Teen Found Unresponsive In Pool At Local Home
July 17, 2020
A teenager was found unresponsive in a pool at a home in the Quintette community Thursday afternoon, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The 13-year old male was airlifted by ShandsCair medical helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital following the incident in the 2900 block of Highway 95A, just north of Quintette Road.
An update on the victim’s condition was not available.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Council Asks Escambia County To Implement Mask Mandate
July 17, 2020
The Pensacola City Council Thursday night approved a resolution asking the Escambia County Commission to pass a mask mandate.
The council has approved a similar mask mandate, but the city is suggesting the county pass an ordinance requiring face coverings in all public settings. The city’s order is only for inside businesses.
The resolutions states, “…the City Council of the City of Pensacola does hereby respectfully encourage the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners to pass Legislation making mandatory the wearing of face coverings in public settings.”
Councilman P.C. Wu voted against the resolution sponsored by Council President Jewel Cannada-Wynn, saying he felt it was not his place to tell another governmental entity how they should operate.
To read the full resolution, click or tap here.
The Escambia County Commission is not obligated to act upon the request.
Selection Committee Recommends Six Candidates For Escambia County Superintendent
July 17, 2020
The list of candidates to be the next Escambia County School superintendent was narrowed to six recommendations Thursday night by the Superintendent Search Citizens Advisory Committee.
The six names will go next to the Escambia County School Board for discussion at a July 20 workshop. The board can remove any of the six form the list, or add back any of the 21 others that applied as they create their own semi-finalist list.
The candidates recommended by the search committee are:
Click or tap any applicant’s name to load their resume.
Only one of the six candidates is local. Keith Leonard of Cantonment is the current assistant superintendent of Human Resource Services and spent 13 years as the Escambia County School District director of Human Resource Services.
Sen Broxson Urges Blood Donations To Help COVID-19 Patients; Donate At OneBlood Centers, Or Saturday In Molino
July 17, 2020
Senator Doug Broxson is calling on everyone who has recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood or plasma.
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus and serve as a treatment for patients with serious or life-threatening COVID-19 infections. Donating blood takes just one hour, and one pint of blood can save up to three lives of patients.
“We are currently at war against the coronavirus. I want to encourage everyone, who is physically able, to join me in taking the pledge to donate blood or plasma every 60 days during the pandemic. I appreciate all our elected officials and community leaders joining me and leading by example to help win this war,” Broxson said.
Broxson took his plea to the Escambia County Commission meeting on Thursday.
“This is a wonderful way to help support our community during this unprecedented time. I want to personally thank Senator Doug Broxson for bringing Escambia County this pledge to support,” Commission Chairman Steven Barry said. “I am confident that it will generate many more units of donated blood or plasma in the near future, thereby saving additional lives.”
Blood and plasma donors at OneBlood must be in good health (free of allergy, flu, cold and nausea symptoms for at least three days), 16 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, be well-hydrated, eat a healthy meal within four hours before donating, and bring a form of ID.
OneBlood donation centers are located at 1999 East Nine Mile Road and 2209 North Ninth Avenue. The OneBlood bus will be at the Molino Branch Library on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
OneBlood is testing all blood donations for the COVID-19 antibody. The antibody test is authorized by the FDAand will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. Appointments to donate are required at the donation centers, and masks are required.
Donors must be symptom free for 14 days.
Alabama’s Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Is Underway
July 17, 2020
Alabama’s 15th annual back to school sales tax holiday is underway.
It ends at midnight Sunday, giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers, books and clothing free of the state’s four percent sales or use tax.
Most individual cities and counties are also waiving local sales taxes.
Exempt items include:
- clothing priced at $100 or less per article;
- school supplies valued at $50 or less per item;
- books that cost $30 or less per book; and
- tablets, laptops, computers and printers with a selling price of $750 or less.
For a detailed list, click or tap here.
Forida’s school tax holiday is August 7-9.
