Escambia Discontinuing COVID-19 Dashboard Tracking
March 5, 2022
Escambia County is dropping their COVID-19 dashboard Saturday as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline.
As of Friday, there were 48 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Escambia County.
“Just like previous occasions when we have discontinued the dashboard, we will continue to monitor COVID-19 with our local healthcare partners,” said Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “As long as we remain under 50 hospitalizations, Escambia County will discontinue the COVID-19 dashboard effective March 5.”
A Very Special Mardi Gras Parade (With Photo Gallery)
March 5, 2022
A very special Mardi Gras parade was held Friday morning for the special needs students of Escambia Westgate School.
With plenty of beads, trinkets and smiles, the parade rolled through the school parking lot for students that might not otherwise be able to attend a regular Mardi Gras parade.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos courtesy ECSO, Escambia Westgate and Kevin Adams for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 29, Highway 97 Crash Claims One Life
March 4, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol said a crash Thursday night in Molino claimed one life.
A semi-truck and a pickup truck collided about 7:45 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97.
A 19-year old Molino man was driving a Ford F150 northbound on Highway 29 when he attempted to turn onto Highway 97. He “failed to maintain awareness of southbound traffic” and turned into the path of the semi driven by a 30-year old Pensacola man, troopers said.
One passenger in the truck, a 20-year old man from Atwater, Minnesota, was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital where he passed away. The pickup driver and another passenger, a 23-year old from Glendale, Arizona, were both transported to the hospital in serious condition.
The semi-truck driver received minor injuries.
After the collision, the truck jackknifed into the Tom Thumb parking lot and came to rest against the business’s sign.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Students Prepare 60,000 Meals Of Hope (With Photo Gallery)
March 4, 2022
The Tate High School FFA and volunteers will worked Thursday morning to package about 60,000 meals for the community.
They exceeded their goal of feeding 50,000 with the Meals of Hope project.
All the packaged meals will be distributed to families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Pictured: Tate High FFA students and volunteers work assembly line fashion to package 60,000 meals Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces First Lady Casey DeSantis Is Cancer Free
March 4, 2022
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that his wife, first lady Casey DeSantis is cancer free.
“After going through both treatment and surgery for breast cancer, she is now considered cancer free,” he said. “All of you who have given thoughts and prayers to my family and my wife, thank you. It’s lifted her spirits and made a tremendous difference. For all the women out there who are going through breast cancer right now – you can overcome this. I know it’s very difficult, but my wife is proof positive, and this is the exact type of news we had hoped for. She still has more to do, but I’m confident she’s going to make a full recovery. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. God Bless you all.”
“There are no words to express how truly blessed, grateful and humbled I am to hear the words cancer free,” said Casey DeSantis. “To those who are in the fight, know there is hope. Have faith and stay strong.”
Casey DeSantis was diagnosed with breast cancer last October.
The Governor and first lady DeSantis are parents to daughter, Madison, 4; son, Mason, 3; and daughter, Mamie 18-months, who is the first baby born in the Governor’s Mansion in more than 50 years.
A native of Troy, Ohio, she is a three-time National Champion equestrian, as well as a runner-up Division I NCAA Champion. She worked for the PGA Tour as a producer and on-air host. She earned an Emmy for on-air talent while working in Jacksonville.
Since becoming Florida’s first lady, DeSantis has launched four major initiatives, including “Hope Florida — A Pathway to Prosperity, Economic Self-Sufficiency and Hope.”
Pictured top: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, first lady Casey DeSantis and their three children (left to right) Mamie, Madison, and Mason
Northview Varsity Tops Lighthouse; NHS JV Shuts Out Lighthouse
March 4, 2022
Northview 13, Lighthouse 3
The Northview Chiefs beat Lighthouse Christian 13-3 Thursday night in Bratt.
Jamarcus Jefferson earned the win for the Chiefs, giving up no runs on four hits in four innings, striking out seven. Collier and Burkett closed in relief.
Rustin Pope led at the plate for Northview, going 4-4. Kaden Odom had two hits for the Chiefs. Jefferson, Wyatt Scruggs and Logan Misenar added one hit each. Luke Bridges and Misenar had two stolen bases for Northview; Scruggs had one.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Northview 15, Lighthouse 0 (JV)
Clay Allen threw a no-hitter as the Northview Chiefs JV shut out Lighthouse Christian JV 15-0 Thursday at Northview.
Allen walked one and recorded 10 strikeouts.
Allen was also hot at the plate, going 3-3 to lead the JV Chiefs. Jayden White was 2-4, Kenny Sanders was 2-2, Colby Pugh went 2-3 and Jacob Spence was 2-2.
Pictured: The Northview Varsity Chiefs defeated Lighthouse Christian 13-3 Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Varsity Tames The Wildcats; Tate JV Shuts Out Washington
March 4, 2022
Tate 14, Washington 3
The Tate Aggies varsity tamed the Washington Wildcats 14-3 in six innings Thursday night.
