COVID By The Numbers: How Many Tested Positive And Negative At Sacred Heart; Escambia County Cases
March 31, 2020
Here is a look at COVID-19 by the numbers in Escambia County.
There are the latest numbers from testing conducted by Ascension Sacred Heart as of late Monday afternoon:
- 2,276: Total number of tests.
- 1,879: Number of test results returned.
- 99: The number of positive results.
- 5.3: The percentage of tests that were positive.
- 1,780: The number of negative tests.
- 62: The number of positives from Escambia County.
- 22: The number of positives from Santa Rosa County.
- 5: The number of positives from Okaloosa County.
- 1: The number of positives from Walton County.
- 2: The number of positives from other Florida locations.
- 1: The number of positives from Louisiana.
- 6: The number of positives from Alabama.
Key numbers for Escambia County:
- 81: The number of positive cases in Escambia County.
- 76: Number of residents with COVID-19.
- 5: The number of non-residents.
- 2-94: Age range of positive cases in Escambia.
- 43: The number of men.
- 34: The number of women.
- 2: Number of people in the hospital
- 787: The number of tests reported by the state
- 705: The number of negatives reported by the state
- 653: Number of negatives that were residents.
- 1: Number awaiting testing, per the state.
Florida Department of Health data key takeaways statewide as of Monday night:
- 5,704: Total number of positive cases.
- 5,489: Total number of cases in Florida residents
- 714: Number of cases hospitalized
- 71: The number dead.
Need A Little Time To Pay Your Property Taxes? There’s A Payment Plan Available In Escambia County.
March 31, 2020
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford is reminding taxpayers there is help for those who may need to make partial payment on their 2019 real estate and tangible property taxes.
If a property owner decides to make partial payments, the following information applies:
- Property owner must submit an application (found on the back of the tax bill and on our website) with initial partial payment.
- A $10 processing fee is deducted from each partial payment per statute.
- Partial payments are accepted for current year taxes only.
- No discount allowed for partial payments.
- Partial payments will not be accepted after April 15, and any remaining balance as of April 16 is delinquent and subject to all applicable penalties and fees.
COVID-19 UPDATE: While tax collector lobbies and their call center are closed, a payment center is available at all times at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Customers are encouraged to pay online by eCheck where there is never an extra fee or by mail. At this time, drive-thru lanes are available for pick up of completed transactions only.
Deputy Cleared In December Officer-Involved Shooting Off Chemstrand Road
March 31, 2020
The State Attorney’s Office has cleared an Escambia County deputy that shot a suspect that opened fire on deputies last December on Limerick Lane off Chemstrand Road.
The suspect, Daniel Jeremy Hux, is charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement office and remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond as he awaits trial.
At about 1:30 p.m. on December 11, 2019, suspect Hux called 911 and requested to be taken to the hospital, stated that he was contemplating suicide, and that he was standing outside under a pine tree.
Deputy Douglas Shoemaker was dispatched to the address on Limerick Lane for a welfare check. He did not see anyone outside, knocked on the front door and went to a side carport door. At 2:16 p.m. he canceled Escambia County EMS.
Shoemaker was joined by Sgt. Melissa Lee. They again checked the doors of the residence, and Shoemaker returned to the carport and knocked on the side door again. He saw a figure moving to the door through frosted glass. When the door opened, he saw the muzzle of a firearm pointed toward him, and the person holding it opened fire. Shoemaker said he was hit by the first round in the chest and immediately ran and secured cover. The deputy then returned fire at Hux until he saw him “go down”.
Shoemaker suffered gunshot wounds to his chest, right side and right middle knuckle, and he was grazed on the forehead.
The sergeant heard the gunshots and saw an arm with a handgun sticking out of the door. Hux began to shoot in her direction, forcing her to seek cover at her vehicle. Lee indicated she did not fire because she could not see a clear target.
Deputy Shoemaker was shot four times and Hux was struck twice. Both were transported to the hospital and both survived.
Hux’s wife told investigators that Hux had become increasingly paranoid and delusional over several months. She said he called her the morning of the shooting and told her, “he loved her, and everything would be OK”.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Santa Rosa County Delivering Meals Along School Bus Routes
March 31, 2020
The Santa Rosa School District is feeding kids during COVID-19 school closure and will continue as long as schools are not open. They are using pick up locations, and school buses are delivering meals in select locations.
