Event Saturday To Celebrate Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison’s 90th Birthday
January 14, 2021
Legendary high school football coach Carl Madison will celebrate his 90th birthday Saturday in a ceremony with former players and colleagues, friends and guests.
The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Baptist Church and will include a lineup event of distinguished guest speakers, including some of coach Madison’s former players and colleagues.
Tickets are $35 for one person, or $55 per couple, and include an all you can eat fish fry. An attendance ticket that does include the fish fry is $10. Tickets are available by clicking or tapping here.
Madison led the Tate Aggies to a 1980 state championship and took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. He is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation. Click or tap here to read a previous story about Madison.
Escambia County Man Gets 15 Years On 12 Child Porn Charges
January 14, 2021
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on child pornography charges.
Shawn Eric Caron, 45, entered a plea to 12 counts of possession of certain images of child pornography. Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford then handed down the sentence.
The charges stemmedf from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. On June 15, 2020, a search warrant was executed at Caron’s residence and found child pornography images on his devices, including a cell phone, that depicted male and female children under the age of 10.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Remain Near Record
January 14, 2021
The number of daily local COVID-19 hospitalizations reached new record over the last week.
There were 263 people currently hospitalized in Escambia County on Wednesday, down slightly from a record 270 on Saturday, January 9. During a summer surge, local COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a peak of 246 on July 20.
According to Escambia County, there were 17 adult ICU beds available in Escambia County Wednesday night — none at Baptist, five at West Florida and 12 at Sacred Heart. Of the 215 total ventilators in the county, 142 were available.
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.
Six More COVID-19 Deaths, Another 299 Cases Reported In Escambia County
January 14, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
There were six additional COVID-19 deaths and 299 new cases reported Wednesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 26,212 (+299)
Non-Florida residents: 2,830
Recovered: 22,920*
Total deaths: 432 (+6)
Long-term care facility deaths : 182
Current hospitalizations: 263 (-3)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,142
Percent positive reported last day: 18.9%
Percent positive reported last week: 19.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 19,237 (+208)
Cantonment: 2,343 (+22)
Century: 1,069 (+9)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 329 (+7)
McDavid: 164 (+6)
Walnut Hill: 46
Bellview: 41 (+1)
Perdido Key: 18 (+1)
Gonzalez: 11
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 13,145 (+119)
Non-Florida residents: 163
Total deaths: 164 (+7)
Long-term care facility deaths: 40 (+4)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 615*
Number of tests reported day: 402
Percent positive reported last day: 22.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 6,312 (+48)
Navarre: 2,588 (+33)
Gulf Breeze: 2,370 (+22)
Pace: 1,042 (+16)
Jay: 402 (+2)
Bagdad: 25
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,517,472
Florida residents: 1,490,148
Deaths: 23,396
Hospitalizations: 66,634*
*“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.
Grand Jury Indicts Man For Killing His Half-Sister In 2017, Burying Her Body Near Jay
January 14, 2021
A Santa Rosa County grand jury has indicted a man that allegedly murdered his half-sister three years ago before burying her body outside Jay.
Jerry Savoy Phillips Jr. was indicted this week for first degree premeditated murder with a firearm for the death of his half-sister, 38-year old Felicia Kuswandy.
Kuswandy’s remains were found buried behind a home in the 7700 block of Highway 4 east of Jay on December 14, 2018. The murder was believed to have occurred on or about November 12, 2017.
Phillips, 29, was jailed in Alabama on drug trafficking charges until late October 2020, at which time he was formally charged with his half-sister’s death in Florida.
The newly impaneled Santa Rosa County grand jury also indicted Hakeem Denarious Peterson for the first degree felony murder and robbery with a firearm for the death and robbery of a Milton Tom Thumb employee on September 15, 2020.
Aubrey Johnson
January 14, 2021
Mr. Aubrey Johnson, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Johnson was a native of Century, FL and had resided in Escambia County, FL for most of his life. He retired from the Fountain Correctional Facility with 20 years of service, was an ordained minister of the Pentecostal Church of God and attended the Cottage Hill Assembly of God Church. He is preceded in death by his parents; son; brother and four sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rosa Lee Johnson of Pensacola, FL; one son, David (Jackie) Johnson of Bratt, FL; one daughter, Alice Bennett (Dee) of Pensacola, FL; one grandson, Terry Dale (Karen) Johnson; one great grandson, Nate Johnson and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Ron McGlothren and Bro. Dale Johnson officiating.
Burial will follow at the McCurdy Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 1:30 PM until service time at 2:00 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Campbell, Ben Campbell, Trey Campbell, Noah McBride, Bud Campbell and Nick Emmert.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Billy Campbell, Mike Campbell and Masons.
Tharon Douglas Godwin
January 14, 2021
Tharon Douglas Godwin, passed away on Jan. 11, 2021, after living 100 years of life in only 78 calendar years, because he truly knew the meaning of enjoying the time he had been given, especially when one on one with God, the river and the woods. Born to his parents, Clifford Oree and Hazel Jackson Godwin, Tharon, also known as “Uncle Bo,” to all of his nieces and nephews, quickly acquired a stellar reputation for being the go-to for agriculture, not only because he grew up on the Old Godwin Farm, working the land “by hand and by machinery,” but because he also learned and excelled in Jay High School’s Agriculture and FFA programs, something he always encouraged current young kids to do also. After his 1960 graduation from Jay and many lessons of ballroom dancing (something he said he wished he had continued doing for the rest of his life), Uncle Bo never desired to venture too far away from his family, his town and his history. “There’s just something about living around people you went to school with, or sharing tomatoes with an old friend’s elderly mother,” he would softly exclaim. “These are the people that’ll stand by you when you mess up, and cheer for you when you do something great. That’s what a hometown is all about.” Uncle Bo practiced this idea because after attending Pensacola State and taking classes in agriculture and public speaking, he kept his roots planted in the Jay area.
