53 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
April 24, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 53 new COVID-19 cases in Escambia County reported by the Florida Department of Health on Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,658 (+53)
Non-Florida residents: 3,666
Recovered: 33,243*
Total deaths: 675
Long-term care facility deaths: 281
Current hospitalizations: 38 (+2)
Number of tests reported last day: 500
Percent positive reported last day: 8.1%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,663 (+45)
Cantonment: 3,202 (+6)
Century: 1,175
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 490 (+1)
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 54
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,063 (+21)
Non-Florida residents: 246
Total deaths: 284
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 892*
Number of tests reported last day: 235
Percent positive reported last day: 8.2%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,614 (+9)
Navarre: 3,727 (+6)
Gulf Breeze: 3,335 (+2)
Pace: 1,464 (+4)
Jay: 549
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,196,502
Florida residents: 2,155,319
Deaths: 34,759
Hospitalizations: 89,201
*“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.
Skeletal Remains Identified As Virginia Woman Missing Since 2018
April 23, 2021
Skeletal remains found in Escambia County, Alabama, have been positively identified as missing Virginia woman that was headed to visit relatives in Alabama nearly three years ago.
On August 4, 2018, 70-year old Shari Christine Saunders left Norfolk, Virginia, on her way to Monroeville, Alabama, to visit with family, but never arrived. She was last seen fueling her 2010 red Toyota Corolla in Evergreen, Alabama. Saunders was listed as a missing person and entered into a nationwide database.
Saunder’s vehicle was located on a dirt road off Canaan Church Road in Conecuh County, Alabama, a few miles north of the Flomaton exit on I-65 and Highway 113 on August 13, 2018. A search of the area was completed by the Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe County Sheriff’s offices but Saunders was not located. Investigators continued to search for Saunders, conduct interview, and follow up on leads and information that came in on a weekly basis.
On December 26, 2020, skeletal remains were found in a wooded area off a gated private road that intersects with Canaan Church Road. The remains were submitted for forensic testing for a positive identification.
“A forensic laboratory has now positively identified the skeletal remains as that of Shari Saunders. Additional evidence is being evaluated by other forensic labs, and the sheriff’s offices are focusing on particular suspects,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “We would like to thank the community for their willingness to help in bringing this case closer to being solved and ask that you report anything that might be of evidentiary value.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office Investigator Smith at (251) 809-0741.
Four Candidates Under Consideration To Be The Next Escambia County Fire Chief
April 23, 2021
Escambia County once again has a list of four candidates that might become the next fire chief.
The four are set to meet with county leaders on Friday. In alphabetical order, they are:
- Pascal Arnes — chief, Decatur Township Fire Department, Indianapolis, Indiana. He has 28 years in fire service from volunteer to chief positions.
- Jason Catrambone — chief, Williston Fire Department, Williston, North Dakota. He has more than 25 years experience.
- Billy Cockman — fire chief, Coffeyville Fire Department, Coffeyville Kansas. He served in the Navy for 16 years, and has experience in Florida including Ft. Myers and Jacksonville
- Carroll Spriggs — deputy chief, Annapolis Fire Department, Maryland. He served as a deputy sheriff beginning in 1996 and became a firefighter in 2004.
There’s no word on when a final selection might be made.
“The job will remain open and posted until it is filled,” Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale told NorthEscambia.com.
Four finalists were also announced in late January, culled from a list of 60 applicants from a nationwide search. They were notified that none were selected and the search was continuing.
Escambia County’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and resigned in April 2019.
NorthEsambia.com graphic.
New 448 Area Code Coming To The 850 – Mandatory Change In How You Dial Is Coming May 22
April 23, 2021
A new area code is coming to Northwest Florida, a mandatory change in how you dial your phone begins in about a month.
Mandatory 10-digit dialing will be effective on May 22 for all calls, including local calls, for existing and new phone numbers in the 850 and the new 448 area codes. This includes landlines, cellphones and other devices.
“With Florida’s 850 area code running out of phone numbers, the 448 overlay plan and 10-digit dialing is necessary,” said PSC Chairman Gary Clark. “The good news is that Florida’s growing population and economy are driving this change. With today’s digital applications, programming 10-digit dialing into our contacts and devices is relatively easy.”
New customers, or requests for additional lines, are now assigned the new 448 area code. The PSC actually delayed mandatory 10-digit dialing implementation for three months—originally scheduled to begin in February—so that business customers in the overlay region had ample time to reprogram alarm systems and elevator operations.
Here are some other quick facts about the new 448 area code:
- Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911. You can also dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available.
