Jacquelyn “Jackie” Beck
December 2, 2015
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Beck, 81, passed away peacefully in her home on November 27, 2015. At the age of 12, Jackie accepted Jesus into her life. At 13 she began her journey of playing piano for her Lord and Savior. She had a ladies trio that traveled all over southern Georgia while holding a full time job with the Dougherty County School library. She played piano at Brent Baptist, Burgess Road Baptist and Byne Memorial Baptist in Albany, GA. Additionally she played piano for Olive Baptist Church, Florida Town Baptist Church and the city wide revival at the Civic Center in Pensacola.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Voncile Hicks; brother, Ernest Hicks, Jr.; sons, Mike and Randy Beck; and daughter, Teresa Beck.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years of marriage, John; sister, Betty Bilinski; son, Joe Johnson; daughers, Jillian Johnson and Kathy Beck Ellis; grandson, Jason and Dora Ellis; granddaughters, Jana and Dale Roberts and Carrie and Josh Turberville; grandson-in-law, David Gruenberg; great-grandson, Jakob Gruenberg; and great-granddaughters, Jessica Gruenberg and Madisyn Rae Frost.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Olive Baptist Church. Dr’s Traylor and Passmore will officiate the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Covenant Hospice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phillipians 4:13
Christmas Events, Including A Parade In Molino, Planned For Saturday
December 2, 2015
Several Christmas events are planned for Saturday in the North Escambia area.
An Evening in Bethlehem
The 6th annual Evening in Bethlehem will be held on Saturday, December 5, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church Sanctuary. No tickets or reservations are required. For more information call (850) 968-6006 or visit www.gonzalezmethodist.org or www.facebook.com/GUMCbethlehem. The church is located at 2026 Pauline Street in Cantonment.
Molino Christmas Parade
The Molino Christmas parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. The parade will start at the west end of Crabtree Church Road and end at Molino Ballpark, where Santa will be waiting to visit with all the good little boys and girls. Pre-register at Jimmy’s Grill or day of the parade. Registration cost will be $30 for floats/trailers, $20 for vehicle and $10 for horses. Line-up for the parade is 10:15 a.m. All proceeds will benefit children in need in the community. Donations such as toys and non-perishable food can be dropped off at Jimmy’s Grill. For more information, contact Charity Sheldt at (850) 324-4463 or Jimmy’s Grill 754-0041. Rain date will be Sunday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Byrneville Christmas Festival
Byrneville Elementary’s PTO will hold their annual Christmas Festival on Saturday, December 5, beginning at 11 a.m. There will be games, vendors, a trolley, entertainment, and food. Santa will also be on hand for photos. A basket auction begins at 1 p.m. The festival will be held at the Byrneville Community Center.
RESTORE Advisory Meetings Scheduled
December 2, 2015
The Escambia County RESTORE Advisory Committee will meet during the following dates listed below at 4 p.m. in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building Board Chambers, located at 221 Palafox Place in Pesnacola:
- Wednesday, Dec. 9
- Monday, Dec. 21
- Monday, Jan. 11
- Monday, Jan. 25
Meetings can be viewed live on MyEscambia.com/ectv, on channel 98 for Bright House, Cox Cable and Mediacom (Pensacola Beach) subscribers and channel 99 for AT&T U-verse subscribers and are available on ECTV On Demand.
Escambia County’s Keep The Wreath Green Fire Safety Campaign Begins
December 1, 2015
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with City of Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, will be launching its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign beginning Tuesday, December 1. This initiative was designed to promote fire safety during the month of December, with officials hoping to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life-saving tips.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 23 different county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
There were nine fires reported in Escambia County during the 2014 Keep the Wreath Green campaign.
Escambia County offers the following safety tips, one for each day of the month:
Dec. 1 - Prior to buying a live tree, test its freshness by pulling along a small branch. If the needles fall away in your hand, the tree is already too dry.
Dec. 2 - Prior to buying an artificial tree, make sure the tree bears a UL label of approval and be certain the tree is made of fire retardant materials.
Dec. 3 - To keep a live tree fresh, cut 1-2 inches from the bottom to expose fresh wood and place it in water. Make sure your tree stand can hold water. Check the water level every day, and add water as needed. Do not place trees near sources of heat like radiators, space heaters or heating ducts.
Dec. 4 - Use candles with care. Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Burn candles inside a 1-foot circle of safety, free of anything that can ignite. Use sturdy candleholders that will not tip over. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Dec. 5 - Make sure all holiday lights are UL labeled and inspect them prior to use. If possible, use LED lights since they burn cooler. Check each set of lights for broken or crushed sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard all damaged lights.
Dec. 6 - When hanging holiday lights, either on your tree or outside, make sure you follow the manufactures guidelines on how many strands can be connected together. Usually it is not more than 3. Make sure you do not overload electrical outlets or circuits. Do not run power cords underneath rugs or carpets.
Dec. 7 - When decorating, remember not to block stairways, doors or windows. Remember to always unplug lights and extinguish candles before leaving the house or going to bed.
Dec. 8 - Have a plan in case you have a fire: Step 1– Design a plan for your home and your family. Make sure every one understands exactly what to do and where to go in an emergency. Also, make sure you have enough smoke alarms.
Dec. 9 - Have a plan in case you have a fire: Step 2 – Know two ways out of every room and practice them to make sure you can do it.
Dec. 10 - Have a plan in case you have a fire: Step 3 – Make sure you crawl low under smoke and feel closed doors for heat. If you come to a door that is warm, find another way out.
Dec. 11 - Have a plan in case you have a fire: Step 4 – If you become trapped, close doors and stuff the door cracks to keep smoke out. Try to call 911 and let them know exactly where you are and signal for help from a window.
Dec. 12 - Have a plan in case you have a fire: Step 5 – Pay special attention to young children, elderly people and the disabled. Be sure to include them in your plan.
Dec. 13 - Have a plan in case you have a fire: Step 6 – Get out as fast as you can and stay out. Never go back inside. Once you’re safely outside have someone go to a neighbor’s house and call 911.
Dec. 14 - Remember, matches and lighters are tools for adults. Store them in a safe place above the reach of children. Also teach youngsters to never touch them, instead tell a grownup.
Dec. 15 - Have a fire extinguisher readily available in your home and make sure it is fully charged. Know how to use your fire extinguisher. Remember the PASS system:
- Pull the pin
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the trigger lever
- Sweep the stream side-to-side at the base of the fire
Dec. 16 - Have your chimney and fireplace inspected by a professional to make sure it’s clean and free of obstructions. Never burn paper or trash in the fireplace.
Dec. 17 - Be sure your fireplace is covered with a metal screen or glass doors to prevent the spread of sparks and fire.
Dec. 18 - Make sure to have a working smoke alarm outside of every bedroom and on every level of your house. Make sure to test monthly and change batteries every time you change your clocks.
Dec. 19 - With children out of school, people doing yard work, dry vegetation, high-winds and low-humidity, remember that wildfires can happen quickly.
Dec. 20 - If you are enjoying the great outdoors during the holidays, don’t leave campfires or warming fires unattended – make sure they are completely out!
Dec. 21 - Never leave cooking food unattended. Handles on stovetop pots should be turned away from the front, so they won’t be accidentally tipped or knocked over.
Dec. 22 - Before you cook that holiday dinner be sure that the oven and stovetop are clean, free of grease, and are in good working order.
Dec. 23 - Keep cooking areas clean and free of grease and other combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packaging), which can catch fire easily.
Dec. 24 - Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace because of the high flammability, dangerous sparks and possibility of flash fires.
Dec. 25 - Remember to be safety conscious and have a happy holiday.
Dec. 26 - When purchasing a space heater look for heaters that have safety features such as cut-off switches that turn the heater off if they accidentally tip over or overheat.
Dec. 27 - Space heaters need space. Make sure they are at least 3 feet away from combustible materials such as draperies, furniture, bedding, clothing and decorations. Also teach youngsters to keep away from them.
Dec. 28 - Use only UL labeled space heaters and follow the manufactured instructions. Never use stoves, ovens or other cooking appliances to warm your home.
Dec. 29 - Turn space heaters off when you leave the room. Also, remember to constantly supervise children and pets when space heaters are in use.
Dec. 30 - Don’t cut up and burn your tree in the fireplace. Burning evergreens give off tar and creosol, which can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Dispose of your tree by following the instructions of your local trash disposal service.
Dec. 31 - Don’t drink and drive, have a designated driver or call a friend
Pictured: A December 1, 2014, mobile home fire on Pine Forest Road. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
A Little Rain, Followed By Cooler Temps
December 1, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Tuesday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Jay Elementary Teacher Named Discovery Education Program Champion
December 1, 2015
Jay Elementary School teacher Kristen Davis has been named a Discovery Education Program Champion for this school year.
Chosen through a competitive application process, Davis was selected based on her passion for science and exemplary use of Discovery Education’s programs. Davis joins 13 fellow Program Champions who will represent specific topic areas – including STEM, health and wellness, and social studies. These educators will share various resources and supporting programs – available at no cost from Discovery Education and its partners – with their colleagues and peers around the world. Champions will also represent Discovery Education and its partners at education events and virtual conferences, and help shape the development and implementation of future Discovery Education programs, to ensure optimal efficacy and classroom relevance. To kickoff this new initiative, Davis and the other Program Champions recently attended a two-day launch event at Discovery Education’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.
Davis will share her passion with others on the topic of science. Specifically, Davis will share information on The Good Egg Project: Education Station, an online destination offered by the American Egg Board and Discovery Education that teaches elementary and middle school students about the production process of fresh foods as well as sustainability concepts used on a working farm.
“Discovery Education’s programs have given my students many learning opportunities that they wouldn’t have had the chance to get otherwise,” said Davis. “I am so excited to share these resources with other educators in my district and I’m so thankful to be selected as a Program Champion!”
Prison Health Firm Corizon Cancels Contract With State
December 1, 2015
Saying a contract with the state is “too constraining,” a company that provides health care to 75,000 Florida prison inmates gave notice Monday that it will end the agreement as of May 31.
Corizon Health, which in 2013 received a five-year contract to provide health care at prisons in three regions of the state, said it exercised a 180-day cancellation provision in the contract. It was not immediately clear what will happen at the end of the period, though Corizon said the six months will allow a transition.
Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones in February announced an intention to re-bid prison health contracts through a process known as an invitation to negotiate. Through that process, the department indicated it wanted to address issues such as staffing, mental-health services and the use of electronic health records.
In a prepared statement Monday, Corizon Chief Executive Officer Karey Witty alluded to those issues.
“We appreciate the contracts for inmate health services permit very little of the flexibility that Secretary Jones would like in order to address issues such as staffing, mental health care, and electronic health records,” Witty said. “We have tried to address the department’s concerns but have found the terms of the current contract too constraining. At this point, we believe the best way to move forward is to focus our efforts on a successful transition to a new provider.”
McKinley Lewis, a department spokesman, said in an email that Jones met Monday with Corizon and received notice of the cancellation. The email said a contract with another health-care provider, Wexford Health Sources, will continue.
“In the coming months, Secretary Jones will work closely with the Department’s Office of Health Services to ensure that the appropriate staff and resources are available at our facilities to continue seamless delivery of appropriate medical care to our inmate population,” Lewis said in the email. “While Corizon has terminated its contract with the Department of Corrections, we will continue our partnership with Wexford Health Sources and will work closely with their leadership throughout this process.”
A legislative decision in 2011 to privatize prison health-care services was highly controversial and drew legal challenges. But ultimately, Tennessee-based Corizon and Pennsylvania-based Wexford received contracts to move ahead.
Corizon provides health services at prisons across North Florida and Central Florida, such as at Florida State Prison in Bradford County and other institutions that are critical employers in rural areas.
In a news release Monday, Corizon said it would work with the Department of Corrections “to plan a transition schedule and to mitigate employee concerns regarding their future employment. This is will help ensure a stable environment for safe and effective clinical care for the patients during this changeover.”
Jones’ announcement in February that she wanted to re-bid the health contracts came amid intense scrutiny of the prison system. While that scrutiny included prison health care, it focused heavily on issues such as reports about guards abusing inmates and allegations of cover-ups.
Under the current agreements, Corizon receives $229 million per year. Wexford, which provides services in a smaller number of prisons in South Florida, is being paid $48 million a year.
by Jim Saunder, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Inmate medical facilities inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Trial Postponed For Century Double Shooting Suspect
December 1, 2015
UPDATE: The suspect was taken into custody.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says a suspect in a November shooting is now behind bars. Earlier, deputis
Adrian Delmarcus Hunter in connection with the November 19 shooting on Topaz Avenue . The victim, Deaundrea Jamal Douglas, told deputies he was shot in the head during a drug deal.
Anyone with information on Hunter’s whereabouts should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630 or CrimeStoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Scott Appoints Two Judges To First Judicial Circuit Court
December 1, 2015
Monday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointments of two judges to the First Judicial Circuit Court.
Judge Darlene Dickey, 45, of Molino, has served as an Escambia County Court judge since 2012. She previously served as the general counsel of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office from 2006-2012. She also practiced with Bozemann, Jenkins & Mathews, P.A. from 2003-2005. Dickey began her legal career as an assistant state attorney for the First Judicial Circuit in 2000. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida and her law degree from Florida State University. Dickey fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge T. Michael Jones.
“Judge Dickey has a thorough understanding of the law and I am confident she will continue to serve honorably on the First Judicial Circuit,” Scott said.
Judge Thomas Dannheisser, 59, of Pensacola, has served as an Escambia County Court judge since 2010. He previously served as the Santa Rosa county attorney from 1986-2010, and as an assistant county attorney at the Escambia County Attorney’s Office from 1983-1986. Dannheisser also served as an assistant state attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1982-1983, and as an assistant state attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit from 1981-1982. He received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida. Dannheisser fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Terry D. Terrell.
Five Tips For Charitable Giving During the Holidays
December 1, 2015
This Giving Tuesday, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam offers five tips that consumers should consider before making a charitable contribution. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps Floridians make the most of their charitable contributions by providing detailed information, like how contributions are spent, on charities registered in Florida. You can find out more at FreshFromFlorida.com or by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA.
“Today and during the holiday season, many generous Floridians contribute their hard-earned money to support important causes,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “But before giving, I encourage Floridians to follow a few simple steps to make sure they make the most of their contributions.”
Floridians should take the following simple steps when preparing to make a charitable contribution:
- Give with a Plan: Find a cause that is meaningful to you and your family, do some research and set priorities. Most effective donations are not spur-of-the-moment.
- Know Who You Are Giving To: Most charities in Florida are required to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and provide financial information about how contributions are spent. Check a charity’s status online at FreshFromFlorida.com or by phone at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, at 1-800-FL-AYUDA (1-800-352-9832).
- Maximize Your Gift: When deciding to make a gift, find out if an employer will match charitable contribution to maximize its value.
- Keep Track of the Work Your Donation Supports: Once a gift has been made, mark a calendar with important dates of the charity’s meetings and key events for the year.
- Understand the Tax Benefits: Most charitable donations are tax-deductible. Make sure to get the proper documentation to deduct at tax time. Keep a record of donations and make sure a receipt is provided from the organization. Don’t rely on a cancelled check to count as a receipt.
For more information about individual charities, you can also check out our Gift Giver’s Guide online.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. The call center is staffed with trained analysts who can respond to questions about programs and regulations under the department’s purview, provide information on a wide variety of topics or direct callers to the appropriate government agency.
Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).