Escambia County Wins State Peanut Butter Challenge
February 20, 2021
Escambia County Extension was the winner of the statewide 2020 Peanut Butter Challenge.
Escambia County collected 2,191 jars weighing in at 2,867.5 pounds. The county’s collection was further boosted by an additional 2,880 jars, generously donated by local farmers Rodney and Mike Helton.
The premise of the event was simple — from October 1 until the day before Thanksgiving, participating counties collected jars of peanut butter, often with plenty of help from the local community and organizations. At the end of the event, the collections are tallied, bragging rights earned, and the jars were distributed to local food pantries to feed neighbors in need during the holiday season.
“The Peanut Butter Challenge continues to raise awareness of the importance of the state peanut industry, and helps provide a healthy product to families who do not have easy access to nutritious food,” said Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the Challenge since its inception. “Our communities come through year after year with tremendous responses to our calls for peanut butter donations, and we thank them.”
Peanut butter is an ever-popular item in food pantries for its nutrient density and shelf stability. The project’s expansion this year was partially inspired by the increased demand for food bank assistance as an economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Set For Special Needs Adults With High Risk Conditions
February 20, 2021
Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart will hold a special COVID-19 vaccination clinic on February 26 for Florida residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities who also have conditions that put them at high risk for serious complications from COVID-19. The clinic will include vaccinations for persons with Down syndrome.
The vaccination clinic will be held at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults with Down syndrome have an increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers in the United Kingdom have estimated that people with Down syndrome have a fourfold increased risk for hospitalization from COVID-19 and a 10-fold increased risk for COVID-related death.
Down syndrome appeared in the CDC’s December 23 update to its list of higher risk conditions linked to severe COVID-19 complications. Persons with Down syndrome are more likely to have congenital heart defects and chronic heart conditions, as well as diabetes, asthma or a compromised immune system.
The February 26 clinic also will provide vaccinations for persons with developmental disabilities who have chronic medical conditions that make them highly vulnerable to COVID-19 complications. Those regarded as extremely vulnerable to the virus include patients with cancer, COPD, weakened immune systems, chronic kidney diseases, certain heart conditions, obesity, Down syndrome, diabetes, and sickle cell disease.
An appointment scheduled in advance is required to attend the clinic. No walk-in patients will be accepted. A parent or legal guardian may be required to attend to give consent for vaccination.
Florida residents interested in arranging an appointment for the February 26 clinic should send an email to Covid19vaccinesupport@ascension.org. When completing an email request, please add in the subject line: “Clinic for adults with disabilities” and, in the email, include the patient’s first and last name, date of birth, a brief description of the qualifying high-risk medical condition, and the patient’s primary care provider.
Ascension Medical Group staff will give shots with the first dose of the Moderna vaccine to up to 400 people who meet the special needs criteria. All participants will be expected to return for a second dose of the vaccine on March 26.
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Sunshine For The Weekend
February 20, 2021
Here is your official north Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
ECSO Arrests 70-Year Old Escambia Man On Child Porn Charges
February 20, 2021
A 70-year old Escambia County man has been arrested on child pornography charges.
James Richard Coleman was charged with 20 felony counts of possession of child pornography.
Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and the ECSO SWAT team served a search warrant at Coleman’s home.
Inside the home, investigators found alleged child pornography on a laptop belonging to Coleman.
Coleman remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $200,000.
It’s Now Official: Sunday Morning Alcohol Sales Are Legal Beginning This Weekend In Escambia County
February 20, 2021
An ordinance legalizing Sunday morning alcohol sales in Escambia County has been filed with the state in time to go into effect this weekend.
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday to approve an ordinance allowing retail alcohol sales seven days a week except between 2:30 and 6 a.m. The Florida Department of State has now accepted the filing of the ordinance, making it the law.
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh proposed the ordinance be amended to achieve continuity throughout the county.
“I’m very pleased my fellow commissioners voted to create uniform regulations for Escambia County alcohol sales hours,” said Bergosh. “Moving forward businesses will be treated equally throughout the county, and I’m glad we could get this right.”
Previously, retail alcohol sales were prohibited from 2:30 a.m. until 6 a.m. daily, except 2:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sundays. An exception allowed sales on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key on Sundays beginning at 7 a.m.
