USDA Offers Hurricane Sally Disaster Assistance To Farmers
October 1, 2020
Hurricane Sally’s flooding and high winds impacted agricultural operations in Florida and surrounding states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.
SDA encourages farmers and ranchers to contact the FSA county office at the local USDA Service Center to learn which documents should be provided to help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.
Producers and landowners can use the online Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool , answering five questions to identify USDA programs that will help meet disaster recovery needs.
Depending on the operation, FSA offers a number of disaster assistance programs to help offset eligible losses, including the Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Emergency Conservation Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Tree Assistance Program. Additionally, producers located in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also offers programs to help in the recovery process. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters. “NRCS can be a very valuable partner to help landowners with their recovery efforts,” said Juan Hernandez, state conservationist for the NRCS in Florida. “Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop approaches that focus on effective recovery of the land.”
Producers with Federal crop insurance coverage should contact their crop insurance agent for assistance. Producers should report crop damage to their agent within 72 hours of damage discovery and follow up in writing within 15 days.
Additional NRCS programs include the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, which provides assistance to local government sponsors with the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards such as debris removal and streambank stabilization. Eligible sponsors include cities, counties, towns, conservation districts or any federally recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization. When a watershed impairment occurs due to a natural disaster event, the district conservationist serves as the local facilitator for EWP activities.
Pictured: USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Congressman Matt Gaetz survey Hurricane Sally damage on Monday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Honeybee Highway: Molino Park Student Places Second In National Poetry Contest
October 1, 2020
A Molino Park Elementary School student has won second place in a nationwide poetry contest.
Jordyn Gibbs’ poem “The Honeybee Highway” took second place in the grade 3-5 division of an annual poetry contest for students across America hosted by The America Library of Poetry.
Her poem is reprinted below.
he Honeybee Highway
by Jordyn Gibbs
In my backyard there stands a hive,
a big white box where honey bees thrive.
Busy bees toiling all day long
striving to bring the nectar home.
They pollinate fields, the flowers, and crops
Then carry the pollen back into the box.
The queen bee is happy and dances a jig
Soon honey will be flowing and the yield will be big
Tall jars of honey cut fresh from the combs
Waiting to be devoured by the people at home
Sweet, sweet honey to spread thick on a bun
Thank you, my bees, for the work you have done.
Navy Federal Donates $100K To United Way’s Hurricane Sally Relief Fund
October 1, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union, Pensacola’s largest private sector employer, on Wednesday announced a $100,000 donation to support United Way of West Florida’s Hurricane Sally Relief Fund.
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are home for 95 percent of our Greater Pensacola Operations team,” said Keith Hoskins, senior vice president for Navy Federal Credit Union. “The damage caused by Hurricane Sally has made an impact on them as well as our entire community. We have already seen our employees step up to help each other and clean up debris for our friends and neighbors. It’s an honor to continue to provide help in the efforts to rebuild and recover together.”
Donations made to United Way of West Florida’s Hurricane Sally Relief Fund will be used to provide assistance to those impacted by the storm, particularly those community members who do not have insurance or who are underinsured.
“Navy Federal Credit Union has stepped up during these extraordinarily challenging times to provide critical support to a community that is reeling from Hurricane Sally,” said Laura Gilliam, president and CEO of United Way of West Florida. “Their donation of $100,000 to the Hurricane Sally Relief Fund will help our community get back on its feet.”
The credit union has approximately 152,000 members in the area impacted by Hurricane Sally.
“The Pensacola area is where our employees and members are choosing to raise their families, serve our nation and build businesses,” said Hoskins. “We are part of a resilient and caring community. I know we’ll come back better and stronger, together.”
Pictured (L-R) Laura Gilliam, president and CEO United Way of West Florida; Kara Cardona, senior vice president Greater Pensacola Operations Navy Federal Credit Union; Keith Hoskins, senior vice president Greater Pensacola Navy Federal Credit Union. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Carla Rena Crichton Garcia
October 1, 2020
Carla Rena Crichton Garcia, 41, was born November 10, 1978, in Pensacola, Florida. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
Carla received her high school diploma in the Adult High Education Program at Pensacola Junior College and went on to get her LPN degree from Virginia College. She enjoyed writing, drawing, and journaling. Her daughter, Carmen, fondly remembers her journaling in her Bible. Growing up around her Pa’s farm, she had a love for animals. She had a way with every kind of animal and could catch that stray chicken that no one else seemed to be able to! Taking in the runt, the hurt, or the sick animal, she had a heart for taking care of each one.
Carla is proceeded in death by her father, Jeffery Crichton; her Pa, W. A. Weaver; and her uncle, Jimmie Weaver.
She is survived by her daughter and whole world, Carmen Garcia; mother, Bobbie Crichton; brother, Eric Crichton; nephew Cole Crichton; nana, June Weaver; and a host of other family.
