Cox Donates $50,000 To Manna For Hurricane Sally Recovery
November 8, 2020
Cox Communications and Cox Automotive recently came together to support local nonprofits that provide assistance to families in the Gulf Coast recovering from Hurricane Sally. Manna Food Bank was awarded a $50,000 grant through the James M. Cox Foundation that will support local families as they continue to rebuild their lives following the storm. United Way of West Florida also received a $50,000 grant.
“We are proud to support these two great organizations,” said David Deliman, market vice president of Cox Gulf Coast. “They have always stepped to the forefront when people in our community need assistance, and their response to Hurricane Sally is no exception. We are happy to provide both Manna and the United Way with these funds to further help our neighbors recover.”
The James M. Cox Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. In response to the growing strain on the community from Hurricane Sally along with COVID-19, the foundation announced the two $50,000 donations to support people in need where Cox employees live and work.
“It was heartbreaking to see the amount of damage Hurricane Sally caused in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties,” said Anthony Pope, senior vice president and region manager of Cox’s Southeast Region. “We’re happy to do our part in helping these two outstanding organizations help get us further along the road to recovery.”
“We’re so grateful to Cox for this amazing gift of support to Manna and our community,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna Food Bank. “We know families in our area will be recovering from the effects of the hurricane for months to come. This gift will help us provide over 30,000 healthy meals to those in need.”
Local Man Wanted For Attempted Homicide, Kidnapping And Aggravated Battery
November 7, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Cantonment man that is now wanted for attempted homicide.
Michael DeWayne Robinson, 43, is also wanted for kidnapping and aggravated battery for an incident that occurred on Saturday, October 24 at a gas station in the 200 block of East Olive Road.
Robinson is considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached, according to the ECSO.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Investigators have not released any additional information about the incident.
At the time of of arrests as recent at 2017 in Escambia County, Robinson was a resident of Sheppard Street in Cantonment.
Northview Chiefs Beat The Jay Royals 41-7
November 7, 2020
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals 41-7 Friday night in Bratt to end the regular season for both teams.
It was the second matchup between the teams this season; Northview beat Jay 34-15 just two weeks ago.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview’s Jayden Jackson in fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game, currently averaging about 270 yards per game. He was also on top in Florida in total rushing yards.
Friday night, Jackson had nearly 140 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Northview opened scoring when Johnny Windham blocked a Jay punt. Jamarkus Jefferson 6 picked it up and was in on a 37-yard touchdown. The Chiefs were up 6-0 about three minutes into the first. Jackson added a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 12-nothing.
At 20-0 with a little over a minute to go in the half, quarterback Kaden Odom found Jamarkus Jefferson for an 87-yard touchdown run.
With the Chiefs up 41-0 in the fourth, Jay’s Bryce Stout had a 37-yard touchdown run to make it 41-7.
“I thought we did really well,” Northview Coach Wes Summerford said. “I’m so proud of our kids. The way we started….something we preach is fast start and make sure we have that. I thought we had that tonight. I thought early on we were firing on all cylinders, which is good.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Our offense has been explosive lately, and we just have to catch that defense, and I think we caught up tonight,” Summerford added. “We did a good job. The kids really responded well. ”
The Chiefs (6-1) will host Chipley (4-5) in the first round of the playoffs next Friday night. The Chiefs beat Chipley 45-13 last week. Also in round one, Jay (2-5) will be at Baker (10-0). The Royals lost to the Gators 18-13 in early October.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
GED Classes Offered At George Stone, Molino And Ensley
November 7, 2020
George Stone Technical College is offering fall GED classes on their main campus, the Molino Community Complex and at Ensley Elementary School.
GED classes available on GSTC’s main campus at 2400 Longleaf Drive (next door to Pine Forest High School) Monday through Friday with class offerings in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Tuition is $30 per semester. There is an open enrollment policy, allowing students to start anytime.
George Stone Technical College also offer GED classes every Monday and Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Molino Community Complex, 6450 North Highway 95A. Tuition is $30 per semester. Students who would like a little extra help can also come from 5-6: p.m. for open lab tutoring.
GSTC also offers GED classes at Ensley Elementary School every Tuesday and Thursday from4-6 p.m. Tuition is free at the Ensley Elementary School site, which is located at 501 E. Johnson Avenue.
All GSTC GED classes are actively taught by certified teachers and personalized instruction is given based on each student’s academic level. Tutors are also available. GSTC’s instructors use direct instruction, as well as materials that are aligned to the “actual” content of the GED test.
For information on any of the George Stone GED classes, contact Patricia Harrison at (850) 941-6200, ext. 2361 or pharrison@ecsdfl.us. GTSC can assist with registration.
Friday Night Football Finals
November 7, 2020
Here are high school football scores from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Gulf Breeze 31, Tate 9
- Northview 41, Jay 7 [Story, photo gallery]
- Washington 29, Milton 20
- Escambia 32, Pensacola High 6
- Niceville 42, Pace 7
- West Florida 13, Pine Forest 0 (Thursday night)
- Navarre 30, Crestview 13 (Thursday night)
ALABAMA (Playoffs)
- Escambia Academy 48, Springwood Academy 8
- Trinity Presbyterian 10, Flomaton 6
- T.R. Miller 42, Dadeville 14
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Holm Elementary Teachers Surprised with $11,000 Donation from Navy Federal For Hurricane Recovery
November 7, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union surprised teachers and staff at Holm Elementary School with an $11,000 donation to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation Friday for Hurricane Sally relief efforts.
