DeSantis: Age 40+ Eligible For Vaccine Beginning Monday, 18+ Starting April 5
March 25, 2021
The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to those 40 plus next week and everyone over 18 a week after that.
Beginning Monday, March 29, all individuals age 40 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning the following Monday, April 5, all individuals age 18 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.
“We’ve now vaccinated over 70% of the roughly 4.4 million seniors living in the state,” DeSantis said in a video posted to Twitter. “We’ve also made great progress on those aged 60 to 64, and on those age 50 and older, and we’re ready to take this step.”
Cantonment Woman Held Knife To Man’s Throat, Threatened To Kill Him, ECSO Says
March 25, 2021
A Cantonment woman is facing charges after allegedly threatening to slice a man’s throat.
Margaret Carrie Evans, 54, was charged with aggravated assault, battery, and kidnapping/false imprisonment. She remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Thursday morning.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed disturbance at a mobile home in the area of Muscogee Road and McQueen Street about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday — their third response to the home within a matter of hours. The victim told deputies that he was sleeping on the couch when Evans woke him up, grabbed him, and pulled his head back and held a kitchen knife to his throat. She accused him of being a liar and stated, “I should kill your [expletive] now,” according to an arrest report.
She then went to the front door, locked it and blocked him from leaving, the report continues. The victim fled to his bedroom, with Evans barricading the bedroom door with several objects. The victim called 911 and maintained communications with the dispatcher until deputies arrived on scene.
Evans had fled the scene, prompting a search with an ECSO K-9. She was found hiding in the woods west of the trailer and was arrested without incident.
The victim was not physically injured, but deputies noted in their report that appeared fearful and his hands were visibly shaking.
A redacted arrest report did not specify the relationship between Evans and the victim.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations At Lowest Level In Nine Months
March 25, 2021
The number of Escambia County COVID-19 daily hospitalizations has fallen to the lowest level since last June.
The number of people hospitalized due to the virus on Wednesday was 28, after a low of 22 on Monday. In mid-January, the number reached a high of 291.
“We are glad to see these numbers coming down for our community and for our hospitals,” Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Please continue to take preventive actions, including wearing a mask, washing your hands often, and staying home if you are sick.”
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 sources: Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. Graphics: City of Pensacola, Escambia County.
State Attorney To Continue Prosecution Of Four Suspects After Attempted Homicide Victim Dies In Unrelated Wreck
March 25, 2021
Despite the recent death of an attempted homicide victim in an unrelated traffic crash, the State Attorney’s Office plans to continue with the prosecution of four people in connection with a 2018 Walnut Hill double shooting that left another man dead.
Troy Dewayne Boutwell was killed March 13 in a single vehicle wreck on Highway 4A about three miles west of Century (pictured above). He was pronounced deceased at the scene; there were no passengers in the vehicle. [Read more...]
In June 2018, Dalton Davis was found dead in a truck in Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road near Atmore. Boutwell was found in critical near the road after crawling from the truck but survived his injuries. They were shot nine miles away at a home on Highway 164 near Walnut Hill (pictured bottom), according to investigators.
“We are aware of the death of one of the victims in this case. We are continuing to review and prepare the case for trial,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com. “At this time we intend to move forward to trial on this case.”
Christopher Alan Stacey was charged with homicide and attempted homicide in connection with the 2018 case. His ex-wife, Jessica Nicole Thomas, was charged with accessory after the fact to homicide and accessory after the fact to attempted homicide for the shooting at her home on Highway 164. Stacey’s son, James Logan Stacey, and Alexis Ileene Shiffner Cain were both charged with accessory to homicide and accessory to attempted homicide.
Christopher Alan Stacey is due in court for a docket hearing in June; the other three defendants are scheduled for court appearances in April. Trial dates have not been set.
Pictured below: Christopher Alan Stacey was seated on a bucket across the road from the residence watching as investigators processed the crime scene, while his son James Logan Stacey sat a wooden chair in front of a neighboring home. Pictured middle below: A deputy questions Jessica Thomas as she sits inside a patrol vehicle in Walnut Hill. Pictured bottom: Investigators say two men were shot inside this home on Highway 164 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Publisher Named One Of Escambia County’s Most Influential People
March 25, 2021
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2021 Inweekly Power List — their ranking of the most powerful and influential people in Escambia County.
