Town Of Flomaton Employees Tests Positive For COVID-19; Most Town Buildings Closed To The Public
August 19, 2020
The Town of Flomaton has closed town facilities to visitors after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The town in a statement that the employee became ill on August 11 and was sent home on paid leave. The employee received a positive coronavirus test result on Tuesday, August 18.
The town has closed their municipal complex, community center and fire department to visitors. All of the buildings have been cleaned, along with the library. After the exposure, the community center was professionally cleaned.
A drive-thru window is open normal business hours for court or utility payments, which can also be made online.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant has directed the mandatory use of face masks in most circumstances by town employees and volunteers “when two or more persons are present”.
The Alabama Department of Health is expected to do contact tracing and make any needed notifications to persons that may have been exposed to the infected employee.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Passes Away At Age 40
August 18, 2020
A Santa Rosa County deputy has passed away.
Deputy Charles Pugh passed away Tuesday morning at age 40.
“Just say prayers for the family and our agency,” Sheriff Bob Johnson said. He did not specify the cause of death.
Pugh was a Santa Rosa County deputy for five years, serving in the Detention Division. He was also a member of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Honor Guard.
Funeral arrangements are forthcoming.
Century Tables Industrial Building Lease For Cotton Storage; Mayor Says Another Company With 21 Jobs Is Interested
August 18, 2020
The Century Town Council Monday night delayed a decision on leasing a town-owned industrial building after Mayor Henry Hawkins said another company promising more jobs is interested.
South Alabama Gin Company, doing business as West Florida Gin in Walnut Hill, proposed a lease of $6,000 per month for five years with an option to renew the contract for an additional five years. They want to occupy the building by October 1 and estimated that six employees would be associated with the the warehousing and distribution of cotton bales.
The gin company was the only company to respond after the town advertised for several weeks seeking lease proposals.
Hawkins said Monday night that he had been contacted just hours earlier by FloridaWest, the region’s economic development organization, about a company that is interested in the building and wants to see it on Thursday. Hawkins said the manufacturing company would bring about 21 new jobs to Century.
“I don’t plan to put cotton storage in Century…cotton out there is not going to help Century,” councilman Luis Gomez said, adding that he believes the town can lease the building to a company that will bring at least 10 jobs to town.
A heated discussion ensued with Gomez and Council President Ann Brooks yelling over each other at times. That made portions of the discussion hard to understand with council members participating by phone or Zoom due to the pandemic.
A motion by Gomez to reject the West Florida Gin proposal failed due to the lack of a second, and a motion by council member James Smith also failed with no second to table a decision on the cotton lease. Gomez made a second motion to reject the cotton gin lease, and it again failed due to the lack of a second.
Smith made a second motion to table action on the lease proposal until the council’s next meeting. It passed 4-0 with Brooks and council member Brenda Spencer expressing that they were “reluctantly” voting in favor. Council member Sandra McMurray Jackson did not take part in the meeting.
Hawkins will meet with FloridaWest and the manufacturing company on Thursday, and the council will readdress the building lease at a special meeting next Monday night.
According to Interim City Manager Vernon Prather, the council cannot simply lease the building to the manufacturing company. Instead, they would be required to reject the West Florida Gin offer and advertise again for formal proposals, much like a bid process.
A previous lease offer by the gin was rejected by the Century Town Council.
In May 2019, West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who were in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company offered an $8,000 deposit, pay the first month’s rent in advance, and pay for any upgrades to the building. At the end of the lease term, they would have had the opportunity to buy the building for $100. The building would have been used primarily for cotton storage.
Known as the Helicopter Technology Building — named for the defunct company that was based there — the 40,390 square foot building has been empty since 2008. The town is still footing the bill for utilities, insurance, maintenance and other costs for the vacant property, and they are looking to turn it into a positive cash flow and create jobs along the way.
In 2017, the building was appraised for $550,000 with a fair market rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month). The office and warehouse space has full climate control, sprinkler system, newer HVAC and energy efficient lighting.
Blue Angel’s New Fat Albert Arrives Home In Pensacola
August 18, 2020
The Blue Angel’s new Fat Albert is now home.
Blue Angels C-130 pilots and crew arrive at Naval Air Station Pensacola with the team’s new C-130J Super Hercules. The new Fat Albert led the Blue Angels in fly-by over Pensacola Beach Monday afternoon.
