Escambia School District Restricts Out Of County Travel Due To Coronavirus
March 13, 2020
The Escambia County School District has restricted most travel outside the county effective immediately in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus. There will be exceptions for some outdoor athletic competitions on a game by game basis.
All field trips, regardless of destination, have been suspended.
The official policy released Thursday afternoon by the school district states all out-of-state travel for both students and staff members is suspended for the remainder of the school year. All student and staff travel in-state is suspended for the next 30 days at which time requests may be re-evaluated.
However, there will be some exceptions to the policy for outdoor sporting events.
“We are using common sense, as long as that county does not have an active COVID-19 case, outside events will be allowed to continue at the moment,” Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.
Additional exceptions may be granted for Northview High School sporting events due to the school’s close proximity to Alabama and upcoming opponents such Escambia Academy, and T.R. Miller, Thomas said. He noted that Northview and Jay competitions are still on at the present time.
In the near term, Northview baseball’s two-day series set to begin Thursday with Baker has been canceled, and the upcoming Tate High School Aggie Classic has been canceled due to the number of teams that participate from around the county.
Tate Tennis Beats West Florida High School
March 13, 2020
TATE Tennis Boys with a 5-2 win and Girls with a 4-3 win over West Florida HS today. Led by Seniors Charles McKinley, Kasidy Butler, and Taji Williams TATE Tennis finishes first half of season with a strong win!
Tate High School tennis defeated West Florida High School Thursday. The Aggie boys won 5-2, and the girl won 4-3. Led by seniors Charles McKinley, Kasidy Butler, and Taji William, Tate High tennis finished the first half of season with a strong win.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County, Pensacola Cancel All Publicly-Permitted Events With Over 500 People
March 12, 2020
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola are canceling all publicly-permitted events with 500 or more people starting Monday, March 16 in an abundance of caution related to COVID-19. Currently, the county does not have any publicly-permitted events that would be affected.
The action is being taken in response to a recommendation from Gov. Ron DeSantis that municipalities consider limiting or postponing mass gatherings in the state of Florida.
This only applies to events that are permitted through Escambia County or the City of Pensacola. It does not include schools, churches, or other private events. Event organizers are encouraged to use their discretion and follow the directions of officials from the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if event cancellations are necessary.
“The well-being of the entire community is a top priority, and we are continuing to take preventative and protective actions against the transmission of COVID-19,” said Escambia County Chairman Steven Barry. “We will continue to monitor the situation and hope for a speedy and positive resolution to this unprecedented event.”
Escambia County and City of Pensacola officials will reassess the situation after two weeks (Monday, March 30) and determine whether to continue or lift the cancellation of publicly-permitted events.
The city will work with event organizers to reschedule events as needed.
Residents are encouraged to use their discretion when it comes to attending public events.
Stock photo.
Tate High Aggie Classic Canceled Due To Coronavirus Measures
March 12, 2020
Next week’s Tate High Aggie Classic baseball tournament has been canceled due the coronavirus travel restrictions announced by Thursday by the Escambia County School District.
The annual tournament draws teams form around the country, one of which has closed due to an active coronavirus case.
Tate Principal Rick Shackle said it is a complete cancellation; there will not be a stripped down local-only version of the tournament. Host locations for the 2020 Aggie Classic included two out of county schools with games at Navarre and Niceville high schools.
For more about the travel restrictions announced by the school district and what they mean, click here.
Pictured top: The Tate Aggies won the Aggie Classic championship in 2019. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Injured In Crash Thursday Afternoon On Highway 29 Near Molino
March 12, 2020
Two older adults were injured in a crash early Thursday afternoon on Highway 29 at Highway 196.
A truck collided with a SUV about 12:10 p.m., and the SUV overturned multiple times. The occupants of SUV were transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Mobile Home Near McDavid
March 12, 2020
Fire damaged a home near McDavid just before noon Thursday.
The occupants were able to escape the home without injury, along with multiple dogs.
The fire on Perdue Road off Breastworks Road was reportedly sparked by an extension cord being used to power a recreational vehicle.
The McDavid, Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire rescue, the Atmore Fire Department and Escambia County EMS were dispatched to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sen. Rick Scott To Self-Quarantine Following Potential Coronavirus Exposure
March 12, 2020
U.S. Senator Rick Scott is voluntarily going into self-quarantine following potential contact with a Brazilian delegation member who tested positive for coronavirus.
Scott’s Office was alerted Thursday by the Brazilian Embassy that a member of President Bolsonaro’s delegation tested positive for COVID-19.
