Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students And Employee Of The Month
October 24, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their Students and Employee of the Month for September.
They are:
- Sixth grade — Weston Jones
- Seventh grade — Donald Alexander
- Eighth grade — Kameron Brown
- Employee — Megan Bryan, eighth grade world history
Pictured top: History teacher Megan Bryan; Kameron Brown, eighth grade; Donald Alexander, seventh grade; Weston Jones, sixth grade; and Dawn Inman, assistant principal. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chamber Of Commerce Calls For Light Industrial Use For Part Of OLF-8
October 23, 2024
The Great Pensacola Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter to the Escambia County Commission supporting light industrial user for a portion of the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road.
“Outlying Field-8 remains one of the only undeveloped areas in Escambia County that can be utilized as a site for economic development projects,” wrote David Deliman, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.”On behalf of the 1,100 chamber members, our board respectfully asks that you follow the agreed upon Master Plan that supports job creation which will grow our economy, increase county revenues, and provide quality jobs for our citizens.”
The letter dated Tuesday was sent to the commission following the chamber’s October board meeting and, Deliman wrote, “a robust conversation about this project and what we believe is the highest and best use for this property.” He noted that the DPZ Master plan previously approved by the commission calls for significant job creation from the acreage.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Math Takes Center Stage at Bratt Elementary School’s Math Family Night
October 23, 2024
Bratt Elementary School welcomed students and their families for an engaging and educational Family Math Night on Tuesday. The event aimed to strengthen math skills while promoting family involvement in learning
For a photo gallery, click here.
Students and parents participated in a variety of interactive math activities designed to make math fun. Teachers were on hand to guide families through each activity, offering tips on how to support math learning at home.
Family Math Night was part of the school’s ongoing efforts to create a collaborative learning environment, helping students succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Find Body Of Man, 69, Missing Since September
October 23, 2024
The body of missing Escambia County man has been located.
A local purple alert was issued on October 14 for 69-year-old Vernon “Bubba” Albion Flowers, Jr. He was last seen on September 28.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said his body was located last week, and the medical examiner’s office identified his body on Monday, October 21. The ECSO did not specify where he was found, but investigators said foul play is not suspected.
He was last seen in the 5500 block of Perkins Street in Bellview. At the time of the purple alert, deputies said he may have been in need of medical attention.
Flowers’ family has been notified.
Elementary Schools Celebrate 50th Day Of School With 1950s Flair
October 23, 2024
Area elementary schools marked a milestone Tuesday by celebrating the 50th day of school with a nostalgic nod to the 1950s. At Lipscomb Elementary School, students and staff embraced the throwback theme, donning poodle skirts, leather jackets, and other iconic ’50s attire.
The celebration highlighted the progress students have made in their first 50 days of learning. The day was designed to reinforce academic milestones while adding a fun, retro twist.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office Advocates on Behalf of Local Veterans
October 23, 2024
For veterans trying to navigate the process of getting benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, it can easily become overwhelming and confusing.
Escambia County resident and Navy Veteran Michael O’Neal, age 74, was struggling to get a benefits claim approved through the VA for knee surgery – until a friend told him about Escambia County’s Veterans Services Office.
“I had a documented injury that occurred while on active duty, and the VA kept denying me,” O’Neal said. “But these folks were able to put it together in such a way that they pretty much couldn’t say no.”
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office consists of two Veterans Services officers, Stevan Davis and Lisa Horan, who are accredited with the VA and experienced with helping veterans and their dependents navigate the VA benefits process.
Both veterans themselves, Davis and Horan are committed to working with veterans, their spouses, and dependents to file claims for benefits they are entitled to, acting as an advocate for them throughout the process. Most importantly, the Escambia County VSO provides these services to veterans completely free of charge.
“The veterans already paid for their benefits with their service, so why should anybody else get paid for what they’ve already paid for?” said Davis, who retired from the Air Force after 23 years of service. “We come across people who have done great things and have never asked anything back from their country.”
With a significant veteran population in Escambia County, the VSO stays busy, seeing approximately 65 veterans per week, in addition to outreach events, home visits, and numerous emails and phone calls for assistance. What was once a one-person office has now expanded to two Veterans Services Officers and one administrative assistant.
O’Neal said he worked with another agency before discovering the Escambia County Veterans Services Office, and the difference has been “night and day.” He retired from the Navy after 22 years of service, which included serving on Guam during the Vietnam War. O’Neal has experienced numerous health issues from exposure to Agent Orange, leading to various medical claims filed through the VA.
“We were able to get things accomplished with the VA that had not been able to get done before,” O’Neal said. “They just seem to do better work than anybody ese. They really care about us veterans – there’s no way you could possibly say enough good about them.”
