Three New COVID-19 Deaths, Another 169 Cases Reported In Escambia County
February 5, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were three additional COVID-19 deaths and 169 new cases reported in Escambia County Thursday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 31,579 (+169)
Non-Florida residents: 3,275
Recovered: 30,664*
Total deaths: 541 (+3)
Long-term care facility deaths : 233 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 170 (-10)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,053
Percent positive reported last day: 12.9%
Percent positive reported last week: 15.2%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 23,460 (+140)
Cantonment: 2,866 (+9)
Century: 1,123 (+3)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 436 (+3)
McDavid: 189 (+3)
Bellview: 52
Walnut Hill: 49 (+1)
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 12
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 15,784 (+84)
Non-Florida residents: 200
Total deaths: 217
Long-term care facility deaths: 66
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 706*
Number of tests reported last day: 506
Percent positive reported last day: 14.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 7,602 (+35)
Navarre: 3,164 (+20)
Gulf Breeze: 2,948 (+36)
Pace: 1,255 (+6)
Jay: 493 (+2)
Bagdad: 31
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,752,330
Florida residents: 1,720,760
Deaths: 27,247
Hospitalizations: 73,631*
*“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. Most of these people are longer be 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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***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 is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Christopher Thomas Henderson
February 5, 2021
Christopher Thomas Henderson flew away to his Heavenly Home on January 29, 2021. He is safe and happy in the arms of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He assured his mother of this fact with many tears as he lay in MICU.
Chris was born on September 14, 1985 in Pensacola, FL. He lived his childhood in Davisville FL with his mother, step father Erich, and siblings Ericka and Levi. He was beautiful, intelligent, and had such a big caring heart. He loved playing in the fields, woods, and creeks. He was born again and baptised in Atmore, AL in 1999 at the age of 13. He was a member of McCullough Christian Center in Atmore, AL.
Chris later joined the Army as a Combat Medic, serving in Iraq during the Iraq War. He was honorably discharged and medically retired from the Army, due to injuries he received in combat.
Preceding Chris in death are his paternal grandparents Vivian Earl and Annie Mae Henderson of Century, his maternal grandfather John D Huggins, his beloved maternal great grandparents John F and Edith Huggins, all of Pensacola FL, his maternal great grandparents, Jack and Vivian Smith of Ione, WA, his uncle Robert (Bobby) Henderson of Flomaton, AL, his dearly loved Aunt Pamela Henderson Mathis of Century, FL.
Chris is survived by his wife Felicia Whiten Henderson of Pensacola, FL, his son Gabriel Thomas Henderson of Huntsville, AL, his stepsons Damin Baker Jr, Deyshon Baker, and Davonte Baker of Pensacola, FL, his mother Nancy Huggins Peters of Pace, FL, his father Thomas D Henderson of Brewton, AL, his stepfather Erich Peters of Atmore, AL, his sister Ericka Peters Quesada of Costa Rica, his brothers Levi Peters of McDavid, FL, Isaiah Peters, and Caleb Peters of Pace, FL, his beloved Uncle Steve Huggins and family of Bay Minette, AL, his maternal grandmother, Jackie Smith of Bay Minette, AL, his aunt Sue Henderson Johnson of Century, FL.
Chris will be laid to rest in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL. A memorial service will be announced at a later time.
ECSO Seeks Area Man Wanted On Battery, Weapon Charges
February 4, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday afternoon that they are looking for an area man wanted on multiple active warrants.
Randon Bryan Watson, 36, is wanted for two counts of battery (domestic violence) and one count of improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon. He will have no bond when arrested. There are also three domestic violence injunctions that need to be served on Watson.
The ECSO said Watson is known to stay in the Atmore area.
Anyone that knows Watson’s location is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
UPDATE: Children Taken From Atmore Gas Station Found Safe In Mississippi; Man To Face Child Custody Charges
February 4, 2021
Two children taken from an Atmore gas station Thursday morning have been safely recovered safe and unharmed in Mississippi, and the father of one of the children is now charged in connection with the incident.
About 9:40 a.m., the Atmore Police Department responded to the report of man abducting two children ages 3 and 16 from at a gas station on Jacks Springs Road at I-65.
The mother of the children told police she had traveled from Texas earlier Thursday morning with the intention of moving to Alabama. She said the children were taken by her estranged husband.
According to Atmore Police Chief Brooks, the woman said she pulled into the gas station to refuel her truck, and the children went inside the store. She said that minutes later the children exited the store and got into the husband’s Toyota Camry.
The woman told police that her husband is biological the father of the 3-year old. She said her husband was not the father of the teen and had no parental rights to the child.
“The woman also said she did not feel the children were in danger but wanted the children back in her custody,” Brooks said.
The father, identified as 58-year old Bruice Jyrome Jonson of San Antonio, Texas, was later detained in Gulfport, Mississippi. He will face interference with child custody charges when extradited back to Alabama.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
U.S. Marshals Arrest Century Man On Outstanding Drug Warrants
February 4, 2021
U.S. Marshals arrested a Century man on outstanding drug warrants Thursday morning.
Darren L. Green, 52, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at a home on Academy Street at the corner of Henry Street in Century.
Green was wanted on outstanding drug warrants from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for trafficking methamphetamine and marijuana possession, according to SRSO Sgt. Rich Aloy.
Green was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $105,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest.
Pictured: U.S. Marshals arrested a man on outstanding drug warrants at this home on Academy Street in Century Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Business Burglary, Resisting Arrest
February 4, 2021
A Walnut Hill man is facing multiple charges after allegedly burglarizing a business and later running from deputies.
Hunter Anthony Chavers, 25, is charged with burglary of a business, grand theft, obstruction of justice and violation of probation.
Chavers allegedly took items worth $9,350 from West Florida Gin on Meadows Road in Davisville. The items reported stolen included a portable welder valued at $8,500 along with miscellaneous hand tools, power tools and other items.
The stolen goods were recovered at Chaver’s residence on Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, according to an arrest report.
When deputies arrived at Chaver’s residence to serve an arrest warrant, he reportedly ran into a nearby wooded area where he was taken into custody, the ECSO said.
A rifle, pistol and ammunition were seized, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Chavers is not allowed to possess weapons due to the terms of his probation from 2018 conviction on hunting relating charges.
Chavers remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Century’s Gas Department Made A Profit In December. That Has Not Happened In Long Time.
February 4, 2021
For the first time in recent memory, the Town of Century’s gas fund has actually recorded a profit for a month without the need to borrow operating cash from another department.
During the month of December, the gas fund had a $10,621 profit. Most months, including previous winters, the fund loses money and money is transferred in from special revenue, gas and garbage funds to keep the gas department afloat. In October and November, $52,404 was transferred to the gas department from other fund sources to cover losses topping $37,000.
During the four-year period ending in September 2019, Century’s gas department losses topped $1 million. That prompted the town to get to work replacing inaccurate residential and commercial meters and working on inaccurate billing.
In September 2019, the town could not account for 45% of natural gas purchased for resale. It was not leaking; it simply was not be billed due to those inaccurate meters and billing problems. In recent months, about 11% of the gas was missing from the books as the town works toward an even lower number.
“You are going to see those numbers trend downward,” interim City Manager Vernon Prather said.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Decline
February 4, 2021
Escambia County COVID-19 daily hospitalizations have fallen below 200 this week for the first time since the year began.
There were 180 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Escambia County on Wednesday.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations between the three local hospital systems are starting to slowly go down, but we still want to get back to the 50-75 range,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “It’s important that we continue to work together to bring these numbers down for our community and for our hospitals. Please be vigilant and take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often.”
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data source: Escambia County, City of Pensacola. Graphics: City of Pensacola, Escambia County.
Highway 29 Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrest When K-9 Finds Ecstasy And Cocaine
February 4, 2021
A Highway 29 traffic stop led to the discover of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and cocaine Tuesday night.
About 11 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Patrol Unit performed a traffic stop near the Regency Hotel on Highway 29.
Deputy Beaty and K-9 Maddox were called to the scene. Inside the car, K-9 Maddox alerted to 46.8 grams of MDMA and 2.7 grams of crack cocaine, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A gun was also located inside the vehicle.
Anthony Maurice Thomas, 23, was charged with a weapons offense, resisting an officer without violence, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and trafficking phenethylamines. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $131,000.
Clouds Thursday; Rain Thursday Night And Friday
February 4, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.