Santa Rosa County Delivering Meals Along School Bus Routes
March 31, 2020
The Santa Rosa School District is feeding kids during COVID-19 school closure and will continue as long as schools are not open. They are using pick up locations, and school buses are delivering meals in select locations.
The meals for any child 18 and under. The program is administered through the federal USDA Summer Food Service Program, which is for schools with student populations that are 50% or more eligible for free and reduced meals.
The program fed 3,816 children last Friday. Each child will receive two meals daily, breakfast and lunch, except on Friday when they will be given enough for both meals through the weekend.
Schedule:
Schools 9:30 am to 11:00 am
• Milton HS…Bus ramp on Raymond Hobbs Lane
• Pea Ridge Elem …Parent pick up lane
• East Milton Elem …Bus ramp in front of school
• Jay Elem …in front of high school
• Berryhill Elem…parent pick up lane
• Holley Navarre Primary…Parent pick up
• TR. Jackson Parent pick up area
• Central School- parent pick up
• Bagdad Elementary- bus ramp area
• Benny Russell Elementary- Parent pick up
Single Stop Bus delivery 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Santa Villa Park
• Bell Ridge Apts.
• Floridatown Park
• Blackwater Baptist Church
• Santa Gertrudas – south of I-10
• Permenter – American Farms – north of I-10
Bus delivery 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Christian Life Church – Avalon Blvd
Select bus routes from the following schools 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.
• Milton High School
• Pea Ridge Elementary School
• East Milton Elementary School
• Jay Elementary School
• Berryhill Elementary School
• Benny Russell Elementary School
• Bagdad Elementary School
• Central School
• Holley Navarre Primary School
Santa Rosa County hopes to expand the program with additional fixed locations and bus routes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Greg Marcille Withdraws From State Attorney Race For Health Reasons
March 31, 2020
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille is withdrawing for the race for First Judicial Circuit state attorney for health reasons.
“As the result of health concerns that developed after I pre-qualified to run for State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, it is necessary that I withdraw from that race. I appreciate the help and support that I have received during this campaign,” he said Monday.
Marchille, who was endorsed by State Attorney Bill Eddins, said that all financial contributions he has received will be returned. Eddins is not seeking reelection.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have assisted me in this endeavor,” said Marcille, a 34-year veteran of the office.
Assistant State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden is currently the only other announced candidate in the race. She currently supervises assistant prosecutors serving in Okalossa County and juvenile courts.
Florida Students To Remain Out Of School Through At Least May 1
March 30, 2020
All public school students in Florida will now remain out of school through at least Friday, May 1, the Florida Department of Education announced Monday.
“The main objective is to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 to our community, while also delivering the district’s Instructional Continuity Plan to students and parents during this time of social distancing,” Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.
The Escambia County School district has targeted Wednesday, April 1 as the official first day of virtual instruction for all students. Teachers and school staff began calling students and parents on Monday, and will continue their calls on Tuesday, with complete details on how they will handle online instruction. If parents do not received a call by Wednesday, they should contact their child’s school to make sure they have a correct phone number for the student.
For more information, see this NorthEscambia.com story published on Sunday.
Hours of operation for the district from March 30, 2020, through May 1, 2020, will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees will continue to follow their work schedule as already defined by their immediate supervisor.
There Are Now 81 Positive COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County, 36 In Santa Rosa
March 30, 2020
As backlogged test results were reported, the number of COVID 19 more than doubled Monday in Escambia County and also increased in Santa Rosa County.
The total number of confirmed cases in Escambia County jumped to 81 with the evening update from the Florida Department of Health. There are now 36 cases in Santa Rosa County.
Of the Escambia County cases, 54 were from Pensacola, 14 were from Cantonment, five were from Bellview, one was from Perdido Key and five are non-residents. They range in age from 2 to 94. There were two confirmed patients in the hospital.
In Santa Rosa County, 13 cases were from Navarre, nine from Milton, eight from Gulf Breeze, two from Pace and data was not available on the remainder. Cases range in age from two months to 81 years. Seven were hospitalized and two have died.
There are currently 5,704 cases in Florida — 5,489 are Florida residents and 215 are non-Florida residents. There are 715 people hospitalized and 71 deaths.
