396 Additional COVID-19 Cases, Three New Deaths Reported In Escambia County
January 22, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were three additional COVID-19 deaths and 396 new cases reported Thursday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 28,431 (+396)
Non-Florida residents: 3,017
Recovered: 22,939*
Total deaths: 472 (+3)
Long-term care facility deaths : 201 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 264 (+3)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,694
Percent positive reported last day: 17.9%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.4%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 20,963 (+317)
Cantonment: 2,553 (+34)
Century: 1,099 (+5)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 365 (+9)
McDavid: 174 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 47
Bellview: 46 (+1)
Perdido Key: 19
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 14,261 (+168)
Non-Florida residents: 180
Total deaths: 194 (+5)
Long-term care facility deaths: 59 (+4)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 659*
Number of tests reported last day: 632
Percent positive reported last day: 21.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 6,780 (+84)
Navarre: 2,848 (+26)
Gulf Breeze: 2,597 (+33)
Pace: 1,146 (+10)
Jay: 432 (+2)
Bagdad: 30 (+1)
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,613,884
Florida residents: 1,584,442
Deaths: 24,739
Hospitalizations: 69,282*
*“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 as a result, 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.
One Serious Injury When Highway 29 Driver Crashes At The Camp o’ the Pines
January 21, 2021
One person was seriously injured in a Highway 29 wreck Thursday morning.
The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a concrete culvert before coming to rest in the entrance to the Camp o’ the Pines about 5:50 a.m.
The driver was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Seeks Two For Questioning About Murder Of 16-Year Old
January 21, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two men for questioning only about the murder of a 16-year old in late December.
Investigators want to question Andetrius Mershon Bivins and Trenton Dominic Capri Newkirk, both age 20, about the December 29 homicide of Jeffrey Kennell, Jr. at the Forest Creek Apartments on Patton Drive.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia Legislative Delegation Supports Term Limits For ECUA Board Members
January 21, 2021
A bill that will impose term limits on members of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has been endorsed by the Escambia County Legislative Delegation.
Rep. Michelle Salzman, now serving her first term in the Florida House, proposed the bill and has received the support of delegation members Sen. Doug Broxson and Rep. Alex Andrade,. That almost ensures that it will pass the Legislature and become law this year; local bills impacting local areas usually pass without any opposition.
The bill will limit ECUA board members to three, four-year terms.
Salzman set out to rewrite that legislative act that gives ECUA its authority after a 2018 grand jury investigation that was not made public until September 2020.
“I’m not trying to create a political issue or red tape, but we just need to make sure we don’t make those mistakes again. If we don’t see a positive change, we can do more or consider dissolving the entity altogether if that is best for the citizens,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com last month. “The current way the special act is written, there is no authority over the five board members, no way to hold them accountable for how they operate.”
While she did not specifically mention him, Larry Walker served on the ECUA board representing District 5 for nearly three decades — from 1988 to 2000 and 2004 until his defeat by political newcomer Kevin Stephens in 2020.
Salzman first called for an oversight board appointed by the Escambia County Commission and Pensacola City Council, but backed upon from that proposal.
“We don’t need to remove the whole reason ECUA is there; we don’t need to take all of their authority away from them,” Salzman said.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Library To Be Closed Most Of February For Remodel
January 21, 2021
The Century Branch Library will be closed for three weeks in February for an extensive interior remodel.
The remodel will feature an expansion of the children’s area by reducing on-site storage. There will also be improvements to the public service desk for increased accessibility, an improved adult reading area, new carpet, new paint, new lighting and new furnishings.
An additional sidewalk, benches, bicycle area and tables have already been added outside the library.
While the library will be closed, Feeding the Gulf Coast youth meals will be available for the week each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Library materials that have been reserved through the library’s website will also be available each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Borrowed items can be returned during the closure by using the outdoor book drop on the south side of the building.
Pictured: Some of the outside improvements at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Jailed After FDLE K-9 Sniffs Out Devices Containing Child Porn
January 21, 2021
An Escambia County man is jailed after a K-9 sniffed out electronic devices containing child pornography during the execution of a search warrant Wednesday.
Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, Homeland Security and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement served a child pornography search warrant at a home in the 2700 block of Godwin Lane.
