Escambia Sheriff’s Office And Rudolph Stop The Grinch From Stealing Christmas
December 25, 2020
There were no worries about The Grinch this Christmas in Escambia County, thanks to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Rudolph.
The Grinch was found in the ECOS parking lot, dressed as Santa Claus. Rudolph spotted The Grinch, and immediately called for help.
The Grinch is being held in the Escambia County Jail until December 26.
“We hope he thinks through his actions, and his heart will grow three sizes. Thank you for the multiple leads we received during this search. Merry Christmas,” the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navy Federal Employees Surprise USO Northwest Florida With Recovery Donation
December 25, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union surprised USO Northwest Florida with an over $8,000 donation to support Hurricane Sally recovery efforts. The funds were raised by Navy Federal employees through a printer reduction program, and will especially help in rebuilding the USO location at NAS Pensacola which suffered severe damage from the storm.
Some 85% of Navy Federal’s team in Pensacola has been working from home since early March at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to do so today. The credit union’s Administrative Services team saw an opportunity, one that would cut back on desktop printers not being used and give back to the local military community.
“We’re always looking for ways to do what’s right by our members, our community and our employees,” said Keith Hoskins, senior vice president of Greater Pensacola for Navy Federal Credit Union. “This project did just that. In an effort to reduce the amount of desktop printers not being used on campus, we launched a project where employees were given the opportunity to purchase a printer at a discounted cost.”
In a matter of four weeks, all printers were sold and the project raised over $8,000 for USO Northwest Florida.
“We’re thrilled with the results of this project but even more so honored to be able to help USO Northwest Florida continue its mission to serve the military and their families,” said Hoskins. “The comfort they bring to our service members, whether it be serving meals over the holidays or welcoming new families as they make NAS Pensacola home, is truly unmatched.”
USO Northwest Florida serves 400,000 military service members per year through support and programs such as creating care packages for deployed loved ones, virtual family reading programs, networking groups for spouses, home cooked meals around the holidays and more.
“USO Northwest Florida is honored to serve those who serve this country day in and day out,” said Dana Cervantes, Executive Director of USO Northwest Florida. “We would not be able to do what we do without the support from our amazing community partners and dedicated volunteers. We are truly grateful for this wonderful donation from our friends at Navy Federal Credit Union and applaud them for their continuous support of our service members.”
Cantonment Woman Robbed At Gunpoint By Her Daughter And Daughter’s Boyfriend
December 24, 2020
A Cantonment woman found bleeding in a Cantonment street was robbed by her daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Autumn Lee Beede, 40, and Lloyd Christopher Lister, 50, were charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, false imprisonment, larceny of a credit card, petit theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 400 block of Forrest Street where they found an extremely upset female in the street bleeding from her wrists where she had been zip-tied.
The woman told deputies that she had been inside her residence with her daughter Beede when she stepped out to smoke. A few minutes later, Beede came back into the residence followed by a white male holding a handgun while wearing a hoodie, gloves and mask on his face, according to arrest report.
The victim said the male suspect put the gun to her head, covered her face, zip-tied her wrists together and tied her feet with an extension cord. She was placed in a bathroom, and the door was tied shut with an extension cord.
According to the ECSO, the victim stated the male said, “Don’t turn around or I will shoot you and ma’am, I don’t want to do that.”
The woman said she was in the bathroom for about 30 minutes before she could escape. She said that she believed the male suspect to be Lister, based upon his voice.
She discovered her 2019 Kia Sorento was missing, along with her phone and a wallet containing a debit card, cash and checkbook. She called her credit union and discovered there were already unsuccessful attempts to use the debit card at an ATM inside a Tom Thumb on East Nine Mile Road, and the card had been used for a $139.07 purchase at Winn Dixie on Nine Mile Road. In a follow-up investigation, deputies obtained video surveillance of Beede and Lister using the victim’s debit card at both locations.
The ECSO said the victim made positive identification of both suspects from the videos.
Beede remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $114,000, while Lister’s bond was set at $92,000.
Escambia County ‘Playing Offense’ As Local First Responders Get COVID-19 Vaccinations
December 24, 2020
First responders in Escambia County are finally “playing offense” in the fight against COVID-19 after the county received its first Moderna vaccine shipment.
Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore was the first employee to receive the Moderna vaccine Wednesday morning.
“This is the first time that we can go on the offensive. We’ve been playing defense since March, and now we have a tool in our toolbox to go on the offensive, which is a great feeling,” Gilmore said. Personally, getting vaccinated gives me a little more confidence. I will be a little more at ease going into places, and I think most of the first responders here today feel that way, and that’s why they are here.”
Escambia County EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and City of Pensacola firefighters who volunteered were also vaccinated Wednesday against COVID-19. The county will continue to offer the vaccine to first responders over the next couple of weeks.
“There is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine so when it does roll out to the community, I encourage everyone to do their research and do not get your information solely from social media. Go to CDC or the state of Florida websites or call your health department or local provider to determine if this right for you,” he added.
Long-term care residents in Escambia County are also being vaccinated by workers from CVS and Walgreens. Local hospitals received their vaccines for frontline healthcare workers earlier this week.
