By The Numbers: Escambia Reports 216 New COVID-19 Cases
October 16, 2021
There were 216 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
Baptist, Ascension Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals reported a combined 62 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 53,282 (+216)
Positivity rate last week: 6%
Current total hospitalizations: 62
Over age 18 and over hospitalizations: 59
Under age 18 hospitalized: 3
Total deaths reported last 7 days: 38 (CDC data)
Escambia County Vaccinations
People vaccinated: 152,159 (+879)
Total Population of Escambia County Partially Vaccinated: 54.8%
Total Population of Escambia County Fully Vaccinated: 47.1%
*These numbers are the percent of total Escambia County population vaccinated. Not the percentage of hospitalized individuals.
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 32,164 (+179)
Positivity rate last week: 7.0%
People vaccinated: 88,731 (+501)
Partial vaccination rate (age 12+): 55%
Total deaths last 7 days: 13 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 3,620,,562 (+19,519)
Case positivity rate: 3.8%
Deaths: 57,859 (+123)
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 is no longer provided by FDOH.
At Least One Reported Injured In Highway 29 Rollover In Molino
October 15, 2021
At least one person was reportedly injured in a rollover crash Friday afternoon in Molino.
The crash occurred on Highway 29 near Chance Road, between CrossFaith Church and Barnes Feed Store.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further information.
Photo forNorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alger Sullivan Mill Property In Century Cleaned Up For The First Time Since 2016; Old Owner Faces $85K In Fines
October 15, 2021
For the first time since it was ravaged by tornado five years ago, the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century is officially cleaned up.
The 38-acre abandoned industrial site was heavily damaged and was mostly untouched since EF-3 tornado winds of 150 mph on February 15, 2016.
The property was purchased March 1, 2021, by Creighton Sounds, LLC of Pensacola for an industrial project, the nature of which has not yet been announced. But the company has made good on a promise to clean up the property.
Environmental enforcement costs and fines of $50 a day had accumulated against the previous property owners since 2016. Earlier this year, a special magistrate ordered the fines on the property put on hold as of March 1, the date of the property purchase by Creighton Sounds.
Now that Escambia County Code Enforcement has signed off on the cleanup, a final cost order was issued this week by a special magistrate for $85,000. The previous owner, DMT Holdings LLC of Navarre, placed $85,000 in a trust fund at the time of sale to pay the fines.
The principal owner of Creighton Sounds was involved in “Project Fusion” that in November 2020 canceled a pending contract with the Town of Century to purchase the former Helicopter Technology building and about 40 acres in the Century Industrial Park. The company had promised 80 new jobs and a $15.3 million capital investment during their first five years.
“We’re very excited that we’re in Century to help the fine folks of that town to bring jobs and to clean up an area that’s been devastated by a tornado since 2016 that ravished their neighborhood,” Creighton Sounds representative Kipp Anglin told NorthEscambia.com in March, when he appeared before an Escambia County Special Magistrate Robert O. Beasley to ask the county to put code enforcement violation fines on hold.
Creighton Sounds worked over the past few months to salvage about 60,000 square feet of one large building on the property. The structure was stripped to its metal skeleton.
Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill in 2017, but bids ranged from $800,000 to $3 million — far in excess of the county’s entire 2017 cleanup budget of $463,425. Property records show the value of the property was $802,189 before the tornado, but the most recent assessment shows what remains was worth $226,535.
Pictured above and below: The former Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century as seen in 2020. Pictured inset: A 2019 view of the building as seen from an adjacent neighborhood on Front Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Celebrates Senior Night With Win Over Northview (With Photo Gallery)
October 15, 2021
The Tate High School Lady Aggies celebrated their seniors Thursday night and defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-0.
The Aggies honored senior players Jayna Burdick, Sophia Jones, Danica Riddell, Allison Baer and Gina Cagle
For more Tate Senior Night and game action photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Crystal Tolbert, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Students Receive Free Dictionaries
October 15, 2021
Members of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment recently presented new dictionaries to students at Jim Allen Elementary School. Each third grader received their own copy of “A Student’s Dictionary.” The goal of The Dictionary Project is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Names Teachers Of The Year
October 14, 2021
Escambia County’s Teachers of the Year have been picked to represent their respective schools.
One of them will be named the Escambia County School District’s overall Teacher of the year.
