Latest Numbers: Escambia Had 3,913 New COVID-19 Cases Over The Last Week
January 22, 2022
There were 3,913 new COVID-19 cases reported over the last week in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health report. There were 5,010 cases reported during the previous week.
Here is the latest data from FDOH and the CDC:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 69,752 (+3,913)
Positivity rate last week: 46.14%
Current Case Rate per 100k: 1,230
People vaccinated: 167,928 (+655)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 57.2%
New hospital admissions: 284
Current hospitalizations (as of Friday): 239
Total deaths last 7 days: <10
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 41,926 (+3,119)
Positivity rate last week: 45.71%
Current Case Rate per 100k: 1,688
People vaccinated: 97,533 (+341)
Vaccination rate (age 5+): 55.3%
New hospital admissions: 30
Total deaths last 7 days: <10
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 5,280,903 (+289,204)
Case positivity rate: 26.8%
Case Rate per 100k: 1,958
Deaths: 63,763 (+140)
Lawn Care Company’s Trailer And Equipment Stolen From Bristol Park
January 22, 2022
A local lawn care company’s trailer with all of their equipment was stolen Thursday night.
JR’s Classic Cuts Lawn Care said the trailer was stolen from Joshua Drive in the Bristol Park area. The trailers contained equipment that included two Gravely zero-turn mowers. There was a large business sign on the back of the trailer.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Escambia (AL) Jail Corrections Officer Sentenced To Federal Prison
January 22, 2022
A former corrections officer at the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
Lakerdra Shanta Snowden, 31, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, providing contraband to a federal prisoner, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The charges stem from Snowden’s abuse of her position as a corrections officer at jail. In that role, Snowden smuggled prohibited items into the jail and did other corrupt things on behalf of a federal detainee housed there. In exchange, Snowden accepted cash payments from the detainee totaling more than $5,000.
Snowden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. In connection with her guilty plea, Snowden admitted that she knowingly conspired with the detainee and others to commit federal funds bribery, and that the purpose of the bribery conspiracy was for her to enrich herself by abusing her official position to bring prohibited objects into the jail, which she would then provide to the detainee in exchange for money. The contraband items that Snowden smuggled into ECDC for the detainee included U.S. currency, phones, and K2 spice paper—items that she admitted threatened the order, discipline, and security of the jail, as well as the life, health, and safety of the individuals housed there.
United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose also ordered Snowden to serve a two-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison and to pay $100 in special assessments.
The FBI and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Protect Your Pipes From Freezing Temperatures Tonight
January 22, 2022
There are steps that will protect household pipes from freezing temperatures External, exposed pipes are naturally the most likely to freeze. Here are tips from ECUA:
- Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found at most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This prevents the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and/or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually, this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember the backflow preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found at most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water line are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Traffic Crash Ends With Somewhat Bizarre Raging Water Rescue Along Highway 29
January 21, 2022
What began as a rather ordinary traffic crash on Highway 29 Thursday night ended with a somewhat bizarre raging water rescue in what, moments before, had been a dry ditch.
Four vehicles — an older Ford Econoline conversion van, two pickups and a truck hauling propane cylinders — were involved in the crash on northbound Highway 29 just south of 9 1/2 Mile Road at Dave Howell Tires just before 6 p.m.
The van ran off the roadway and into a fairly shallow ditch. And there’s when the situation quickly changed
It appeared the van struck and sheared off a fire hydrant, causing the ditch to rapidly fill with water and become a raging river that washed away the shoulder of the roadway.
Escambia County Fire Rescue Special Operations was called to the scene to rescue the van occupant.
According to witness accounts, the firefighters appeared to almost be swept away as the ground collapsed and a good Samaritan rushed into help.
We know the occupant of the van was rescued and there were no injuries to firefighters. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released further details as they investigate the crash.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority responded and shut down the water flow.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Trial Date Set For Mom In Tate High School Homecoming Queen Scandal
January 21, 2022
A trial date has been set for the former school official accused of accessing student information to help her daughter win the Tate High School homecoming queen crown.
Laura Carroll appeared in an Escambia County courtroom Thursday, with her request for continuance denied. Carroll’s attorney argued for the continuance because they have not seen Verizon records and information from Google accounts.
