Train Caboose Moved From School To Heritage Park In Atmore
August 12, 2020
A caboose that was outside an Atmore school for years has a new home in a local park.
The Burlington Northern caboose was recently moved from Rachel Patterson Elementary School to Heritage Park on Main Street at West Craig Street.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Produce Box Giveaway Today At Highland Baptist In Molino
August 12, 2020
A free produce distribution will Wednesday afternoon at Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
It will take place from 5-6 p.m., or while supplies last at the church, 6240 Highway 95A in Molino. It is limited to one box per vehicle, rain or shine. The produce is being provided in conjunction with the USDA and Gulf Coast Produce.
The church will hold the produce giveaway each Wednesday afternoon for August from 5-6 p.m.
For more information call (850) 587-5174.
Pensacola Chamber Launching ‘Re-Employ EscaRosa Campaign’
August 12, 2020
The Greater Pensacola Chamber is kicking off a campaign aimed at getting local people back to work.
The chamber is partnering with FloridaWest, CareerSource EscaRosa, The Gulf Coast Minority Chamber, and the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce to host the first “Re-Employ EscaRosa Campaign”. The campaign will take place during the month of September and will include a variety of virtual job fairs, in-person job fairs, and virtual professional development opportunities.
Registration will be available on the Greater Pensacola Chamber’s website for both employers and applicants for the September 3 virtual job fair.
Here is a list of scheduled events:
September 3, – Virtual Job Fair (There will be locations across the region designated for those who may not be able to access the opportunity from the comfort of their own home.)
September 10 – Virtual Job Fair
September 17 – Santa Rosa County Job Fair
September 24 – Virtual Job Fair
Mejhor Morta
August 12, 2020
Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, joined hands with the Lord on the 17th of July, 2020, at Stillhouse Lake near Fort Hood Texas.
Mejhor, was born May 19, 1996, in Kidapawan City, Philippines. He studied Mechanical Engineering in the University of Mindanao, Philippines and became a Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic in the US Army and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. His awards include the Global War in Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Mejhor died a Christian with genuine faith in God. He has always had a generous helping hands to his, family, friends and even to strangers living rough along the streets. Aside from being a soldier with a vigorous nature, Mejhor was also a business minded man invested on stock markets and some properties in the Philippines. He tends to be frugal to himself and yet very generous to others especially those in need. Mejhor was a loving son to his mother, Mrs. Lerma Boehm. He always sought a better life for himself and for his family. He had his goals lined up and had always strived to achieve them. Mejhor enjoyed reading books about business, novels, devotional books and as well as the Holy Bible.
Mejhor joins his biological father, Eduardo Morta.
Mejhor’s laughter and smiling face will forever be remembered by his sisters, Angel Lou Madrid, Hannah Villanueva, Hazel Morta, and Ayana Morta. His loving nature and joyful spirit will forever be cherished by his parents, Mrs. Lerma Boehm and Mr. Joseph Boehm; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Michael Boehm and Mr. and Mrs. Benigno Balico.
Family, friends and others whose lives Mejhor touched are invited to Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South in Cantonment, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2020, to remember and reminisce about his life.
“For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His.” Romans 6:5
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
2020 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show On NAS Pensacola Is Canceled
August 11, 2020
The 2020 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show on NAS Pensacola has officially been canceled.
The Navy said the decision to canceled the October 16-17 show was made after considering all possible options, but was fundamentally a decision to ensure the health and safety personnel and the greater community.
“We know how important the Air Show is to the community and the Navy, but after considering every possibility, we felt that in this challenging COVID-19 environment that this was the most responsible course of action to protect the health and safety of the community and our NAS Pensacola personnel,” said Capt. Tim Kinsella, commanding officer, NAS Pensacola.
“The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is a special and unique event that we look forward to every year. We love to highlight the amazing people of Naval Aviation and share a spectacular Air Show with our friends, families and community. This was an extremely difficult decision in challenging times, but in the end, we must remember that our top priority is to ensure the safety of our community,” Kinsella continued.
The annual two-day air show attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to NAS Pensacola; the 2019 air show had an approximate attendance of 180,000.
The 2021 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is currently scheduled for November 5-6, 2021, and will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
13 COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties On Tuesday
August 11, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
There were 11 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Escambia County and two reported in Santa Rosa County Tuesday by the Florida Department of Health.
The Escambia County fatalities were females ages 59, 66, 76, 82, 85, 86, and 92, and males ages 66, 70, 73, and 87. Five were long-term care facility residents. Santa Rosa County reported the death of men ages 76 and 86, one of which was a long-term care facility resident.
Escambia County cases increased 175 to 9,807. An additional 50 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 4,013.
Of the 795 tests results returned on Monday in Escambia County, 17.4% were positive, and 18.7% were positive from 252 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 16.3% (increased skewed by a large number of Century prison inmates).
There were 196 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Tuesday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 131 deaths in Escambia County, 71 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 40 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and eight in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 542,792 cases including 536,981 Florida residents. There have been 31,354 hospitalizations* and 8,553 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 — 9,807 (+175 since Monday)
Non-Florida residents — 893
Pensacola —7,123 (+81)
Century — 852 (+77)
—-including at least 753 Century prison inmates
Cantonment — 678 (+10)
Molino— 109 (+3)
McDavid — 51 (+1)
Walnut Hill — 13
Bellview — 10
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5
Current hospitalizations: 196 (+9)
Deaths — 131 (+11)
Male — 4,217
Female — 4,412
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 38
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 4,013 (+50 since Monday)
Non-Florida residents — 31
Milton — 2,229 (+27)
Gulf Breeze — 585 (+9)
Navarre — 478 (+5)
Pace — 307 (+2)
Jay — 103 (+3)
Bagdad — 9
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 193*
Deaths — 40 (+2)
Male — 2,258
Female — 1,660
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39
Florida cases:
Total cases — 542,792
Florida residents — 536,981
Deaths — 8,553
Hospitalizations — 31,354*
*“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.
