Scott Calls For Zika Protections For Florida Schools
August 9, 2016
As the Zika outbreak expands in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday directed education officials to protect students heading back to public schools, state colleges and universities, including distributing mosquito repellent to schools in South Florida, where the disease is the most prevalent.
The majority of Florida’s 2.7 million public-school students return to classrooms on Wednesday, followed later in the month by hundreds of thousands of students beginning their fall semesters at state colleges and universities.
The state Department of Health announced on Monday a new non-travel related Zika case in Palm Beach County, bringing to 17 the number of cases linked to infections acquired in Florida. That is on top of 357 travel-related cases and another 55 cases involving pregnant women, for a total of 429.
Leon County also reported its first travel-related case, meaning 30 of Florida’s 67 counties have cases stemming from people traveling outside the continental U.S., with Miami-Dade County claiming 106 of the total. The mosquito-borne virus, which emerged last year in South America, is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and can cause severe birth defects.
“With the announcement of this new (Palm Beach County) case, and the upcoming new school year, I have directed DOH (the Department of Health) and DOE (the Department of Education) to closely work together to ensure students, parents, educators and district leaders have all the resources and guidance they need to combat the Zika virus,” Scott said in a statement.
Scott, who met with St. Johns County officials on Monday to review Zika response plans, said state health officials still believe the 17 Florida cases all originated in the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami-Dade County, with the person involved in the new Palm Beach case having recently traveled to Miami.
But Scott has asked state health and education officials to take a number of steps to protect students across the state. Those steps include:
— Distributing insect repellent to public schools, colleges and universities in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and Monroe counties.
— Requiring schools and universities to have procedures in place to promptly deal with suspected Zika cases.
— Linking schools with local health departments so that clinic nurses and staff can be trained in the prevention and identification of Zika cases.
— Distributing posters, palm cards, door hangers and other Zika-awareness material to be used on campuses and sent home with students.
— Providing a Department of Health “teacher toolkit” that will allow teachers to include Zika messages and activities in lessons.
— Distributing Zika awareness materials to voluntary pre-kindergarten and other school-readiness programs.
“It’s a great opportunity to utilize all the resources that are available and our educators to help our students and our communities understand what to do,” Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said.
Scott said he would meet with education leaders at all levels “to discuss what actions they are taking at their schools and campuses and we will continue to keep an open line of communication with education leaders across the state.”
As the Florida Zika cases increase, a major credit-rating agency has warned the virus could have an impact on the state’s tourism industry and related revenues, including sales taxes, gas taxes and hotel bed taxes.
The Miami-Herald reported that Moody’s has warned Miami and Miami-Dade County about a potential “credit negative” if the Zika outbreak persists into the middle of the winter tourism season in South Florida and affects tourism-related taxes. The rating agency noted that a warning from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pregnant women to avoid the Wynwood neighborhood is the first time in the CDC’s 70-year history that it has declared a travel ban on a U.S. location.
Meanwhile, Visit Florida, the state’s main tourism-promotion organization, has created a Zika web page to provide information and “talking points” on the mosquito-borne disease.
Visit Florida said the safety of visitors, who totaled 106 million last year, remained the “highest priority” for the state’s tourism industry.
It also noted the Department of Health’s belief that all the locally transmitted Zika cases “to date” are confined to the Wynwood neighborhood and buffer zone in Miami.
“For perspective, that’s a one-square-mile area in a state that covers more than 65,000 square miles,” Visit Florida said.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Significant Rainfall Forecast For This Week
August 9, 2016
A significant amount of rainfall is expected through Saturday, with 6-12 inches possible. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 75. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Deidra’s Gift: Free School Supplies Distributed To Hundreds
August 9, 2016
Free backpacks and school supplies were distributed recently in Century to hundreds of children in need, thanks to a family honoring the memory of one of their own, in a program called “Dedria’s Gift”.
The book bags full of supplies were distributed in memory of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Board To Discuss Historic District Homes Damaged By Tornado
August 9, 2016
As recovery efforts continue in Century, the Century Architectural Review Board will meet to discuss various housing units within the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District, that were damaged as a result of the February 15 tornado.
An overview of the units affected and a recommendation for either rehabilitation or demolition and reconstruction will be provided at the meeting.
