Visitor Ban At Florida Prisons Extended Until Mid-August
July 25, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic visitation suspension at Florida prisons has been extended again, the Florida Department of Corrections has announced.
The visitor ban is in effect this time until at least August 17.
“The decision to reinstate the normal visitation schedule will be evaluated in consultation with public health experts,” the FDC said.
Inmates will continue to have access to their loved ones through mail, phone calls and video visitation. Legal visits will not be impacted, although attorneys are encouraged to consult with their clients via phone, email or mail during this time
As of Monday, 24 inmates have died from the virus, 1,963 have tested positive and 438 corrections staff have been infected, according to the agency.
Blue Wahoos To Hold Summer Spectacular On Saturday, August 8
July 25, 2020
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos will host a family-friendly Summer Spectacular at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday, August 8 featuring a showing of the classic baseball film The Sandlot on the videoboard at the ballpark and an extended post-movie fireworks show. Admission to the event is $10 and tickets are available now at the stadium box office and at BlueWahoos.com and include both the movie and fireworks show.
“We’re excited to bring our massive Fourth of July fireworks show to our fans, even if it’s a few weeks late,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “A big thanks goes out to Hancock-Whitney Bank, Covenant Care, and Cat Country 98.7 for helping us re-schedule and transform our Independence Day event into a family-fun Summer Spectacular. We can’t wait to safely welcome the community to the ballpark for a great baseball film and our longest fireworks show of the year.”
Gates at Blue Wahoos Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m. with the film beginning at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks show will follow the conclusion of the movie.
Guests will be welcome to sit in the stands at the ballpark to enjoy the movie and fireworks or on the field itself. Fans may bring blankets and pillows for their comfort, but chairs, strollers, and wagons are not permitted inside the ballpark. Concessions will be available throughout the stadium.
Guest safety remains a top priority. Face masks are required inside of Blue Wahoos Stadium and should be worn whenever guests are moving throughout the ballpark. Masks may be removed when eating or drinking or when seated to enjoy the show with proper physical distancing.
Century Renews Garbage Pick Up Contract; Can’t Afford Own Truck; Doesn’t Consider ECUA
July 24, 2020
The Town of Century has renewed a contract with Republic Services to provide solid waste collection and disposal to residents.
The five-year contract renewal is at the same rate the town currently pays, plus an annual adjustment each December based upon the consumer price index.
Residential sanitation customers in Century pay a monthly fee of $23.63. That’s broken down to $17.42 per residential container and $6.21 for biweekly yard waste pickup. Century does not offer recycling services.
Republic charges the town $14.44 a month for each residential container, so the town retains $2.98 each. With 533 containers, Century makes $1,588.34 per month that pays the town for providing customer service and billing.
Council member James Smith questioned why the town could not take care of the garbage collection themselves. Interim City Manager Vernon Prather said it would cost an estimated $400,000 to purchase a garbage truck and about $100,000 to purchase the containers.
The town gave no consideration to contracting the services to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. ECUA provides residential service in Escambia County, including all sides of the Century town limits except the northern border with Alabama.
ECUA customers pay $24.16 per month for one weekly 90-gallon container pick up, a 90-gallon weekly recyclables pick up and one weekly pick up of yard trash. Up to three additional 90-gallon garbage containers are available for $4.02 per month per container. ECUA also offers free pickup of large items like furniture and toilets. Recycling service includes the free collection of car or truck batteries, tires, propane tanks, appliances, bulk cardboard and household electronics like televisions and computers.
Updates: Tropical Storm Hanna In The Gulf; Tropical Storm Gonzalo In The Atlantic
July 24, 2020
Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and Tropical Storm Gonzalo continues to churn in the Atlantic.
Tropical Storm Hanna is in the Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana, and it’s tracing westward toward Texas, according to forecasters. For Northwest Florida, Hanna will mean dangerous Gulf of Mexico rip currents and increased rain chances.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo is moving toward the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic. It’s intensity forecast is currently uncertain, but it may reach hurricane strength by the time it reaches the Windward Islands on Saturday. There’s a reasonable shot that Gonzalo will dissipate by the time it reaches the Caribbean, and it won’t reach the Gulf of Mexico. But that’s not yet a certainty, so we will continue to keep an eye on Gonzalo.
