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.
County Emails: Southern Oaks Has Long-Term Care COVID-19 Cases, Name Three Other Facilities Visited By Health Department Team
April 15, 2020
We are learning more about the reported cases of COVID-19 in Escambia County nursing homes through emails obtained through a public records request.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 48 coronavirus infections among staff members or residents of long-term care facilities in Escambia County, according to the Florida Department of Health. That is an increase of six cases on Wednesday. The FDOH has not and refused to identify the facilities.
Through emails obtained through public records requests made independently by NorthEscambia.com and Rick Outzen of RicksBlog.biz, we have learned that on April 7, Southern Oaks Care Center Administrator Lois Petty emailed Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore that a staff member and a resident had tested positive for COVID-19 (see email below). She said the health department and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration had visited the facility on West Gregory Street in Pensacola on the previous day and tested eight additional residents.
Petty said they toured her facility, reviewing systems and equipment. She said she was informed that she should have emergency management fit test staff for N95 masks. She asked for help with the fittings and help securing more N95 masks.
Gilmore responded that Escambia County Emergency Management does not fit test masks, and he provided a link to local vendor ProHealth that does.
Another email from Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, to Gilmore states on April 8 that eight nurses and an infection control practitioner would visit Southern Oaks, Brookedale, Bayside and Arcadia on April 9.
Brookdale Pensacola assisted living is located on University Parkway. Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center is on Langley Avenue, and Arcadia Health and Rehabilitation Center is on Hillview Drive. The emails obtained Wednesday from Escambia County do not specifically say there are positive COVID-19 cases at Brookdale, Bayside or Arcadia, and no information about the facilities has been officially released.
FDLE Arrests Santa Rosa County Man On 25 Child Porn Counts
April 15, 2020
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 30-year old Patrick Dustin Raybonon 25 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of possession or promotion of child pornography. Raybon was arrested Tuesday by FDLE with assistance from Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began in January after FDLE received a tip from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A warrant was obtained to conduct a forensics analysis of Raybon’s cell phone. Agents found what is believed to be hundreds of child pornography images some depicting children between the ages of three and five.
Raybon remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $400,000.
Escambia Cases Increase By 14; Long-Term Care Facility Cases Increase By Six
April 15, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases increased by 14 since Tuesday, according to the Wednesday midday report from the Florida Department of Health.
There are now 261 total COVID cases in Escambia County and 115 in Santa Rosa County. Both counties have had four deaths each.
The number of Escambia County cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities increased by six on Wednesday to a total of 49.
Statewide, there were 22,519 cases including 21,865 Florida residents. There have been 3,249 hospitalizations and 614 deaths.
Editor’s note: The FDOH dashboard showed 260 Escambia cases at the time of this report, while a more detailed state report showed 261 cases Wednesday evening.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 261 (+14 since Tuesday)
- Long-term care cases — 49 (+6 since Tuesday)
- Pensacola — 203
- Cantonment — 28
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 2
- Molino – 1
- Century — 1
- Residents: 228
- Nonresidents — 19
- Hospitalizations: 23
- Deaths — 4
- Male — 112
- Female — 127
- Youngest — 2
- Oldest — 95
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 115 (+1 since Tuesday)
- Long-term care cases — 1
- Milton — 61
- Navarre — 29
- Gulf Breeze — 14
- Pace — 9
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 105
- Nonresidents — 0
- Hospitalizations — 15
- Deaths — 4
- Male — 80
- Female — 35
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 89
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 22,519
- Florida residents — 21,865
- Deaths — 614
- Hospitalizations — 3,549
Cantonment Woman Facing Enhanced Felony Charge For Burglary During COVID-19 Pandemic
April 15, 2020
A Cantonment woman is facing an enhanced first degree felony charge for allegedly committing a burglary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jennifer Christine Taylor, 34, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling during a state of emergency, grand theft and possession of marijuana.
Deputies responded to a call in the 2800 block of Highway 297A where it was reported that a male was holding a female at gunpoint. They arrived to find the male was not armed and Taylor standing inside a chain link fence.
Taylor told deputies she lived down the street. She said she that the night before she was walking home and had stopped to rest. She said when she put her backpack on again, she slung her cell phone out and over the fence. After daylight, she said she returned to look for her phone, according to an arrest report.
The report states Taylor was next to a trash can full of stolen items valued at $1,075, many of which were last seen in an enclosed breezeway of the home. She told deputies she had no knowledge how the trash can full items got there. The items include a fiberglass boat box valued at $635, battery charger, hedge trimmer, shovel, an antique wood box, boat life ring and miscellaneous hardware.
A white plastic tube on the ground underneath Taylor’s backpack contained 3.2 ounces of marijuana, the report said.
Taylo remained in the Escambia County jail early Wednesday morning with bond set at $6,000.
It’s Past April 15. But Your Federal Taxes Are Not Due Yet.
April 15, 2020
April 15th has come and gone, but your federal income taxes are not due.
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced automatically extended the federal income tax filing due date from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax.
Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline, can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov.
The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds are still being issued within 21 days.
“Even with the filing deadline extended, we urge taxpayers who are owed refunds to file as soon as possible and file electronically,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. ”Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds. Although we are curtailing some operations during this period, the IRS is continuing with mission-critical operations to support the nation, and that includes accepting tax returns and sending refunds. As a federal agency vital to the overall operations of our country, we ask for your personal support, your understanding – and your patience. I’m incredibly proud of our employees as we navigate through numerous different challenges in this very rapidly changing environment.”
Cantonment Improvement Committee Feeds 211 Kids, Taking Donations For Next Week
April 15, 2020
The Cantonment Improvement Committee was able to provide 211 food bags to locals kids and 200 boxes of vegetables to the community Tuesday.
For week 6 of the ongoing project, food donations will be accepted on Monday, April 20 at 3:30 p.m., and food distributions will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Donations can also made to $CICfunding on Cash App.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BBB Warns Against Sharing That Old Senior Photo In #Classof2020 Facebook Challenge
April 15, 2020
From the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida:
It seems harmless and fun! A bunch of friends on Facebook or other social media are sharing their senior portraits, including the high school name and graduation year, to support the graduating class of 2020 (most of whom are at home because of the coronavirus pandemic).
Watch out, scammers or hackers who surf through social media sites will see these #ClassOf2020 posts, and will now have the name of your high school and graduation year, which are common online security questions. All it takes is an internet search to reveal more information about you, such as family members, your real name, birthdate or even where you live.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) cautions everyone to be aware of what they are sharing. Even if you think it’s just going to your friends, it could also be going somewhere else.
Other recent viral personal list posts include all the cars you’ve owned (including makes/model years), favorite athletes, and top 10 favorite television shows.
What most people forget is that some of these “favorite things” are commonly used passwords or security questions. If your social media privacy settings aren’t high, you could be giving valuable information away for anyone to use.
BBB has the following tips to keep you safe on social media:
Resist the temptation to play along. While it’s fun to see other’s posts, if you are uncomfortable participating, it is best to not do it.
Review your security settings. Check your security settings on all social media platforms to see what you are sharing and with whom you are sharing.
Change security questions/settings. If you are nervous about something you shared possibly opening you up to fraud, review and change your security settings for banking and other websites.
Atmore Company Making PPE For Baptist Hospital, Keeping Workforce On The Payroll
April 15, 2020
A Pensacola hospital will benefit from the efforts of an Atmore company that ha shifted to making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), while the Atmore company will be able to keep its workforce on the job.
Muskogee Technology just delivered their first batch of gowns to Baptist Hospital.
“Muskogee Technology is always looking for new paths to help. We are honored to serve and do what we can during this pandemic. I am proud we have the agility to refocus our equipment, workforce, and other vital resources critically needed to assist our healthcare communities during these trying times,” said Muskogee Technology’s President and CEO Westly L. Woodruff.
“We are thankful Muskogee Technology can shift their production to gowns for our doctors, nurses and team members. COVID-19 has changed the health care landscape and as we work to provide care to our patients and others we serve, we are grateful this local company can partner with us in this way,” said Baptist CEO and President Mark Faulkner.
Woodruff began working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upon learning of the shortage of PPE necessary to combat COVID-19. In addition to saving lives by stepping up for the healthcare communities, Muskogee Technology is able to retain their 77 employees.
Muskogee Technology is owned by the Creek Indian Economic Development Authority (CIEDA), the economic development arm of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.) Muskogee Technology normally provides a variety of services to meet the needs of the aerospace, defense, heavy machinery, wind energy, and oil and gas industries.
Escambia (AL) Hospitals Release COVID-19 Testing Data
April 15, 2020
The Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority (ECHA) is reporting that test results are back for most of the people they have tested at two hospital in the county.
There are 10 total positive cases in Escambia County, Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, with nine of those positive tests at hospitals in Atmore and Brewton.
Data released Tuesday shows there have been 166 total specimens collected at Atmore Community Hospital with eight positives, 144 negatives and 13 awaiting results. At D.W. McMillan Hospital, there have been 96 total tests with one positive, 84 negatives and nine pending results.
The Alabama Department of Public Health was reporting five confirmed COVID-19 cases and 188 total tests in Escambia County, Alabama, as of Tuesday. The difference between the health department’s total and the hospitals’ totals can be attributed to timing of the data releases. Also, the health department will officially record a case in the patient’s county of residence.