Sunday Report: Escambia COVID-19 Cases Up 211, No New Deaths
August 9, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
There were 211 new COVID-19 cases reported Sunday in Escambia County by by the Florida Department of Health.
There were no additional deaths reported in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County cases increased to 9,508. The increase of 211 included 93 additional Century Correctional Institution inmates. An additional 82 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 3,939.
Of the 901 tests results returned on Saturday in Escambia County, 18.4% were positive, and 14.5% were positive from 471 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 193 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Saturday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 115 deaths in Escambia County, 66 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 36 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and seven in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 532,806 cases including 527,036 Florida residents. There have been 30,505 hospitalizations* and 8,186 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 — 9,508 (+211 since Saturday)
Non-Florida residents — 893
Pensacola —7,003 (+93)
Cantonment — 652 (+15)
Century — 667 (+71)
—-including 595 Century prison inmates
Molino— 105 (+3)
McDavid — 48 (+3)
Walnut Hill — 13
Bellview — 10
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5
Current hospitalizations: 193 (-7)
Deaths — 120
Male — 4,108
Female — 4,390
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 38
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 3,939 (+82 since Saturday)
Non-Florida residents — 31
Milton — 2,190 (+33)
Gulf Breeze — 576 (+7)
Navarre — 472 (+8)
Pace — 298 (+13)
Jay — 100 (+3)
Bagdad — 9 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 190*
Deaths — 37
Male — 2,244
Female — 1,649
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39
Florida cases:
Total cases — 532,806
Florida residents — 527,036
Deaths — 8,186
Hospitalizations — 30,505*
*“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.
COVID-19 Cases Explode To Nearly 600 In Just Days At Century Prison
August 9, 2020
The number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Century Correctional Institution has exploded in the past few days.
As of Sunday, there were 595 positive inmates with 371 inmates waiting for their test results and another 563 inmates that tested negative, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. One week ago, there were six positive inmates.
There are six inmates being held in medical isolation and 643 in medical quarantine. There have not been any coronavirus deaths reported at Century Correctional Institution.
There have also been 25 staff members that have tested positive at the Century prison as of Sunday.
Inmates in medical quarantine are monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice a day for signs of fever. If an inmate begins experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, FDC will place the inmate in medical isolation and a COVID-19 test will be administered.
(This story was updated with the latest information at 11 a.m. Sunday.)
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Four New Escambia County Fire Trucks Will Soon Be Ready For Service
August 9, 2020
Escambia Fire Rescue is getting closer to putting four new fire engines into service.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported in early July, the four 2019 Pierce Enforcer fire engines will replacing aging trucks in Molino, Ensley, Myrtle Grove and Pleasant Grove.
The new “Engine 18″ has been delivered to the Molino Fire Station and is undergoing preparations to begin answering calls. It will replace a 2003 model year front line apparatus.
A new rescue truck will replace the current 2011 model front line engine assigned to Ensley Fire Station. A squad engine will replace a 2002 model year apparatus rescue engine currently assigned to Pleasant Grove Fire Station, and a standard engine will replace the current 2004 model rescue engine apparatus assigned to Myrtle Grove Fire Station.
Each truck features Cummins L9 450 horsepower engine, a 750-gallon tank, a Hale 1500-gallon per minute pump, a deck gun and seating for five personnel. The rear-forward facing crew cab seats, and an EMS compartment above each front wheel. The trucks also feature cargo netting with a single pull lanyard that secures the EMS compartments, a coated interior, vinyl seats, and headliner help with cab decontamination. The vertical exhaust keeps heat and emissions away from firefighters working around the apparatus.
In addition to providing dependable, state-of-the-art equipment, having new engines under warranty will also decrease repair and maintenance costs which have increased significantly due to the aging fleet, the county said when the purchase was approved unanimously by the Escambia County Commission about a year ago.
