Food Stamp Cuts Coming, Food Banks May Feel Impact
August 30, 2013
The funding reduction comes as a result of the expiration of Recovery Act funding, and food banks are bracing for the impact. Rebecca Brislain, spokeswoman for the Florida Association of Food Banks, said the need for assistance does not end with the expiration of funding and her organizations can’t bridge that gap.
“That’s just the truth of it,” she said. “We simply can’t absorb those kinds of cuts. The people that are receiving assistance will not be able to find the kind of assistance that they’re receiving through those programs.”
Brislain says her 14 member food banks already are struggling to meet increased needs from people that came as a result of the recession. Five years ago they distributed 72 million pounds of food each year. Since then, that number has more than doubled.
Florida food banks have been distributing food at “disaster levels” in the past three years, she said, with increases of 80 percent in some parts of the state.
“It’s what we’ve been here for for years,” she said, “and now we’re finding so many more people. It’s not that little emergency anymore. It’s become a chronic problem.”
About 17 percent of Florida’s population is classified as “food insecure,” but 28 percent of children deal with food insecurity.
No. 1 Ranked Northview Faces Bozeman Tonight
August 30, 2013
The No. 1 ranked Northview Chiefs will host 1A Panama City Bozeman in a non-district game tonight.
For the Chiefs, it’s been a week of not only physical preparation, but mental conditioning as well.
“We are going to be OK. Physically, I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty good,” coach Sid Wheatley said after last Friday night’s draw against 5A Bay High School. But after watching the game video, Wheatley said he was set on seeing strengths and weaknesses and working for mental improvement.
“We are going to correct mistakes while it is fresh on their mind,” he said. “We are going to be mentally prepared.”
And regardless of the opponent this year, whether it be a large 5A team like Bay or a 1A team like this week’s Bozemen, Wheatley knows that the stigma of playing the 1A state champion Chiefs will provide some extra motivation to any Northview opponent this year.
“I know how I am as a coach,” he said. “As a motivator, we always try to find some ammunition against the other guy, so I’m sure they’ve probably heard that a little bit.”
The Chiefs are ranked No. 1 in Class 1A by MaxPreps.com, followed by Trenton at No. 2.
The Northview Chiefs will host Bozeman at 7 p.m. in Bratt in the first regular season game of the year. The Chiefs are coming off their first ever state championship year, while Bozeman finished last year at 8-3. Bozeman is 0-4 all time against the Chiefs, with Northview outscoring the Bucks 154-33.
Pictured top and inset: Action from last Friday night’s preseason Northview game against Bay High. Pictured below: Coach Derek Marshman (front) and most of the Northview coaching staff at last week’s scrimmage. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rates Increasing
August 30, 2013
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority approved rate increases at their Thursday meeting that amounts to just a few cents for sanitation customers to a couple of bucks per month for customers that also have ECUA water and sewer service.
Beginning with the new fiscal year on October 1, ECUA residential sanitation customers will see a 3.7 percent increase to cover a tipping fee increase at the Perdido Landfill and anticipated increases in costs related to the recycling program. The current rate of $18.66 per month will increase to $19.35 for sanitation service.
ECUA water and sewer resident customers will see a rate increase of 1.93 percent. For an average customer using 8,000 gallons of water per month, that is an increase of 52 cents per month for water and $1.01 for sewer.
More detailed ECUA residential water and sewer rates are as follows:
Water:
- Current residential rate is $10.48 for the base rate; this goes up to $10.68. Volume charge (per 1000 gals. Consumption) goes from $2.14 to $2.18.
- Current Lifeline rate (low income senior): Current base rate is $9.03; goes up to $9.20 (includes 6,000 gals. Consumption).
Wastewater:
- Current residential rate: $11.93 for the base rate (includes 2,000 gals. Consumption); goes up to $12.16; volume charge is currently $6.50, goes to $6.63.
- Current Lifeline Rate: $11.62 base, goes to $11.84 (includes 6,000 gals. Consumption).
The increased water and sewer revenues would go toward infrastructure improvements.
Tonight’s Prep Football Schedule (And Thursday Results)
August 30, 2013
Here is tonight’s high school football schedule from across the North Escambia area.
Headed to a game? Share your photos — email them to news@northescambia.com tonight. Follow live scores from select games on our Facebook page http:www.facebook.com/NorthEscambia.com (make sure you “Like” the page”)
FLORIDA
- Bozeman at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Tate at West Florida, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Cottage Hill Christian (Mobile, AL), 7 p.m.
- Washington at Gulf Breeze, 7 p.m.
- Pine Forest at East Gadsden, 7:30 p.m.
- Crestview at Milton, 7:30 p.m.
- Catholic at Navarre, 7:30 p.m.
- Pace at Choctawhatchee, 7 p.m.
- Crestview at Milton, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday scores:
- Tallahassee Lincoln 27, Pensacola 0
- Escambia 43, Legacy 19
ALABAMA
- Flomaton at Monroe County, 7 p.m.
- Escambia County at T.R. Miller, 7 p.m.
- W.S. Neal at Holtville, 7 p.m.
- Escambia Academy at Fort Dale (Greenville), 7 p.m.
Pictured: The Escambia Gators beat Legacy High School Thursday night at Walnut Disney World in Orlando. Pictured top: A successful two-point conversion by Jake Durant. Pictured below: A 75-yard touchdown run from Escambia’s Gerold Bright. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aldersgate UMC Donations A ‘Blessing’ To Molino Park Elementary
August 30, 2013
Aldersgate United Methodist Church is among the many organizations stepping up to help Molino Park Elementary School following the theft and destruction of tens of thousands of dollars worth of technology from the school.
