UWF Students Won’t Return For Two Weeks After Spring Break, Moving To Online Classes Due To Coronavirus
March 11, 2020
University of West Florida students won’t return to campus for at least two weeks after spring break conclude this week and will move to online-only classes on Monday due to coronavirus.
“The Florida State University System has mandated all universities transition to remote instruction, effective immediately. Face-to-face instruction is currently set to resume on March 30, 2020. If this date changes, the University will notify the campus community,” UWF said in an email to students Wednesday afternoon. There are no identified cases of COVID-19 at UWF.
Students are urged to remain off campus during the period that ends March 30, but housing and student dining services will remain open. Essential services such as counseling and the library will remain available.
UWF already had “courses shells” available for online delivery of all courses, and face-to-face remote instruction will begin March 16.
UWF is making the transition in response to a directive issued by the State University System of Florida and the Florida Board of Governors.
” Effective immediately, all universities will make plans to transition to remote instruction as soon as possible,” a press release from the Board said.
“All universities will continue to provide essential services, such as dining, counseling, health services, library services, etc., potentially on a limited basis or remotely. Each university with clinical and other non-classroom based programs will communicate directly with those students.”
Escambia County, Health Department Discuss Coronavirus Preparedness
March 11, 2020
Escambia County Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County held a joint meeting for community partners to discuss the coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center.
During his presentation, Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, addressed preparedness, containment and mitigation strategies for COVID-19. Lanza and Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore provided answers to questions from partner organizations.
The media was not invited to the “community partner” meeting; the county provided information for this story and photos to media outlets hours after the meeting concluded.
“We were pleased to see representatives from more than 30 community partner organizations at today’s meeting, and we know these representatives will help disseminate important coronavirus safety information throughout the community,” Gilmore said. “The number one priority is the safety of our community, and we are actively continuing to engage with community partners, media outlets and state and local health officials to ensure proper planning and preventive action is in place.”
Lanza reiterated FDOH’s best method of protection against the virus is to avoid being exposed to this virus, and that it is important for everyone to be play their part in protecting against the spread of influenza, coronavirus, or similar diseases:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Coronavirus Call Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (866) 779-6121 or you can email your questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
Pictured top and second below: Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County discusses coronavirus preparedness. Pictured first below; Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Drunk Driver Backs Into Deputy’s Patrol Vehicle, FHP Says
March 11, 2020
A 60-year old Escambia County man was charged with DUI Tuesday night after crashing into an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Ronald Franklin McGee backed his Ford Fusion into a marked ECSO Tahoe driven by Deputy Kody Haley in the parking lot of the La Casita restaurant and convenience store on Saufley Field Road a little after 6 p.m.
The deputy was outside of his vehicle and speaking to a witness in another incident at the time. The FHP said there were no injuries, and damage was minor.
McGee was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of driving under the influence with property damage.
Here’s How A Flomaton Moonshiner Did In A National TV Competition (Spoiler Alert)
March 11, 2020
“I’m an illegal distiller; I work in the backwoods.”
That’s how Flomaton resident Johnny Griffis described himself during Tuesday night’s episode of Moonshiners Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel.
He competed against two other distillers for bragging rights and a chance to have his moonshine bottled by the Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Griffis made it to the final competition of the show where he made his “old school corn liquor moonshine” using a recipe he got from a McDavid old timer some 13 years ago.
Spoiler Alert — Scroll down below the photo to see if Griffis won.
In the end, Griffis finished second in the competition.
To watch the episode, click here. (You must be a subscriber to a cable, satellite or streaming provider and have a package that includes the Discovery Channel.)
Pictured: Johnny Griffis of Flomaton on Moonshiners Master Distiller Tuesday night. Pictured first below: Griffis and his still somewhere near Flomaton. Images courtesy the Discovery Channel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Caught With Cocaine In Hand And Stolen PB&J Uncrustables In His Pants, ECSO Says
March 11, 2020
A Cantonment man was caught at a Walmart store with stolen peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables in his pants and cocaine in his hand, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
George Javier Diaz, 22, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and retail petit theft. His girlfriend Jessica Nicole Lynn Blackmon, 23, was charged with retail petit theft after the incident at Walmart on Mobile Highway.
They were caught on surveillance video stealing sunglasses, a necklace, t-shirt, shorts, and peanut and jelly Uncrustables with a total value of $44.67 while paying only 91 cents for the items, according to an arrest report.
When Diaz was detained, deputies told him multiple times to drop the items in his left hand, which included a Walmart receipt and yellow piece of paper that contained a white powdery substance later identified as cocaine, the report states. Deputies recovered the peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables from inside Diaz’s pants legs, along with a necklace in his right pocket. The stolen clothing items were removed from Blackmon’s person.
