Rabies Alert Ends; Mom Talks About Son’s Rabies Shots
November 29, 2009
A three month rabies alert is still underway in North Escambia, with several residents faced with a series of rabies shots after being bit or scratched by a rabid or possibly rabid animal.
We spoke to one Walnut Hill family with a child that was forced to endure the rabies shots last year after their then four-year old was bitten by a bat.
Luke Bridges, 5, underwent the series of rabies shots during the summer of 2008. Luke walked up on the family’s porch in Walnut Hill where he was bitten by a brown bat, according to his mother Somer Bridges.
“To him, it was not that serious,” Bridges said. “He thought he was going to be Bat Boy just like on Scooby Doo.” But it was different for Somer and her husband Ted.
“I was just horrified,” she said. “I was very alarmed.”
The family went to the Sacred Heart Hospital emergency room. Over the next few weeks, Luke received the rabies shots under the supervision of the Escambia County Health Department.
“The health department really does pay a lot of attention to these kinds of cases,” Bridges said. “They were helpful during the entire process.”
While Luke suffered no ill side effects from the bat bite or rabies shots, Bridges said, it was a trying time that she would not want any family to endure.
“I would not wish this on any parent or child,” she said.
The original North Escambia rabies alert this year was issued at the end of August after one person was bit by a rabid fox and two raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for rabies. Then three more rabid animals were found in North Escambia, prompting the health department to extend the rabies alert until November 29. The alert has since been extended until January 26, 2010.
The Escambia County Health Department received laboratory-confirmation of rabies in a skunk and two raccoons. The skunk and raccoons were sent for testing after interacting with pets and, in one case, a pet owner. These positive tests are in addition to the rabid animals that prompted the August alert.
Then in late October, six more people — including at least one animal control worker — were exposed to rabies following an incident with a rabid cat in the McDavid area.
The Escambia County Health Department confirmed the incident occurred, but they would not confirm the location of the incident, citing concerns that identifying the community would violate health privacy laws. But NorthEscambia.com learned the incident occurred near McDavid.
According to a source familiar with the incident, a woman was bitten outside her home. She retreated inside her house and called for help from a neighbor because she feared going back outdoors where the cat remained. We are told that four or five people total were bitten or scratched by the animal. Some those attacked by the cat were attempting to trap the cat. Health department officials would confirm that an animal control worker called to the scene was also “exposed” to rabies.
Sector Plan Meeting To Address North Escambia Growth
November 29, 2009
If you want to help to plan the growth of a portion of the North Escambia area, there’s a meeting Monday night for you.
The Escambia County Long Range Planning Division will hold an Optional Sector Plan meeting Monday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Escambia County Building Inspections Conference Room at 3300 N. Pace Blvd., Suite 300.
The Optional Sector Plan encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of land north of Interstate 10, south of Barrineau Park Road and west of Highway 29. It is a long-term conceptual planning project that will incorporate road networks, schools, parks, and commercial and residential projects. Representatives will be on hand to discuss any issues, answer questions, and receive ideas for creating a unified sector plan.
For more information, visit the Planning and Zoning web pages at www.myescambia.com or contact Eva Peterson, project manager at (850) 595-3475.
Local Man Appointed To District 5 Seat On Marine Advisory Committee
November 29, 2009
Hudson W. Woodfin, Jr., of Barrineau Park has been appointed to the Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee by the county commission.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White recently solicited nominees for the position to the committee, which advises the commission on marine related issues in the county.
Woodfin holds a B.S. degree from the University of West Florida in Industrial Technology/Mechanical Engineering and an A.S. degree from Pensacola Junior College in Civil Engineering Technology. He is currently employed by Ascend Performance Materials as a Optimization Planner.
Woman Shoots Her First Buck: 10 Point, 209 Pounder
November 29, 2009
Melissa Hogan, 29, shot her first buck Saturday at the Black Water Hunting Club at Barnett Crossroads in Escambia County, Ala. Hogan’s buck was 10 point, 209 pounds with a 21 3/4 inch wide spread. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida High School Application Deadline Near
November 29, 2009
West Florida High School is accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year through Tuesday.
