Escambia County Votes To Reopen Beaches Beginning Friday
April 28, 2020
The Escambia County Commission voted Tuesday to reopen the public beaches in the county.
Beginning Friday, beaches will be open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset each day. The area around the pier is closed and pavilions will remain closed. Social distancing rules — currently no more than 10 people in a group at least six feet apart — will apply to those outside a person’s immediate household. There are no restrictions on the activities that are allowed.
Escambia County will also ask the federal government to reopen the Gulf Island National Seashore, which for now, remains closed.
The commission closed the public beaches and Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key back on March 21 in a effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Nearly 750 submitted public comment prior to the meeting. There were 508 comments supporting the beach opening, with 228 of those in favor of some restrictions. There were 235 comments against a beach opening. The CEOs of the large hospitals in Pensacola supported the beach reopening in a letter to commissioners.
The restrictions will be enforced by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, plus the county’s lifeguards, code enforcement, animal control, parks and public works departments.
Alabama Reopening Much Of The Economy Like Stores And Beaches; Other Businesses Still Closed
April 28, 2020
Alabama will begin reopening on Friday with restrictions as a stay-at-home order expires and is replaced with a safer-at-home order.
Retail stores will be able to reopen with occupancy limited to 50 percent of the fire marshal’s occupancy load, subject to sanitation and social distancing rules.
Elective medical procedures will restart.
All beaches will open to gatherings of fewer than 10 persons, and anyone using the beaches must maintain a consistent six-foot distance between himself or herself and all persons from a different household. For purposes of this section, the term “beach” means the sandy shoreline area abutting the Gulf of Mexico, whether privately or publicly owned, including beach access points.
Restaurants, bars and breweries remain limited to take-out, curbside or delivery. Churches remain closed but are encouraged to have online or drive-up services. Non-work related gatherings of 10 people or more are prohibited. Drive-in gatherings are permitted if people stay in their cars with members of their own household. Senior citizen centers remain closed except meal delivery or pickup. Schools remain closed. Childcare facilities are limited to 12 or less per room.
Higher-risk businesses and activities. The following will remain closed:
Entertainment venues as follows:
Night clubs
Bowling alleys
Arcades
Concert venues
Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers
Tourist attractions (including museums and planetariums)
Racetracks
Indoor children’s play areas
Adult entertainment venues
Casinos
Bingo halls
Venues operated by social clubs
Athletic facilities and activities as follows:
Fitness centers and commercial gyms
Spas
Yoga, barre, and spin facilities
Sports that involve interaction with another person of closer than 6 feet
Activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
Activities on commercial or public playground equipment
Close-contact service providers as follows:
Barber shops
Hair salons (other than hair restoration centers)
Waxing salons
Threading salons
Nail salons and spas
Body art facilities and tattoo services
Massage therapy establishments and services (other than for medically prescribed services
Over 300 Tested For COVID-19 At Cantonment Park Drive-Thru Site
April 28, 2020
Over 300 people were tested for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site in Cantonment Monday.
Community Health Northwest Florida tested a total of 306 people during the four hour event, according to Ann Papadelias, chief community engagement officer for Community Health Northwest Flordia.
“It was an incredible turnout,” she said of the testing at Carver Park, which did not require a pre-screening phone call. It was open to any resident of Cantonment and surrounding areas at no cost.
Additional people that could not be tested during the allotted timeframe Monday due to the high turnout were referred to Community’s Health’s existing location in Cantonment for testing on Tuesday.
“First, I want to thank the Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) or reaching out to me last week to advocate for a walk up testing site in Carver Park,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said Monday. “Additionally , I want to thank Chandra Smiley and Community Health Northwest Florida for being so receptive to the idea and for meeting members of the CIC at the park to walk through the logistics of the event within only a few hours. Today’s testing was a huge success for our community and absolutely would not have happened without both those fantastic partners.”
Community Health also offers drive-thru testing at Cantonment Pediatrics at 470 South Highway 29 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pre-screening is required for the Cantonment Pediatrics location by calling (850) 746-2684.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Southern Oaks Has The Most COVID-19 Nursing Home Residents In The State. Here Are The Numbers For All Escambia Long-Term Facilties.
April 28, 2020
One Escambia County nursing home has the most COVID-19 positive patients of any long-term care facility in the entire state, according to the Florida Department of Health. In fact, they have nearly twice as many infected residents as any other in Florida.
Southern Oaks Care Center has 87 COVID-19 infected residents, plus five positive patients that were transferred out for treatment, and 15 staff members that have tested positive, the FDOH said. The next closest number in Florida is North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with 45 residents.
According to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Southern Oaks is licensed for a total capacity of 210 residents.
The next highest number of long-term care cases in Escambia County is dramatically lower at Rosewood Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center with six positive resident cases, two residents who have transferred out, and one staff member testing positive.
Eight nursing home patients in Escambia County have died, but the FDOH has not identified where they were residents.
Pictured: Southern Oaks Care Center on West Gregory Street. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Rips Through Large Detached Garage In Cottage Hill
April 28, 2020
Fire ripped through a large detached garage in Cottage Hill Monday night.
The fire was reported about 8 p.m. in on Williams Ditch Road just east of Handy Road. The large two-car garage was destroyed by the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported.
Pictured: Photos show the progression of the fire from before firefighters started fighting the blaze (above) to the expansion of the fire (below). NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Food Trucks Now Serving In Beulah. Here’s The Schedule For The Rest Of The Week.
April 28, 2020
Beulah area residents have new restaurant takeout choices.
