DeSantis Issues Order Forbidding School Mask Mandates
July 31, 2021
Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order that forbids school districts in the state from mandating masks this year.
He said parents must decide for themselves if their own children should wear masks in the classes this school year.
“It has harmed students,” DeSantis said of mandates. “Shouldn’t this be something parents decide?”
The order went into effect immediately It authorized Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to “pursue all legal means available to ensure school districts adhere to Florida law, including but not limited to withholding state funds from noncompliant school board violating any rules or agency action” taken at the Governor’s direction.
DeSantis said many students were harmed without direct face-to-face interactions in classrooms.
“It’s something that a lot of parents have been frustrated about, that a lot of students have been frustrated about,” DeSantis said. “I’ve had a lot of kids come up to me saying we don’t want to wear the masks going forward.”
“The federal government has no right to tell parents that in order for their kids to attend school in person, they must be forced to wear a mask all day, every day,” said DeSantis. “Many Florida schoolchildren have suffered under forced masking policies, and it is prudent to protect the ability of parents to make decisions regarding the wearing of masks by their children.”
Read the complete executive order by clicking or tapping here.
Florida’s Back To School Sales Tax Holiday
July 31, 2021
Florida’s 10-day back to school sales tax holiday began Saturday and continues through August 9.
During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax, including certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and the first $1,000 of the sales price of personal computers and certain computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
For complete details from the Florida Department of Revenue, click or tap here.
Escambia Man Gets 25 Years For Child Pornography Possession, Child Molestation
July 31, 2021
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 25 year in state prison and lifetime sex offender probation for possessing child pornography.
John Henry Wright was also designated a sexual predator by Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford. Wright entered a plea to 15 counts of possession of certain images of child pornography and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim under age 12.
On December 2, 2020, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline about child pornography being shared on social media from Wright’s home. At the time, he was under investigation by the ECSO for lewd or lascivious molestation of a minor child.
“The defendant’s sentence will serve to help protect the citizens of Escambia County and the entire state of Florida,” prosecutor Carrie Gilmer said.
Escambia Reports 1,627 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week; Hospitalizations Increase
July 31, 2021
There were 1,627 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health. That’s compared to 757 new positives reported in the week prior.
Baptist, Ascension Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals reported a combined 160 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Friday.
Since July 1, Baptist Health Care has treated a total of 129 patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19. Of those, 109 reported upon admission that they were unvaccinated, which means that they have not received a COVID-19 vaccine or have received only one dose of a two-dose series. Ascension and West Florida have not released similar details.
“The vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in preventing infection or minimizing the severity of illness should a rare breakthrough infection occur. Baptist Health Care encourages everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community,” the hospital said in a news release.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,240 (+1,627)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 26%
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 20,209 (+772)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 27.6%
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 2,590,699 (+110,477)
Case positivity rate: 18.1%
Deaths: 39,079 (+108)
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate; the number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities has been removed.
Mobile’s McClung Named Escambia (AL) School Superintendent
July 31, 2021
Michele M. McClung has been named the new superintendent of the Escambia County (AL) School System.
The board selected McClung over Gary Glass, a Monroe County (AL) principal, on a 4-3 vote. The board then took another unanimous vote that they would consider their vote for McClung as unanimous.
McClung is currently the Mobile County Public School’s director of teaching, learning and assessment. She has served in that role since 2018 and is responsible for overseeing curriculum, creating quarterly assessments, and preparing students for mandated state assessments. She also oversees planning, budgeting, conducting and keeping records of professional development for over 4,000 teachers, as well as administrators and staff.
She is a 30-year educator and a Leadership Mobile Class of 2020 graduate and was previously the principal at Dawes Intermediate School from 2009-18, which opened under her leadership and earned a National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence award. She is a frequent presenter at national conferences and a trainer, consultant or committee member for a variety of educational organizations.
She is expected to take over as Escambia County (AL) superintendent in late August after an employment contract is negotiated. McClung replaces retiring Superintendent John Knott.
Century Chamber Asks Town for $25K; Council President Questions If Chamber Is Even Worthwhile
July 30, 2021
The Century Town Council began budget talks Thursday evening, receiving a funding request from the local chamber of commerce that prompted the council president to question if they are even worthwhile.
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce asked the town to budget $25,000 for three maintenance projects at the chamber building, which is owned by the town. The chamber requested $8,000 for metal roof repairs, $6,000 to replace existing gutters with “commercial style/grade” gutters, and $11,000 to replace the existing HVAC system and add an air filtration system.
But Council President Luis Gomez responded by questioning the value of the chamber to the town.
