Escambia County (AL) Man Facing Multiple Child Pornography Charges
May 12, 2020
An Escambia County, Alabama, is facing multiple child pornography charges after parents reported questionable social media behavior to authorities.
Richard James Rabon, 42, was charged Monday with five counts of possession of child pornography and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond pending a court appearance
He was arrested after a search warrant was executed in the 700 block of Williamson Street in East Brewton. Investigators said they located multiple images of child pornography on his phone.
“The case evolved from numerous parents in the community reporting different comments and messages that were received from Rabon on social media that they felt were inappropriate,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “A joint operation was put together and all agencies worked tirelessly to bring this matter to a close.”
Agencies that participated in the joint operation were the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, East Brewton Police Department, Alabama State Bureau of Investigators, Brewton Police Department, Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office, Conecuh Covington County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency Water Supply Restored To Century Prison; Nearly 200 Inmates Transferred Out
May 11, 2020
Update: The broken water main on prison property was repaired by Monday afternoon, and water service restored, according to Florida Senator Doug Broxson.
He said full water pressure had been restored to the prison, and now “there’s no rationing of toilets”. The water is still not drinkable as water lines are being flushed. Inmates are still being provided bottled water.
Previous story:
Nearly 200 inmates were transferred out of Century Correctional Institution Sunday due to no water.
Florida Sen. Doug Broxson told NorthEscambia.com late Sunday afternoon that 190 close custody inmates were transferred from CCI to other facilities after a water main break inside the prison just days after the water supply to the prison failed.
Inmates were already drinking bottled water after a water well serving the prison failed last week. Broxson said additional potable water and temporary restroom facilities were brought in after the water main failure, but the situation was not conducive to security protocols for the close custody inmates.
He said the water main was expected to be repaired by Monday, allowing the prison to return to an emergency water supply.
The Town of Century water well serving CCI failed last Thursday and water in the town’s elevated tank located at the prison continued a supply of water until Friday.
Friday afternoon, an emergency interconnect using two, two-inch fire hoses was made from Central Water Works fire hydrants on the south side of Tedder Road to the Town of Century’s fire hydrants on the north side of the road. That, according to Century Interim City Manager Vernon Prather was supplying adequate water to the prison.
The Central Water Works water supply to the prison was at a higher pressure than that of Century. That is believed to be why the 10-inch water main on prison property failed, leaving the prison without any water during the repair.
Construction on a permanent solution to the water crisis is expected to begin this week. Tedder Road is closed from Highway 29 to the prison due to the fire hoses across the road and the construction process.
The Town of Century’s well at the prison did not supply water to the town and the downtime will have no impact on local residents, Prather said. Likewise, Central Water Water Works officials said they have the capacity to supply the prison, and their customers should see no impacts.
Central Water Works was founded in 1965 and provides water for about 1,000 members in Byrneville, McDavid and outside the municipal service areas of Century and Flomaton.
NorthEscambia.com will have ongoing coverage.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Lawn Business Just Feet Away From Christian School On Johnson Avenue
May 11, 2020
Fire destroyed a lawn care business located just feet from the Trinitas Christian School on Johnson Avenue Monday afternoon.
The fire was at the Man-I-Cure Lawn Service at 3233 East Johnson Avenue. The 4,000 square foot metal frame building is, at its closest point, only about 35 feet from the corner of Trinitas Christian School.
Students and staff were evacuated from the private school. There were no injuries reported.
The school may have suffered some heat damage, but did not catch on fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Fence Fire Extinguished With Only Minor Damage To A Nearby Home
May 11, 2020
Firefighters quickly extinguished a privacy fence fire in Cantonment Monday afternoon, preventing the potential spread to several nearby homes.
It happened a little after 2:30 in the 700 block of Escambia Avenue, just off Forrest Street. The fence fire did cause minor heat damage to the vinyl siding on a home just a few feet away.
There were no injuries.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa COVID-19 Cases Up By Six On Monday
May 11, 2020
There were only six new COVID-19 cases in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties reported in the Monday data release from the Florida Department of Health.
There were three new cases reported in Escambia County Friday for a total of 641 positive people. The Santa Rosa County total increase by three to 176.
Of the 18 deaths in Escambia County, 13 have been long-term care facility residents. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, all outside long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 40,982 cases including 39,888 Florida residents. There have been 7,224 hospitalizations and 1,735 deaths.