The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Century Town Hall and is open to the public.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 95A Crash
August 9, 2016
There were no serious injuries reported in a two vehicle crash Monday on Highway 95A south of Molino. The wreck involving a Honda SUV and a Dodge pickup occurred about 3:36 p.m. on Highway 95A south of Cedartown Road. The accident temporarly blocked traffic in both directions on Highway 95A. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Cheerleaders Attend Camp; Five Named As All Americans
August 9, 2016
Shuckers Stop Wahoos 3-1
August 9, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored one run in the ninth but the run came too late to make a difference as the Biloxi Shuckers held on for a 3-1 victory Monday to capture the five-game series at MGM Park.
Pensacola just couldn’t score on Biloxi starter Brandon Woodruff who helped the Shuckers take a 3-1 lead in the series.
In fact, Pensacola batters haven’t earned a run off of Woodruff in all three of his starts against the Blue Wahoos. After throwing 20 scoreless innings against Pensacola, Woodruff probably wishes he could throw against them in every game. He has struck out 25 batters and allowed just nine hits. Woodruff improved to 5-4 and his earned-run average dropped to 2.87.
Pensacola, which won the first half title, is now 20-24 in the second half and in fourth place in the Southern League South division. Biloxi is 18-26 and in last place.
In the ninth inning, Blue Wahoos right fielder Sebastian Elizalde lead off with a single to center and reached third on Biloxi center fielder Brett Phillips error. Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Elizalde to pull Pensacola within 3-1.
But Biloxi’s top closer Stephen Kohlscheen then struck out both Pensacola third baseman Taylor Sparks and first baseman Eric Jagielo to end the game and earn his 18th save of the season.
Biloxi scored first in the bottom of the third inning when Shuckers center fielder Brett Phillips homered, his 13th of the season, to lead off the inning and give his team a 1-0 lead. Biloxi tacked on another run in the inning when first baseman Dustin DeMuth singled in left fielder Tyrone Taylor, who had doubled, putting the Shuckers ahead, 2-0.
Biloxi catcher Jacob Nottingham extended the Shuckers lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning with a homer over the center field wall — his eighth home run of the season.
Pensacola starter Sal Romano gave up three runs on two homers in five innings of work. He scattered nine hits, walked none and struck out four. He is 4-11 with a 3.92 ERA and is second in the Southern League with 116 strikeouts.
Leading the way at the plate for Pensacola was second baseman Alex Blandino, who went 3-4. He is now 7-12 in the series against Biloxi in three games with one run, one RBI and one walk.
Pensacola center fielder Jeff Gelalich also got on base twice going 1-3 with a walk.
Bad Monday: Tree Crashes Down Onto Two Vehicles Sitting In Traffic
August 8, 2016
A couple of drivers had a bit of bad luck today on Davis Highway when a tree came crashing down onto their vehicles. It happened midday on Davis Highway at Johnson Avenue, near West Florida Hospital. There were no injuries. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Wins $1 Million In Lottery Scratch-Off Game
August 8, 2016
The Florida Lottery announced Monday morning that Granville Adams, Sr., 59, of Pensacola, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 FLORIDA CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee.
Adams chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $802,814.40. He purchased his winning ticket from A Food Store, located at 11 West Burgess Road in Pensacola. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
Adams says that he has been a loyal Florida Lottery player since 1988. He and his wife are both retired from the United States Navy and consider this big win a great blessing that will allow them to enjoy their retirement and help their family prepare for the future.
The $25 game, $10,000,000 FLORIDA CASH, features more than 11 million winning tickets and more than $624 million in total cash prizes. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.88.
Second Man Charged In Century Animal Cruelty Case
August 8, 2016
A second Century man has been arrested in connection with an animal cruelty case.
Johnny Jackson Grimes was charged with unlawful confinement or abandonment of an animal and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Escambia County Animal Control, Panhandle Equine Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized three severely malnourished horses from a property in the 2500 block of Highway 168, near Shaw Road, near Century on May 27, 2015.
According to court documents in the case, two of the horses had bones that were projecting and visible due to malnourishment. The horses were unable to graze due to a lack of grass in their quarter of an acre enclosure. It appeared that the horses had no water and no one caring for them for some time.
The horses were rehabilitated by Panhandle Equine Rescue.
As we reported last week, Monroe Kemp Moore, Jr., age 51, was previously charged with two counts of unlawful confinement or abandonment of an animal. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond and with a judge’s order to not possess any animals.
For a previous story, click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
