Four Nominated For Escambia County Court Judge
August 16, 2020
The First Judicial Nominating Committee has submitted four names to Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill a vacancy on the Escambia County Court.
The four nominees, in alphabetical order, submitted to the governor are: Barry E. Dickson, Kristina Lightel, Frederic Longmire, and Andrew McGraw.
The Escambia County Court vacancy was created when Judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz was elevated to the Circuit Court.
Mostly Clear, Lower 70s Tonight
August 16, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
August 16, 2020
Here is a schedule of this week’s Escambia County public meetings:
Tuesday, August 18
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Wednesday, August 19
Inspection Fund Advisory Board Meeting – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Medical Examiners Search Committee – 2 p.m., M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W. Government St.
Thursday, August 20
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Friday, August 21
Value Adjustment Board Organizational Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Saturday: Five New COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Escambia, Santa Rosa
August 15, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
There were five additional COVID-19 deaths reported in the two-county area Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
In Escambia County, the three fatalities were men ages 64 and 83, and a woman age 69. One was a long-term care facility resident. The Santa Rosa County deaths were men ages 90 and 101.
Escambia County cases increased 83 to 10,205. An additional 48 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 4,173.
Of the 1,280 tests results returned on Friday in Escambia County, 5.8% were positive, and 13% were positive from 368 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 12.5%.
There were 189 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Saturday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 150 deaths in Escambia County, 80 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 47 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 569,637 cases including 563,628 Florida residents. There have been 33,661 hospitalizations* and 9,345 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 — 10,205 (+83 since Friday)
Non-Florida residents — 914
Pensacola —7,443 (+64)
Century — 869 (+4)
—-including 759 Century prison inmates
Cantonment — 705 (+7)
Molino— 116 (+1)
McDavid — 52
Walnut Hill — 15 (+2)
Bellview — 11
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5
Current hospitalizations: 189 (-4)
Deaths — 150 (+3)
Male — 4,527
Female — 4,668
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 39
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 4,173 (+48 since Friday)
Non-Florida residents — 37
Milton — 2,295 (+22)
Gulf Breeze — 608 (+11)
Navarre — 509 (+8)
Pace — 317
Jay — 111
Bagdad — 9
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 216*
Deaths — 47 (+2)
Male — 2,370
Female — 1,758
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39
Florida cases:
Total cases — 569,637
Florida residents — 563,628
Deaths — 9,345
Hospitalizations — 33,661*
*“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.
FHSAA: Fall Sports Can Begin; Escambia County Schools To Announce Plan Next Week
August 15, 2020
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) voted Friday to allow fall sports to go ahead — with the caveat that districts can made their own, different decisions.
Escambia County’s decision won’t happen until next week.
The first allowable practice date will be August 24 for football, cross country, volleyball, swimming and bowling. The earliest date for regular season contests will be September 4. The option approved by FHSAA basically keeps fall schedules mostly intact. For football, it eliminates scheduled kick-off classics and week one for most schools.
The FHSAA board also voted to allow schools or districts to opt out of the state series in a sport by September 18. That will allow schools and districts to create their own fall sports calendar with the possibility of regional schedules under FHSAA guidance. It also allows schools to follow guidance from local governments and the health department.
“Today FHSAA made the right choice in giving school districts in Florida the option of beginning fall sports as early as August 24th,” Sen. Marco Rubio said. “Each district can now decide when & how they want to start. It should be a careful and phased approach.”
Under the plan, the first Friday night under the lights for high school football in Florida will be September 4.
The FHSAA board approved the plan on an 11-5 vote over plans that would have delayed the start of the season to October 23 or December 11.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Attacks On His Brother, Sister And Mother
August 15, 2020
A Molino man has been charged with attacking his mother, sister and brother.
Dawin Bryant Baxter II, 42, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of battery for the incident on Rosalyn Way.
Baxter, who provided a Brickyard Road address at the time of his arrest, allegedly began yelling at his sister because she was getting on to Baxter because he was not helping to clean the house. He then shoved his sister and mother, according to an arrest report.