Cantonment Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site Opens Tuesday
March 30, 2020
As NorthEscambia.com first reported over the weekend, Escambia County, Community Health Northwest Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart have partnered to open a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Community Health Pediatrics at 470 South HIghway 29 in Cantonment on Tuesday, March 31.
All patients are required to be pre-screened before arriving at the drive-thru testing center by calling the Ascension Sacred Heart COVID-19 Pre-Screening Call Center at (850) 746-2684. Those who have not been pre-screened over the phone will not be provided access to the drive-thru test center.
Patients who meet the pre-screening criteria will be sent to the drive-thru testing site for a nasal swab test.
“This critical partnership with Community Health Northwest Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart provides residents in the central part of Escambia County convenient access to COVID-19 testing,” said Escambia County Board Chairman Steven Barry. “Unfortunately, there have been several positive cases in Cantonment, so the opening of this test site is crucial in preventing community spread and keeping people healthy. Since the COVID-19 test is free, then I encourage everyone with symptoms of fever, dry cough or shortness of breath to please call ahead and be pre-screened. The health of the community is our top priority.”
The pre-screening call center will be open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The drive-thru clinic will open Tuesday, March 31 and will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“As a healthcare provider with clinic locations in Cantonment and Century, we are committed to the health and safety of all families in north Escambia,” said Chandra Smiley, CEO and Executive Director of Community Health Northwest Florida. “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Escambia County and Ascension Sacred Heart to provide this important access point for COVID-19 testing.”
Atmore Police Respond To Burglary In Progress, Find Badly Decomposed Body
March 30, 2020
Atmore Police responded to a burglary and found a badly decomposed body inside the home.
It happened about 10:20 p.m. last Thursday at 71 Jones Street, Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said Monday. Officers responded to a burglary in progress call at the home. They surrounded the residence and then observed that it had been forcibly entered.
“Officers entered the home and began doing a room by room search for any violators,” Brooks said. “Officers then discovered in one of the bedrooms a badly decomposing body believed to be a female.”
The name of the victim is not being released until positive identification is made by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Brooks said the case is currently being investigated as a homicide, and the investigation is continuing.
Anyone with information on case is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Second Santa Rosa COVID-19 Patient Dies; Cases Increase In Escambia And Santa Rosa
March 30, 2020
THIS STORY IS NOW OUTDATED. CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE.
A second person has died from COVID-19 in Santa Rosa County, and the number of COVID-19 cases has jumped in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties as of the latest report from the Florida Department of Health.
The last five cases reported in Escambia County are all non-residents, including a five-year old girl. There are now 42 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Escambia County. Of those, 26 are from Pensacola, nine are from Cantonment and two are non-residents. They range in age from 20 to 94, and two are hospitalized.
In Santa Rosa County, there are 10 additional cases for a total of 30 Monday morning. Of those, 11 are from Navarre, eight are from Milton, eight are from Gulf Breeze, two are from Pace and data was not available for one patient.
New Florida cases include 523 additional positive COVID-19 cases (508 Florida residents and 15 non-Florida residents) reported to the Florida Department of Health.
There are currently 5,276 positive cases in Florida residents and 197 positive cases in non-Florida residents. The death toll has climbed to 63 in Florida, with 654 in the hospital.
Early Morning Fire Under Investigation As Possible Arson
March 30, 2020
An early Monday morning fire near McDavid is under investigation as a possible arson.
Fire destroyed a fifth-wheel travel trailer about 1:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of Perdue Road. The mobile home at that address was damaged by fire on March 12, and a third fire destroyed another travel trailer earlier this year.
The March 12 mobile home fire was initially believed to caused by an extension cord used to power the travel trailer that burned early Monday.
There were no injuries reported in any of the incidents.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal are investigating.
Pictured above and below: An early morning fire destroyed a travel trailer in McDavid Monday. Pictured bottom: Fire damaged a mobile home March 12 at the same location. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Meal Distribution For Kids Expanded To 38 Schools Monday
March 30, 2020
Free meal distribution expanded to 38 school sites Monday in Escambia County for families to pick up breakfast and lunch for kids under 18..
All sites will provide children or teens a breakfast meal and a lunch meal during the same visit. The meals are designed to be carried away and consumed off campus; cafeterias and dining rooms will not be open. Meals will be distributed in a curbside pick-up operation. Food items will be in to-go containers and will consist of ready-to-eat food items that should be consumed when received or should be quickly refrigerated for consumption at a later time.
