Pensacola State College, Pensacola Christian College Announce COVID-19 Plans
March 14, 2020
Pensacola State College and Pensacola Christian College are suspending classes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College is on spring break through March 22. Classes are suspended from March 23 through 29.
During the time that classes are suspended, the College Administration will monitor conditions to determine what further actions are needed after March 29.
All full-time employees will report to work the week of March 23. Kelly Services staff and work-study students will be permitted to return to work the week of March 23, as well. Any employee with special circumstances that will prevent them from returning to work should contact their supervisor as soon as possible.
All College events have been postponed through the end of April, for example, the Lumberjack Festival that was scheduled for March 28
Pensacola Christian College
Pensacola Christian College classes will be offered online only beginning March 23 for the remainder of the semester. Classes are canceled until March 23 to allow students to travel home and faculty to transition to online instructional delivery.
While most students will go home to complete coursework remotely, students whose home may be overseas or in an unhealthy area greatly impacted by COVID-19 will be permitted to live on campus while studying online. To protect the remaining campus community, PCC will limit group gatherings until further notice.
Schools In Florida Closed For Two Weeks Due To Coronavirus; Alabama Schools Closing Next Week
March 14, 2020
The Florida Department of Education has ordered schools in the state to close for two weeks, effectively extending spring break by one week for Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools.
Students in Escambia and Santa Rosa county are now set to return to class on March 30 at the earliest.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY DETAILS
All athletic and extracurricular activities are canceled beginning Sunday, March 15 through at least Saturday, March 29, Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told NorthEscambia.com.
For the Escambia County School District, any employee that was already scheduled to work the week of March 16 should report to work.
“We will use those people to further sanitize our schools and buses,” Thomas said, “while some will be working our continuity plan and what happens if we cannot return to school – how do we maintain some semblance of education. We know it won’t be at the same level, but we would do the best we can.”
All schools are completely closed with no students or staff on campus the week of March 23. All district employees will receive their regular pay for the week.
An Escambia County School Board meeting planned for March 24 is still scheduled.
Byrneville Elementary School, a charter school in North Escambia , follows the Escambia County School District schedule.
Pensacola Christian Academy will also follow the recommendation of the FDOE and be closed March 16-27.
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee will be closed March 16-27. including athletic events and Catholic youth sports leagues.
For information on the University of West Florida, click here.
For information on Pensacola State College, click here.
For information Pensacola Christian College, click here.
ALABAMA
Alabama. Gov. Kay Ivey has ordered all schools closed at the end of the day on Wednesday, March 18. Schools will be closed at least two and a half weeks until April 6. All athletic events are canceled during the time period.
Private school Escambia Academy has extended spring break until March 30. AISA activities and field trips are postponed until April 6.
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Escambia County When He Rear-Ends Stopped Vehicle
March 14, 2020
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash Friday afternoon in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 62-year old Kevin Summers of Escambia County was traveling east on Sorrento Road at 3:40 p.m. when he rear-ended a stopped Hyundai Tucson driven by 20-year old Emmelia Hindi of Prattville, Alabama.
Summers was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Baptist Hospital with serious injuries. Hindi was not injured.
Summers was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
File photo.
Florida Courts Suspend Jury Trials, Including Naomi Jones Murder Trial
March 14, 2020
Criminal and civil jury trails in Florida have been temporarily suspended by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, including locally the Naomi Jones murder trial that was set to begin next week.
Chief Justice Charles T. Canady announced the suspension through at least March 27 in the interest of public health due to the coronavirus pandemic. Local judges are authorized to conduct non-jury proceedings remotely using technology.
Clerks of court and court administrators are acting immediately to cancel summonses for jury service.
The work of Florida’s courts and clerks of court goes on. Hearings, filings, and other work of the judicial branch and clerks of court continues. Only jury trials are suspended by the order.
Trial was set to being Monday, March 16 in Escambia Count for Robert Howard, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year old Naomi Jones in 2017. Prosecutors say Howard kidnapped, murdered and dumped the body of the 12-year old.