Davis and Horan both emphasized that because they don’t work for the VA, their focus is on helping veterans file the best possible claim to receive the benefits they have earned through their military service.
“I’m your advocate,” said Horan, who served in the Marine Corps for seven years. “I’m a veteran, just like you. I work for you – I don’t work for the VA. Pretty much anything related to veterans, we’re going to do it if we know how to do it. If we don’t know how to do it, we’re going to find out how.”
The Escambia County VSO can assist veterans and their dependents with a variety of benefit claims, including medical treatment, disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, pensions, life insurance, burial claims, survivor benefits and more. Working closely with community partners including Waterfront Mission, Volunteers of America, and 90Works, the VSO also helps connect homeless veterans with available resources.
The VSO aims to make services as accessible as possible, visiting nursing homes throughout the county in addition to conducting home visits when the veteran or dependent cannot travel to the office.
As certified VSOs, Davis and Horan have access to the VA’s claims system, which provides them valuable information that can help when filing claims for veterans.
“That’s a huge benefit to us,” Horan said. “We have insight that the veteran doesn’t have.”
Although they can’t ensure every claim will be approved by the VA, Davis and Horan said they work hard to listen to veterans, gather the right information for their claim, and connect them with their benefits to the best of their ability. The most rewarding part for both of them is just being able to help veterans, many of whom express their appreciation through thank-you cards, letters of appreciation, or even through hugs and tears.
“Just seeing people get help is so rewarding, even if it’s a smaller claim,” Davis said. “For example, you get a guy who gets 10% for his hearing loss, he’s getting $171 a month, but he’s happy and thankful and comes and thanks you because now he gets hearing aids. And before, he couldn’t hear because he couldn’t get hearing aids – he couldn’t afford the $10,000 for a set of hearing aids.”
“That’s the great part of the job,” Horan said. “That’s what keeps us going.”
For more information about the Escambia County Veterans Services Office, visit MyEscambia.com/veterans. To schedule an appointment, please call 850-595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com. The Veterans Services Office is located at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Mini Cheer Clinic Is Friday
October 23, 2024
Northview High School is set to hold its annual Mini Chief Cheer Clinic on October 25, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the school gym. The clinic is open to children ages 4 to 12, offering an exciting opportunity for young participants to learn cheerleading skills.
For a fee of $35 per child, attendees will receive a shirt, snack, and drink. The clinic will focus on teaching individual cheer techniques, partner stunts, and spirit dances, all with an emphasis on having fun. The highlight of the event will be a special family performance at 7:10 p.m., where the children will showcase their new skills.
Additionally, participants will be invited to cheer alongside the Northview cheerleaders during an upcoming Northview Chief Friday night football game, offering them the chance to experience the excitement of cheering under the stadium lights.
Families are encouraged to dress their children in comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Those interested can contact Lauren McCall at 850-572-6412 or by email at lauren.ashleymccall@yahoo.com, or Alexis Wilson at 251-253-3503 or email dwilson10@ecsdfl.us.
NorthEscambia.com photo/grahic.
Escambia, Perdido Rivers Dropping Closer To Historic Lows
October 22, 2024
Rivers in the North Escambia area are dropping closer to historic lows.
At Century, the Escambia River was at 2.8 feet and falling at 7 p.m. Monday; the all-time record low level was 1.30 feet in 1954. The Perdido River at Barrineau Park was at 1.05 feet Sunday night. Low water records for the Perdido River are not available.
During a 50-to-100-year drought in July 2011, the Escambia and Perdido rivers were at 2.9 and 1.3 feet, respectively.
With no rain forecast for at least the next week, both rivers are expected to continue to fall.
Pictured: The Escambia River at Century last Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Over 8,500 Vote Early Monday In Escambia County
October 22, 2024
Over 8,500 people took advantage of the first day of every voting in Escambia County.
There were 8,517 early votes cast across 10 early voting sites Monday, With 11,112 vote-by-mail ballots that have been returned, voter turnout is already 19,640 or 9.15% for the 2024 general election in Escambia County.
Of those votes, nearly 53% were Republican, 32% were Democratic and 13% were no party affiliation.
Early voting will continue through November 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at 10 area locations:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N. Century Blvd, Century
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy, Bldg. 78, Room 136, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street, Pensacola
Voters may choose any one of the 10 locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device.
During the 2024 primary election, a total of 13,265 early votes were cast.
Jim Allen Elementary Accelerated Readers ‘Silly String’ Teachers
October 22, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School students when met their Accelerated Reader (AR) goals were able to “Silly String” a teacher recently. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
