How Should Florida Re-open The Economy? This Is Your Chance To Tell The State Task Force.
April 26, 2020
The Re-Open Florida Task Force Satuday launched a public comment submission portal open to all Floridians. Public feedback will be a critical component of the Task Force’s final report to Governor Ron DeSantis. All interested Floridians are encouraged to submit their ideas regarding the safe re-opening of Florida’s economy.
The Re-Open Florida Task Force is seeking public comment as it finalizes its recommendations on exactly how to reboot Florida’s economy.
The state launched a public comment submission portal open to all Floridians. The comment form asks for name and contact information and allows for the submission of a comment up to 4,000 characters. Attachments up to 30Mb are also accepted.
Floridians may submit feedback on any topic related to the re-opening of Florida’s economy, including the impacts to small business, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, retail, recreation and sports and construction.
“Comments that are not relevant to the work of the Task Force or the safe re-opening of Florida’s economy will not be considered by the Task Force,” the form states. It also notes that comments with threats of violence may be forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further review.
“Public feedback will be a critical component of the Task Force’s final report to Governor Ron DeSantis,” the Governor’s Office said in a press release.
Latest Data: Local Available Ventilators, Hospital Beds
April 26, 2020
The latest datae from local hospitals show no change in the number of ventilators in use compared to last week and hundreds of available hospital beds.
HOSPITAL DATA APRIL 26
- Bed Capacity: 1,315
- Bed Occupancy: 789
- Beds Available: 526 (-56 since last week)
- Total Ventilators: 220
- Available Ventilators: 175 (-1 since last week)
HOSPITAL DATA APRIL 19
- Bed Capacity: 1,315
- Bed Occupancy: 733
- Beds Available: 582 (+5 since last week)
- Total Ventilators: 220 (-2 since last week)
- Available Ventilators: 176
HOSPITAL DATA APRIL 12
- Bed Capacity: 1,315
- Bed Occupancy: 738
- Beds Available: 577
- Total Ventilators: 222
- Available Ventilators: 183
Birds Cause Power Outage Up To Four Hours For 2,200 EREC Customers Saturday Morning
April 25, 2020
About 2,200 Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers lost power for up to nearly four hours Saturday morning due to birds living in a substation.
The birds had built nests in the Jay power substation that caused an equipment failure about 8:30 a.m.
The resulting power outage included 2,191 EREC customers in the Jay area, along with a few customers across the Escambia River on the west side of Century.
Repairs were complete on the substation by about 10:45 a.m. which restored power to most. However, additional repairs to power circuits away from the substation were completed by 12:30 p.m. to restore a much smaller number of customers.
Atmore Police Investigating Murder; Victim Was Found Shot And Stabbed
April 25, 2020
The Atmore Police Department is investigating an early morning murder near a local apartment complex.
Police responded to an apartment complex on Patterson Street just east of Highway 21 about 1:24 a.m. for a reported assault victim outside the apartments. That’s where they found 43-year old Desmond Deshun Dirden of Atmore with what appeared to be a gunshot and a stab wound, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks.
Dirden was pronounced deceased at the scene.
There have been arrests and no suspects publicly named.
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
COVID-19 Drive-ThruTesting Monday In Cantonment With No Pre-screening Call Needed
April 25, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida will offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing Monday in Cantonment.
Testing will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment. Unlike other test sites, there is no pre-screening phone call required, and the tests are free with or without insurance.
“Our goal is to get testing to all who feel they need it,” said Chandra Smiley, CEO and executive director of Community Health.
She said patients will be asked their name, date of birth, address, contact phone number and insurance information, if they have insurance.
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.
Florida’s Unemployment Website Is Down Until Monday
April 25, 2020
Florida’s troubled unemployment website is down until Monday as the state struggles to catch up with payments to jobless residents.
“In order to maximize payments to claimants, the CONNECT system is offline and currently making payments and processing claims through Monday, April 27 at 8 a.m.,” the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said in a social media statement.”
Visitors to the site on Friday were met with a message about the downtime and a link to an alternative site.
Paper applications are also still available for printing.
UWF Taking Applications For CARES Act Emergency Student Aid
April 25, 2020
The recently enacted federal CARES Act provided money to colleges and universities for emergency student grants. The purpose of the money is to award emergency financial aid grants to students for specific expenses that are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
The University of West Florida will distribute CARES Act funding in a way that prioritizes students with the greatest demonstrated need and ensures that funds are distributed as widely as possible.
Students must submit a UWF CARES Act Emergency Aid Application in the UWF Scholarship Portal. Applications will be processed by the UWF Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
Visit uwf.edu/cares for eligibility criteria, application process and frequently asked questions.
Keaton Brown, Kendall Barrow Named EREC Scholarship Winners
April 25, 2020
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has named the winners of the 2020 Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards. They are Keaton Brown from Northview High School in Escambia County and Kendall Barrow from Jay High School in Santa Rosa County.
Each will receive $1,000 each for four years providing they continue to meet the scholarship criteria.
Keaton Brown is the son of Chris and Sandy Brown. He is currently ranked at the top of his class. He plans to major in aerospace engineering and was nominated by Congressman Matt Gaetz to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Brown is an active member of the NJROTC and has served in several positions including orienting team captain, color guard commander, drill team commander and administration officer. Brown is team captain for the cross country team and vice president of the math club. He is also a member of the Beta Club and school advisory council and has volunteered with the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Walnut Hill Club. Brown served as an EREC delegate for the Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., youth tours.
Kendall Barrow is the daughter of Frederick and Jeanna Barrow. She is planning to attend the University of West Florida and major in elementary education. Barrow is an honor student at Jay High School and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Pensacola State College. She plays basketball for the Royals and is a member of the student government association, Beta Club and National Honor Society. Barrow is a K-4 assistant at Faith Christian Academy. Barrow also volunteers at the Jay Pro Rodeo, My Father’s Arrows and Kings Harvest.
Escambia (AL) Reports Additional Virus Positives; Hospitals Detail Their Test Numbers
April 25, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL) increased by one on Friday.
There are now 22 positive cases with one recorded death.
The Escambia County Health Care Authority reported that 17 of the confirmed patients were tested at Atmore Community Hospital, and three were confirmed at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton.
The hospitals have performed 367 total tests with 327 negative results. There are 19 tests pending, and one test was deemed inconclusive. About two-thirds of the tests were performed in Atmore.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 6,026 total positive cases in the state out of 52,641 tests. There have been 209 reported deaths statewide.
Cleaning Up The Yard? Know Florida’s Debris Burning Regulations
April 25, 2020
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are reminding residents to make sure they meet the legal requirements before burning debris from this week’s storms or just cleaning up the yard.
There are no burn bans in effect in our area but residents must still follow certain requirements: Burning piles of yard debris less than 8 feet in diameter is allowed if it is 25 feet from and wooded area or combustible structure, 25 feet from your house, 50 feet from a paved public road and 150 feet from other occupied dwellings.
Piles greater than eight feet require a burn authorization from the Florida Forest Service and must meet more stringent standards. For more information about authorizations, call Blackwater Forestry Center headquarters at (850) 957-5701.