Century Mayor, Three Council Seats Will Be On The Ballot. Qualification Deadline Is Noon Friday.
June 11, 2020
There are three Century Town Council seats and the mayor’s job on ballot this year, and less than a day remains for anyone wishing to qualify to run for one of the offices.
Two candidates — incumbent Mayor Henry Hawkins and former council member Ben Boutwell — have qualified to run for mayor. The part-time job pays $10,131.98 per year and has a qualifying fee of $126.32.
Incumbents Ann Brooks and Luis Gomez, Jr. have qualified to run for their seats on the council.
Shelisa Mccall has prefiled, but not yet qualified as of noon Thursday, to run for the Seat 3 council position. It was left vacant by the resignation of Boutwell on Monday so that he could run for mayor. There is a $52.15 fee to qualify for the position that pays $3,714.92 per year.
Candidates must qualify at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor by a noon Friday deadline.
The four year terms begin on Monday, January 4, 2021.
Escambia COVID-19 Deaths Increase To 37 As 29 New Cases Are Reported Thursday
June 11, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
The number of COVID-19 deaths increased to 37 with 29 new cases, according to the Thursday report from the Florida Department of Health.
The death was an 81-year old female with unknown contact with another case.
The number of cases in Escambia County is now 944, and Santa Rosa County increased by nine to 271.
Of the 37 deaths in Escambia County, 28 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 69,069 cases including 67,456 Florida residents. There have been 11,571 hospitalizations* and 2,848 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 944 (+29 since Wednesday)
- Pensacola — 667
- Cantonment — 55
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid — 1
- Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 12
- Century — 3
- Hospitalizations: 66*
- Deaths — 37
- Male — 316
- Female — 434
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 273 (+9 since Wednesday)
- Milton — 165
- Navarre — 43
- Gulf Breeze — 33
- Pace — 18
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 26*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 186
- Female — 83
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 69,069
- Florida residents — 67,456
- Deaths — 2,848
- Hospitalizations — 11,571*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
McDavid Man Charged With Shooting At A Man He Thought Was Trespassing
June 11, 2020
A McDavid man was arrested after allegedly firing a rifle at a man he believed had trespassed on his property.
Samuel Oscar Macks, 56, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for firing at the man and discharging a firearm in public by shooting beside a county road and close to homes.
Macks told deputies he heard a noise near a shed on his property and saw a vehicle on the side of the road. He followed the vehicle as it drove away and caught up with it near the end of Elsie Davis Road. He found a man sitting on an ATV and confronted him about attempting to enter his property as he believed he had done in the past, according to an arrest report.
The victim told deputies he was sitting near his residence adding oil to his ATV when Macks approached him and accused him of stealing from his property. The victim said Macks retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from his car, threatened him and fired several shots. A witness reported hearing five shots.
It was noted in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report that the ATV was leaking oil in the road consistent with the victim’s statement. When Mack’s vehicle was searched, deputies found a case of 61 Remington .22 caliber rounds in the passenger seat and a single .22 caliber long round on the driver’s seat, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Macks’ first statement to deputies was redacted from the arrest report, but it states he later changed his statement to say he had returned to his residence and was no where near the victim.
Visitors Barred From Florida Prisons Until At Least June 28
June 11, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic visitation suspension at Florida prisons has been extended until at least June 28, the Florida Department of Corrections announced Wednesday.
“The decision to reinstate the normal visitation schedule will be evaluated in consultation,” the FDC said.
Inmates will continue to have access to their loved ones through mail, phone calls and video visitation. Legal visits will not be impacted, although attorneys are encouraged to consult with their clients via phone, email or mail during this time.
Pensacola Beach Air Show Will Have New Four-Day Format
June 11, 2020
The Pensacola Beach Air Show will go on this year in a new four-day format July 8-11.
After multiple meetings between the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) staff and air show performers, the staff proposes the SRIA continue planning the 2020 Pensacola Beach Air Show in July.
The air show program this year is built around social distancing in observance of the CDC recommendations for the COVID-19 virus.
The program will be a four-day event, and each day will have similar flight maneuvers. This expanded schedule will give the public four different opportunities to view the performances at least once.
The event’s footprint has been expanded substantially and there will be no center point in this year’s performance, to comply with CDC recommendations.
Aerial displays along the beach are scheduled to begin before noon each day.
SRIA staff and performers, including the Blue Angels, are still refining exact times and geographical locations that will include both Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.
SRSO: Jay Woman Harassed Air Force Recruiter, Claimed To Be ISIS Terrorist
June 11, 2020
A Jay woman allegedly made dozens of harassing phone calls to an U.S. Air Force Recruiter, making threats and claiming to be a terrorist and a member of ISIS.
Margarette Ann Diamond, 24, was charged with harassing communication and was released on a $500 bond.
Diamond called the recruiter’s office 38 times and left several “vulgar” and “belittling” messages, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office report, along with a message that stated, “I’m a terrorist now”. Some of the voicemail messages included the words “kill” and “die”, the report states.
According to a U.S. Air Force investigator, Diamond left additional voice mails that continued to belittle the recruiter and stated, “You’re [expletive] going to die”.
The phone number used in the messages was positively linked to Diamond, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Middle 60s Tonight For North Escambia
June 11, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Calm wind.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
Escambia County Judge Appointed To Florida’s First Circuit Court
June 11, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed local judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz to the First Circuit Court.
Frydrychowicz, of Pensacola, has been an Escambia County Judge since 2014. She previously served as an assistant state attorney in the First Circuit. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the University of Florida College of Law.
Frydrychowiz fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael Allen.
CareerSource Escarosa Names New CEO
June 11, 2020
Marcus L. McBride, PhD has been name the new CEO of CareerSource Escarosa.
“Many years ago, I had an opportunity to work with families who faced an array of problems largely due to socioeconomic variables,”McBride said. “It was during that time when I developed a passion for helping others develop further, earn a livable wage, and live their best life. I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to serve the residents and businesses in Northwest Florida.”
McBride is joining CareerSource Escarosa with a diverse background in the non-profit sector, most recently serving as the director of education and training for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, a $38
million non-profit agency that operates workforce development and career centers for individuals across 50 counties in Georgia and Alabama. Previously, he served as the vice president of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley.
He will assume full leadership of CareerSource Escarosa on June 29.
McBride is replacing the retiring Sheryl Rehberg, who joined CareerSource Escarosa in 2017.
Local Students Selected To Receive Coveted State FFA Degree
June 11, 2020
Fifteen Escambia and Santa Rosa County FFA members have been selected to receive the coveted State FFA Degree.
The State FFA Degree is the highest honor bestowed upon any regular member of the Florida FFA Association. Each applicant will be recognized during the 2020 Florida FFA Celebration.
Local 2020 State FFA Degree recipients are:
Tate High School
- Grant Robert Gill
- Myles Dillan Harrelson
- Raven Hollis
- Olivia Helen Little
- Madison Elizabeth Lucio
- Gabriel Joseph Pfeuffer-Ferguson
- Ronnie Alexander Plenkers
- Hannah Lee Rogers
- Lindsay Lavelle Von Stein
- Zoe Sunshine Williams
West Florida High School
- Connor Ballard
- Tamara Barnes
- Rainy Ellis
Jay High School
- Logan Ryan Cooley
- Travis Stewart Godwin
The 2020 Florida FFA Celebration will be held June 23-26 online only.