Howard is convicted sex offender. He was convicted in 1999 on two counts of first degree rape to two adult females in Escambia County, AL. One of the victims was 19-years old at the time. He served 15 years.
The City And County Canceled Large Permitted Events. Here’s The List.
March 14, 2020
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola recently announced the cancelation of all publicly-permitted events expected to have an attendance of 500 or more people.
There were no events canceled in Escambia County, but multiple large events were canceled by the City of Pensacola. They are listed below, along with a few large events that were canceled by the event organizers.
- Battle of the Badges – March 22
- Blues on the Bay – March 29
- Ciclovia – March 28
- Deluna Du Youth Duathlon – March 29
- East Hill Neighborhood Association Fish Fry – March 21
- Gallery Night – March 20
- Gulf Coast Science Festival – March 27-29
- Palafox Market – Saturdays through the end of March (including Saturday, March 14)
- Pensacola VegFest – March 28
- Smokin’ in the Square – March 20-22
- Walk the Talk for Epilepsy – May
Cher postponed her “Here We Go Again” tour, with the Pensacola show now set for September 10. Fans can use their current tickets, or can chose a refund at the original point of purchase. Mercy Me has rescheduled their Pensacola show to October 15.
Escambia County and City of Pensacola officials will reassess the situation after two weeks (Monday, March 30) and determine whether to continue or lift the cancellation of publicly-permitted events.
This only applies to events that are permitted through Escambia County or the City of Pensacola. It does not include schools, churches, or other private events. Event organizers are encouraged to use their discretion and follow the directions of officials from the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if event cancellations are necessary.
The city will work with event organizers to reschedule events as needed.
Residents are encouraged to use their discretion when it comes to attending public events.
It’s Getting Warmer, But It’s Not Time To Fertilize The Lawn Yet
March 14, 2020
Days may be getting warmer, but that does not mean your lawn is ready for nitrogen fertilizer, according to the Escambia County Extension.
Roots are not growing well enough to absorb the fertilizer until much later in the spring. Research found that nitrogen fertilizer applied to turf before mid April was lost though the soil, eventually making its way into local bodies of water.
“Work on other parts of your landscape but wait to apply fertilizer until at least mid April or early May. You are not getting a jump on a healthy lawn by fertilizing now,” the Extension Service said.
Bicyclist Hit By A Bus And Killed In Escambia County
March 13, 2020
A bicyclist was killed early Friday morning when he was hit by a bus in Escambia County.
The commercial passenger tour bus with no passengers was travelling south in the outside lane of Pace Boulevard and had a green traffic light at Massachusetts Avenue. The bicyclist, 66-year old Larry Cooper, traveled from Massachusetts Avenue into the path of the bus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Cooper was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 1:16 a.m. crash.
How Are Escambia County, Pensacola Preparing For Coronavirus? Top Officials Explain.
March 13, 2020
So far, there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) found in Escambia County, but agencies are in full preparation mode.
An Escambia County Commission meeting was paused Thursday for a 24-minute press conference to update the media on what steps are being taken in Escambia County.
County Administrator Janice Gilley said dealing with a pandemic is different that dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes and other issues that the county has dealt with in the past.
“There may be people walking around in our community that we don’t yet have already contracted the virus; that’s what makes it a little different. When we have the other things, we do see damage to infrastructure, tangible things we know how to prepare for, respond and recover,” Gilley said. “I do think this is something that is going to change on an hour by hour basis.”
“If you are a praying person, I think you should pray for our community,” Gilley added. “I think you should pray for any community or particularly for the state of Florida and the country so that we don’t necessarily have an expansion of this disease to the extent that we have issues that shut down all of the operations and things like that.”
Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, provided an update to the commission, but his superiors did not allow him to participate in the health conference. He said any question would have to go to his public information staff, which would in turn send the question to Tallahassee for an answer.
“We do not have any cases in Escambia County,” Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore said. “If we did start to have transmission, then you would see the activation of the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) to a Level 2. We would take direction under the Department of Health. They are the lead agency.”
