One Person Injured, Three Vehicles Wrecked When Driver Hits Cow On Highway 97
May 23, 2020
One person was injured and three vehicles were wrecked when a driver a hit a cow Friday night on Highway 97 near Molino.
The first vehicle hit the cow on Highway 97 near Gibson Road just before 9 p.m. The front seat passenger in the vehicle was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital. The driver and other passengers, both juveniles, were not injured.
The driver of a Nissan Versa slowed or stopped to avoid the cow in the roadway and was rear-ended by a Chevrolet passenger car. Neither driver was injured.
The cow did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
What About High School Graduations? Here’s The Tentative List On Ceremony Dates.
May 23, 2020
School is now officially out for summer. But what about high school graduations?
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties both still plan to have graduation ceremonies and have scheduled tentative dates. Once dates are finalized, more details will be mail available.
Escambia County
June 23, July 14 or July 27
- Tate High School
- Northview High School
- Pine Forest High School
- West Florida High School
June 24, July 15 or July 28
- Pensacola High School
- Escambia High School
- George Stone Technical College/Escambia Virtual/Success Academy/Camelot
- Washington High School
Santa Rosa County
June 19-20, July 16-17 and July 29-30 at Pensacola Bay Center
- Pace High School 11 a.m.
- Navarre High School 2:30 p.m.
- Gulf Breeze High School 6 p.m.
June 23, July 14 or July 31
- Jay High School in the gym at 5 p.m.
- Central High School 7 p.m. in the gym.
June 18, July 14 or July 28
- Milton High School at 8 p.m.
Pictured: The Tate High School Class of 2019 graduation at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Vehicle Burns By Pumps At Local Gas Station
May 23, 2020
A vehicle erupted into flames Friday night next to the fuel pumps at a local gas station.
The vehicle burned under the gas canopy at the Tom Thumb on Chemstrand at the intersection of East Kingsfield Road. The Ensley and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the fire.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured top: A vehicle burns under the gas canopy. Pictured first below: Someone attempts to use a fire extinguisher to put on the blaze, but they were unsuccessful. Pictured below: Escambia Fire Rescue arrives. Reader submitted cellphone photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Coast Guard, Good Samaritans Rescue Seven From Capsized Vessel Off Pensacola
May 23, 2020
The Coast Guard, with assistance from three good Samaritan vessels, rescued seven people from a capsized recreational vessel offshore from Pensacola on Friday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 8:30 a.m. that the 28-foot recreational vessel, Uno Mas, was taking on water. Coast Guard Station Pensacola launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew to assist.
In the process of launching rescue assets, Sector Mobile received an additional report that all seven people had moved to nearby good Samaritan vessels and no injuries were reported. The boat crew from Station Pensacola picked up five adults and two children from the good Samaritan vessels and returned to Orange Beach.
“This case highlights the importance of having vital life saving equipment while boating,” said Lt. Cmdr. Corrie Sergent, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator at Sector Mobile. “The fact that all people aboard were wearing life jackets and used their VHF radios to call for help ensured their successful rescue. We are thankful for the quick actions of the good Samaritans vessels nearby providing assistance until our crew could arrive.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Unemployment Rate Skyrockets To 12.8%
May 23, 2020
The April unemployment rate in Escambia County and across Florida skyrocketed in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.9 percent in April 2020, up 8.5 percentage points from the revised March 2020 rate of 4.4 percent, and up 9.6 percentage points from a year ago. There
were over 1.2 million jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,438,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 14.7 percent in April.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate soared to 12.8% in April, up from 4.5% in March and 3.2% in February. One year ago, it was just 2.9%.
There were nearly 11,000 people that lost their jobs in Escambia County between March and April.
The jobless rate is bad across Florida, with 43 of the states 67 counties with a jobless rate of 10% or worse.
The jobless numbers do not count those that applied for unemployment in May. Those numbers will be out in June.
Palafox Street In Downtown Pensacola Will Be Pedestrian Only Every Sunday Through June
May 23, 2020
A section of Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola will be closed to vehicle traffic for “Sunday Strolls” every Sunday in May and June to promote safe outdoor retail and restaurant activities to support local businesses.
