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.
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.
Hospital Says Some People Are Avoiding The ER Due To The Pandemic. And That’s A Bad Idea.
April 24, 2020
Hospital officials are worried that people are avoid trips to the emergency room over COVID-19 concerns.
“COVID-19 is grabbing all the headlines, but heart attacks, strokes, car crashes and other traumas still require a trip to the emergency room,” Baptist Hospital said in a news release. “Unfortunately, some people are delaying necessary emergency care out of fear they will be exposed to COVID-19, which can result in a life-threatening situation.”
Baptist Health Care said they take all necessary precautions to protect patients in its emergency rooms at Baptist, Gulf Breeze and Jay hospitals with screening immediately upon arrival and special isolation areas. They are also requiring masks for patients and team members, social distancing in waiting areas and other CDC-recommended measures.
Friends Of The Animal Shelter Offering ‘Front Porch Portraits’
April 24, 2020
The Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter is a hold a “Front Porch Portraits” fundraiser.
For just $25, a volunteer drive-by photographer will head your way and take photos of the entire family, including pets. Appropriate social distancing measures will be taken.
You’ll receive your proofs by email after the session.
To scheduled a shoot, click here.
Pictured: “Front Porch Portraits” from the Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rumor Check: This Highway 4 ‘Bridge’ Is Not Collapsing
April 23, 2020
Several Facebook posts went viral in the local area Thursday afternoon claiming this “bridge” on Highway 4 in Bratt was about to collapse. But it’s not.
The bridge is actually several large concrete box culverts that have been place in for several decades on Highway 4 about a mile west of North Highway 99.
The Escambia County Road Department inspected the culvert and roadway at least a couple of times Thursday and found no problems. There’s been no change in preexisting cracks in the roadway, and most of them are not even over the culverts.
It’s normal after heavy rain for the water rise and to flow rapidly through the culverts. It’s Beaverdam Creek and it drains the east side of Atmore where they had several inches of rain and flash flooding through midday Thursday.
Pictured: Escambia County Road Department inspects the culverts over Beaverdam Creek on Highway 4 Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power And Florida Power & Light Plan To Merge In 2022
April 23, 2020
Gulf Power and Florida Power & Light plan to merge in 2022, according to their parent company, NextEra Energy.
NextEra purchases Gulf Power from the Southern Company in January 2019, but the companies were not merged to operate as one.
NextEra has filed a document with the Florida Public Service Commission that “reflects the expectation that FPL and Gulf Power will begin to operate as an integrated electric system in 2022.”
“Since the Gulf Power acquisition closed in 2019, FPL and Gulf Power have been reviewing the potential benefits of merging into a single, larger Florida utility company. Based on this review, the companies expect that a merger will create both operational and financial benefits for customers. As a result, the companies plan to take additional steps to merge over the coming months,” a NextEra news release said.
FPL is the largest electric utility in the state with about five million customers. Gulf Power has about 470,000 customers in eight Florida Panhandle counties, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
Child Rescued From Burning Car Near Flomaton
April 23, 2020
First responders rescued a child from a burning car near Flomaton on Wednesday.
An explosion and yard fire were reported at a residence off Twin Bridges Road, just east of Flomaton.
Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson arrived on scene to find a car trailer with a welding machine on fire, along with a fire in the rear of abandoned car. No one was reported to be in the car.
When the Flomaton Fire Department arrived on scene, the family realized that a 4-year old child was missing.
“I found the child in the burning car, where a firefighter with the Flomaton Fire Department, Hunter White, assisted by safely removing the child from the burning vehicle that was filled with smoke,” Thompson said. The child was not reported to have any injury.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources was notified and responded to the scene.
An investigation is ongoing.
“Thank you to all involved with the incident, our great firemen, especially the Good Lord for guiding my eyes for the sweet child,” Thompson said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Receives PPE For Long-Term Care Facilities
April 23, 2020
Escambia County Emergency Management has received need medical personal protection equipment that will go to long-term care facilities across the county.
The county received face shields, gloves and 71,000 prodedural masks from the state. That shipment will enable facilities to allot 15 masks per licensed bed.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Marshal Investigating Roberts Circle Mobile Home Fire
April 23, 2020
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire that destroyed a double-wide mobile home in the 1900 block of Roberts Circle Wednesday night.
The mobile home was mostly involved in fire when Escambia Fire Rescue arrived on scene, and firefighters were able to quickly bring the blaze under control.
Escambia Fire Rescue has program to install free smoke detectors. If you home does not have working smoke detectors, call (850) 595-HERO (4376).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