“On Monday, I met with the President in Miami, and while I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me,” Scott said.
The Brazilian embassy said the person had no symptoms leading up to or the day of the conference.
“After consulting with the Senate’s attending physician and my personal doctor, I have been told that my risk is low, and I don’t need to take a test or quarantine,” Scott said. “However, the health and safety of the American people is my focus and I have made the decision to self-quarantine in an abundance of caution. I am feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time.”
Scott said he will be working on a plan to combat COVID-19 and protect Americans. His offices in Washington and throughout Florida will remain open.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug And Weapons Charges After Running From Deputies In Cantonment
March 12, 2020
A man is facing drug and weapons charges after running from deputies in Cantonment.
Deonta Donell Clay, 23, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (hydrocodone), possession of crack cocaine, and resisting arrest without violence.
An Escambia County deputy was patrolling on Muscogee Road when he observed a possible window tint violation on a Nissan Altima and attempted to get closer. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle stopped at a residence near the intersection of Taylor Street and Irene Lane. The driver, later identified as Clay, got out of the vehicle, looked at the patrol vehicle with the emergency lights activated, “pulled up his pants and ran”, according to arrest report.
The deputy lost sight of Clay behind a trailer and requested a K-9. Clay was located in the area of 351 Robinson Street.
A black semi-automatic Glock 19 handgun was found near where Clay was located, according to an arrest report. The gun had been reported stolen in Opp, Alabama.
The K-9 alerted on Clay’s vehicle. Inside the Altima, deputies found an “off white rock” that tested positive for cocaine and a pill containing hydrocodone, the report states.
The Nissan Altima was seized. The tint on the vehicle’s windows was tested on scene to be within the legal limit.
Clay remained in the Escambia County Jail with a $16,000 bond.
Flomaton PD Wants To Purchase A Much Needed K-9, And They’re Accepting Donations
March 12, 2020
The Flomaton Police Department is accepting donations to assist in the purchase of a trained K-9 for the department.
The K-9 purchased out of donated funds will be trained for non-bite tracking such as missing children and persona, and fleeing fugitives; along with drug apprehension and detection.
“The K-9 will be a great tool for the Flomaton Police Department to continue to ensure the safety of our citizens and visitors, with also being a great PR tool for children of our community,” Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said. “This project is a great investment in our town and community.”
Donations to the K-9 fund can be made to the town clerk at the Flomaton Municipal Complex at 2125 Ringold Street. Donations can also be made by mail to: Town of Flomaton, P.O. Box 632, Flomaton, AL 36441.
Gulf Power Begins Using Drones To Inspect Equipment Along Local Power Lines
March 12, 2020
Gulf Power is embracing technology by using drones to perform equipment assessments on overhead power lines .
Drones are being used in Escambia County to take photos of equipment along power lines in neighborhoods to proactively identify potential areas of concern before an outage occurs.
“Using drones to patrol our power lines will provide additional visibility into potential issues that may be undetectable to the naked eye, allowing our team to identify issues and make repairs before an outage occurs,” said Mike Spoor, vice president of power delivery for Gulf Power. “Taking advantage of this technology will help Gulf Power improve reliability for our customers in a less intrusive and more efficient manner.”
Drones are ideally suited for inspecting equipment because they can safely and quickly deliver high-quality photos and videos of our power lines in a way that can minimize environmental impact and inconvenience for customers along power line routes. Drones can also collect thermal images using infrared technology and assess vegetation encroachment.
Following a severe weather event, drones will also help us assess damage in areas that are flooded or impassable due to fallen trees and debris. The ability to gather damage assessments from areas that are otherwise inaccessible will help Gulf Power restore power safely and as quickly as possible.
Gulf Power’s program is taking lessons learned from a similar program employed by Florida Power & Light Company, Gulf Power’s sister company. The drones will survey power lines throughout Gulf Power’s service area, from Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach to Panama City, in advance of storm hardening and reliability improvement projects. Gulf Power will be using Federal Aviation Administration approved drone pilots, who follow all FAA privacy and flight regulations.
The contractors will patrol power lines during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday), will wear Gulf Power safety equipment and will display signs in the neighborhood where they are working. In addition, customers will be notified by a call to the phone number on file with Gulf Power with an automated voice recording days before the assessment takes place.
Pictured top: The drone will be able to view equipment on Gulf Power lines closer to determine if there are any issues. In this photo, a woodpecker hole is near the top of the pole. Pictured inset: This is an example of the infrared camera showing an issue with a piece of equipment on the power line. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.