Alabama Governor Issues Stay-At-Home Order
April 3, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 5 p.m. Saturday.
“Folks, April stands to be very tough, and potentially very deadly,” Ivey said Friday afternoon. “You need to understand we are past urging people to stay at home. It is now the law.”
To read the complete order, click here.
“We’ve got to take this order dead serious; otherwise, the fact is more people will end up dying,” she said.
The order means that everyone in Alabama must stay home except to receive or perform essential services and activities including:
- Obtain necessary supplies
- Obtain or provide necessary services
- Attend religious services
- To take care of others
- To work
- To engage in outdoor activity
- To seek shelter
- To travel as required by law
- To see family members
Non-essential businesses must remain closed as previously ordered. Non-work gatherings of 10 or more are prohibited. The occupancy of essential businesses such as grocery stores is limited to no more than 50%. Religious services mch involved less than 10 people who stay at least six-feet apart or a drive-in type service.
Anyone that does leave home must make a reasonable effort to maintain a six-foot separation from other people.
To read the complete order, click here.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson Tests Negative For COVID-19 After His Son Is Confirmed Positive
April 3, 2020
Update: Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson has tested negative for COVID-19 after being tested today, Friday, April 3. Mayor Robinson was tested due to his son testing positive for COVID-19.
Mayor Robinson will continue to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for two weeks, according to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with City of Pensacola policy.
In an abundance of caution, City Hall will be deep cleaned and sanitized over the weekend, in addition to the enhanced daily cleaning measures already taking place due to COVID-19.
Mayor Robinson has not exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19, and he will continue to be available to perform his job duties from home while quarantined as he is able.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson announced Friday afternoon that he has been tested for COVID-19 after his son tested positive.
Robinson released the following open letter:
Dear citizens of Pensacola,
Today, I was tested for COVID-19. I have not received the test results, but regardless of the outcome, I will be self-quarantining until I can confirm that it is safe for me to be around others.
My son, Grover Robinson V, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is recovering at home. He is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.
I wanted you, the citizens of Pensacola, to hear this first from me rather than from another source or rumor.
Regardless of what happens, rest assured that you are in good hands with very capable employees here at the City of Pensacola. We have an incredible team of hardworking people working every day to serve our citizens.
I will continue to do everything I can to serve you while ensuring I am not putting anyone else at risk while I await the results of my test.
It is always my commitment to be as transparent as possible with those who have elected me to serve them, and these circumstances are no different. I will provide an update to the public once I have my test results, whether positive or negative.
I urge you all to continue to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Follow the directives you are receiving from health officials and Gov. DeSantis. The safety and the future of our city is dependent on all of us working together to stop this virus from spreading.
Cantonment Man Charged With Luring And Trying To Meet Underage Girl For Sex. He Was Met By Deputies Instead.
April 3, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly luring and trying to meet an underage girl for sex on Thursday. Instead, he was met by deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Christopher James McElveen, Sr., 40, was charged with luring or enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, traveling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Using the profile name “Chris McElveen” on a commonly used social media platform, McElveen initiated contact on March 23 with an undercover investigator posing as girl under the age of 13, according to an arrest report. The social media site was not named by authorities.
The investigator informed McElveen several times that his online persona was an underage girl. McElveen stated “I would prefer younger but its all good” and he initiated sexual conversation. His chats included statements that included “Im okay with you”, “age and all” and comments that he has previously engaged in sexual contact with a seven-year old girl, the report states.
“McElveen sent several messages of his sexual intent, he began inquiring about if my parents we at home or at work and expressed wanting to meet. McElveen advised that he wished to get a hotel room for a few hours with the underage female, and once again named the sexual acts he wished to perform with the underage female,” the investigator wrote.
A meeting location was established on Thursday, April 2, and McElveen drove his gold GMC van to the location and sent a message to the undercover social media profile which stated “Im parked on the side”. He was taken into custody without incident, and a search warrant was executed at his residence at 801 Cedar Tree Lane. His cellular phone was seized as evidence pending an additional search warrant.
McElveen’s statements to investigators were redacted from the arrest report. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
DeSantis Suspends Mortgage Foreclosures And Evictions For 45 Days
April 3, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Thursday that suspends foreclosures and evictions for 45 days. The order does not relieve an individual’s obligation to make mortgage payments and rent payments.
