Food Trucks Will Be Back At The Equestrian Center On (Taco) Tuesday
July 19, 2020
Food trucks will be back at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Beulah this week.
During the height of the economic shutdown, Escambia County started allowing food trucks to sell from the Equestrian Center parking lot each day to bring food options to Beulah and help the small businesses. Once restaurants were allowed to reopen, the food truck schedule was cut and is now just the third Tuesday of the month.
Dr. Sno’s Shaved Ice, 3-D Eats and Happy Taco will be in the Equestrian Center parking lot from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21. And you can mark your calendar for another Food Truck Tuesday on August 18.
The parking lot is a large area and provides ample room for residents to adhere to all CDC social distancing protocols, according to the county. To participate as a food truck vendor, call (850) 941-6042 for a vendor application. All Equestrian Center vendor fees will be waived by Escambia County.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
July 19, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period from April 3 to May 14 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
(FWC fell behind in issuing reports during the pandemic. Additional updates will be posted in the coming days.)
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Manning and Allgood were on patrol and spoke to two subjects as they returned from a spear fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. When asked, the two fisherman said they had shot three fish. The fish were identified as gag grouper, which are currently closed to harvest. The two subjects were cited accordingly.
Officer Allgood was on patrol when he observed a subject illegally spearfishing at the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier. While addressing the violation the individual was found to be in possession of filleted sheepshead which is a violation under the landing in whole condition requirement. The appropriate citation was issued.
Officers Allgood and Manning conducted Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) offshore patrol. Several vessels were checked for resource inspections and several citations were issued. The violations included harvesting yellow fin tuna without a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Permit and chartering a fishing vessel without charter license.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Cushing, Land, and Matechik were on patrol in Yellow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The officers inspected multiple individuals and found violations including operating vehicles on closed roads, operating ATVs in the WMA, littering in the WMA, and driving a vehicle without a tag. Sixteen citations and 15 warnings were issued. Some cases are pending regarding fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving without a license (habitual offender), and violation of probation. Warrants will be filed with Santa Rosa County for the pending cases.
While on water patrol, Officer Cushing was dispatched to a 911 call from a woman onboard a vessel near Gulf Breeze. The woman stated the operator of the vessel was under the influence of alcohol and she was concerned for her safety. She stayed on the phone communicating with dispatch describing their location. Officer Cushing located the vessel underway east of the Three Mile bridge and initiated a vessel stop. Officer Cushing observed a female huddled on the floor of the boat crying holding a phone. He assisted her onto the patrol vessel. The operator of the vessel showed signs and behaviors of impairment. Due to the prevailing sea conditions and overall circumstances, Officer Cushing “hip towed” the vessel back to the operator’s residence where Officers Land and Wilkenson were waiting to assist. The operator showed indicators of impairment during the seated battery field sobriety tasks and was arrested for boating under the influence.
Officer Land received a complaint regarding a vehicle stuck on the sandbar of Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA) which is a restricted area. When Officer Land arrived on scene, he located four individuals with a jeep sunk in the sand. The driver of the vehicle admitted to driving through Eglin Air Force Base property on closed roads and driving around gates to get to the point. None of the individuals had Eglin AFB permits. The individuals were issued a notice to appear for their violations on Eglin AFB. The driver of the vehicle was issued citations for destruction of state lands and driving on closed roads in Escribano Point WMA. The vehicle was removed from the sandbar and the individuals were escorted from the area.
While patrolling Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Officer Matechik observed an individual walking a path that leads to Fundy Bayou Beach. The individual noticed the officer’s presence in the parking area and walked down the beach. Officer
Matechik walked to the beach and noticed three fishing poles and a full beer. Officer Matechik left the beach and concealed his presence. The individual came back to the area and took a fishing rod and the beer and began to wade for fish. Officer Matechik announced his presence and conducted a resource inspection. The individual did not have a fishing license and was consuming alcohol in an area where it is prohibited. Officer Matechik and the individual walked to the parking lot to inspect his cooler in the bed of his truck. When the truck tag was checked, it came back to another vehicle and had an impound and seize tag order. The individual also did not have a valid driver’s license and his vehicle was parked in day use area of the Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The vehicle was towed, and the subject was issued the appropriate citations.
