ECAT Receives $10.1 Million CARES Act Federal Grant
July 16, 2020
ECAT has been awarded a grant of $10.1 million through CARES Act federal funding for operational and preventative maintenance expenses during COVID-19 for local transit services.
The funds will also pay for PPE, sanitation supplies, and other COVID prevention measure implemented since March. Escambia County Area Transit ECAT provides service through the fixed-route bus, seasonal Pensacola Beach trolley, University of West Florida UWF on-campus trolley and paratransit demand response transportation.
“We are very excited to receive this funding to better serve this community,” Escambia County Mass Transit Director Tonya Ellis said. “Our priority remains the safety and health of our employees and passengers, especially during this pandemic.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced a total of $25 billion in federal funding allocations to help the nation’s public transportation systems respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019. Funding is provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed by President Donald Trump on March 27.
Funding will be provided at a 100 percent federal share, with no local match required, and will be available to support capital, operating, and other expenses generally eligible under those programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Since April 6, ECAT has supported the county’s efforts to address the COVID-19 virus and has temporarily suspended fare collection for passengers of ECAT bus services. In addition, bus passengers have been instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibility-reserved seating area. Front-door access is 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. These changes provide some separation between the operator and the passengers, and between passengers.
Century Cancels First Budget Workshop To Allow For A Little More Advance Planning
July 16, 2020
The Town of Century has canceled their first budget workshop planned for next week.
The workshop scheduled for July 23 won’t be held. Instead, according to Town Clerk Kim Godwin, the town’s accountant will be providing current financial information to each department head this week to allow each to better plan.
Additional budget workshops are planned for July 30 and August 6 at 2 p.m., plus there is a tentative meeting on the calendar for August 13 only if needed.
The town’s fiscal year 2020-2021 budget will go into effect on October 1.
Statewide Mask Order Takes Effect Thursday In Alabama
July 15, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a statewide mask order.
Ivey’s order takes effect at 5 p.m. Thursday and requires people to wear a mask in public “when interacting within six feet” of people from different households.
The Alabama health order mandates masks must be worn in the following places:
- an indoor space open to the public
- a vehicle operated by a transportation service
- an outdoor space where 10 or more people are gathered.
The orders continues through at least July 31. That’s when Ivey’s current amended Safer at Home order is set to expire.
Ivey said the penalty for violating the order can be a $500 fine or jail time,. But she said the ultimate goal is for people to use masks, not for law enforcement to search for violations.
The governor’s office provided the following frequently asked questions:
1. When do I have to wear a mask?
You have to wear a mask when you are in public and in close contact with other people. Specifically, the order says to wear a mask when you are within six feet of a person from another household in any of the following places: (a) an indoor space open to the public; (b) a vehicle operated by a transportation service; and (c) an outdoor public space where ten or more people are gathered.
2. Do young children have to wear a mask? What about people who are exercising? In other words, are there any exceptions to the mask-wearing requirement?
There are five categories of exceptions. The largest category, exceptions for “practical necessity,” covers people or situations where mask use is incompatible with the realities of life—for example, children six or younger, people with certain medical conditions or disabilities, eating and drinking, medical and dental procedures, and so on. There are also categories of exceptions for exercise, for communicating with an audience, and for certain essential job functions. An additional category carves out narrow exceptions for protected activities like voting and religious worship— but even then, wearing a mask is strongly encouraged.
3. What kind of face mask is required?
The requirement allows all kinds of masks to be used—whether store-bought, homemade, or improvised from household items like scarves, bandanas, or t-shirts. The key is for the mask to cover your nostrils and mouth. For instructions on how to make your own mask, see the CDC’s “How to Make Cloth Face Coverings” page.
4. I live in a city or county that already has a local mask order. Am I supposed to follow my local order or this new statewide order?
Follow this new statewide order. While this order is in effect, it will replace all local mask rules to provide a uniform, statewide rule.
5. I am a business owner. What does this order mean for my business?
The order requires businesses to take reasonable steps, where practicable, to encourage mask use by employees and customers. One example of a reasonable step might be to post signs encouraging customers and patrons to wear a mask. Although a business is not required to deny entry to people who are mask-less, they always retain the right to do so—and doing so would certainly be a reasonable step to encourage mask use.
6. How long will the new mask requirement be in effect?
The new mask requirement goes into effect Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. It is currently set to expire on July 31, 2020.
Pensacola City Council Votes To Remove Confederate Monument, Rename Lee Square
July 15, 2020
The Pensacola City Council voted Tuesday night to remove the Confederate monument from downtown Pensacola and change the name of Lee Square.
The council voted 6-1, with Councilman Andy Terhaar against, to relocate the monument. Terhaar instead wanted to make it more inclusive. The council also voted 7-0 to revert the name Lee Square back to its original name of Florida Square. Old maps show Florida Square was the original name of the parcel on North Palafox Street one block south of East Cervantes.