Escambia County Celebrates 199th Birthday; Escambia Was One Of Florida’s Two Original Counties
July 17, 2020
Escambia County turned 199 years old Friday, July 17. Created on the same date in 1821, Escambia and St. Johns counties were Florida’s two original counties, covering the entire territory within modern state boundaries. The Suwannee River was the border between Escambia and St. Johns counties, which follows a winding path from the northern border of the state to the Gulf of Mexico. Essentially, the Escambia County government had jurisdiction over the “panhandle” and “big bend” areas, and St. Johns over the remainder of the entire state.
“We would like to wish Escambia County, Happy 199th!,” said Escambia County Chairman and District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry. “We are looking forward to a year-long celebration where we can all learn more about what it was like when Escambia County was founded in 1821.”
A new logo was designed to commemorate the 200th anniversary, which includes a map of the state with the original boundary between Escambia County and St. Johns Counties, an American flag, the dates of 1821 and 2021, a banner showcasing the 200th Anniversary, and Escambia County and the City of Pensacola written around the outside. The colors of the logo include red, white and blue to represent the colors of the American flag with St. Johns County in purple.
“I’d like to wish a very happy 199th birthday to Escambia County and join them in celebrating our area’s rich history,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to celebrating the county’s 200th birthday in 2021 and hoping it will be a momentous year for our entire community.”
Wild Ride: Woman’s Vehicle Soars Across Highway 97, Travels Nearly 100 Yards Into Peanut Field
July 16, 2020
A woman’s vehicle literally went airborne over Highway 97 and continued nearly the length of a football field into a muddy field of peanuts in Walnut Hill late Wednesday afternoon.
The driver was southbound on North Highway 99 at an apparent high rate of speed when she failed to stop at stop sign. Her Hyundai Tucson became airborne and soared over Highway 97. It landed on the opposite side of the roadway with the windshield striking a road sign. The vehicle became airborne a second time, landed in a peanut field and bounced up into the air again. It then continued nearly 100 yards into the field.
First responders arrived about 6 p.m. to find the female driver apparently unresponsive in the vehicle. She was later transported out of the field using an ATV and walked to an ambulance. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not released further information. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
In A Week, Escambia County, Alabama, COVID-19 Cases Up 27%, Fatalities Up 50%
July 16, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County, Alabama, are continuing to grow an increasingly rapid pace.
As of Wednesday night, there were 562 confirmed cases in the county, up over 27% from 441 a week ago. There also four more deaths reported in the county Wednesday, increasing the number of confirmed coronavirus deaths by 50% to 12.
In the past two weeks, 270 of 1,444 tests have been positive, a rate of nearly 19%, compared to 12% statewide.
The latest data from the Escambia County Healthcare Authority shows 253 of the positive tests were from Atmore Community Hospital, and 60 were from D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
Cantonment Improvement Distributed Food To 330 This Week; Next Week It’s A 10,000 Pound Giveaway
July 16, 2020
Despite the pouring rain, the Cantonment Improvement Committee distributed 330 bags and boxes of food to people in need this week, up from 247 bags the previous week.
And next week, they are planning an every larger food distribution.
The CIC will hold a food distribution on Tuesday, July 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street. There will be 10,000 pounds of food distributed, including meats, fresh fruits, vegetables and more.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. Line up on Webb Street facing north.
Driver Crashes Into FHP Trooper’s Vehicle On I-110
July 16, 2020
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper received minor injuries when a vehicle crashed into his patrol unit in Escambia County.
Trooper said a car occupied by two 18-year old Baldwin County women lost control in a curve of an I-110 ramp to I-10. Their vehicle began to rotate and struck the trooper’s marked vehicle parked on the north shoulder of the ramp. The force of the collision pushed the FHP vehicle off the road into multiple trees.
The trooper along with the driver and passenger of the other vehicle were transported a local hospital with minor injuries.
File photo.