Fowler Avenue Closed North Of Nine Mile Next Week
July 18, 2020
Fowler Avenue north of Nine Mile Road in Escambia County will be closed beginning Tuesday, July 21 at 7 a.m. for pre-construction activities prior to paving operations.
The work is anticipated to take 10 days to complete. Traffic will be detoured to West Nine & Half Mile Road and Cove Avenue. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
Motorists should watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway as they prepare for the work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Six More Correctional Workers Positive For COVID-19 At Century Prison
July 18, 2020
UPDATE: A 12th staff member case was reported Saturday at CCI. The numbers in the story below have been updated to reflect this.
Six additional staff members at Century Correctional Institution have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the past week for a total of 12.
One new correctional worker case was reported Saturday, along with four Friday and one a few days prior. One week ago, there were just six.
Nine inmates have been tested since the start of the pandemic, and all have tested negative, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. One inmate was in quarantine Friday, down from 136 on Thursday.
There have been no inmate deaths related to coronavirus at CCI.
The FDC reported 3,520 inmates and 1,009 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 statewide. There have been 32 inmate deaths.
At Blackwater Correctional Facility in Milton, which is operated by the GEO Group, a total of 101 inmates and 17 staffers have tested positive. Another 1,825 inmates were negative.
Florida Encourages Horse Community To Be Vigilant About EEE
July 18, 2020
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is encouraging Florida’s horse community to be vigilant of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), a serious viral disease that can affect horses, birds, and humans and cause neurological injury and death.
There have been nine confirmed cases this year in the state – the latest in Gilchrist County. None have been in the Panhandle to date.
This type of virus, known as an arbovirus, is transmitted to horses and humans by certain mosquitoes, which become infected when they feed on infected birds that circulate high levels of the virus in their blood for a period of time. These mosquito species include some Aedes, Coquillettidia, and Culex species. The disease is not directly transmitted between horses, from birds to horses, or from horses to humans.
“Despite being rare, the EEE virus is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S., with typically a third of cases resulting in death,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “It’s imperative that those working with horses watch closely for EEE signs, and everyone who ventures outside in Florida should take basic steps to avoid mosquito bites. These common-sense precautions will also help protect against Zika, dengue fever, and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 38 confirmed human cases of EEE in 2019, and 15 deaths; no human cases were reported in Florida. However, Florida is home to nearly 300,000 horses, with more than 70 percent involved in showing and recreation, and Marion County has more horses than any other county in the nation. In 2019, there were 28 confirmed cases of EEE reported among horses in Florida. The fatality rate in horses exceeds 90 percent.
“EEE is a serious and often fatal infection in horses, so we encourage all horse owners, breeders, and others working with horses to ensure horses are vaccinated against EEE, and to monitor for the initially-subtle signs of the disease,” said Dr. Michael Short, State Veterinarian and Director of the FDACS Division of Animal Industry. “Suspected or known cases of EEE must be reported immediately to FDACS, as this is a critical step in monitoring and preventing arboviral activity throughout Florida.”
Clinical Signs & Diagnosis: The incubation period in horses of EEE is approximately one week, and early signs are generally subtle and often undetected. These may include fever, depression, stiffness, and lack of appetite, and may progress to propulsive walking, aggressiveness, hyperexcitability, paralysis, and blindness, among other signs. Some EEE-infected horses may show no clinical signs before death. EEE can be confused with other central nervous system diseases and toxic poisoning. Blood samples should be collected by a veterinarian and sent for diagnostic testing including the EEE IgM capture ELISA test, which is conducted at the FDACS Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
Prevention: Preventing EEE involves the following tips:
Vaccinate horses against EEE, administered properly with boosters 2-3 times per year
Minimize horse exposure to mosquitoes during peak mosquito feeding times of dawn and dusk
Apply appropriate mosquito repellant, following label directions, to reduce mosquito bites on horses
Drain unnecessary standing water found in wheelbarrows, tires, and similar spaces
Clean water containers such as birdbaths at least weekly
Schedule pasture irrigation to minimize standing water
Keep swimming pools optimally chlorinated
Stock water tanks with larvae-consuming fish or use commercially-available mosquito dunks
Reporting: Suspected or known cases of EEE must be reported to the State Veterinarian’s Office. To report EEE or other reportable diseases, call 850-410-0900 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For after-hours reporting, call 800-342-5869 or email RAD@FDACS.gov. Horses act as a sentinel for human risk. FDACS reports all cases of EEE to the Florida Department of Health. Upon reaching a threshold of animal cases, the Department of Health works with counties to release county-wide health alerts.
Teen Found Unresponsive In Pool At Local Home
July 17, 2020
A teenager was found unresponsive in a pool at a home in the Quintette community Thursday afternoon, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The 13-year old male was airlifted by ShandsCair medical helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital following the incident in the 2900 block of Highway 95A, just north of Quintette Road.
An update on the victim’s condition was not available.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Council Asks Escambia County To Implement Mask Mandate
July 17, 2020
The Pensacola City Council Thursday night approved a resolution asking the Escambia County Commission to pass a mask mandate.
The council has approved a similar mask mandate, but the city is suggesting the county pass an ordinance requiring face coverings in all public settings. The city’s order is only for inside businesses.