DeSantis’ order suspends all statutes “providing for a mortgage foreclosure cause of action.” For evictions, the order only specifies tenants may not be removed for nonpayment, which seemed to indicate evictions for other reasons would be allowable.
“I,m not sure you’re going to rent out a lot of new places anyways, but you never know how people are going to act.” DeSantis said during a press conference.
ECAT To Receive $10.3 Million In Federal Funding; Temporarily Suspends Fares
April 3, 2020
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) is expected to receive $10.3 million in COVID-19 stimulus funding, and they are temporarily suspending all fares.
The CARES Act funds are for capital and operational expenses during COVID-19 for local transit services. It’s 100% funding with no local match required.
Beginning Monday, April 6, ECAT will temporarily suspend fare collection for passengers of ECAT bus services due to COVID-19 In addition, bus passengers will be instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibility-reserved seating area. Front-door access will be permitted only for passengers needing the boarding ramp or operator assistance to access the bus. ADA accessible seating space near the front of the bus is reserved for individuals in mobility devices, individuals in need of special assistance and families with children in strollers.
The changes will provide some separation between the operator and the passengers—and between passengers. The changes are being implemented in addition to precautions already implemented by ECAT, including increased sanitizing efforts of every bus on a daily basis.
Escambia County Mass Transit Director Tonya Ellis stated, “In continuing service during this state of emergency, our priority remains the safety and health of our employees and passengers. By eliminating close interactions at bus fareboxes, we can better implement social distancing by avoiding interaction in this high contact area.”
UWF Making 3D-Printed Face Shields For Medical Workers
April 3, 2020
As a shortage of full face shields for healthcare workers grips the nation in the battle against COVID-19, the University of West Florida responded by asking one of the University’s direct support organizations to manufacture, manage and distribute 3D-printed full face shield supplies at its Sea3D Additive Manufacturing Laboratory in downtown Pensacola. The full face shields will be free of charge and distribution is set to begin on Tuesday, April 7.
“By now most of us are aware of the shortage of face shields for healthcare workers,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “At UWF, we are simply doing what we do best, deploying our resources for the good of our community. Fighting COVID-19 is a critical mission and we’re all in this together.”
The production team will print components for the shields on-demand for distribution after a short application process. Distribution will occur at the Sea3D lab, located inside the UWF Historic Trust’s Museum of Commerce in downtown Pensacola. The goal is to make 60 per day, six days a week, for four weeks, resulting in approximately 1,440 shields per month. While the University is donating these face guard kits, each unit costs $6.50 in materials and roughly $4 in labor. UWF Business Enterprises, Inc., a direct support organization of the University, is sponsoring the initiative and managing the manufacturing and distribution.
Healthcare providers may request the shield kits by completing an online form and satisfying the conditions of acceptance. Priority may be given to local nonprofit healthcare providers serving at risk populations including the elderly, low income and the homeless. After completing a web request and signing a waiver, representatives from healthcare agencies may pick the face guard kits up at 4 p.m. each weekday at the Museum of Commerce.
“This is an opportunity for UWF students and faculty to collaborate with manufacturers and utilize their skills in this time of need,” said Nicole Gislason, interim assistant vice president of the UWF Haas Center. “We teach our students that real-world problems can be transformed into creative solutions through research, invention and discovery. There is no better time than the present for them to put that teaching to practical use.”
The production team consists of innovators from multiple departments at UWF, including nursing, engineering, art and business. UWF students and faculty will work alongside professionals from regional hospitals, the Escambia County Division of Emergency Management, Jupiter Bach, GE Renewable Energy and Alto Products Corp.
“There are thousands of inventors and makers around the globe generously sharing their ideas to address the pandemic,” said Thomas Asmuth, associate professor of the UWF Department of Art and a designer for the production team. “We are very grateful for the quick start from other designers around the world. You can be very agile in response to a problem when you are using rapid prototyping technologies. As a designer and maker, there is nothing comparable.”
Kids Pick Up Chromebooks, Other Virtual Instruction Supplies
April 3, 2020
Kids across Escambia County picked up Chromebooks and other essential items this week from their local school as the district transitions into all remote instruction.
Students in grades K-2 were assigned Chromebooks from a district stockpile. Every Escambia County School district student in grades 3-12 already had a Chromebook. Students without access to adequate internet service will receive lessons on flash drives or in paper packets.
If parents did not receive a call from their child’s teacher this week, they should call the school and leave a message. As of Friday, all teachers and staff are working from home.
