UPDATE: Molino Library Closed For Cleaning After Positive COVID-19 Test
January 5, 2021
UPDATE: The Molino Branch Library was closed Tuesday for cleaning due to a positive COVID-19 test.
“It was temporarily closed due to someone testing positive for COVID-19,” said Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale. The library was expected to be reopen on Wednesday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Semi Truck Overturns On Highway 29
January 5, 2021
There were no serious injuries reported when a semi-truck overturned Tuesday morning on Highway 29 just south of Bluff Springs Road.
The truck hauling paper products came to rest on its side in the median about 9:35 a.m.
The highway remained open both north and southbound, but drivers were urged to slow and use caution in the area.
Escambia County EMS and Escambia Fire Rescue responded. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the wreck.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff Chip Simmons Sworn In; Commits To Reopening Molino Substation, Body Cameras
January 5, 2021
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons was sworn into office Tuesday morning.
“I will reinforce a commitment to service. We will be there when you need us,” Simmons said. “We will be there, and we will be brave. We will be courteous, and we will be compassionate.”
Simmons committed to reopening substations in Molino and Perdido and discuss the need for any other precinct in Escambia County. He will also place a request to use seized and forfeited funds be used for body cameras.
“We will work every day to be the sheriff’s office that you can be proud of. One that is courteous, one that is committed, one that is strong and professional, and one that is brave. A true reflection of the county that it serves,” Simmons said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Century Mayor And Council Members Sworn In; Council Elects New President And VP
January 5, 2021
A new mayor and two new town council members were sworn in Monday evening in Century.
Benjamin Boutwell was sworn in as mayor, and political newcomers Dynette Lewis and Leonard White took the oath of office for town council. Incumbent Luis Gomez was also sworn in for another term. Due to staggered terms, council members Sandra Jackson and James Smith were not up for election in 2020 and round out the five member council.
Gomez was elected as council president by his fellow council members, and Smith was elected vice president.
During the 2020 elections, Boutwell defeated incumbent Henry Hawkins. Lewis defeated incumbent council president Ann Brooks, and White was elected to the seat that was held by Boutwell until his resignation to run for mayor. Gomez was automatically reelected without opposition.
Pictured: The swearing in ceremonies Monday evening for Mayor Ben Boutwell (pictured above on the left), and council members Dynette Lewis (first below), Leonard White (second below) and Luis Gomez (bottom). All four were sworn in by Town Clerk Kim Godwin. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia To Host Bristol Park Area Flooding FEMA Grant Public Meeting
January 5, 2021
Escambia County will hold a public meeting next week to update progress on the efforts to address flooding in the Bristol Park area.
The county is applying for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to further the county’s acquisition and floodplain restoration initiative in this area. The county is looking to voluntarily acquire properties in the Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills neighborhoods from willing homeowners.
“Unfortunately, the Bristol Park area experienced substantial flooding againduring Hurricane Sally,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “This meeting will provide a venue for homeowners to ask questions and gain additional information about an option that may be available to help them with their individual situation.”
The purpose of the meeting is to further gauge interest of homeowner willingness to participate and to address frequently asked questions and concerns about the grant application.
The meeting will me held at 5 p.m. on Monday, January 11 at the Escambia County Extension Office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
After the presentation, homeowners will have the opportunity to ask further questions in small groups or individually, and the county would like to make appointments for these time slots. Residents are asked to contact either Kelli Reddick (kelli.reddick@arcadis.com) or Rob McCracken (rob_mccracken@myescambia.com) prior to the meeting to schedule an appointment, ask questions about the grant application and/or see a pre-application package.
Pictured: Household items piled outside a home in the Bristol Park area that flooded during Hurricane Sally. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New COVID-19 Quarantine Procedures Begin In The Escambia County School District
January 5, 2021
It’s the first day back in class, and the first day of new COVID-19 quarantine procedures, for the Escambia County School District.
Students will now be able to return to school on the 11th day following an exposure, provided they have no symptoms of COVID-19. Students may return as early as the eighth day after an exposure, if they are having no symptoms and have obtained a negative PCR Molecular COVID-19 test administered on the sixth day (or later) following exposure.
However, students will need to observe the full 14 days of quarantine from extracurricular activities and athletics, according to Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith. He said there may be additional school situations which require students to observe the full 14 days of quarantine from school.
