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.
In A Week, Escambia County, Alabama, COVID-19 Cases Up 27%, Fatalities Up 50%
July 16, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County, Alabama, are continuing to grow an increasingly rapid pace.
As of Wednesday night, there were 562 confirmed cases in the county, up over 27% from 441 a week ago. There also four more deaths reported in the county Wednesday, increasing the number of confirmed coronavirus deaths by 50% to 12.
In the past two weeks, 270 of 1,444 tests have been positive, a rate of nearly 19%, compared to 12% statewide.
The latest data from the Escambia County Healthcare Authority shows 253 of the positive tests were from Atmore Community Hospital, and 60 were from D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
Cantonment Improvement Distributed Food To 330 This Week; Next Week It’s A 10,000 Pound Giveaway
July 16, 2020
Despite the pouring rain, the Cantonment Improvement Committee distributed 330 bags and boxes of food to people in need this week, up from 247 bags the previous week.
And next week, they are planning an every larger food distribution.
The CIC will hold a food distribution on Tuesday, July 21 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street. There will be 10,000 pounds of food distributed, including meats, fresh fruits, vegetables and more.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. Line up on Webb Street facing north.
Driver Crashes Into FHP Trooper’s Vehicle On I-110
July 16, 2020
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper received minor injuries when a vehicle crashed into his patrol unit in Escambia County.
Trooper said a car occupied by two 18-year old Baldwin County women lost control in a curve of an I-110 ramp to I-10. Their vehicle began to rotate and struck the trooper’s marked vehicle parked on the north shoulder of the ramp. The force of the collision pushed the FHP vehicle off the road into multiple trees.
The trooper along with the driver and passenger of the other vehicle were transported a local hospital with minor injuries.
File photo.
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.