Monday was the first day Escambia County starting allowing a limited number of food trucks to serve from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Escambia County Equestrian Center at 7550 Mobile Highway.
The Wacked Out Weiner, Sno’s Shaved Ice and Chick-fil-A took part on Monday.
Here’s the tentative schedule for the remainder of the week:
WEDNESDAY
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Po Boy Shack
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Joe’s Caribbean
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Arlene Williams BBQ and Grill
- 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Dr Sno’s Shaved Ice
THURSDAY
- 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Whacked Out Weiner
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 3-D Eats
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Joe’s Caribbean
- 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sneaky Tiki Shaved Ice
- 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Jordan Valley Mediterranean
FRIDAY
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Dr Sno’s Shaved Ice
- 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Fresh Food Factory
- 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Wacked Out Weiner
- 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Arlene Williams BBQ and Grill
- 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Rolling Embers Pizza
SATURDAY
- 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fantastic Foods Sweets Snacks & More
- 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Dr Sno’s Shaved Ice
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Beck’s Jamaican Kitchen
- 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Arlene Williams BBQ and Grill
The parking lot is a large grassy area and provides ample room for residents to adhere to all CDC social distancing protocols, according to the county. Trucks will be spaced out in the lot and patrons will be asked to stay six feet apart and limit gathering to groups smaller than 10.
To participate as a food truck vendor, call (850) 941-6042 for a vendor application. All Equestrian Center vendor fees will be waived.
Pictured: Food trucks at the Escambia County Equestrian Center Monday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Night Hunting, Other Violations
April 28, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending March 19 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer McHenry was conducting fishery inspections at the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier when he noticed an individual in a boat pull in a gag grouper from a stringer. The operator of the boat started to leave the area, but then turned toward shore. The operator beached the boat and Officer McHenry walked down to check the fisherman. When Officer McHenry arrived, the subject was cleaning the fish. Officer McHenry advised the subject that gag grouper season was currently closed and issued the appropriate citation for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Wilkenson and Roberson responded to a night hunting complaint about an individual on an ATV with a loaded rifle. The subject trespassed onto a hunt club property nearby. K-9 Officer Hutchinson arrived to assist, and the subject was located. The subject admitted to hunting on the property at night with a gun using his ATV lights. He was cited accordingly.
K-9 Officer Hutchinson was patrolling a road adjacent to the Blackwater State Forest when he observed a bright light being shined into the tree line after sunset. The light was being shined from a subject who was riding a bicycle and holding a hunting rifle. Officer Hutchinson conducted a stop on the bicycle and the subject admitted to shining the light to look for wildlife. Officer Hutchinson seized the rifle and the subject was cited accordingly.
Officer Roberson was on patrol when he observed four individuals fishing next to a bridge. Officer Roberson contacted the fishermen and found they had multiple bass, bream, and an undersized redfish in a bucket. Upon further inspection two of the individuals caught all the fish using a cast net. One of the individuals was cited for undersized redfish, and the other was cited for using an illegal method to catch freshwater gamefish.
Officer Mullins observed a vehicle shine a light from the roadway into Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The officer stopped the subjects for a resource inspection, and they admitted to shining for deer and had a shotgun in the front of the truck between them. The shotgun, ammunition, and light were seized as evidence. The subjects were each issued a misdemeanor notice to appear.
Officers in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties focused efforts on illegal night hunting activity. Officer Mullins stopped a vehicle actively shining a light. The subject had fresh blood on his pants, and upon further investigation deer hair and blood was found in the vehicle. Officers Roberson, Brown, Hutchinson, and K-9 Zara assisted in the investigation that identified multiple suspects. The investigation revealed approximately 10 deer were taken illegally, with most deer being shot at night from a roadway. Multiple sets of deer parts and firearms were seized. Charges were filed with the state attorney’s office for multiple wildlife violations.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia County (AL) COVID-19 Cases Increase To 27
April 28, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL) increased has increased by five since Friday.
There are now 27 positive cases with on recorded death. There have been 343 total COVID-19 tests administered in the county.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 6,644 total positive cases in the state out of 75,138 tests. There have been 242 deaths and 903 hospitalizations reported statewide.
Jay Man Charged With Sexual Battery Of 8-Year Old Girl
April 28, 2020
A Jay man has been charged with allegedly molesting an 8-year old girl.
Michael George Rasmussen, age 42 of Cobbtown Road, was charged with sexual battery by a suspect over 18 on a victim under 12, a capital felony.
During a sleepover in January, the victim revealed that she had been inappropriately touched by Rasmussen around Easter 2018 when he thought she was sleeping after a trip to the beach, according to an arrest report. She later told a Santa Rosa Kids House investigator that she did not tell her mom because she was scared but eventually told a friend during the sleepover.
A Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy wrote in his report that he set numerous appointments to interview Rasmussen about the allegations, but he refused to appear.
The redacted arrest report does not reveal the relationship between the girl and Rasmussen.
Rasmussen remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at a half million dollars. If convicted as charged, he faces life in prison.
Suspect Taken Into Custody After Shots Fired Incident In Bratt
April 27, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Officer responded to a shots fired disturbance in the 3400 block of West Highway 4 in Bratt about 7:20 Sunday night.
The caller told the ECSO that shots had been fired at their residence by a relative. He was later located at a home on West Highway 4 near C.W. Carraway Road, about a mile east of Northview High School.
The individual was taken into custody without incident under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows someone to be transported to a mental health facility.
There were no injuries, and deputies did not find any damage to the house that was reportedly fired at earlier in the evening.