Pensacola Energy Acquiring Okaloosa Gas Customers In Molino, Cantonment, Cottage Hill
August 11, 2020
Pensacola Energy is in the process of acquiring Okaloosa Gas natural gas customers in Escambia County.
Pensacola Energy is offering $427,748 plus the assumption of assumed liabilities for about 186 customers, an amount determined by a consulting company hired by the city. The customers are located in six small areas in Molino, Cottage Hill and in part of Cantonment including small sections of Jacks Branch Road, West Kingsfield Road and Neal Road.
Pensacola Energy and Okaloosa Gas District both provide service in the area, “creating the likelihood of customer confusion concerning the appropriate service provider for emergencies and routine service requests,” RBC Resources found.
Okaloosa Gas District does not hold a franchise within Escambia County to provide utility service. New homes and businesses in the area could not be served by Okaloosa Gas District and unless infrastructure was duplicated, residents would go without essential utility services.
“Pensacola Energy’s existing assets in the vicinity will facilitate safe and reliable public services that will be enhanced through shorter response times for emergencies and other requirements,” according to RBC.
At the time of RBC report to Pensacola Energy in early March, Okaloosa Gas had 167 residential and eight small commercial customers with active accounts that generated approximately $67,641 in annual revenue. From public data available, the consulting company also determined that annual operating and maintenance expense for these customers was approximately $13,520. A 10-year net revenue calculation, including an allowance for growth, was the $427,478 purchase price.
If Pensacola Energy duplicated service in the area, it would cost an estimated $532,763.
Impacted customers will receive a letter from Okaloosa Gas explaining a six-month transition process.
“Details are still being worked out, but Okaloosa customers should not see a significant change in their billing.,” Pensacola spokesperson Kaycee Lagarde told NorthEscambia.com.
Okaloosa Gas customers with questions can contact the company at (850) 729-4700.
Click map below to enlarge.
Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Teams Win State Title
August 11, 2020
The Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Team won the senior division state championship.
Team members are Jessica Conti, Hannah Thorne, Ethan Thorne and Chad Sasser. They are coached by Brian Estevez.
As state champions, Escambia County team earned the right to represent Florida in the National 4-H Meat Judging Contest, still on schedule at this time at the American Royal Association in Kansas City, Missouri. in October.
Conti was also the over high scoring individual with three teams and 11 individuals competing in the virtual state competition held last Saturday.
Other top placing individuals included Hannah Thorne in second, Ethan Thorne in third and Sasser in 10th place.
Escambia County also brought home the state championship in the intermediate division of the contest as the sole competing team.
SRSO: Man Brutally Killed His Girlfriend, Kept Her Body In His Home For Two Days
August 11, 2020
A Santa Rosa County man killed his girlfriend and kept her body inside his house for two days, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Jerry Geisler Odum was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond on a charge of first degree premeditated murder for the death of 59-year old Vicky May Edge.
An arrest report released Monday reveals details about the murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to 5646 Vendome Court in Milton for a welfare check. When deputies tried to make contact with Odum at his front door, he started to exit the home through garage door. Deputies walked into the garage and asked him where to find Edge.
“She is inside, but I have to tell you something first,” Odum said, according to arrest report. Deputies asked how she died, and he responded, “I’d rather not say without a lawyer.”
Edge’s body was found inside the home, where deputies believed she had been for two days.
When interviewed later by deputies, Odum said he told Edge around 10:30 a.m. Thursday that he had a “surprise for her” and a blanket was placed over her head.
Much what Odum said is redacted from the arrest report, but it implies that Edge was beaten with a baseball bat. Edge told investigators that he purchased the baseball bat “in the middle of the week last week”, which the report states was the first week of August.
Odum said Edge had been at his residence for about two weeks. He stated he gave her a $15,000 check for their planned wedding, but he knew he did not have enough money in the bank, the report state.
After the incident, Odum said he took their dog and rode around for a while before returning to the residence where he dropped off the dog and left for Crestview to stay the night in a hotel room, according to the report. Odum stated that he got up on Friday morning and drove from the motel room back to his residence to “check on her”. He stated that he did not know what else to do. He let the dog out and visited with neighbors.
According to the arrest report, Odum also told deputies that he removed the license plate from Edge’s vehicle because he did not want anyone to see because he was not ready to tell anyone yet.
Atmore Woman Charged With Murder Months After Her Sister’s Decomposed Body Was Found
August 11, 2020
The Atmore Police Department has charged a local woman after the decomposed body of her sister was found inside a mobile home back in March.
Josephine Gaines, 34, was taken into custody after a traffic stop and escaping officers. She is charged with murder and escape third degree.
On Sunday, Atmore Police officers conducted a traffic stop on South Main Street and identified a passenger in the vehicle as Gaines, who had outstanding murder warrant. She was taken to the Atmore City Jail but fled on foot from the officer that was escorting her inside the building. She was taken back into custody after a short foot chase.
About 10:20 p.m. on March 26, the Atmore Police Department responded to 71 Jones Street after receiving a call about a burglary in progress call at the home. Officers 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,” Atmore Police Chief Brooks said. “Officers then discovered in one of the bedrooms a badly decomposing body believed to be a female.”
Using dental records, the victim was later identified by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences as Vandoren Daily.
Atmore Police investigators learned during the investigation the victim was left alone in the home for several months by Gaines and was unable to care for herself, Brooks said. Investigators found documents that indicated Gaines was responsible for her sister’s care