The money will support Hurricane Sally relief efforts. The donation, gathered by Navy Federal’s Contact Center employees and School Partnership Program, will help purchase supplies for 26 Holm Elementary teachers whose classrooms were devastated, suffering major damage from the storm.
“Navy Federal told me when they first came to Pensacola that they wanted to be a partner with our schools and they sure have lived up to that,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “They are a valued partner and today’s contribution is just one example of how they continuously show up. When we have a need, even without a request, they use their resources and step up to the plate to fulfill that need. We are extremely thankful for the Navy Federal team.”
Navy Federal Credit Union’s School Partnership Program serves as the hub for more than 2,000 employees, who volunteer in a variety of ways with the Escambia County School District. During the 2019-2020 school year, Navy Federal employees served over 5,500 hours through various programs, including mentoring, virtual book club, pen pals and teaching financial education. This generous donation was also possible because of employees within Navy Federal’s Contact Center.
“We’re humbled to be able to provide some hope and help to our teachers who have remained dedicated to our community’s children in what has already proven to be a very challenging year,” said Keith Hoskins, senior vice president of Greater Pensacola for Navy Federal Credit Union. “We hope these funds will ease some stress and allow Holm Elementary School’s teachers to continue to have a huge impact on their students with the resources that they need.”
Holm Elementary School’s principal, Terri Fina, was just as surprised as the teachers when the ceremonial check was unveiled. School staff and faculty members were told they would be attending a routine meeting.
“This was a huge surprise and I think all of the teachers feel very heartened to know that people recognize how difficult it was for them and just how much they had been through,” said Fina. “The pandemic has made this year challenging and the hurricane on top of it made it even more stressful. This support from Navy Federal means everything to us.”
Ascension Sacred Heart Offering Free Rapid COVID-19 Testing on Saturday
November 6, 2020
On Saturday, Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart will offer rapid COVID-19 testing as well as the more common test that requires nasal swabs to be sent to a certified hospital laboratory for analysis.
The two types of tests will be provided at Ascension Sacred Heart’s drive-thru center off Bayou Boulevard in Pensacola from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, but all interested persons must be screened in advance by first calling 850-746-2684.
The rapid COVID-19 testing is being performed in partnership with Escambia County and Community Health Northwest Florida. The county allocated federal CARES Act funds to support the purchase of Abbott ID NOW rapid test kits.
While the Abbott nasal swab test can produce results within 15 minutes, it is most accurate when used on persons who have symptoms of COVID-19. The Abbott rapid test offers the opportunity to quickly identify positive cases, isolate those people and thus slow the spread of the virus.
In comparison, the traditional PCR test that is considered the “gold standard” test for persons who are hospitalized or without COVID-19 symptoms is very accurate, but it takes longer. Lab results can be returned from Ascension Sacred Heart’s laboratory in Pensacola within 48 hours.
For Saturday’s testing, the rapid test will be provided at no cost, but it will be reserved for residents of Escambia County who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The rapid test is more valuable and accurate when testing symptomatic patients only; the fast results limit an infected person’s exposure to others.
For anyone without symptoms or for people from outside Escambia County, the drive-thru center will offer the PCR test that is sent to the lab.
Flomaton Police Captain Resigns After Facebook Post
November 6, 2020
A Flomaton Police Department captain has resigned following a controversial Facebook post.
Scott Waldon submitted his resignation Friday.
“They need to line up ev1 of them and put a bullet in their skull,” Walden commented from his personal Facebook account on Thursday. His reply was made to another individual’s post that stated, “The idiots that voted for Biden hated Trump enough to throw the country away. Thank the lying liberals and democrats news media”.
In another post on his personal page, Walden said he was calling for the punishment for treason as prescribed by law, not any kind of violence.
He was placed on administrative leave on Thursday by Flomaton Police Chief Charles Thompson who said the statements could result in termination.
“This Police Department docs not, and will not, condone or represent the alarming comments, made by the former officer. They arc completely against this Department and Towns mission task. The Flomaton Police Department will conduct matters with Respect, Integrity, Pride, and strive for Law Enforcement Excellence. I want our Community, State, and Country to know we will continue to uphold our Oath of Office and serve our citizens and visitors to the best of this Department’s ability,” Thompson wrote in a press release midday Friday.
Here’s Who Claimed A $7 Million Winning Lottery Ticket Purchased In Century
November 6, 2020
An Alabama man that purchased a lottery ticket in Century has claimed his $7 million prize.
The Florida Lottery said Robert Sims, 61, of Brookwood, Alabama, just claimed a $1,000 a a Day for Life top prize in the multi-state Cash4Life game drawing on July 29. He chose the $7 million cash payout option.
Sims purchased his winning ticket at the Southern Pit Stop at 9321 North Century Boulevard. The convenience store will receive a $10,000 bonus commission for selling the top prize winning ticket.
The winning numbers for July 29 were 08-11-21-36-39 with a Cash ball of 02. The odds of winning $1,000 per day for life in the game is 1:21,846,048.
Cash4Life tickets are sold in nine states – Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia.
Tate High Volleyball Wins Inaugural Escambia County Championship
November 6, 2020
The Tate High School Lady Aggies won the inaugural Escambia County Championship over Washington High School.
The championship tournament was established to for volleyball teams that had their regular seasons shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Aggies were 6-11 headed into the contest, while the Wildcats were 6-11.
On Tuesday, Washington defeated Pensacola High, and Tate beat West Florida to advance to the finals.
Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
