Community Health Northwest Florida Schedules Walk-in Vaccination Clinic For Monday
March 7, 2021
Community Health Northwest Florida is holding a walk-in vaccination clinic on Monday, March 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street in Pensacola for all residents of Florida who qualify, including those covered under the governor’s latest executive orders.
Currently the amended order expands the groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida to include persons under 65 who are “medically vulnerable,” as well as individuals who hold specific jobs that put them at high risk. All participants will be required to show photo ID as well as proof of qualifying condition/job when they arrive.
Eligibility criteria for the Walk-In COVID event is:
- Persons 65 years of age and older;
- Adults 18 and older deemed medically vulnerable by a physician with the following:
- Patients may have their doctor fill out a State of Florida “COVID Vulnerability Determination” form or bring a doctor’s note/prescription stating the condition that qualifies the patient or current prescription bottles of the medication that treats the preexisting condition.
- If a current Community Health Northwest Florida patient and medically vulnerable, no form is required.
- All K-12 school employees, all ages; must show a badge from their school. (Current Executive Order does not include educators beyond K-12).
- Daycare workers; badge or paystub required as proof of employment in day care setting.
- Case workers from Children’s Home Society and Lakeview/Families First Network.
- Long-term care facility residents and staff;
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact;
- Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older;
- Firefighters 50 years of age and older.
More information about COVID-19 vaccine events is available by calling (850) 439-3358.
Another Charge Filed Against Cantonment Woman Who Allegedly Punched, Spit On ‘Frail’ Elderly Woman In Parking Lot
March 6, 2021
An additional felony charge has been filed against a Cantonment woman accused of punching a “frail” elderly woman in the face and spitting on her after a minor vehicle collision in a local Dollar General Parking lot.
Allisha Dawn Jarvis, 25, was first charged with battery on a person 65 years old or older. Court and arrest records show that she has now also been charged with felony burglary with assault and battery.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Dollar General at Highway 29 and North Tate School Road to find a 72-year old woman in the parking lot bleeding from her nose. She told deputies she was turning around in the parking lot when she accidentally hit a Ford Expedition that was leaving the parking lot.
The victim stated she was still in her vehicle when Jarvis approached and “violently punched” her in the face through a rolled-down window before spitting on her, according to an arrest report.
Jarvis told deputies that she walked up to the victim’s vehicle window and cussed at the elderly woman, but she stated she never punched her in the face, the report states.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy wrote in his report that the victim was “extremely frail” at 5-foot, three-inches tall and weighing only about 90 pounds. Jarvis, the report states, is about the same height and weighs 147 pounds.
The deputy stated the elderly woman had a slight cut on her nose that was bleeding and “you could clearly see dried spit on her collar.”
A witness confirmed the victim’s statements.
The burglary charged stemmed from Jarvis reaching into the victim’s vehicle.
Jarvis was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond for the burglary charge and $7,500 for the assault charge.
Beulah Elementary Students Take Virtual Field Trip To Beulah Middle Agricultural Lab
March 6, 2021
Beulah Elementary School took a virtual trip to the agricultural lab at Beulah Middle School Friday.
“Covid has changed a lot of things this year, but this amazing group of young people have not given up or lost heart. In the past, they have loved our trips to Beulah Elementary and teaching the students there about agriculture. Since field trips are currently limited, they had to think outside the box this year,” Beulah Middle School agriscience teacher Leanne Jenkins said.
“They seriously knocked it out of the park today with their “virtual field trip” of the agriculture land lab. It was engaging, so informative and downright fun,” Jenkin said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Concert Bands Perform Friday Night Concert (With Video)
March 6, 2021
The Tate High School Showband of the South held a program Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium.
All three Tate concert bands performed their MPA replacement program.
Videos are below or are available on Facebook.
Softball: Catholic Tops Northview (With Gallery), Tate Defeats Pace
March 6, 2021
Pensacola Catholic 8, Northview 3
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders in high school softball action Friday night in Bratt.
Emma Gilmore went seven innings for the Chiefs, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out five.