West Florida High is a magnet school open to high school students from anywhere in Escambia County. The school’s advanced technology program focuses on providing a unique, comprehensive and useful education that will lead to lifelong personal, career and professional accomplishments. West Florida’s mission is to prepare students for entry into their chosen field or higher educational pursuit through the incorporation of learning experiences and technical fields.
Students and parents may obtain applications at the middle school guidance office or in the front office of Building 1 at West Florida High School.
For further information, please call Lori Anderson at 941-6221, extension 2188.
Satsumas Available From Davisville Man’s Orchard
November 29, 2009
A local man is selling the fruits of his labor — satsumas from his orchard.
Jimmie Davis has 67 satsuma trees in his three-year old orchard in the Davisville community. Some of the individual trees are five or six years old. The satsumas, which are similar to a mandarin orange, are for sale.
To purchase the satsumas, call (850) 327-6711 or stop by 9941 Highway 97.
Pictured above: Jimmie Davis of Davisville with one of his satsuma trees. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Today, Rain On The Way
November 29, 2009
Sunday will be sunny and pleasant in the North Escambia area, but an approaching cold front will bring rain as we head into the work week.
Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of rain and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 59. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 53. East wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Wednesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. East wind around 15 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
No Injuries In Century Wreck
November 28, 2009
There were no injuries in a Century accident that left a power pole on the ground Saturday afternoon.
The accident happened about 1:00 on Old Flomaton Road near Campbell Road. Escambia River Electric Cooperative was called to repair the downed pole.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the accident.
ECAT Bus Drivers May Strike Over Pay Raise
November 28, 2009
Escambia County public transportation bus drivers may go on strike this week.
Drivers for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) voted last week to strike as early as this week. The members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1395 are in a labor dispute with Veolia Transportation, the private company that runs ECAT for the county.
The issue is a 4.54 percent pay raise that the transportation union says is guaranteed in their contracts. But Escambia County won’t pony up the $225,000 citing a lack of funds.
The bus drivers voluntarily agreed in 2007 to skip raises on the promise of the 4.5 percent pay increase this year.
The union will meet Tuesday to decide what date they might start their strike. Government employees are forbidden to strike in Florida, but since the bus drivers are employees of Veolia, a private company, they are allowed to strike.
ECAT runs one route in North Escambia, with six-day a week bus service to and from Pensacola, Cantonment, Molino and Century.
Gas Prices: Thanksgiving Weekend Travel More Expensive This Year
November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving weekend travel was more expensive this year than last, with the average price of gas up nearly a dollar over last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $2.60 during the Thanksgiving weekend, up from $1.78 last year. But the price is still much better than two years ago when it was $3.04 per gallon.
Around North Escambia, that gallon of gas ranged from $2.55 to $2.64 in an informal survey.
AAA projected 38.4 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled.
The number of travelers by automobile was expected to be 33.2 million in 2009 compared to 32.5 million last year; an increase of 2.1 percent. The number of travelers by air was expected be 2.3 million compared to 2.5 million in 2008; a decline of 6.7 percent. The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, was expected to be 2.9 million compared to 2.8 million last year, an increase of 1.2 percent, AAA said.
Last year, Thanksgiving weekend travel dropped a precipitous 25.2 percent in the wake of the ongoing housing and financial crisis. This year’s expected increase in travel reflects improved consumer confidence from one year ago, better financial market performance and a growing sense among many consumers that the worst of the global economic crisis is behind us, AAA said.
“Although far too many Americans remain unemployed or under other financial stress, AAA’s projected increase in Thanksgiving travel from one year ago is another hopeful sign that economic conditions are stabilizing and improving in some areas. We can also be thankful the gradual recovery we have been seeing in the U.S. travel industry since the start of the summer is continuing,” said AAA’s director of Travel Services, Glen MacDonell.
Pictured: Regular unleaded gas was $2.59 per gallon Saturday at a station on Highway 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.