Staff COVID-19 Cases Increase At Century Prison
July 7, 2020
The number of COVID-19 staff members at Century Correctional Institution has grown, but there are still no reported cases among inmates at the facility on Tedder Road.
There are now five positive correctional workers at Century CI, up from three in late June. Six inmates have been tested, and all have received negative results. Four inmates are being monitored in medical quarantine, but have not been tested, all according to a report from the Florida Department of Corrections. There have been no inmate deaths related to coronavirus at CCI.
Across the state, the FDC has reported 2,443 inmates and 622 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 25 inmate deaths, with the most recent coming over the weekend.
At Blackwater Correctional Facility in Milton, which is operated by the GEO Group, a total of 101 inmates and 16 staffers have tested positive. Another 1,824 inmates were negative.
Escambia Tax Collector Requires Face Masks, Establishes Protocols For Offices And Services
July 7, 2020
Escambia County Tax Collector is requiring masks or face coverings for everyone at his office, and they may only be removed for an official photo.
Lunsford has established the following COVID-19 protocols:
- Services are limited to Escambia County residents only
- Masks or cloth face coverings are required for everyone entering the building (masks will only be removed for an official photo)
- Transactions and customers will be pre-screened prior to entering the building
- Customers’ temperatures will be taken with a non-contact thermometer prior to entering the building
- Only the customer directly involved in the transaction will be admitted to further comply with CDC social distancing guidelines
- Wait times currently are longer than normal
- To minimize your wait time, “Join the Line” for service and arrive closer to your service time
- Express services, such as tag renewals, business tax receipts, property tax, hunting and fishing licenses and handicapped parking placards are available online, by mail or through our convenient drive-thrus. These transactions WILL NOT be processed in the lobbies.
After joining the line, customers will receive an estimated wait time by text. Wait times currently are longer than normal. Customers should remain in their vehicles or outside until a text is received to report to a window.
The vision requirements have not been waived for driver license transactions, so a vision test will be given. If customers are uncomfortable with the vision machine, they can request a vision form be sent via email that can be taken to an eye care professional and completed before the customer visits our office.
Driving exams are being offered by appointment only for Escambia residents who have held their learner permit for at least one year. Parents are encouraged to email ectc@escambiataxcollector.com to begin the process to schedule an appointment. We are not offering walk-in, medical or special driving exams currently.
Full payment of fees is required at time of service, and payment may be made by eCheck, debit, or credit cards. Payments made by eCheck are fee-free. Credit and debit transactions are subject to convenience fees charged by the payment vendor(s).
“We ask our citizens to remember we also have been impacted by this pandemic and are short staffed. These steps will help keep both our employees and customers safe so we may continue assisting our citizens to the best of our ability,” said Lunsford. “Please be patient and kind. Our employees are happy to serve and continue to do so in a caring, efficient and safe manner.”
Blue Wahoos Stadium Reaches Finals For National Championship Of Best Of The Ballparks
July 7, 2020
Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos Stadium has reached the national championship round of the 2020 Ballpark Digest Best of the Ballparks contest.
In the final round, Blue Wahoos Stadium is competing against Amarillo’s “Hodgetown”, the defending Best of the Ballparks champion, for the title of Best Double-A Ballpark. The title will be decided by a national online fan vote, which is open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. Fans can vote once daily per device at this link (scroll down near the bottom of the page).
“The support we’ve received from our fans to reach the championship round has been incredible,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “We’re excited for the chance to bring recognition to the beautiful city of Pensacola and hopefully win a title in a year when there’s no baseball.”
The annual contest run by Ballpark Digest is Minor League Baseball’s most popular ballpark ranking competition, with the 2019 contest receiving over 400,000 votes from fans including over 110,000 in the Double-A bracket. Blue Wahoos Stadium previously won the contest in 2016.
Opened in 2012, Blue Wahoos Stadium has established itself as one of the nation’s premier Minor League facilities. A three-time recipient of the Southern League’s Ballpark of the Year, the stadium has ranked first or second in the league in attendance five times in eight seasons. The multi-use facility is utilized year-round, hosting Blue Wahoos baseball, University of West Florida football, and over 200 total events throughout the calendar year.
EREC Closes Jay Office Lobby After Local COVID-19 Cases Increase Five-Fold In A Week
July 6, 2020
Citing the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the local area, Escambia River Electric Cooperative has closed their lobby in Jay to the public until further notice.
The drive-thru in Jay remains opens, the EREC lobby and post office in Walnut Hill are also still open.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Jay have increased five-fold in a week – from five one week ago to 25 on Monday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The utility is encouraging members to utilize remote options to manage their electric service.