- Total cases — 641 (+3 since Sunday)
- Pensacola — 491
- Cantonment — 41
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 4
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 48*
- Deaths — 18
- Male — 232
- Female — 315
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 176 (+3 since Sunday)
- Milton — 97
- Navarre — 33
- Gulf Breeze — 24
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 118
- Female — 56
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 40,982
- Florida residents — 39,888
- Deaths — 1,735
- Hospitalizations — 7,224*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
Truck Brings Down Lines; Cuts Power And Highway 29, Muscogee Road Traffic Light
May 11, 2020
Am oversize truck hauling a piece of equipment brought down lines on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment Monday morning and damaged several utility poles.
It led to a power disruption and an outage of the traffic light at Muscogee Road/Becks Lane Road and Highway 29. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to direct traffic during the outage.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah, Santa Rosa Wildfires Now 75% Contained
May 11, 2020
The Hurst Hammock Fire near Beulah is now 1,248 acres and is 75% contained, and the 5 Mile Swamp Fire in Santa Rosa County is 2,215 acres and is also 75% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service Service.
The Hurst Hammock fire was caused by humans, not nature, the Forest Service said, but the exact cause has not been determined.
Both fires stayed within their established contained lines on Sunday. Crews continued to patrol neighborhoods and communities to identify hot spots and implement thorough mop up operations to extinguish the heat and smoke in those areas. There are currently 182 personnel assigned to these fires.
On Monday, crews will continue to work to keep the fires within the containment zone and continue with mop up operations to reduce smoke. Additional crews have been identified for initial attack to assist the Florida Forest Service – Blackwater Forestry Center on any new fires that may occur in their coverage area which includes Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties.
A Florida Forest Service fixed-wing aircraft referred to as an Air Attack continues to patrol both fire areas to monitor fire behavior throughout the day. There is also a medium helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket assigned to the two fires if needed.
After a five-day, multi-agency response to the Five Mile Swamp Fire, Santa Rosa County Emergency Management is pulling back structure fire equipment and personnel. The Florida Forest Service will retain command of the fire. The Florida Forest Service Blue Incident Management Team, which took command at noon on Thursday, is based out of the Santa Rosa County Emergency Operations Center.
Santa Rosa County’s damage assessment team has determined 14 residential structures were destroyed (seven damaged) with a total of 27 buildings destroyed. The estimated value for residential structure losses is $1,902,887. No responders or residents were injured. Monetary donations for long-term recovery efforts for residents who have lost their homes can be made to Safer Santa Rosa.
A strike team of engines out of Tallahassee from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is now in place conducting mop up operations to minimize smoke impacts to surrounding neighborhoods such as Robinson Point and Garcon Point.
COVID-19 Testing Site Open Again This Week At UWF With No Pre-screening Required
May 11, 2020
A mobile COVID-19 testing site with no pre-screening required will be open again this week for Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents at the University of West Florida.
The drive-through test site will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the SP2 parking lot, which is on the east side of campus near the East Sports Complex. Individuals are asked to remain in their vehicles. The National Guard will be there to assist.
The site was opened at the request of the Governor’s Office under the direction of the Florida Department of Health in conjunction with both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The National Guard is assisting.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
What You Need To Know About Barbershop, Hair And Nail Salon Reopenings In Florida On Monday
May 11, 2020
As barber shops, hair salons and nail salons reopen for business today in Florida, here’s a look at the restrictions followed by a list of frequently asked questions.
The following restrictions are mandatory:
- All customers will be by appointment only.
- Allow at least 15 minutes between the conclusion of an appointment and the beginning of the next appointment for proper disinfecting practices.
- No group appointments are permitted.
- Masks must be worn by all employees while performing personal services.
Shops are encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect prior to reopening. Make sure to disinfect all surfaces tools and linens, even if they were cleaned before you originally closed. This type of cleaning should continue between each day of operation.
- Consider providing unworn masks to clients for use during their appointment.
- Remove all unnecessary, frequently touched items like magazines, newspapers, service menus and any other unnecessary paper products and decor from customer service areas.
And here’s a list of frequently asked questions:
Which professions does Executive Order 20-120 allow to reopen and provide services?