Anybody who knew him became privy to his thoughts on the government, music, politics, turkey hunting and perhaps a few secrets about willow flies and fishing, but that particular conversation was only if he decided he liked you. An outspoken advocate against too many regulations, Uncle Bo sometimes wrote his own rules and paved his own way. As a lifetime farmer, Uncle Bo was very successful with peanuts, cotton and beans, but the one thing he could manage to grow without much effort was animals. “For the life of me, every time I would save an abandoned dog or leave my door open for that little squirrel that I called Grayson, pretty soon I had more dogs and squirrels than I bargained for.”
His love of animals didn’t keep him from enjoying their harvest. His nieces and nephews have heard all the details about his fishing trips to Mexico and hunting trips to White Oak. “Those were some great trips,” he would say at the end of the stories; however, the love affair of Uncle Bo and the White Gobbler that he had chased forever but actually let him go, is the family’s favorite, and most of them know the story by heart. Even his pet turkey hen Maybelle would accompany Uncle Bo on his turkey trips, riding shotgun in his truck and assisting him in All Things Gobbler.
Uncle Bo enjoyed his time alone, but only if he could get outside. His favorite time was in the fall during peanut season when the soil had been freshly turned and the smell of the dirt could fill every part of his thinking. “It takes me back to earlier days,” he would always say. “When things were simple.” Simple things were what he would surround himself with, including old “Andy Griffith” series and music from the 60s and 70s, especially Elvis. He looked forward to bonfires and fireworks with his extended family, and believed in “baptizing” a family member’s date with firecrackers and Roman candles.
Uncle Bo is preceded in death by his parents, Oree and Hazel of Jay; his brother, Brandon Earl Godwin of Jay; sister-in-law, Peggy Godwin of Jay and nephew Solon Gandy of Jay. Survivors include his older brother Terrell Wayne Godwin and sister Brenda Godwin, both of Jay; nephews Bruce Godwin (Debbie); Haynes Gandy (Suzanne) and Stacey Godwin (Miranda); Nieces Stephanie Solomon (John); Suzi Godwin; Sandy Godwin; Melissa Godwin; and Vicki Baggett (Garry); a great friend, Richard Savage, and several great-nephews, great-nieces, and other relatives whose hearts were truly touched by his large and unforgettable spirit.
There will be graveside services on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 3 p.m. with Rev. Justin Morgan of Cora Baptist Church officiating and burial to follow. Trahan Family Funeral Home is handling all arrangements. Active pallbearers will be Corry Baggett, Jace Gandy, Sawyer Gandy, Brandon Godwin, Levi Solomon, JP Solomon, and Luke Theron Gandy, a great-nephew, who is named after Uncle Bo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Attempted Murder
January 13, 2021
A Cantonment man is the third person charged in an October shooting at a convenience store on Olive Road.
Michael DeWayne Robinson, 43, was charged with first degree premeditated attempted murder, kidnapping an adult for ransom and aggravated battery. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week with bond set at $1.175 million.
On January 5, Quaundre McGee, 17, was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery and destruction of evidence. A third accomplice, Tawanna Quanethia Lewis, 40, was arrested November 13 on charges of attempted homicide, kidnapping, aggravated battery and obstructing justice. She remained jailed with bond set at $1.6 million.
The shooting happened October 24 at the Xpress Mart store at 202 East Olive Road during what was described as a drug deal gone wrong. A woman suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle.
Pictured top: Michael DeWayne Robinson of Cantonment. Pictured below: Tawanna Quanethia Lewis (left) and Quaundre McGee,
High Today Around 50, Near Freezing Tonight
January 13, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy morning fog with freezing fog possible. Low around 33. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. West wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 29. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind around 5 mph.
M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
Local Publix Stores Offering COVID-19 Vaccinations Beginning Thursday
January 13, 2021
COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at Publix stores in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties beginning Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced.
The vaccine will be available at no cost at six Publix locations in Escambia County and five in Santa Rosa County for residents 65 and older by appointment only. Appointments can be made beginning Wednesday at publix.com/covid-vaccine. Each location will be able to administer 100-125 vaccinations per day.
Customers with health insurance will need to bring their insurance card to their scheduled appointment. Customers without health insurance will need to provide their driver’s license or Social Security number.
“Publix has done a great job with this,” DeSantis said during a news conference Tuesday morning in Niceville. “We knew that they would because people love Publix in Florida.”
The local distribution is an expansion of a pilot program in Citrus, Hernando, and Marion counties.
Vaccines will be available at the following local Publix stores:
Escambia County
- 13390 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola
- 5055 North 9th Ave., Pensacola
- 9251 University Parkway, Pensacola
- 5998 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- 2180 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- 1100 E. Cervantes St., Pensacola
Santa Rosa County
- 852 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze
- 1430 Tiger Park Lane, Gulf Breeze
- 8244 Navarre Parkway, Navarre
- 4739 Highway 90, Pace
- 5580 Woodbine Road, Pace
Customers with health insurance will need to bring their insurance card to their scheduled appointment. Customers without health insurance will need to provide their driver’s license or Social Security number.
COMMENTS ON THIS STORY HAVE BEEN CLOSED. You cannot make or confirm an appointment by making a comment on this story. You must follow the link above. Too many individuals from across the state were posting sensitive medical and personal information that could pose an identify theft problem. Therefore, we closed the comments.
