Portion Of Pineville Road Closed For A Month For Bridge Repair
June 16, 2020
South Pineville Road at Jackson Springs Branch will be closed for bridge repair for about a month.
Additionally, South Pineville Road will be closed for through traffic from Occie Phillips Road to Highway 97A.
The 30-foot long wooden support bridge was constructed in 1966.
NorthEscambia.com graphic and submitted photo, click or tap to enlarge.
High School Football Teams Begin Conditioning
June 16, 2020
High school football workouts got underway for the first time Monday under guidelines due to COVID-19.
Players and coaches will follow social distancing guidelines, as many activities as possible will be held outdoors, and there will be extra cleaning of indoor facilities.
Pictured top and bottom photo: Football workouts at Tate High School. Pictured first two photos below: Workouts at Tate High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF & Texas A&M-Commerce Announce Home-And-Home Football Series
June 16, 2020
UWF and Texas A&M-Commerce have announced a home-and-home football series between the programs for the 2020 and 2021 seasons on Monday.
The teams will open the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 in Pensacola in a rematch of the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The schools will also play Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Commerce, Texas.
For UWF, the game replaces the game with West Virginia Wesleyan after the Mountain East Conference chose to play a conference-only season this year. A&M-Commerce was slated to play Simon Fraser – the only Canadian D2 member – in week one.
“Following Florida Tech’s announcement to drop football and then the MEC’s decision to play only conference games, we felt it was very important to our student-athletes and fans to get a fourth home game back on the schedule,” UWF Director of Athletics Dave Scott said. “With the addition of Texas A&M-Commerce, not only do we get to play an opponent our fans are familiar with, but we now have one of the most attractive home schedules in our history.”
UWF went 13-2 and won its first NCAA Division II Football National Championship last season. The Argonauts have won 30 games in the last three seasons with a 9-1 mark in two NCAA Playoff appearances.
UWF is ranked No. 1 nationally in preseason polls by both Street & Smith’s and Lindy’s Sports magazines in their college football preview editions.
“I am very thankful for the hard work done by both athletic directors to get this done on short notice,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “It will be great to open the season at home against one of the best teams in the country.”
A&M-Commerce is ranked No. 3 by Street & Smith’s and No. 8 by Lindy’s Sports. The Lions have qualified for the NCAA Division II Football Championship the last five seasons, which is the third-longest active streak in the division.
UWF’s 2020 home schedule also includes three Gulf South Conference games – Shorter on Sept. 26, Valdosta State – ranked No. 5 & 3 in the two publications as well – on Oct. 10 and West Georgia on Oct. 31.
Over 20,000 Free Meals Distributed At The Library. Here’s How The Program Works.
June 16, 2020
West Florida Libraries have served over 20,000 free curbside meals for youth 18 and under since March in conjunction with Feeding the Gulf Coast.
There were 1,760 free meals served at the library locations just last week.
Meals are available for pickup at all WFPL library locations on Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Library locations are:
- Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola
- Tryon Beach Library, 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Westside Branch Library, 1301 W. Gregory St., Pensacola
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
The meal includes lunch. Meals are available on a first come, first served basis. Youth ages 18 and under must be present to receive meals; food will not be given to adults.
“All of our employees have a passion for the community we serve and without feeding the body, a child cannot feed their mind,” Todd Humble, Library Services director said. “We are proud to have been recognized as the leading provider of meals in the Mississippi, Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast region that Feeding the Gulf Coast services.”
UPDATE: Missing Woman, Her One-Year Old Daughter Have Been Found Safe
June 15, 2020
UPDATE: Natalie and Heather Wood have been safely located, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. No further information was provided.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing woman and her one-year old daughter last seen at a gas station near Highway 29.
Heather Wood has brown hair, hazel eyes and weighs 150 pounds. Natalie Wood has brown hair, brown eyes, weighs 21 pounds and is 30 inches tall. They were last seen on June 13 about 6 p.m. at the Circle K at the intersection of Kenmore Road and Highway 29.
The ECSO said they may be in the company of 49-year old Michael Anthony Evans. He has brown hair, brown eyes, is 5-foot 8-inches and weights 150 pounds.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Free Produce Giveaway Tuesday At Escambia Chapel AME Zion Church
June 15, 2020
A free produce giveaway will be held Tuesday at the Escambia Chapel AME Zion Church.
The giveaway will take place from 10 a.m. until noon, or while supplies last, at 2901 East Johnson Avenue in Ferry Pass. Enter from Caminetti Street.
