Troopers ‘Stuff The Charger’ For Manna Food Pantries

November 14, 2014

The local Florida Highway Patrol troop based in Pensacola “Stuffed the Charger” during their inaugural food drive. The food was delivered to the Manna Food Pantries. Statewide, the FHP collected over three tons of food during the event. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Fields of Faith: Student Led Worship Event Planned

November 14, 2014

The Northview High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is sponsoring a student led worship event next week in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.

Northview students, area churches and community members will come together to worship, share student testimonies and hear a message from guest speaker Pastor Nathan Brown of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.

The public is invited to attend the event from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19. Donations will be accepted for Bryant Cooper, a local 17-year old recently diagnosed with cancer, and the family of Darion Riley, a Northview student that passed away as the result of a Molino traffic accident last week.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Mae Day: Dog’s 11 Months On The Run End With Happy Reunion

November 13, 2014

Perhaps the best known dog in Atmore is no longer on the run; she’s back home in Birmingham today, ending an 11-month game of cat and mouse.

Back on January 15, Vickie Clark’s son was visiting Atmore from Birmingham along with 15-month old Mae the dog. Mae jumped the fence, beginning the 11-month saga.

Atmore Animal Shelter employee Brandon James and other animal shelter employees began, very unsuccessfully, to capture Mae.

“She’s one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever come across,” James said Wednesday. “She’d smell you from a long way away and take off.”

The Clarks and the animal shelter turned to the community which in turn provided numerous Mae sighting reports over the past several months. Animal shelter employees would head out, only to be outsmarted or outrun by Mae each time.

“Brandon James has been my lifeline to the whereabouts of this lost puppy. Our family looked for Mae numerous times but sadly she would run from familiar voices and was truly scared and in ‘flight’ mode,” Clark said in a letter praising James and the animal shelter. “Brandon and his team never gave up. The community would contact Brandon with every Mae sighting and he would go out to try to capture this elusive rascal. When I would start to lose hope, Brandon would lift me up and remind me to keep the faith that they would get our girl. Brandon worked tirelessly to capture Mae in every way possible. ”

Members of the Atmore community would feed Mae. One resident would even toss her flea medication stuffed inside a hot dog on a regular basis. James called her “Atmore’s mascot”.

The was one capture along the way but it turned out to be a male look alike.

Then there was a big break in the hunt for Mae last week. She was spotted in a fenced-in yard. James said an animal shelter staffer got close enough — from the upwind side — to hit her with a tranquilizer dart.

“I thought we had her since she was in a fenced-in yard, but no,” James said. “She got away, and then there was a three block foot chase. But she went down from the tranquilizer and we were able to pick her up.”

A quick check by a local veterinarian revealed that Mae was in remarkably perfect health — no worms, no other problems despite her 11-month time on the lam.

Mae was reunited with her “mom” Vickie Wednesday at the animal shelter. There was brief celebration, and then it was back home to Birmingham. Clark said she had no planned stops between Atmore and Birmingham to eliminate any other escape possibilities.

Pictured top: Mae reunited with her family Wednesday, along with members of the Atmore community and the Atmore Animal Shelter staff that took part in her 11-month rescue. Pictured inset: Atmore’s “mascot” dog Mae. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Can The Yellow Jackets: Manna Food Drive Underway At Northview

November 12, 2014

A “Can the Yellow Jackets” food drive is underway at Northview High School. The Chiefs will play the Vernon Yellow Jackets in the first round of the state playoffs this Friday night. Non-perishable food items are being collected for the Manna Food Pantries during the food drive, which concludes November 17. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Local Rotary Clubs Honor Local Military Members

November 11, 2014

Rear Adm. Mike White, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) was the guest speaker at the recent Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) annual Military Appreciation Luncheon.

More than 270 personnel including Rotarians from 13 local clubs, community leaders and military members attended the event to honor and recognize local military members. Bob
Schuster, member of the Five Flags Rotary Club and assistant governor, Area 1, gave opening remarks, recognized numerous military veterans and welcomed the active duty service members in attendance to the Rotary meeting.

“The Rotary motto ‘service about self’ – is something that every sailor as well as every individual who wears a uniform shares,” said White, as he talked about the newest generation of sailors and the sacrifices they make today.

Representatives from several local Pensacola commands were honored for their contributions not only in the military workforce but also as members of the community. During the 2014 fiscal year, more than 1,600 military members volunteered their spare time to feed the hungry, tutor children, help the elderly and clean beaches. Their combined volunteer effort totaled more than 26,900 hours.

“Without any reservation, in this all volunteer force, they have chosen a lifestyle of service, dedicating themselves to the highest standards of American citizenship and commitment,” White added.

U.S Congressmen Jeff Miller gave closing remarks and said that he was grateful for the opportunity to share in the day’s events.

“It was an honor to be here today recognizing those men and women who wear the uniform both present and past,” said Miller. “Thank you for your service and selfless sacrifice.”

by Lt. Cmdr. Kate Meadows

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Veterans Honored, Embassy Flag From Baghdad, Iraq Dedicated

November 11, 2014

Century Health and Rehabilitation Center held a special ceremony recently to honor those that have served and to dedicate a flag that once flew over Baghdad, Iraq.

The flag once flew over a Baghdad compound that served as a temporary embassy. Before leaving, the men took the flag with them. Major Scott Sewell, who served under the flag, gifted it to his father, Major John Sewell U.S. Army, retired. The flag was presented to Century Health and Rehabilitation Center by “Johnny” Sewell, the center’s former social services director.

The center also recognized each veteran resident, staff member and volunteer with a special pin and certificate during their patriotic program.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

American Diabetes Month: Floridians Impacted In Large Numbers

November 11, 2014

November is American Diabetes Month. As the prevalence of the disease continues to rise across the state and nation, the number of Floridians with diabetes is expected to increase.

David Becker, a spokesman for the American Diabetes Association, says the latest numbers show 29 million Americans with diabetes, and the toll on health can be great, including kidney failure, blindness, amputations and more.

“There are a lot of co-morbid diseases as far as diabetes and cancer and heart disease,” he points out. “It all kind of is interrelating.”

Becker says about 95 percent of those people who have diabetes have Type 2, which healthier lifestyle choices with nutrition and physical activity can help prevent.

In Florida a little more than 1.7 million have diabetes, but that is expected to increase to nearly three million by 2030, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Becker notes that even some simple, small changes with healthy eating and regular exercise can yield big results. “If you lose just 7 percent of your body weight, you can decrease your chances of getting diabetes by 58 percent,” he stresses.

If the current trends don’t change, it’s estimated that by 2050, 30 percent of all Americans will have diabetes.

by The Florida News Connection

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

Photos: Blue Angels Come Home

November 10, 2014

Over 150,000 people attend the 2014 Blue Angels Homecoming Show aboard NAS Pensacola this weekend.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Pictured top: The Blue Angels Homecoming Show. Pictured inset: The No. 1 pilot, Capt. Tom Frosch, signs autographs. Pictured below (top to bottom): screaming for the skies, lining up, Fat Albert and plane versus jet truck. Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.