Cleaning Up The Yard? Know Florida’s Debris Burning Regulations
April 25, 2020
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are reminding residents to make sure they meet the legal requirements before burning debris from this week’s storms or just cleaning up the yard.
There are no burn bans in effect in our area but residents must still follow certain requirements: Burning piles of yard debris less than 8 feet in diameter is allowed if it is 25 feet from and wooded area or combustible structure, 25 feet from your house, 50 feet from a paved public road and 150 feet from other occupied dwellings.
Piles greater than eight feet require a burn authorization from the Florida Forest Service and must meet more stringent standards. For more information about authorizations, call Blackwater Forestry Center headquarters at (850) 957-5701.
Escambia EMS Rolls Out Active Shooter Kits Across County, Three New Ambulances
April 25, 2020
The Escambia County Public Safety Department has introduced three new ambulances to their fleet, along with 60 new pediatric resuscitation system units and 42 active shooter kits.
“We are thrilled to add three new ambulances to our fleet which will replace some older units,” said EMS Manager Jimmy Maddrey. “Each ambulance is upgraded with state-of-the-art equipment and provides safety for our crews and patients with features such as the airbag deployment system. The upgrades to the Handtevy Pediatric System and the active shooter kits provide better resources at our fingertips. The public will greatly benefit from these additions, and we are proud to serve the community with these new resources.”
The implementation of this new life-saving equipment will help the Escambia County Public Safety Department continue to provide a high level of emergency services to the citizens of Escambia County.
Three Ambulances with ZICO O/2 Tank Lift
- Two of the three new ambulances were placed into service at the end of March, with the third truck set to join the fleet next month, bringing the EMS fleet total to 35 numbered trucks.
- The new ambulances will be the first units in the fleet to utilize ZICO O/2 tank lift systems, providing an easier process for loading oxygen cylinders onto the trucks. The ZICO system lifts and lowers an apparatus-mounted gas cylinder for quick and easy replacement, substantially reducing risk of injury to personnel.
- The trucks also have full a air bag system and a Horton Occupant Protection System, also known as a safety restraint system. HOPS combines advanced restraints, multi-density head protection, tubular airbags and head curtain airbags to protect attendants in side-impact rollover crashes. With the addition of the three new trucks, there are now seven trucks total within the fleet utilizing HOPS.
Pediatric Resuscitation System Software and 60 HPRS Units
- The Handtevy Pediatric Resuscitation System allows Escambia County EMS to better serve and treat pediatric patients.
- The Handtevy Pediatric System software gives clinical teams rapid access to lifesaving dosing (medications) information while documenting the incident in real-time. The software allows clinicians to perform real-time verification for medications and ensure accurate scene documentation.
- The software system comes with a lightweight bag that can be used as a backpack. The bag allows for easy identification of the pediatric equipment sizes with seven age-based, color coded pouches.
- The software system and 60 HPRS bags were placed into service in late-March.
42 Active Shooter Kits
- The new active shooter kits containing tourniquets, chest seals and numerous size bandages were placed in all Escambia County ambulances and EMS supervisor SUVs in March.
- The kits allow EMS personnel to quickly treat multiple victims of a mass casualty incident.
The total cost for the three ambulances is $909,525. The cost of each individual unit is $303,175 and includes the power loads and stretchers. The cost was approved on March 7, 2019 during a regular Board of County Commission meeting. The total cost of the Handtevy Pediatric Resuscitation System and 60 lightweight bags is $52,000. An EMS state grant of $39,831 was applied to the cost. The remaining balance of $12,169 was paid utilizing funds from the EMS budget.
Two People Arrested For Escambia County Murder
April 24, 2020
Two people have been charged with an Escambia County murder.
On April 20, Cheryl Cain, 62, was murdered in the 5000 block of Yacht Harbor Drive, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 24, ECSO investigators along with the help of the Tulsa Police Fugitives Warrants Task Force out of Oklahoma arrested Cody Jay Harrimon and Eugina Lynn Martorelli. Both suspects were taken into to custody without incident at a hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Further details were not made a available.
UPDATE: Missing Cottage Hill Teen Found Safe
April 24, 2020
UPDATE: A missing teen from Cottage Hill has been safely located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing teen from Cottage Hill.
Hunter Gahimer was last seen Thursday in the 1500 block of Cottage Park Road. He is six-feet tall, 200 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a black shirt with a Deadpool character on the front and khaki shorts.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9650.
Long-Term Care Resident Is Escambia County’s 11th Total COVID-19 Death; State Deaths Surpass 1,000
April 24, 2020
Another death was reported in Escambia County from COVID-19 Friday as the number of statewide deaths surpassed 1,000.
Escambia County’s eleventh death was a 75 year old female long-term care resident with no travel history and no known contact with a confirmed case. The number of cases in residents or staff of long-term care facilities stands at 145 in Escambia County with eight deaths, and 10 in Santa Rosa County.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties increased by just nine on Friday. Escambia County cases were at 434, and Santa Rosa was at 143.
Statewide, there were 30,533 cases including 29,707 Florida residents. There have been 4,817 hospitalizations and 1,046 deaths.