Prosecutors said Carroll was offered a plea deal that she rejected — plead guilty to one felony and received probation, while the other felony charges would be dropped.
Jury selection was set to begin on January 31. Carroll faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Carroll, former assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, and her daughter Emily Rose Grover were charged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with one count each of felony offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices; felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device, felony criminal use of personally identifiable information, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
Grover is entering a pre-trial diversion program that, if successfully completed, will result in the charges against being dismissed.
Both were accused of illegally accessing the Escambia County School District FOCUS computer system and casting 246 votes for Tate homecoming queen in the fall of 2020. Grover won, but she was later expelled.
NorthEscambia.com photo (left) and Escambia County Jail photos, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Indians To Build Meat Processing Facility In Atmore
January 21, 2022
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has announced plans to build a new meat processing facility in Atmore.
The state-of-the-art USDA inspected facility will have the capacity to process up to 125 cattle per week.
Since 1982, the tribe has owned and operated Perdido River Farms (PRF), one of the largest cattle farms in Alabama, and has plans to expand their production. The Poarch Creek Indians said they will be able to efficiently harvest and process cattle and hogs for both livestock-producing customers and a retail and wholesale business.
“I am excited about the opportunities this project creates for our region’s farmers and the agriculture industry. Like so many other local meat producers, we have had no other option other than to send the cattle we raised right here at Perdido River Farms out of state for processing. This new facility will provide us and other farmers the opportunity to process locally- raised beef and pork right here in Atmore,” said Poarch Band of Creek Indians Chairwoman and CEO Stephanie A. Bryan.
“Not only will that make bringing a wonderful product to market easier and more cost-effective, it will also give Alabama producers an opportunity to be part of the ‘farm to table’ movement that is so important to both consumers and local agriculture,” Bryan continued.
Plans call for the project to be completed by the end of 2023.
Photo: USDA.
Escambia County Sands Bridges, FDOT Prepped For Ice Potential
January 21, 2022
Escambia Public Works and the Florida Department of Transportation prepped Thursday for potential icy conditions on area roadways on Friday.
County crews sanded bridges across North Escambia Sand improves traction in the event of ice on a bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation prepared under their winter weather plan.
FDOT vehicles were on state routes as maintenance and operations staff responded to winter weather conditions. FDOT crews were prepared to deploy various tankers, bridge deck sprayers and other equipment to apply anti-icing products on bridges and overpasses to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement surface. The anti-icing products allow any ice layer to melt more quickly and reduces the amount of time required to restore the roads to a clear, dry state.
Pictured: Escambia County work crews sand bridges. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County (FL) Offices Closed On Friday Due To Winter Weather Advisory, Including ECAT, Libraries
January 20, 2022
Escambia County (FL) offices will be closed Friday, due to a winter weather advisory. Essential employees such as first responders and those contacted by their supervisors will be expected to maintain county operations.
For a complete closure list, including schools, click here.
Closed county offices include:
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners – all departments
West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
Escambia County Property Appraiser
Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office
Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Supervisor of Elections Office
ECAT bus service, UWF Trolley and Pensacola Beach Trolley services will be suspended Friday. Escambia County Community Transportation (ECCT) will suspend regular service on Friday as well, except for dialysis and life-sustaining services. The Perdido Landfill will be open with regular hours.
City of Pensacola offices will also be closed.
Flomaton Man Killed; Adult And Kids Critically Injured In Crash
January 20, 2022
A Flomaton man was killed in a tragic traffic crash Wednesday that critically injured a man and three juveniles, according to Alabama State Troopers.
Calvin L. Johnson, 68, was fatally injured when the 2004 Honda SUV he was driving collided with a 2003 Toyota pickup driven by 46-year old Brian T. Grant of Atmore, according to troopers. Grant and the children were transported to two area hospitals in multiple medical helicopters.
The crash happened shortly after 5 p.m. on Highway 31 near Old Atmore Road in the Wawbeek community, about five miles west of Atmore.
Troopers are continuing their investigation.
The Flomaton, Atmore, Wawbeek, Friendship and Lambeth fire departments; the Century and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue; MedStar EMS; McMillan EMS; Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and other agencies responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
