Man That Served Just Three Days As Florida Governor Has Passed Away
July 12, 2020
A man that served as Florida’s governor for just three days has passed away.
Wayne Mixon was Florida’s 39th governor from January 3 to January 6 in 1987. He assumed the officer of governor after then Gov. Bob Graham stepped down to take a seat in the United State Senate. Mixson served the three days until governor-elect Bob Martinez was sworn into office on inauguration day.
Mixson also served as the lieutenant governor and secretary of commerce. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives for six consecutive terms. President Jimmy Carter appointed Mixson as a special ambassador to Ecuador. He was also a veteran serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
“The First Lady and I mourn the loss of Wayne Mixson, a World War II veteran who served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Florida and was appointed U.S. Ambassador under President Jimmy Carter. We extend our condolences to his family as our state and country celebrate his legacy,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.
Bender Selected For Florida Association Of Counties Finance, Tax And Administration Committee
July 12, 2020
Escambia County Vice-Chairman and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender has been selected to serve on the Florida Association of Counties Finance, Tax and Administration committee and the Water and Environmental Sustainability committee. He was also appointed to the Florida Counties Foundation Board of Directors which oversees the training and education institute for county governments.
“I am looking forward to making a positive impact on issues related to finance and environmental sustainability,” said Vice-Chairman and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender. “Escambia County will be well-represented at the Florida Association of Counties committees and the Florida Counties Foundation Board on many of the key components that make Escambia County a great place to live, play and work.”
Due To COVID-19 Staffing Shortages, Escambia EMS Calls In Supplemental Ambulance Crews
July 11, 2020
When seven vehicles wrecked at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment Friday evening, a Lifeguard EMS unit responded instead of an Escambia County ambulance. That’s because with employees out due to COVID-19, Escambia County EMS is shorthanded.
Under a mutual aid plan, at least two Lifeguard EMS from Santa Rosa County are stationed in Escambia County through the weekend.
Escambia County Public Safety Director Jason Rogers, who started his job just a few weeks ago, said on a regular day “when everybody comes to work” there are 18 ambulance crews on duty across the county during peak hours. There were 15 Escambia County ambulances, a quick response vehicle plus two Lifeguard units covering the county on Friday, and a similar arrangement is expected for Saturday and Sunday.
“That is as close to everybody coming to work and life being normal as possible as we can possibly get,” he said.
He said nine Escambia EMS staffers have tested positive for COVID-19, five are awaiting test results and others are isolated.
Rogers said he was not worried that EMS would reach a critical staffing level, but he reached out to the company that operates LifeGuard in advance when he saw the uptick in virus cases and isolations.
“I wanted to get these partnerships in place before it was an emergency,” he said Friday, adding that EMS staffing problems were happening around the country, not just locally.
“We have not reached a critical stage,” Rogers said.
Pictured: A Santa Rosa County Lifeguard EMS unit, which was stationed in Escambia County , responded to a seven vehicle crash Friday evening on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa County Hires Waste Pro To Replace ECUA; North End Residents To Pay More
July 11, 2020
Santa Rosa County has hired Waste Pro to replace ECUA as the sanitation provider in the north end of the county, and it’s going to cost resident more.
ECUA opted not to renew their contract to service the north end of Santa Rosa County after December 31.
This week, the Santa Rosa County Commission approved additional changes to the franchise agreement for Waste Pro to begin sanitation services to residents in the north end of the county beginning January 1, 2021.
The new contract will provide Santa Rosa County customers with weekly trash and yard waste pickup, on-demand bulk waste collection, and subscription-based recycling. On days that trash is collected, yard waste cans may be used as second trash can if needed. ECUA had collected waste twice per week, and recycling was free.
Resident customers will see their cost increase from about $66 per quarter to about $73.29 plus an additional fee if they choose to recycle.
The new Waste Pro agreement will offer recycling as a subscription service for an additional $27 per quarter for weekly recycling pickup if the customer elects to subscribe. Waste hauling rates are adjusted annually each January.
Vehicle Burns Miles Away From Where It Had Just Been Wrecked On Highway 97
July 11, 2020
A vehicle was destroyed by fire Friday afternoon over three miles away from where it had just been wrecked.
The Toyota Camry burned on North Highway 99, just north of the Oak Grove Park. The driver had reportedly run off the road on Highway 97 near Kansas Road, traveled through a ditch and a cotton field before he drove away on Highway 97. Vehicle parts including the front bumper were left behind in the field
The 22-year old male driver of the vehicle was evaluated by Escambia County EMS after the fire but refused transport to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the incident. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue extinguished the vehicle fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Community Health: 87 Take Advantage Of COVID-19 Testing Friday In Century
July 11, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida brought their mobile COVID-19 testing to Century Friday morning.
Community Health tells NorthEscambia.com that 87 people were tested at the drive-thru and walk-up testing that did not require any prescreening.
The tests were available to anyone for any reason from age newborn and up regardless of symptoms. Those that were tested were advised to go home and self-isolate, wear a face covering and keep away from other people, including family members, until they receive their test results.
Friday was the second time that testing had been offered in Escambia County north of Cantonment. There were 55 people tested in Century during the last Community Health event in mid-May.
Pictured: COVID-19 testing in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Police Continue To Investigate Murder; No Arrests Made
July 11, 2020
The Atmore Police Department is continuing to investigate a June 29 shooting as a homicide.
