Dump Truck Driver Seriously Injured In Cantonment Rollover Crash
August 26, 2021
A dump truck driver was seriously injured when his truck overturned Thursday morning in Cantonment.
Firefighters worked about 20 minutes to extricate the 51-year old driver from the wreckage on Muscogee Road near Beulah Road. The driver was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital with injuries not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash about 8:10 a.m. was due to a mechanical failure as the driver attempted to make a right turn.
The Cantonment, Beulah, Bellview, and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
ECUA Approves Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increases
August 26, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board has given final approval to increased sanitation, water and sewer rates.
For the average water and sewer customer using 6,000 gallons per month, the added cost will be $1.06. Much of the increase will go to fund a Brownsville sewer expansion project. The increase passed unanimously.
The cost of a single 90-gallon sanitation container, with included recycling and bulk service, jumps $1.85 from $24.54 to $26.39 per month. The increase is intended for pay increases for sanitation workers, include CDL drivers. The increase passed 4-1.
ECUA board members have said the utility is having trouble hiring and retaining personnel, including those in-demand CDL drivers.
Editor’s note: ECUA bulk service has returned as of August 25. It had been suspended for about a week.
Pictured: The Tuesday afternoon meeting of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. NorthEscambia.com image, click to enlarge.
Man Who Trespassed On Molino Woman’s Property Charged With Assault With A Deadly Weapon, ECSO Says
August 26, 2021
A Molino man allegedly found on a woman’s property is charged with assaulting her.
Marvin Arlo Lamb, 60, was charged with trespassing, felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and driving with no valid driver’s license.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s office she observed a gray van parked on her property near Molino. As she approached the vehicle, it drove off. The vehicle returned to her address a short time later, and Lamb was yelling as he approached the victim with a large wooden stick, according to an arrest report.
Lamb denied the allegations against him. An arrest report notes that a wooden stick was located next to the driver’s seat in Lamb’s vehicle.
The victim’s property has posted no trespassing signs and is behind a closed gate, according to the report.
Lamb remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $1,600.
Suspect Charged With Attempt To Deliver Drugs, Phones, Smokes Into Century Prison
August 26, 2021
A suspect allegedly prepared to throw contraband over the fence at the Century Correctional Institution was captured Tuesday afternoon after a manhunt.
Dickale Tanzano Cothrell, age 35 of Orlando, was arrested on a criminal offense of introduction of a contraband into a state correctional facility and one count of interference with prisoners. He was charged by the Florida Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General.
About 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, Cothrell was reportedly spotted at the perimeter fence of the east side of Century CI. That led to a lockdown of the facility and a prisoner count, while a perimeter and manhunt occurred outside the facility.
Two Century correctional officers found Cothrell on east side of the prison Tuesday afternoon, and he was detained by two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Corrections officers recovered a package that was ready to be introduced into the facility, according to an arrest report.
The package contained three cellphones, 23.8 grams of suspected synthetic cannabis (commonly known as “spice”), 111..5 grams of cigarettes, a cellphone charger and two charging cables.
Cothrell remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $3,000.
Local COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach New Daily High
August 26, 2021
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a daily record of 398 on Wednesday in Escambia County, nine of those under age 18.
One month ago, only July 25, there 110 hospitalizations at Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. On June 25, that number was just 23.
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital.
The latest Ascension Sacred Heart data from Tuesday showed 153 hospitalizations at their facility, with 93% of those unvaccinated.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting vaccinated, and I encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are able,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said Wednesday.
Data sources: Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. Graphics: City of Pensacola.
Flomaton’s Hurricane Lake Reopens; Alligator Sighted Last Week Was Not Found
August 26, 2021
Hurricane Lake in Flomaton, closed last week due to an alligator sighting, has reopened.
An Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division agent was unable to locate the alligator.
According to the Flomaton Police Department, Hurricane Lake is only about 100 yards from Big Escambia Creek, and it’s believed the alligator and perhaps others traveled between the two bodies of water.
Pictured top: Hurricane Lake in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Below: A photo showing an alligator in Hurricane Lake in Flomaton last week.
Free Beans And Rice Giveaway Saturday In Cantonment
August 26, 2021
St. Monica’s Episcopal Church is continuing its food ministry with a free drive-thru beans and rice giveaway this Saturday
On the last Saturday of every month, St. Monica’s gives away dried beans and white rice to anyone in need from 9-11 a.m., or while supplies last. Other items such as canned tomatoes and peanut butter are included when available.
St. Monica’s is located at 699 South Highway 95A, just north of Faith Chapel Funeral Home.
Field Of Dreams: Greg Gibson Field Honors Late Youth Football Coach
August 25, 2021
If you build it, they will come.
Greg Gibson had a dream.
It was a field that was once cotton or peanuts and then overgrown with briars and weeds at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
But Greg Gibson saw something different.
