Just Six New COVID-19 Cases Reported Wednesday In Escambia County
May 13, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST UPDATE.
Six new COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
The Escambia County total now stands at 665. The Santa Rosa County remained the same at 179.
Of the 19 deaths in Escambia County, 14 have been long-term care facility residents. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, all outside long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 42,402 cases including 41,236 Florida residents. There have been 7,595 hospitalizations and 1,827 deaths.
- Total cases — 665 (+6 since Tuesday)
- Pensacola — 505
- Cantonment — 45
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 4
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 56*
- Deaths — 19
- Male — 238
- Female — 329
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 179 (+0 since Monday)
- Milton — 99
- Navarre — 33
- Gulf Breeze — 25
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 118
- Female — 59
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 42,402
- Florida residents — 41,236
- Deaths — 1,827
- Hospitalizations — 7,595*
*“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.
Bogia Road Crash Claims Life Of Molino Man; Driver Not Injured
May 13, 2020
A Molino man lost his life in a Wednesday morning crash on Bogia Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 32-year old driver from Molino lost control of his Nissan Altima as he headed west on Bogia Road just past Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church. The vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree about 11:10 a.m.
His passenger, a 33-year old male from Molino, was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The passenger, according to FHP, was not wearing a seat belt. The driver was properly restrained and suffered only minor injuries.
The McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
The Florida Highway Patrol has implemented a new policy. As of April 24, the FHP will no longer release the names of anyone involved in a traffic crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Century Prison Inmate Now In Medical Isolation, 128 Placed In Quarantine
May 13, 2020
An inmate at Century Correctional Institution has been place in medical isolation and 128 inmates are in medical quarantine, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Data released Wednesday afternoon shows that two inmates tested negative for COVID-19 and results are pending for one additional inmate. FDC data does not show any additional inmates have been tested.
Medical quarantine “refers to the number of inmates who have been separated because they may have had close contact with a person who has tested positive or exhibited symptoms of an infectious illness, to determine whether they develop symptoms. All 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 immediately engage the county health department,” the Department of Corrections said.
Medical isolation “refers to the number of inmates who have been separated because they are suspected or presenting symptoms of an infectious illness. To prevent contact with others and reduce the risk of transmission, these inmates are placed in medical isolation and are tested for COVID-19.”
One staff member at CCI tested positive for COVID-19 in March.
Pictured: Inmate medical facilities inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Sunny, Middle 80s With No Rain Chance
May 13, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Tennessee Man Jailed After High Speed Chase On I-10 That Injured Two Florida Troopers
May 13, 2020
A Tennessee man is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a high speed chase Tuesday that sent two Florida Highway Patrol troopers to the hospital after their patrol cars crashed into each other.
John Thomas Puckett, 46, of Dresden, Tennessee, was charged with grand theft auto, felony fleeing and eluding, willful and wanton reckless driving, DUI property damage (drugs), DUI seriously bodily injury (drugs) and battery on an emergency medical care provider. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
It happened near the I-10 COVID-19 checkpoint at the eastbound weigh station just inside Florida. At least one of the troopers had to be extricated from his vehicle by firefighters. Both troopers were seriously injured and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where they are now listed in stable condition. One of the troopers was released Tuesday and the second was held overnight for observation.
FHP was notified by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency that they where chasing a stolen Chevrolet pickup truck on I-10 and the pursuit was entering Florida. The chase quickly approached the COVID-19 checkpoint at the I-10 weigh station just inside Florida. Traffic at the checkpoint was allowed to proceed without stopping to minimize the risk to civilians the pursuit approached.
As a FHP sergeant attempted to join the chase, he collided with another trooper, FHP Lt. Robert Cannon said.
The stolen pickup continued eastbound and collided into the rear of a tractor-trailer near the Florida Welcome Center on I-10. Puckett attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment before being released and booked into jail.
The driver of the tractor-trailer truck was not reported to be injured.
Cannon said the FHP pursuit policy takes into account the “totality of the circumstances” including road and traffic conditions as well as the offense. Troopers can pursue for known felonies, reckless driving, and impaired drivers, but they are required to call off the pursuit if conditions outweigh the dangers.
Cannon said Tuesday’s incident met the FHP criteria for an allowable pursuit.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Local Students Named National Merit $2,500 Scholarship Winners
May 13, 2020
Three Escambia County high school students have been named National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners.
They are:
- Anna Huynh of Cantonment is a student at Pensacola High School. She is considering a career in medical research.
- John P. Nusbaum of Pensacola is a student at Pensacola Catholic High School. He is considering a career in biomedical engineering.
- Jett H. Zhang of Pensacola is a student at Pensacola High School and is considering a career in activism.
The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Finalists in each state were judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
Escambia County Report Cards Won’t Be Mailed This Year; Grades Will Be Online
May 13, 2020
The Escambia County School District has announced that this year’s report cards will be available online and not mailed automatically.
Students will be completing assignments through the last day of school, Friday, May 22. Parents with Focus portal accounts will be able to view student grades as they are entered during the last week of school, and finalized for each class or subject area. Final report cards will be posted to Focus by June 3.
Parents unable to access final grades and report cards electronically should contact their child’s school and request a printed copy, which can be mailed if necessary.
“Many parents access Focus by having their student sign in. If parents and guardians will establish their own account and password, they can learn about the personalized settings available to them,” explained Escambia School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “The Parent Portal account allows access to their student’s attendance, assignments and grades. Parents can also choose to receive alerts, as well as send secure messages to their student’s instructors.”
The parent portal includes new instructional videos on how to use the site. For more information or to access Focus, click here.
Beulah, Santa Rosa Wildfires Now 95% Contained
May 13, 2020
The Hurst Hammock Fire in Beulah and the 5 Mile Swamp Fire in Santa Rosa County are now both 95% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The Hurst Hammock fire burned 1,191 acres. It was caused by humans, not a caused by nature.
The 5 Mile Swamp Fire burned through 2,215 acres. It destroyed 27 buildings, including 14 homes, and did an estimated $1.9 million in damage.
Century Increasing This Year’s Budget By Over $300K With Anticipated Grant, Special Revenue Funds
May 13, 2020
The Town of Century is amending their current budget to reflect an increase of more than $300,000.
The town’s budget for the current fiscal year that began October 1 is $3,637,645, and is being updated to $3,946,623, according to accountant Robert Hudson.
The $309,278 increase (nearly 9%) comes from an anticipated grant of about $110,000 for a sewer project, a transfer of $79,783 from special revenue and anticipated savings in a few budget categories.
Four members of the town council took part in a teleconference budget workshop Monday evening to discuss the changes. Councilman James Smith did not attend.
The council must advertise the budget changes and hold public meetings before the changes can be finalized.
Update: Missing 13-Year Old Girl Found Safe
May 12, 2020
****UPDATE – THIS MISSING GIRL HAS BEEN FOUND SAFE***
Previous story:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeing help to locate a missing 13-year old girl.
Christina Elizabeth Chappell was last seen Tuesday about 2:30 p.m. in the 6800 block of White Oak Drive between East Burgess Road and Hancock Lane. She was wearing a dark pink t-shirt and black shorts, and may be riding a white and teal bicycle.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to the call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.