Health And Hope Clinics Provide $1.7 Million In Free Medical Care
August 19, 2012
The Health and Hope Clinics in Pensacola and Century have provided well over a million and half dollars worth of free medical care to local residents during the past year.
During the last year, the two clinics had 2,000 patient visits and provided $1 million in free medications. The grand total of all services provided to economically disadvantaged and uninsured residents was $1.7 million.
The Health and Hope Clinic quietly opened in October in the old Escambia County Health Department building at 501 Church Street in Century. It is the second location for the clinic, which was first established in Pensacola back in 2003 by the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association to meet the needs of uninsured and medically underserved in Escambia County. The clinic is entirely volunteer and donor supported.
To become a patient of Health and Hope Clinic, you must:
- be completely uninsured
- be ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or VA medical benefits
- meet financial eligibility requirements as determined annually by the State of Florida
To schedule a new patient screening appointment, call (850) 479-4456. Only a limited number of new patients are accepted each month. To volunteer, call (850) 256-6200 or (850) 479-4456. For more information on the Health and Hope Clinic and services, visit www.healthandhopeclinic.org.
Special Section: Back To School Info You Need To Know
August 19, 2012
School started Monday in Escambia County, and we have the last minute information you need to know, including start times, school supply lists, lunch prices, bus routes, and information on free and reduced price lunches.
Click a link to visit that story.
- School Start Times
- School Lunch Prices
- Free And Reduced Lunch Guidelines
- School Lunch Menus
- School Supply Lists
- School Bus Routes
Steege, Godwin To Wed
August 19, 2012
Ms. Tracie Steege of Atmore, and Jimmy Steege of Dothan, Ala., announce the engagement of their daughter, Bethany Dawn Steege to Dajun Forrester Godwin, son of Patricia and Joe Godwin of Dothan.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Billy Smith of Atmore, Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Peacock of Atmore, and Rev. & Mrs. Harrison Steege of Headland, Ala.
The groom-elect is the grandson of Mr. & Mrs. James Roney of Dothan, Earlene Godwin and the Late Cecil Godwin of New Brockton, Ala.
The wedding will be held September 15, 2012, at Cornerstone Church in Dothan.
One Year Later: Remembering LCpl Travis Nelson
August 18, 2012
Saturday marked the one year anniversary of the death of local Marine LCpl. Travis M. Nelson. LCpl. Nelson gave all on the battlefields of Afghanistan on August 18, 2011.
A world was shattered at the Nelson home in Bratt as three men in military uniforms stood at the door. “I just screamed and said no,” Beckie Nelson of Bratt said shortly after she learned that her son, LCpl Travis Nelson, was shot and killed while conducting combat operations in in Helmand province, Afghanistan. “I just went to my knees and said don’t let them come in. I knew right away that he was gone.”
It was a tragedy that began a wave an emotions and events that touched the entire North Escambia area and a nation. The community grieved as hundreds if not thousands changed their Facebook profile pictures to a single image in honor of Nelson. Tears flowed as powerful photos were published that showed an honor guard removing Nelson’s flag-draped coffin from a plane at Dover AFB in Delaware.
For a video retrospect, click here.
The rain poured down at Pensacola Naval Air Station a few days later as the final leg of Nelson’s journey home began. The rain did not send them running; they stood silently — many holding American flags — as the hearse carrying an American hero departed on a 55-mile journey to Atmore. Along the way, some of Pensacola’s busiest roadways came to a complete standstill as the motorcade passed. Many motorists stood outside their vehicles and paid their respects. In Walnut Hill, just a few miles from Nelson’s boyhood home in Bratt, the motorcade slowed as it approached Ernest Ward Middle School. Nelson was Golden Eagle, attending Ernest Ward in the sixth and seventh grades.
Hundreds of Ernest Ward Middle School students and teachers dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97, American flags in hand, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.
As the procession passed, the students stood with their hands over their hearts, waving Old Glory. The thunder of 127 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders vibrated the ground and echoed across the country fields near the school.
Six Florida Highway Patrol trooper vehicles led the hearse past the school. Many students broke down in tears at the sight of a flag draped coffin. Others cried as they made eye contact with Nelson’s parents and their daughter — a sixth grader at Ernest Ward.
