‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Food Drive Is This Saturday
May 7, 2018
On Saturday, May 12, the letter carriers of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will join forces to help Stamp Out Hunger in our community. In its 26th year, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) annual food drive has grown to be the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table. In the last 25 years, communities across the nation have donated nearly 1.6 billion pounds of food. Last year’s food drive netted nearly 85,000 pounds of food locally.
“Stamp Out Hunger is the most important food drive for many food pantries in the area,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna Food Pantries. “The food collected by the letter carriers is critical to our ability to feed our neighbors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The 2017 event was down considerably by about 50%, so we’re looking forward to having an outstanding turnout this year to restock shelves and ensure the immediate needs of the hungry can be met in the coming months.”
A donation of just one dozen cans provides three days’ worth of food, or nine meals for neighbors in need. Residents are encouraged to leave a bag of non-perishable food items, such as canned meats (chicken, tuna), canned fruit in 100% juice, dry breakfast items (oatmeal, grits, whole grain cereal), canned vegetables, peanut butter, rice, and/or dry beans next to their mailbox prior to regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 12.
“We rely on this food drive to keep our shelves fully stocked to help needy families, children, seniors and the homeless in Gulf Breeze and Navarre,” said Pastor Doug Barber, ACTS Ministry of Holley Assembly of God. “Without the help from the NALC and the community during the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, ACTS Ministry would almost be non-existent.”
Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers will collect food donations for local food banks including Manna Food Pantries, Warrington Emergency Aid Center, Feeding the Gulf Coast in Pace and Milton, ACTS Ministry of Holley Assembly of God in Gulf Breeze, and We Care Ministries of Navarre United Methodist Church.
“We are so thankful to the NALC and our community for their support in this food drive. This food will greatly help our one in six neighbors struggling with hunger,” said Cathy Pope, President and CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
May 7, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
· State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Scenic Highway (U.S. 90)- Alternating and intermittent lane closures on Creighton Road between Davis Highway and 9th Avenue and on 9th Avenue at the intersection of Creighton Road from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Saturday, May 12 as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Saturday, May 12 as follows:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road - Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Thursday, May 10 as crews pave the roadway.
· I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Thursday, May 10:
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- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10).
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement - Alternating east and westbound, lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Thursday, May 10 as crews perform construction activities.
· Mobile Highway at Beulah Road Intersection Project- Work to improve the intersection of State Road 10A (Mobile Highway) at Beulah Road in Escambia County is scheduled to begin the week of Monday, May 21. To help minimize traffic impacts, much of the construction work will take place behind a low-profile concrete barrier wall. No lane closures will be allowed Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, no lane closures will be scheduled during special school events.
· Lillian Highway (U.S. 98) Resurfacing Project- Construction activities on U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) in Escambia County are scheduled to begin the week of Monday, May 7. Lane restrictions are 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Thursday, May 10.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Thursday, May 10 as crews perform construction activities.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 6 through Friday, May 11 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the travel lanes.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Northview Football Garnet And Gold Game This Afternoon, QB Club Meet And Greet Tuesday
May 7, 2018
Monday at 5 p.m. , the Northview Chiefs football team will hold their spring Garnet and Gold game. This game is an intrasquad game. The football team is asking for liquid laundry detergent or donations as an entry fee.
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will have a “Meet & Greet” Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the gym meeting room (right of the main gym, coming from the student parking lot). Refreshments will be served. Attendees will learn where they can fit in and make a difference in the football program. The meeting begins at 6:30, following the Meet & Greet program.
Rare 4.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes In The Gulf of Mexico
May 7, 2018
A rare earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico registered 4.5 on the Richter Scale. The epicenter of the quake was about 160 miles southeast of New Orleans just before noon Sunday, according to the United State Geological Survey. That’s about 200 miles from Cantonment, 230 miles from Century.
A a quake of the magnitude between 4.0 and 4.9 is considered ‘light’ and can cause “Noticeable shaking of indoor objects and rattling noises. Felt by most people in the affected area. Slightly felt outside,” according to the Geological Survey.
