Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall To Lowest Level Since Early December
February 18, 2021
The number of Escambia County COVID-19 daily hospitalizations has fallen to the lowest level since early December.
There were 107 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Escambia County on Wednesday. That’s the lowest since December 9 and coming off a spike of 291 on January 14.
COVID-19 hospitalizations between the three local hospital systems are continuing to go down, but it’s important that we continue to work together to bring these numbers down for our community and for our hospitals,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said Wednesday.
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. Graphics: City of Pensacola, Escambia County.
Escambia Vaccine Shipments Delayed To Weather; Appointments Being Rescheduled
February 18, 2021
The health department is in the process of rescheduling appoints after COVID-19 vaccine did not arrive in time to meet this week’s goals.
Due to inclement weather, this week’s COVID-19 vaccine shipment was delayed impacting this week’s distribution plan in Escambia County. The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) expects to receive its allocation of 2,500 doses of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine next week.
FDOH-Escambia and partner organizations are in the process of rescheduling vaccine appointments for the week of February 22. Do not contact providers directly for these appointments.
Upon the arrival of this week’s vaccine shipment FDOH-Escambia will distribute vaccine as follows:
Ascension Sacred Heart: 400 doses
Baptist Health Care: 400 doses
Community Health Northwest Florida: 800 doses
FDOH-Escambia: 500 doses
West Florida Hospital: 200 doses
Woodlands Medical Specialists: 200 doses
Planning for next week’s allocation will continue as soon as the health department is notified, and will be distributed in addition to any delayed vaccine originally planned for distribution this week.
FDLE Charges Escambia Woman With Stealing $300,000 From Her Employer
February 18, 2021
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested an Escambia County woman Tuesday on for fraud and money laundering.
Cassondra Leigh Moreno, 42, was charged with one count of organized fraud and four counts of money laundering.
The investigation began in June 2020 when Moreno’s employer, a beverage distributor, advised FDLE that it had noticed a $300,000 accounting discrepancy involving stolen money orders, which appeared to be linked to Moreno. The employer oversees sales in numerous stores from Pensacola to Panama City. The investigation revealed that over a four-year period, Moreno used her position as a transportation supervisor to engage in a scheme to defraud. She modified her employer’s accounting system to conceal the amount of money orders she had stolen, according to FDLE.
FDLE said an analysis of her personal financial records revealed that she received over $300,000 between 2017-2020 by depositing hundreds of stolen money orders into her accounts. She resigned from her job in May 2020.
Moreno’s bond was set at $75,000.
Tate Wins Regional Quarterfinal On Penalty Kicks
February 18, 2021
The Tate Aggies won the Region 1-6A quarterfinals on penalty kicks over Lake City Columbia Tuesday night .
Up next, the Aggies will will host Niceville Saturday night at 7:00 at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
Photo: The Tate Aggies celebrate there District 1-6A championship win over Niceville last week. Photo: Tate Soccer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Prosser Crow Signs Tennis Scholarship With Huntington College
February 18, 2021
Tate High School’s Prosser Crow has signed an academic and tennis scholarship with Huntington College. Crow will pursue a physical therapy degree.
“We are so very proud of his hard work and dedication,”said David Bonucchi, Tate High tennis coach.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dollar General Wants To Build In Walnut Hill. It Would Change The Future Of North Escambia Rural Zoning.
February 17, 2021
Dollar General is considering a location in Walnut Hill, and that could change the future of rural zoning across North Escambia.
Teramore Development currently has three properties under contract at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 99A in Walnut Hill, next to Ernest Ward Middle School. One of the parcels includes building constructed in 1940 as the former Bryan’s Grocery and Hardware.
The Escambia County future land use category of the property is Rural Community (RC), and is it currently zoned Rural Mixed Use (RMU). The RMU zoning allows commercial buildings up to 6,000 square feet. There is no provision whatsoever to grant any exceptions to construct a larger commercial building.
Teramore wants the county to make a text amendment to Escambia County code to allow a commercial building up to 11,000 square feet in the RMU zone, with each request for any project over 6,000 square feet requiring individual approval.
If such a text amendment were to be approved by Escambia County, it would allow the construction of not just a Dollar General in Walnut Hill, but any development up to 11,000 square feet anywhere in the RMU zoning category across North Escambia, whether that be Walnut Hill, Bratt, Century outside the town limits, McDavid or Molino.
Buckley Davis of Teramore Development said they want to bring a 10,640 square foot Dollar General Store to the property. Teramore sent letters to 100 residents in the area, inviting them to a recent meeting to gauge community support. About a dozen residents attended the meeting.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Davis told attendees that Dollar General needs over 10,000 square feet for a new concept called “DG Fresh” that offers fresh produce and healthier grocery options. The concept, he said, is Dollar General’s current focus for new stores more rural areas with few food shopping options. Residents said they currently travel 8-12 miles to Atmore or 30-40 miles to Cantonment or Pensacola to shop for food.