The four new vehicles were purchased for a total of $2,036,267 using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Pictured: The new fire engine at the Molino Fire Station. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Hot With Scattered Showers And Storms
August 9, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
From Pencils And Clothes To Computers – It’s The Last Day Of The Back To School Sales Tax Holiday
August 9, 2020
From pencils and clothes to computers, Sunday is the lats day of the Florida Back To School Sales Tax Holiday.
Today, qualifying items will be exempt from tax, including:
- Most school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
- The first $1,000 of the sales price of personal computers, certain computer-related accessories, purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
For the complete, detailed list click or tap here. The sales tax holiday does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
- Any school supply item selling for more than $15
- Books that are not otherwise exempt
- Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
- Rentals or leases of any eligible items
- Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
- Sales of any eligible items in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.
Over 20,000 Ballots Already Cast In Escambia County
August 9, 2020
Over 20,000 ballots have already been cast for this year’s primary election in Escambia County.
On the first day of early voting, there were 1,712 ballots cast at nine locations around the county. Another 18,599 vote by mail have been returned for total of 20,312 ballots cast as of Saturday. That’s an 11.62% voter turnout.
Saturday was the deadline to request a mail ballot.
Early voting will continue until next Saturday, August 15 at the following locations:
Each location 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
Primary election day is Tuesday, August 18.
For more information, visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Donald Wayne Gunn
August 9, 2020
Mr. Donald Wayne Gunn, age 62, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2020 in Montgomery, Alabama.
Mr. Gunn was a native of Atmore, AL, raised in Flomaton, AL, former resident of Atlanta, GA and had resided in Flomaton, AL for the past 10 years. Mr. Gunn was a 1976 graduate of Flomaton High School, owner operator of an over the road trucking company and drove for Holox Trucking Company. His hobbies included collecting antique cars and traveling. He attended Lambeth-Boutwell Holiness Church. He is preceded in death by his mother, Lillie Moye Gunn; brother, Walter E. Gunn; maternal grandparents, Ellis and Ola Moye and Walter and Emma Gunn and numerous aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his father and step-mother, Ben and Donna Gunn of Flomaton, AL; two brothers, Kenny (Latecia) Gunn of Brewton, AL and Herbert (Tish) Rabren of Auburn, AL; two sisters, Debbie (Mike) Dawson of Flomaton, AL and Brenda (Roger) Turner of Sims, AL and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 3:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Andy Boutwell and Bro. Josh Pope officiating.
Burial will follow at the Lambeth-Boutwell Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, August 9, 2020 from 1:30 PM until service time at 3:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Curtis Moye, Mike Dawson, Tristan Gunn, Teddie Lambeth, Glenn Jackson and Greg Stokes.
These Are This Week’s State Road Construction Slowdown Spots
August 9, 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.
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 9:
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- 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 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 9:
- 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.
- · 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.
Pictured: Construction along Nine Mile Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Community Mourns Loss Of Longtime Restaurant Owner ‘Ms. Fran’
August 9, 2020
Longtime restaurant owner Frances E. Hampton, 79, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her children on August 7 at her home in McDavid after a courageous battle with cancer.
“Ms. Fran” made her life owning and operating several restaurants, including including Cagle’s Restaurant, Panhandle, Fran’s Country Inn, Fran’s Diner, and Fran’s Country Grill. At the time of her retirement in 2015, Hampton was believed to be the longest running restaurant owner in Escambia County.
After retirement, she turned to other passions including raising racing thoroughbreds, tending to flower gardens on her farm and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite pastime was feeding the multitude of birds that called her property home.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 12 from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with the funeral service to follow at 3:30 p.m.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Santa Rosa Man Charged With Murder After Body Is Found In His Residence
August 8, 2020
A Santa Rosa County man is charged with murder after a dead body was found in his home.
Jerry Geisler Odum, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail Friday night without bond on a charge of first degree premeditated murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to 5646 Vendome Court in Milton for a welfare check. Soon after their arrival, deputies made contact with Odum and a body was found inside the residence. He was taken into custody after being questioned by SRSO Major Crimes detectives.
Further details have not been released as deputies work to make next of kin notification and continue their investigation.