Meals will be distributed to children 18 and younger from 9 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday, except for Friday, April 10. Students must be present according to USDA policy.
Distribution sites are:
- Jim Allen Elementary School, 1051 Highway 95A North, Cantonment
- Jim C. Bailey Middle School, 4110 Bauer Road, Pensacola
- Bellview Elementary School, 4425 Bellview Ave., Pensacola,
- Beulah Elementary School, 6201 Helms Road, Pensacola
- Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Blue Angels Elementary School, 1551 Dog Track Road, Pensacola
- Bratt Elementary School, 5721 North Highway 99, Century
- Brentwood Elementary School, 4820 N. Palafox St. (U.S. 29), Pensacola
- Cordova Park Elementary School, 2250 Semur Road, Pensacola
- Ensley Elementary School, 501 E. Johnson Ave., Pensacola
- Ernest Ward Middle School, 7650 Highway 97, Walnut Hill
- Ferry Pass Elementary School, 8310 N. Davis Highway, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School, 8355 Yancey Ave., Pensacola
- Global Learning Academy, 100 North P St., Pensacola
- Lincoln Park Elementary School, 7600 Kershaw St., Pensacola
- Longleaf Elementary School, 2600 Longleaf Drive, Pensacola
- L.D. McArthur Elementary School, 330 E. Ten Mile Road, Pensacola
- Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97, Molino
- Montclair Elementary School, 820 Massachusetts Ave., Pensacola
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School, 6115 Lillian Highway, Pensacola
- Navy Point Elementary School, 1321 Patton Drive, Pensacola
- Northview High School, 4100 West Highway 4, Bratt
- Oakcrest Elementary School, 1820 N. Hollywood Blvd., Pensacola
- Pensacola High School, 500 W. Maxwell St., Pensacola
- Pine Meadow Elementary School, 10001 Omar Ave., Pensacola
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School, Owen Bell Lane, Pensacola
- Ransom Middle School, 1000 W. Kingsfield Road, Cantonment
- Scenic Heights Elementary School, 3801 Cherry Laurel Drive, Pensacola
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School, 1250 E. Texar Drive, Pensacola
- Sherwood Elementary School, 501 Cherokee Trail, Pensacola
- A.K. Suter Elementary School, 501 Pickens Ave., Pensacola
- J.M. Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment
- Warrington Elementary School, 220 N. Navy Blvd., Pensacola
- Warrington Middle School, 459 South Old Corry Field Road, Pensacola
- Booker T. Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway, Pensacola
- C.A. Weis Elementary School, 2701 North Q St., Pensacola
- West Pensacola Elementary School, 801 North 49th Ave., Pensacola
- Workman Middle School, 6299 Lanier Drive, Pensacola
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Drive-in Church: Congregations Find Ways To Worship Together Amid COVID-19 Crisis
March 30, 2020
Churches across the area are finding ways to reach their congregations in our current world of COVID-19 social distancing.
Many have turned to live video streams on social media and websites, while others have taken a different approach.
Several churches, including Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton and Atmore First Assembly of God, are holding drive-in church. Much like an old-fashioned drive-in movie, the congregation pulls into the parking lot to hear the Gospel while staying socially distanced.
At Little Escambia Baptist, a flatbed trailer in front of the sanctuary served as a makeshift stage as cars filled the parking lot Sunday morning. The drive-in service was also streamed live on social media, reaching over 700 viewers by Sunday night — many times more than the church’s sanctuary would hold.
“We are just trying to honor the Lord and fellowship as best we can in this kind of circumstance, in this kind of situation,” Pastor Jonathan Hill told the drive-in worshippers. “The most important thing is we want to lift Him up and exalt Him.”
At Grace Valley Baptist Church in Cantonment, the Sunday morning services were held outside with family groups socially distanced from each other.
“Father in heaven, God, we thank You today,” Grace Valley Pastor Don Neese prayed at the end of the outdoor service. “God it’s been good to come out to the field. Lord, to be able to preach in the field, to be able to sing in the field under the trees You made, under the sky oh God….I pray for people to come to Jesus.”
Pictured above and first below: Drive-in church Sunday at Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton. Pictured bottom two photos: An outdoor service Sunday at Grave Valley Baptist Church in Cantonment. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