Holders of the following state-issued barber or cosmetology licenses may provide services at establishments that adopt appropriate social distancing and precautionary measures directed in Executive Order 20-120: barber, restricted barber, cosmetologist, nail specialist, facial specialist, full specialist, hair braider, hair wrapper, and body wrapper. These license holders are permitted to perform the barbering or cosmetology services as authorized by their respective license or registration. (Salons in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are not yet allowed to reopen.)
Must businesses limit capacity in the barbershop or salon?
Barbershops and salons must manage capacity of the premises based on an appointment-only schedule and must allow at least 15 minutes between the conclusion of an appointment and the beginning of the next appointment for proper disinfecting practices. Barbershops and salons should take necessary action to limit gatherings in waiting areas prior to and following appointments to the extent necessary to promote appropriate social distancing. Barbershops and salons are encouraged to adopt means of limiting patrons waiting for appointments, such as calling patrons from a waiting vehicle or outdoor waiting area once an available service station is cleaned, prepared, and ready for service of the next patron.
Are any restrictions in effect for the waiting area of a barbershop or cosmetology salon?
Barbershops and salons should remove all unnecessary, frequent-touch items, such as magazines, newspapers, service menus, and any other unnecessary paper products and décor from customer service areas. These businesses should take necessary action to limit gatherings of patrons in waiting areas to the extent necessary to promote appropriate social distancing.
The order prohibits group appointments. What constitutes a group for purposes of the order?
Executive Order 20-120 restricts appointments to individuals only. Where multiple individuals are seeking joint or co-scheduled appointments to obtain services as a party at the same appointment time, barbershops and salons should restrict the number of individual appointments to the number of available service stations that can be responsibly accommodated while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
Must a barbershop or cosmetology salon limit hours of operation?
No. Executive Order 20-120 does not restrict the hours of operation of a barbershop or salon. License holders are encouraged to monitor any local government restrictions that may impact the hours of operation of businesses in their area.
Are licensed professionals required to wear a mask when providing services in the barbershop or salon? How long will the requirement of wearing a mask be in effect?
Yes, a mask must be worn by an employee while providing personal services in the barbershop or salon. The requirement to wear a mask while providing services remains in effect until a subsequent order modifies or rescinds this precautionary measure.
Do licensed professionals have to wear a particular type of mask while providing services?
No.
Are licensed professionals required to wear gloves or any other personal protective equipment other than a mask when providing services in the barbershop or salon?
No.
Are patrons required to wear masks while obtaining services in the barbershop or salon?
No. However, barbershops and salons are encouraged to consider providing unworn masks to clients for use during their appointment. As a private business, barbershops and salons may adopt their own policies requiring the use of a mask by patrons obtaining services.
Are any other measures expected of barbershops or salons? Are any other measures recommended?
Yes. Barbershops and salons should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to reopening, and disinfection practices should be repeated, at minimum, between each day of operation. All surfaces, tools, and linens should be disinfected, even if the items were cleaned before the barbershop or salon was closed.
Barbershops and salons also should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the shop and individual service areas are maintained and operated in a safe and sanitary manner, including particular attention and adherence to existing Florida sanitation regulations applicable to these services and these locations as promulgated in Rule 61G3-19.011 (Barbershop Requirements) and Rule 61G5-20.002 (Salon Requirements), Florida Administrative Code.
How will the restrictions in Executive Order 20-120 be enforced?
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation maintains routine inspection practices at licensed barbershops and salons, which will continue during the effect of this order. The Department will incorporate the restrictions of this order in compliance inspection activities.
Florida Gas Prices Level Off At Florida Reopens
May 11, 2020
Florida gas prices are leveling off, after plunging for 10 consecutive weeks. The 76-day streak of declines came to an end last week, as Floridians returned to the road, driving up demand for fuel.
Gas prices dropped a total of 66 cents per gallon since February, when the coronavirus outbreak caused Floridians to stay home to stop the spread. The driving force behind plunging pump prices was low gasoline demand, which sank as much as 75 percent below normal levels during the lockdown. Since the phased reopening began last week, gasoline demand has improved to only 40 percent below year-ago levels.
The average price per gallon across the state was $1.76 a gallon, $1 less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon Sunday night was $1.65, but one Cantonment station was at $1.57 and stations in Pensacola were at $1.58.
“The plunge at the pump appears to be over now that Floridians are driving more often,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The rising demand has restored optimism in the fuel market, causing higher crude oil and gasoline prices. Wholesale gasoline prices also increased last week, but not yet to a level that demands retailers to raise their rates.”