Jay Praise And Prayer Assembly Tonight At Nativity Scene
December 22, 2014
Residents of Jay and surrounding areas will hold a Praise and Prayer Assembly this evening at the Jay Nativity and Christmas Tree.
Called a “united community event” by organizers, the 5:30 p.m. event will feature Christmas readers, songs and prayer
After an attorney for the Wisconsin group from the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the town claiming that a nativity display on public property is illegal, it was acquired by the Santa Rosa County Ministerial Association and moved to the corner of Commerce Street and Highway 4. [Read more...]
FCA Plus Beta Equals Sounds Of The Season
December 22, 2014
Members of the Northview High School FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and the Northview Beta Club recently stopped by the Century Town Hall and spreed good cheer with Christmas carols. Pictured with the FCA and Beta members are (to the right) sponsors Alison Robinson, Natalie Nall and Century staffers Angela Suggs and Erin Weekes. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bryon Ard
December 22, 2014
Mr. Bryon Ard, 44, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2014, in Pensacola.
Mr. Ard was a native of Jay and a resident of McDavid for most of his life. He loved to fish and hunt. His parents, Troy and Linda Ard, precede him in death.
Survivors include his companion, Heather Shanks of Atmore; daughters, Sydney Ard of Pensacola and Adrianne Shanks of McDavid, Troy Ard of McDavid and Kendal Ard of McDavid.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Rain Through Tuesday, Sunny For Santa
December 22, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 68. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Monday Night A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Tuesday Showers and thunderstorms. High near 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Tuesday Night Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers likely. Low around 58. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Christmas Day Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Robert Rand Gafford
December 22, 2014
Robert Rand Gafford, 89, of Cantonment, beloved father, grandfather, and friend went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. Mr. Gafford was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Navy. He was a career salesman and loved meeting and serving people. He was a Bible scholar and taught Sunday school for most of his adult life. After retiring Mr. Gafford settled in the Mobley Creek community and was privileged to lead the music program at Mobley Creek Baptist Church for almost twenty years. He was a devoted husband and father who loved and cared for his family.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Ward Gafford; mother, Bertha Hassell Sheffield; and son-in-law, Jeff Bates. Mr. Gafford is survived by his children, Ramona Gafford Wright, Raleigh Gafford, and Regena Gafford Bates; grandchildren, Jason (Angie) Wright, Amber Wright, Kelsey Bates (Tre) Jablonski, Kaitlyn Bates; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 22, 2014 with Rev. Terry Powell and Rev. Billy Boles officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Mobley Creek Baptist.
Florida Budget Surplus Grows To Near $1 Billion
December 22, 2014
The surplus for next year’s state budget is nearing $1 billion, giving lawmakers more room to bankroll their priorities as well as Gov. Rick Scott’s call for additional tax cuts and record per-student school funding.
At a meeting Monday, state economists added $622 million to the total available for Scott to use when he proposes his spending plan for the coming budget year, which begins July 1. That would be in addition to the approximately $336 million surplus that had been projected earlier.
The new numbers come with some caveats. Since the earlier projections, there are increased spending needs in some areas of the budget, though projected spending in other areas has been reduced. And economists will meet to predict whether a few other areas of the budget might demand more or less money in the future.
Scott, who won re-election in November based in part on the strength of the state’s economic recovery, wasted no time pushing for the extra money to be devoted to his priorities.
“Because we are creating an environment where our private sector can succeed, our economy is growing which makes it possible for us to invest in areas important to Florida families,” Scott said. “I look forward to working with the Legislature to continue to cut taxes by $1 billion over the next two years and increase K-12 per pupil funding to the highest level in our state’s history this coming year.”
During his campaign, Scott pledged to increase spending on public schools to $7,176 a student — about a $50 increase over the previous high-water mark, which happened in the 2007-08 budget year. Critics like the campaign of former Gov. Charlie Crist, Scott’s rival in November, said the proposal wasn’t as generous for schools when inflation was factored in.
Legislative leaders were more measured than Scott about spending the extra money.
“While it appears we will once again see a budget surplus in the upcoming fiscal year, it is important we don’t forget the principles that brought us here,” House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said in a statement issued by his office. “We will continue our commitment to fiscal responsibility with every dollar as we prioritize funding initiatives and seek ways to continue tax relief for Florida’s families.”
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, called the forecast “great news” but was also careful.
“There is no shortage of ideas for how this slight increase in available general revenue could be spent,” he said. “While today’s news gives my Senate colleagues and I reason to approach the 2015-16 fiscal year with cautious optimism, our challenge is to remain vigilant and responsibly plan for Florida’s future.”
The increased estimates were in the state’s general revenue, which plays a key role in funding education, health care and prisons. That revenue is made up of sources such as sales taxes.