“It is quite fitting that in the team’s 50th year flying the C-130 we welcome our latest platform, the C-130J Super Hercules.“ said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels. “With the Blue Angels team once again complete, we look forward to the 2021 season and showcasing the teamwork and trust between our Sailors and Marines.”
2020 marks the team’s 50th year utilizing the C-130 as its lead logistics aircraft. The Blue Angels’ previous C-130 “T” model served the team for 17 years and was retired in May of 2019.
Big Fall Tradition Won’t Happen In 2020: Jay Peanut Festival Canceled Due To COVID-19 Pandemic
August 18, 2020
A big fall tradition will not take place this year because of COVID-19. The annual Jay Peanut Festival has been canceled for 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Gabbert family made the announcement Monday due to concerns over the virus and the available county services for the planned festival on October 3-4.
“We will not have the county services that we need to have the festival,” festival organizers said.
All vendors that have already applied for this year’s event will remain on the list for the next Jay Peanut Festival on October 2-3, 2021.
The Jay Peanut Festival dates back to 1990 when the Gabberts started the event in memory of their daughter, Melissa, a 19-year-old who died earlier that year from cancer.
The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm is a fall tradition on the Gulf Coast, showcasing the history, agriculture, food and fun of Santa Rosa County. What started as a chance for local kids and farmers to show off their best of the season has become an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people to the Gabbert farm over two days.
The event included tours of the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. The Jay Peanut Festival was also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
Three Mile Bridge Walking, Cycling Pathway Now Open To The Public
August 18, 2020
The multi-use path along the Pensacola Bay Bridge is now open, allowing people to walk, run or cycle between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson, Gulf Breeze Mayor Cherry Fitch and Senator Doug Broxson took part in the opening Monday.
“This is going to be a true asset in our community, not only providing additional connectivity between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, but also giving us new opportunities to enjoy incredible views of Pensacola Bay,” Robinson said.
A second walkway will be built along the second span of the bridge, which is currently under construction.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
SEC Announces Football Schedule (With Complete Team Schedules)
August 18, 2020
The Southeastern Conference has announced the new football schedules for all 14 SEC schools for the 2020 season.
Last month, the SEC established September 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19.
The 2020 SEC football season is comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5. The schedule includes one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all schools.
Each SEC team will play 10 conference football games to include six games against division opponents and four games against non-division opponents.
The season is scheduled to begin on September 26 and will culminate with the SEC Championship Game. It will be the 29th edition of the game and the 27th in the city of Atlanta.
The complete schedule by week is below, followed by the complete scheduled by team.
SCHEDULE BY WEEK
WEEK ONE
September 26
Alabama at Missouri
Georgia at Arkansas
Kentucky at Auburn
Mississippi State at LSU
Florida at Ole Miss
Tennessee at South Carolina
Vanderbilt at Texas A&M
WEEK TWO
October 3
Texas A&M at Alabama
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Auburn at Georgia
South Carolina at Florida
Ole Miss at Kentucky
LSU at Vanderbilt
Missouri at Tennessee
WEEK THREE
October 10
Alabama at Ole Miss
Arkansas at Auburn
Florida at Texas A&M
Tennessee at Georgia
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Missouri at LSU
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
WEEK FOUR
October 17
Georgia at Alabama
Ole Miss at Arkansas
Auburn at South Carolina
LSU at Florida
Kentucky at Tennessee
Texas A&M at Mississippi State
Vanderbilt at Missouri
WEEK FIVE
October 24
Alabama at Tennessee
Auburn at Ole Miss
Missouri at Florida
Georgia at Kentucky
South Carolina at LSU
WEEK SIX
October 31
Mississippi State at Alabama
Arkansas at Texas A&M
LSU at Auburn
Kentucky at Missouri
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
WEEK SEVEN
November 7
Tennessee at Arkansas
Florida vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
Texas A&M at South Carolina
WEEK EIGHT
November 14
Alabama at LSU
Arkansas at Florida
Auburn at Mississippi State
Georgia at Missouri
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
South Carolina at Ole Miss
Texas A&M at Tennessee
WEEK NINE
November 21
Kentucky at Alabama
LSU at Arkansas
Tennessee at Auburn
Florida at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at Georgia
Ole Miss at Texas A&M
Missouri at South Carolina
WEEK TEN
November 28
Auburn at Alabama
Arkansas at Missouri
Kentucky at Florida
Georgia at South Carolina
LSU at Texas A&M
Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
WEEK ELEVEN
December 5
Alabama at Arkansas
Texas A&M at Auburn
Florida at Tennessee
Vanderbilt at Georgia
South Carolina at Kentucky
Ole Miss at LSU
Missouri at Mississippi State
December 12
Open Date
December 19
SEC Football Championship (Atlanta)
SCHEDULES BY TEAM
Alabama Crimson Tide
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Missouri
Oct. 3 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 10 at Ole Miss
Oct. 17 GEORGIA
Oct. 24 at Tennessee
Oct. 31 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 KENTUCKY
Nov. 28 AUBURN
Dec. 5 at Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 GEORGIA
Oct. 3 at Mississippi State
Oct. 10 at Auburn
Oct. 17 OLE MISS
Oct. 24 Open
Oct. 31 at Texas A&M
Nov. 7 TENNESSEE
Nov. 14 at Florida
Nov. 21 LSU
Nov. 28 at Missouri
Dec. 5 ALABAMA
Auburn Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 KENTUCKY
Oct. 3 at Georgia
Oct. 10 ARKANSAS
Oct. 17 at South Carolina
Oct. 24 at Ole Miss
Oct. 31 LSU
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 at Mississippi State
Nov. 21 TENNESSEE
Nov. 28 at Alabama
Dec. 5 TEXAS A&M
Florida Gators
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Ole Miss
Oct. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 10 at Texas A&M
Oct. 17 LSU
Oct. 24 MISSOURI
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 Georgia (Jacksonville)
Nov. 14 ARKANSAS
Nov. 21 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 28 KENTUCKY
Dec. 5 at Tennessee
Georgia Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 7 (Mon.) vs. Virginia (Atlanta)
Sept. 26 at Arkansas
Oct. 3 AUBURN
Oct. 10 TENNESSEE
Oct. 17 at Alabama
Oct. 24 at Kentucky
Oct. 31 OPEN
Nov. 7 vs. FLORIDA (at Jacksonville)
Nov. 14 at Missouri
Nov. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 28 at South Carolina
Dec. 5 VANDERBUILT
Kentucky Wildcats
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Auburn
Oct. 3 OLE MISS
Oct. 10 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 17 at Tennessee
Oct. 24 GEORGIA
Oct. 31 at Missouri
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 VANDERBILT
Nov. 21 at Alabama
Nov. 28 at Florida
Dec. 5 SOUTH CAROLINA
LSU Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 3 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 10 MISSOURI
Oct. 17 at Florida
Oct. 24 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 31 at Auburn
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 ALABAMA
Nov. 21 at Arkansas
Nov. 28 at Texas A&M
Dec. 5 OLE MISS
Ole Miss Rebels
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 FLORIDA
Oct. 3 at Kentucky
Oct. 10 ALABAMA
Oct. 17 at Arkansas
Oct. 24 AUBURN
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 21 at Texas A&M
Nov. 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Dec. 5 at LSU
Mississippi State Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at LSU
Oct. 3 ARKANSAS
Oct. 10 at Kentucky
Oct. 17 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 24 Open
Oct. 31 at Alabama
Nov. 7 VANDERBILT
Nov. 14 AUBURN
Nov. 21 at Georgia
Nov. 28 at Ole Miss
Dec. 5 MISSOURI
Missouri Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 ALABAMA
Oct. 3 at Tennessee
Oct. 10 at LSU
Oct. 17 VANDERBILT
Oct. 24 at Florida
Oct. 31 KENTUCKY
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 GEORGIA
Nov. 21 at South Carolina
Nov. 28 ARKANSAS
Dec. 5 at Mississippi State
South Carolina Gamecocks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 TENNESSEE
Oct. 3 at Florida
Oct. 10 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17 AUBURN
Oct. 24 at LSU
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 14 at Ole Miss
Nov. 21 MISSOURI
Nov. 28 GEORGIA
Dec. 5 at Kentucky
Tennessee Volunteers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at South Carolina
Oct. 3 MISSOURI
Oct. 10 at Georgia
Oct. 17 KENTUCKY
Oct. 24 ALABAMA
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 at Arkansas
Nov. 14 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 21 at Auburn
Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt
Dec. 5 FLORIDA
Texas A&M Aggies
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 VANDERBILT
Oct. 3 at Alabama
Oct. 10 FLORIDA
Oct. 17 at Mississippi State
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 ARKANSAS
Nov. 7 at South Carolina
Nov. 14 at Tennessee
Nov. 21 OLE MISS
Nov. 28 LSU
Dec. 5 at Auburn
Vanderbilt Commodores
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Texas A&M
Oct. 3 LSU
Oct. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 17 at Missouri
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 OLE MISS
Nov. 7 at Mississippi State
Nov. 14 at Kentucky
Nov. 21 FLORIDA
Nov. 28 TENNESSEE
Dec. 5 at Georgia
Molino Man Charged With Child Abuse, Battery After Allegedly Beating, Body Slamming Teen
August 18, 2020
A Molino man was arrested after allegedly body slamming a teen, and sending another person to a local hospital for treatment.