Rilee Lowery earned the win for the Aggies. In four innings, he allowed two hits and one run while striking out two. Colten Swiers and Ethan McAnally closed the game in relief. McAnally had one strikeout, while Swiers allowed one hit and two runs.
Madox Land, Drew Reaves, Bray Touchstone and Jackson Perreyclear led at the plate for the Aggies with a couple of hits each. Clif Quiggins, McAnally, Kirk Mosley, Jackson Penton, Jay Davis, Frankie Randall and Bricen Kelly each added a hit.
For a photo gallery from varsity and JV, click here.
Tate 11, Washington 0 (JV)
The JV Tate Aggies shut out the Washington Wildcats 11-0 Thursday.
Croom went two innings for the Aggies with no runs, two hits and three strikeouts.
Brayden Noble was 2-2 at the plate to lead the Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice Rescinded For Cottage Hill Water Works Customers In Cedar Tree Lane Area
March 4, 2022
Thursday, Cottage Hill Water Works rescinded a precautionary boil water notice that was issued Monday following a water main break on Cedar Tree Lane.
The boil water notice included all of Cedar Tree Lane from Highway 95A west past Highway 29, along with Cedar Park Drive and Cedar Point Road.
If you have any questions you may contact the utility’s office at (850) 968-5485.
Update: Woman Reportedly Kidnapped At Gunpoint Has Been Located
March 3, 2022
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a woman allegedly kidnapped from her car at gunpoint Thursday morning has been located.
In a statement, ECSO said, “Just before 4:00 this afternoon, Brianna McGuire was safely located at a home in Escambia County. Nicholas Jody Liberto has also been located. This is an ongoing investigation.”
No further information was provided
PREVIOUS STORY:
A woman was kidnapped at gunpoint from her car Thursday morning in Escambia County.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 24-year old Brianna Renae McGuire was reported kidnapped at gunpoint from a car on Norstum Drive. That’s off Airway Drive just south of Nine Mile Road.
Deputies said 26-year old Nicholas Jody Liberto is believed to be one of the two alleged kidnappers. They left the area in what appeared to be a red or orange Jeep Renegade.
Liberto and the other suspect are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone that sees them is asked to call 911 immediately.
Sheriff Addresses Rumors, Unfounded Report Of Student With A Gun On Tate High Campus
March 3, 2022
[NorthEscambia.com Exclusive] — Wednesday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received an unfounded report of a student with a gun on the Tate High School campus. No gun was found, but social media was full of conflicting rumors.
“It triggers a response from law enforcement and the school district,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “If it has merit, our response will be immediate and overwhelming.”
The unfounded report was ultimately found to be related to the suspension of a student for a violation of the school district’s weapons policies in mid-February and his return to campus Wednesday morning.
NorthEscambia.com has learned that a rifle was found about two weeks ago inside the student’s truck while it was parked on campus. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said it was determined in consultation with the State Attorney’s Office that no law was broken.
The school then suspended the student for violating their rules. The student missed a meeting Tuesday to discuss the suspension, and he had a letter in hand that stated that he could return to campus Wednesday, ECSO said.
NorthEscambia.com obtained a copy of that letter from one of the student’s parents. The letter is posted above, with identifying information redacted by us.
“It has become necessary that we place [student] back into your supervision during the school hours for ten days, beginning February 15, 2022 and ending March 1, 2022,” the letter from a Tate High dean stated. “Unless you are otherwise advised, this student must not return to school until March 2, 2022.”
ECSO said they were asked Wednesday to remove the student for trespassing, but they were unable to do so because he was never trespassed warned before Wednesday. The Sheriff’s Office stated that the student never made any threat involving a weapon.
Meanwhile, social media told a very different story. Students, parents and others claiming to be in the know posted a variety of rumors, unsubstantiated claims and sometimes altered or old unconfirmed screenshots showing alleged threats. And the rumors grew and changed rapidly.
“Oftentimes, a small piece of information balloons into something that is incognizable from the original,” Simmons said. “Once the rumor starts, they can spread these things and they put their own interpretations on those posts or those photos. Quite frankly, they made those things up.”
The sheriff said his deputies work quickly in a situation like that on Wednesday to see what actually has transpired and how any threat originated.
“It is really counterproductive to the safety and the security of our schools,” said Cody Strother, spokesperson for the Escambia County School District. “The safety and safety and security of our staff and students are so important, and we are grateful for our staff, law enforcement partners and our families for their assistance.”
During Wednesday’s lockdown, parents gathered outside the locked gates at Tate High School to checkout their children as the rumors continued to swirl online. Additional rumors or violence or threats began to circulate after an ambulance arrived on campus. But the ambulance was responding to a seemingly minor medical problem suffered by an adult that was unrelated to the lockdown incident.
“As a parent I understand people want to make sure their children are safe,” Simmons said.
“When we are in certain level security scenarios, students are much safer on campus in the place where they are,” Strother stated.
NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
