Cantonment Man Charged With Robbery, Battery In Incident With Ex-girlfriend
April 17, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing felony charges after allegedly robbing his ex-girlfriend.
Billy Ray Constantine, 23, was charged with robbery of an individual, battery domestic violence and criminal mischief.
Constantine allegedly went to his ex-girlfriend’s home and demanded that she give him her purse and money and began to “pat her down”, she told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He allegedly pushed her down and took her purse which contained $450 in rent money before smashing her phone, according to an arrest report.
The woman suffered an apparently broken finger during the incident.
Constantine was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a probation violation charge in a child abuse case.
Here Are The New Honor Society Members At Ernest Ward Middle School
April 17, 2020
New members were scheduled to inducted into the National Junior Honor Society during a candlelight ceremony Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School, but that was canceled due to the pandemic.
The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle school students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character.
New 2020 National Junior Honor Society members at Ernest Ward are:
Rabekah Abbott
Emma Benson
Olivia Boatwright
Ava Brock
Blakely Campbell
Ashton Covan
Chloe Criswell
Colton Criswell
Beau Daw
Payton Daw
Carsyn Dortch
Maddie Driskell
Tyteanna Dubose
Mayson Edwards
Alysia Enfinger
Noah Faulkner
Aliyah Fountain
Raleigh Gibson
Jamison Gilman
Braden Glick
Noah Goslee
Madalyn Grimes
Ava Gurganus
Jade Howell
Mary C. Hughes
Markavia Johnson
Aubree Jordan
Laura Laborde
Kamryn Langham
Madison Levins
Jared Long
Brooke Lytton
Logan Madden
Evin Matlock
Mattie McLaney
Addison Miller
Chloe Morris
Colby Pugh
Ally Richardson
Naoki Rogers
Maggie Scott
Lilly Smallwood
Brit Smith
Mallory Smith
Zakyla Smith
Jayden White
Brian Yoder
Brandon Odom
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19
April 16, 2020
An Escambia County public works employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
The county said the employee does not interact with the community and works in a small building without public access.
The office area has been sanitized and the employee’s office door has been closed. At this time, no other employees in that building show symptoms, and one employee is in self-quarantine out of precaution, according to a county statement. Employees who work in that building have been notified.
The employee is symptomatic and is at home. This case is not travel related. The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County is performing its due diligence to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 by tracing all contacts.
“We are concerned for this employee and pray for a quick recovery,” said Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley.
How Many People Have Recovered From COVID-19 In Florida? Officially, Zero.
April 16, 2020
How many people have recovered from COVID-19 in Florida?
That number is officially zero.
NorthEscambia.com readers commonly ask us why our at least twice-daily data reports don’t include the number of people that have recovered. Officially, we don’t know because the number does not exist.
Each day, the Florida Department of Health releases data about hundreds of new cases, increasing a case total that was at 22,519 Wednesday night. The FDOH data daily increases total in multiple categories, but for the now the numbers do not show the number of patients that have recovered from the virus.
We asked the Florida Department of Health why, and they said there is no accepted definition of what “recovered” means.
“The state is developing new efforts daily as we respond to COVID-19 to keep Floridians and visitors safe and informed about the status of the virus. Currently, there are multiple ways for recovered cases to be recorded and several methods are used by different countries and states. Some states and countries measure a case as recovered when a person has had COVID-19 for more than 14 days, while others upon hospital discharge data – neither of which completely capture recovery of the full COVID positive population,” the FDOH said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
“The Florida Department of Health will continue to provide information on hospitalizations and deaths to keep the public informed about the threat of the virus,” FDOH concluded.
Fire Damages Duplex In Ferry Pass
April 16, 2020
Fire heavily damaged a duplex in Ferry Pass Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. 3000 block of Cedarwood Village, near Life Care Center of Pensacola. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
There were no injuries, and one family was displaced by the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Prison Inmates Have Died As COVID-19 Continues To Spread At Blackwater In Milton
April 16, 2020
Two inmates at Milton’s Blackwater River Correctional Facility have died from COVID-19 as the virus continues to spread.
