Georgia Church Reaches The Needy in Century With Free Thanksgiving Lunch
November 28, 2014
They came from all walks of life Thursday in Century to enjoy a free Thanksgiving lunch spearheaded by a Georgia church.
From the unemployed, to the disabled, to folks just down on their luck, they came. And then there was the man who struggled against his emotions to explain that he had just found a job, but was not yet able to feed his family of seven a good, hot Thanksgiving lunch.
For Rivertown Church of Columbus, GA, it was the latest in several trips to Century. It was their second year hosting a Century Thanksgiving lunch, and the church has reached out for a couple of years with volunteers painting and making improvements around the Carver Community Center in Century.
“We were looking around Pensacola for some outreach ministry opportunity where we could also maybe take our youth to the beach for a day,” Rivertown Senior Pastor David Rathel said Thursday. They spoke to ministry personnel at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
“And they told us that there was this place we might not want to go called Century, FL,” Rathel said. According to the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, Century is the 41st poorest place in America and the poorest place in the state of Florida. The median household income is just $17,188 — nearly half of all Century’s 1,698 residents live in poverty.
But Rathel and his Riverside flock soon learned that Century was rich in people, rich in spirit and rich in souls that needed comfort in the Lord.
“The Lord is doing good things here,” he said. “We love Century.”
Rivertown was not alone in their “Compel Century” outreach Thursday, with the Abundant Life Assembly of God in Century and the First Baptist Church of Flomaton also participating in the free Thanksgiving lunch with turkey and all the fixings.
“We had about 55 people here for lunch when we prayed,” Rathel said. “And they’ve just keep coming in.”
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Tate High Showband Marches In Philadelphia Parade (With Photo Gallery, Video)
November 28, 2014
The Tate High School Showband of the South marched in the 2014 Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia Thursday morning. The parade was aired in the Philadelphia region on live television.
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Pictured top: The Tate High School Showband of the South marches in the 2014 Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia Thursday morning. Pictured below: Photos by Cassandra Langley and courtesy ABC6 Philadelphia for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Holiday Giving: Shop Wisely For A Reputable Charity
November 28, 2014
Millions of Americans have ventured out to big and small retailers in search of the best deal for their holiday gift giving, and experts advise them to have the same diligence when it comes to picking their charity.
According to AARP, older Americans are more likely to receive charitable solicitations than any other group, and not all requests are legitimate, warns Doug Shadel, author of AARP’s “Outsmarting the Scam Artists.”
“There’s a lot of charitable solicitations going on out there that really tug at the heartstrings, whether it’s disabled veterans or anything having to do with disasters, and so you really just got to be careful about that,” he cautions.
Shadel advises seniors and others to be cautious of charities whose names are similar to better-known organizations.
You can also request written information, avoid cash gifts and ask for a receipt.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud every year.
You can check to see if a charity is registered in Florida by checking with the state’s Division of Consumer Services.
Shadel also says to ask the person requesting the donation more about how the donations are used and how much goes to operating costs versus the actual cause it claims to serve.
“A lot of times, charitable solicitors will try and get you into kind of a heightened emotional state around their charity,” he explains. “The best way to avoid that is at the beginning of every year, come up with your own charitable giving plan.”
Northview Cheerleaders March In Macy’s New York City Parade
November 28, 2014
Two Northview High School varsity cheerleaders, Hanna Gibson and Morgan Ward, marched in Thursday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Pictured top: Gibson and Ward in their All-American Cheerleader uniforms after the parade. Pictured inset: Enjoying Times Square. Pictured below: The Sesame Street float travels down the Avenue of the America’s during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Thursday morning. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward, Northview Cheerleaders March In Disney Thanksgiving Parade
November 28, 2014
Seven UCA All-American Cheerleaders from Ernest Ward Middle School and Northview High School marched Thursday in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Disney World. Pictured above: (L-R) from Northview: Jerni Crabtree, Kayla Galvin and Hannah Nelson; from Ernest Ward: Jayda Crabtree, Gabrielle Kline, Nikoal Creamer and Madison Sherouse. Pictured inset: Kline was chosen to march on the front row. Pictured below: The girls pose with Mickey and Minne Mouse. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Skies, Warmer After Today
November 28, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Friday Night Clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Florida’s Adoption Reunion Registry Helps Adoptees, Birth Parents Reunite
November 28, 2014
Recognizing that adoption is a lifelong journey, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) offers Florida’s Adoption Reunion Registry to provide birth relatives and adopted children the opportunity to reunite.
