By The Numbers: Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increasing
December 24, 2020
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County is increasing.
As of Wednesday, there were 172 patients current hospitalized for COVID-19 in Escambia County.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations between the three local hospital systems are continuing to remain above 100 (now approaching 200), and we’d like to see those numbers go down,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Please be vigilant and take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often.”
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/graphic: City of Pensacola.
Manhunt For Stolen Vehicle Suspect In Cantonment
December 23, 2020
There was a manhunt in the area of Highway 29 in Cantonment Wednesday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle that had been reported stolen to Pensacola Police. The vehicle was found off the roadway in the area of Woodbury Circle and Highway 95A, not far from Highway 29.
A perimeter was established while deputies searched for a suspect that may have been in the area. There was no description of the suspect available and no word of any arrests.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck With Truck Hauling Vehicles
December 23, 2020
One person was injured when their vehicle was apparently rear-ended by a loaded truck hauling vehicles on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Extends Interim Town Manager’s Contract For Another Year
December 23, 2020
The Town of Century has extended their contract with interim Town Manager Vernon Prather by a year.
His employment agreement was in effect until December 1 and then went to a month to month basis. Monday night, the town council voted to extend it by a year, retroactive to December 1.
Council member Luis Gomez expressed concerns that he had approached Prather, Mayor Henry Hawkins and other town staffers for several months about the expiring contract, but no one would listen or place it on a council agenda.
“It seemed to me like it was blatant disregard,” Gomez said.
“My problem is you are looking over me,” he added. “I am part of this council.”
Each town council meeting includes a dedicated time for a council member comments, and council members can bring anything to the table for discussion or a vote during the meet. Gomez made no mention of Prather’s contract during council meetings during the last several months, until this past Monday night.
Most council members and Hawkins agreed that Prather had done an exceptional job over the past year, and council member Sandra McMurray Jackson recommended that his contract be extended by 90 days because a new mayor and two new council members take office in early January.
“We can’t afford to start anew right now. We have so many things hanging in the balance right now,” council member Brenda Spencer said. “Let’s just work together and get it done.”
Spencer made a motion to extended the contract by one year, with a performance review by the council at least every quarter.
Prather is paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week ($62,400 yearly). He has complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he is not be paid overtime but will us allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He also receives a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but does not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.
Prather began working for the town on a consulting basis as part of a $35 an hour package deal when Buz Eddy came on board in July 2019 following a scathing grand jury report on town operations.
Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager, while Eddy retired as Gulf Breeze city manager in 2017 after 25 years on the job. Prather holds wastewater and water certifications in addition his on the job experience.
The Century Charter Review Committee was working on a revised charter that might have created a mayor-town manager form of government. Their efforts to have a revised charter on the 2020 ballot were sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pictured: Century interim town manager Vernon Prather addresses the Century Town Council in December 2019. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Dedria’s Gift Donates To Long Term Care Facilities For Residents At Christmas
December 23, 2020
Dedria’s Gift, with help from St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Century, was able to make donations to two long term care facilities for residents to use at Christmas.
The donations were made to the Century Center for Rehabilitation and Healing and West Gate Village in Brewton.
Dedria’s Gift makes donations and provides to the community in honor of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11.
Pictured: Donations presented to Dedria’s Gift to Century Center for Rehabilitation and Healing (above) and West Gate Village in Brewton (below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two North Escambia Men Arrested After Chase Across Multiple Alabama Counties
December 23, 2020
Two local men were arrested after a high speed chase across multiple counties in in Alabama.
Alabama State Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Hyundai near the Tuskegee exit on I-85 for a speeding violation.
Troopers said driver Joshua Davon Tyus, age 24 of Century, refused to stop and led them on a chase that led them some 70 miles. He eventually came to a stop at a rest area on I-65 near Greenville in Butler County.
Tyus was charged with reckless driving and attempting to elude and was booked into the jail in Lowndes County, Alabama.
The only passenger in the vehicle — 23-year old Devonche Xiaxian Brown of Molino — was also taken to the Lowndes County Jail to await extradition to Escambia County, Florida, on outstanding felony warrants.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Deposit Police Department assisted Alabama State Troopers in the chase.
Pictured: Suspect Devonche Xiaxian Brown in a 2019 Escambia County, Florida, mugshot. Current mugshots were not available from the jail in Lowndes County, Alabama.
Navy Federal Gives The Gift Of Christmas To 120 Local Families
December 23, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union team members put on their Santa hats to give the gift of Christmas to a record 120 local families in need. The spirit of giving supports Project Neighbors, the credit union’s 17th annual employee-driven holiday giving program.
“Our team looks forward to Project Neighbors every year,” said Sonya Cain, assistant supervisor at Navy Federal. “It’s our way to give back together and support the communities where we live and serve. This year especially, with the pandemic and Hurricane Sally, many families need the extra help.”
Sonya and the team adopted the Jones family, which included a recently widowed mother, Amanda, and her two children who lost their father to a massive heart attack in October. Amanda’s wish list, like many of the other families, asked for standard household items, toys and clothes for the children. Her major need was a new set of tires. Sonya and her team got to shopping, using their own personal funds, to cross off the items on the list.
