Hospitalizations Surging At Ascension Sacred Heart; 93% Are Unvaccinated
August 25, 2021
The numbers of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola remains at record-high levels, with most of those patients unvaccinated.
The number of hospitalized patients fluctuates frequently, so any individual data points are only a moment-in-time snapshot. But here are a few key statistics for today, Aug. 23:
There are a total of 153 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 one week ago was 146.
Today’s number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is much higher than the hospital’s previous peak of COVID-19 patients that occurred in January 2021.
The current number of 153 is nine times higher than what it was on July 4, shortly before the current surge of COVID began in Northwest Florida. On July 4, the hospital had 17 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Approximately 93 percent of the hospital’s patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
“Safe and timely access to essential care is vitally important, and the safety of our patients and staff remains our top priority,” said Ascension Sacred Heart President Dawn Rudolph. “Our staff is stretched in dealing with the ongoing influx of patients with COVID-19, but our teams are making heroic efforts. We are performing surgeries and procedures our patients need urgently or in an emergency. At the same time, we are utilizing all of our staffing resources and allocating personnel in the most appropriate and effective manner to ensure care for every patient.”
Due to a lower rate of vaccination among younger people, the hospital is treating more patients who are under 50 compared to the prior surges of July 2020 and January 2021.
In Escambia County, only 49 percent of individuals 18 and older have been fully vaccinated compared to the national average of 63 percent, according to The New York Times. In Santa Rosa County, only 45 percent of those 18 and older are fully vaccinated. By comparison, the number of those 65 and older who are fully vaccinated is much higher – 79 percent.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to go from emergency use authorization (EUA) to full FDA approval.
“This is an important milestone,” Rudolph said. “While all of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. have long been considered safe and highly effective, now that the FDA has granted full FDA approval to the Pfizer vaccine) we are hopeful that many more people in our communities will step up to be vaccinated. Our health care workers need the community’s support to stop this surge. The best tools we have available to stop COVID-19 are wearing masks in public indoor spaces and, most important, getting the vaccine.”
Everyone in our community plays a critical role in keeping us safe from this virus. Ascension Sacred Heart urges anyone 12 and older to get vaccinated now to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community against COVID-19. The vaccines are safe and effective, and the evidence is clear that the benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh any identified risks or side effects.
Century Accepts $468K In State Funds For Water Well Upgrades
August 25, 2021
The Town of Century has approved the paperwork to receive $468,453 for water well upgrades as approved by the Florida Legislature.
Century has three water wells — two provide drinking water to the residents of Century and one provides water exclusively to the Century Correctional Institution.
The first well on Blackmon Street and was constructed in 1963 with a pumping capacity of 400 gallons per minute. The adjacent elevated tank has a capacity of 100,000 gallons.
The second well is on Academy Street and was constructed in 1983. It has a pumping capacity of 500 gallons per minute and an elevated tank with a half million gallon capacity. The well had been out of service for over a year before being placed back in service in August 2020 only to fail again. As of June 2, it remained out of service.
The third well was constructed at the prison in 1983 and can pump 400 gallons a minute with 200,000 gallon elevated storage tank. The well failed in May 2020, and the water supply to the prison was restored through an interconnect to Central Water Works.
As of earlier this year when Century asked for state help, the town had spent $353,360.47 so far for repairs to the three wells and the interconnect to Central Water Works. The funding in this year’s state budget includes $107,000 for repairs and wellhouse rehabilitations at the Academy Street well, $90,00 for repairs at the Blackmon Street well, and $210,350 for work at the prison well and a permanent generator.
The money was part of local funding requests submitted by Rep. Michelle Salzman and Sen. Doug Broxson.
Monday night, the town council approved signing the paperwork to receive the money from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The funds will be disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis after work is actually performed and approved.
Pictured: Water flows into the Century Correctional Institution in May 2020 through an emergency interconnect to Central Water Works following the failure of a Century water well. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Held In Cantonment
August 25, 2021
The Cantonment Improvement Committee held a 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon.
It giveaway included food from Manna Food Pantries and Feeding The Gulf Coast.
The food giveaway, although smaller some weeks, is held at 3:30 each Tuesday afternoon at Carver Park at 208 Webb Street. Florida residents can line up in their vehicles, single-file, around the park for the drive thru event.