The first inmate, 69-year-old Jeffrey Sand, died April 9. The second, 84-year-old William B. Wilson, died April 12, according to published reports citing the Santa Rosa County medical examiner’s office. The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has not released any details or acknowledged the deaths.
Sand (pictured left) was serving a three year sentenced from St. Johns and Duval counties for aggravated assault and burglary. Wilson was serving life for sexual battery on a victim under 12 in a Clay County case.
As of Wednesday, there were 33 inmates and eight workers positive for COVID-19 at Blackwater. With no public clarification from FDC, it was not clear if the deceased inmates were included in the 33 counted as positive.
FDC announced Wednesday that 10 inmates at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach have COVID-19, with all of the cases diagnosed this week.
“Tomoka CI transitioned to providing all services including medical services and meals to inmates within their dormitories,” FDC said. “All symptomatic inmates are being tested for COVID-19. Additionally, elderly and immune-compromised inmates are given priority for testing.”
A Wednesday report from FDC showed 58 positive employees or staff members across the state and 42 total inmates, including those at Blackater. One employee or contract staff member at Century Correctional Institution is confirmed positive.
Hudson Hill Road In Century Closed At Highway 29
April 16, 2020
Hudson Hill Road will be closed at the intersection with Highway 29 in Century from Thursday morning until the completion of repair work.
Crews will be performing water line repairs.
Drives can access residences on Hudson Hill Road by detouring on McCall Road to the southern end of Hudson Hill Road.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Airports Get $10 Billion In Stimulus Money. Pensacola Will Get $11 Million Plus, Atmore Just $20K.
April 16, 2020
Airport across the country will receive their share of $10 billion in federal stimulus money. In the North Escambia area, payments range from a high of more than $11 million to just $20,000.
The Pensacola International Airport will receive $11,081,566, and Peter Price Field in Milton will get $30,000.
The Atmore Municipal Airport will receive $20,000, and the Brewton Municipal Airport will get $30,000.
The grants announced by the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday are going to 100 Florida airports and total over $896 million. Miami International will get the largest check at $296 million, followed by Orlando International at $170 million, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International with $135 million and Tampa International with $81 million.
Frontier Communications Files Bankruptcy. Company Says Service Won’t Get Any Worse.
April 16, 2020
Frontier Communications, which provides local landline and internet service in part of the North Escambia area, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The company said that as they work through financial restructuring, their service won’t get any worse.
“Frontier expects to continue providing quality service to its customers without interruption and work with its business partners as usual throughout the court-supervised process,” Frontier said in a news release. “The company has sufficient liquidity to meet its ongoing obligations.”
In the local area, Frontier is a landline company in Molino, Bratt and Walnut Hill in Florida, and Atmore in Alabama. They also offer DSL internet service in those areas.
“With this agreement with our bondholders, we can now focus on executing our strategy to drive operational efficiencies and position our business for long-term growth,” said Frontier CEO and President Bernie Han. Frontier is looking to reduce debt by more than $10 billion.
Frontier provides fiber-optic and copper network services in 29 states.
Employee Of Target On Nine Mile Road Tests Positive For COVID-19
April 15, 2020
Target has confirmed that an employee at their store on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola has tested positive for COVID-19.
Target released the following statement:
“We’re working in close partnership with local health departments and can share that we have been notified that a Target team member at our Pensacola store on 9 Mile Road has a positive case of the coronavirus. Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members and guests, and we’re taking a number of steps to move forward. First, we’ve communicated directly with this team member, who is in quarantine and following all health department guidelines, and we’ll pay them while they’re on leave. We’ve also worked quickly to deep clean and sanitize the store, which is the recommendation of public health experts. We’ve notified the entire store team and provided them with the appropriate CDC guidance. We’ll continue to first and foremost take care of our team and guests.”
“Target is providing all team members in stores and distribution centers with high-quality, disposable face masks and gloves to wear at the beginning of every shift and strongly encourage that they be worn while working. Those supplies are rolling out now. “
Target has installed plexiglass partitions at checkout lines and other areas to separate employees and customers.