Gulf Power Announces Power Restoration Timetable

October 15, 2018

Over 60,000 Gulf Power customers remained without power Sunday night as a result of Hurricane Michael as the company announced a timetable to restore power.

Panama City Beach east of Highway 79 to the Hathaway Bridge is estimated to be restored by midnight, Oct. 15.
Washington, Jackson and Holmes counties in the following areas:
Areas north of I-10 in Bonifay and Chipley, and all of Caryville, Graceville and Campbellton are estimated to be restored by midnight, Oct. 17.
Vernon, Sunny Hills and the surrounding areas south of I-10 are estimated to be restored by midnight, Oct. 18.
Customers who live in the Cypress and Apalachee areas with a mailing address of Sneads, Florida, served by Gulf Power, are estimated to be restored by midnight, Oct. 1Downtown Panama City, Callaway, Parker, Lynn Haven, Youngstown and surrounding areasare estimated to be restored by midnight, Oct. 24.

“Hurricane Michael was an unprecedented storm, and Gulf Power is on a mission to ensure an unprecedented response.” said Stan Connally, Chairman, president and CEO of Gulf Power. “We know that our customers are counting on us, so they can begin rebuilding their lives. We are working safely and aggressively around the clock to get the lights back on.”

Click image to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Molino Tax Office Back Open After Communications Problem

October 15, 2018

The Molino office of the Escambia County Tax Collector reopened Monday after being closed due to a communications issues. The issue have plagued the office since last Thursday.

All other tax collector offices are also open:

Downtown – 213 Palafox Place
Marcus Pointe – 6451 North W Street
Warrington – 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Mary Alice Peterson

October 15, 2018

Mrs. Mary Alice Peterson, 82, passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2018 in Pensacola, Florida.

Mrs. Peterson was a native of Canoe, AL and has resided in Bratt, FL since 1975. She was a navy wife serving at various duty stations around the country. She was a member and Sunday School Teacher at the Bratt First Baptist Church where she filled various positions. She was also a cake decorator, doll maker, seamstress, Girl Scout leader and softball coach. She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Myra Gilman; sister, Helen Wolfe and brother, Luther J. (Junior) Gilman.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Roland D. (Pete) Peterson of Bratt, FL; one son, Gregory “Greg” (Tracy Ann) Peterson of Decatur, TN; two daughters, Janice Ann Peterson (David) Coleman of Bratt, FL and Karen Peterson (Dave) Tibbals of Perdido Key, FL; two brothers, James Edward (Sherrye) Gilman of Bratt, FL and Robert Earl (Gloria) Gilman of Bratt, FL; four sisters, Geraldine Godwin of Bratt, FL, Willie-Jean (Alton) Edwards of Bratt, FL, Betty Lou (Fred) Moore of Bratt, FL and Patricia (Rick) Gregory of Bratt, FL; one brother-in-law, Glenn Wolfe of Bay Minette, AL; ten grandchildren, Wayne, Patty, Jade, Jennifer, Jessie, Mari, Samantha, Ashley, Amanda and Nick and eighteen great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 3:00 PM at the Bratt First Baptist Church with Rev. Delbert Redditt officiating.

Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Andrew Wilson, Dennis Weaver, Wayne Coleman, Caleb Jernigan, Dave Tibbals and Michael Weaver.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Patty Stacey, Jade Wilson, Jennifer Wilson, Jessica Coleman, Mari Tibbals, Samantha Yoho, Ashley Peterson, Danny Gilman and David Coleman.

Memorial may be made to the Godwin Cemetery Fund.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries

Impact 100 Awards $1.1 Million In Grants To 11 Groups

October 15, 2018

IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropic organization awarded $100,300 each to 11 nonprofit organizations Sunday for a total of $1,103,000.

With a record number 1,103 members in its 15th year, IMPACT 100 selected the following the grant recipients:

ARTS & CULTURE

Pensacola High School Band Boosters Association
Project: Music is for Everyone at PHS

Pyramid
Project: Bringing the Arts to the Underserved in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties

EDUCATION

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge
Project: Return to the Wild

Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence
Project: Swim, Soar, and Fly into Science Inspiring Hands-on Exploration of Our Natural World

ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION

Miracle League of Santa Rosa County
Project: Miracle Field of Dreams

Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola
Project: Restoring Veterans Memorial Lighting

FAMILY

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
Project: There’s No Place Like Home

Sacred Heart Foundation
Project: “Paw”erful Medicine – Using Animal-Assisted Therapy to Make “Ruff” Days a Little Brighter

HEALTH & WELLNESS

KlaasKIDS Foundation
Project: Missing Child Response & Child Exploitation Prevention

Opening Doors Northwest Florida dba EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless
Project: Opening Doors on a Mission to Reach, Respond, Restore

Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Inc.
Project: REAP’s Women’s Re-entry Portal – Pathway for Success

“At the end of today, $10,498,000 has been awarded through 98 grants to 72 nonprofit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties since 2004. These are significant grants that make a lasting impact,” said Meri Asmar, president of IMPACT 100.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Win Prizes In Contest For Northview Baseball Cartoon Logo Design

October 14, 2018

The Northview High School baseball team is holding contest to find the best cartoon logo for the team. Students and community members can enter their best Chiefs Baseball drawing for a chance to win free admission to Chiefs baseball games for a year, a Northview Baseball shirt with their logo, and they will get to see their logo permanently placed on the press box.