The resolutions states, “…the City Council of the City of Pensacola does hereby respectfully encourage the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners to pass Legislation making mandatory the wearing of face coverings in public settings.”
Councilman P.C. Wu voted against the resolution sponsored by Council President Jewel Cannada-Wynn, saying he felt it was not his place to tell another governmental entity how they should operate.
To read the full resolution, click or tap here.
The Escambia County Commission is not obligated to act upon the request.
Selection Committee Recommends Six Candidates For Escambia County Superintendent
July 17, 2020
The list of candidates to be the next Escambia County School superintendent was narrowed to six recommendations Thursday night by the Superintendent Search Citizens Advisory Committee.
The six names will go next to the Escambia County School Board for discussion at a July 20 workshop. The board can remove any of the six form the list, or add back any of the 21 others that applied as they create their own semi-finalist list.
The candidates recommended by the search committee are:
Click or tap any applicant’s name to load their resume.
Only one of the six candidates is local. Keith Leonard of Cantonment is the current assistant superintendent of Human Resource Services and spent 13 years as the Escambia County School District director of Human Resource Services.
Sen Broxson Urges Blood Donations To Help COVID-19 Patients; Donate At OneBlood Centers, Or Saturday In Molino
July 17, 2020
Senator Doug Broxson is calling on everyone who has recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood or plasma.
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus and serve as a treatment for patients with serious or life-threatening COVID-19 infections. Donating blood takes just one hour, and one pint of blood can save up to three lives of patients.
“We are currently at war against the coronavirus. I want to encourage everyone, who is physically able, to join me in taking the pledge to donate blood or plasma every 60 days during the pandemic. I appreciate all our elected officials and community leaders joining me and leading by example to help win this war,” Broxson said.
Broxson took his plea to the Escambia County Commission meeting on Thursday.
“This is a wonderful way to help support our community during this unprecedented time. I want to personally thank Senator Doug Broxson for bringing Escambia County this pledge to support,” Commission Chairman Steven Barry said. “I am confident that it will generate many more units of donated blood or plasma in the near future, thereby saving additional lives.”
Blood and plasma donors at OneBlood must be in good health (free of allergy, flu, cold and nausea symptoms for at least three days), 16 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, be well-hydrated, eat a healthy meal within four hours before donating, and bring a form of ID.
OneBlood donation centers are located at 1999 East Nine Mile Road and 2209 North Ninth Avenue. The OneBlood bus will be at the Molino Branch Library on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
OneBlood is testing all blood donations for the COVID-19 antibody. The antibody test is authorized by the FDAand will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. Appointments to donate are required at the donation centers, and masks are required.
Donors must be symptom free for 14 days.
Alabama’s Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Is Underway
July 17, 2020
Alabama’s 15th annual back to school sales tax holiday is underway.
It ends at midnight Sunday, giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers, books and clothing free of the state’s four percent sales or use tax.
Most individual cities and counties are also waiving local sales taxes.
Exempt items include:
- clothing priced at $100 or less per article;
- school supplies valued at $50 or less per item;
- books that cost $30 or less per book; and
- tablets, laptops, computers and printers with a selling price of $750 or less.
For a detailed list, click or tap here.
Forida’s school tax holiday is August 7-9.
Escambia County Celebrates 199th Birthday; Escambia Was One Of Florida’s Two Original Counties
July 17, 2020
Escambia County turned 199 years old Friday, July 17. Created on the same date in 1821, Escambia and St. Johns counties were Florida’s two original counties, covering the entire territory within modern state boundaries. The Suwannee River was the border between Escambia and St. Johns counties, which follows a winding path from the northern border of the state to the Gulf of Mexico. Essentially, the Escambia County government had jurisdiction over the “panhandle” and “big bend” areas, and St. Johns over the remainder of the entire state.
“We would like to wish Escambia County, Happy 199th!,” said Escambia County Chairman and District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry. “We are looking forward to a year-long celebration where we can all learn more about what it was like when Escambia County was founded in 1821.”
A new logo was designed to commemorate the 200th anniversary, which includes a map of the state with the original boundary between Escambia County and St. Johns Counties, an American flag, the dates of 1821 and 2021, a banner showcasing the 200th Anniversary, and Escambia County and the City of Pensacola written around the outside. The colors of the logo include red, white and blue to represent the colors of the American flag with St. Johns County in purple.
“I’d like to wish a very happy 199th birthday to Escambia County and join them in celebrating our area’s rich history,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to celebrating the county’s 200th birthday in 2021 and hoping it will be a momentous year for our entire community.”
Wild Ride: Woman’s Vehicle Soars Across Highway 97, Travels Nearly 100 Yards Into Peanut Field
July 16, 2020
A woman’s vehicle literally went airborne over Highway 97 and continued nearly the length of a football field into a muddy field of peanuts in Walnut Hill late Wednesday afternoon.
The driver was southbound on North Highway 99 at an apparent high rate of speed when she failed to stop at stop sign. Her Hyundai Tucson became airborne and soared over Highway 97. It landed on the opposite side of the roadway with the windshield striking a road sign. The vehicle became airborne a second time, landed in a peanut field and bounced up into the air again. It then continued nearly 100 yards into the field.
First responders arrived about 6 p.m. to find the female driver apparently unresponsive in the vehicle. She was later transported out of the field using an ATV and walked to an ambulance. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not released further information. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