Memorial services will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2020, at Highland Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Calhoun officiating.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until the Memorial Service begins.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Sheree Ann Gill
October 1, 2020
Mrs. Sheree Ann Gill, age 67, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at her home in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Gill was a native of Ozona, TX and had resided in Atmore, AL for the past 31 years. She was loving wife, who cared for everybody and was a member of at the Atmore Kingdom Hall. She is preceded in death by a daughter, Angela Gates and parents, Carl and Becky Gill.
She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Bobby Gates of Atmore, AL; one son, Roland Flanadan of Ozona, TX; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Alan Chase officiating.
Burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Dylan Johnson, Billy Gates, Keith Rackard, Rodney Rackard, Jon Terry and Luis Briones.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Patricia Claudine Powers
October 1, 2020
Mrs. Patricia Claudine Powers, age 60, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at her home in Nokomis, Alabama.
Mrs. Powers was a native of Austin, Texas and had resided in Nokomis, Alabama for the past 20 years. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt and she was of the Methodist Faith.
She is survived by her two sons, Jackie (Betty) Powers, Jr. of Milton, FL and Oscar Powers of Nokomis, AL; one daughter, Patricia Ann Powers (Charles Rice, Jr.) of Nokomis, AL; one sister, Cynthia Ruth Landrum of Nokomis, AL; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 2, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Justin Ullrich.
Burial will follow at the Jay Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jackie D. Powers, Jr., Oscar L. Powers, Kevin Slack, Cody Evans, Aubrey Weaver and Clarence R. Powers.
Honorary pallbearer will be Loyd Brazwell.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Arline Roberta Bones
October 1, 2020
Arline Roberta Bones passed away on the morning of September 29, 2020 at the age of 97. She was born in North Little Rock, AR in 1922.
She was a long time resident of Gurdon, AR where she was married to Warren D. Bones. She had one daughter, Nancy J. Hargrave of Cantonment, FL
and two grandsons, Paul M. Hargrave of Sarasota, FL and Mark J. Hargrave.
She was a lifelong member of the Beech Street Baptist Church of Gurdon. Arline had been living in Florida with her daughter and son-in-law at the time of her death.
Graveside services for Arline will be held at the Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Beech Street Baptist Church of Gurdon.
Hayley A. Crutchfield
October 1, 2020
Mrs. Hayley A. Crutchfield, age 24, passed away at her home on Sunday, September 27, 2020.
Mrs. Crutchfield was born in Pensacola, FL and had been a lifetime resident of Brewton, AL. She enjoyed mud riding, fishing and loved her babies. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Deborah Ann Brandenburg; and her paternal great-grandfather, Roscoe Franklin Johnson.
She is survived by her father, Malcolm Blackmon; her mother, Angela (Chris) Powell of Century, FL; her husband of eight years, Jackson Crutchfield of Brewton; a son, Bryson Crutchfield of Brewton; two daughters, Rileigh Crutchfield and Adelyn Crutchfield, both of Brewton; three sisters, Beverly Blackmon of Century, Ashley Taylor of Brewton, and Emily Taylor of Brewton.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2020, at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Jay Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Saturday, October 3, 2020, from 10 a.m. until service time.
Pallbearers: Paul Daw, Tyler Robinson, Austin Redash, Kenneth Conrad, Shane Thompson, and Blake Wiggins.
Betty Jean Beck
October 1, 2020
Betty was born in 1939 to John and Clara Carlisle. She was the youngest of six children and adored her three brothers and two sisters. On August 2, 1957, she married Ollie Gene Beck. They soon added to their family with a daughter Gina Lynn and identical twin sons David Gene and Kevin Rankin.
Betty was a great cook and was known for her delicious cakes. Her twelve layer chocolate cake was a favorite of many. She loved flowers and wherever she called home was filled with houseplants and flower beds full of blooms. She loved her church family and neighborhood friends and took great pleasure inB meeting new people.
Betty was welcomed into heaven by Gene, her parents, Johnny and Clara; her sisters, Clara Mae and Mary Elizabeth; her brothers, Ernest and George Donald; plus her grandparents; numerous in-laws; nephews; nieces; and other family and friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Gina (Tony) Davis of Palatka, FL, and two sons, David(Cheryl) Beck and Kevin(Beth) Beck of Lake Mary, FL; and one brother, Thomas (Bea) Carlisle of Picayune,MS; seven grandchildren, Justin(Andrea) Davis, Cody Davis, Jennifer Beck, Jessie Beck, Caleb Beck, Jacob Beck, and Sarah Beck; two great grandchildren Nolan and Carter Davis and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Interment Service will be held October 12, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, 111 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32073.
Donations in memory of Betty Jean Beck may be made to the American Cancer Society.