The meals for any child 18 and under. The program is administered through the federal USDA Summer Food Service Program, which is for schools with student populations that are 50% or more eligible for free and reduced meals.
The program fed 3,816 children last Friday. Each child will receive two meals daily, breakfast and lunch, except on Friday when they will be given enough for both meals through the weekend.
Schedule:
Schools 9:30 am to 11:00 am
• Milton HS…Bus ramp on Raymond Hobbs Lane
• Pea Ridge Elem …Parent pick up lane
• East Milton Elem …Bus ramp in front of school
• Jay Elem …in front of high school
• Berryhill Elem…parent pick up lane
• Holley Navarre Primary…Parent pick up
• TR. Jackson Parent pick up area
• Central School- parent pick up
• Bagdad Elementary- bus ramp area
• Benny Russell Elementary- Parent pick up
Single Stop Bus delivery 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Santa Villa Park
• Bell Ridge Apts.
• Floridatown Park
• Blackwater Baptist Church
• Santa Gertrudas – south of I-10
• Permenter – American Farms – north of I-10
Bus delivery 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Christian Life Church – Avalon Blvd
Select bus routes from the following schools 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.
• Milton High School
• Pea Ridge Elementary School
• East Milton Elementary School
• Jay Elementary School
• Berryhill Elementary School
• Benny Russell Elementary School
• Bagdad Elementary School
• Central School
• Holley Navarre Primary School
Santa Rosa County hopes to expand the program with additional fixed locations and bus routes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Greg Marcille Withdraws From State Attorney Race For Health Reasons
March 31, 2020
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille is withdrawing for the race for First Judicial Circuit state attorney for health reasons.
“As the result of health concerns that developed after I pre-qualified to run for State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, it is necessary that I withdraw from that race. I appreciate the help and support that I have received during this campaign,” he said Monday.
Marchille, who was endorsed by State Attorney Bill Eddins, said that all financial contributions he has received will be returned. Eddins is not seeking reelection.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have assisted me in this endeavor,” said Marcille, a 34-year veteran of the office.
Assistant State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden is currently the only other announced candidate in the race. She currently supervises assistant prosecutors serving in Okalossa County and juvenile courts.
Florida Students To Remain Out Of School Through At Least May 1
March 30, 2020
All public school students in Florida will now remain out of school through at least Friday, May 1, the Florida Department of Education announced Monday.
“The main objective is to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 to our community, while also delivering the district’s Instructional Continuity Plan to students and parents during this time of social distancing,” Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.
The Escambia County School district has targeted Wednesday, April 1 as the official first day of virtual instruction for all students. Teachers and school staff began calling students and parents on Monday, and will continue their calls on Tuesday, with complete details on how they will handle online instruction. If parents do not received a call by Wednesday, they should contact their child’s school to make sure they have a correct phone number for the student.
For more information, see this NorthEscambia.com story published on Sunday.
Hours of operation for the district from March 30, 2020, through May 1, 2020, will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees will continue to follow their work schedule as already defined by their immediate supervisor.
There Are Now 81 Positive COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County, 36 In Santa Rosa
March 30, 2020
As backlogged test results were reported, the number of COVID 19 more than doubled Monday in Escambia County and also increased in Santa Rosa County.
The total number of confirmed cases in Escambia County jumped to 81 with the evening update from the Florida Department of Health. There are now 36 cases in Santa Rosa County.
Of the Escambia County cases, 54 were from Pensacola, 14 were from Cantonment, five were from Bellview, one was from Perdido Key and five are non-residents. They range in age from 2 to 94. There were two confirmed patients in the hospital.
In Santa Rosa County, 13 cases were from Navarre, nine from Milton, eight from Gulf Breeze, two from Pace and data was not available on the remainder. Cases range in age from two months to 81 years. Seven were hospitalized and two have died.
There are currently 5,704 cases in Florida — 5,489 are Florida residents and 215 are non-Florida residents. There are 715 people hospitalized and 71 deaths.
Atmore Police Respond To Burglary In Progress, Find Badly Decomposed Body
March 30, 2020
Atmore Police responded to a burglary and found a badly decomposed body inside the home.
It happened about 10:20 p.m. last Thursday at 71 Jones Street, Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said Monday. Officers responded to a burglary in progress call at the home. They surrounded the residence and then observed that it had been forcibly entered.