The Teachers of the Year by school are:
- Achieve Academy — Aarin Phillips Nedd
- Alternative Education — William Broome
- Jim Allen Elementary — Amanda Robar
- Jim C. Bailey Middle — Jessika Brown
- Bellview Elementary — Christina Burson
- Bellview Middle — Dominick Limle
- Beulah Academy of Science — Jessica Lewis
- Beulah Elementary — Kris Lapata
- Beulah Middle School — Cindy Speed
- Blue Angels Elementary — Eunice Angeles
- Bratt Elementary — Mary Rackard
- Brentwood Elementary — Gail Hanson
- Brown-Barge Middle — Angela Nass
- Hellen Caro Elementary — Tammy Robertson
- N. B. Cook Elementary — Mary de Boer
- Cordova Park Elementary — Courtney Lurton
- Ensley Elementary — Iris Jones
- Escambia High — Susan Chambers
- Escambia Westgate — Melissa Caldwell
- Exceptional Student Education — Elizabeth Leonard
- Ferry Pass Elementary — Diondria Bridges
- Ferry Pass Middle — Brittany Wobecky
- Global Learning Academy — Amanda Westbrooks
- Reinhardt Holm Elementary — Lisa Jones
- Hope Horizon — Vivian Gillard
- Kingsfield Elementary School — Jessica Phelps
- Lincoln Park Elementary — Laura Hobbs
- R. C. Lipscomb Elementary — Dustin Brenton
- Longleaf Elementary — Laury Heath
- L. D. McArthur Elementary — Lindsey Jeremiah
- Molino Park Elementary — Jessica Varner
- Montclair Elementary School — Ashley Roache
- Myrtle Grove Elementary — Rich Gonzalez
- Navy Point Elementary — Dovennie Day
- Northview High — Jeffrey D. Simpkins
- Oakcrest Elementary — Philip Jones
- Pensacola High — Karen Bruening
- Pine Forest High — Jamiliya McBride
- Pine Meadow Elementary — Christina (Tina) Schlauder
- Pleasant Grove Elementary — Amy Urban
- Ransom Middle — Angela Avery
- Scenic Heights Elementary — Janette Calder
- O. J. Semmes Elementary — Rickie Merritt
- Sherwood Elementary — Alicia Smith
- George Stone Technical College — Edward Sizemore
- A. K. Suter Elementary — Alison Link
- Success Academy — Carolyn Dejacimo Pillar
- J. M. Tate High — Karl King
- Ernest Ward Middle — Katie Roley
- Warrington Elementary — Alicia Abbuhl
- Warrington Middle — Caleb Lovely
- Booker T. Washington High — Barbie Spears
- C. A. Weis Elementary — Brianna Cooks
- West Florida High — Laura Rainey
- West Pensacola Elementary — Audra Livingston
- J. H. Workman Middle School — Helene Carrington
Pictured: The Golden Apple Award. File photo.
Large Portions Of Both Highway 29 And Nine Mile Projects Open To Traffic
October 14, 2021
Large portions of both the Highway 29 and Nine Mile Road constructions projects are now open to traffic, the Florida Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
All six lanes are now open on Highway 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road. Crews will continue paving work over the next few weeks and then complete final worklist items.
All four lanes of Nine Mile Road between Beulah and Pine Forest roads are also now open to traffic. Crews will continue placing the final, friction layer of asphalt throughout the month of October.
Pictured top: Highway 29 near West Devane Street with newly opened traffic lanes. Pictured below: Newly paved westbound travel lanes on Nine Mile Road near the Eleven Mile Creek Bridge. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECFR: Well Line Road Mobile Fire Caused By Electrical Malfunction
October 14, 2021
Investigators have determined a fire that damaged a Cantonment mobile home Tuesday afternoon was due to an electrical malfunction.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire just after noon Tuesday in the 1000 block of Well Line Road.
Crews arrived to find light smoke showing from the trailer from a kitchen fire. The home suffered fire and smoke damage throughout, according to ECFR.
There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Ensley, Molino and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
The home had smoke detectors, but they did not function, the fire department said. Free smoke detectors are available for Escambia County residents by calling (850) 595-HERO.
Century Awarded $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant From The State
October 14, 2021
Century, with the assistance of FloridaWest, was one of just eight small and rural communities in the state awarded a $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant.
The grant will be used to elevate the area’s education, training and skilled workforce to meet current industry and business demands. In April, the Century area had an unemployment rate of 12%, nearly three times that of Escambia County.
FloridaWest recently held a meeting to discuss the grant with partners including the town, Escambia County School District, Pensacola State College, CareerSource Escarosa and other local leaders.
“We don’t have a specific plan right now,” FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth said. “We are bringing the stakeholders together to create something and giving them the opportunity to say this is what we want to do.”
The grant plan will work to connect youth at area schools with business and industry.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity partner with communities to help them leverage this unique assets and set realistic goals. They will also work to connect the communities like Century with available state and federal resources.
Once a better-defined roadmap is in place for the grant, there will be a public outreach including two public meetings.
The grant was awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.
Pictured: Community partners discuss a $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant during a recent meeting in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
It’s National School Lunch Week (And Jim Allen’s Cafeteria Is Looking Like Fall)
October 14, 2021
It’s National School Lunch Week, and the staff at Jim Allen Elementary School has made the cafeteria a festival fall place for students to enjoy their lunches. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
