Century Parks To Remain Closed, Mayor Says COVID-19 Is Coming Into Rural Areas; Flomaton Parks Now Open
May 5, 2020
Public parks in Century will remain closed to the public at the recommendation of the mayor as parks in nearby Flomaton reopened Tuesday with restrictions.
Century Parks
“The county has opened up their parks but watching the news this morning they stated that the COVID-19 is now coming into the rural areas. I recommend that we keep our parks closed until further notice,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said.
Escambia County parks never closed at any point in the COVID-19 pandemic, but the county did recommend that playgrounds and other hard touch surfaces not be used.
Hawkins did not elaborate on any details about the news report he watched about the virus coming into rural areas. The first COVID-19 case in the Century zip code was reported on April 1 and the second on April 22, according to the Florida Department of Health. No additional cases have been reported in Century.
Council member Luis Gomez asked for park closures be reconsidered at the next council meeting.
“I’ve been following the COVID pretty close and I’m quite sure everybody else is,” Gomez said. “Usually it takes 2-3 weeks for good accurate status of the virus because they just opened up the beaches and a lot of stuff in Florida and the Cordova Mall is opening today. We should have a pretty good eye on the direction this thing is going in 2-3 weeks.”
The council voted 5-0 to keep Century’s parks closed.
Flomaton Parks
Parks and creek access in the Town of Flomaton reopened Tuesday at 1 p.m. with a few restrictions.
Baseball and basketball courts and tennis courts remained closed. Playgrounds are also closed.
Walking trails, the town’s fishing lake, Flomaton Landing and the the Big Escambia Creek access under Highway 31 are all open.
Bathrooms will be open at Hurricane Park, Oaks Common Park, and Abernathy Park. Bathrooms will be sanitized three times per day during the week only. The pavilions at Oaks Common Park and the Flomaton Community Center will be open.
Batting cages are open with a limit of two participants per cage.
All parks and areas are subject to social distancing guidelines with a six foot distance required between non-family members and no groups larger than 10 people.
Pictured: The playground at Showalter Park in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Council Seeks Grant From LGBTQ Focused Non-Profit For ‘Harmony Park’
May 5, 2020
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to seek a grant from Sunday’s Child, a Pensacola LGBTQ-focused philanthropic non-profit, for a “Harmony Park” in Century.
A Harmony Park is an accessible park with outdoor percussion musical instruments that do not require electricity to use.
“…We believe that the Harmony Park would be a great asset for our community and our youth,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said in a letter to Sunday’s Child.
The town council voted Monday night to pour up to $1,500 in concrete, assist in unloading the equipment and ongoing maintenance of the park if they are awarded and accept the $25,000 park grant from Sunday’s Child. The council discussed seeking sponsors to cover the $1,500 if they are approved.
The exact location of the park has not been decided.
Sunday’s Child funds initiatives and projects that promote diversity of the LGBTQ community and inspire inclusion throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
NWF Water Management Reopens Recreation Sites Include The Pipes, Fillingim Landing
May 5, 2020
The Northwest Florida Water Management District has reopened most of its day-use recreation sites, including the The Pipes and Fillingim Landing along the Pedido River.
Both The Pipes and Fillingim Landing will have limited available parking, but paddle craft landings are open. Visitors to the day-use recreation sites must adhere to CDC guidelines on social distancing and group size.
All reservable camp sites at Northwest Florida Water Management District facilities remain closed.
For a complete list of site openings and closures, visit www.nwfwater.com/Lands/Recreation/Recreation-Site-Closures.
Pictured: The Pipes along the Perdido River off Old Bridge Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County (AL) Students Can Have Free Meal Boxes Delivered To Their Homes. Applications End Friday.
May 5, 2020
The USDA “Meals-to-You” program will deliver free meals to the homes of students enrolled in schools in Escambia County, Alabama.
Each child will receive a box containing 20 shelf stable meals – 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches – every two weeks while the child’s school is closed. The meals will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or FedEx.
The deadline to apply is Friday, May 8 at MealsToYou.org/emergency-meals-to-you-application/.
For more information, parents of Escambia County, Alabama, students can call Susanne Boutwell at (251) 368-1920.
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.