Kailyn Watson led Northview with two hits in three at bats with one run and one RBI. Heather Knowles went 1-3 with one run; Chloe Ragsdale went 1-3 with a run; Abigail Levins was 1-1 with a RBI.
FOR A PHOTO GALLERY, CLICK HERE.
Tate 3, Pace 1
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pace Patriots 3-1 Friday night.
Abby Burks earned the win for the Lady Aggies, giving up one run on four hits in six innings while striking out one.
Courtney Lundquist and Courtney Adams had one hit each for the Aggies.
Pictured: Pensacola Catholic tops Northview Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Woman That Allegedly Kidnapped Two Kids In Louisiana Is Now In Santa Rosa Jail
March 6, 2021
The woman that allegedly kidnapped her two young children from Louisiana Tuesday afternoon was arrested Friday night.
Shawntel Nicole Heck was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond as a fugitive from justice. She has multiple charges pending in Louisiana.
Heck was arrested after contacting a deputy stating she was tired of running and wanted to turn herself in.
An Amber Alert was issued after she allegedly drove away with the children, ages 4 and 8, from their father’s home in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, according to Louisiana authorities. The boys were found safe Wednesday afternoon near Munson in Santa Rosa County, but authorities were unable to immediately locate Heck after a K-9 search.
Tate Aggies Take Fifth Inning Lead To Beat Pace (With Gallery)
March 6, 2021
The Tate Aggies beat the Pace Patriots 8-4 Friday night at Tate.
The game was tied AT three when Jackson Penton doubled on a 2-1 count for the go ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. Drew Reaves and Jordan Jarman had two hits each for the Aggies. Penton, Zak Licastro and Dalton Bowen had one hit each.
Josiah Glodfelter started for the Aggies on the mound. He went six and a third innings, striking out 12 and allowing three runs on four hits.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed In Century
March 5, 2021
A pedestrian was struck and killed Friday afternoon in Century.
It happened on North Century Boulevard just north of Pond Street. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 71-year old Century man was attempting to walk across the roadway when he was struck by a 28-year old female driver that was unable to avoid a collision.
The man was transported from the scene by Escambia County EMS but was pronounced deceased. The Hyundai Sonata driver and her 10-year old passenger were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation. FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Doug Underhill Won’t Seek Third Term On The Escambia County Commission
March 5, 2021
District 2 Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill announced Friday that he will not seek a third term.
“I want to thank my supporters who have worked so hard in the campaigns and in reforming this government. I am humbled that so many of you are pressing me to run for a third term. My supporters sent me here on a message of reform, and their continued support is the best indication that I have lived up to that expectation and have not succumbed to the constant pressure to do things ‘the way they’ve always been done’. That is precisely why I will not be seeking a third term,” Underhill said in a prepared statement.
“I have always opposed term limits because a free people should never ask the government to do for them what they can do for themselves. I admire the example set by our nation’s first executive, who set the gentlemen’s standard of two terms in an office. There are exceptional men and women in our community who could serve District 2 and Escambia County in this seat; only a selfish man believes that his incumbency is more important than the good of the community.”
There will be two Escambia County Commission seats on the 2022 ballot. In addition to Underhill’s seat, the District 4 seat held currently by Robert Bender will also be up for election. Bender announced last week that he will seek a second term.
“I am making this announcement at this time to enable those future public servants to begin their efforts to serve. The work of reform is never done, and it is certainly not done in Escambia County. For the next 20 months, I will continue to work towards making our government a truer reflection of the priorities and morality of the people we serve, and that work will continue aggressively long after I leave this office.”
Three people had pre-filed as of Friday to seek Underhill’s seat — Republicans Chance Walsh and Steven Stroberger and NPA candidate Melissa “Mel” Pino.
‘Brown Out’ Plan Might Temporarily Close Two Fire Stations; Commissioners Disagree Over Firefighter Pay, Volunteer Value
March 5, 2021
The Escambia County Commission learned about a draft “brown out” plan Thursday that might temporarily close two fire stations due to reduced staffing, as two commissioners disagreed over low firefighter pay and the need for volunteers.