The church is donating proceeds from their next two community dinner collections, accepting donations at a Back to School Splash Party this Saturday and taking up collections from their congregation — all in addition their annual paper drive — for the school.
Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward called the church’s contributions “a blessing”, and said, “I appreciate the whole Molino community in their support of Molino Park Elementary.”
The Aldersgate Back to School Splash party will be held from 3 until 6 p.m. Saturday, September 7 at the church on Highway 29, just north of Highway 97. There will be water slides, water balloon games, fun on a new playground and a cookout. Everyone is invited to the free event, but attendees are invited to make a monetary donation to technology replacement at Molino Park Elementary School.
Aldersgate has also joined other Molino organizations as a Molino Park Elementary technology recovery donation drop off point. Read more…
Pictured top: Rev. Alan Gantzhorn wheels paper donations from Aldersgate United Methodist Church into Molino Park Elementary School Thursday. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bridge Repairs To Cause Delays On Arthur Brown Road Next Week
August 30, 2013
There will be delays at an Arthur Brown Road bridge next week in Walnut Hill.
The bridge over Boggy Creek on Arthur Brown Road between Jack Gibson Lane and Kansas Road will experience intermittent lane closures due to repairs beginning Wednesday, September 4, to Friday, September 6, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The substructure of the bridge and guardrail system will undergo work on these days and traffic will be directed by crewmembers.
The bridge is located just west of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
AAA Predicts Labor Day Holiday Travel Up
August 30, 2013
AAA Travel projects 34.1 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday, a 4.2 percent increase from the 32.7 million people who traveled last year.
The anticipated increase in holiday travel is predominantly due to increased consumer spending and the improving housing market. The total number of 2013 Labor Day holiday travelers is expected to reach a new post-recession high. The Labor Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, August 29 to Monday, September 2.
“AAA is forecasting a lift in Labor Day travel this year due to the increasingly positive economic outlook and optimism in the housing market,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “For many Americans, their home is also their biggest asset, as home prices improve in many parts of the country more families are feeling comfortable about traveling this Labor Day holiday.”
Approximately 29.2 million people (85 percent) plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 4.3 percent from the 28 million who drove last year.
BayBears Beat Pensacola
August 30, 2013
Bradin Hagens continued his dominance of the Blue Wahoos with seven superb innings, leading the Mobile BayBears to a series-opening 2-1 win over Pensacola at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. Mobile has now won 15 of the 21 meetings in the Bay-to-Bay series this year.
Hagens (W, 11-8), who entered the contest having given up just five earned runs in 24 innings in four starts against Pensacola, escaped trouble in the first two innings before settling in and cruising through seven. Tucker Barnhart drove home the only run of the game for the Wahoos with a two-out single in the first after an error prolonged the inning. Overall, Hagens gave up just the unearned run on six hits to go along with four strikeouts.
Mobile tied the game up in the last of the third on a solo homer from Dustin Martin, which stayed just fair inside the right field foul pole to tie the game at one. That was the only run Pensacola starter Carlos Contreras gave up in his final start of the 2013 campaign. The right-hander allowed three hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 5.1 innings.
Parker Frazier (L, 2-3) entered to get the final two outs in the sixth inning, but ran into trouble in the seventh as he gave up an RBI single to Mike Freeman to give the BayBears a 2-1 advantage. Willy Paredes and Jake Barrett (S, 14) got the final six outs to nail down the win for the BayBears.
The series continues on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.66) gets the ball for Pensacola opposite Mobile’s Archie Bradley (11-5, 1.98).
Margaret White Barnhill
August 30, 2013
Mrs. Margaret “White” Barnhill, 91, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2013, in Atmore.
Mrs. Barnhill was a native of Nokomis (Ala) and has resided in Atmore for most of her life. She was a loving mother and attended the First Assembly of God Church. Her husband, Dewey Barnhill; son, Keith Barnhill; son-in-Law; Charles Peavy and great-grandson, Drew Marlow precede her in death.
She is survived by her son, Ronnie Barnhill of Nokomis; four daughters, Delores Peavy, Cynthia (Danny) Wilson and Beverly (Wayne) Harris all of Atmore and Denean (Daniel) Workman of Nokomis; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, August 31, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church in Atmore with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Burial will follow at the Mothershed Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Riley Workman, Noah Workman, Mark Harrell, Shane Harrell, Craig Wilson, Chris Wilson and Josh Harris.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Arrests Made In Multi-County Fraud Crime Spree
August 30, 2013
A woman wanted for in connection with multiple fraud cases spanning from Baldwin County to Okaloosa County has been arrested.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office property crimes investigators said 27-year old Tia Nichole Smith made purchases from area businesses, mainly jewelry and antique stores, by writing checks on a closed checking account. Smith would then sell the items to local pawn shops. On more than one occasion, investigators said Smith was accompanied by36-year old Michael John Garay.. Surveillance video also showed Smith in the company of two children, a boy and a girl, as some of the crimes were being committed.
Smith was booked into the Escambia County Jail on multiple worthless check, fraud and larceny charges. Her total bond was set at $205,972.72. Garay was charged with multiple worthless check offenses and booked into jail with bond set at $423.50.
Investigators said the crime spree began in June, and the investigation is still ongoing. Any business that may have been victimized by Smith is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or their local law enforcement agency.