Eric Matthew Benson, 38, was charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor battery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a disturbance where deputies arrived to find a 59-year old male and a teen female with injuries.
A witness told deputies that two teens had been fighting each other, and that infuriated Benson, according to an arrest report.
Benson then began to “brutally beat” the teen female, picking her up and slamming her to the floor, the report states. The male attempted to help the female, but Benson beat him and also slammed him to the floor, the report continues.
The male was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for multiple cuts and possible broken bones.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery Of His Pregnant Girlfriend, Resisting Arrest With Violence
August 17, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with battery of his pregnant girlfriend and resisting arrest.
Shane Christopher Cash, 25, was charged with aggravated battery when the offender knew the victim was pregnant, criminal mischief with property damage, resisting an officer with violence, and tampering in a third degree felony proceeding. Cash remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday with bond set at $25,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Klondike Road and Wilde Lake Boulevard where they found an unoccupied Toyota in the roadway with the hazard lights on. The female victim approached the deputy, crying hysterically and stating, “he wrecked my vehicle” while looking at a male that was walking away from the scene at a quick pace.
The deputy pursued Cash on foot and gave him several loud commands to stop with no results. As the deputy caught up with Cash, he said that he was doing nothing wrong and still refused to stop. Cash told the deputy, “You better not touch me”, all according to an ECSO arrest report.
The deputy then grabbed Cash’s left arm and performed a leg sweep, “guiding” him into a grassy area, the report states. The deputy and Cash continued to struggle as Cash refused to follow commands and physically resist the deputy.
The victim, identified in the report as Cash’s girlfriend, said she loaned him her car. He returned to say he had wrecked the car by Cracker Barrel.
They drove the car away and begin to argue. He began to hit the dashboard, breaking it, the report states. The woman grabbed her daughter from the back seat, ran away and tried to call 911. That’s when cash allegedly snatched the phone out of her hand and scratched her face. The victim told deputies that she is 33 weeks pregnant with Cash’s child.
Cash denied the allegations against him.
Test Results Are Back For Almost All Century Prison Inmates. Half Are COVID-19 Positive.
August 17, 2020
Results are back from most of the inmates tested for COVID-19 at Century Correctional Institution, with over half the tests coming back positive.
As of Sunday night, 759 inmates have tested positive for the virus at CCI and 748 were negative. Results were still pending for just 25 inmates. CCI houses about 1,500 inmates, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
There were 554 inmates held in quarantine and three medical isolation Sunday night. There have not been any inmate deaths reported at the Century prison.
A total of 35 staff members have also tested positive for COVID-19.
“The great majority of inmates at Century CI who have tested positive showed mild or no symptoms of the virus when they were tested. All inmates continue to be provided with ongoing medical care and monitoring by facility health care professionals who follow CDC guidelines for the prevention, evaluation, treatment and management of COVID-19. Working in tandem with security staff, they are ensuring that inmates receive the care they need while still fulfilling FDC’s important public safety mission,” the Department of Corrections said in a statement.
Testing has been offered to all CCI inmates, and each one is being monitored daily. All services, including medical and meals, are being provided to inmates within their housing units.