Payments may be made by mail, online at www.erec.com, telephone autopay, EREC app or by night depository. Services such as opening or closing an electric, water or internet accounts; making changes to services; inquiring about account balance and service orders. can all be handled by email or phone as well. Contact memberservices@erec.com or call (850) 675-4521 or (800) 235-3848 for assistance.
EREC has not reported any COVID-19 cases among employees.
Florida Gas Prices Increase, Average $2.06 In Escambia County
July 6, 2020
Although Florida gas prices increased last week, drivers found the lowest prices at the pump for Independence Day since 2004, according to AAA.
Florida gas prices increased eight cents last week. The state average of $2.11 per gallon is the highest price since March 19th. Despite the recent increase, drivers are saving an average of 57 cents per gallon compared to this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.06. The lowest North Escambia price was $1.84 per gallon at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment, while in Pensacola the lowest was $1.89 at two wholesale clubs.
“Gas prices remain very low for this time of year, due to the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on supply and demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Retailers raised gas prices last week, in anticipation of strong demand for the Independence Day holiday weekend.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NEP Ducks Win Coach Pitch Championship
July 6, 2020
The NEP Ducks won a recent coach pitch championship. Pictured are players and coaches. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Donate Blood At OneBlood And Find Out If You Have The COVID-19 Antibody
July 6, 2020
If you donate blood with OneBlood you will find out if you have the coronavirus antibody.
That’s because the non-profit OneBlood is testing all donations for the COVID-19 antibody.
The antibody test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. Donors will be able to see their results approximately 48 hours after donating by logging into their donor portal.
OneBlood was one of the first blood centers to begin testing for the coronavirus antibody and plans to provide the antibody testing for the foreseeable future.
Due to social distancing measures that OneBlood has in place, all donors are required to make an appointment to donate. Appointments can be made online at www.oneblood.org or by calling 1-888-9DONATE.
Application Deadline Is Wednesday For Florida Forest Service Longleaf Pine Private Incentive Program
July 6, 2020
The Florida Forest Service has announced the launch of the 2020 Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program. Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, July 8.
The primary objective of the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program is to increase the acreage of healthy longleaf pine forests in Florida by assisting eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners with the long-term investment necessary to establish and maintain the valuable longleaf pine ecosystem.
Longleaf pine forests are native to the southeastern United States and are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Longleaf pines provide high-quality wood products and are valued for their resistance to damage by insects, disease, wildfire and storms. Due to urbanization and conversion to other land uses, longleaf pine forests have been dramatically reduced and now cover less than four percent of their historical range. Florida is home to more than 2 million acres of longleaf pine ecosystems, which represents more than half of all current longleaf pine forests.
The Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program offers incentive payments for the completion of timber stand improvement, invasive species control, prescribed burning, planting longleaf pine, establishing native plant understory and mechanical underbrush treatments. Private lands located within the 58 counties north of Lake Okeechobee, the historical range of longleaf pine, are eligible for the program.
To learn more and access an application, visit FDACS.gov/LongleafIncentive or contact your local Florida Forest Service county forester. In Escambia County, call Cathy Hardin at (850) 587-5237 or email.
COVID-19 Testing Available In Century This Week For Escambia County Residents
July 6, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida is bringing COVID-19 testing back to Century this week.
The drive-thru/walk-up testing will be available Friday from 9 a.m. until noon on East Hecker Road at the Head Start building (former elementary school) for Escambia County (FL) residents only. There is no pre-screening required, and the testing is available for any age regardless of symptoms. A photo identification is required.
Testing will be provided weather permitting while supplies last.
According to Community Health:
- The tests are no-cost to the individual. If you have health insurance, your insurance will cover the cost. If you do not have insurance, you can still be tested free of charge. Bring an identification and insurance card (if you have insurance).
- Testing is not a doctor visit. You will not receive a medical examination. Community Health will only be collecting a specimen to send to a lab for processing, and then you will be free to go.
- Once your test is complete, is it critical that you go home and self-isolate, wear a face covering and keep way from other people (including family members) to the best of your ability until results are known.
- Community Health will call to share test results when they are available along with instructions on what to do next. They should have a good working contact number for you. They will not leave test result information on a voicemail message.
Pictured: Community Health Northwest Florida COVID-19 testing in Century on May 13. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Killed In Klondike Road Rollover Crash
July 5, 2020
An Escambia County man was in killed a crash Sunday morning in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 36-year old man was traveling south on Klondike Road approaching Dunaway Lane when he lost control of his Ford Focus and began to leave the roadway. His car traveled sideways, hit a fence and rolled over.
The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The FHP no longer releases the name of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.