The monument won’t be coming down immediately; it will take the city some time to find a contractor to remove it to another location yet to be finalized. St. John’s Cemetery, which has numerous Confederate graves, is currently under consideration.
Tuesday night’s special council meeting went on for about five hours, with most of that time dedicated to public comment from both sides of the monument issue.
The Confederate monument at Lee Square will remain fenced off until it is removed; the area is now considered a construction zone.
Pictured: Pensacola City Council President Jewel Cannada-Wynn (top) and Mayor Grover Robinson (below) at a special meeting of the council Tuesday night. Pictured second below: Councilman P.C. Wu participated by video, as did Sherri Myers. Pictured bottom: The public was not allowed to attend the meeting in person, only remotely.
A Bottle Of Stolen ‘99 Peach’, A Knife And Cocaine Land Man In Jail
July 15, 2020
A local man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a bottle of “99 Peach” from a Century liquor store.
Aaron Keith Baxter, 33, was charged with retail theft, felony possession of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $1,500.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Fusion liquor store at 9515 North Century Boulevard. The clerk showed deputies surveillance video recorded as Baxter took a $14.99 bottle of “99 Peach” from the shelf, placed it down his shorts, and walked out.
Deputies located Baxter and his red Dodge Neon parked at the Southern Pit Stop store on North Century Boulevard, south of the liquor store. According to an arrest report, Baxter was standing at the driver’s door of the vehicle in the same clothes he was wearing at the liquor store and a bottle of 99 Peach was in plain view. He was placed under arrest for retail theft.
As Baxter was searched, deputies located a zippered case containing a bag of cocaine in his front pants pocket and a 6-inch throwing knife in his back pocket, according to an arrest report. A meat cleaver was also located under the driver’s seat within easy reach, the report states.
Flomaton Police Seek Man That Stole Fan From Local Laundry
July 15, 2020
The Flomaton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to find a man that stolen a fan from a local business.
The man appeared to be wearing jeans, a camouflage shirt, a white hat and a dark-color face covering as he walked out of laundry with the barrel fan.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 and ask for Chief Thompson.
Florida Sexual Predator Charged With Sex Crime Against Atmore Teen
July 15, 2020
A convicted Florida sexual predator has been charged with a sex crime against a minor in Atmore.
Ernest Powell III, age 40, is charged with transmitting obscene material to a child by computer. He remained in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton bond set at a half million dollars.
According to the Atmore Police Department, the parents of a 15-year old girl reported Powell showed the girl sexaully explicit photos from a cellphone while she was working at a local business.
Powell was convicted in 2002 of sexual battery with a weapon or force in Escambia County. He was released from a Florida prison in April 2018 after serving a 20 year sentence and required to register as a sexual predator.
Editor’s note: The “Inmate” watermark on the picture was placed by Escambia County (AL) Detention Center’s system.
Escambia County Seeks Volunteer For Disability Awareness Committee
July 15, 2020
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking District 2 and District 3 county residents interested in volunteering for an appointment to the Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee, which was established by the board in 2013.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the committee are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business Friday, July 16. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Shamara Jernigan, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to BoardApply@myescambia.com.
Resumes submitted for consideration are subject to public records requests and are included in Escambia County Commission meeting information, including the agenda and official meeting minutes.
The purpose of the committee is to make recommendations to the board of county commissioners regarding issues relating to the disabled community and any other issues requested by the board. The committee is composed of seven voting members, and all members of the committee must be electors of Escambia County. Each commissioner on the board of county commissioners appoints one member to the committee, and each member serves concurrently with his or her appointing commissioner’s term. The board collectively appoints two at-large members, who each serve a four-year term.
There are four meetings scheduled each year on the third Wednesday of the month. Meetings begin at 3 p.m. and typically last until 5 p.m. Special meetings may be scheduled if needed. There is no travel required.
Baptist, Sacred Heart Hospitals Implement No Visitors Policy; West Florida Delays Elective Surgeries
July 14, 2020
West Florida Hospital has delayed all elective surgeries, as Ascension Sacred Heart and Baptist hospitals returned to a no visitors policy, due to the spread of COVID-19.
Ascension Sacred Heart Statement:
The health and safety of our patients, associates and visitors is our top priority. Because of the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in our community, we have decided to temporarily impose additional restrictions to limit the number of visitors entering our Pensacola hospital.
Effective Wednesday, July 15 at 6 a.m. CT, we will be suspending patient visitation at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola.
Exceptions may be made for:
– Pediatric/Neonatal ICU patients: Two designated parents or guardians may visit, but only one at a time.
– Patients with disabilities or impairments or who are elderly: One visitor.
– Women giving birth: One partner
– Patients requiring surgery or other medical procedures: One visitor.
– Patients presenting to the Emergency Department: One family member or friend.
– Patients receiving end-of-life care: One visitor.
All visitors must be at least 18 years of age.
We will continue to require all staff and visitors to wear a mask inside the hospital. We also will continue to screen all permitted visitors, including temperature checks.
