Century Town Hall Remains Closed. Here Are The Days Utility Payments Can Be Made By Phone.
August 10, 2020
The Century town hall remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there area few upcoming dates when utility payments can be made over the phone.
Drive-thru service will not be available in the near future. Utility payments can be made 24/7 in a secure drop box next to the drive-thru window. Only checks or money orders are accepted in the drop box, not cash.
Credit card payments can be made by phone on August 11, August 14 and August 19. Century does not accept payments online.
For more information or further assistance call (850) 256-3208 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. or email kgodwin@centuryflorida.us or hhawkins@centuryflorida.us.
COVID-19 Cases Explode To Nearly 600 In Just Days At Century Prison
August 9, 2020
The number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Century Correctional Institution has exploded in the past few days.
As of Sunday, there were 595 positive inmates with 371 inmates waiting for their test results and another 563 inmates that tested negative, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. One week ago, there were six positive inmates.
There are six inmates being held in medical isolation and 643 in medical quarantine. There have not been any coronavirus deaths reported at Century Correctional Institution.
There have also been 25 staff members that have tested positive at the Century prison as of Sunday.
Inmates in medical quarantine are monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice a day for signs of fever. If an inmate begins experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, FDC will place the inmate in medical isolation and a COVID-19 test will be administered.
(This story was updated with the latest information at 11 a.m. Sunday.)
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Four New Escambia County Fire Trucks Will Soon Be Ready For Service
August 9, 2020
Escambia Fire Rescue is getting closer to putting four new fire engines into service.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported in early July, the four 2019 Pierce Enforcer fire engines will replacing aging trucks in Molino, Ensley, Myrtle Grove and Pleasant Grove.
The new “Engine 18″ has been delivered to the Molino Fire Station and is undergoing preparations to begin answering calls. It will replace a 2003 model year front line apparatus.
A new rescue truck will replace the current 2011 model front line engine assigned to Ensley Fire Station. A squad engine will replace a 2002 model year apparatus rescue engine currently assigned to Pleasant Grove Fire Station, and a standard engine will replace the current 2004 model rescue engine apparatus assigned to Myrtle Grove Fire Station.
Each truck features Cummins L9 450 horsepower engine, a 750-gallon tank, a Hale 1500-gallon per minute pump, a deck gun and seating for five personnel. The rear-forward facing crew cab seats, and an EMS compartment above each front wheel. The trucks also feature cargo netting with a single pull lanyard that secures the EMS compartments, a coated interior, vinyl seats, and headliner help with cab decontamination. The vertical exhaust keeps heat and emissions away from firefighters working around the apparatus.
In addition to providing dependable, state-of-the-art equipment, having new engines under warranty will also decrease repair and maintenance costs which have increased significantly due to the aging fleet, the county said when the purchase was approved unanimously by the Escambia County Commission about a year ago.
The four new vehicles were purchased for a total of $2,036,267 using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Pictured: The new fire engine at the Molino Fire Station. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Over 20,000 Ballots Already Cast In Escambia County
August 9, 2020
Over 20,000 ballots have already been cast for this year’s primary election in Escambia County.
On the first day of early voting, there were 1,712 ballots cast at nine locations around the county. Another 18,599 vote by mail have been returned for total of 20,312 ballots cast as of Saturday. That’s an 11.62% voter turnout.
Saturday was the deadline to request a mail ballot.
Early voting will continue until next Saturday, August 15 at the following locations:
Each location will be open from from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the exception of the Supervisor of Elections Office which will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- University of West Florida Conference Center, Building 22, University Parkway
- Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
Primary election day is Tuesday, August 18.
For more information, visit EscambiaVotes.com.
These Are This Week’s State Road Construction Slowdown Spots
August 9, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Aug 9:
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- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and pavement operations.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Aug 9:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
- · U.S. 90 Pavement Marking Operations from Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) to the Okaloosa County Line-Motorists can expect minor delays Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, Aug. 27 as slow-moving vehicles are used to perform pavement marking operations.
Pictured: Construction along Nine Mile Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Community Mourns Loss Of Longtime Restaurant Owner ‘Ms. Fran’
August 9, 2020
Longtime restaurant owner Frances E. Hampton, 79, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her children on August 7 at her home in McDavid after a courageous battle with cancer.
