United Way Donations Available To Tornado Victims
March 7, 2016
Escambia County and Gulf Coast citizens worked together to help generate resources for neighbors impacted by the EF3 tornadoes that devastated the area in February.
In order to distribute new in-kind goods donated by our community, the United Way “Store” will open Monday, March 7 – Friday, March 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1301 West Government Street. Names and addresses of assessed victims will be used to grant residents free access to the following items:
- Vouchers for clothing that can be selected at one of four Goodwill locations in Northwest Florida
- Vouchers for nonperishable food items and cases of water to be picked up at Manna Food Pantries.
- Towing vouchers for those with damaged vehicles
- 100 restaurant gift cards in $25 denominations donated by Jackson Hewitt
- 15 Whataburger gift cards in $100 increments donated by Whataburger
- 21 varying gift cards (grocery, retail outlets, home repair box stores) with values form $10 to $50
- Over 4,500 new toiletry items from feminine products to soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.
- Over 500 new paper and plastic goods including paper towels, toilet paper, plastic flatware, etc.
- Over 200 new cleaning supplies such as detergent, disinfectant wipes, trash bags, etc.
- Over 500 baby items such as diapers, baby wipes, washcloths, blankets, etc.
- Over 600 beverages including water, soda, juice, etc.
- Over 200 other new items including pillows, sheets, etc.
In addition to thousands of in-kind donations, local citizens have generously donated or pledged over $309,000 to support recovery. The first round of a special grant application process has concluded, and United Way of Escambia County Board Members awarded eight local nonprofits funding to help affected citizens in Escambia County. Funding Awards are as follows:
- The American Red Cross Award= $22,857 to provide individual financial assistance given after the award date to families affected by Century and Pensacola.
- Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) Award=$28,571 to purchase supplies and materials that will be used by volunteer laborers helping homeowners recover.
- Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida Award= $24,000 for direct assistance for the client, payable to vendors in the form of payments for past due mortgage, past due rent, first month’s rent, rental deposits, home repairs, hotel/motel, utility services, prescription, food, and counseling services. 30% of the award or $7,200 is to fund part of the cost required to cover additional case management support of survivors.
- Escambia County Healthy Start Award= $586 is for capacity required in the form of additional staffing needed to disburse in-kind goods (baby supplies) that United Way will provide to Healthy Start for client’s who have assessed damage.
- Legal Services of North Florida Award= $5,000 for capacity required in the form of legal support being rendered to county residents who need help resolve financial and housing stability issues caused by the tornados.
- The Salvation Army Award= $928
- Funding Awarded is for the extended hours needed to feed and shelter residents affected by the tornadoes.
- United Ministries Award= $9,857 to provide financial assistance with rent, repairs, mortgages and utilities payable directly to the vendor.
- 211 Northwest Florida Award= $19,286 to provide financial assistance in the form of rental deposits, first month’s rent, utility deposits and insurance deductibles payable directly to the vendor.
The total amount disbursed during the first round is $111,085.71.
The eight local nonprofit organizations selected provide direct aid to the families who were impacted by the North Escambia and Pensacola area tornadoes. Each organization that receives funding will sign a contract stating that they acknowledge their willingness to provide weekly and quarterly reports on how the funds are used.
The application process is split into three separate rounds. United Way hopes to make close to $100,000 of collected funding available for each round. The first round of applications closed March 1 at 5 p.m. The second round applications close on March 6 at 5 p.m., and the deadline for the third round applications is to be determined. Funding not disbursed during these three rounds, or donations that are collected after the third round concludes, will be open for a fourth application at a later time. United Way will announce that date once it is set and will keep the community informed of where and how their donations support local families who most need assistance.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Over 2700 Vote Early So Far In Escambia County
March 7, 2016
Another 550 people cast their ballots on Sunday, bringing the total weekend early voting total to 2,752 in Escambia County, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office. About 600 of those early votes were cast on one of two North Escambia locations for the March 15 Presidential Primary.
Early voting will continue be available this week at seven locations:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North
- Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Avenue
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street
- 5 Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor,
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Early voting will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, March 12. Early voters cast paper ballots through digital scanners, and may choose any one of the seven sites.
Another option for voters is to cast an absentee ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by email at absentee@escambiavotes.com, phone at (850) 595-3900, mail, or fax to (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, March 9. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.