With the assistance of FDLE Agent Stephanie Cassidy and her K-9 “Maple,” deputies were able to locate an electronic storage devices containing child pornography at the home. Cassidy trained Maple to sniff out anything that can digitally store information like USB drives, hidden cameras, computers, thumb drives, cellphones, CDs and DVDs.
ECSO’s lead investigator Suzanne Pollack arrested 26 -year old Aaron Michael Rogers, charging him with 13 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of transmission of child pornography. Rogers was booked in the Escambia County Jail with a $132,500 bond.
Rain Likely For Thursday Night, Friday
January 21, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers. Patchy fog after 3am. Low around 57. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Friday: Showers. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Cloudy, with a high near 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway In Molino This Saturday
January 21, 2021
UF IFAS Extension and the Escambia County Natural Resources Department will hold a drive-through tree giveaway from 9 to 11 a.m., or until supplies last, this Saturday in Molino.
The event will be held at the Escambia County 4-H Camp and Livestock Facility located at 5701 Highway 99 in Molino. The giveaway begins promptly at 9 a.m., and attendees will need to follow instructions from volunteers related to entry and route. To keep everyone healthy, attendees will be asked to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask when approached by volunteers. Each vehicle will receive two free native 1 gallon trees. Species available include overcup oak, willow oak, sweetgum and Savannah holly.
Participants and anyone interested in tree care are encouraged to watch a free online seminar at noon on January 21 entitled, “Tree Planting: More than Digging a Hole,” to learn proper tree planting and care techniques. The presentation will go over the types of trees being given away, as well. Registration for the webinar can be found at: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0gfLeX5SRpGCvJmbD_Qo0w
Arbor Day Mail Art Contest
Escambia County Extension will also host their 4th annual Arbor Day Mail Art Contest this year. To participate, mail a drawing, painting, photograph or mixed media artwork with the theme, “Renew, Regrow, and Reforest” to Arbor Day Art Contest c/o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Please include your name, age, and contact information on the back of your artwork. Contest entries must arrive by mail or be dropped off by January 25.
First place winners of the art contest will receive prizes including a seven-gallon tree, a shovel and a tree book. Second place winners will receive a tree book and third place winners will receive gardening supplies. Categories include children (12-under), teen (13-18) and adult (over 18). Winners will be announced via Facebook Live on January 29, and prizes given out by appointment. Resource Management Services provided support for the art contest.
File photo.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Set New Record This Week
January 21, 2021
The number of daily local COVID-19 hospitalizations reached new record this week.
There were 284 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Escambia County on Monday. The number was 261 on Wednesday.
During a summer surge, local COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a peak of 246 on July 20.
According to Escambia County, there were 19 adult ICU beds available in Escambia County Wednesday night — none at Baptist, five at West Florida and 14 at Sacred Heart.
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. Graphic: City of Pensacola.
Louise Sophia Pashos West
January 21, 2021
t perished from this world on January 20, 2021 in a Pensacola Florida hospital due to an extended illness. She was 75 years of age at the time of her passing.
She was born on September 29, 1945 at Mercy Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ohio to Louis and Helen Pashos.
After graduating from St. Vincent De Paul Catholic High School she traveled the world and gained life experiences as a travel agent.
She earned her Bachelors Degree from Ashland University, and her Masters Degree from Xavier University in Education. She began her teaching experience in Chicago Illinois before transferring back to her home state of Ohio . Her devotion was to education where she dedicated her talents to the public school sector, her love for children and knowledge was her inspiration. Towards the end of her career teaching, she served as a Principal and Superintendent. She has been an educator in Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida for 45 years before retiring.
After her retirement, she relocated to South Alabama to be near her family, reading books, and sharing her love for boxer dogs.
She has one adult son, Michael in which she dedicated her life to being a fantastic and wonderful mother, raising him by herself as a single parent. She is survived by her son Michael (Andrea) West, two grandchildren, brother Michael Pashos, sister Georgia Dominguez, niece Helen Pashos Pickron among other many close friends.
In remembrance, a Memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday January 23, 2021 (11:30A) at Saint Margaret Catholic Church in Foley Alabama.
A gravesite service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery located in Mount Vernon Ohio will be scheduled and announced at a later date.