Churches Go Virtual For Easter, Sunrise Services
April 11, 2020
One of the largest sunrise services each year in Escambia County is normally held at Blue Wahoos Stadium. This year, the public won’t be able to attend, but it will be streamed live on several platforms.
Marcus Pointe Baptist Church will present the Community SonRise Service from inside Blue Wahoos Stadium as a virtual experience. It will be available at 6 a.m. on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Roku, Apple TV, The Marcus Pointe App, and at PensacolaChurch.org/live. The service will also air on at Country 98.7, The Gulf Coast CW, Blab TV, and WHBR.
To see a list of numerous other Easter services, click here for our Facebook page.
Pictured above and below is the 2019 Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Community Sonrise Service at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Our View Update: Escambia County Decides To Release COVID-19 Situation Report
April 11, 2020
UPDATE: Escambia County announced Saturday afternoon that they will once again make their Emergency Operations Center Situation Report available.
NorthEscambia.com published an editorial Saturday morning (below) calling for access to the report.
Escambia County released the following statement Saturday afternoon:
In support of board direction from April 2 and extensive legal review, we will be providing the COVID-19 Escambia SitRep document in addition to the twice-daily Joint Information Center updates, State of Florida Situation Reports and daily Escambia County specimen collection totals.
“In keeping with Board’s direction on April 2, staff and legal counsel have reviewed the COVID-19 Escambia SitRep to ensure we have the opportunity to continue the mission of protecting the public without jeopardizing the confidentiality of any health related data that is protected by state and federal laws. We believe the information in this incident report will provide the community with more detailed updates during this extraordinary time.
said County Administrator Janice Gilley.
“This information is being released in furtherance of Escambia County’s official duties and responsibilities to serve the county’s citizens, businesses and agencies during a public health emergency. Information appearing in this document was compiled from multiple sources and community partners and thus Escambia County does not assure the accuracy of the reported information,” said Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers.
“It is not the intent of Emergency Management to withhold information. This has been an unprecedented event in which the county is not the lead agency, but serves as the resource manager during the incident. Emergency Management’s intent is to put out accurate information in a timely manner while making sure our community partners’ information does not violate any state or federal regulations. Emergency Management will continue to obtain up-to-date information and to communicate that to the citizens of Escambia County,” said Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore.
Below is the NorthEscambia.com editorial published Saturday morning:
Escambia County is now withholding the public release of a key report that summarizes the local response to COVID-19.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers determined that the situation report is exempt from public disclosure as a “threat assessment.” It’s a report called simply the “sitrep.”
While the county’s media relations department has not directly released the sitrep to the media or public, key county leaders have forwarded the report to media outlets including NorthEscambia.com. The report contains varied information from local agencies like ECAT changes, student meal totals from library and school feeding sites, COVID-19 testing sites, hospital information and law enforcement agency statuses.
Essentially, it’s a one-stop summary that was used by EOC partner agencies, county leadership including commissioners, the media and members of the public to monitor the county’s response. Many the report sections basically say “normal operations.” And while it might seem that law enforcement information could be sensitive, there was nothing that the Pensacola Police Department or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not already stated publicly like the number of quarantined officers.
There were no secrets in the sitrep.
How much of the sitrep did NorthEscambia.com publish? Directly, nothing at all. It served as a reminder for us to create and publish certain stories on our own. But more importantly, it was like a reassuringly good dad talk. “Son, we have a problem, here’s what is happening, nothing is suddenly worse, and what I know, you know. We’ll get through this together.”
Last week, Escambia County Commissioners agreed during a meeting that any information the county has should be released to the public and media.
Commissioner Jeff Bergosh posted a copy of the report on his blog this week and highlighted the percentage of ventilators available at local hospitals (which was actually a good number — about 80% unused). That data is a good bench mark of a worsening problem, which we do not currently have.
But suddenly the sitrep became a confidential document the public cannot see and commissioners cannot distribute under Florida statute 119.071(3) which seems to be geared more toward terroristic threats.
“For the SITREP to suddenly be deemed ‘unreleasable’ is wrong I believe,” Bergosh wrote Friday on his blog. “I want it released as it was being released before. The citizens, especially during these times of uncertainty and panic, deserve complete transparency. To suddenly say a document is ‘classified’ is wrong. This will sow angst, anger, mistrust, and fear needlessly.” The underlining and bold emphasis were his.
