West Florida Hospital Implements No Visitor Policy
March 25, 2020
West Florida Healthcare has implemented a no visitor policy for West Florida Hospital, the West Florida Rehabilitation Institute, The Pavilion and Perdido Bay ER.
Visitor exceptions will be made for labor and delivery, end of life visits, pediatrics and the pediatric intensive care unit. Those exceptions will be limited to one parent or support person during visiting hours which are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. These visitors will continue to be screened prior to entrance with CDC screening guidelines. Any visitor who screens positive for respiratory illness will not be allowed to enter the facility.
“While we know how stressful these decisions can be, these measures are necessary for the well-being of our patients, employees, physicians and the community we serve,” West Florida Healthcare said in a statement.
Escambia County Now At 17 Coronavirus Cases, Santa Rosa At Eight
March 25, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE
Escambia County now has 17 confirmed coronavirus cases according to the Florida Department of Health. The Santa Rosa County total has also increased by one for a total of eight as of the Wednesday afternoon update.
Eleven of the Escambia County cases are in Pensacola, and six are from Cantonment. They range in age from a 22-year old female to a 76-year old male.
Five of the Santa Rosa County cases are from Navarre, one is from Gulf Breeze, and two are from Milton. They range in age from two to 74. A 71-year old man from Santa Rosa County died, and at least four others are hospitalized.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the total number of Florida cases was 1,977 of which 1,867 are Florida residents and 110 are non-residents within the state. There have been 23 deaths reported across the state, including the Santa Rosa County man that died at a Pensacola hospital.
International Paper Keeps Operating During Pandemic To Supply The Supply Chain
March 25, 2020
International Paper plans to keep mills such as the one in Cantonment operating, the company said Friday.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security considers forest products as an “essential industry” that should remain operational during the pandemic.
“International Paper products are critical components of the supply chains required to produce and deliver food, pharmaceuticals. hygiene products and emergency supplies for consumers around the world,” IP’s statement said. “Disruptions in the availability of our products would create significant hardships for consumers across the country and around the world. “If our customers cannot get our products, health care facilities, first responders, grocery stores and homes across the country and around the world will not be able to access essential items.”
As International Paper continues to operate, the company said it remains committed to protecting the health and safety of employees and contractors.
“The health and safety of our employees are paramount, and we continue to stress the importance of practicing social distancing, along with taking preventative hygiene measures recommended by the CDC,” Whitney Fike, communications manager for IP in Cantonment, said. “We continue to operate our business effectively, as International Paper bears a special responsibility to continue to operate our mills and converting plants to support the critical needs of the supply chain during this event.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
After 17 Years, The Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee
March 25, 2020
Tuesday marked 17 years since Melinda Wall McGhee went missing from her Atmore home, the apparent victim of foul play.
“The selfishness and meanness of the person that committed this crime haunts us daily. Our love for Melinda is as strong as it ever was and she is missed daily. Perseverance is our only weapon along with prayer. Our God’s vengeance will prevail one day this I believe,” Amanda McGhee said Tuesday as she visited her sister’s empty grave.
The morning of March 24, 2003, was a sunny start to the first day of spring break. Melinda, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
“I woke up to birds singing and sun shining just like it was 17 years ago, but our lives will never be the same the pain and loss is just as painful today as it was that day,” her mother, Ouida Wall said Tuesday.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
In 2010, authorities issued a death certificate for McGhee after a required seven year waiting period passed.
“We continue to be in prayer that Melinda’s body will be found and we can lay her to rest as she should have been years ago,” sister Melissa Wall said. “We are hopeful that the person responsible will be found out or come forward. We also pray that whoever knows something because someone does will come forward in hopes of some type of closure. Nothing will ever bring Sissy back but she deserves to be found and justice needs to be served.”
Crist Wants Early Release Of Benefits To Help Low Income Families During Pandemic
March 25, 2020
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist is urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits early to help low income and vulnerable residents during the pandemic.