The motorcade continued into Atmore, where crowds stood along the route, waving Old Glory. At a local bank on Highway 31, people stood with large flags as the Northview High School NJTROC stood steadfast at attention. Across the way at the iconic Atmore train station, a group of local veterans stood proudly and saluted as Nelson’s remains passed.
Nelson’s funeral was held in Atmore where, again, hundreds paid their final respects.
Nelson was not forgotten. His name was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor and other area memorials. A scholarship was announced. The Bratt Community Park was renamed the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park. Nelson’s family was honored at the annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Madeline Cates was to marry LCpl Travis Nelson when he returned from service with the Marines in Afghanistan. She had picked out her dress just before he lost his life serving his country half a world away in August.
“It wasn’t suppose to happen,” Madeline Cates, then 21, said about the death her soulmate. “He was the love of my life.”
Travis Nelson’s parents, Scott and Beckie Nelson, just could not stand the thought of their first Christmas without their son. To take their minds off a Christmas without Travis in the house, they decided to give back to the communities that had supported them so much following his death.
The Nelson family, along with a small army of volunteers, prepared and delivered about 125 Christmas meals Sunday for elderly, shut-in and needy people in the Bratt, Atmore and surrounding areas.
“He really was our hero,” Scott Nelson said.
LCpl Travis Nelson left behind a short, simple note just in case he did return from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
“Dear friends and family, if you are reading this, I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you. I have no regrets, I died for a meaningful cause.”
For a video retrospect, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Car Rider Line Improved At Bratt Elementary School
August 17, 2012
Parents dropping off or picking up their students at Bratt Elementary will notice big improvements this year. The car rider line area was resurfaced and extended toward the back of the school to allow more vehicles into the line and off North Highway 99.
School begins Monday in Escambia County.
Pictured: The new car rider line are at Bratt Elementary. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Allen Memorial UMC Volunteers, Donates Supplies At Jim Allen Elementary
August 12, 2012
Members of Allen Memorial Methodist Church volunteered at Jim Allen Elementary School on Saturday.
They put together first day of school information packets as well as separated and collated kindergarten mathematics workbooks. Allen Memorial Church also donated several backpacks and $322.00 to be used for school supplies.
“Jim Allen Elementary School is very thankful to their partner in education, Allen Memorial Methodist Church,” said Rachel Watts, Jim Allen principal.
Registration Event Scheduled For Danceworks Classes
August 12, 2012
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held Monday in Byrneville.
The registration will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at the Byrneville Community Center. Or students can register by mail; click here for a form.
Ballet, tap and jazz classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning the week of August 20 for girls ages 3 and up, including a class for teens. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. She is also the coach for the Northview High School Dance Team.
For a printable information sheet, schedule and registration form, click here. For further information, contact Heather Leonard at (850) 529-1358 or email hldanceworks@gmail.com.
Pictured: “A Dancing Circus”, the 2012 spring recital from the students of Heather Leonard’s Danceworks. NorthEscambia.comp file photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Atmore Market In The Park
August 12, 2012
The third “Market in the Park” of 2012 was held Saturday in downtown Atmore. The community market, sponsored by the Atmore Chamber of Commerce, featured an assortment of fresh and prepared food items along with arts and crafts. It was the final market event of the year.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Brewton Fire Dept. Offers Pink Firefighter Shirts
August 12, 2012
Members of the Brewton (Ala.) Fire Department will be wearing pink shirts during October for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Due to numerous requests last year, the shirts will be available to the public this year. The shirts are $20 each with proceeds donated to the Yancey Jernigan Foundation.
To order a shirt, call the Brewton Fire Department at (251) 867-7165 before August 31.
The Yancey Jernigan Foundation provides financial and emotional support to families fighting cancer in the Escambia County (Ala.) area. The foundations also strives to educate the public and provide resources to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Volunteers Aid Equine Group
August 12, 2012
For the second time this year, a group of sailors from NAS Pensacola volunteered Saturday to help a Cantonment non-profit clean up their facility. Over two dozen men and women helped mend fences and spruce up for Panhandle Equine Rescue — a non-profit group that helps abused and neglected horses.
In addition,18 PER volunteers helped out, donated food and donated the use of tools and other needed items.
Pictured: A group of volunteers worked Saturday at Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