Economists said some of the growth in sales taxes — a vital revenue source for the state — was helped by lower gas prices, which would allow consumers to use their money elsewhere.
“Our belief is that most people will view that not as a permanent change but as a temporary change, like a windfall, and that they would spend it in taxable sales purchases,” said Amy Baker, the Legislature’s chief economist. “So they might spend a little bit more on Christmas, they might feel more comfortable making some other one-time purchases.”
Baker said the economists believe that gas prices will continue to be lower in future years than originally predicted, though they might tick up slightly from the current prices. She also said the conference Monday agreed to throttle back slightly on the growth of the housing market in some future years, but that stronger-than-expected growth in recent months would essentially make up for the difference.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Delorse Elizabeth Darby
December 22, 2014
Mrs. Delorse Elizabeth Darby, 89, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2014, in Jay.
Mrs. Darby was native of Caryville, Florida and a lifelong resident of McDavid. Mrs. Darby was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church for 60 years. Her husband of 70 years, J.C. Darby; son, Donald Ray Darby, Sr.; granddaughter, Tracy Lynn Simmons; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Darby, precede her in death.
Survivors include her son, James R. Darby; daughter-in-law, Edna Darby; grandchildren, Dana (Doodle) Langhorne, Jaime (Janine) Darby, Deneen (Mike) Brazel, Darla (Doug) Coburn, Kevin (Pam) Darby and Donald Darby, Jr.; 14 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 22, 2014, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Douglas Coburn officiating.
Burial will follow at the Crary Memorial Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Warren Eugene McClanahan
December 22, 2014
Warren Eugene McClanahan, 81, went home to be with the Lord on December 18, 2014. He was born in Pensacola on June 10, 1933.
Upon graduating from Pensacola High School in 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served in the Korean War before his discharge in 1955. After separating from the Navy, he began work at the Naval Aviation Depot, NAS Pensacola, and retired after 38 years of outstanding service.
He attended Transformation Church, a.k.a. Hearts of Love, where he served the Lord for many years. His faith in Jesus Christ, was a hallmark of his character, and was appreciated by his family and friends.
Warren is survived by his wife of 11 wonderful years, Almeada McClanahan. All of their years were filled with Godly devotion and a timeless affection, reminiscent of youthful love.
He is also survived by step-sons, Larry (Diane) Wilbanks, of Milton, and Jimmy Warrick, of Elberton, GA; step-grandson, U.S. Army 1st LT. Bret Wilbanks of Ft. Bragg, NC; step-granddaughter, Kristie (Jesse) Hamilton, of Millbrook, AL; two sisters-in-law, Margaret (Wilbur) Weeks of Jay; and Brenda (Rick) Godwin of Gulf Breeze; many nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors, who loved him deeply.
Warren was predeceased by his father, Howard Eugene McClanahan; his mother, Laura Christine McClanahan; his first wife, Dolly McClanahan; and step-son, Danny Wilbanks.
A celebration of Warren’s life was held at Faith Chapel North Funeral Home and Crematory Monday, December 22, 2014.
Interment was at Whitmire Cemetery in Pensacola.
100-Acre Burn Planned For Ransom Middle Property
December 21, 2014
The Florida Forest Service, in conjunction with Ransom Middle School and the Escambia County School Board, is planning a 100-acre prescribed burn in the coming weeks. After a recent wildfire caused smoke issues near the Cantonment school, the plan is to conduct a burn on county-owned property in order to reduce the risk of future wildfires, eliminate potential smoke issues and allow the school board to better utilize the field adjacent to the school.
“We’ve had two fires there in the past year,” said Adam Parden, the FFS’s Forest Area supervisor for Escambia County. “This will help eliminate future fires and let the school be able to put their field back in working order.”
The field is overgrown with weeds and grass and Forest Service crews already have established fire breaks around the perimeter. With school out of session for the holidays and rain forecast for the weekend, the next two weeks provide an ideal window for this operation. Given the light fuel load of the area, the burn should only take a few hours and smoke is not expected to linger in the area afterward.
The operation is part of the Forest Service’s wildfire mitigation program and will help protect more than $30 million in structures including Ransom Middle School’s facilities.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Santa Trades Sleigh For Fire Truck (With Photo Gallery)
December 21, 2014
Santa traded in his sleigh Saturday for a big red fire truck as he visit many boys and girls in neighborhoods across North Escambia.
NorthEscambia.com was along for the ride as Santa rode along with the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, visiting with dozens of children, listening carefully to those last minute wish lists. Along the way, Santa stopped off to see a Christian Home community woman who is battling cancer; she had a special gift of cookies for Santa and the firemen.
For a photo gallery from the McDavid/Christian Home area, click here.
Pictured: Santa Claus rode along with the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue Saturday morning as he visited the McDavid and Christian Home communities. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