A coronavirus case was found last week in Santa Rosa County. The 71-year old man was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola where he later died, one of two deaths to date in Florida.
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola followed a state recommendation and announced that all public-permitted events with more than 500 people expected are canceled until at least March 30. This does not include school, churches or other private events.
“If you don’t feel comfortable (attending public events) for reasons of age or a variety of other issues like an immune system deficiency,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said, “…then I would understand you making the decision. That’s really on you. Everybody’s got to be aware of what their own conditions are and what they feel comfortable…It’s going to depend on individuals and their immune system.”
Interim Public Safety Director John Dosh said 911 operators are asking key questions of callers — not only about their symptoms and condition but also about travel. That, he said, allows first responders to be aware of any high risk activities so the first responders can take the appropriate action to protect themselves.
Escambia County School superintendent Malcolm Thomas said the district, at this point, plans to continue with regular face-to-face classes when students return from spring break on March 23. The district announced limits on out of county travel by staff and students, and canceled all field trips.
“We are doing a deep disinfecting and sanitizing of all of our vehicles every night,” ECAT Director Tonya Ellis said. “We have increased the comprehensive level of that cleaning, which includes commercial grade, hospital grade disinfectant for all of our buses.”
Director of Facilities Management Cassie Boatwrite Fsaid the county is continually working to sanitize facilities.
At the Escambia County Jail, Director Rich Powell said visitations are already conducted remotely. “We deal with health concerns on a continuous basis. The virus change anything particular that we are doing knowing that people are in close proximity. We are in a continuous state of cleaning in the jail.”
The Pensacola International Airport remains open and is fully operational, and has increased the frequency that points touched by the public are cleaned. Hand sanitizer stations are also located throughout the terminal.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Head Football Coach Derek Marshman Stepping Down
March 13, 2020
Northview High School head football coach Derek Marshman is stepping down for a career change that will allow him to spend more time with his family.
“It was a really hard decision, but I had to look out for my family first,” Mashman told NorthEscambia.com. “It’s something that had been offered to me in the past, and I had to turn it down. I didn’t know how many more times they would offer before eventually the offer would run out.”
Mashman would only say that the career change involved the insurance industry, and that he would not be going to another school.
“I had to put my family first. My kids, they are young. I’ll have a chance to be a lot closer to them.”
Marshman was an assistant Northview football coach from 2000-2015. His assistant coach tenure included a 2012 1A state championship for the Chiefs, the first and only in the history of the school, and the last state championship for an Escambia County football team. As a head coach, he compiled a 24-21 record, including three FHSAA state playoff appearances.
“It’s bittersweet because Northview is such a great place with really great kids,” he said. “It’s grown into such a family over the last 10 years, and there’s never a good time to leave or walk away.”
Marshman’s last day on the job at Northview will be March 27. He said he did not wait until the end of the school year to leave in order to give the school a head start in looking for a replacement.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Convicted Of Animal Cruelty After Dog Died In Hot Car Last August
March 13, 2020
[Updated] An Escambia County woman was convicted Thursday on charges related to the death of a dog left inside a hot car last August.
A jury found Crystal Houk guilty of aggravated animal cruelty and cruelty to animals.
Investigators said Houk left her pit bull alone in a hot car for over an hour in the parking lot of the Ensley Walmart.
The dog was showing signs of overheating and the employees immediately opened the doors to circulate air and contacted authorities. The dog stopped breathing and passed away shortly thereafter. Animal Cruelty Investigator Sgt. Stephanie Eddins responded to the scene and conducted an investigation that revealed the dog had an internal temperature exceeding 109.9 degrees and had died of a heatstroke.
Further investigation revealed that the defendant had been inside Walmart for one hour and 32 minutes. The defendant had left the car running with a piece of pipe pressing down on the gas pedal in hopes of making her faulty air conditioning work, despite knowing of its mechanical problems.
She faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced at later date.