Three More COVID-19 Deaths, 47 New Cases Reported In Escambia County
February 20, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were three additional COVID-19 deaths and 47 more cases reported Friday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,047 (+47)
Non-Florida residents: 3,426
Recovered: 30,848*
Total deaths: 607 (+3)
Long-term care facility deaths: 262 (+3)
Current hospitalizations: 107(-1)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,208
Percent positive reported last day: 2.8%
Percent positive reported last week: 8.9%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 24,614 (+26)
Cantonment: 2,987 (+2)
Century: 1,136
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 453
McDavid: 195
Bellview: 56
Walnut Hill: 49
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 12
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 16,696 (+46)
Non-Florida residents: 211
Total deaths: 250 (+3)
Long-term care facility deaths: 76 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 760*
Number of tests reported last day: 369
Percent positive reported last day: 11.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,010 (+24)
Navarre: 3,388 (+15)
Gulf Breeze: 3,121 (+4)
Pace: 1,320
Jay: 515 (+1)
Bagdad: 31
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,856,427
Florida residents: 1,822,644
Deaths: 29,692
Hospitalizations: 77,408*
*“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.
Woman Tries To Choke Driver; Vehicle Crashes Into Car Dealership, FHP Says
February 19, 2021
A woman was charged after she allegedly tried to choke a woman that was driving a vehicle, causing it to crash into a car dealership building Thursday night.
Deonshae Octavia Greene, 22, was charged with battery and later released from jail on a $1,000 bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Green was a passenger in an Infiniti sedan driven by a 28-year old woman. The vehicle was in the drive-thru at the McDonalds at Pensacola Boulevard and Burgess Road when Greene began choking the driver, according FHP.
The driver hit the accelerator, traveled across Highway 29, struck a parked vehicle that was for sale, and crashed into the pre-owned building at Bob Tyler Toyota. The Infiniti came to rest fully inside the building and partially inside an office.
There were only minor injuries, but FHP said the building suffered major damage.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Foul Play Not Suspected After Man’s Body Found In Century Park
February 19, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said foul play is not suspected after a body was found in a Century park just a few feet away from busy North Century Boulevard.
The body of an adult male was discovered about 7 a.m. in an open grassy area next to a bicycle in front of the Veterans Memorial Wall in the Nadine McCaw Park.
Amber Southard, ECSO spokesperson, said it appeared the man died of natural causes. She said a final determination would be made the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The man’s name has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Plan Presented For OLF-8 As BOCC Continues To Review Behind The Scenes Emails
February 19, 2021
A new preliminary plan for OLF-8 was presented to the Escambia County Commission Thursday, but commissioners are not making any final decisions as they continue to look into emails involving the design firm.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County. The county hired DPZ CoDesign to develop the best plan for OLF-8, and the firm presented four plans ranging from a commerce park based concept to designs with a mix of commerce, residential and green space on the 500 plus acre site along Nine Mile Road in Beulah.
The new plan presented Thursday by DPZ is a combination of commerce, residential and amenities (click or tap image to enlarge).
The “Adjusted Hybrid Plan” allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, day care and community garden.
“This is moving in the right direction,” Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said.
But Bergosh said he is still skeptical DPZ after more emails have come to light between DPZ and others including Navy Federal and the “Beulah Coalition,” some of which were disparaging toward the commission.
“I certainly feel we were undermined, and we certainly were not treated like the client,” Bergosh said.
While DPZ had provided dumps of external emails, commissioners will want to see internal DPZ emails and text message about the project.
DPZ wants to charge the county, their client, $189 per hour to fulfill the request, according to County Attorney Alison Rogers. She said she is working with DPZ in an attempt to lower that rate.
“It is highly unusual that one of our own vendors would charge us to give us records on our own project,” Rogers said.
“Whatever it costs, it costs,” said Commissioner Steven Barry. “I want to see the stuff too.”
The county commission will discuss OLF-8 again at their next meeting on March 11. In the meantime, DPZ is expected to hold some type of town hall meeting on the new plan.
Ribbon Cutting Saturday For ECSO’s Molino Precinct
February 19, 2021
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons will cut the ribbon Saturday to reopen the ECSO precinct in Molino.
The Molino Precinct opening will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served. There will be a K-9 demonstration, coloring books from Crime Scene, a SWAT team vehicle display, and the Escambia County Mounted Posse will be there.
The Molino Cub Scout Pack 430 will raise the flag at 11 a.m., followed by brief comments from Simmons and the ribbon cutting.
Lt. Bobby Nelson, who will oversee the Molino Precinct, will also be present to meet local residents.
“Law enforcement and community engagement begins at the neighborhood level,” Simmons said two week ago when he reopened the ECSO precinct in Perdido.
The ECSO Molino Precinct is located at 5844 North Highway 29, at the corner of Highway 29 and Omega Drive.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.