Only one person that works primarily in the North Escambia area was named to the list — NorthEscambia.com publisher William Reynolds for the ninth year.
Topping this year’s list was Sue Straughn from our news partners WEAR-TV.
To view this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Update: Boil Water Notice Lifted For Farm Hill Utilities Customers
March 24, 2021
UPDATE: This boil water notice was lifted Wednesday afternoon, March 24, after bacteriological sampling determined the water is safe to drink.
Farm Hill Utilities in Cantonment has issued a boil water notice for the southern part of their water system due to a water main break Sunday.
Numerous residents were without water service for several hours.
The precautionary boil water notice is in effect for
- Highway 97 (CR 97) south of Nowak Road
- All side roads off Highway 97 (CR) south of Nowak Road
- Nowak Road
All water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes should be brought to a rolling for at least one minute. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.
The boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Woman With Rifle Exchanges Gunfire With FHP Troopers
March 24, 2021
A 43-year old woman who had possibly overdosed on drugs exchanged gunfire with Florida Highway Patrol troopers Tuesday evening before being taken into custody.
The incident began to unfold about 6 p.m. as a FHP trooper was conducting a traffic crash investigation in the area of Chemstrand Road and Ten Mile Road. A partially clothed woman approached the trooper and “voiced her concern of overdosing on drugs”, FHP Lt. Jason King said.
The trooper called for Escambia County EMS to evaluate the woman as she began to walk across the roadway, around a corner and out of sight.
As the trooper approached what appeared to be an unoccupied silver Chevrolet truck, the female subject sat up and presented a rifle, pointing it in the direction of the trooper,” King said. “An exchange of gunfire began as two more troopers and two Escambia County deputies arrived on scene.”
“At least one other trooper became engaged in the gunfire,” King added.
No one was injured by the gunfire. King said the woman was taken into custody and transported to Baptist Hospital for medical evaluation “prior to any arrest made or charges placed against her”.
The incident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence. The woman’s name has not been released.
Pictured: The scene at Chemstrand Road and 10 Mile Road shortly after a woman reportedly fired a weapon at law enforcement. Photos by Latino Media Gulf Coast and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
After 18 Years, The Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee
March 24, 2021
Wednesday marked 18 years since Melinda Wall McGhee went missing from her Atmore home, the apparent victim of foul play.
The morning of March 24, 2003, was a sunny start to the first day of spring break. Melinda, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
In March 2009, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line . On the last day of January 2009, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch. All of the searches have turned up empty.
In 2010, authorities issued a death certificate for McGhee after a required seven year waiting period passed.
Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
It’s Now Been A Year Since The First COVID-19 Case Was Reported In North Escambia
March 24, 2021
It’s now been a year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in North Escambia.
On March 24, 2020, three of the nine COVID-19 positives in Escambia County were announced as being from Cantonment, eight days after the first case was reported in Escambia County. A local state of emergency had been declared, and parents had learned during Spring Break that their children would not be going back to in-person class in the Escambia County School District.
It would be about two weeks before additional positive cases were reported across North Escambia.
On April 1, 2020, the first COVID-19 case in Century was reported. There were 96 total cases in Escambia County at the time, including 15 in Cantonment and 66 in Pensacola.
The first Molino case was reported April 5. The first positives in Walnut Hill and McDavid were reported April 6.
Winning $68K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
March 24, 2021
Someone is over $68,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Nine Mile Road convenience store.
The ticket sold at the Nine Mile Raceway near Lowe’s was one of three winning tickets sold for Tuesday night’s drawing and is worth $68,177.06. Other winning tickets were sold in Punta Gorda and Miami.
The 375 tickets matching four numbers won $87.50 each. Another 10,063 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9 each, and 92616 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Tuesday’s winning numbers were 11-21-22-23-25.