Here’s How Escambia Residents Prioritize Spending $61.7 Million In Rescue Plan Funds
October 9, 2021
Escambia County citizens were recently asked how the county should prioritize the spending of $61.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds.
The ARP includes $61.7 million in direct local recovery assistance for Escambia County. The first half of the county’s award has been received, totaling $30.9 million. The second half is comparable and will arrive approximately one year after the first payment. The funds must be allocated by the end of 2024 and expenditures completed by the end of 2026.
There were 495 people that responded to the survey out of Escambia County’s adult population of about a quarter million.
Respondents prioritized expenditures as below:
Friday Night Football Finals
October 9, 2021
Here are high school football finals from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
Washington 44, Tate 7 [Click here for game details.]
Baker 35, Jay 6
West Florida 14, Gulf Breeze 13
Pine Forest 34, Baker (Mobile, AL) 14
Mosley 30, Navarre 7
Milton 28, Pensacola High 7
Pace 44, Monroe 29
Pensacola Catholic 23, Gadsden County 18
Escambia 26, Fort Walton Beach 7 (Thursday)
Northview (bye week)
ALABAMA
Autauga Academy 31, Escambia Academy 17
Williamson 41, Escambia County (Atmore) 6
Flomaton 21, Excel 12
T.R. Miller 20, Hillcrest-Evergreen 0
Jackson at W.S. Neal
Pictured: Washington at Tate. NorthEscambia.com photo click to enlarge.
Escambia County Records 331 New COVID-19 Cases Over Last Week
October 9, 2021
There were 331 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 89 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 53,064 (+331)
Positivity rate last week: 7.8%
Current total hospitalizations: 88
Over age 18 and over hospitalizations: 88
Under age 18 hospitalized: 0
Total deaths reported last 7 days: 28 (CDC data)
Escambia County Vaccinations
People vaccinated: 151,135 (+946)
Total Population of Escambia County Partially Vaccinated: 54.3%
Total Population of Escambia County Fully Vaccinated: 46.4%
*These numbers are the percent of total Escambia County population vaccinated. Not the percentage of hospitalized individuals.
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 31,999 (+200)
Positivity rate last week: 7.0%
People vaccinated: 88,061 (+436)
Partial vaccination rate (age 12+): 55%
Total deaths last 7 days: 17 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 3,601,755 (+25,792)
Case positivity rate: 4.8%
Deaths: 56,667 (+177)
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.
Woman Struck And Killed On Highway 29 Near Molino Early Friday Morning
October 8, 2021
A woman was struck and killed by a vehicle early Friday morning near Molino.
It happened shortly before 2 a.m. in the 3600 block of Highway 29 near the Homestead Lounge.
The victim, a 23-year old woman from Seminole, Alabama, was pronounced deceased on scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol said she attempted to cross Highway 29 when she walked directly into the path of a pickup truck driven by a Tennessee man.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Life flight were all dispatched to the call.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ernest Ward Middle Student Threatened Three Other Students With Knife On Campus, ECSO Says
October 8, 2021
An Ernest Ward Middle School student is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly threatening three other students with a knife.
Findley Barlow was charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of possession of a weapon on school property.
On Tuesday, Barlow allegedly showed a Swiss Army-type pocket knife to three students on campus before approaching them in a “threatening manner”, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
There were no injuries reported in the incident.
Barlow was transported to the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ECUA To Resume Recycling Monday; Facility Fire Damage Repaired
October 8, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s recycling center is back up and running following a fire in mid-July.
ECUA operated this week with a “soft start” to clear out some the stockpiled recyclables on the tipping floor of the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). That also gave them an opportunity to make sure everything was working correctly.
Beginning Monday, the MRF will be open to the cities, counties and commercial haulers across the area that use the facility to process their recyclables.
ECUA will collect recyclables from residential customers in Escambia County beginning Monday.
“We thank all our customers who maintained positive recycling habits as we worked to repair our fire-damaged facility, and all our employees and contractor who worked diligently to restore operations so quickly,” ECUA Public Information Nathalie Bowers said.
While the facility will be back up and running, workers will still be processing metals manually until a magnet used in the process is delivered in December.
The MRF was damaged in a fire on July 15, requiring significant cleanup and repairs. During the downtime, ECUA has collected residential recycling materials, but most everything was sent to the landfill.
Pictured: Fire and water damage at the ECUA recycling center following a July fire. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff Chip Simmons, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell Talk Local Law Enforcement
October 8, 2021
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons and members of his command staff sat down with Century Mayor Ben Boutwell Thursday morning.
“We talked about a larger presence of deputies in Century, speeding and working on drug issues,” Boutwell said.
Simmons told NorthEscambia.com that after the retirement of Lt. Bart Fryer, his is assigning a new lieutenant to Century and a new captain over the Century and Molino precincts.
The sheriff and his staff also took the time to hear input from local residents that were also having breakfast Thursday at the Southern Panhandle Café.
“We are looking for ways to make all of Escambia County better,” Simmons said of the meeting. “And it was a chance to have a good breakfast with good folks.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Suspended Due To Lower Demand
October 8, 2021
Community Health Northwest Florida has suspended COVID-19 drive-thru test at Cantonment Pediatrics due to decreased demand.
CHNWF is still offering COVID-19 vaccinations at the Brownsville Community Center each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Tate Volleyball’s Dig Pink Game Beats Fundraising Goal To Support Breast Cancer Research
October 8, 2021
Tate Aggies Volleyball beat their fundraising goal in a Dig Pink match Thursday night for the Side-Out Foundation and breast cancer research.
A final total was not immediately available, but at last count over $2,400 was raised.
The Lady Aggies also beat Pensacola High 3-1 in four sets. Tate defeated PHS 26-28, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Crystal Tolbert, click to enlarge.
ESCO: Woman Wanted For Stabbing Her Father At Frank Ard Road Home
October 7, 2021
A man was stabbed multiple times by his daughter Wednesday night, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Now deputies are looking for 31-year old Alicia Irene Dixon on an aggravated battery warrant.
The father was at Dixon’s home on Frank Ard Road, just off Quintette Road, when the incident occurred about 7:30 p.m.
A relative entered the home and saw him on the floor with three stab wounds to the chest area, according to the ECSO. He was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS and is expected to recover.
“That’s all we know because it was just dad and daughter, and when relatives came in she ran out,” Sgt. Melanie Peterson said.
Anyone with information on Dixon’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Dixon is pictured in a May 2020 mugshot from the Escambia County Jail.