Century Prison Inmate Murdered By Another Inmate
August 24, 2020
The death of a Century Correctional Institution inmate is being investigated as murder.
On August 17, inmate Nelson J. Sanderson was pronounced deceased on August 17 as the result of an apparent inmate on inmate assault at CCI, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) said.
The FDC confirmed Friday afternoon to NorthEscambia.com that an active homicide investigation is underway by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FDC Office of Inspector General.
“The safe and secure operation of Florida’s correctional institutions is the Department of Corrections’ top priority. Every inmate death is thoroughly investigated by law enforcement and the Department’s Office of Inspector General to ensure independent oversight and absolute accountability at all levels,” FDC said in an email.
“The Florida Department of Corrections is committed to providing for the safety and wellbeing of all inmates in custody. Inmates who cause harm to others are held accountable for their actions. This includes administrative sanctions, placement in restrictive housing and criminal charges if applicable. This is done for the safety of staff and other inmates,” FDC concluded.
In 2016, Sanderson was serving two life sentences out of Lee County for the lewd and lascivious molestation of a child less than 12-years old.
Former Escambia County Assistant Administrator Larry Newsom Has Passed Away
August 24, 2020
Former Escambia County Assistant Administrator Larry Newsom passed away Sunday afternoon. He was 56.
Newsom was serving as city manager in Flagler Beach.
“This is a profound loss for our family here in Flagler Beach. Our saddened hearts are with Lisa during this most trying of times and our community will miss Larry’s dedication to our City” stated Jane Mealy, Chairperson of the Flagler Beach City Commission.
Newsom resigned from Escambia County in late 2014.
During his tenure at Escambia County, Newsom served as interim county administrator in 2010 after the non-renewal of Bob McLaughlin’s contract, after the firing of Administrator Randy Oliver in 2012, and beginning in December 2013 until the resignation and then passing of George Touart. He served until Jack Brown was hired as adminstratorin April 2014.
When not serving in an administrator position, Newsom worked as the manager of the Escambia County Transportation and Traffic Division.
Newsom began his tenure with the City of Flagler Beach in January 2016 and his leadership help guide the city through hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Dorian.
Pictured top: Larry Newsom (left) speaks during a Molino public forum in 2014 as District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry (right) listens. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Remain Low As Two Tropical Systems Target The Gulf Coast
August 24, 2020
Florida gas prices continue to drift lower, even as two tropical systems move toward the Gulf Coast. The state average price for gasoline was $2.07 per gallon, yet drivers in some Florida cities are finding prices below $2 a gallon.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.08 Sunday night in Escambia County. Two warehouse clubs were the lowest in the Pensacola area at $1.92, while the best price in North Escambia was $2.08 at a station on Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
Nearly half of the refining capacity in the United States is located along the Gulf of Mexico, predominantly along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines. Marco and Laura are both forecast to make landfall in Louisiana in the coming days. Nearly a dozen oil refineries near New Orleans are in the hurricane warning area.
“The potential for a price hike is always there, when a hurricane threatens the gulf coast refinery region,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “So far, oil and gasoline futures prices have remained low, likely because Marco and Laura are not forecast to reach major hurricane status. Either way, incremental increases are possible if these storms cause damage resulting in long-term impacts to oil rigs, refineries or the fuel supply chain as a whole.”
No Deaths, 63 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Escambia, Santa Rosa On Sunday
August 23, 2020
There were 63 new COVID-19 positives and no deaths reported in the two county region on Sunday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Escambia County cases increased by 38 to 10,790. An additional 25 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 4,443.
Of the 585 tests results returned on Saturday in Escambia County, 5.3% were positive, and 9.4% were positive from 242 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 8.2%.
There were 145 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Saturday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 171 deaths in Escambia County, 84 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 54 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and nine in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 600,571 cases including 594,287 Florida residents. There have been 36,468 hospitalizations* and 10,325 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 — 10,790 (+38 since Saturday)
Non-Florida residents — 961
Pensacola —7,886 (+23)
Century — 899
—-including 761 Century prison inmates
Cantonment — 748 (+4)
Molino— 121
McDavid — 62 (+1)
Walnut Hill — 15
Bellview — 11
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — + (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 145 (-5)
Deaths — 171
Male — 4,774
Female — 4,959
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 39
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 4,443 (+25 since Saturday)
Non-Florida residents — 39
Milton — 2,433 (+9)
Gulf Breeze — 644
Navarre — 545 (+7)
Pace — 340 (+3)
Jay — 119
Bagdad — 9
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 245*
Deaths — 54
Male — 2,491
Female — 1,906
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 40
Florida cases:
Total cases — 600,571
Florida residents — 594,287
Deaths — 10,325
Hospitalizations — 36,468*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals 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. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Escambia High Students Win NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
August 23, 2020
A team from Escambia High School won the high school division for the best design in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge.