When the Navy Federal team showed up to the Jones home to deliver the gifts, Amanda and her children were smiling from ear to ear. They had no idea of the surprise in store for them.
“One thing I love about our community is how we care for each other,” said Sonya. “When I called Vannoy’s Tires and told them about Amanda’s need for new tires, there was no hesitation in making it happen.”
Clayton Vannoy, regional manager of Vannoy’s Tires, shared the happy news with Amanda and tears came to her eyes.
“Since losing my husband, I’ve had to hit the ground running and haven’t processed it all,” said Amanda. “This is a true blessing. I can’t say thank you enough for caring for my family.”
Families selected for Project Neighbors were identified in partnership with teachers across Escambia and Santa Rosa County school districts.
In addition to the Project Neighbors program, Navy Federal’s Pensacola team also gave back this holiday season through gathering toys and donating $2,000 to the local Toys for Tots program lead by the United States Marine Corps.
Escambia County Man Killed His Stepson Before Trying To Kill Stepson’s Girlfriend, ECSO Says
December 22, 2020
An Escambia County man is charged with shooting and killing his stepson and attempting to kill the stepson’s girlfriend, according to a newly released arrest report.
James Isiah Blackmon, Jr., 54, was charged with first degree murder for the shooting death of his stepson, 38-year old Christoper Roan, and first degree premeditated attempted murder for attempting to shoot and kill Roan’s girlfriend, according to an arrest report. He was also charged with a felony weapons offense for allegedly shooting into a camper where the stepson’s girlfriend was in hiding. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home on Packwood Drive, just off East Kingsfield Road, to find Blackmon’s wife standing on the front porch of the home and stating that her son was dead and her husband had fled the scene.
Deputies entered the home to find Roan on the floor partially in a hallway with a female witness by his side. He was dead with a gunshot wound to his forehead and multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, according to an ECSO report.
Moments later, deputies were behind Blackmon’s Dodge Charger as it headed back to the scene. Deputies conducted a traffic stop in front of the home and took him into custody without further incident. A Smith and Wesson handgun was on the floorboard of the Charger, deputies said.
Blackmon made statements to deputies, but those statements were redacted from the arrest report.
As they continued their investigation, deputies found several silver-colored shell casings in the backyard near a camper, along with several bullet holes in the camper. They found a a firearm with an empty magazine on the back porch railing, according to the report. The shell casings found near Roan’s body were brass.
Blackmon’s wife told investigator that an ongoing argument between Blackman and stepson Roan escalated .
The wife told deputies that she “got between them again and James just [expletive] pulls the damn trigger and unloads on my son”, according the report, before saying he was going outside to kill the girlfriend.
The girlfriend told investigators that she ran inside the camper, and Blackmon opened fire.
Exclusive photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Facing Charges After Alabama High Speed Police Chase That Ended With Wreck In Florida
December 22, 2020
Three people are facing charges after a high speed Alabama police chase ended with a vehicle crash across the state line in Florida last week near Bratt.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office was pursuing the vehicle south on Florida Highway when the driver wrecked, according to Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson. The high speed pursuit started after an Alabama deputy attempted to stop the Hyundai Sonata on Tumbling Lane in the Canoe area.
“The vehicle matched the description of a car that had been used in several burglaries,” Jackson said. “After the deputy activated his lights and sirens, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed in an attempt to escape law enforcement.”
Vehicle driver Angelia White, 18, was charged with receiving stolen property and one count of fleeing and eluding. Arion Williams, 21, was charged with receiving stolen property. Both were booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $100,000 each.
Deontae Hudson, 25, was transported to the Escambia County (FL) Jail on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He is awaiting extradition to Alabama to face additional charges.
Jackson said the charges stemmed from numerous burglaries in Escambia County, Alabama, and more charges are expected as the investigation continued.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department, Poarch Police Department and Alabama State Troopers all assisted in the investigation.
The wreck happened when the driver attempted to turn onto Old Bratt Road while being pursued and lost control. The Hyundai Sonata crossed over the centerline into Florida and hit into a power pole before the vehicle came to rest in a field in Florida. (The first photo below shows the scene just moments after the crash.)
The wreck downed Escambia River Electric Cooperative lines across North Highway 99 in Florida.
The road on which the driver lost control sits on the state line. The westbound lane of the roadway is named Old Bratt Road and is considered to be in Alabama, while the eastbound lane is considered to be in Florida and is named State Line Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Century Council Member Gary Riley Has Passed Away. He Served For 20 Years.
December 22, 2020
Former Century council member Gary Riley has passed away.
Riley was a man that loved Century and he spent two decades of his life on the town council working to make it a better place.
He announced in 2018 that he would not see re-election due to a health issue. He remained in office until January 2019.
“I want to thank the town for having me here for as long as I have been. I enjoyed every day,” a tearful Riley said in 2018.
“But when you get to the point where you can’t do the job the way the job is suppose to be done, I think it is time to leave. We pray that whoever qualifies for the seat will do the job well,” he said. “You have a good council here right now. I hope that ones that come in and join the ones that are here will help make this town a better town.”
Riley was first elected to the Century Town Council in 1998.
Complete funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Pictured: A tearful Gary Riley announced in May 2018 that he would not seek re-election after serving 20 years on the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