Unity In The Community School Supply, Uniform Giveaway Saturday In Atmore
July 24, 2020
The annual Unity in the Community Festival (COVID-Style) will be held Saturday at Grace Fellowship in Atmore with free school supplies and school uniforms.
The event normally includes entertainment, bounce houses, food and activities, but it’s drive-thru only this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 1-4 p.m.
The giveaways are for school-aged children. Grace Fellowship is located at 1412 East Nashville Avenue in Atmore.
ECSO Seeks To Identify Skeletal Remains Found Near Pine Forest Road In 2004
July 24, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to solve a 2004 cold case homicide.
On December 18, 2004, Escambia County deputies were called after a human skeleton was located inside a mobile home near the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road, close to I-10.
Media coverage in 2004 did not result in any tips, the Sheriff’s Office said.
A facial reconstruction was completed to create a sketch. It is believed the body found is that of a 35-55 year-old black male, between 5′4″ and 5′10″, a slight to average build, and with a predominant gap in the front teeth.
Clothing found at the scene was determined to be “oversized” consisting of 36×32 Levi jeans, a large blue Starter shirt, size 10 men’s running shoes, a 38′ belt, a gold necklace, and a blue hat with “Butler Transport” on it.
Anyone with information on the man’s identity is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Local Hospitals Encourage Blood Donations From Recovered COVID-19 Patients
July 24, 2020
Local hospitals are asking recovered COVID-19 patients to donate blood plasma.
Baptist Health Care, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital and West Florida Hospital encourage those who have recovered from a confirmed case of COVID-19 to consider donating blood plasma for convalescent plasma therapy in critically ill patients. Such plasma is currently in short supply locally.
“People who recover from coronavirus infection may develop antibodies to the virus that remain in the plasma portion of their blood. In convalescent plasma therapy, the plasma that contains the antibodies is transfused into a person still fighting the virus and can provide a boost to the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover,” Baptist Hospital Public Relations Specialist Kathy Bowers said in an email.
Locally, donations are accepted by OneBlood, where all blood donors will receive free results from COVID-19 antibody donations.
OneBlood donation centers are located at 1999 East Nine Mile Road and 2209 North Ninth Avenue. 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.
Escambia Teachers, Staff To Have Face Shields As An Option
July 24, 2020
“When you are teaching kids to read, they need to see the words, hear your voice and see you form the sounds with your lips,” according to the Escambia County School District.
That’s why schools in Escambia County will have face shields as an option to teachers and staff.
“We are dedicated to finding what will work the best in different circumstances,” the school district said in a statement.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Fall Sports Delayed; First Day Of Practices Moved To August 17 In Escambia County
July 23, 2020
The Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has delayed the start date for practices for fall high school sports.
The first day of practices has been moved to Monday, August 17 as a result of the first day of school being delayed two week to August 24.
Fall sports played at the high school level which will be impacted include football, volleyball, golf, cross-country, track, swimming and diving. Contest schedules for all fall sports are being adjusted accordingly and information will be released at a later date.
Athletic conditioning may continue following the Escambia County School District guidelines for Safe Return to Athletic Training, utilizing social distancing protocols and proper sanitation measures for training equipment.
“Social distancing protocols will be followed, as well as the proper sanitation steps by district personnel,” Thomas said. “This will be a team effort by all participants.”
Pictured: The first day of 2019 spring practice for the Northview Chiefs on April 22, 2019.. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Second Person Charged With Allegedly Breaking Both Of A Four Month Old Baby Girl’s Legs
July 23, 2020
A second person has been charged with allegedly breaking both of a four-month old baby girl’s legs.
Ashley Anne Mack, age 26 of Red Level, Alabama, was charged with first degree felony aggravated child abuse. She remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000. Dustin Raymond McCurdy, age 27 of Century, was previously charged with first degree felony aggravated child abuse in the case and released on a $100,000 bond.
X-rays showed baby girl had femur fractures on each side of her body. A Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigator told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that the hospital determined the injuries were consistent with child abuse and had possibly been caused by the pulling on the child’s legs.
“The type of fractures this child has sustained is the most specific fracture seen in child abuse, and is the result of violent shearing (pulling),” an arrest report states.
DCF described McCurdy and Mack as illicit drug users, according to arrest reports.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office alleged the fractures occurred during an altercation between McCurdy and Mack.