Palafox Street from Garden Street to Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Sunday through June beginning Sunday, May 24.
Closing the street to vehicular traffic will provide additional space for downtown visitors to more easily practice social distancing while supporting local businesses.
The City of Pensacola hopes area residents will support local restaurants and businesses as they enter economic recovery. CDC social distancing guidelines should be followed.
DeSantis Lifts All Restrictions On Youth Activities
May 22, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that he is lifting restrictions on youth activities effective immediately.
“Effective immediately, Florida will be lifting all restrictions on youth activities including summer camps and athletics,” Gov. DeSantis said during a Jacksonville news conference. “We believe this makes sense based on the data and observed experience.”
The Florida Department of Health may post some best practice guidelines, but they won’t be “instituting a lot of rules or any rules”.
“At the end of the day, we trust parents to be able to make decisions in conjunction with physicians and community leaders and coaches to be able to do these activities in a way that is safe,” he said.
Local municipalities will still be able to implement restrictions if they choose.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
One Additional COVID-19 Death Recorded In Escambia County
May 22, 2020
The number of reported COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County increased by one on Friday to 25, as the number of cases increased by a half dozen.
The death of a 76-year old male was not indicated as a long-term care center related fatality, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The number of cases in Escambia County increased by six to 740,, and Santa Rosa was up by one to 198.
Of the 25 deaths in Escambia County, 18 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 49,451 cases including 48,150 Florida residents. There have been 9,117 hospitalizations and 2,190 deaths.
- Total cases — 740 (+6 since Thursday)
- Pensacola — 545
- Cantonment — 48
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 4
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 63*
- Deaths — 25
- Male — 255
- Female — 355
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 199 (+1 since Thursday)
- Milton — 119
- Navarre — 35
- Gulf Breeze — 26
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 135
- Female — 60
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 49,451
- Florida residents — 48,150
- Deaths — 2,190
- Hospitalizations — 9,117*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
All But One COVID-19 Death In Escambia County Was Someone Over Age 65; 75% Were Long-Term Care Residents
May 22, 2020
Every COVID-19 death but one in Escambia County was someone over 65-years old and 75% of the deaths have been directly related to long-term care facilities, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The death toll in Escambia County increased by three on Thursday to 24 people. The youngest was a 52-year old female, and the oldest was a 103-year old female. Most of the deaths (21) were over 70-years old.
Three-quarters of the COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County have been in long-term care facility residents or staff members (18 total).
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Four Scholarships
May 22, 2020
The Barrineau Park Historical Society has presented scholarships to four deserving high school seniors. The scholarships were presented to Emma Barlow, Tate High School; Kayla McKillion, Northview High School; Raeleigh Woodfin, Northview High School; and Sierra Ziglar, home-schooled.
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Emma Barlow, senior at Tate High,received the Stephen Jogan $1,000 Scholarship from the Barrineau Park Historical Society. She plans to attend the Universit of South Alabama in the fall and major in pre-medical and transfer to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to get her medical degree.
Kayla McKillion, a Northview High senior, was presented the Lynda C. Minchew Scholarship worth $500 presented by BPHS President Craig Exner. The Bobby Minchew family endowed the funds for this scholarship in honor of Lynda who was a strong supporter of education and her grandmother, Bernice Crabtree Vaughn who was an avid volunteer at Barrineau Park Elementary. Kayla will be attending the University of West Florida and plans to major in nursing.
Raeleigh Woodfin, a Northview High senior, was awarded a $500 scholarship by the Louis Crabtree, Sr. Family in memory of Louis, a strong supporter and lifetime member of the Barrineau Park Historical Society. Raeleigh plans to attend Troy University in the fall and major in Communication Arts and Agriculture.
Sierra Ziglar, a home-schooled senior, received a $1,000 Barrineau Park Historical Society Scholarship presented by BPHS President Craig Exner. Sierra has been active in mission work in third world countries and will attend the University of West Florida in the fall and major in nursing.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.