While NASA is preparing to send the first woman and next man to the surface of the Moon in 2024 with the Artemis program, the next generation of explorers, engineers, scientists, and spaceflight professionals are sharpening their skills to help the agency establish a permanent presence on the Moon and send the first humans to Mars.
The agency announced the winners of the 2020 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge during a virtual awards ceremony.
The Human Exploration Rover Challenge team from Escambia High School won the high school division AIAA Neil Armstrong Best Design Award, which recognizes the team that best designed their rover to take on the punishing Rover Challenge course, making maximum use of resources and ingenuity. The award is presented in the name of the late NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong.
“This year, we had 111 teams from 27 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 11 other countries,” said Julie Clift, program manager for the challenge at Marshall. “The teams pushed the limits this year, designing and building truly innovative rovers to take on the challenging course. Although we are disappointed we had to cancel the on-site activities, we are thrilled we are able to recognize and celebrate the teams’ hard work and creativity.”
The competition is one of seven NASA Artemis Student Challenges the agency hosts to engage and inspire the Artemis Generation. It is sponsored by NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement Next Gen STEM in Washington; and managed by Marshall’s Office of STEM Engagement.
The challenge was launched in 1994 as the NASA Great Moonbuggy Race to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Just six college teams participated that first year. Expanded in 1996 to include high school teams, the race evolved again in 2014 into the Human Exploration Rover Challenge. Since the challenge’s inception, more than 12,000 students have participated.
Photo: Escambia High School for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Marco Upgraded To A Hurricane As It Moves Toward The Northern Gulf Coast
August 23, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Marco and Laura continue on their path toward the northern Gulf Coast.
While the impact from both storms does not appear major for the local area, residents are encouraged to monitor the path of both storms and remain prepared. We will have updates throughout the day, so check back often.
The latest specific information on both storms is the graphics on this page.
Young Man Drowned Saturday Afternoon At Fillingim Landing
August 23, 2020
A young man drowned at Fillingim Landing near Barrineau Park Saturday afternoon.
Nathan Barnes, 22, reportedly dove into the Perdido River in the area of a rope swing and did not resurface. First responders later located him on the Alabama side of the river and brought him back across to Florida for medical treatment. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The death investigation was conducted by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Search & Rescue, Florida Fish & Wildlife and LifeFlight were among the responding agencies.
Fillingim Landing is a Northwest Florida Water Management recreation site located on the Pedido River off the 2800 block of Jacks Branch Road, just north of Lathram Chapel Methodist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Feeding Program At West Florida Libraries Comes To A Close
August 23, 2020
The summer meals program at West Florida Libraries came to a close Saturday in advance of the first day of school on Monday, August 24.
Thousands of meals were served to youth at seven library locations across the county over the last several months. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program started early on March 23.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots
August 23, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. In observance of the Labor Day holiday weekend, there will be no lane closures on state roads from 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4 to 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Aug 23:
-
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90)– Drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and pavement operations.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road (C.R.) 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road
(S.R. 295) – Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Aug 23:
- Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
- · S.R. 89 Pavement Coring Operations from North of S.R. 87N to South of C.R. 178 – Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Aug. 28 as crews perform asphalt coring operations.
- · U.S. 90 Pavement Marking Operations from Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) to the Okaloosa County Line- Motorists can expect minor delays Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, Aug. 27 as slow-moving vehicles are used to perform pavement marking operations.
- · U.S. 98 Utility Operations from Whispering Pines Boulevard to Palo Alto – The eastbound, outside lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27 as utility crews upgrade distribution lines.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather
Three New COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Escambia County, Alabama
August 23, 2020
Three additional COVID-19 deaths were reported Saturday in Escambia County, Alabama.
There have now been 20 reported deaths in the county with 1,169 total confirmed cases, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. There were 93 cases confirmed in the past two weeks, and there are 143 more probable cases.
As of Friday, the Escambia County Healthcare Authority said they have recorded 499 positive COVID-19 tests at Atmore Community Hospital and 226 at DW McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
NorthEscambia.com photo.