- Total cases — 434 (+7 since Thursday)
- Long-term care cases — 143 (+0 since Thursday)
- Pensacola — 329
- Cantonment — 36
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 1
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 37*
- Deaths — 11
- Male — 173
- Female — 211
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 100
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 143 (+2 since Thursday)
- Long-term care cases — 10 (+0 since Thursday)
- Milton — 76
- Navarre — 30
- Gulf Breeze — 23
- Pace — 11
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 20*
- Deaths — 6
- Male — 99
- Female — 43
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 30,533
- Florida residents — 29,707
- Deaths — 1,046
- Hospitalizations — 4,817*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
FDOH Identifies 12th Escambia County Long-Term Care Centers With Positive COVID-19 Case
April 24, 2020
The Florida Department of Health has identified another Escambia County long-term care facility with a positive COVID-19 case.
Bayside Health And Rehabilitation Center on Langley Avenue is now the 12th long-term care facility with a positive case in a resident or staff member.
As of Thursday night, there were 143 total long-term care positives cases across the facilities with seven deaths.
Here is the complete FDOH list from Escambia County:
- Arcadia Health & Rehabilitation Center
- Asbury Place
- Bayside Health And Rehabilitation Center
- Brookdale Pensacola
- De Luna Health And Rehabilitation Center
- Homestead Village Retirement Community
- Olive Branch Health And Rehabilitation Center
- Rehabilitation Center At Park Place
- Rosewood Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center
- Southern Oaks Care Center
- Specialty Health And Rehabilitation Center
- Westpointe Retirement Community Inc
The Arbors Of Gulf Breeze was the only listed facility with coronavirus cases in Santa Rosa County.
The state’s list does not indicate how many cases there are per individual facility or if the positive cases are staff or residents.
Sunshine For Days
April 24, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Escambia County (AL) COVID-19 Cases Triple In Two Weeks
April 24, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL) have tripled in the past two weeks, according to the Alabama Department of Health.
On April 10, there were seven confirmed cases in the county. By Friday morning, April 24 that number was up three times to 21. There has been one death.
ADH reported 266 total tests performed in the county, a positive rate of 7.9%.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 5,832 total positive cases in the state out of 52,641 tests. There have been 197 reported deaths statewide.
Food Trucks Coming To Beulah On Monday
April 24, 2020
Beulah residents will have new food truck options beginning Monday.
Escambia County will allow up to four food trucks to serve from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Escambia County Equestrian Center at 7550 Mobile Highway.
“I think many of the citizens of Beulah will appreciate the opportunity to have closer hot food options, and because this helps a segment of business that is really struggling through the pandemic–this has the potential to be a win-win for Beulah,” said District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. He also said there are currently no restaurants in Beulah, with the only local hot food options being two convenience stores and pizza delivery.
The parking lot is a large grassy area and provides ample room for residents to adhere to all CDC social distancing protocols, according to the county. Trucks will be spaced out in the lot and patrons will be asked to stay six feet apart and limit gathering to groups smaller than 10.
To participate as a food truck vendor, call (850) 941-6042 for a vendor application.
All Equestrian Center vendor fees will be waived.
Escambia Creates Economic Reset Working Group To Help Businesses Recover
April 24, 2020
The Escambia County Emergency Operations Center has established a business, industry and economic stabilization COVID-19 reset working group. The Greater Pensacola Chamber will lead the group to provide guidance and coordinate issues with Escambia County’s business community in all phases of emergency management including expediting response and recovery.
“The COVID-19 reset working group is communicating closely with all area chambers, businesses, industries, community and government leaders to assist in the rapid dissemination of information, identifying unmet needs and supporting the business community recovering from the pandemic,” said Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley. “this work group is critical to resetting our economy, and their input is invaluable to returning our region to a thriving destination.”
The Economic Reset Working Group will provide the business community with current and relevant information and resources to assist them in their recovery efforts. They will establish a one-stop online information and resource center for business and employees.
Working Group executive committee organizations are:
Working Group Executive Committee Organizations:
- Greater Pensacola Chamber
- FloridaWest EDA
- Visit Pensacola
- Escambia County
- City of Pensacola
Escambia County Emergency Support Function 18 (ESF-18)
- Lead Coordinating Agency: Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
- Support Agencies: FloridaWest EDA
- Visit Pensacola
- UWF Small Business Development Center
- Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce
- Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce
- Century Chamber of Commerce
- Emerald Coast Regional Council
- CareerSource Escarosa
- First Place Partners
- Downtown Improvement Board
- Escambia County Emergency Management Division
- The Home Builders Association of West Florida (HBA)
“The COVID-19 situation remains fluid and while business resumption at what level is currently unknown, we must prepare for the recovery now,” said Todd Thomson, president and CEO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber. “We are looking towards economic recovery as we research and consider what resources and initiatives can be implemented to assist our businesses, workforce and community as whole.”
“The Economic Reset Working Group provides guidance and resource to local policymakers, such as myself, and the business community so we can make informed decisions to ensure a safe, orderly, and coordinated resumption of business activities in Pensacola and Escambia County,” said Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson.