Tate Graduate And Her Boyfriend, A Couple Of Pastors’ Kids, Win UWF’s Songs Of Impact Contest
July 2, 2020
Unable to fall asleep as the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic weighed on her, University of West Florida senior mathematics major and Tate High School graduate Delaney Beal decided to clear her mind by jotting down a few lyrics. As it turns out, those lyrics resonated with a significant number of voters in the UWF Songs of Impact contest.
Inspired to support their fellow Argonauts amid COVID-19, the UWF community answered the call through Songs of Impact. For three weeks in June, the public voted on their favorite songs and donated to UWF initiatives that help students in need. Beal and her boyfriend Nathan Keeton, a junior management information systems major, placed first with 1,221 votes for their inspirational song, “Home is Where the Heart is.”
“One night I couldn’t sleep and I wanted to write a song, and I thought, well, there’s that Songs of Impact contest, so I’ll try to write an impactful song,” Beal said. “It was right at the start of coronavirus and everything was up in the air. Some friends we’re connected with at UWF and Baptist Collegiate Ministries had to go back home, and UWF is like a second home so that’s what made me think of the song. Home is where your heart is, not necessarily a specific place. I wrote it in about 15 minutes.”
Beal and Keeton, who was homeschooled, share a passion for music rooted in their upbringings as pastors’ kids. Both serve on worship teams at Circle Community Church, where her father is the lead pastor, and Solomon’s Porch, where his father is the lead pastor. As the grand prize winners, the couple earn an opportunity to perform “Home is Where the Heart is” at UWF Homecoming, free studio time at the WUWF recording studio to professionally record their song, the possibility of their song being distributed to WUWF listenership or used in UWF promotional items, and a $300 gift card to the UWF Bookstore.
Tilden Whitfield, a UWF alumnus and program specialist for the Office of Student Retention Initiatives, performed a duet with his wife, Thapelo, to finish second with 689 votes for their song, “We Can Be.” The couple earned a $100 gift card to the UWF Bookstore. Music major Tris Weeks earned a $50 UWF Bookstore gift card for placing third with 671 votes for her cover of “Stick Together” by Staying Apart.
The three prize-winning entries beat out an impressive field of competitors. UWF received more than 50 submissions from faculty, staff, students and alumni after the call to submit songs and lyrics went out in April. After thorough vetting, 25 submissions advanced to the voting phase. The Songs of Impact campaign generated more than 6,300 votes from the public.
“We listened to all the people and saw there were some pretty talented people in the competition that we were intimidated by,” Keeton said. “Everyone we heard back from, though, said they loved our song, which surprised me.”
The winning couple chose the Student Emergency Relief Fund as their cause for the public to support. Other UWF initiatives chosen by those who submitted music included Argo Pantry and scholarship funds.
To learn watch more videos from the entrants, visit uwf.edu/songsofimpact.
Flomaton Municipal Complex Once Again Closed To The Public
July 2, 2020
The Flomaton Municipal Complex has been closed again as a precautionary measure during the spread of COVID-19.
Any court or utility payments can be made in the facility’s drive-thru windows or the town’s online portal.
Anyone needing the Flomaton Police Department should call 911 during an emergency. For non-emergent matters, use the call box by the front entrance or phone (251) 296-5811.
All essential services in the town remain operational at this time.
Final Registration Next Week For Ransom Middle Band, Chorus And Orchestra
July 2, 2020
Next week is the final chance to sign up for music classes at Ransom Middle School.
Final registration will be held July 7 and July 9 from 5-7 p.m. at the Ransom bus ramp for band, chorus and orchestra. Parents and students will remain in their vehicles for proper social distancing.
No music experience is necessary.
For more information, email:
Jwalker2@ecsdfl.us (band)
Ahorne@ecsdfl.us (chorus)
CMcConnell@ecsdfl.us (orchestra)
Cantonment Improvement And Pensacola MESS Hall Team Up For Food, Science Kit Distribution
July 2, 2020
For four months now, the volunteers of the Cantonment Improvement Committee have distributed food weekly to those in need.
Hundreds upon hundreds of families have been served, including last week when 230 cars went through the line as food was distributed to 815 people.
This week, the Pensacola MESS Hall joined in, distributing about 200 takeaway STEM (science, technology, engineer and mathematics) kits. The Mess Hall said it was “like a Happy Meal, but better”.
The CIC accepts food donations each Monday at 3 p.m. for distribution at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Runaway Juvenile From Century Found Safe Days After She Went Missing
July 1, 2020
Here’s an update to a story we brought you June 25. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday afternoon that a missing runaway 14-year from Century has now been located and is safe.
Previous story:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a missing runaway juvenile from Century.
Taniyah Paige, 14, was last seen June 23 in the 100 block of Henry Street in Century.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Photo courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Health Care Leaders ‘Stand United’ In Urging Face Mask Use In Escambia County
July 1, 2020
Local health care leaders have sent a letter to each Escambia County commissioner urging the use of face coverings in the county.
The letter stops short of asking the commission to enact an ordinance mandating mask use. The Pensacola City Council passed a mandatory masking ordinance Tuesday night that includes fines for non-compliance.
Baptist Hospital Mark Faulkner said Wednesday that the hospitals are simply reinforcing the CDC guidelines.
“As the positive case counts of COVID-19 continue to rise in our community, and as we see a key driver of this rise being asymptomatic spread, we strongly urge all public to follow the CDC recommendation that people wear masks or cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain or people choose not to follow social distancing measures. Other than mass closures, masks and cloth face coverings are one of the few tools currently available as we seek to mitigate the spread of the disease while we move into a “new normal” of life with COVID-19 among us,” the letter stated.
“We know that in our community, this virus is being spread by people who do not display any symptoms and do not know they are infected. This is why it is critically important for everyone to wear masks or cloth face coverings in public settings and to continue to practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from other people. In situations where a safe distance cannot practically be maintained, it becomes even more imperative for every individual – with or without symptoms of the virus – to wear a mask or cloth face covering,” the letter continued.
The letter was signed by Faulkner, West Florida Hospital CEO Gay Nord, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola President CEO Dawn Rudolph and Community Health of Northwest Florida Executive Director Chandra Smiley with the statement, “..we stand united in our support of all wearing masks or cloth face coverings for the protection of our community”.
“The letter is not actually us mandating masking obviously, but we are asking and strongly encouraging based upon the science,” Nord said during a morning “Coffee With the Commissioner” online virtual meeting with District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. “The evidence is there that it works…Now that things have opened back up, we want to err on the side of caution and make sure that we do encourage our citizens to wear masks.”
The Escambia County Commission meets Thursday afternoon at 5:30. Mandatory face coverings are not on the released agenda.
NEP 7/8 Wins Coach Pitch Tournament Championship
July 1, 2020
NEP’s 7/8 team won a weekend coach pitch tournament with a 12-8 victory in the finals over the Daphne Trojans. They were 4-0 in the tournament. Pictured: (front, L-R) Max Hall, Peyton Jarman, Parker Jarman, Frederick Woods III, Kingston Brown, (middle) Tucker Gregson, BB Barton, Eli Nelson, Braxton Reid, Mason Hoock, Jaiden Stanton, (back) coaches Steven Gregson, Brian Hoock and Ben Nelson . Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Council Affirms Mask Requirement, Approves Fines For Violations
July 1, 2020
The Pensacola City Council unanimously approved an emergency mask ordinance Tuesday night.
The council’s vote affirms an order issued last week by Mayor Grover Robinson requiring face coverings by employees and patrons in Pensacola businesses, and it also adds fines for violations.
The fine for violating the ordinance is $50 for the first offense, $125 for the second offense, $250 for the third offense. A fouth violation carries a fine of up as much as $500 and potentially 60 days in jail.
The ordinance applies only within the city limits of Pensacola, not in unincorporated Escambia County.
The ordinance order does not apply to:
- A child under 6 years of age (updated from 2 years old).
- A person who has one or more medical conditions or disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering, including anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. A person asserting this exception for medical conditions or disabilities is not required to carry or produce documentation verifying the health condition to a business or law enforcement.
- An individual who is obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
- Public safety, police, fire, and other life safety and health care personnel whose personal protective equipment requirements are governed by their respective agencies and employers.
- A person in a government building owned or controlled by the federal, state, or Escambia County governmental entity or agency, the Escambia County School Board, or a County constitutional officers. If the governmental entity or agency occupies only part of a building, this Emergency Ordinance does not apply to that portion of the building.
- A person exercising while observing at least six feet of distancing from other persons.
- Persons while eating or drinking. It is the intent of this provision that a face covering be worn while traversing a business for ingress and egress, to use the restroom facilities, and while standing when persons are unable to maintain at least six feet of distancing.
- Business owners, managers, and employees who are in an area of a business that is not open to customers, patrons, or the public, provided that six feet of distance exists between persons. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation area of a business – those persons must wear face coverings.
- An individual in a lodging establishment who is inside of the lodging unit, including, but not limited to, a hotel room, motel room, vacation rental unit, timeshare unit, or similar unit.
- Children in a business operating as a daycare or children’s camp so long as the business is following CDC and Escambia County Department of Health guidelines for those activities.
Atmore Plans Incentives To Land New $82 Million Ag Processing Plant With 100 New Jobs
July 1, 2020
The City of Atmore is working to lure a new industry that will mean about 100 new jobs and millions of dollars invested in the community.
Mayor Jim Staff said the city plans to offer incentives to locate to locate an Alabama farmer-owned agricultural processing facility in Atmore. It will have a capital investment in excess of $82 million and will create at least 100 new full time jobs with an anticipated average hourly wage of $17, exclusive of benefits.
Staff said Atmore is partnering with the State of Alabama to land the industry.
The city is offering tax abatements and land for the construction of the facility and a railroad spur to service the plant. The state is offering cash rebates for jobs credits and investment tax credits for the capital investment in Alabama. Additionally, the state is offering direct cash reimbursement for training costs and additional in kind services by the Alabama Industrial Development Training Office.
The City of Atmore also intends to apply for grants which, if awarded, will allow the construction of an adjacent rail transfer yard which will service industries in Atmore and in the surrounding region with the ability to transfer products between highways and railways in a cost effective manner.
Projections show a direct impact of retail spending from payroll over the first 20 years of over $39 million and an indirect impact of over $28 million. The city is expected to receive a direct impact in retail spending from payroll in taxes of over $1 million and an indirect impact of over $700,000.
Complete details, including the name of the facility and their exact product, have not yet been announced.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Seriously Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash
July 1, 2020
One person was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 29 Tuesday night.
It happened about 10:50 p.m. near Wendy’s at Highway 29 and East Kingsfield Road. One victim was transported by Escambia County EMS as a trauma alert to an area hospital. A second person in the vehicle refused medical treatment.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
