Rumor Control: Alabama Troopers Aren’t Shutting Down The State’s Borders
April 9, 2020
Alabama State Troopers have no plans to shut down the state’s borders, according to a statement released Wednesday evening.
“These are rumors,” said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor. “ALEA State Troopers continue to patrol roadways daily, to promote public safety and to enforce the law. There are no plans to shut down our state borders.”
ALEA said they are receiving a high volume of inquiries from motorists concerning enforcement along Alabama’s roadways since Gov. Kay Ivey announced a stay-at-home order last week in response to COVID-19.
Nearly Two-Thirds Of Those Tested For COVID-19 In Escambia County Have Their Results
April 9, 2020
Nearly two-thirds of those tested for COVID-19 in Escambia County have received their results.
The latest data Wednesday night shows that 4,786 tests have been performed in Escambia County by Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist Hospital, West Florida Hospital and Community Health Northwest Florida. Of those tests, 3,699 were conducted in drive-thrus and 1,087 were conducted in hospitals’ inpatient, outpatient and emergency facilities.
There were 2,873 negative test results received, and 165 positives. That puts Escambia County positive rate at 5.4%; statewide the positive rate was 11%.
The Florida Department of Health lags behind in reporting testing numbers. The FDOH only showed 2,544 tests conducted in Escambia County Wednesday night with 2,544 negatives.
As of Wednesday night, there have been 16 hospitalizations and three deaths in Escambia County.
Back To School And Disaster Sales Tax Holidays To Return In 2020
April 9, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a tax cut bill allowing for a back to school and a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday for 2020.
It’s estimated that the sales tax holiday will cost the state about $37 million in revenue and local governments will take an $11 million cut.
The disaster preparedness holiday will be May 29 to June 4 with items such as flashlights under $20, portable radios under $50, tarps under $50, ground anchor systems or tie-down kits under $50, gas or diesel containers under $25, batteries under $30, coolers under $30, generators under $750 and reusable ice packs under $10.
The schools sales holiday August 7-9 includes clothing and shoes under $60 per item; backpacks, handbags and wallets, under $60 per item; school supplies priced $15 or less per item and computers and accessories under $1,000.
“These programs are needed now more than ever,” said Scott Shalley, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. “Not only do these important tax-free holidays provide relief to consumers buying necessities, but they will inject a shot of adrenaline into Florida’s retail businesses after suffering through the COVID-19 pandemic and forced closures. Thank you to the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis for delivering this tax relief.”
DeSantis Signs Bill Legalizing Fireworks On Three Holidays
April 9, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill that legalizes fireworks in Florida on three holidays every year.
The full use of fireworks in Florida is now legal on Independence Day on July 4, New Year’s Eve on December 31 and New Year’s Day on January 1.
Sparklers, noisemakers and the like are legal all year. On the three holidays, people will be able to shoot real fireworks — the kind that explode or shoot in to the sky.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Florida Launches New Mobile Friendly Unemployment Claims Site
April 9, 2020
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has rolled out a new mobile friendly online application site in an effort to solve problems that have plagued the agency after a surge in COVID-19 related claims.
“The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is committed to ensuring Floridians are able to receive the benefits owed to them during this global pandemic,” said Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “The team is working around the clock to make the process for applying for Reemployment Assistance as easy as possible for Floridians.”
Floridians who do not have a current open claim should complete their application online at www.FloridaJobs.org/RAApplication.
To utilize the user-friendly online application or to download the paper application, Floridians should visit www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. If a person chooses to file a paper application, they should mail their application to DEO, and a representative will call when their application is processed.
Paper applications can be mailed to:
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
P.O. Box 5350
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350
CareerSource locations across the state are available to assist with completing and submitting an online application. They are also available to provide paper applications.
Widespread Spectrum Internet Outage Reported (Updated)
April 8, 2020
UPDATE: Many readers reported their internet service returned between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com has received reports of a widespread Spectrum internet outage.
Readers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and Escambia and Baldwin County in Alabama are reporting they lost internet service mid-morning.
The problem is “damage to a network partner’s fiber-optic cable impacted Spectrum services for some customers in the Panhandle. We are working with them to restore services as quickly as possible and we’re sorry for any inconvenience this caused our customers,” Spectrum Senior Director of Regional Communications South Patti Michel told NorthEscambia.com.