“Officers entered the home and began doing a room by room search for any violators,” Brooks said. “Officers then discovered in one of the bedrooms a badly decomposing body believed to be a female.”
The name of the victim is not being released until positive identification is made by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Brooks said the case is currently being investigated as a homicide, and the investigation is continuing.
Anyone with information on case is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Early Morning Fire Under Investigation As Possible Arson
March 30, 2020
An early Monday morning fire near McDavid is under investigation as a possible arson.
Fire destroyed a fifth-wheel travel trailer about 1:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of Perdue Road. The mobile home at that address was damaged by fire on March 12, and a third fire destroyed another travel trailer earlier this year.
The March 12 mobile home fire was initially believed to caused by an extension cord used to power the travel trailer that burned early Monday.
There were no injuries reported in any of the incidents.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal are investigating.
Pictured above and below: An early morning fire destroyed a travel trailer in McDavid Monday. Pictured bottom: Fire damaged a mobile home March 12 at the same location. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Meal Distribution For Kids Expanded To 38 Schools Monday
March 30, 2020
Free meal distribution expanded to 38 school sites Monday in Escambia County for families to pick up breakfast and lunch for kids under 18..
All sites will provide children or teens a breakfast meal and a lunch meal during the same visit. The meals are designed to be carried away and consumed off campus; cafeterias and dining rooms will not be open. Meals will be distributed in a curbside pick-up operation. Food items will be in to-go containers and will consist of ready-to-eat food items that should be consumed when received or should be quickly refrigerated for consumption at a later time.
Meals will be distributed to children 18 and younger from 9 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday, except for Friday, April 10. Students must be present according to USDA policy.
Distribution sites are:
- Jim Allen Elementary School, 1051 Highway 95A North, Cantonment
- Jim C. Bailey Middle School, 4110 Bauer Road, Pensacola
- Bellview Elementary School, 4425 Bellview Ave., Pensacola,
- Beulah Elementary School, 6201 Helms Road, Pensacola
- Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Blue Angels Elementary School, 1551 Dog Track Road, Pensacola
- Bratt Elementary School, 5721 North Highway 99, Century
- Brentwood Elementary School, 4820 N. Palafox St. (U.S. 29), Pensacola
- Cordova Park Elementary School, 2250 Semur Road, Pensacola
- Ensley Elementary School, 501 E. Johnson Ave., Pensacola
- Ernest Ward Middle School, 7650 Highway 97, Walnut Hill
- Ferry Pass Elementary School, 8310 N. Davis Highway, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School, 8355 Yancey Ave., Pensacola
- Global Learning Academy, 100 North P St., Pensacola
- Lincoln Park Elementary School, 7600 Kershaw St., Pensacola
- Longleaf Elementary School, 2600 Longleaf Drive, Pensacola
- L.D. McArthur Elementary School, 330 E. Ten Mile Road, Pensacola
- Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97, Molino
- Montclair Elementary School, 820 Massachusetts Ave., Pensacola
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School, 6115 Lillian Highway, Pensacola
- Navy Point Elementary School, 1321 Patton Drive, Pensacola
- Northview High School, 4100 West Highway 4, Bratt
- Oakcrest Elementary School, 1820 N. Hollywood Blvd., Pensacola
- Pensacola High School, 500 W. Maxwell St., Pensacola
- Pine Meadow Elementary School, 10001 Omar Ave., Pensacola
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School, Owen Bell Lane, Pensacola
- Ransom Middle School, 1000 W. Kingsfield Road, Cantonment
- Scenic Heights Elementary School, 3801 Cherry Laurel Drive, Pensacola
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School, 1250 E. Texar Drive, Pensacola
- Sherwood Elementary School, 501 Cherokee Trail, Pensacola
- A.K. Suter Elementary School, 501 Pickens Ave., Pensacola
- J.M. Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment
- Warrington Elementary School, 220 N. Navy Blvd., Pensacola
- Warrington Middle School, 459 South Old Corry Field Road, Pensacola
- Booker T. Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway, Pensacola
- C.A. Weis Elementary School, 2701 North Q St., Pensacola
- West Pensacola Elementary School, 801 North 49th Ave., Pensacola
- Workman Middle School, 6299 Lanier Drive, Pensacola
NorthEscambia.com photo.