The limit is one box per vehicle. The produce is provided in conjunction with the USDA.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Monday Report: An Increase Of 14 New COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County
June 15, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR AN UPDATE.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County increased by 14 on Monday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The number of cases in Escambia County is now 999, and Santa Rosa County increased by two to 293.
Of the 38 deaths in Escambia County, 29 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been nine deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 77,326 cases including 75,388 Florida residents. There have been 12,015 hospitalizations* and 2,938 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 — 999 (+44 since Sunday)
- Pensacola — 698
- Cantonment — 59
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid — 1
- Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 15
- Century — 3
- Hospitalizations: 69*
- Deaths — 38
- Male — 335
- Female — 454
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 293 (+2 since Sunday)
- Milton — 171
- Navarre — 47
- Gulf Breeze — 34
- Pace — 21
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 27*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 194
- Female — 94
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 98
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 77,326
- Florida residents — 75,388
- Deaths — 2,938
- Hospitalizations — 12,015.
*“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.
One Airlifted After Sunday Night Muscogee Road Wreck
June 15, 2020
One person was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover wreck Sunday night in Cantonment.
Firefighters used the Jaw of Life to to remove the roof and extricate the driver from an overturned pickup truck on Muscogree Road about a quarter mile south of Jacks Branch Road. He was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight helicopter following the 9:35 p.m. crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia Count EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Restaurants Partner With Meals On Wheels To Feed Seniors For Free
June 15, 2020
The Council on Aging of West Florida is expanding its Meals on Wheels program to cover all elderly adults 60 and over who qualify for the service, at no cost to the client.
The additional meals will be prepared by Primal Nosh and Nancy’s Catering & Events, and will be delivered to the clients’ homes as part of an initiative to help seniors during Coronavirus.
This initiative is part of a larger statewide partnership between the Department of Elder Affairs and the local elder service providers. The entities hope that this will match the needs of the business community and workers with the needs of the elderly and meal delivery services.
Locally, Council on Aging has seen about a 30% increase in demand for Meals on Wheels, as seniors are continually cautioned against venturing outside unnecessarily. Additionally, fears about supply chain interruption have fueled hoarding tendencies, leaving few options for the elderly adults who do area visit grocery stores. This expanded need for meals, coupled with restaurants’ increased need for income during the economic shortfall, will be a win-win for all parties involved, according to the Council on Aging.
“We’re very excited to offer vulnerable senior adults more nutritious options as we weather this crisis together,” said Council on Aging President/CEO John Clark. “Food is among the most fundamental of necessities, and this program will allow us to keep up with demand while providing our clients with safety during this difficult time.”
All meals delivered by local restaurants to senior adults must meet nutritional regulations set by the state, including providing one-third of the recommended daily caloric allowance for the elderly.
“We are grateful to provide homestyle, freshly made meals to our most vulnerable population, our senior citizens during this challenging time,” said Gus Silivos, chef and owner at Nancy’s.
It is projected that this program will remain through at least the end of 2020, as social distancing especially for those 60 and up continues to be recommended by local and state health departments. Senior adults interested in signing up for the expanded Meals on Wheels program should call (850) 432-1475 to complete an assessment.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Health And Rehabilitation Staff Member Tests Positive For COVID-19
June 15, 2020
A staff member at Century Health and Rehabilitation has been confirmed positive for COVID-19, according the Florida Department of Health.
This is the first staff member reported positive at the facility on West Highway 4 in Century. They have recorded no positive patients and no deaths.
NorthEscambia.com gave facility Administrator Scott Berube the opportunity to explain from his point of view what that means as they face their first staff member case. Here’s what he had to say, in his own words:
“We want to express our heartfelt concern for our fellow staff member who has been diagnosed positive for coronavirus; our thoughts and prayers are with this individual and the individual’s loved ones at this difficult time.
“We are in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps. Coronavirus is a particularly dangerous virus for the elderly, which is why we have been vigilant in our efforts to keep our residents safe and taken significant measures to limit the spread of the virus.
“We have restricted visitors and our team is donning masks and using gloves in accordance with regulatory requirements, and we continue to follow CDC guidelines and adhere to all protocols for pre-screening residents prior to any admission, infection control techniques and personal protective equipment recommendations.
“We fully recognize how difficult this time is for our residents, staff and loved ones. Working in conjunction with all appropriate authorities, we are doing everything we can to minimize the risk of exposure to all of our residents and our staff and will continue to do so until the coronavirus threat has subsided.”
In mid-May, a vendor did test positive for COVID-19, but Berube said the vendor entered the facility only with full protective gear. The person was not employed at the facility.