Demarkus Wanya Lawson, age 19 of Atmore, was shot the night of June 29 and passed away as a result of his injuries of July 4, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks.
About 9:17 p.m. on June 29, the Atmore Police Department responded to a 911 report of a person shot at 102 White Street. Atmore Police officers arrived at the residence and observed a car leaving the area with emergency flashers on. A witness told a responding officer the injured victim was loaded into a personal vehicle and was being transported to Atmore Community Hospital. The officer then followed the vehicle to the hospital while other officers secured the scene on White Street.
Brooks said Lawson sustained a single gunshot wound. He was later airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he passed away on July 4.
“APD Investigators are now investigating this case as a homicide. Investigators have interviewed several people who were present during the shooting but no arrest have been made as of this date,” Brooks said Friday.
Anyone with information about the murder is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
Escambia County Temporarily Closing All Recycling Locations Due To COVID-19 Impacts
July 11, 2020
Escambia County is closing all public recycling locations effect Monday due to impacts from COVID-19.
Inmate crews from Escambia County Corrections are used to manage mess from illegal dumping at the sites. Those inmate road crew program was suspended Thursday after an inmate at the Escambia County Work Annex (formerly known as the road prison) tested positive for COVID-19.
“With the loss of labor crews from Escambia County Corrections, the county will not have manpower to manage illegal dumping at the sites. There have been multiple complaints about illegal dumping from neighbors and businesses around each site. Do not leave any materials at the drop-off recycling sites,” the county said in a press release Friday afternoon.
The following Escambia County recycling locations are closed until further notice:
- UF/IFAS Extension Office: 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Fire Station: 1459 Molino Rd, Molino
- Oak Grove Convenience Center: 745 County Road 99, McDavid
- Perdido Landfill: 13009 Beulah Road, Cantonment
- Baars Softball Field: 12950 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- ECUA Ellyson Campus (between the old airplane hangar and the ECUA Water Quality Laboratory): 9255 Sturdevant Street, Pensacola
- Escambia High School: 1310 N. 65th Avenue, Pensacola
- Ever’Man Natural Foods Cooperative Grocery (rear parking lot): 315 W. Garden Street, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Fire Station: 2331 E. Johnson Avenue, Pensacola
A recycling site that was located at the John R. Jones Ballpark on Nine Mile Road was previously closed on June 15 due to a problem with illegal dumping.
ECUA residential sanitation customers can get a free recycling as part of their service. Call ECUA at (850) 476-0480 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Seven Vehicle Wreck Closes Highway 29 In Cantonment; Witnesses Reported Reckless Driver Just Before Crash
July 10, 2020
A seven vehicle crash closed Highway 29 at Muscogee Road Friday evening.
Multiple people reported a yellow Chevrolet Corvette traveling recklessly at a high rate of speed on Highway 29 just before the crash about 6:30 p.m.
There were injuries in the wreck, none of which were considered life threatening. An exact number of injuries was not available as the Florida Highway Patrol continued their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Ex-Employee Gets 10 Years For Robbing Davisville Piggly Wiggly Store Twice, Accomplice Awaiting Trial
July 10, 2020
An ex-employee of the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville has been sentenced for robbing the store twice.
Maurice Montraye Ervin, age 27 of Atmore, was sentenced to a minimum mandatory 10 years in state prison followed by 36 months probation after pleading guilty to robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault and grand theft.
Ervin will have to serve the 10 years in prison day for day with no reduction in the sentence, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Ervin, who had no prior criminal record, will be required to repay the Piggly Wiggly as a condition of his probation.
Ervin was a Piggly Wiggly employee when he stole $941.91 from one of the registers on October 29, 2019. He fled the store when confronted by the manager. The incident was captured on video.
Ervin entered the Piggly Wiggly just before it closed on December 4, 2019. He approached the clerk and pointed the gun at a female employee as he ordered her not to move or talk. He took $6,686.66 from the safe before fleeing the store, according to an arrest report. The clerk told deputies that she recognized the voice of the robber as Ervin, but she did not see his face because he was wearing a mask.
Shortly after the robbery, Ervin was located in the 300 block of Sunset Drive in Atmore and taken into custody by Atmore Police on an outstanding failure to appear warrant. Atmore Police found a firearm matching the exact description of the one used in the robbery inside the 12-foot travel trailer in which Ervin was living.
After interviewing Ervin at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton, investigators from the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office and the Atmore Police Department searched an old shed with no doors near Ervin’s camper. Cash money totaling $81.00 was located on the ground inside the shed.
Johnny Cecil Patterson, age 46 of Atmore, is awaiting trial on charges of first degree accessory after the fact robbery with a firearm and grand theft. Patterson allegedly drove Ervin to the Piggly Wiggly and served as the getaway driver.
Patterson picked Ervin up immediately after the robbery and drove to Ervin’s residence on West Sunset Drive in Atmore, about six miles away, the report states. Patterson also provided Ervin with Ziploc bags to use when dividing the money. Investigators don’t know the amounts of the division.
When interviewed by deputies, Patterson completed a sworn written statement that he was called by Ervin, and he did drop him off and pick him up at the Piggly Wiggly. He said he had no conversation at all with Ervin in the vehicle, and he refused to get the hidden money when Ervin called from the jail.