Rapid COVID-19 Testing In Escambia Results In 10.7% Positive. Here’s How To Get Tested.
October 20, 2020
Partnering with Escambia County on rapid COVID-19 testing, Community Health Northwest Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart have now provided accelerated testing to Escambia County residents for two weeks.
In the first 24 days of rapid test administration, a total of 662 rapid tests were performed, with 71 positive for COVID-19, a positivity rate of 10.7%.
“On behalf of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, we are very pleased that we could assist our partners in bringing rapid testing to the residents of Escambia County,” said Steven Barry, Chairman and District 5 Commissioner. “Rapid testing is extremely beneficial because it gives someone infected with COVID-19 the information they need to start isolating and prevent community spread almost immediately instead of having to wait days for the information.”
Currently, rapid testing is available to Escambia County residents who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals wishing to be tested are required to be prescreened by calling the Ascension Sacred Heart COVID-19 Call Center at 850-746-2684. Call Center personnel then schedule appointments at the most convenient testing site for the patient.
The test is available to residents of Escambia County who are three months of age or older. Testing is provided at no cost to the patient, thanks in part to a grant provided by Escambia County to its partners as part of the CARES Act. The Abbott rapid test is a molecular nasal swab that detects COVID-19 in 15 minutes or less.
Rapid testing is available at three drive-through sites in Escambia County from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Community Health Northwest Florida operates sites at Brownsville Community Center at 3200 W. Desoto St. and Cantonment Pediatrics, 470 S. Highway 29 in Cantonment. Ascension Sacred Heart provides rapid testing at their drive-through COVID-19 testing site at 5192 Bayou Blvd.
Community Health Northwest Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart are planning to expand the rapid test program to include longer testing hours per day and to initiate weekend testing. Community Health Northwest Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart are also planning to expand the program to allow individuals who have not been prescreened the opportunity to test.
Spin-Tacular Basketball Show – As Seen On America’s Got Talent – Coming To Molino Wednesday
October 20, 2020
Champion basketball handler Bruce Crevier and his family will bring their Champions Forever Spin-Tacular Basketball Show to Molino Wednesday night.
The free show for all ages will be at Highland Baptist Church from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Attendees are encourage to bring a lawn chair of blanket, and Kona Ice and the Chick-fil-A food truck will be there.
The Creviers are a family of 12 that were finalists on America’s Got Talent. They have traveled all over the world to 35 countries performing and sharing a message of hope. Featured in Sports Illustrated, Bruce is four-time Guinness World Record holder for basketball spinning, having spun as many as 21 basketballs at one time. he also holds the endurance world record for spinning one basketball for the longest time without a break — 22 hours and 12 minutes.
They have performed for NBA halftime shows and appeared on numerous television shows. Bruce and his wife Diane has 12 children that take part in the show.
DEA: Major Source Of Cocaine Supply To Pensacola Is ‘Knocked Out’
October 20, 2020
A major source of the cocaine supply into Pensacola and Northwest Florida has been “knocked out”, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Gustavo Adolfo Pareja, 26, of Cali, Colombia, was extradited to Pensacola by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida after an extensive DEA investigation.
Pareja is charged with two federal drug trafficking conspiracy charges involving large amounts of cocaine that are alleged to have been imported into northern Florida.
“An apparent source of supply for cocaine into Pensacola has been knocked out,” said DEA Miami Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis. “Pareja is alleged to have participated in a highly brazen criminal scheme to open a pipeline into Northern Florida for illicit distribution that was shut down. Now, like others he conspired with, he will face serious federal narcotics trafficking charges as a result of his actions.”
Allegedly between January and August 2018, in both Northwest Florida and Colombia, former Master Sergeant Daniel Gould of the United States Army and Henry Royer, formerly of the United States Army and Army National Guard, conspired to distribute large amounts of cocaine.
Pareja is alleged to be the source of supply of the cocaine in Bogota, Colombia.
The conspiracy is alleged to have begun in early 2018 when Gould and Royer initially imported 10 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Royer traveled to Colombia with U.S. currency to use as payment. Gould placed the cocaine in a gutted punching bag and had the package transported to Bogota to be placed on a United States military aircraft. A few days later, the cocaine-filled punching bag arrived at Duke Field, which is an auxiliary airfield of Eglin Air Force Base. Gould and Royer distributed the 10 kilograms of cocaine in Northwest Florida.
Gould and Royer then reinvested the money from the first load of cocaine into a second load of 40 kilograms of cocaine. Gould placed approximately $65,000 in cash on a United States military cargo aircraft destined for Colombia as funds for the next purchase. In early August 2018, Gould and Royer returned to Colombia and provided money for the 40 kilograms to Pareja, their alleged cocaine supplier.