Pictured Volunteers from Ascend Cares assisted with a 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon at Carver Park in Cantonment. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
James Howard Shell
August 25, 2021
James Howard Shell, age 88, passed away August 21, 2021, in Spanish Fort, Alabama where he had been a resident of Westminster Village for the past four years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Nannette Cobb Shell.
Howard was born in Excel, Alabama on October 31, 1932 to the late Edna Johnson Shell and Cary Ezekiel Shell. He grew up in Walnut Hill, Florida graduating from Ernest Ward High School before attending Florida State University. Due to the Korean War, he left FSU and joined the US Navy where he served aboard the USS Ault for four years. After his service years, he joined Monsanto where he worked in research and development for 30 years before retiring.
Howard served on the Atmore City Council for two years. He subsequently was elected mayor, serving for 22 years before retiring in 2012. Howard was a member of the Atmore First United Methodist Church, the Lions Club, American Legion Post #90 and was a 32nd degree Freemason.
Mr. Shell is survived by his children, Nancy Shell Fayard (Gary) of Atlanta, GA and
James Burton Shell (Kim) of Pawleys Island, SC as well as five grandchildren and
four great grandchildren.
John, Katie and Charlotte Fayard of Nashville, TN
Chris, Brittany, Liam and Isabella Fayard of Atlanta, GA
Mollie, Mark and Charlie Schimmel of New Canaan, CT
Laura Shell of Burlington, NC
Sam Shell of Denver, CO
Howard is also survived by his brother Cary E. Shell Jr. (Frances) and
sister Linda Shell Tolliver (Wilbur Gotham), both of Pensacola FL
Former Mayor Shell requested that his memorial service be postponed to a later date. He was concerned for the health of family, friends and citizens of Atmore due to the high rates of viral infection. Public notice will be given for date of service once determined.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to:
PRIDE OF ATMORE campaign to save the historic Strand Theatre and
Atmore Hardware buildings.
5415 Hwy. 21
Atmore, AL 36502
Notes and cards may be sent to:
Burt Shell, PO Box 4359, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Nancy Fayard, 1985 Old Dominion Road, Atlanta, GA 30350
Nicolas Hurls Gem As Wahoos Capture 1-0 Win Over M-Braves
August 25, 2021
Chris Chinea’s solo home run in the top of the fourth was the difference in Pensacola’s 1-0 win over the M-Braves, Tuesday night at Trustmark Park.
While the home run was difference maker, it was the pitching that stole the show for Pensacola in the club’s opening win as they embark on their 12-game road trip. Kyle Nicolas (W, 3-0) turned in his longest outing in Double-A with 6.2 shutout innings. The right-hander allowed a total of three hits and only one walk while striking out five. He has now dropped his ERA to 0.68 having allowed just two runs in 26.2 innings.
Spencer Strider (L, 2-6) was a tough-luck loser on Tuesday. Like Nicolas, Mississippi’s starter allowed three hits, but one of them was a solo home run to Chinea to start the fourth inning, which was all the offense the Wahoos needed. Strider struck out 10 in five innings, which is the fourth time this season that Strider has struck out at least 10.
Pensacola’s bullpen shined once again for the Wahoos. Andrew Nardi allowed one hit in 1.1 shutout innings. Colton Hock pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Wahoos, giving the closer his 15th save in 18 opportunities.
The series in Pearl continues tomorrow with RHP Max Meyer (6-1, 1.97) faces LHP Hayden Deal (3-2, 3.90) for Mississippi.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Cashing Check Stolen From Mailbox, Fleeing From Deputies
August 25, 2021
A Cantonment man is accused of stealing a check from a mailbox, cashing it, and fleeing from deputies.
Justin Michael Odom, 27, was charged with uttering a forged check, driving while being a habitual offender, felony fleeing from a police officer, and reckless driving.
In July, Odom allegedly stole an insurance company disbursement check from a mailbox on Santa Rosa Road in Cantonment. He changed the payee to his name and cashed the check at Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard, according to an arrest report. A deputy stated he was able to positively identify Odom as the person seen cashing the check on surveillance video.
On Sunday, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on routine patrol on Frank Ard Road when Odom ran out, got into a pickup truck and sped away.