Pictured: Interim Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore (top) receives the first vaccine for Escambia County first responders Wednesday from paramedic Crystal Dirks. Pictured first below: ECFR Captain Craig Ammons vaccinates Battalion Chief Norm Robinson Second below: Escambia EMS supervisor Joey Kirman receives his vaccine dose from paramedic Ginger Given. Third below: Pensacola Fire Chief Ginny Cranor is vaccinated by Kirman. Pictured bottom: The first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Escambia County first responders. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Speaking In Pensacola, DeSantis Orders Age 65+ As Next Priority On Vaccine List
December 24, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Wednesday while in Pensacola that puts Floridians 65 and older next up on the vaccine list.
Under the order, providers will administer COVID-19 vaccine to long-term care facility residents and staff, health care personnel with direct patient contact and persons 65 years of age or older. Hospitals, however, also may vaccinate persons who they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
“Bear with us. Our priority is the elderly population,” he said. “We have enough vaccine. We’ll get it out. As we continue to get more and more, we’ll make it broader and broader.”
Speaking at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, DeSantis also announced that in addition to hospitals, county health departments will begin vaccinating individuals 65 and older in the coming weeks as supply permits. At this time, only a limited amount of COVID-19 vaccine has been received by county health department.
“When we first started this, I remember working with Sacred Heart to just try to get people to have a test in March and April,” he said. “It was like there were no tests available. Built up a big infrastructure on that.”
“We have been on defense for so long, we have poured tremendous hours, we have lost friends, we have lost patients,” said Jennifer Henry, director of clinical operations at Sacred Heart. “It’s been tough. But over the last 24 hours … we are on the offense. We’re fighting back. We are vaccinating.”
Over the past two weeks, more than 170 hospitals across the state have received doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, and as a part of their allocation, hospitals received enough doses to vaccinate their entire frontline health care staff and have vaccine remaining.
Holiday Hours For COVID-19 Testing, Including Rapid Test, In Cantonment And Brownsville
December 24, 2020
Community Heath of Northwest Florida has announced hours for COVID-19 testing in Cantonment and Brownsville during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
The testing sites at Cantonment Pediatrics and the Brownville Community Center will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The sites will be open regular hours all other weekdays, including New Year’s Eve.
Weekday hours are 9 a.m. until 1 p.m at Cantonment Pediatrics and 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center. Both locations offer drive-thru testing for individuals without symptoms. No pre-screening required, just show a photo identification and insurance card if insured.
Rapid testing is available at both locations for Escambia County residents that are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals seeking rapid testing must first call (850) 746-2684 to be pre-screened and scheduled.
For general questions about COVID-19 mobile testing, call Community Health of Northwest Florida’s main number at (850) 436-4630; do not call Cantonment Pediatrics or the Brownsville Community Center.
By The Numbers: Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increasing
December 24, 2020
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County is increasing.
As of Wednesday, there were 172 patients current hospitalized for COVID-19 in Escambia County.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations between the three local hospital systems are continuing to remain above 100 (now approaching 200), and we’d like to see those numbers go down,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Please be vigilant and take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often.”
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data source/graphic: City of Pensacola.
Manhunt For Stolen Vehicle Suspect In Cantonment
December 23, 2020
There was a manhunt in the area of Highway 29 in Cantonment Wednesday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle that had been reported stolen to Pensacola Police. The vehicle was found off the roadway in the area of Woodbury Circle and Highway 95A, not far from Highway 29.
A perimeter was established while deputies searched for a suspect that may have been in the area. There was no description of the suspect available and no word of any arrests.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck With Truck Hauling Vehicles
December 23, 2020
One person was injured when their vehicle was apparently rear-ended by a loaded truck hauling vehicles on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Extends Interim Town Manager’s Contract For Another Year
December 23, 2020
The Town of Century has extended their contract with interim Town Manager Vernon Prather by a year.
His employment agreement was in effect until December 1 and then went to a month to month basis. Monday night, the town council voted to extend it by a year, retroactive to December 1.
Council member Luis Gomez expressed concerns that he had approached Prather, Mayor Henry Hawkins and other town staffers for several months about the expiring contract, but no one would listen or place it on a council agenda.
“It seemed to me like it was blatant disregard,” Gomez said.
“My problem is you are looking over me,” he added. “I am part of this council.”
Each town council meeting includes a dedicated time for a council member comments, and council members can bring anything to the table for discussion or a vote during the meet. Gomez made no mention of Prather’s contract during council meetings during the last several months, until this past Monday night.
Most council members and Hawkins agreed that Prather had done an exceptional job over the past year, and council member Sandra McMurray Jackson recommended that his contract be extended by 90 days because a new mayor and two new council members take office in early January.
“We can’t afford to start anew right now. We have so many things hanging in the balance right now,” council member Brenda Spencer said. “Let’s just work together and get it done.”
Spencer made a motion to extended the contract by one year, with a performance review by the council at least every quarter.
Prather is paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week ($62,400 yearly). He has complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he is not be paid overtime but will us allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He also receives a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but does not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.
Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when Buz Eddy came on board in July 2019 following a scathing grand jury report on town operations.
Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager, while Eddy retired as Gulf Breeze city manager in 2017 after 25 years on the job. Prather holds wastewater and water certifications in addition his on the job experience.
The Century Charter Review Committee was working on a revised charter that might have created a mayor-town manager form of government. Their efforts to have a revised charter on the 2020 ballot were sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pictured: Century interim town manager Vernon Prather addresses the Century Town Council in December 2019. NorthEscambia.com file photos.