Search Underway For Missing, Endangered Woman Last Seen At West Florida Hospital
April 8, 2020
UPDATE: Louella Charlene Powell has been safely located, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities are searching for a missing and endangered adult.
Escambia Search and Rescue was searching for 54-year old Louella Charlene Powell Wednesday afternoon in the area of University Parkway and Nine Mile Road.
She was last seen leaving West Florida Hospital on foot on April 7 about 5:30 p.m. She was wearing a long purple jacket, black capri pants and black shoes. She is 5′3″, 160 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, she may be in the need of medical attention.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Widespread Spectrum Internet Outage Reported (Updated)
April 8, 2020
UPDATE: Many readers reported their internet service returned between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com has received reports of a widespread Spectrum internet outage.
Readers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and Escambia and Baldwin County in Alabama are reporting they lost internet service mid-morning.
The problem is “damage to a network partner’s fiber-optic cable impacted Spectrum services for some customers in the Panhandle. We are working with them to restore services as quickly as possible and we’re sorry for any inconvenience this caused our customers,” Spectrum Senior Director of Regional Communications South Patti Michel told NorthEscambia.com.
The outage impacted both business and residential customers, including numerous teachers and students taking part in virtual school instruction.
Escambia COVID-19 Cases In Long-term Care Facilities Double; Overall Case Count Increases; Statewide Now More Than 300 Dead
April 8, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. CLICK FOR AN UPDATE>
The number of coronavirus cases in in residents or staff of long-term care facilities in Escambia County doubled on Wednesday to 16, as the overall number of cases increased by a dozen as Florida’s death toll surpassed 300.
There have been two deaths in Escambia County and two deaths in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Department of Health reports 180 total COVID cases in Escambia County. Of those, 164 are local residents. The number of cases in Santa Rosa County increased to 69.
Statewide, there were 15,456 cases including 15,003 Florida residents. There have been 1,955 hospitalizations and 309 deaths.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 180 (+12 since Monday)
- Pensacola — 123
- Cantonment — 23
- Bellview — 5
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 2
- Molino – 1
- Century — 1
- Residents: 164
- Nonresidents — 16
- Hospitalizations: 15
- Deaths — 2
- Men — 90
- Women — 88
- Youngest: 2
- Oldest: 95
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 69 (+3 since Tuesday)
- Milton — 26
- Navarre — 19
- Gulf Breeze — 12
- Pace — 7
- Jay — 1
- Residents: 48
- Nonresidents — 0
- Hospitalizations — 12
- Deaths — 2
- Men — 42
- Women — 27
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 84
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 15,456
- Florida residents — 15,003
- Non-Florida residents — 453
- Deaths — 309
- Hospitalized — 1,955
Cantonment Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site Adds Third Day To Weekly Schedule
April 8, 2020
The Cantonment drive-through testing site will now be operational Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Cantonment is adding Mondays as a third operational day each week.
The Community Health Northwest Florida site will now be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cantonment Pediatrics at 470 South Highway 29. It is operated as a partnership between Community Health Northwest Florida, Ascension Sacred Heart and Escambia County.
COVID-19 testing is open to everyone in the community who meets the pre-screening criteria, both children and adults. Testing is provided at no cost to patients. For those persons with health insurance, it will cover the full cost of screening. For those with no health insurance, there is no charge for this test. Once the testing is completed, patients will be instructed to go home and self-isolate, or keep away from other people (even family members) until results of the COVID-19 test are known.
All patients are required to be prescreened before arriving at the drive-thru testing center in Cantonment or other Sacred Heart locations by calling the Ascension Sacred Heart COVID-19 Pre-Screening Call Center at (850) 746-2684. Those who have not been prescreened over the phone will not be provided access to the drive-through test center. Ascension Sacred Heart’s Pre-Screening Call Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Cantonment drive-thru testing center is located at the north end of the old Winn Dixie shopping center that houses the pediatric practice. Suspected COVID-19 patients should remain in their vehicle and not enter the pediatric practice.
There were 21 previously confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cantonment as of Tuesday night.
Escambia Students Were Scheduled To Have Friday Off From Virtual School. Not Anymore.
April 8, 2020
Escambia County students were scheduled to have a day off on Friday, but now it will be a day in virtual class.