We encourage families and friends of our patients to communicate through the use of cell phones and apps for virtual visits. We have added these temporary restrictions with great reluctance. However, these steps are necessary to limit the numbers of people in our hospitals, and protect our patients, visitors, care teams and community to control the spread of this highly contagious virus. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation for the common good. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation for the common good.
West Florida Hospital Statement:
As positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Florida and here in our area, West Florida Hospital is taking proactive action in order to position our hospital to better serve the immediate health care needs of our community. Beginning Thursday, July 16, West Florida Hospital will temporarily defer the scheduling of elective surgeries as a measure to increase hospital bed capacity. This measure will be implemented as part of established hospital surge plans and is being done to ensure our care teams can continue to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care to our patients experiencing both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 health concerns. This change does not affect surgeries scheduled to take place before July 16, 2020. West Florida Hospital will continue with Urgent and Emergent surgery. Low acuity surgeries that were scheduled on or after July 16, 2020 will be appropriately deferred at a surgeon’s discretion, hospital policy and in consultation with the patient. The deferred cases will be concentrated in low acuity and those that may require an overnight stay at the hospital.
We are confident in our hospital’s ability to care for the community as the pandemic evolves in Florida and here in our area. Again, this step is proactive to ensure our readiness as we monitor the capacity in our hospital, which fluctuates daily, and the reported COVID-19 positive cases around the state. West Florida Hospital will work with our surgeons to evaluate the status of each elective surgery on a weekly basis and will work to reschedule as soon as possible.
Baptist Hospital Statement:
Because the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in our state and local area threatens the health of everyone, Baptist Health Care has revised its visitation policy. Effective Wednesday, July 15 at 5 a.m., no visitors will be permitted at Baptist, Gulf Breeze and Jay Hospitals, Baptist Towers and all Baptist Health Care medical parks, urgent care centers and physician offices. Visitor exceptions will be made for end-of-life situations, critical caregivers and essential support persons.
The visitation policy includes limited entry doors. All patients and authorized support persons entering any Baptist Health Care location must wear a mask, be screened and have a temperature check. They should allow extra time upon arrival for this screening. Screening stations are set up at select entrances of all locations.”
Ascend Creates New Mask Technology To Protect Against COVID-19, And It’s Made In North Escambia
July 14, 2020
Ascend Performance Materials has developed a new mask technology that protect against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, and the material to make it is manufactured at the company’s North Escambia facility on Old Chemstrand Road.
The masks, a nanofiber and a microfiber nonwoven version each branded under the Acteev Biodefend line for medical devices, deliver a one-two punch of antiviral properties plus top-level barrier protection against microbes, harmful airborne particles and fluid splatter, according to the company.
“The material that goes into this material is made in Pensacola. We’ve submitted a filing with the FDA to market technology in a surgical mask that lab tests show to be 99% effective against SARS-CoV-2,” Nicki Britton, Ascend’s global communications manager, told NorthEscambia.com. “It’s a new way of achieving efficacy – our scientists and engineers have invented a process for embedding active zinc ions into soft nylon, resulting in a fabric that is both antiviral and comfortable. The mask designs we filed also achieve top level filtration.”
“We’ve been working on this technology for several years. When the pandemic hit we went shifted our business to answer this immediate need. Our products are manufactured in the U.S.A.,” Britton said.
Ascend has filed the necessary paperwork with the FDA to market the masks and is hoping for approval soon.
Acteev technology has been shown in laboratory tests to deactivate SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and other pathogens including H1N1, betacoronavirus OC43, human coronavirus 229E and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as staphylococcus and E. coli, according to Vikram Gopal, Ph.D., Ascend’s chief technology officer. The testing was conducted following the protocols of ISO, ASTM or other international standards organizations.
The proposed masks also meet the requirements to qualify as Level III standards, as tested by independent laboratories as well as Ascend scientists. Level III is the highest tier for physical barrier and safety properties, according to the common international testing standard.
Dr. Gopal said the combination of superior physical properties and antiviral protection is a breakthrough in medical device technology, as many masks succeed either at antiviral protection or at filtration and barrier effectiveness but not at both.
“Previous technologies rely on the materials within a mask to retain an electrical charge to achieve filtration efficiency,” Dr. Gopal said. “But when antimicrobial agents are added, those materials lose their charge and begin to fail as barriers.”
Acteev masks, however, achieve antiviral effectiveness through active zinc ions embedded within the polymer structure of polyamide 66, a hygroscopic nylon material whose equilibrium moisture keeps the zinc ions active.
“With Acteev, we have cracked the code of balancing top physical performance with antiviral protection,” Dr. Gopal said.
The technology, covered by more than 15 patent families, has been tested in multiple end forms, including knit and woven fabrics; engineered plastics; and nanofiber meltblown, microfiber meltblown and spunbond nonwoven materials.
Photos courtesy Ascend Performance Materials for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
