Lane Closures This Week On Nine Mile Road
May 5, 2020
Drivers can expect intermittent and alternating lane closures this week as crews perform paving operations for the Nine Mile Road widening project in Escambia County.
Initially, drivers can expect intermittent and alternating lane closures at the Nine Mile Road-Beulah Road intersection between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. These lane closures are required to place asphalt overbuild at this intersection.
Later this week, drivers can expect intermittent and alternating Nine Mile Road eastbound travel lane closures from Beulah Middle School to the I-10/Nine Mile Road interchange between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. These lane closures are required to allow crews to place the second layer of structural asphalt for an upcoming shift, the work is expected to be complete in one week.
Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zones. Access to businesses will be maintained at all times.
All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Limited Visitation Now Allowed At Baptist, Gulf Breeze Hospitals; No Visitors At Jay Hospital
May 5, 2020
Baptist Hospital is now allowing limited visitation at their main location and Gulf Breeze Hospital, while visitation is not allowed at their Jay Hospital location.
Here is the latest information from Baptist Hospital:
Baptist Hospital and Gulf Breeze Hospital Only
- One visitor at a time will be allowed to visit a hospital inpatient.
- No visitors will be allowed who have COVID-19 symptoms, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Visitors will be provided a visitor badge which must be displayed and visible during the entirety of the visit.
- No children under the age of 18 are permitted to visit.
At the discretion of the hospital staff, a visitor may be asked to leave as the situation warrants.
Behavioral Medicine Center (Behavioral Health Inpatient Departments Only)
Per state of Florida guidelines, there is no visitation allowed to adult mental health treatment facilities at this time. Youth visitation is limited to parents/guardians only. No siblings or anyone under the age of 18 are allowed to visit.
Jay Hospital
Because of Jay Hospital’s designation to provide skilled nursing care, more rigid visitation requirements apply. Therefore, a no visitation policy will remain in place.
EXCEPTIONS
A visitor whose presence is essential to the care of a patient may be allowed to visit. “Essential” is defined as one or more of the following:
- Patients who may be impaired and require a support person to care for them
- Patients with disruptive behavior in which a support person is key to their care
- Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays (in which support person is key to their safe care)
- Patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
- For patients receiving end of life care, our team will arrange visitation times with loved ones. During such times, your questions and concerns will be addressed.
One Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash
May 4, 2020
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Monday morning on Highway 29 next Duxbury Avenue in Molino.
The person was briefly trapped in the overturned vehicle before being freed by firefighters.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated.
The Molino, Cantonment and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded, along with Escambia County EMS.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Woman Airlifted To The Hospital After Dirt Road Rollover Crash
May 4, 2020
A woman was seriously injured in a rollover crash on a remote dirt road Monday morning.
The woman was northbound on Pineville Road about three mile south of Nokomis Road in extreme northwestern Escambia County. She lost control, hit an embankment and overturned with her Jeep coming to rest on its side in the roadway.
She was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to crash just before 10 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Perdido River Tubers Found Safe After Lengthy Search
May 4, 2020
First responders located two lost tubers after a lengthy search on the Perdido River Sunday night.
Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to a report of a person that was tubing and had become stuck on sandbar on the Perdido River near Vantage Road. The male eventually walked out of the woods on Vantage Road as firefighters searched.
Officials then learned that a female that had been part of the group on the river was still missing. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission joined the search, along with Alabama agencies including the Gateswood Volunteer Fire Department. They concentrated their search in the area between Fillingim Landing and the Barrineau Park Bridge.
The female was located safe by FWC about 11:45 p.m. at the Otto Hill Recreation Area off Jacks Branch Road, about a half mile south of Fillingim Landing. She was evaluated by Escambia County EMS but not transported to the hospital.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Eight Finalists Remain For The Escambia Public Safety Director Job. Only One Is Local.
May 4, 2020
Eight candidates remain for the Escambia County Public Safety Director job, including one Escambia County resident.
The eight interviewed last week via video with all Escambia County department directors. They are:
- Russell Beatty – Freeport, FL
- Carl Flores – Ponchatoula, LA
- Eric Gilmore – Century, FL
- Allen Lewis – Virginia, MN
- Patrick McKeon – Brandon, FL
- Jason Rogers – Muncie, IN
- Kent Studnicka – Cook County, IL
- Michael Ware – Cleveland, TN
Gilmore joined Escambia County in January as emergency manager. He previously served as the regional emergency response advisor at the Florida Department of Health, where he trained and advised fire, law enforcement, and EMS officials on disaster response protocol, tactical training and the Incident Command System. Gilmore also served as a planner and public health preparedness director for the FDOH from 2004 to 2008, and is currently district chief for the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
There were originally 114 applicants for the public safety director job. That list was cut by Escambia County to 49 qualified applicants.
There will be another round of interviews with a shorter list of finalists. There’s no word on when Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley will make her final selection.
Interim Escambia County Public Safety Director John Dosh is retiring.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Elective Surgeries Reopen Monday. Local Hospitals And DeSantis Reassure Residents It Is Safe.
May 4, 2020
As elective surgeries resume Monday in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis and hospital officials are reassuring Floridians that it really is safe to go to the hospital.
““One of the biggest problems we’ve had in the last six weeks is people that have heart problems or stroke symptoms deciding they don’t want to go to the hospital. And sometimes that is because they are worried about being exposed to COVID,” DeSantis said Sunday at a Daytona Beach hospital. “If you do have those, the hospital is safe place to be, and taking care of yourself is really, really important.”
