Category: COVID-19

Masks requirements and where to buy them

Debbie Roney Smith on

~MASKS~ This is the hot topic these days. Do you have to wear masks? If so where? When the kids return to school will they need to wear them? Every state and county are making different rules it seems almost daily.

Also in March when the stay at home order first began a client (who was a client and bought a house here in the panhandle and has become a friend) started making masks for nurses and friends who were essential workers. Bonnie has made and donated over 100 masks! As supplies have become harder to get, more expensive, and she has run out of her personal stash, she is now charging a flat $5 per mask. She can make kids or adults. Below are some of her masks she has available now. She is in Marianna once a week for social distancing met ups or if she mails them she is charging $2 for every 2 mailed. They are made with a pocket for you to add another layer of protection. They are washable and reusable which helps the environment. You can email her at thombk70@gmail.com to place an order or if you have any questions for her.

Here is a brief list of places in the panhandle that have posted recently the mask rules.

~Directly from City of Gulf Breeze effective Friday, June 26, face coverings are required inside businesses within the City of Gulf Breeze limits.

~The Port St. Joe City Commission is now mandated masks for residents and visitors over the age of 6 inside all businesses or other places social distancing can’t be possible within the city limits.

~The Council passed a mandate requiring that public business employees wear a mask to work in Panama City. The businesses will also be required to post signage in order to enforce the mandate. The public is also now required to wear masks. The mask mandate is a fineable civil offense, and can reach up to a $500 cost.

~Apalachicola beginning July 2, masks must be worn inside buildings and establishments within city limits. The order exempts religious services and seated eating, and doesn’t apply to employees working in enclosed areas away from others.

~Leon County Commissioners voted unanimously to put a mask requirement in place beginning June 25. Chairman Bryan Desloge said he will review the order and local COVID-19 cases weekly to determine when the local order will be lifted.

~Gadsden County also has masks required.

~Mayor Grover Robinson issued an emergency order, in effect as of 5 p.m. June 26, requiring face coverings for anyone inside a business within city limits in Pensacola.

Exceptions include people attending religious services; eating and drinking at restaurants, those walking, exercising or sitting outdoors, including on boats; children under the age of six and people having trouble breathing due to a pre-established condition.

Many national stores are requiring face masks. Also Winn-Dixie has recently posted they too are requiring them.
These tri fold masks all have a pocket and are washable to be worn over and over again. Pencil one’s are cute for school, solid colors available, and themed.
As you can see most are adjustable so size doesn’t matter. She can make them either way. Elastic or adjustable.

Nelson Mandela International Day ~ July 18

Debbie Roney Smith on

The first Nelson Mandela International Day was held in New York on July 18, 2009 in honor of Mandela’s birthday. It was created to celebrate the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and have a positive impact. Nelson Mandala was a single man and yet his personal impact was astounding. He was a man of many accolades including being a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker, an iconic figure fighting South Africa’s apartheid regime, the name behind the phenomenon known as the Mandela Effect, AND he was the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.

A popular practice for Nelson Mandela International Day is to spend 67 minutes of your time, just under an hour and a half, doing good in your community and helping others. This is in honor of the impact of Mandela’s 67 years of public service in his various positions. Since quarantine is still a wise choice given the rise in COVID-19 cases in Florida, below is a list of ideas on how you can assist your community and donate your time without endangering yourself or others.

Be My Eyes: a free iOS/Android app that allows you to help blind users handle visual tasks like reading foot labels or matching outfits. The app will alert you when someone is in need of help and you can pick up the request or ignore it as you wish; very low pressure and easy to do from home!
Help non-profits and research projects with transcribing, proofreading, and audio recordings: Zooniverse, the Smithsonian, work with Proofread Project as a Distributed Proofreader, record audiobooks for LibriVox – all of these sources are free and run almost entirely off volunteer efforts.
Have kids you need to entertain? Pull out the crafts and help your kids create individual cards with nice sayings to leave in your neighbors’ mailboxes! It’s a trying time, and everyone could use a kind word of “hello” and “I hope you’re well.” Additionally, you can help run the kids’ energy down by going walking through your neighborhood to drop off the notes. If you have a sidewalk, consider doing sidewalk art for all who walk by to see.
Become a pen pal to help seniors combat loneliness! You can contact local senior homes in your area to see if they have pen pal programs or would like to start one, or go to one of the following websites to sign up for a preexisting program: Reachout America, Pen Pal World, Retirement Online, and check out the #CareNotCOVID movement as well. Please note that the virus is highly unlikely to be spread by the mail but be certain to wash your hands after opening a new letter and before sending one to help keep seniors and immunocomprised people extra safe.

For additional volunteer opportunities specific to the Panhandle, check out Panhandle Home Health and Volunteer Match.

Jackson County shifts from Democratic to Republican majority

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Republican Party of Jackson County has taken a slight edge over the Democratic Party. Democrats now trail behind the Republican Party by just six registered voters.

Clint Pate, the head of the Jackson County Republican Party said they’re excited about meeting their goal and their current lead over the Democratic Party in the area. He said they had a large gap to fill and being over by six voters is a huge accomplishment for the Republican Party in Jackson County. Pate said the switch began to slowly happen back in 2014 when he and Eric Hill were the first Republican candidates voted into office in Jackson County history. Now, Pate also credits COVID-19 for part of their success as well.

Back in March, the Republican Party sent out over 5,000 flyers and they saw a late increase in registered Republican voters.

Jackson County has a big local election season coming up as well. The Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, Superintendent and two County Commissioner seats will be up for election and Pate believes the shift from blue to red in the county could affect the results.

For more information on how to get registered to vote or on Jackson County local elections, visit the Supervisor of Election’s https://www.jacksoncountysoe.org/. They have already started sending out vote by mail ballots.

Plastic Free July

Debbie Roney Smith on

Earlier this month, this blog featured a piece on the Plastic Free July movement. However, working towards eliminating plastic in your life when living in a rural community can seem especially daunting. Below is a short list of changes you can make living here in the Panhandle to reduce the presence of chemically harmful plastic in your life.
1. Swap goods and services with neighbors! Need a new blender but don’t want to buy a plastic wrapped monstrosity from Walmart? Check in with your neighbors to see if anyone has a spare in their storage or are finally ready to admit they just don’t like smoothies and pass their blender on to you. If you’re on Facebook, consider joining or creating a Zero Waste Swap group in your area. Oftentimes people are willing to give up items for FREE! How great is that? You don’t have to pay for something you need, someone else keeps from throwing that something into the waste stream, AND there’s no new waste introduced by your purchasing a new item. Saving plastic all around!
2. Stick to the basics! This includes using shopping totes, fabric produce bags, reusable water bottles and coffee containers, foregoing plastic straws unless you need them medically, packing a lunch instead of a store packaged one, and so on. While simple, these actions add up. Additionally, it is safe to use reusable shopping bags despite COVID-19 – just sanitize between uses. Cloth bags are the best because you can just toss them in your wash.
3. Create the means to be the change! This is related to the step above. If you notice a need in your community, fill it. For example, if you are in need of cloth bags, create them. You can sustainably source material from thrift stores in the form of curtains, sheets, mismatched pillowcases, and more. Then bring them home, sanitize them, and get to sewing! Pass the bags out for free to family and friends or make a small profit by selling them cheap outside grocery stores or farmers’ markets. This is just one example of how you can help reduce your communities reliance on plastic while you’re largely stuck at home during quarantine.
This article was largely sourced from the following blog, please check it out! It has a lot of great additional information and is a very moving piece on rural community: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/4/8/1848735/-Thinking-Outside-the-Plastic-Box-Going-Plastic-Free-in-Rural-America

Jackson County Elections Candidate Forum is tonight

Debbie Roney Smith on

Don’t forget the Jackson County Elections Candidate Forum is tonight, July 14 at 6 p.m. on the grounds at Citizens Lodge, located at 4574 Lodge Drive in Marianna. Candidates will be allowed to set up a 10-by-10-foot tent along the track area and hand out materials beginning at 5 p.m. until the forum begins at 6 p.m. and after the conclusion of the forum at approximately 8 p.m., until no later than 9 p.m. Check this blog from earlier this week for more details about this being a COVID-19 social distancing event.

Races and candidates are listed below:

State Attorney, Circuit 14: Larry Basford (Rep) and Wes Hatcher (Rep)

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller: Justin Branch (Rep) and Clayton O. Rooks III (Dem)

Property Appraiser: David Fraser (Rep) and Rebecca Morris-Haid (Dem)

Sheriff: Kevin Arnold (Dem), Hayes Baggett (Dem), Donnie Edenfield (Rep), Scott Edwards (Rep), Tim Ham (Dem), and Jeff Snell (Rep)

Superintendent of Schools: Steve R. Benton, Sr. (Rep), Gerald F. Brockner (Rep), Dallas Ellis (Rep), and Larry Moore (Dem)

Supervisor of Elections: Carol A. Dunaway (Rep), Alice Pate (Rep), Gail Ann Ward (NPA), and Rico Williams (Dem)

Tax Collector: Mary Carol Murdock (Dem), incumbent, unopposed

Jackson County Commissioner — District 1: Alex B. McKinnie (Dem) and Willie E. Spires (Dem)

Jackson County Commissioner — District 3: Paul A. Donofro Jr. (Rep), Marcell Shane Harvey (Dem), Mary Ann Hutton (Rep), Tyler Lipford (Rep), Rance L. Massengill (NPA) and Ronstance L. Pittman (Dem)

Jackson County Commissioner — District 5: John Bryan (Rep), Byron L. Dickens (Dem), and James Peacock (Rep)

Jackson County School Board Member — District 2: Tony Pumphrey (NPA), incumbent, unopposed

Jackson County School Board Member — District 5: Pam Long Bimberg (NPA) and Stacey Goodson (NPA)

Visit the Jackson County elections office website by clicking this link jacksoncountysoe.com or call 850-482-9652 for additional voter information.