“Most recipients of SNAP benefits do not have the resources needed to live at home for an extended period, living hand to mouth on monthly payments to purchase the food that they need to feed themselves and their families,” Crist said in a letter Tuesday to DeSantis.
“The COVID-19 global pandemic has left many Floridians without a steady stream of income placing great stress on those in need. In response to these growing demands, and the potential requirement for some SNAP recipients to need to self-quarantine for 14 days or more, I urge you to offer the early release of next month’s SNAP benefits, effective immediately,” Crist wrote.
In other crises, Florida has authorized the early release of SNAP benefits, most recently during Hurricane Dorian.
DeSantis Cracks Down On Travelers From New York; Encourages All Age 65+ To Stay Home For Two Weeks
March 25, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis is following through on his plan to crack down on people fleeing the COVID-19 shelter-in-place ordera for Florida, and he’s urging everyone 65 and older to stay home for the next couple of weeks.
DeSantis issued an executive order that requires anyone that traveled to Florida from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut in the past three weeks to self-isolate or quarantine for 14 days or for the length of their visit, whichever is shorter. They must also notify officials of the people they’ve had contact with since they arrived in the state. Violating the order is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to 60 days and a fine of up to $500.
The National Guard is stationed at major airports in the state to help with screenings and take temperatures of planes arriving from restricted areas. The governor expects to expand the National Guard’s presence to smaller airports in the next few days.
“That’s the only way we can be sure that that virus is not going to be reintroduced in the state of Florida and then spread,” DeSantis said during a Tuesday press conference.
In addition, DeSantis is ordering Surgeon General Scott Rivkees to issued a public health order encouraging those 65 and over and those of any age with underlying medical conditions to stay at home for 14 days,
“Folks who are 65-plus are the ones that have the best chance to suffer a negative outcome, and that’s disproportionately so when you talk about fatalities.” DeSantis said. “We want to make sure those folks are protected.”
Sunshine And Middle 80s
March 25, 2020
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Escambia (AL) Schools To Begin Meal Distributions On March 30
March 25, 2020
The Escambia County (AL) School System will offer free meals for children 18 and young at three locations beginning March 30.
The meals will be distributed with curbside pick up. Students will receive two breakfasts and two lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays and one breakfast and one lunch on Fridays from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the following locations:
- Escambia County Middle School, Atmore
- Flomaton Elementary School
- W.S. Neal High School, East Brewton
Note that the locations are open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and are closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Children do not have to be enrolled in the Escambia County (AL) Schools to participate. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to take home. No identification or proof of school enrollment is required, but the child must be present.
Donald Gray Welch
March 25, 2020
Donald Gray Welch resident of Cantonment, FL, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2020, at the age of 88. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC, on August 21, 1931, to the late Laurie Thomas Welch and Mary Ozelle Overcash Welch. Donald was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the Air Force and Air Force Reserves. He was also very active in the Civil Air Patrol. Donald retired from civil service as an aircraft electrician.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Tommie Faye Welch; son, Gregory Thomas Welch; and grandson, Casey Eugene Bass.
Donald is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carolyn Brown Welch; daughters, Donna Gay (Larry) Bass and Joy (Jim) Whaley; four grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one sister, Sylvia Mathis; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Friday, March 20, 2020.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. prior to services.
Burial will be held in Pensacola Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church or Covenant Care Hospice.
Patricia Ann “Patty” Miller
March 25, 2020
Patricia Ann “Patty” Miller passed away peacefully at home on March 19, 2020 at the age of 75.
Patty was born in Pensacola to a military family and lived in FL, TX and NV before finally settling back in the Pensacola area. She spent 35 years working at Coca-Cola before retiring in Molino. Patty was known for her quick wit, sarcasm and undying loyalty to the people she loved.
Patty is preceded in death by her parents, Marcus and Eloise Poston, and her brother, David Poston. She is survived by her husband, Tim; son, Pete; sister, Linda; sister-in-law, Alicia; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Molino, FL.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 21, 2020 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Due to recommendations of the CDC the funeral home will only be able to allow a maximum of 10 people in the building at a time.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the National Osteoporosis Foundation at nof.org.