The design should form an “upside down” triangular shape as seen in the Baltimore Orioles example.

Submissions are due by October 19 to coach Jeremy Greenwell or coach Brad Lowery, or emailed to blowery1@escambia.k12.fl.us.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

‘May God Be With All Of Us’ – Army Combat Photographer Shares Michael’s Small Town Damage

October 14, 2018

“My home, the city of southern charm, has been laid to waste. Honestly the pictures do not do the destruction, justice. May God be with all of us.”

Those were the words of U.S. Army combat photographer SPC Scott Hagan after seeing the devastation of Hurricane Michael in his hometown of Marianna.

“I am fortunate as an active duty soldier stationed in California, whose career field happens to be combat camera; that I was allowed to come home on Emergency Leave to not only help my family and friends from this monstrosity, but to document this truly historic, disheartening, and immense event,” he said.

Some of the news we’ve seen following Hurricane Michael has centered on Panama City and Mexico Beach. While the devastation there is catastrophic, residents of small towns like Marianna and Blountstown are hurting. They are the little communities that do not want to be forgotten.

“The destruction is hard to describe. It’s as if a huge tornado hit the entire county. The majority of trees are down or snapped in half. No one was left untouched, no one. Half the homes in (Jackson County) are in ruins.”

“The damage to businesses in my community are just as bad. The hospital, the sheriff station, and even Walmart all are without roofs. Historic downtown is heartbreaking. Monuments and buildings from the late 1800s are no longer standing.”

To see more of Hagan’s pictures, click here.

Pictured top: “The pic of the storm right here,” Hagan said. Pictured below: Historic downtown Marianna. Picture further below: What is left of the inside of a Hibett Sports store, the old train depot in Marianna and a damaged home downtown. Hagan said about half the homes in the area sustained heavy damage. Pictured bottom: The historic St. Luke Baptist Church, founded in 1867, did not survive Hurricane Michael. Photos by SPC Jeffrey Scott Hagan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Escambia County Early Voting Site Added At UWF

October 14, 2018

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford has added a ninth early voting location for the General Election at the University of West Florida, the county’s second on a college campus. Stafford is partnering with UWF to provide the early voting location, open to all Escambia County voters, in Building 90 on the main campus. Escambia County has operated an early voting site at the Genealogy Branch Library on the campus of Pensacola State College since 2006.

All nine early voting locations will be open for 13 consecutive days, October 22 through November 3 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is the most days and locations ever offered to Escambia County voters.

The nine General Election early voting locations include:

Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
Main Library, 239 Spring Street
Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Mobile Hwy/Pine Forest Rd Early Voting Center, 6675 Pine Forest Road
Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
University of West Florida, Building 90, Campus Lane

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Sunny And A Little Warmer Today, Rain Chances Returning Monday

October 14, 2018

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

How You Can Help Hurricane Victims

October 14, 2018

A cross still stands this Sunday at a church in Lynn Haven, on the outskirts of Panama City, after Hurricane Michael heavily damaged the building and destroyed much around the church.

Here are several ways you can help Hurricane Michael victims:

Florida Disaster Fund

Florida Disaster Fund has been activated to help. Administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation, the fund receives donations that go to disaster-relief efforts. To make a contribution, visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10 or DISASTER25 to 20222 to make a $25 donation. It is the state’s official fund for disaster response and recovery.

Volunteer To Help

To volunteer in the recovery efforts for Hurricane Michael visit VolunteerFlorida.org.

American Red Cross

The Red Cross has set up a fund specifically for Hurricane Michael victims. Click here to donate online and find information on how to donate by phone or mail.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has a web page dedicated to collecting donations for victims of Hurricane Michael. Donations can also be made my phone or through mail, click here for more information.

Donate Blood

OneBlood is urging anyone who is eligible to donate blood. Find a list of OneBlood locations and blood drives here. In Pensacola, visit the Pensacola Donor Center at 1999 East Nine Mile Road 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Ransom Middle Students Vote For Their Favorite Things

October 14, 2018

Over 400 Ransom Middle School students voted recently for their favorite things using official voter equipment from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office. Students chose Chick-fil-A, hip hop music, football and P.E. class among their favorite things. Results were as follows:

Automaker