“It’s important we take careful and measured steps to ensure a safe return to providing full access to healthcare services while also continuing to serve and support individuals and communities impacted by COVID-19,” said Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Huson Gilberstadt. “As these events unfold, patients can expect expanded access to healthcare services with enhanced safeguards to ensure our sites of care continue to serve as healing environments – where quality care is delivered with the highest levels of safety and compassion.”
Ascension Sacred Heart operates hospitals in Pensacola, Miramar Beach, Panama City and Port St. Joe. Those facilities will maintain temporary visitor restrictions and screening protocols for individuals entering hospitals, including temperature checks for 99.5 degrees or higher. The health system will also require every patient scheduled for an elective or non-emergency surgery to undergo appropriate screening and testing for COVID-19 prior to their planned surgery date. Following their screening and testing, patients will be asked to self-quarantine until their surgery.
“Although COVID-19 is still present, we understand that individuals in our local communities have healthcare needs outside of COVID-19,” said Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast President and CEO Tom VanOsdol. “Our ‘return to surgery’ approach is in full compliance with Governor DeSantis’ recent direction and led by our clinicians, who are working with our providers on a strategic process to keep our patients, associates and physicians safe and informed throughout this time of transition.”
With the reintroduction of elective procedures, hospital staff will begin the process of contacting patients to reschedule procedures that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, using clinical judgment to prioritize scheduling for patients with the most immediate needs. Services will also be available for patients to take a proactive role in their health and schedule appointments and regular doctors’ visits online or over the phone.
Baptist Hospital also resumes elective surgeries on Monday.
“Baptist will continue to implement social distancing, universal masking and screening of all patients and visitors,” according to a statement. Baptist physician offices are reaching out directly to patients whose procedures were postponed due to the order to suspend services that was issued in March. Patients visiting a Baptist facility are encouraged to bring and wear masks.
“Our teams look forward to welcoming back patients into our care and will take every precaution to ensure safety,” Baptist said.
Monday Was Reopening Day For Part Of Florida’s Economy. Here’s What Opens And What Is Still Closed
May 4, 2020
Here’s what may be open, and what will still be closed as Phase 1 of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan goes into effect:
- Retail can operate at 25% of indoor capacity
- Restaurants may offer outdoor seating with six foot spacing between tables, and indoor seating at 25% capacity
- Elective surgeries can resume
- No change for bars, gyms, movie theaters and personal services such as hairdressers (all remain closed)
- Schools continue with distance learning
- Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited
- Vulnerable individuals should avoid close contact with people outside their home.
- All individuals should maximize physical distance from others in public
- Avoid socializing in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for physical distancing.
- Face masks are recommended for in close interactions without social distancing.
- Vacation rentals must remained closed.
$5.45 Million Grant Awarded To Support Amtrak’s Return To The Gulf Coast. But Not To Pensacola Or Atmore.
May 4, 2020
The return of passenger rail service along part of the Gulf Coast has received millions in funding, but not for service to Atmore, Pensacola and the rest of Florida.
A $5.45 million grant has been awarded from Restoration and Enhancement Grants Program for service from New Orleans to Mobile, The award will fund operating expenses for the first and second years of service along the restored rail line and also leverages commitments from the states of Louisiana and Mississippi and the City of Mobile. Florida is not a member of the Southern Rail Commission.
“I would like express my gratitude for continued support at the federal, state, and local levels as we work to bring passenger rail back to the Gulf Coast. This award brings us one step closer to realizing the many benefits that restored passenger service will have for our communities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana,” SRC Chairman Wiley Blackenship said.
So far there’s no word of any funding continue service past Mobile to Atmore which is home to Alabama’s office rail welcome station or on into Florida. Existing railroad track heads from Atmore to Flomaton and south through Century to Pensacola then eastward to Jacksonville. Passenger rail service from Pensacola to Jacksonville ended after Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The announcement follows other recent federal awards to the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) for Gulf Coast passenger service restoration, including $33 million through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program to complete major infrastructure and capital improvements necessary for service restoration.
The Commission was also awarded a R&E grant of $4.36 million in 2019 to support operating expenses for a portion of the first year of service along the new rail line. These investments confirm the regional and national support for rail restoration along the Gulf Coast and show confidence in the anticipated benefits of the returned service.
Pictured: An Amtrak inspection train rolls in Atmore (top and bottom) and Pensacola (inset) in February 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Drivers Return To The Road As Florida Reopens. That Likely Means Gas Prices Are Nearing Their Cheapest.
May 4, 2020
Florida gas prices may be nearing their low point as most of Florida begins the first reopening phase on Monday. The lifting of stay-at-home restrictions has boosted optimism within the fuel market that gasoline demand will begin to rise.
“The phased reopening of businesses and restaurants will signal a return to the road for many Florida drivers,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices have plummeted 65 cents in the past 10 weeks. While the increased demand may not cause a pump price surge, it may signal the eventual end of the plunge at the pump.”
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $1.63, down three cents over the last week. Two Cantonment stations were considerably lower at $1.41 Sunday night
Florida gas prices statewide are now averaging $1.77 per gallon – the lowest in four years. The state average is two cents less than a week ago, 15 cents less than a month ago, and $1.02 per gallon less than this time last year.