“The public records law is supposed to be interpreted liberally — leaning toward maximum transparency. In this instance, the county’s attorney is conservatively interpreting this law. Too conservatively in my opinion. It is wrong, so far as I am concerned,” he continued. “Threat Assessment??!!?? Really? This virus is a common enemy to all (even our real enemies overseas)–It’s not as if we are at war and the enemy is studying our hospital capacity information! We’re all fighting this together—-and information is critical in this fight. And the citizens deserve this information!”
Bergosh is asking for a virtual special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners to decide that the sitrep is available to the public. The sitrep release is an option seemingly available under that the same Florida statute under which it was deemed unreleasable.
It will be up to BOCC chairman Steven Barry to determine if a special meeting will be called.
“Regarding Commissioner Bergosh’s request for a special meeting on his blog today, I believe it’s the chairperson’s responsibility to attempt to accommodate reasonable requests from their colleagues.,” Barry said in a text message to NorthEscambia.com “However, I am certainly not going to ask the board to convene in person for any type of meeting while the Governor’s orders are still active. I have spoken with Attorney Rogers and Administrator Gilley today, and I know they are actively working with Emergency Director Eric Gilmore to address concerns related to the release of different types of information and data. I am optimistic that they will be able to arrive at a course of action that balances the release of information that meets the needs of our board, our media partners, and most importantly, our citizens and constituents, with the privacy issues related to medically protected information and the public safety issues related to the integrity of threat assessment reports. I believe it is only prudent to give the new course of action some time to see how it’s going. In closing, I am open minded to Commissioner Bergosh’s request to schedule what would be a virtual, or electronic meeting, but will consider it more next week.”
Barry made it clear that he does support the release of information.
“I absolutely support the release of any information that does not violate any person’s medical privacy or sensitive law enforcement or operational planning information,” he said.
NorthEscambia.com is joining the call made by other local media, including the Pensacola News Journal and Rick’s Blog, to release the situation report as soon as it is created. There was been nothing in previous editions of the report that needed to be hidden from public view, and we pray our situation improves and nothing in the report gets any worse. But Escambia County citizens are all-in during this pandemic situation, and we should know what our situation is. There’s nothing to hide.
Editor’s note: This story has been update to reflect the sitrep was not always issued every single day, but rather several days per week.
Escambia County, City Of Pensacola Receive $1.3 Million For COVID-19 Response
April 11, 2020
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola will receive over $1.3 million on Community Development Block Grant funding for COVID-19 response.
Escambia County will receive $872,881, and the City of Pensacola will receive $452,160.
These funds will be used to address a wide variety of public health and public service activities to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. CDBG funds must be utilized for activities that target low and moderate-income households.
Both local governments are awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the availability date of funding and detailed guidance from HUD as to activities that will be eligible for this funding. Community input will be solicited on how the funds can be utilized to help facilitate COVID-19 response in Escambia County and the City of Pensacola.
Meet Escambia County Deputy Thermadore, Keeping Watch Over ECSO Employee Temperatures
April 11, 2020
Meet the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Deputy Thermadore”.
Deputy Thermadore checks the temperatures of deputies and employees as they enter the ECSO building. Everyone has their temperature checked.
“It’s an extra precaution the ECSO is taking to make sure we are safe and healthy to work with our citizens when they need us,” the department said.
The Fotric 226B “offers a very efficient and streamlined solution for detection of elevated or abnormal body temperature. It is designed to simplify the task of temperature monitoring and identifying subjects displaying abnormal readings.It can be used to screen large groups of people simultaneously. Through its powerful AI face detection module, the 226B is able to automatically detect and screen individuals as they pass through its field of view. With a detection range of 2.6 to 10.5 feet, personnel are able to obtain accurate readings while adhering to social distancing requirements. The 226B can be placed at the head of a queue and will alert personnel when its temperature alarm has been triggered.”
Deputy Thermadore is pretty smart…”if the subject is holding a cup of hot coffee, the system will lock onto facial features and ignore the unrelated heat source. It will also adapt to changes in ambient temperature.”
Flomaton Police Check On Seniors, Surprising One Resident On Her Birthday
April 11, 2020
The Flomaton Police Department has had a “How Are Ya!” program for a few months — officers check on senior citizens just to make sure they OK.
The first resident to sign up for the free wellness check program was Sophronia Quinley, and Chief Chance Thompson paid her special visit with a birthday cake.
Mrs. Quinley told the chief that she was celebrating her 24th birthday.
The program is continuing during COVID-19 social distancing. To sign-up a senior in the Town of Flomaton, call Flomaton Police at (251) 296-5811.