STATE FOREST CLOSURES

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Last month, the Florida Forest Service announced that group recreation areas located on State Forests would reopen on July 10 with a limited capacity of 50 people. Due to the exponential increase in COVID-19 cases, group recreation areas and select other areas will remain CLOSED until further notice. All reservations through August 31, 2020 will be fully refunded. No new reservations will be accepted until further notice.

Visit FDACS.gov/FLStateForests to learn more about Florida’s State Forests.

 

 

FREE COVID-19 testing in WEWA-July 6th

Debbie Roney Smith on

Free COVID-19 testing today, Monday, July 6th from 9am to 3pm at 111 Lake Alice Park Drive in Wewahitchka. Symptoms are not required for testing and this is a drive thru testing site that is asking you to please stay in your vehicle. For more information please call 850-227-1276.

Plan to watch fireworks on July 3rd and 4th

Debbie Roney Smith on

This isn’t a complete list but here are a few places, times, and dates fireworks are still scheduled even with COVID-19 still closing a lot of places down. Please don’t go if you are sick, stay 6 to 12 feet away from others, and wash hands often. Please consider wearing a mask to protect others.

~Marianna will celebrate the Fourth of July on July 3. The City of Marianna and Main Street Marianna are hosting the 10th Annual Fireworks Celebration. This year’s event will be at the MERE Complex on Caverns Road. Everyone can view the show from their cars and will be asked to remain in their cars for the duration of the event. The firework show will begin at 9 p.m

~The City of Slocomb invites everyone to an Independence Fireworks Celebration at the Slocomb Recreation Park on Saturday, July 4th . There will be a DJ from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and a fireworks display to finish the evening celebration. This will be a FREE ADMISSION show. Enjoy from your vehicle, chairs, or blanket. Social distancing will be observed.

~Geneva will host a Fourth of July celebration beginning at 4 p.m. on July 4. A car parade and car show will begin at 4 p.m. Fireworks will start at 8 p.m. There will be food and vendors. The event is being held at Robert Fowler Park.

~Dothan will celebrate Fireworks at the Fairgrounds on July 4th. The event will be at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds. Gates open at 7 p.m. Fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. $10 parking benefits the Wiregrass United Way. This is a parking lot only event this year.

~Fort Rucker celebrates America’s birthday with the July 4 Celebration and Home Town Parade! This year’s celebration will include a parade through the housing areas July 4 at 5 p.m. and will finish up at 9 p.m. with a fireworks display reminiscent of past Freedom Fests. Due to the pandemic, this year’s event is open to Department of Defense ID card holders only. There will be judging will be based on the following categories: Most Patriotic Float • Top Military Family Float • Best Small Float• Best Large Float • Community Spirit Float.

~Headland will be hosting its Annual Fireworks Event at 8:30pm at Douglas Park on July 4th. Please, remember to social distance yourself from other event goers and feel free to wear a mask.

~July 4th Celebration at 4C BBQ located at 1045 US Highway 331 S, DeFuniak Springs. 7 to 10pm

~Mexico City July 4th. Read the attached photo for all details about this location.

 

Leave No Trace ordinance in Bay County

Debbie Roney Smith on

The “Leave No Trace” ordinance created several years ago was meant to keep the beaches clean, but this summer It’s taken on a new meaning. This year‘s “Leave No Trace” brochure was revealed at Tuesday’s Bay County Tourist Development Council meeting on June 9th. As in year’s past, it includes the beach flag warning system and reminds visitors to remove personal items off the sand at night, but this year’s brochure also has an entire side devoted to COVID-19. It reminds visitors of important things like social distancing and keeping hand sanitizer with them. The brochures will be given to beach goers by beach ambassadors, but there’s also talk of placing them in hotel and motel guest rooms.

The Leave No Trace ordinance in Panama City Beach prohibits tents and personal property on the beach at night and anything left unattended will be removed by authorities. Nightly patrols have started to make sure people are not leaving their items unattended. Panama City Beach mayor Mark Sheldon said items will be thrown away if they are left on the beach. “Leave No Trace is a very important thing on Panama City Beach, it’s the way that we can make sure our beaches get cleaned every night, it’s the way that we can rake the beaches for the next day, we have that ordinance out there, in place to make sure we have the prettiest beaches in northwest Florida,” said Mayor Sheldon. Authorities will be patrolling the beach from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and this is currently in effect and active year-round.

Lynn Haven Opened it’s Splash pads for the 2020 Season

Debbie Roney Smith on

Lynn Haven residents and their children now have another place to get some relief from the heat. The splash pads at Kinsaul Park and Cain Griffin Park are now open for the 2020 season, admission is free. They opened Monday at 10:00 a.m.

The city is still following the CDC recommended guidelines, and officials ask that the public continue to follow public heath officials recommendations.
Families were excited to once again have a safe place to take their children and meet with others. Officials said that traffic at the park was light but constant, which gave the visitors plenty of space to have fun.