“Ms. Fran” made her life owning and operating several restaurants, including including Cagle’s Restaurant, Panhandle, Fran’s Country Inn, Fran’s Diner, and Fran’s Country Grill. At the time of her retirement in 2015, Hampton was believed to be the longest running restaurant owner in Escambia County.
After retirement, she turned to other passions including raising racing thoroughbreds, tending to flower gardens on her farm and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite pastime was feeding the multitude of birds that called her property home.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 12 from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with the funeral service to follow at 3:30 p.m.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Santa Rosa Man Charged With Murder After Body Is Found In His Residence
August 8, 2020
A Santa Rosa County man is charged with murder after a dead body was found in his home.
Jerry Geisler Odum, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail Friday night without bond on a charge of first degree premeditated murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to 5646 Vendome Court in Milton for a welfare check. Soon after their arrival, deputies made contact with Odum and a body was found inside the residence. He was taken into custody after being questioned by SRSO Major Crimes detectives.
Further details have not been released as deputies work to make next of kin notification and continue their investigation.
Two Teen Pedestrians Hit By Pickup On Highway 95A; One Seriously Injured
August 8, 2020
Two teen pedestrians were injured when they were struck by a pickup truck on Highway 95A early Saturday morning.
A Ford F150 driven by a 20-year old Cantonment man was traveling south on Highway 95A approaching Gateway Lane at 1:16 a.m. Two teen boys, ages 14 and 15, were walking southbound on the shoulder of Highway 95A, according to the Florida Highway Patrol when they were struck.
The 15-year male was seriously injured, while the 14-year old suffered minor injuries. The driver of the pickup and his 18-year old female passenger from Cantonment were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation into exactly how the crash occurred.
The FHP no longer releases the names of individuals involved in traffic crashes.
File photo.
Century COVID-19 Cases Up 745% In Three Days To 596. This Is Why.
August 8, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Century zip code were up 745% in just three days this week.
On Wednesday, the number of cases was at 80. By Saturday, the Century zip code reported 596 confirmed positive cases.
The reason? An additional 406 inmates were diagnosed COVID-19 positive at Century Correctional Institution for a total of 506 positive. Without inmates, the number of cases in Century was 90.
There have also been 25 CCI staff members that have tested positive, but their cases are recorded in the zip code of their residence.
An additional 528 inmates at the Century prison are waiting for the results of their COVID-19 tests. The prison has 643 inmates in medical quarantine and two in medical isolation on Saturday.
Ascension Sacred Heart Expands COVID-19 Testing In Escambia, Santa Rosa
August 8, 2020
Ascension Sacred Heart is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 testing at its drive-thru sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to include all persons who want a nasal swab test, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
Previously, the mobile clinics operated by Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart limited testing only to people who reported having symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath.
The expanded scope of testing will apply to the drive-thru sites at:
Milton Community Center, 5629 Byrom St., which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community Life Church at Tiger Point, 4115 Soundside Drive in Gulf Breeze, which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Ascension Medical Group site off Bayou Boulevard, Pensacola, which is open Monday through Friday. That drive-thru operation began March 16 and has tested more than 24,000 people.
The drive-thru clinics at Tiger Point and Milton started this week thanks to federal funds that Santa Rosa County allocated for additional testing locations in the county. The sites are open to any Santa Rosa County residents, regardless of symptoms or insurance status. Community Health Northwest Florida will partner Sacred Heart in staffing the testing locations.
Each of the three sites in Pensacola and Santa Rosa can provide up to 300 nasal swab tests per day with lab results back within 48 hours. All individuals who want to be tested must call the Ascension Sacred Heart Screening Call Center at (850) 746-2684 in advance.
“As our community prepares to open schools and with residents trying to get back to work after an exposure to the virus or recovery from the virus, we saw the need to expand testing and get results quickly to individuals with and without symptoms,” said Justin Labrato, chief operating officer of Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. “The swab tests will be sent to our hospital laboratory which currently has the equipment and supplies to analyze a larger volume of tests and provide results within 48 hours. We’re pleased to be able to expand testing and help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our area.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.