Officer Ramos was patrolling local boat ramps in Blackwater River and noticed a vessel without working navigational lights causing a wake in an idle speed zone. Officer Ramos also observed the operator consume an alcoholic beverage. A boating safety inspection revealed numerous safety and registration violations. Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were conducted and the operator was arrested and transported to the county jail for BUI. One boating citation for missing safety equipment and five warnings for other violations were issued.
Officer Ramos was on vessel patrol in Blackwater River and saw a boat traveling at a high rate of speed in a posted slow speed zone. A vessel stop was conducted to address the violation and the operator displayed signs of impairment. Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were performed and the operator was arrested for boating under the influence and booked into the county jail. Appropriate citations and warnings were issued for other violations.
K-9 Officer Hutchinson saw a vehicle pulled down to a creek in Blackwater State Forest and observed a subject holding a dip net and flashlight, shining the creek. He recognized the man from previous encounters and knew that his fishing and hunting privileges were suspended. While speaking with the man and his girlfriend, Officer Hutchinson observed a wet cast net and a bucket containing live game fish in the back of the truck. The subject admitted he caught the bream with the cast net, and that his fishing license was suspended for a three-year period. Office Hutchinson measured the cast net and discovered that it was an illegal net to possess. The man was charged appropriately for the violations.
Officer Ramos received a call from a person alleging someone had shot a deer in his backyard during the early morning hours. Officers Ramos, Hutchinson and Roberson arrived at the complainant’s home to investigate and observed several subjects on a power line easement in an area closed to public access. One subject was carrying a long gun and the other two were on an ATV in the closed area. The subject with the firearm admitted he shot at a deer before sunrise behind the complainant’s home and that he knew deer hunting season was closed. While surveying the general area where the illegal activity occurred, K-9 Zara alerted at the edge of a large pond. Officer Hutchinson discovered that the subject had a trot line which caught a large fish. The subject’s firearm was seized, and appropriate citations were issued for hunting deer during the closed season and attempting to take deer with a gun and light. Officer Hutchinson also issued the suspect a notice to appear for the illegal trot line.
Escambia Unemployment Rate Dips. But It’s Still Over Twice The Year Ago Level.
July 18, 2020
The unemployment rate locally in Escambia County and statewide dipped in June but, were still more than double last year due to the coronavirus economic shutdown, according to the latest data released Friday.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 7.9% in June, down from 10.9% in May. That represents 10,917 people out of work out of a county workforce of 137,655. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was just 3.5%, or 5,056 people.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.4% in June 2020, down 3.3 percentage points from the revised May 2020 rate, and up 7.2 percentage points from a year ago. There were 1,021,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,770,000.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 11.1 percent in June.
Community Health COVID-19 Testing Available Next Week In Cantonment
July 18, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida is bringing COVID-19 testing back to Cantonment next week.
The drive-thru testing will be available Tuesday, July 21 from 8-11 a.m. at Community Health Northwest Florida Cantonment Pediatrics at 470 South Highway 29.
The testing is for Escambia County (FL) residents only. There is no pre-screening required, and the testing is available for any age regardless of symptoms.
Testing will be provided weather permitting while supplies last. Participants should bring a photo identification and an insurance card (if insured).
Pictured: Community Health Northwest Florida COVID-19 testing in Century on May 13. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Monday Is The Deadline To Register To Vote, Switch Parties For August 18 Primary
July 18, 2020
The deadline is Monday to register to vote in Florida’s primary election on August 18.
Florida has closed primaries. If you want to vote in a party’s primary, you must be registered in that party by the registration deadline.
For the general election on November 3, the voter registration deadline is October 5.
Voters can register online or register in person. For information on any of the registration methods, change parties or check your registration, visit escambiavotes.com.
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.