Attendees at the Teramore meeting at the Walnut Hill Community Center were generally supportive of the idea of building a larger Dollar General in Walnut Hill, but concerns were expressed about the location next to the school.
The Dollar General parking lot would be accessed from Highway 99A. Residents said it is often difficult at best to see oncoming traffic when drivers pull out from Highway 99A to Highway 97. The speed limit on Highway 97 in the area, outside school zone times, is 45 mph, and the intersection is in a banked curve on the busy state highway.
Retired Walnut Hill pediatrician Cynthia Worrell-White said that outside traffic safety concerns, she has no issue with the proposed Highway 97 Dollar General.
“You’re not really going to an agricultural area in the middle of a field and going to take up good agricultural land. You’re going to a location that has already been a commercial site,” Worrell-White said. “It’s close to that hub of other buildings and EREC (Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s Walnut Hill office) and all. So I think that’s a good choice for those reasons.”
“We’ve got to make sure we keep those safety concerns and keep that intersection safe,” Davis said. “Besides that, I think it’s the perfect location.”
Other residents express concerns about a Walnut Hill Dollar General selling alcohol, but current Escambia County ordinances would prohibit alcohol sales due to the proximity to Ernest Ward Middle School.
Brett Ward, a local agricultural producer, said he was concerned about those yellow Dollar General shopping bags in a rural area. If they blow across Highway 97 into his cotton field and end up in his cotton bales, he said it will cost him money on the cotton market.
“There’s a 16 cent per pound deduction,” he said. “You’ll be hearing from me if that happens.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill resident Helen Ward listens to details about a proposed Dollar General near her home. Pictured top inset: A preliminary site plan for a new Dollar General in Walnut Hill. Pictured second inset: Cynthia Worrell-White. Pictured bottom inset: Buckley Davis of Teramore Development presents a conceptual drawing of a Walnut Hill Dollar General Store. Pictured below: The conceptual drawing and area map. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Raping Underage Girl
February 17, 2021
A Cantonment man is charged with the forcible rape of an underage girl.
Josue Morel Lopez, 23, is charged with two counts of felony sexual battery of an underage victim age 12 or older while using force.
According to arrest report, Lopez would go to the victim’s home to see her sister and enter through her window. On the night of the incident, he instead went to the underage victim’s bedroom window. She recognized him and let him in the front door.
As she returned to her room, Lopez allegedly pushed her on the bed, began to strangle and rape her, according to an arrest report. The victim was treated for injuries, and a sexual assault kit was collected at a local hospital.
When the victim was interviewed, she told investigators that Lopez had previously sexually assaulted her about six years ago, the report states.
If convicted, Lopez faces life in prison on the capital offenses. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $400,000.
Woman Accused Of Stealing SUV From Atmore Gas Station Wrecks During Police Chase
February 17, 2021
An Ohio woman that allegedly stole a vehicle in Atmore led police on a chase that ended with a crash in Baldwin County.
Shortly before 7:30 Tuesday morning, 22-year old Hayli Lape of Columbus, Ohio, jumped into Chevrolet Tahoe that was parked at a gas station on Highway 21 in Atmore, according to police. She sped away, damaging the pump.
The Alabama Highway Patrol and Atmore Police caught up with the vehicle and pursued it south on I-65. Lape exited onto Baldwin County Highway 47 at Perdido.
Lape crashed and then attempted to get away on foot, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks. She was apprehended a short time later. She was transported to North Baldwin Hospital In Bay Minette where she was treated for minor injuries and released.
Lape was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond on charges of theft of property first degree, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
Update: Becks Lake Road Crossing Now Open After Emergency Repair To Broken Rail
February 16, 2021
Update: Becks Lake Road has reopened after an emergency repair at a CSX crossing.
CSX reported the broken rail and closure early Tuesday morning on Becks Lake Road just east of Highway 29 in Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County Worked To Sand Bridges, FDOT Prepped For Ice Potential
February 16, 2021
When the threat of black ice became apparent, Escambia Public Works and the Florida Department of Transportation went to work.
County crews fanned out across North Escambia to sand bridges, according to Public Works Director Wes Moreno. Sands improves traction in the event of ice on a bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation into winter weather operations mode at 9 p.m. in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. FDOT was poised to deploy various tankers, bridge deck sprayers and other equipment to apply anti-icing products on bridges and overpasses to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement surface. The anti-icing products allow any potential ice layer to melt more quickly and reduces the amount of time required to restore roads to a clear, dry state.
Pictured: Escambia County work crews sand bridges late Monday afternoon. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