- Telephone customers should remember to include their area code (3-digit area code + 7-digit telephone number) when giving their number to friends, family, business associates, and customers.
- Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 448 area code as a valid area code, and should continue to program 10-digit telephone numbers.
The 850/448 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle, including the cities of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee.
Risk Of Severe Storms Overnight
April 23, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 1am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 64. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 76. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Dateline NBC Episode Airs Tonight About Ashley McArthur Murder Of Taylor Wright
April 23, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY; THE SHOW HAS ALREADY AIRED. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL NOT BE POSTED.
Friday night’s Dateline NBC will feature the story of Ashley McArthur, who is serving a life sentence for killing a woman for money and burying her body in Cantonment.
“We have interviews with Detectives Chad Willhite and Jeff Brown, Taylor’s best friend Barbara Evanson, Taylor’s ex-husband Jeff Wright and more,” Claudia Meyer-Samargia, communications coordinator for NBC News, told NorthEscambia.com.
For an earlier NorthEscambia.com story with details on the murder, click or tap here.
The two hour episode airs from 8-10 p.m. on NBC, including locally on WPMI 15.
Pictured: Dateline NBC will air a two hour episode about the murder of Taylor Wright Friday night, with interviews that include Pensacola Police detectives Chad Willhite and Jeff Brown (pictured top), Taylor’s best friend Barbara Evanson (pictured below), and Taylor’s ex-husband Jeff Wright (pictured bottom). Images courtesy Dateline NBC for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Gets Walk-Off Win Over Lighthouse On Jefferson Single; Tate Softball Beats Gulf Breeze 18-3
April 23, 2021
BASEBALL
Northview 6, Lighthouse Christian 5
Jamarkus Jefferson singled on a 3-2 count scoring one run for a 6-5 Northview walk-off win over Lighthouse Christian Academy Thursday night in Bratt.
Jefferson started on the mound for the Chiefs, going three innings, allowing three and two runs while striking out six. Josh Landis and Ethan Collier closed out the game.
At the plate, Kaden Odom led things for Northview, going 2-4 with two runs and striking out six. Jefferson, Josh Landis, Luke Bridges and Wyatt Scruggs each added one hit for the Chiefs.
Northview (14-6, 7-1) begins District 1-1A postseason play next Tuesday, April 27 against Baker (6-12, 4-4) at Jay High School.
For a photo gallery, click here.
SOFTBALL
Tate 18, Gulf Breeze 3
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Gulf Breeze 18-3 Thursday night.
Courtney Lundquist earned the victim for the Lady Aggies, going two and a third innings with one run and three hits. Abbie Burks pitched one and two-thirds innings in relief, giving up two hits, two runs and striking out two.
Cam Wolfenden was 4-4 with five RBIs and four runs for Tate. Madison Holland and Michayla Kent were both 3-4. Courtney Adams, Sophia Jones and Christina Mason had two hits each, while Hanna Halfacre and Kennedy Turner added one apiece.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDLE Charges Escambia County Man With Child Porn Possession
April 23, 2021
An Escambia County man was arrested on child pornography charges Thursday.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers charged 33-year old Anthony Tidwell with 15 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began when agents discovered an IP address being utilized to request child sexual abuse material on a peer-to-peer network. Agents traced the IP address to Tidwell’s residence.
FDLE agents executed a search warrant at Tidwell’ home with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation found images depicting children as young as six years old, according to FDLE.
Tidwell was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond. Additional charges are dependent upon completion of forensics exams, FDLE said.
Jay High’s Jada Lowry Signs With Pensacola State Volleyball
April 23, 2021
Jay High School senior Jada Lowry signed with Pensacola State College volleyball Thursday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
40 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Escambia County
April 23, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 40 new COVID-19 cases in Escambia County reported by the Florida Department of Health on Thursday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,605 (+40)
Non-Florida residents: 3,665
Recovered: 33,237*
Total deaths: 675
Long-term care facility deaths: 281
Current hospitalizations: 36 (+6)
Number of tests reported last day: 954
Percent positive reported last day: 3.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,618 (+34)
Cantonment: 3,196 (+2)
Century: 1,175
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 489
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 54
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,042
Non-Florida residents: 246
Total deaths: 284
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 889*
Number of tests reported last day: 370
Percent positive reported last day: 5.1%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,605 (+10)
Navarre: 3,721 (+5)
Gulf Breeze: 3,333 (+3)
Pace: 1,460 (+1)
Jay: 549 (-1 data adjustment)
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,191,038
Florida residents: 2,149,932
Deaths: 34,696
Hospitalizations: 88,958
*“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.