Great American Smokeout: Free Resources To Help You Quit
November 19, 2015
The Florida Department of Health is celebrating the 40th annual Great American Smokeout todayby reminding Floridians of Tobacco Free Florida’s proven-effective resources to help smokers quit.
Tobacco users in Florida have access to free and proven-effective resources that double their chances of successfully quitting.
A growing body of evidence demonstrates that the Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Florida program is not only educating Floridians about the dangers of tobacco use, but is effectively helping them quit and stay tobacco free. Since Tobacco Free Florida launched in 2007, adult smoking prevalence has decreased from 21.1 percent in 2006 to 17.6 percent in 2014.
“Florida is proud to be a leader in educating tobacco users about the dangers of smoking and providing effective resources to help them quit,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “While adult smoking prevalence is on the decline, we must continue to save lives by preventing tobacco-related disease.”
Having a comprehensive quit plan increases a tobacco user’s success rate in quitting. Tobacco Free Florida’s resources are free and easy to access:
- Call Tobacco Free Florida at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help you assess your addiction and help you create a personalized quit plan.
- Tobacco Free Florida’s online cessation tool can be accessed at tobaccofreeflorida.com/webcoach.
- Local face-to-face help is available with the help of Area Health Education Centers, find one near you at tobaccofreeflorida.com/ahec.
For more information, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com.
IP 2016 Grants Info Meeting On Friday
November 19, 2015
International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill will award $50,000 in Foundation Grants in 2016 and is hosting a one-hour meeting Friday, November 20 at 1:30 p.m., to review the application process with qualifying non-profit organizations, schools and state and local government entities. The meeting will take place at the mill’s Employee Development Center, located at 375 Muscogee Road in Cantonment and will focus on eligibility, criteria and restrictions. Grant committee members will be available for questions.
The deadline for all 2016 grant applications is Monday, January 11, 2016. Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation in Memphis, which focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement and critical community needs. Applicants must be a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, school, or qualifying government entity to apply.
For more information about the Foundation, visit www.ipgiving.com. To reserve your seat at the workshop, contact Janice Cooper Holmes, communications manager, by email janice.holmes@ipaper.com or call 850-968-4203. Reservations to attend the meeting are required as space is limited; however, attendance is not mandatory to apply.
Keep The Wreath Green Fire Safety Campaign Begins December 1
November 19, 2015
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with City of Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, will be launching its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign beginning Tuesday, December 1. This initiative was designed to promote fire safety during the month of December, with officials hoping to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life-saving tips.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 23 different county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
There were nine fires reported in Escambia County during the 2014 Keep the Wreath Green campaign.
Pictured: A December 1, 2014, mobile home fire on Pine Forest Road. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
FFA Smoked Meat, Citrus Sales Underway
November 19, 2015
The annual Northview High School FFA Alumni Smoked Turkey and Boston Butt Sale is now underway, just in time for Thanksgiving. And, the Northview FFA’s Fruit Sale is also underway with delivery before Christmas.
Turkeys And Boston Butts
In the annual fund raiser, you can choose either a seven to nine pound smoked Boston butt or a 10-12 pound smoked turkey for $30 each.
Boston butts will be available for pickup on Monday, November 23, and the the smoked turkeys will be available for pickup on Tuesday, November 24 at either Highland Baptist Church in Molino or the Northview Ag Department.
Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Northview High School FFA Scholarship Fund. The sale is sponsored by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse in Molino. For a printable order form, click here. Orders must be placed by Thursday, November 19.
Fruit Sale
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5, 1/2 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Monday, November 30. The pickup date is Wednesday, December 16.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
County: Storm Damage Was Not Tornado (With Photo Gallery)
November 19, 2015
A Cantonment home was damaged as a line of thunderstorms moved through Escambia County Wednesday afternoon when a large limb from oak tree came crashing down on the roof, and officials say a tornado was not to blame.
The home is located on Highway 95A near Danielle Lane. Two people in the house escaped without injury, and they are not expected to be displaced, according to Escambia County officials.
The tree limb damaged the roof of the home and a window was knocked out. Other small trees in the area were toppled or snapped, and small yard items such as lawn chairs were blown about as the storms moved through before 1 p.m.
The damage was consistent with straight line winds or a microburst, according to Joy Tsubooka, Escambia County spokesperson.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Auburn Fans Win Northview High Food Drive
November 19, 2015
Students at Northview High School collected over 500 pounds of food during a college-theme food driver for Manna Food Bank. Auburn fans at the school came out on top, contributed about one half of the total food.
Pounds donated by fans were as follows:
Auburn: 243.76
University of Florida: 109.2
Alabama: 107.4
Florida State: 44.2
A total of 504.56 pounds of food were collected during the food drive.
Scott Wants More Funding For FDLE Crime Labs
November 19, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said he will propose spending $8.5 million to upgrade Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime labs, as the state grapples with a massive backlog of untested rape kits.
Scott said in a news release the money would go to lab equipment, improvements to a DNA database and crime-scene vehicles.
“The $8.5 million investment we are announcing today is critical to giving innocent victims the answers they rightfully deserve, including the thousands of women who have been victims to absolutely horrific, violent crimes,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
The issue has drawn heavy attention since Attorney General Pam Bondi held a news conference in September and disclosed that thousands of rape kits were untested across the state. Bondi called for more funding for crime labs, and lawmakers also have proposed bills aimed at speeding up the testing of evidence in sexual-assault cases.
Bondi issued a statement Wednesday thanking Scott for the funding proposal, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session. “Sexual assault is a horrific crime that has profound effects on its victims, and processing these kits will unbind key DNA evidence linked to unsolved crimes in Florida and beyond,” she said.
Oberley Signs To Swim For U.S. Air Force Academy
November 19, 2015
Tatiana Nicole Oberley signed a Letter of Intent to swim for the U.S. Air Force Academy Thursday afternoon.
Present for the signing were her parents Mark and Virtudes Oberley and her older brother Ensign Joshua Oberley. Also attending were her coaches from the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club, head coach Phil Kraus and head age group coach Greg Johnson. Tatiana is a senior at Pensacola Christian Academy where she carries a 4.0 GPA. She is a three time USA Swimming Scholastic All American. She currently plans to major in history at the Air Force Academy.
Pictured: (L-R) Coach Greg Johnson, Ensign Joshua Oberley, Virtudes Oberley, Tatiana Oberley (seated), Mark Oberley, and Coach Phil Kraus. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunshine Returns With Cooler Temps
November 19, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind around 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Sherlon Annette Thompson
November 19, 2015
Sherlon Annette Thompson, 65 of Pensacola, passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2015.
She was preceded in death by her father, C.W. Thompson.
Sherlon is survived by her mother, Dorothy Thompson; brother, Claywell (Brenda) Thompson; sisters, Debbie Klaus and Julie McQuigg; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Dr. Ted Traylor officiating.
Interment will follow in Almarante Cemetery in Laurel Hill.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.