Santa Visits With Camp Fire Kids
December 25, 2017
Santa Claus recently the children at the Camp Fire Youth Century Youth Learning Center. The kids has fun watching the Polar Express, eating cookies, drinking hot chocolate, and visiting with Santa Claus, who arrived on an Escambia County Fire Rescue truck. Each child had a chance to tell Santa their special Christmas wish.
For more photos, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Very Merry Sunny And Cool Christmas Forecast
December 25, 2017
Pictured: Sunset Christmas Eve in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Merry Christmas! Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Rain likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 50.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
New Year’s Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.
Daisy McGhee Long
December 25, 2017
Daisy McGhee Long, 86, passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2017 in Molino, Florida.
Mrs. Long was a native of Huxford, AL, former resident of Pensacola, FL and has resided in Molino, FL for the past 10 ½ years. She was a past employee of Florida National Bank, Accounting Supervisor with Northwest Florida Blood Bank and retired accounting supervisor with the Pensacola Naval Hospital. She was a member of Central Chapel Church. She is preceded in death by her husbands, James W. “J.W.” Long and Louis Ray Sims and a son, Dale Sims.
She is survived by one son, Winfred (Charlotte) Sims of Molino, FL; one daughter, Patsy F. (Robert) Carter of Panama City, FL; two step-sons, Wayne (Caroline) Long of Christian Home, FL and James R. “Ronnie” Long of Pensacola, FL; one brother, James A. McGhee of Seminole, AL; two sisters, Eunice Pierce of Beulah, FL and Eloise Stewart of Rabun, AL; thirteen grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Eloise Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, December 26, 2017 from 6 to 9 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jason Sims, Chad Sims, Rob Carter, Jeff Carter, Michael Sims, Jordan Carter, Zachary Sims and Taylor Sims.
NorthEscambia.Com Teams With NORAD To Track Santa Live
December 24, 2017
NorthEscambia.com is teaming up with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to track the progress of Santa Claus around the world.
Scott: Escambia County Added 2,700 Jobs Over The Past Year
December 24, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott has announced that the Escambia County area added 2,700 new private-sector jobs in the last year. The area’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent, down 1.1 percentage points from a year ago. Statewide, the unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent, the lowest rate in more than a decade.
“Florida businesses across the state have created nearly 1.5 million new jobs since December 2010 and it is great news that our unemployment rate remains at a 10-year low. Every job created is an opportunity for a Floridian to achieve their dreams and we will continue to work each day to secure a strong future for our state,” Scott said.
The industries with the highest growth over the year in Escambia County were professional and business services with 1,600 new jobs and leisure and hospitality with 1,300 new jobs. The Escambia County area had 4,754 job openings in November, including 1,364 openings for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations.
In the last year, 199,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 2.0 percent. This rate is nearly three times the national labor force growth rate of only 0.7 percent. In November, 16,990 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Escarosa and the state’s other 23 local workforce boards.
Santa Makes Fire Truck Run Through Century (With Gallery)
December 24, 2017
Santa traded his sled for a fire truck Saturday for special run through Century, Poplar Dell and Byrneville, compliments of the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. Along the way, he tossed out plenty of candy and Christmas wishes.
Santa is pictured on stops at the Dollar General on North Century Boulevard (above) and Century Health and Rehabilitation (below). Santa also posed for a few photos back at the Century Fire Station before heading back toward the North Pole.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Animal Shelter Awarded $75K Renovation Grant
December 24, 2017
The Escambia County Animal Shelter has been awarded a $75,000 grant for extensive renovations to the shelter, which will improve animal welfare while enhancing overall aesthetics at the shelter. The renovation process will also be filmed and broadcast nationally on PBS on an episode of Shelter Me, an uplifting film series that celebrates shelter pets and the people who help them.
The grant was applied for by Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter, a nonprofit organization that supports the shelter through resources, outreach, education and more. Renovations will include new cat adoption rooms, an outdoor cat area, new play yards for dogs and upgrades to the shelter’s lobby area.
“To be honored with a $75,000 grant is huge,” Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter Vice President Kim Rainer said. “To be able to give this to our shelter is exactly what we’ve been working for since we started.”
Rescue Rebuild is seeking volunteers for the Escambia County Animal Shelter project, including corporate groups and individuals. No construction or renovation experience are necessary, but volunteers should be medically fit for manual labor. The volunteers are currently needed Saturday, Jan. 20 through Monday, Jan. 28, although it is not required to volunteer each day. Tools are also not a requirement, but volunteers with tools are greatly appreciated. Click here to sign up.
Escambia County Animal Services Director John Robinson said the renovations will focus on increasing adoptability while making the animals’ time at the shelter more comfortable and enjoyable. Many of the issues with the animal shelter’s current setup stem from the fact that it was built about 20 years ago when shelters were not designed to promote adoptions and create a welcoming atmosphere for the public, Robinson said.
“Rescue Rebuild is going to put a facelift on the shelter that makes it a fun place for people to go to see animals, to adopt animals,” Robinson said. “There are a lot of things they’re doing here that are going to benefit the animals while they’re staying at the shelter. While you want their stay to be shorter, you also want it to be not so institutional-like. We want the animals to have fun and be happier and healthier because of the things that we do, and this is going to give us a lot of opportunities to do that.”
Rainer said although something as simple as a play area may seem small, changes like that will create a chain reaction that supports a more adoptable environment.
“Providing play yards for animals means every animal in that shelter gets out to play…that provides mental stimulation for them, it gets them out in the sun, in the fresh air and makes them happier,” Rainer said. “So when people come to meet a dog, they’re not going to see a frantic, panicked dog that’s been locked in their kennel too long. They’re going to be happier and more well-balanced, and that will improve the overall morale in the shelter.”
Although the monetary total of the grant is $75,000, Robinson said the true value is much greater since all of the renovation labor will be completed by volunteers. In addition to the animal area upgrades, the grant will cover renovations to the laundry room, dishwashing areas and a new studio where animals can be photographed for online adoption websites.
Through the grant, Escambia County Animal Shelter staff will also receive training from Dogs Playing for Life, a program for shelter dogs that promotes animal play groups to socialize dogs in a natural environment and support better adoption matches.
Robinson emphasized his appreciation to Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter, who took the initiative to create the grant application video and submit the necessary information to be awarded the grant.
“That’s the best part about having a partner organization like Friends, and all the things they do for our shelter – particularly a grant like this that is going to be so impactful on the shelter and the community,” Robinson said. “We would have never had the opportunity to do this without them.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s Beginning To Feel A Bit Like Christmas
December 24, 2017
Merry Christmas! Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 58.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 48.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
Need Last Minute Gift Wrapping? The Tate Band Has You Covered
December 24, 2017
The Tate High School Showband of the South will provide gift wrapping services at the Walmart on Highway 29 in Ensley today from from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Health Department Offers Tips For Safe And Healthy Holiday Season
December 24, 2017
This Christmas, the Florida Department of Health would like to remind everyone to stay safe, prepared and aware. With the excitement of the holidays in the air, it can be easy to forget about safety precautions and careful behavior.
“The Department of Health encourages everyone to put safety into practice, particularly during the holidays,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of State Dr. John Armstrong. “We want all Floridians and visitors to have memories of a joyous holiday season.”
The Department of Health offers the following tips to ensure a safe and healthy holiday season:
- Handle and Prepare Food Safely. As you prepare holiday meals, keep yourself and your family safe from food-related illness. Always wash your hands before preparing foods and after handling raw meat. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature and refrigerate promptly. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours. Also, be aware of ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.
- Practice Fire Safety. Use flame-resistant, flame-retardant and non-combustible materials and keep candles away from Christmas trees, decorations and combustible materials. Before you string lights on your house or trees, inspect the strands, to make sure there aren’t any frayed cords or cracked bulbs. Also, don’t use indoor lights outside and vice versa. Check the tag on the string of lights to be sure. Be sure to install or check smoke alarms, and unplug your Christmas tree during sleeping hours.
- Travel Safely. When traveling, have a trusted friend or neighbor keep an eye on your home and avoid speaking to strangers about your travel plans. Avoid driving alone or at night and always be aware of your surroundings. Text messaging can wait until you safely arrive at your destination. Always park in well-lit areas and do not leave the car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.
- Prevent Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning: As temperatures drop, the potential for CO poisonings rise. CO is a highly poisonous gas produced by burning fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, kerosene, charcoal, and wood. The Department discourages citizens from burning charcoal inside a house, garage, vehicle, or tent, including in a fireplace.
- Watch the Kids. Children need to be watched closely, especially when they’re eating and playing. Keep potentially-dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, choking hazards (like coins and hard candy) and other objects out of kids’ reach. Do not leave children unattended around space heaters or the fireplace.