With a tractor and bush hog, volunteers carved out a big rectangle to give the county guy an idea that a football field would fit. They agreed. But before the county guy came back to look again, Greg sent the volunteers out to make it bigger, hoping to get more space for the kids, and maybe bleachers and press box. A real field of dreams for youth football and youth cheerleading.
As president of Northwest Escambia (NWE) Chiefs Football and Cheer since 2013, Greg worked with Escambia County to see big improvements take shape over the past few months. There are bleachers, fences and a really nice scoreboard. Garnet and gold, you know, for Greg’s beloved NWE Chiefs. The “NWE” gold lettering glistens when the sun hits it just right.
It’s perfect.
This field is for the players. It wasn’t for Greg Gibson. It was all about his NWE teams and cheer squads.
But last week, for a short time, it did become about Greg Gibson. His funeral was held there after he passed away due to COVID-19, and it was forever dedicated as Greg Gibson Field.
There is probably just one remaining question to answer. Is this heaven?
No, it’s Walnut Hill. It’s where dreams will come true for the boys and girls that will play on that field.
But many would swear youth football on a Saturday in the south is probably almost as close as you can get. And most would betcha Greg Gibson will be looking down at that field from heaven.
“Touchdown Chiefs!”
This field, this game.
Ohhhh, people will come, Greg. People will most definitely come to your field of dreams.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Due To COVID-19 Surge, Escambia School District Suspends Field Trips, Some Activities And Volunteer Access
August 25, 2021
Hundreds of Escambia County School District students and employees are missing school because due to COVID-19. Due to the surge, the district has suspended field trips, canceled large student assemblies and events during the school day, and suspended volunteer access to campuses
As of late Tuesday night, the district reported 125 students and 45 employees that have tested positive for COVID-19. There were 365 students and 52 staff members out of school because they are positive, are awaiting test results or are in quarantine due to close contact with a case.
Tuesday, the Escambia County School District reinstated COVID-19 safety measure effectively immediately.
Those measures include
- cancelling open house events for all schools.
- Suspending visitor access for volunteers and mentors.
- Suspending large student assemblies and events during the school day.
- Suspending field trips. Exceptions are permitted for trips involving competitions and performances.
- Encouraging social distancing, where feasible.
- Encouraging frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer.
- Continuing specialized cleaning techniques and sanitizing classrooms and common areas in schools
“We were set for students to participate in field trips and for volunteers to return, but COVID-19 case numbers have continued to increase since the first day of school. These safety measures are being implemented with the intent of protecting students and employees,” Superintendent Tim Smith said.
The measures will be reevaluated in early October.
Hospitalizations Surging At Ascension Sacred Heart; 93% Are Unvaccinated
August 25, 2021
The numbers of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola remains at record-high levels, with most of those patients unvaccinated.
The number of hospitalized patients fluctuates frequently, so any individual data points are only a moment-in-time snapshot. But here are a few key statistics for today, Aug. 23:
There are a total of 153 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 one week ago was 146.
Today’s number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is much higher than the hospital’s previous peak of COVID-19 patients that occurred in January 2021.
The current number of 153 is nine times higher than what it was on July 4, shortly before the current surge of COVID began in Northwest Florida. On July 4, the hospital had 17 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Approximately 93 percent of the hospital’s patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
“Safe and timely access to essential care is vitally important, and the safety of our patients and staff remains our top priority,” said Ascension Sacred Heart President Dawn Rudolph. “Our staff is stretched in dealing with the ongoing influx of patients with COVID-19, but our teams are making heroic efforts. We are performing surgeries and procedures our patients need urgently or in an emergency. At the same time, we are utilizing all of our staffing resources and allocating personnel in the most appropriate and effective manner to ensure care for every patient.”
Due to a lower rate of vaccination among younger people, the hospital is treating more patients who are under 50 compared to the prior surges of July 2020 and January 2021.
In Escambia County, only 49 percent of individuals 18 and older have been fully vaccinated compared to the national average of 63 percent, according to The New York Times. In Santa Rosa County, only 45 percent of those 18 and older are fully vaccinated. By comparison, the number of those 65 and older who are fully vaccinated is much higher – 79 percent.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to go from emergency use authorization (EUA) to full FDA approval.
“This is an important milestone,” Rudolph said. “While all of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. have long been considered safe and highly effective, now that the FDA has granted full FDA approval to the Pfizer vaccine) we are hopeful that many more people in our communities will step up to be vaccinated. Our health care workers need the community’s support to stop this surge. The best tools we have available to stop COVID-19 are wearing masks in public indoor spaces and, most important, getting the vaccine.”
Everyone in our community plays a critical role in keeping us safe from this virus. Ascension Sacred Heart urges anyone 12 and older to get vaccinated now to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community against COVID-19. The vaccines are safe and effective, and the evidence is clear that the benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh any identified risks or side effects.