Youth Ball: Molino, NEP To Resume; NWE, Century Won’t Due To COVID-19
May 6, 2020
The Molino and NEP ballparks are working toward continuing their spring seasons, while Northwest Escambia and Century have decided not to finish their seasons due to COVID-19.
The Escambia County Commission affirmed last that youth sports leagues can move forward with practice and play in ballparks owned by the county with restrictions, as long as it does not conflict with any state order.
Youth leagues that use county parks are allowed to practice now and play first games as early as May 15.
Youth sports at each county ballpark are managed by independent organizations that will make the decision if they want to play and how they will accomplish required social distancing requirements. Bleachers may be marked off for social distancing, or may be removed altogether. The commission made it very clear that a parent chooses for their child not to participate, they are entitled to at least a partial refund. Some parks may offer parents the option of rolling fees forward to next year.
Molino Ballpark
Molino Ballpark plans to restart their spring season soon, with a focus on the safety and health of players and fans. As of now, team practices are set to begin on May 18, with the first games on June 1. The season will continue until June 26.
The league will release more information soon.
Northwest Escambia
The Northwest Escambia board of directors has decided not to continue the 2020 ball season.
“The board met and discussed the pros and cons of resuming the season and ultimately it was in the best interest of all players, coaches, and community members involved to not resume the season,” the league said.
NWE is working on a procedure for player credits for the next ball season.
NEP Ballpark
NEP Ballpark is working on plans to continue their spring season. Tentative plans have practices starting the week of May 18 with games from the first week of June through mid-July. The ballpark remains closed until May 18.
Century Little League
Century Little League will not resume the spring ball season.
“We are sorry for all the inconveniences this season has brought due to Covid-19 but we feel this is the best and safest decision for all of our players, coaches, and parents,” the league said.
Century Little League, which plays at the Town of Century’s Showalter park and not in a county park, is working on a decision about player credits toward the next season and the possibility of reusing the same uniforms as a cost cutting measure.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County School District Registration Open For Next School Year
May 6, 2020
The Escambia County School District is encouraging parents who have children new to the school district to register their students now for the upcoming 2020-21 school year.
For children in Pre-K through 12th grade, parents are encouraged to register their children online at: http://ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/focus/enrollment. Also, beginning Wednesday, May 6 parents needing assistance with the new student registration process can go to their nearest school or the Office of School Choice, located at the J.E. Hall Center, 30 E. Texar Drive between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
At the time of registration, parents need to provide proof of residence and evidence of the age of the child (birth certificate, report card, etc.). A current physical (within the past year) and immunization record will be needed prior to the start of the school year. Incoming kindergarten students must be five years old on or before September 1.
In addition to the district’s online application, families living within a Title 1 school zone wishing to register their child for VPK must complete an additional online application at tinyurl.com/vpk2020. This online application will be open, starting on Wednesday, May 6 at 8:00 a.m. More information can be found at Title1.org or families can call the Pre-K office at (850) 595-6915 ext. 224.
Holman Inmates In Atmore Producing Face Masks For Alabama Prison System
May 6, 2020
Prison inmates at Holman Correction Facility in Atmore have been hard at work to produce protective face masks to protect inmates and staff across the state from COVID-19.
Operations at the Alabama Department of Corrections’ (ADOC) factory plant at Holman were modified March 27 to accommodate the production of Alabama Department of Public Health approved face masks.
On average, inmates employed at the Holman factory plant produce between 1,100 – 1,400 face masks per day. As of May 1, a total of 23,167 masks produced at Holman and 59,596 masks produced at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women (for a combined total of 82,763 masks) had been packaged and distributed across the correctional system for use by Alabama prison inmates and staff. Masks are shipped out to ADOC facilities the day after they are produced.
All inmates and staff have received two masks each to date, and 10 of ADOC facilities have received a second shipment in order to provide each inmate with a total of four masks.
“Our end-goal is to produce enough masks for every inmate remanded to our custody to have four total masks available for use/reuse,” said Samantha Rose, public information specialist for the ADOC.
She said it’s hard to know just how much money the state is saving with inmate labor.
“It is difficult to accurately project total cost savings on a per-unit basis as market costs vary widely – particularly due to supply chain disruptions and price increases caused by COVID-19,” Rose said.
Pictured: Inmate inside Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore produce face masks for the state prison system. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County (AL) COVID-19 Patient Count Update; Local Hospitals Release Testing Data
May 5, 2020
The Alabama Department of Health has adjusted the number of COVID-19 positive patients in Escambia County, Alabama.
Tuesday morning, the ADH reported 32 cases but adjusted that number downward by one later in the day. There are now 31 positive cases with two deaths in the county. There have been 603 tests administered in the county, according to the Alabama Department of Health.
The Escambia County Healthcare Authority reports 24 positive tests at Atmore Community Hospital with 298 tests administered, 254 negatives and 19 pending. D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton had recorded four positive results out of 171 tests given with 161 negatives and six pending results.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 8,120 total positive cases in the state out of 105,083 tests. There have been 310 deaths and 1,083 hospitalizations reported statewide.
Cantonment Man Charged With Child Cruelty, Burglary With Assault, Battery On Officer
May 5, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing a list of charges after allegedly breaking into a woman’s home, injuring a child and threatening to kill a woman before picking up an Escambia County deputy, throwing him to the ground and hitting him.
Jacob Ryan Foust, 39, is charged with burglary with assault and battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, child cruelty, child neglect, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and property damage.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary in progress call at a location redacted from his arrest report. The victim told deputies after she returned home Foust walked into her home carrying a log and threatened to kill her. He also allegedly broke the rear-view mirror off her vehicle.
When deputies arrived, Foust had been allegedly rambling about guns and ammunition while heavily intoxicated. He picked up a deputy and threw him on the ground and hit the deputy in the face before he was tased, according to the arrest report.
After he was taken into custody, a witness said children were located next to the roadway on Highway 29.
Deputies found the children by the road. They said Foust sent them there to look for Jessica Marie Carroll, according to an arrest report. One said they had been left alone for about 20 minutes. Carroll, age 32 of Cantonment, was charged with child negligence in connection with the incident.
During the investigation, deputies located a leafy substance that field tested positive for spice along with a metal grinder. One of the children told deputies, “that’s my dad’s weed” and attempted to grab the bag of spice, the report states.
Foust remained in the Escambia County jail with bond set at $16,500.
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.