There was no threat of a tsunami.
Escambia County Public Meeting Schedule
May 7, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of May 7-11:
Tuesday, May 8
Florida West Economic Development Alliance – Co: Lab Policy Board, Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 418 W. Garden Street, 11 a.m.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1:30 p.m.
Florida West Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors, Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 418 W. Garden Street, 2 p.m.
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority, 700 S. Palafox St., 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Olive Road East Phase 2 Ribbon Cutting – 2 p.m. 2603 E. Olive Road
Santa Rosa Island Authority Board Meeting, 1 Via de Luna Drive, 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Science Hour: Backyard Wildlife/Butterflies – 6 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Saturday, May 12
Regional Round-up – 8 a.m. to noon, Pensacola High School. 500 W. Maxwell St. north parking lot, dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste and up to four tires per vehicle, free of charge. Proof of Escambia County residency is required.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Four Scholarships
May 7, 2018
The Barreineau Park Historical Society presented four deserving this school seniors with college scholarships.
Aliya Kaufman, a senior at West Florida High School, received the $1,000 Stephen Jogan Memorial Scholarship from the Barrineau Park Historical Society. She plans to attend the University of West Florida in the fall and pursue a degree in animal science.
Madelyn Lathan, a West Florida High School senior, received the $500 Louis Crabtree Sr.Scholarship administered by the Barrineau Park Historical Society. She plans to attend Pensacola State College in the fall and major in nursing.
Kylee Jackson, a Tate High School, received a $500 Lynda Minchew Scholarship awarded by the Barrineau Park Historical Society. She plans to attend Troy University in fall and major in business.
Trae Melton, a senior at Tate High School, received a $1,000 academic scholarship from the Barrineau Park Historical Society. He plans to attend University of West Florida and major in sports medicine.
Each submitted an extensive application and an essay on why a historical society is important to a community.
Pictured above: Aliya Kaufman, Madelyn Lathan, Kylee Jackson and Trae Melton. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE 12U Diamond Divas Win Hub City Spring Bash Championship
May 7, 2018
The Northwest Escambia Diamond Divas are the Hub City Spring Bash 12U champions. The Diamond Divas are Emily Cody, Jamison Gilman, Berklee Hall, Aubrey Stuckey, Emma Gilmore, Ryley Dawson, Jaci Jackson, Sarah Bailey and Mayson Edwards. The team is coached by Eric Gilmore and James Gilman. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Sawmill Day Car Show
May 7, 2018
Large crowds attended the annual Sawmill Day Car Show in Century on Saturday.
For previous Sawmill Day coverage and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Florida To Beef Up Elections Cybersecurity
May 7, 2018
Florida is hiring five cybersecurity specialists in advance of the 2018 elections, though the legislature didn’t include the positions when setting the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday announced the move to hire consultants who will work with elections officials. The consultants will be paid based on contract rates established by the Department of Management Services.
“We must be proactive in our efforts to preserve the security and integrity of our elections, which is why I directed the Department of State to invest in a team of cybersecurity specialists that will serve as a resource to all of our election officials,” Scott said in a prepared statement. Sarah Revell, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Ken Detzner, said the money will come from the agency’s federal trust fund for the current and upcoming fiscal years. The Department of State received $1.9 million in the state’s new $88.7 billion budget to establish a network-monitoring security program that will provide automated alerts about threats, allowing county election officials to respond when data may be at risk. The budget, which takes effect July 1, did not include funding to meet the Department of State’s request for five additional full-time employees to serve in cybersecurity positions.
In March, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio warned of a “level of overconfidence” about the security of the nation’s election system heading into the 2018 elections. The Miami-Dade County Republican, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he wasn’t satisfied enough safeguards are in place — from the federal, state and local levels — to ensure the accuracy of the elections.
Florida is one of several states where voter rolls were believed to have been targeted by Russian hackers before the 2016 presidential election. Florida officials have not disclosed what exactly transpired during the election.
Sunny And Warmer This Week
May 7, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Light northwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.