Escambia Fire Rescue operates 21 fire stations. Thirteen stations are staffed 24 hours a day with career, seven are volunteer only, and the Century fire station has a daytime career crew weekdays and volunteer staffing at other times.
If department-wide career firefighter staffing falls below 47 when Century’s crew is on duty, or 43 after hours and weekends, a firehouse will brown out — shut down with an remaining crew members reassigned to other stations. The draft plan calls for the Warrington station to be the first to brown out, followed by Bellview if necessary.
“This is a contingency plan. This is a last-ditch effort. This is a Hail Mary,” interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore told commissioners. “This is in case we do go below minimum staffing levels, and we’ve got processes in place to keep us from getting there.”
“If we had COVID hit an entire house and took all those members out of the house, then we would have major problems,” Gilmore said. “We’ve got administration that’s going to step up and run those trucks, down to the interim fire chief stepping up and running the trucks. So, this is in case we get to those minimum levels that are unforeseen, or things happen or we lose additional staff. So that’s what this plan is. It is a last-ditch effort…There are things we’ll do. We’ll pull volunteers from other houses; we’ll stand up a volunteer house. So from administration to the volunteers, we’ll do everything we can to get to that point.”
“You have to do this because we have been on a long trajectory underfunding the public safety. You have to do this, the same way as if you’re crash landing an airplane; you still have to through an emergency landing check,” Commissioner Doug Underhill told Gilmore at a Thursday morning commission session. “When you’re losing airspeed and altitude, every single minute, you’re crashing. We are losing airspeed and altitude with regard to fire safety in this county, and we have been for a long time. You are undermanned. You told me in my office that our pay rates are not competitive for firefighters in this area.”
“That is correct. We are lowest in the Panhandle; we are lowest,” Gilmore responded. “We have lost members to surrounding departments because of that.”
Underhill said with a low pay rate, Escambia County is training “great cops and great firefighters” to go serve at other departments. He said that if Escambia County still has staffing problems, equipment breaking down, and a brown out plan, the commission did not give the department adequate funding.
“There are firefighters right now in Escambia County making six figures, lieutenants making over six figures,” Bergosh challenged. “It’s a tough job. It’s a challenging job. But if you work a career there, you retire in your late 40s or early 50s with a full pension, and you make tremendous money for this area. So, I think we do need to raise starting pay, and, of course, I’m going to support that.”
“But the other thing we need to do is treat our volunteers better. We haven’t been treating them well. They have been wholesale run out of many firehouses, and I’m working against that. That’s a big problem,” Bergosh continued. “Volunteers work for a $400 a month stipend, Doug. It’s a lot cheaper to do that than pay a fully loaded career (firefighter) a 50, 60, 70, a 100 (thousand). We need to recruit volunteers. There are many out there that want to serve. Many firehouses are run 100% volunteer…I support all firefighters.”
“We need to embrace a culture of volunteers. Instead of running them out, strangling from getting the training they need so they can’t serve. We’ve also had a tremendous leadership vacuum, two years without a fire chief,” added Bergosh. “But the knee-jerk isn’t do what Doug Underhill says. The knee-jerk isn’t let’s go raise taxes. I will tell you, Doug, it’s not always about how much you get paid, it’s about where you work, the community you live in, and other factors. It’s not always about money. You want to be a firefighter in Escambia County, you can make tremendous money doing it.”
District 1 Commissioner Bergosh continued, “God bless them. They do great work. I want to pay them good money, but I also want to get our volunteers back into all the firehouses, and I want them to be treated well.”
Underhill replied that in the “built-up” part of the county, which he defined as south of I-10, the volunteer service failed to achieve objectives.
“Volunteer service is an augmentation to professional service, but every single citizen in my district deserves to have a professionally trained, professional outfitted fire team arrive at their home in their time of need,” Underhill said. “I love the bit of Americana that is the volunteer fire service, it is perfectly appropriate in rural areas.”
Gilmore told NorthEscambia.com that volunteer firefighters in Escambia County are issued the same equipment as career firefighters, and the volunteers also have state certification in order to perform in their capacity as firefighters.