When he went toward his sister again, Baxter’s brother placed him in a headlock, the report states. They both went outside where Baxter came at his brother with a knife. Baxter also allegedly bit his brother “extremely hard” on his left forearm, leaving deep bit marks, the ECSO said.
Deputies noted in their report that Baxter was intoxicated and agitated, and he claimed he was the one who was attacked.
Saturday Is The Last Day For Early Voting
August 15, 2020
Saturday is the final day of early voting for the August 18 primary election.
Nine locations will be open from from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the exception of the Supervisor of Elections Office which will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- University of West Florida Conference Center, Building 22, University Parkway
- Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
Voters may choose any one of the nine locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device. Election workers will be wearing face coverings, and voters should bring their own to wear while inside the polling room. Hand sanitizer will be available at check-in along with a disposable stylus to sign in. Voters may use their own blue or black pen to mark their ballot and should practice social distancing. Commonly touched surfaces will be sanitized regularly and the number of voters inside the polling room may be limited, if necessary.
Voters can also cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, August 18. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Nearly 1,800 Gallons Of Sewage Spilled In Cantonment
August 15, 2020
ECUA reported a nearly 1,800 gallon sanitary sewer overflow Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
ECUA said contractor ran over a valve, causing 1,786 gallons of sewage to be spilled at Booker Street and Ransom Street about noon Friday. The sewage leak flowed for about five minutes and was contained on site, according to a notice from the Florida Department of Environmental Protect.
The valve was repaired by ECUA and the area was cleaned with a biocide agent to eliminate any contamination concerns.
Lower Rain Chance For Sunday
August 15, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Steven Ross Preston
August 15, 2020
Steven Ross Preston, 56, of Milton, Florida, peacefully passed away, Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Baptist Hospital. He was born the youngest of three children to Paul and Amanda Sue Preston on April 24, 1964, in Milton, Florida. After graduating from the University of West Florida in 1985, Steven pursued a career as a state trooper for the Florida Highway Patrol. During his 25 plus years of faithful service as a lieutenant, Steven’s drive for excellence led him to serve various roles on the force including a road trooper, drug interdiction officer, sergeant, and public relations officer. Upon retirement from the Florida Highway Patrol in 2016, Steven pursued a second career with the Department of Defense as an NCIS special agent where he specialized as a polygrapher. Steven always strove to demonstrate outstanding character and integrity in all he did in life and will be remembered by many as someone you could count on to make you laugh.
Steven was preceded in death by his loving parents, Paul and Amanda Sue Preston. He is survived by his four daughters, Rylee, Ashlyn, Blakely, and Carley Preston, of Milton, Florida; his lifelong friend Park Lee, of Milton, Florida; his two sisters, Paula (Buz) Turner and Lori Preston, of Milton, Florida; his two nieces, April (Chris) Davis and Brooke (Jeffrey) Scott, of Milton, Florida; and his great nephew and four great nieces, Tucker, Corrinne, Avery, Lanie, and Olivia, of Milton, Florida.
The visitation for Steven Preston will be held in Milton at the Lewis Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 18,2020. Family is welcome from 5:00-6:00 PM; and friends as well from 6:00-8:00 PM. The Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 11:00 AM, at the Lewis Funeral Home and officiated by ministers Mike Wiggins and Alan Stout. Following the service, the burial will take place at Serenity Gardens in Milton, Florida.
The Active Pallbearers will include: Park Lee, Buz Turner, Darren Williamson, Fred Chavers, Tony Harris, Tony Preston, Ken Ford, and John Holland.
The Honorary Pallbearers will include: Adam Ward, Craig Faircloth, Rylee Preston, Ashlyn Preston, Blakely Preston, Carley Preston, the Florida Highway Patrol and the NCIS of Pensacola.
In Steven’s last years of life at the NCIS, he worked closely with the women and men who serve our country. With this in mind, the family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made, in Steven’s name, to the Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.
The family would like to extend the deepest thanks and appreciation for all the doctors and nurses of Baptist Hospital for the love and care given to a great father, brother, and friend.