offering some resources to help find that perfect summer reading material for our rainy tropical weekend.
The district has set a goal to have students collectively read 200,000 minutes. They are encouraging students to record their reading minutes in Beanstack and help their school win the nation-wide Level Up! Summer Reading Challenge.
For the ECSD’s summer reading resources for students of all ages, click or tap here.