Pictured top: A “kid” in the pick up line at Jim Allen Elementary School. First below: Supply distribution at Jim Allen Elementary. Pictured bottom photos: Chromebooks ready for Kingsfield Elementary School students. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Was Day One Of Florida’s Stay-At-Home Order
April 3, 2020
Florida’s stay-at-home order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Under the order, which Gov. Ron DeSantis calls a “Safer at Home” order, Floridians should limit movements to only essential services.
The order includes the following directives and information:
Safer At Home
- Senior citizens and individuals with a significant underlying medical condition (such as chronic lung disease, moderate-to-severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immunocompromised status, cancer, diabetes, severe obesity, renal failure and liver disease) shall stay at home and take all measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
- All persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.
Essential Services
- For purposes of this Order and the conduct it limits, “essential services” means and encompasses the list detailed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, v. 2 (March 28, 2020) and any subsequent lists published.
- Essential services include, but are not limited to:
- Healthcare/public health
- Law enforcement, public safety and other first responders
- Food and agriculture
- Employees supporting the energy sector, including electricity, petroleum and natural gas industries
- Water and wastewater
- Transportation and logistics
- Public works and infrastructure support services
- Communications and information technology
- Other community or government-based operations and essential functions
- Critical manufacturing
- Residential/shelter facilities and services
- Hygiene products and services
- View the full list of essential services and guidance here.
- Essential services also include those businesses and activities designated by the governor’s Executive Order 20-89 which includes a list propounded by Miami-Dade County in multiple orders.
- Other essential services may be added.
- Nothing in this order prohibits individuals from working from home; the Order encourages individuals to work from home.
- All businesses or organizations are encouraged to provide delivery, carry-out or curbside service outside of the business or organization, of orders placed online or via telephone, to the greatest extent practicable.
Essential Activities
- For purposes of this order and the conduct it limits, “essential activities” means and encompasses the following:
- Attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship
- Participating in recreational activities such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running, or swimming
- Taking care of pets
- Caring for or otherwise assisting a loved one or friend
- Escambia County strongly encourages all essential activities follow social distancing guidelines.
- Other essential activities may be added to this list.
- A social gathering in a public space is not an essential activity. Groups of people greater than ten are not permitted to congregate in any public space
Escambia County Hires Two New Assistant County Administrators, Including A Tate High Graduate
April 3, 2020
The Escambia County Commission voted to hire two assistant county administrators during their meeting Thursday night at the recommendation of County Administrator Janice Gilley.
Debbie Bowers is a 1979 graduate of Tate High School. She’s currently employed as the managing director of DL Bowers Advisors, a Pensacola consulting partnership. She spent 10 years as chief commercial officer for the City of Los Angeles, five years with Broward County in roles that included interim deputy airport director for administration and an assistant to the county administrator.
Wesley Hall has served the past year as the interim county administrator for Gadsden County, Florida, spent six years at the revenue officer for the City of Tallahassee, operated several McDonald’s restaurants from 2005 to 2001 and was director of sales for the Florida Lottery from 2000 to 2005.
Bowers and Hall will each receive an annual salary of $136,000, a $400 monthly vehicle allowance, and up to $5,000 for relocation expenses. Both were budgeted positions.
Two Escambia County (AL) COVID-19 Cases Confirmed; Third Person Tests Positive At Atmore Community Hospital
April 3, 2020
As a second case of coronavirus was reported in Escambia County, Alabama, we’ve learned that another individual tested positive at Atmore Community Hospital.
The Alabama Department of Public Health reported two positive cases in the county as of Thursday night. The Escambia County Healthcare Authority, which oversees Atmore Community Hospital and D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton — said neither of those patients were tested at their hospitals.
A separate patient that took a COVID-19 test at Atmore Community Hospital has tested positive, according to the healthcare authority. That person’s results won’t be reported as another local positive because they were not a resident of Escambia County, Alabama. The authority said the positive result will be reported by the Alabama Department of Health in the patient’s home county.
The Escambia County Healthcare Authority issued a statement that assured the public that “it is safe to seek care” at both Atmore Community and D.W. McMillan hospitals.
“We have the facilities and expertise to care for those patients while protecting the safety of all our patients, visitors and employees,” the statement said.
Pictured: Atmore Community Hospital. NorthEscambia.com file photo.