“Odom then accelerated to a very high speed down the dirt driveway of the home, then turned left and proceeded towards my cruiser in an extremely reckless manner. Odom was spinning the tires and just about lost control striking my cruiser,” the deputy wrote in his report.
The truck accelerated away at a high rate of speed to Quintette, Highway 95A and then Stacey, not stopping for the deputy as he activated his emergency equipment for a traffic stop.
Former Gulf Breeze Mayor, CTA Boss Ed Gray Sentenced To Prison
August 24, 2021
Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Edward “Ed” Merrill Gray III has been sentenced to five years in state prison for secretly recording teen boys in his shower.
He will be on community control — house arrest — for two years after his release from prison. That will be followed by three years probation.
In September 2020, agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Gray on eight counts of video voyeurism, one count of interception of oral communication and the misdemeanor charges of stalking and installation of a tracking device. In July, Gray pleaded no contest to the charges.
Gray is the former mayor of Gulf Breeze and was later employed by the City of Gulf Breeze as executive director of the Capital Trust Agency (CTA). Century serves as a second signature for CTA. Gray’s arrest was not related to his government service, and he resigned from CTA prior to his arrest.
Gray allegedly made secret video recordings of teen boys inside his home and allegedly stalked them using a GPS tracker.
An 18-year male that did various jobs around Gray’s home told Gulf Breeze Police that he located a video camera concealed in a shoebox in the master bedroom closet where he had changed clothes multiple time prior to showering in the past year. Gulf Breeze Police handed the investigation off to FDLE.
The victim told FDLE investigators that Gray became more controlling and intruded in his personal life by tracking his movements. He said in one incident, Gray located him at a park in Pensacola and believed he was tracking him through his phone. In another incident, the victim said he told Gray he was home sick, but Gray confronted him on the phone and told him that he knew he was at a friend’s home.
Gray told FDLE that the hidden camera was initially turned on to watch an air conditioning repair man, but he decided to turn it back on because he was suspicious that the teen was possibly sexting in his master bedroom. He eventually admitted that the recording did capture the victim undressing, according to an arrest affidavit.
FDLE executed a search warrant at Gray’s home on August 3, with FDLE seizing devices with eight videos that captured four males nude or undressing in Gray’s master bedroom. A majority of the videos showed Gray starting the camera prior to individuals coming into the bathroom. The victims have all been identified by authorities. FDLE also located about 160 screenshots showing GPS locations, and they said he had installed a tracker on at least one victim’s vehicle.
At least one of the victims was 17-years old.
Top: NorthEscambia.com photo.
Convicted Felon With Possible Ties To Walnut Hill Surrenders On Child Sex Abuse Charge
August 24, 2021
A convicted felon wanted for child sexual abuse in Escambia County, Alabama, has surrendered to authorities.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office said 41-year old Thomas Benjamin Davis turned himself in Tuesday on charges of felony sexual abuse of a child less than 12-years old and for failure to appear.
On August 18, ESCO-AL asked for the public’s help in locating Davis, saying he has ties to Walnut Hill and Brewton.
Davis was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton at 1:56 p.m. Tuesday. He is being held without bond.
Attempted Murder Suspect Has Turned Himself In
August 24, 2021
UPDATE: THIS SUSPECT HAS TURNED HIMSELF INTO AUTHORITIES.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect in an attempted homicide in mid August.
Cordeal Nikitia Hawthorne, 35, was wanted for attempted murder and is considered armed and dangerous.
On August 14, the ECSO responded to the 3700-block of Mobile Highway in reference to a shooting victim.
Once on scene, deputies located a male victim in his 50s with multiple gunshot wounds lying in the roadway. Deputies rendered aid until EMS arrived. The victim was transported to an area hospital.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620, Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, or 911.
Homicide Investigation Underway After Man Found Dead In Car Off Blue Angel Parkway
August 24, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide.
About 6:20 p.m. Monday, ECSO deputies responded to a man down call in the 10000 block of North Loop Road off Blue Angel Parkway.
Once on scene, deputies discovered a 33-year-old male victim deceased with one gunshot wound. He was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a brown Chevrolet Malibu. The engine to the car was still running.
ECSO investigators are looking for anyone who may have witnessed this crime.
If you have any information about this incident, call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.