“I’ve been on this council almost five years, and the chamber has never actually done anything for the town of Century or contributed anything to the town of Century,” he said.
“You know the chamber is supposed to recruit business to the area. I don’t know of one,” Gomez continued, saying that if the chamber has attended a meeting during his tenures, it was for “some side show”.
“If we were to approve any of these things, we would have to do it for ourselves. We’ve got to go out and get bids, not just take that,” councilman James Smith said, referring to the chamber’s written estimates for work on the town-owned building.
The council took no formal actions Thursday on any budget items. They will hold at least two more budget workshops before presenting a final budget in early September
Pictured: Century Town Council President Luis Gomez (left) listens as council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson discusses the upcoming town budget Thursday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Frontier Airlines Announces $29 Nonstop Flights from Pensacola to Orlando
July 30, 2021
Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines announced this week expanded service at Pensacola International Airport that now includes a nonstop flight to Orlando
This new route, scheduled to begin on November 1, 2021, will operate three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“This added service from Frontier Airlines is exciting to see and further amplifies the growth we are seeing at our airport while improving upon our intra-Florida marketplace,” said Airport Director Matt Coughlin.
To celebrate the new service, Frontier is offering introductory fares starting at $29. Tickets must be purchased before Aug. 2, 2021 to receive the introductory rates. Frontier Airlines also offers nonstop flights to Denver and Chicago from Pensacola.
“Pensacola International Airport continues to thrive, despite the challenges faced by the travel industry globally since 2020,” Mayor Grover Robinson said. “I am excited to offer even more nonstop flights to Pensacola residents and visitors through Frontier Airlines, and I look forward to seeing continued growth and success at Pensacola International Airport.”
Molino Man Identified As Truck Theft Suspect By His ‘Distinct’ Facial Tattoos
July 30, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify a Molino man as a truck theft suspect by his “distinct” tattoos.
Nicholas Bronson Pierce, 35, was charged with felony grand theft of a motor vehicle.
The victim alleged he let a friend known as “Brandon Jensen” use his 1997 Ford F250 for a couple of hours on June 23, but the friend never returned the truck after repeated requests. By June 30, the victim was in jail for 30 days and unable to continue to ask for the return of the truck or to file a police report.
Once the victim was out of jail, he reported the truck stolen and provided a Facebook page for “Brandon Jensen”, but deputies were unable to find a match for that name. But deputies were able to determine that the man pictured on the Facebook page was in fact Pierce due to his distinctive facial tattoos.
Pierce remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $5,000.
M-Braves Hand Wahoos Seventh Straight Defeat With 5-1 Loss
July 30, 2021
For the third night in a row, Pensacola saw an early lead evaporate at the Blue Wahoos fell 5-1 to the M-Braves on Thursday night.
Pensacola starter Zach McCambley (L, 0-3) allowed four runs—including a pair of homers—in 4.2 innings of work. The 22-year-old struck out five while only walking two in his second career start at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Lazaro Alonso led off the frame with a solo home run. For Alonso, it was his first home run since May 28th against the Biloxi Shuckers.
After that Mississippi scored five unanswered. Immediately after the Alonso homer, Greyson Jenista homered in the top of the third to tie the game. The M-Braves tooka 2-1 lead later in that inning after Braden Shewmake doubled home Jalen Miller with two outs in the frame. The visitors added three more runs, including a pair of homers late, bringing the total of home runs allowed this series up to 13 in three games.
Mississippi’s starter, Freddy Tarnok (W, 1-0), struck out 12 Wahoos across five innings of work. Outside of the home run, Tarnok only allowed two other hits while walking only two for his first career Double-A win. Pensacola batters struck out 20 times on Thursday, which is the highest strikeout total this season in a single game. The Wahoos are also mired in their worst losing streak of the season, having lost seven straight games dating back to July 22nd.
The series continues Friday when RHP Jeff Lindgren toes the rubber (3-6, 4.76). Opposing Lindgren will be RHP Spencer Strider (1-4, 6.65).
Small Plane Crashes In Front Of Blue Angels Elementary School
July 29, 2021
A small plane crashed in front of Blue Angels Elementary School on Dog Track Road in Pensacola Thursday afternoon.
The plane went down directly in front of the school and burst into flames.
Three people that were on the aircraft were injured. They were identified as a teacher at Blue Angels Elementary School, her husband and a juvenile, but their names have not been released.
There were no injuries reported on the ground and no damage to the school or any other structures.
The single engine plane was a civilian aircraft and not military. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
Exclusive photo for NorthEscambia.com shows the scene moments after the crash as civilians rush to check on the pilot and any passengers on the aircraft, click to enlarge.