Gould and Royer received the cocaine, loaded the 40 kilograms into two gutted punching bags, and coordinated transport to the embassy before flying back to the United States. Suspicion was aroused at the embassy when packages were x-rayed, revealing cocaine within gutted out punching bags.
On August 13, 2018, when the cocaine was seized at the embassy, Gould had already returned home and was awaiting its arrival. The 40 kilograms of cocaine would have an estimated value in excess of $1 million in the Northern District of Florida. Gould and Royer have pled guilty to their involvement in the criminal activity and are serving sentences in federal prison.
If convicted, Pareja faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in federal prison. A trial date will be set before Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola.
Manufacturing And Skilled Trades Virtual Job Fair Is Thursday. Here’s The List Of Employers Participating.
October 20, 2020
CareerSource Escarosa along with its community partners will host the 2020 Manufacturing & Skilled Trades Virtual Job Fair on Thursday, October 22 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
This no-cost event is open to the public. Job-seekers will have the opportunity to network with over 30 employers seeking individuals to fill their open positions.
Employers will be recruiting for positions in manufacturing, production, construction, and skilled trades.
Job seekers will need to be registered on EmployFlorida, have a current resume, and register by clicking or tapping here prior to the event.
Those in need of computer access or assistance may visit a CareerSource Escarosa Job Center:
- Escambia County: 6913 N. 9th Ave. Pensacola (850-607-8748)
- Santa Rosa County: 5725 US-90 Milton (850-983-5325)
Participating employers include:
- Amazon
- Bill Salter Advertising Inc.
- BlueWind Technology
- CareerSource Escarosa
- Eastburn Woodworks
- ECUA
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Corrections Department
- ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Pensacola Plant
- Florida Department of Corrections Santa Rosa CI
- FloridaWest
- Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport
- LaborMAX Staffing
- LandrumHR
- Manpower, Inc.
- Peaden Air Conditioning
- Plumbing & Electrical
- Pegasus Labs
- Pensacola State College
- SH Enterprises Family of Companies (Meyer Vacation Rentals, Starr Textile Services)
- TEL Staffing
Employers wishing to participate will need to register here.
Boat Ramp Road, Fischer Landing Closed On Wednesday
October 20, 2020
Boat Ramp Road in Century will be closed on Wednesday for maintenance, according to a notice from the town. The road closure will also close Fischer Landing on the Escambia River. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
One Fatality In Crash At Highway 29 And Neal Road
October 19, 2020
One person lost their life in a two vehicle crash at Highway 29 at Neal Road in Cantonment Monday afternoon.
The adult female driver of a Pontiac Vibe was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The crash happened about 4:10 p.m., and traffic delays continued in the area for several hours.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation and has not released any additional information.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
All Escambia County FEMA Registration Centers Move To New Locations Due To Early Voting
October 19, 2020
The FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Centers in Escambia County have moved due to early voting.
The disaster assistance registration centers will now be located at:
- Escambia County Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway
- Marie K. Young Community Center, 6405 Wagner Road
- Lexington Terrace Community Center, 700 S. Old Corry Field Road, Pensacola
The centers are open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and are staffed with FEMA personnel who can assist with registration and answer questions about disaster-assistance programs.
The previous locations of the centers were all at sites that opened Monday for early voting.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
ECUA Recycling Back Up And Running With Normal Curbside Collections
October 19, 2020
After restarting last week for the first time since Hurricane Sally, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is back in the recycling business.
The ECUA recycling program was halted temporarily after Hurricane Sally caused about $800,000 in damage to the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at the Perdido Landfill.
ECUA also returned to collecting yard trash and bulk waste last week — but only if the items were not debris from Hurricane Sally. Hurricane debris is being collected by FEMA contractors in Escambia County, totally separate from the services provided by ECUA.
Pictured: Hurricane Sally damage to the ECUA Material Recycling Facility at the Perdido Landfill. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA: Gas Prices Expected To Decline This Week
October 19, 2020
Florida gas prices decline an average of seven cents last week.
Earlier this month, gas prices averaged around $2.20 per gallon. Now, Florida drivers are paying an average price of $2.13. The state average is nearly 4 cents less than a week ago, and 36 cents less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the price per gallon Sunday night hovered around $2.12 on average. In Cantonment, a low of $2.03 could be found at a couple of stations, while the lowest price to be found in Pensacola as $1.91.
“Pump prices should tick even lower this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Many Florida drivers began to see lower prices over the weekend. Considering the current level of wholesale prices, it’s likely the state average will sink to around $2.05 per gallon in the near future.”
Escambia Deputies Arrest Man Wanted For Sexual Battery, Child Abuse
October 19, 2020
UPDATE: THIS SUSPECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man wanted for several felony charges.
Cornell Demidrious Smith, 42, is wanted for sexual battery, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, child abuse, battery and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
He maybe driving a grey 2017 Nissan Sentra with Florida tag number GSIS18.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.