The ESCO also reported removing a spoon with cocaine residue, a bag unused syringes, one used syringe with blood in it, and a bag of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine from Diaz’s vehicle in the parking lot.
The stolen items were returned to Walmart.
Lose Cable And Internet In Molino Or Barrineau Park Tuesday? Here’s Why.
March 11, 2020
Lose internet and cable TV in the Molino or Barrineau Park area Tuesday? This is likely why.
About 2 p.m., a dump truck brought down a cable line in a construction zone at Highway 29 and Highway 196. Escambia Fire Rescue was called, but determined power lines were no involved and their was no danger.
Reader submitted photo by Vincent Alexander, click to enlarge.
Beauchain, Wolfenden Homer As Tate Lady Aggies Beat Navarre; Tate Baseball Over Crestview
March 11, 2020
SOFTBALL
Tate 9, Navarre 5
The Tate Lady Aggies beat the Navarre Raiders 9-5 Tuesday night.
Avery Beauchaine earned the win for the Aggies, going seven innings while allowing five runs on 11 hits and striking out eight.
Tate had two home runs on the night from Beauchaine and Cam Wolfenden, both in the third inning (pictured above).
At the plate, Hanna Halfacre led the Aggies, going 3-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Also for Tate: Courtney Lundquiest 1-4, R; Courtney Adams R; Beauchaine 2-5, R, 2RBI; Ryleigh Cawby 2-4, R, RBI: Wolfenden 1-4, R, 3 RBI; Lilly Locke 1-2, RBI; Taylor Noack 2-3, R.
BASEBALL
Tate 5, Crestview 1
The Tate Aggies beat Crestview 5-1 Tuesday night.
Darrien McDowell earn the win for Tate, giving up no runs on one hit and striking out seven in three innings. Jordan Jarman tossed four inning in relief with the last dozen outs to earn the save.
Trevor Norton and Jaydon Fryman had two hits each for Tate, while Adam Nisewonger and Cole Fryman had one hit apiece.
Tax Collector Office In Molino Will Be Closed Friday Afternoon
March 11, 2020
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office in Molino will be closed Friday afternoon.
The office in the Molino Community Complex will close at noon to gave personnel an opportunity to attend the funeral of a staff member who recently passed away.
All other Escambia County Tax Collector locations will be open regular hours on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Activates Price Gouging Hotline Amid Coronavirus Emergency. Just Like During Hurricanes.
March 10, 2020
The same price gouging laws we are accustomed to after a hurricane and now in effect in Florida due to the coronavirus.
After a declaration of a state of emergency in the state by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline.
The Attorney General’s Price Gouging Hotline can only be activated following a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and covers essential commodities like protective masks; sanitizing and disinfecting supplies such as hand sanitizer, gel, wipes, surface cleaners and commercial cleaning supplies; and other items.
“We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Florida very closely and following the Governor’s state of emergency declaration, our price gouging laws are now in effect. I have a rapid response team ready to immediately respond to allegations of price gouging and our Consumer Protection Division continues to look for scams by fraudsters who would use this situation to rip-off Floridians,” Moody said. “Be on the lookout for scams and guard against gouging, but remember, the best thing you can do right now is heed the advice of health experts—wash hands regularly and stay home if you are ill.”
Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period.
Gaetz Tests Negative After Exposure To Coronavirus, Still In Self-Quarantine
March 10, 2020
UPDATE: Tuesday afternoon U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz said he tested negative for the coronavirus but will remain in quarantine until Thursday afternoon.
“I’ve just been informed that my COVID-19 lab result was negative,” he said. “In an abundance of caution, I will remain under self-quarantine at the advice of medical professionals through Thursday at 2pm. I continue to feel fine and show no symptoms.”
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U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is in a voluntary 14-day self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone at the Conservative Political Action Conference that tested positive for coronavirus.
His staff posted on Twitter Monday afternoon that he came into contact with the person 11 days ago.
“Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House floor,” the Twitter post read. “While the Congressman is not experiencing symptoms, he received testing today and expects results soon. Under doctor’s usual precautionary recommendations, he’ll remain self-quarantined until the 14-day period expires this week.”
“Thank you for everyone’s well-wishes and concerns. Through the course of my congressional and political duties, I’ve interacted with many people over the last two weeks,” he posted on Twitter Tuesday night. “I should have the COVID-19 test results back tomorrow. Health officials maintain the risk to people I have been in contact with remains low.”
Last week, Gaetz wore a gasmask on the House floor before voting to approve $8.3 billion on a coronavirus response package, drawing criticism from several national media outlet for making light of the seriousness of the situation.
“Made light?!?! I was quite serious. The threat to Congress is real, as I explained based on travel and habits like selfies and handshakes,” Gaetz posted on Twitter after Washington Post story.
Gaetz’s office in Washington is closed for the week, but his office in Pensacola is still open.
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz tweeting this photo reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote.