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.
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.
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,
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.
IP Awards $70,000 In Grants To Local Organizations
January 13, 2021
International Paper’s Pensacola Mill awarded $70,000 in International Paper Foundation grants to 26 local organizations, demonstrating the company’s commitment to education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve the planet.
“We are pleased to support local organizations in their efforts to make a difference in education, hunger, health and wellness,” said Whitney Fike, International Paper communications manager. “Our company cannot succeed if our communities do not succeed, and these grants are an investment in our family, friends and neighbors.”
Local community organizations and their projects awarded grants for 2020:
- Autism Pensacola – Kids for Camp 2021
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida – Defending Potential
- Children’s Home Society – Community Partnership School: Closing the Digital Divide
- Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) – Be Ready Pensacola
- Council on Aging of West Florida – Foster Grandparents
- Ernest Ward Middle School – For the Love of Reading!
- Every Child a Reader in Escambia (ECARE) – Books for Break
- Feeding the Gulf Coast – Weekend Backpacks for Children
- FoodRaising Friends – Food Giveaway Funding
- Gulf Coast Kids House – PPE for Medical Professionals
- Institute for Human and Machine Cognition – Science Saturdays
- Jim Allen Elementary School – Ready to Read!
- Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida – First Grade Jr. Achievement at McArthur Elementary School
- Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful – Learning about Butterflies
- Kingsfield Elementary – Ready to Read!
- Manna Food Pantries – COVID-19 Relief
- Miracle League of Northeast Pensacola – Keeping the ballfields green
- Pace Center for Girls – The EmpowHERment Project
- Pensacola Children’s Chorus – Preparatory Choir
- Pensacola MESS Hall – Audio visual for virtual programming
- Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries – Hot, Healthy Meals
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida – Hope for Hurting Families
- Studer Community Institute – Brian Bags
- The Arc Gateway – Improving Outcomes through Early Detection
- UF IFAS Extension Escambia County Master Gardener Volunteer Program – Garden to Table
- University of West Florida – Argo’s Edible Campus Expansion
Grants were determined after careful committee review with local team members. Recommendations are subsequently reviewed by the International Paper Foundation’s grants committee, which then must be
confirmed and ratified by the foundation’s board of trustees.
Pictured: International Paper mascot Pinelope poses with a grant check. IP team members normally take part in check presentations to each group, but that did not happen this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Starbucks Is Coming To Atmore After All; Construction Set To Begin Next Week
January 13, 2021
Starbucks is coming to Atmore after all.
In January 2020, Wind Creek Atmore announced construction was set to begin in March 2020 on a Starbucks store near their casino. That was put on hold due to COVID-19, but now Wind Creek says construction is set to begin.
“We are very excited to announce that construction will begin next week, and we are on target for a May 2021 opening,” Wind Creek Assistant Property Manager Terri Breckenridge told NorthEscambia.com.
The 2,000 square foot stand-alone facility will offer convenient drive through, seated dining and full retail store across the street from the Creek Convenience Store on Poarch Road, adjacent to the Spa at Wind Creek. The destination will occupy a prime location for coffee lovers; the nearest Starbucks along the I-65 corridor are north 113 miles in Prattville and south 47 miles at Springhill Avenue in Mobile.
The project is expected to create 20 or more permanent jobs for local residents in addition to temporary construction jobs.
The Atmore Starbucks location is projected to draw an additional 300 cars and 750 customers daily from I-65 Exit 57.
Pictured: A rendering of the Starbucks planned for Atmore. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Top 10 Teachers Of The Year Named
January 13, 2021
The Escambia County School District has named the Top 10 Teachers of the Year.
They are (in alphabetical order):
- Rochelle Carmichael – Workman Middle School
- Stephanie Connors – Washington High School
- John Fuller – Escambia High School
- Maureen Humphrey – Ferry Pass Middle
- Briana McCreary – Montclair Elementary
- Heather McWethy – A.K. Suter Elementary
- Mercedes Musto – Alternative Education
- Suzanne Ryals – Pensacola High School
- Paula Sides – Warrington Elementary
- Vera Wiley – Brentwood Elementary
The Top Ten will be narrowed to a Top Five with a final Teacher of the Year announced in late January during the Golden Apple award ceremony.
Veteran Receives First Vaccine From Local Veterans Affairs Clinic
January 13, 2021
A Pensacola veteran was the first non-employee to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System.
Joe L. Knight, a retired U.S. Army Veteran who served in the Korean War and three tours in Vietnam, received the vaccine Tuesday in Pensacola.
Veterans interested in receiving the vaccine should complete the Keep Me Informed Form.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Women Accused Of Trying To Sneak Drugs To Inmates; One Believed To Be In Century Area
January 12, 2021
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a woman last seen in the Century area. She’s wanted on drug charges after deputies say she and another woman left drugs outside the Baldwin County Courthouse for an inmate.
Alexis Biron, age 27 of Brewton, is wanted for attempted distribution of a controlled substance. The BCSO said Biron (pictured above) was last seen in Century and may still be in the area.
The BCSO said Biron and Rebecca Anne Willis (pictured below) were captured on video placing a package containing Suboxone, Xanax and methamphetamine near a courthouse entryway that is used for inmates. Investigators believed the drugs were places so that they could be retrieved by a current inmate.
Members of the Baldwin County Drug Task Force were able to located Willis and arrest her on an outstanding warrant for violating her parole. She was interviewed about her role in the incident at the courthouse and subsequently charged with attempted distribution of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The BCSO said Willis destroyed evidence when investigators arrived at her residence, and she was additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Anyone with information on Biron’s whereabouts is asked to call the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at (251) 937-0202 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Alexis Biron. Pictured below: Rebecca Anne Willis.
Attorney Fred Levin Passes Away From COVID-19 Complications
January 12, 2021
Prominent attorney Fred Levin passed away Tuesday afternoon at age 83. Family members said he died from complications related to COVID-19.
Levin was recognized as one of the most successful trial attorneys in the nation, receiving over 25 jury verdicts in excess of $1 million. At various points in his career, he held the national record for jury verdicts involving the wrongful death of a child, the wrongful death of a housewife, the wrongful death of a wage earner, and the largest personal injury verdict in the state of Florida.
He received numerous national accolades.
In 1999, the name of the University of Florida law school named was officially changed to the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law after he made what was in 1998 the larger cash donation ever given to a public law school.
Levin also managed the careers of many champion boxers. In 1994, Mr. Levin received the Rocky Marciano National Boxing Manager of the year award. In 1995, he was selected as National Boxing Manager of the year by the National Boxing Writers Association.