Escambia (AL) Hospitals Report Seven Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 232 Administered Tests
April 10, 2020
Seven people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the two hospitals in Escambia County, Alabama, according to a bi-weekly report from the Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority.
They have administered a total of 232 tests, making the positive rate 3%, considerably less than the Alabama statewide positive rate of 14%.
Data released Friday shows there have been 151 total specimens collected at Atmore Community Hospital with four positives, 128 negatives and 13 awaiting results. At D.W. McMillan Hospital, there have been 81 total tests with one positive, 74 negatives and six pending results.
The Alabama Department of Public Health was reporting five confirmed COVID-19 cases and 136 total tests in Escambia County, Alabama, as of midday Friday. 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.
Family Says Goodbye To Young Hit And Run Victim, Grieves With Community; Suspect Booked Into Jail
April 10, 2020
A community received some heartbreaking news Thursday night as they held a candlelight prayer vigil for two juveniles critically injured in a hit and run earlier in the week.
Monday night, Ransom Middle School students 12-year old Hailey Locke and 13-year Rylee Simmons were walking west on Quintette Road approaching Carrington Lake Boulevard when they were struck by a Ford Escape driven by 58-year old Robert William Etheridge of Cantonment, according to the FHP.
Thursday night, Rylee’s parents told about 120 neighbors gathered outside their home that he will not survive; they have said their goodbyes and signed the paperwork to donate his organs.
And the community grieved together.
Rylee’s parents wanted NorthEscambia.com readers to know that “to know him was to love him and he was the kindest most soft hearted child who will be greatly missed”.
Hailey remains in the hospital, but she is improving with hopes of coming home this weekend.
About an hour before the candlelight vigil, Etheridge was booked in the Escambia County Jail for felony hit and run failing to stop or remain at a crash involving injury. He was released on a $30,000 bond.
The FHP said Etheridge immediately fled the scene of the crash and later contacted them to say he may have hit a deer in the area.
COVID-19 Cases Soar To 36 At Blackwater Prison; Still One Case At Century Prison
April 10, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases reported at a Milton prison soared to three dozen on Thursday, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
There are now 30 positive inmates and six infected employees or staff members at the Blackwater Correctional Facility. Blackwater is privately operated by the Geo Group, Inc. under a contract with the state and has a capacity of 2,000 inmates.
Just over a week ago, the count was three workers and no inmates.
A staffer at the Century Correctional Institution has also tested positive for coronavirus. No CCI inmates were positive as of Thursday’s report.
There are a total of 42 employees and contact staff positive at Florida Department of Corrections facilities, including Blackwater’s 36. Outside Blackwater in Milton, the other positive inmate in the state is at Sumter Correctional Institution west of Orlando.
Seven First Responders Cleared, Off Quarantine After Contact With Suspected COVID-19 Patient In Walnut Hill
April 10, 2020
Seven Escambia County first responders that were quarantined after responding to a medical call in Walnut Hill early Tuesday morning have now been cleared to return to duty.
Five volunteer members of the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and two Escambia County EMS crew members were self-quarantined at their respectives homes as they awaited COVID-19 test results for the patient.
Late Thursday afternoon, county fire officials learned the individual tested negative, according to Laura Coale, Escambia County spokesperson.
NorthEscambia.com has learned the patient was pronounced deceased shortly after the original medical call; a cause of death has not been released.
Coale said two other EMS employees were quarantined for non-work related reasons that were unrelated to the Walnut Hill call. There have been no positive cases of COVID-19 in any Escambia County EMS or Fire Rescue employee or volunteer, she said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Takes Mentoring Program Virtual
April 10, 2020
Due to COVID-19 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has gone virtual. It’s a big change for on organization based around one-to-one mentoring for children ages 5-18.
“In everything we do at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, we must put the health, safety, and well-being of our Bigs, Littles, board, partners, and employees first,” said CEO and President Paula Shell. “During this stressful time, full of anxiety, fear, and worry our children need a mentor now more than ever. We are still conducting business, it is just a little different. But the staff is here to help you throughout all of the difficulties and challenges you may face.”
The staff will be conducting all volunteer and child interviews online and will be matching new Bigs and Littles virtually. Like many, BBBSNWFL is adjusting to a new normal and relying on technology to continue to serve their communities. Throughout this transition, BBBSNWFL encourages Bigs and Littles to stay connected virtually. For example, Facetime, call, or text with Littles, play words with friends, choose a book to both read together virtually, write each other letters. They said now is the time to think outside of the box because children need a mentor more than ever.
Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida served 646 children in Northwest Florida.
Pictured: Big and Little Bekah and Bella in a video chat.