The Registry is the only program in Florida that reunites adult adopted individuals with members of their birth families without either party needing to take court action. The Registry is a voluntary and confidential cross-referenced file of the people who were the principal parties in an adoption. It is available to adult adopted individuals over the age of 18, adoptive parents, birth parents, maternal and paternal grandparents, birth siblings and siblings of the birth parents.
“We are proud to be able to offer this service to individuals who are adopted through the Florida foster care system because we know that many adopted children are naturally and rightfully curious about their birth families,” Interim Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Sometime the process of finding your birth family can be difficult and heartbreaking but it is more often filled with love, surprises and relief that can help bring about a more full and complete family of both adoptive and birth relatives.”
The Registry does not initiate searches for birth families. If two or more people impacted by an adoption in Florida list themselves on the Registry, then the Registry gets them in touch with each other. There is a onetime $35 fee. The fee may be waived if there is a proven financial hardship. There are currently 10,190 individuals listed in the Florida Adoption Reunion Registry –55 percent are adult adopted individuals, 38 percent are birth parents, 7 percent are grandparents, siblings or other relatives. The Registry averages three to four successful matches each month.
To register for Adoption Reunion Registry services, an applicant must complete the Adoption Reunion Registry Form which may be obtained by calling the Florida Adoption Information Center at 1-800-96-ADOPT or visiting www.AdoptFlorida.org/ReunionRegistry.shtml.
Video: Tate Band Performs In Philadelphia
November 28, 2014
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Guynell King Goneke
November 28, 2014
Guynell King Goneke went to her home in Heaven on Monday, November 24, 2014.
She was born on January 25, 1916, to her parents, Gordon and Kate King in Commerce, GA. The family moved to Jay when she was 12 years old. She accepted the Lord at age 16 at Pine Level Baptist Church. She graduated from Jay High School in 1937 and married Robert Mavin “Butch” Goneke the same year. They moved to Pensacola in 1941. She was employed at J.J. Newberry, Aubrey E. Gomillion, CPA, and W.T. Grant. She was an excellent seamstress and a marvelous cook. Her pound cakes, German chocolate cakes and many other dishes were so special. She often sewed and cooked for family and friends. She traveled to 46 states during her lifetime and was a member of Olive Baptist Church and the Steadfast Sunday School class.
Guynell was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mavin Goneke (in 1971 after 37 years of marriage); brothers, D.C., Wheeler, Parks and Horace King also sister, “Jimmie” Wise.
Survivors include her son, Freddy (Becky) Goneke; daughter, Sylvia (Bill) Menges and grandchildren, Shannon Casey and Shane (Amanda) Goneke; great grandchildren, Austin, Jayde and Gavin Goneke; sister, Francine Gomillion and many nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 28, 2014, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with Dr. Jerry Passmore officiating. Private entombment will be in the Bayview Memorial Park Mausoleum with her husband.
In lieu of flowers it was her desire that memorials be made in her name to Florida Baptist Children’s Home, 1000 Chemstrand Rd., Cantonment, FL 32533.
Annie Mae Pettis
November 28, 2014
Mrs. Annie Mae Pettis, 88, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, in Atmore.
Mrs. Pettis was a native of Bellville, AL and a resident of Atmore since 1977. Mrs. Pettis was a member of the Fretwell Tabernacle Church. Her husbands, Calvin Pugh and Leroy Pettis; and two sons, John Pugh and Calvin Pugh precede her in death.
Survivors include her two sons, Roy Pettis of Atmore and Leamon Pugh of Deritter, LA; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, November 29, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 29, 2014, from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be will be Alex Rodriquez, Adam Rodriquez, Kevin Pugh, Kenneth Pugh, Shane Caraway and Tony Tolbert.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.