The outage impacted both business and residential customers, including numerous teachers and students taking part in virtual school instruction.
Cantonment Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site Adds Third Day To Weekly Schedule
April 8, 2020
The Cantonment drive-through testing site will now be operational Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Cantonment is adding Mondays as a third operational day each week.
The Community Health Northwest Florida site will now be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cantonment Pediatrics at 470 South Highway 29. It is operated as a partnership between Community Health Northwest Florida, Ascension Sacred Heart and Escambia County.
COVID-19 testing is open to everyone in the community who meets the pre-screening criteria, both children and adults. Testing is provided at no cost to patients. For those persons with health insurance, it will cover the full cost of screening. For those with no health insurance, there is no charge for this test. Once the testing is completed, patients will be instructed to go home and self-isolate, or keep away from other people (even family members) until results of the COVID-19 test are known.
All patients are required to be prescreened before arriving at the drive-thru testing center in Cantonment or other Sacred Heart locations by calling the Ascension Sacred Heart COVID-19 Pre-Screening Call Center at (850) 746-2684. Those who have not been prescreened over the phone will not be provided access to the drive-through test center. Ascension Sacred Heart’s Pre-Screening Call Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Cantonment drive-thru testing center is located at the north end of the old Winn Dixie shopping center that houses the pediatric practice. Suspected COVID-19 patients should remain in their vehicle and not enter the pediatric practice.
There were 21 previously confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cantonment as of Tuesday night.
Escambia Students Were Scheduled To Have Friday Off From Virtual School. Not Anymore.
April 8, 2020
Escambia County students were scheduled to have a day off on Friday, but now it will be a day in virtual class.
Escambia Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said that due to a district calendar change for this Friday, April 10, all instructors and students will continue classwork assigned in accordance with the district’s Instructional Continuity Plan.
Before the unexpected change in normal school operations due to the COVID-19 virus, April 10 was listed on the district’s calendar as a non-student day. This was to allow for a day of meetings and professional development for all ECSD instructional staff. Following the Safer at Home Order by Gov. Ron DeSantis, student instruction will continue to be delivered online. Questions about specific assignments should be directed to students’ instructors.
Superintendent Thomas stated, “As we navigate this disruption to work and school schedules, flexibility and cooperation will be fundamental to student progress. Patience will be greatly appreciated while we strive to maintain continuous student engagement in their learning.”
Hours of operation for the Escambia County School District will continue to be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through May 1. Employees will follow their work schedule as already defined by their immediate supervisor.
Century To Pay $10K to Settle Bad Debt Lawsuit
April 8, 2020
The Town of Century will pay up $10,000 to settle a bad debt lawsuit against them by a Georgia consulting company.
In 2008, City Services, Inc. (CSI) entered into a contract with the town to provide consulting, maintenance and repair services to the town’s natural gas system. The town contracted with the company for an annual natural gas leak survey, pipeline evaluations, testing, rate reviews and other services. Without a timely termination notice, the agreement renewed annually.
According to a City Services bill dated January 8, 2020, the town fell behind on their $1,200 per month bill in October 2018 and last made a payment in December 2018. The bill has continued accrue and with finance charges and stood at $19,287.19 when City Services filed suit.
Monday night, the town council agreed to pay $10,000 to settle the case at the recommendation of town attorney Matt Dannheisser.
“Our case was not very good,” Interim City Manager Vernon Prather said. He told the council that funds were available to pay the settlement and “we will find it in the budget”, but he did not specify where exactly the town would get the money.
Escambia (AL) Hospitals Report Five Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 199 Administered Tests
April 8, 2020
Five people tested at the two hospitals in Escambia County, Alabama, are confirmed positive for COVID-19, according to the Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority, which oversees Atmore Community Hospital and D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
They have administered a total of 199 tests, making the positive rate 2.5%, considerably less than the Alabama statewide positive rate of 14.7%.
Data released Tuesday evening shows there have been 126 total specimens collected at Atmore Community Hospital with four positives, 97 negatives and 24 awaiting results.
At D.W. McMillan Hospital, there have been 73 total tests with one positive, 61 negatives and 11 pending results.
The Alabama Department of Public Health was reporting three confirmed COVID-19 cases and 84 total tests in Escambia County as of Tuesday night. The difference between the health department’s total and the hospitals’ totals can be attributed to timing of the data releases. Also, the health department will officially record a case in the patient’s county of residence.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.