The third option for voters is to cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day, March 15. Polls will be open from 7a.m. until 7 p.m. An AutoMARK ballot marking device is also available at each polling place and early voting site to assist persons with disabilities.
Florida is a closed primary state. Only registered Republicans and Democrats are eligible for this election. All eligible voters in Escambia County will be mailed a sample ballot. In addition, voters can verify their registration status, view their sample ballot and find their polling place by visiting EscambiaVotes.com. Voters are reminded to bring their photo and signature ID with them to the polls, and are encouraged to visit EscambiaVotes.com for complete voting information or contact the Elections Office by phone or e-mail with any questions.
Church Providing Disaster Relief Supplies, Food This Week
March 7, 2016
The Century Church of Christ at 430 East Highway 4 is providing disaster relief for tornado victims this week.
Distribution times Monday 1-4 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday 4-7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. Additional times for later in the week will be announced.
If you know anyone in need please call (850) 256-2588 or stop by during distribution hours. Items on hand include food boxes, infant boxes, personal hygiene boxes (anything needed in a bathroom), cleaning buckets, and more. The church has also received a trailer of frozen meals. Future support is planned as the needs of the families change.
Pictured: Disaster relief efforts at the Century Church of Christ. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navy Federal Named To Fortune 100 Best Places to Work List
March 7, 2016
Navy Federal Credit Union has again been named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list in 2016. The credit union, serving the armed forces and their families, is ranked #44 on this elite list.
“Navy Federal is a great place to work. Our team members are terrific and everyone strives to make our work environment the best possible,” said Cutler Dawson, President/CEO of Navy Federal. “It’s simple – take good care of our employees and they take good care of our members.”
“With more than 4,700 team members located at our Pensacola campus, our talented workforce continues to reaffirm our reasons for growing to 10,000 employees in this area,” Debbie Calder, EVP, Greater Pensacola Operations, said.
In recognizing the credit union, FORTUNE noted 95 percent of Navy Federal employees said they felt proud to tell others where they worked. “At Navy Federal, the strength and resilience of our corporate culture positively influences the work we do each day and contributes to the ability of our employees to make differences in our members’ lives. That’s something of which we are all very proud,” Dawson said.
This is the sixth year the credit union has been recognized, having first earned a spot in 2008, and its fifth consecutive year. Navy Federal remains the only credit union to have ever appeared on the list.
Pictured: Navy Federal’s location on Nine Mile Road in Beulah. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senate Signs Off On Alimony Overhaul
March 6, 2016
The Florida Senate approved an alimony overhaul that would establish formulas for alimony payments and includes a controversial provision dealing with how much time children should spend with their divorced parents.
The proposal, approved in a 24-14 vote Friday, is a compromise with the House, which originally objected to the inclusion of the child time-sharing provision. The measure now goes to the House.
The time-sharing issue was at the center of a bitter dispute between two prominent Republican lawmakers — Senate budget chief Tom Lee and House Rules Chairman Ritch Workman — that caused a similar bill to die last year. Lee wanted child time-sharing included in the bill, while Workman opposed it.
A compromise between Lee and Workman, reached late in this year’s session, did away with a proposed presumption that children spend their time equally between both parents. Instead, judges would “begin with the premise that a minor child should spend approximately equal amounts of time with each parent.”
Critics of the measure complained that there was little substantive change between the “presumption” and “premise” that children split their time between parents.
Workman has worked for years with alimony-reform advocates and the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section to revamp what all sides called Florida’s outdated alimony statutes.
The Family Law Section endorsed the alimony changes, but objected to the time-sharing provision, a position Lee’s new language hasn’t changed.
At Lee’s request Friday, the Senate amended the time-sharing provision to apply only to divorces or child custody cases filed after Oct. 1. Lee said that would address a concern about retroactivity expressed by Gov. Rick Scott in vetoing an alimony measure three years ago.
But Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner argued that the alimony portion of this year’s bill (SB 668) was still retroactive because the new guidelines would apply to people seeking modifications to their payments.
Under the proposal, the duration of alimony payments would be based on the number of years of marriage, while the amount of the payments would rely on a couple’s gross income — the higher earner’s salary minus the earnings of the spouse seeking alimony.
Joyner said the changes would “substantially reduce” payments to women, who make up 96 percent of alimony recipients.
“The reason for the change is not rationality. It is to reward the privileged,” Joyner, D-Tampa, said. “I think this is a travesty. It’s a disgrace and a shame that we would do this to those who have given their all for so many years to their families.”
But Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Lakeland Republican who sponsored the measure, said that she wanted to provide predictability for couples, who in the past have used the process of divorce to punish each other.
“Going through a divorce is heart-wrenching for all the parties,” said Stargel, who said she has been married since she was 17 years old and has never been divorced. “The parents get so angry and so mad at each other. … The children are the ones that suffer.”
The proposal is designed to provide clarity and remove some of the emotion that plays out during litigation, she said.
“This was supposed to be empowering to people who are going through a divorce,” Stargel said.
The House could vote on the legislation early next week. The annual legislative session ends next Friday.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Enjoy A ‘Night Of Nature’ Friday At The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
March 6, 2016
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center’s annual “Night of Nature” will be next Friday night from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. It will be a fun filled night for the entire family. Visitors can meet owls with the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, peer through telescopes into the beautiful night sky with the Escambia Amateur Astronomy Association, visit with some of the reptiles that reside at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center, and take a naturalist led hike through the woods while learning about creatures of the night.
There will be hot dogs, chips, baked goods, and water available for a small donation.
The Center’s wish List for donated items to help them care for their wildlife inhabitants includes fresh fruit and vegetables, wild bird seed, black oil sunflower seeds for birds, and suet. The staff and their volunteers would also appreciate Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, bleach and gift cards from the big box department stores, pet stores or hardware store. The Roy Hyatt Environmental Cente is located at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment For more information, call (850) 937-2117.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Tornado Destroyed 1,000 Acres Of Timberland
March 6, 2016
An EF-3 tornado with winds up to 152 miles per hour that ripped through the Century area on February 15 not only destroyed homes and businesses, it also damaged or destroyed about 1,000 acres of timberland.
An estimated 900 acres of forestland in Escambia County, Florida was affected along with an additional 100 acres in Escambia County, Alabama, along the 16.5 mile path of the tornado. The estimate is based on information from the National Weather Service, Florida Forest Service and Alabama Forestry Commission reconnaissance flights along the tornado’s path and limited ground truthing.
The majority of affected forest land in Florida is commercial timberland. More than 450 acres are industrial timberland and approximately 250 acres are private landowners. The remaining acreage is noncommercial timber.
If your timberland was affected by the tornado, you may contact the Florida Forest Service or the Alabama Forestry Commission for recommendations and lists of vendors to help with salvage and recovery. In Florida, please call Cathy Hardin at (850) 587-5237. In Alabama, please call Thomas Davis at (251) 867-7798.
Pictured: Timberland destroyed by the February 15 EF-3 Century tornado. Photos by Cathy Hardin for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Weather Continues
March 6, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 74.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Ashlan Harigel Named Miss EWMS (With Photo Gallery)
March 6, 2016
Ashlan Harigel, 14, was named Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Saturday night in “Celebrate Music” themed pageant at the school. She is the daughter of Dr. Sheldon and Kimberly Harigel.
Third runner-up was Tavianna Parker, second-runner up was Jayda Crabtree, and first runner-up in the annual pageant was Chloe Smith.
Other awards presented were: Miss Hospitality Raleigh Woodfin, Miss Congeniality Ashlan Harigel, Miss Photogenic Jayda Crabtree, Personality Award Cloe Smith, Physical Fitness Award Cloe Smith, Poise and Appearance Ashlan Harigel and People’s Choice Award Jordan Wilson.
For a photo gallery from the pageant, click here.
Editor’s note: Photo reprints are available. Email news@northescambia.com for details.
Pictured top: Miss EWMS Ashlan Harigel. Pictured inset: Second Runner-up Jayda Crabtree. PIctured below: First Runner-up Chloe Smith with last year’s Miss EWMS Destiny Cleckler. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Peebles Graduates From Basic Training
March 6, 2016
Army Private Brandon Peebles recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
During the weeks of training he received the Expert Marksmanship Badge for shooting 40 out of 40 targets for a perfect score. He was promoted from E1 to E2 during his training. He will be leaving for 44 weeks of AIT training for biomedical equipment specialist.
Private Peebles is the son of Shannon and Stephanie Peebles. He is the grandson of Raymond and Glenie Peebles of McDavid, and Thomas and Betty Jordan of Nokomis, AL.
He is a 2015 homeschool graduate.