The school district said the changes are to align the school system with the Florida Department of Health an recent COVID-19 quarantine information released by the CDC.
Keep The Wreath Green: 10 Residential Fires In Escambia County During December
January 5, 2021
The 2020 “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign ended with 10 red bulbs on the fire safety wreath to represent 10 residential fires in Escambia County during December.
The first of those fires was December 3 in the North Escambia area, injuring a resident as they rescued their cat from the blaze in the 600 block of East 10 Mile Road.
The majority of homes impacted during the 2020 campaign had no fatalities or serious injuries, but most did not have working smoke alarms present, according to county fire officials. The leading causes of fires in Escambia County for this year’s campaign were from candles, unattended cooking and electrical fires. There was also an increase in garage and shed fires during 2020.
“I would like to thank the citizens for making fire safety a priority,” said Paul Williams, Escambia County interim fire chief. ”This year’s campaign ended with fewer red bulbs than the previous year likely due to residents being diligent about practicing fire safety, but we should not stop there. If we continue to work together, we can eliminate both the personal and property loss due to fire. Almost all of the homes impacted during this year’s campaign did not have working smoke alarms.”
To receive a free smoke alarm contact Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents to schedule an appointment for smoke alarm installation.
The 2019 Keep the Wreath Green campaign ended with 13 residential fires in the county.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Interior photo: Escambia Fire Rescue.
Woman Crashes Into Wooded Area On Velor Road
January 4, 2021
One person was injured in a wreck near Oak Grove Monday afternoon.
An adult female driver lost control on Velor Road about 1.5 miles south of Highway 164 shortly after noon and crashed into a wooded area. The car plowed through a cedar tree and crashed into a pine tree. The car came to rest between three pine trees, make it difficult for the woman to exit the vehicle.
She was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Car Found Washed Away, Mostly Submerged In Big Escambia Creek (With Photo Gallery)
January 4, 2021
A car was found washed away and mostly submerged in Big Escambia Creek near Century Sunday. There was no one inside.
The car apparently entered the water from the creek bank directly adjacent to the Fannie Road bridge before it was moved by the current nearly two-tenths of a mile downstream from the bridge.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue reached the vehicle using a boat and searched for occupants with a negative result.
A man stating he was the owner of the vehicle later arrived on scene and told NorthEscambia.com and law enforcement that the car had been stolen from his yard overnight.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
A front end loader was used to expand an existing dirt path to allow a wrecker to reach a sandbar near the vehicle.
In addition to Century firefighters, Flomaton MedStar EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Flomaton Police Department and Flomaton Fire Department responded. The Fannie Road bridge over Big Escambia Creek is located just outside Century, about a mile south of the Alabama state line.
Pictured top: A car was found mostly submerged in Big Escambia Creek near Century Sunday. Pictured in order below: Firefighters in a boat use an axe to make access into the vehicle to check for a possible victim. The vehicle submerged in Big Escambia Creek. The spot next to the bridge were officials believe the vehicle entered the water. A view from the Fannie Road bridge looking toward the car in far distance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
500 Escambia County Seniors Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations In First Large Scale Event
January 4, 2021
The first members of the general population in Escambia County received the COVID-19 vaccine Sunday. Vaccinations were given to about 500 preselected underserved adults 65 and older at the Brownsville Community Center.
It was part of a pilot program from the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Division of Emergency Management to test the most efficient way to distribute the vaccine. The adults receiving the Modenra vaccine were chosen in advance by the FDOH, and they will return for a required second dose on Sunday, January 31.
Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore said Escambia County was chosen by the state to host a closed “point-of-distribution” known as a POD. That’s why residents were required to have a voucher to receive a vaccine Sunday. County leaders had six days to put their plan together and distribute the vouchers.
“It’s exciting that we were chosen to do this,” Gilmore said. “It’s a monumental task, but we were honored to be able to do this for the community and help the state of Florida out and show them if this is going to work.”
Florida residents age 65 and older are the first from the general public to receive the vaccine under and order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The health department in Escambia County has an online form for people age 65 and older to request an appointment to received the COVID-19 vaccine at a future time. For the appointment request form, click or tap here. Residents are asked not to call or walk into the health department for the COVID-19 vaccine. The form only asks for a name and phone number. The health department has not said when they will contact interested individuals 65 and older, or how an appointment can be requested without internet access.
Photos Rebekah Castor/WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