Escambia Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said that due to a district calendar change for this Friday, April 10, all instructors and students will continue classwork assigned in accordance with the district’s Instructional Continuity Plan.
Before the unexpected change in normal school operations due to the COVID-19 virus, April 10 was listed on the district’s calendar as a non-student day. This was to allow for a day of meetings and professional development for all ECSD instructional staff. Following the Safer at Home Order by Gov. Ron DeSantis, student instruction will continue to be delivered online. Questions about specific assignments should be directed to students’ instructors.
Superintendent Thomas stated, “As we navigate this disruption to work and school schedules, flexibility and cooperation will be fundamental to student progress. Patience will be greatly appreciated while we strive to maintain continuous student engagement in their learning.”
Hours of operation for the Escambia County School District will continue to be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through May 1. Employees will follow their work schedule as already defined by their immediate supervisor.
Scattered Showers Possible Tonight
April 8, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds, with a low around 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Low around 62. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 80. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Century To Pay $10K to Settle Bad Debt Lawsuit
April 8, 2020
The Town of Century will pay up $10,000 to settle a bad debt lawsuit against them by a Georgia consulting company.
In 2008, City Services, Inc. (CSI) entered into a contract with the town to provide consulting, maintenance and repair services to the town’s natural gas system. The town contracted with the company for an annual natural gas leak survey, pipeline evaluations, testing, rate reviews and other services. Without a timely termination notice, the agreement renewed annually.
According to a City Services bill dated January 8, 2020, the town fell behind on their $1,200 per month bill in October 2018 and last made a payment in December 2018. The bill has continued accrue and with finance charges and stood at $19,287.19 when City Services filed suit.
Monday night, the town council agreed to pay $10,000 to settle the case at the recommendation of town attorney Matt Dannheisser.
“Our case was not very good,” Interim City Manager Vernon Prather said. He told the council that funds were available to pay the settlement and “we will find it in the budget”, but he did not specify where exactly the town would get the money.
Nine Mile Road To Be Reduced To One Lane At Navy Federal Overnight
April 8, 2020
Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane between Heritage Oak Drive and Navy Federal Way from 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 to 6 a.m. Thursday, April 9 as crews install traffic delineators. Traffic flaggers will be available to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Escambia (AL) Hospitals Report Five Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 199 Administered Tests
April 8, 2020
Five people tested at the two hospitals in Escambia County, Alabama, are confirmed positive for COVID-19, according to the Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority, which oversees Atmore Community Hospital and D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
They have administered a total of 199 tests, making the positive rate 2.5%, considerably less than the Alabama statewide positive rate of 14.7%.
Data released Tuesday evening shows there have been 126 total specimens collected at Atmore Community Hospital with four positives, 97 negatives and 24 awaiting results.
At D.W. McMillan Hospital, there have been 73 total tests with one positive, 61 negatives and 11 pending results.
The Alabama Department of Public Health was reporting three confirmed COVID-19 cases and 84 total tests in Escambia County as of Tuesday night. The difference between the health department’s total and the hospitals’ totals can be attributed to timing of the data releases. Also, the health department will officially record a case in the patient’s county of residence.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ECUA May Be A Little Late On Your Sanitation Collection. Here’s Why And When They Will Catch Up.
April 8, 2020
Did ECUA miss your pick up?
Not to worry, ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said. She said that this time of year, yard waste levels are extraordinarily heavy as residents take advantage of longer days and seasonable weather to spruce up their yards, especially on weekends. And COVID-19 is indirectly adding to the delay.
“This year, with so many residents working from home and students out of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also experiencing very high levels of household garbage, recyclables, and bulk waste items. These elevated levels mean our trucks fill up faster and need to make more trips to the landfill, taking more time to complete their route,” Bowers said.
Collections on some routes are currently running approximately half-a-day behind schedule.
“If any waste collections are missed, it is likely that the truck did not finish its daily route. Be assured that the truck will complete its route the next day. In Escambia County, all collections will completed by Saturday. Collections in Santa Rosa County will be caught up by Wednesday and Saturday,” she added.
If a collection is still missed beyond the expected delay, customers can call (850) 476-0480.
“We appreciate our customers’ understanding as we work through the issues that arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the greater-than normal springtime yard waste volumes,” Bowers said.