Reminder: All Students At 45 Escambia Schools Will Receive Free Lunch, Breakfast
August 12, 2019
Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students, regardless of income, during this school year at 45 schools in Escambia County.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program means that parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Meal program at that school. However, siblings attending schools not on the CEP list will need to apply for eligibility.
The free meal schools are selected upon income levels.
Participating schools are:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Bellview Elementary
Bratt Elementary
Brentwood Elementary
Byrneville Elementary
C.A Weis Elementary
Ensley Elementary
Ferry Pass Elementary
Global Learning Academy
Holm Elementary
Jim Allen Elementary
Lincoln Park Elementary
Lipscomb Elementary
Longleaf Elementary
McArthur Elementary
Molino Park Elementary
Montclair Elementary
Myrtle Grove Elementary
Navy Point Elementary
Oakcrest Elementary
Pine Meadow Elementary
Pleasant Grove Elementary
Scenic Heights Elementary
O.J. Semmes Elementary
Sherwood Elementary
Warrington Elementary
West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Bellview Middle
Beulah Middle
Ernest Ward Middle
Ferry Pass Middle
Jim Bailey Middle
Warrington Middle
Workman Middle
High Schools
Escambia High
Northview High
Pensacola High
Pine Forest High
Washington High
OTHER SCHOOLS AND CENTERS
Camelot
Capstone
Escambia Westgate Center
Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
Success Academy
Lakeview Center
CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Man Accidently Shoots Himself Saturday
August 11, 2019
An adult male was seriously injured when he accidently shot himself in the lower leg Saturday morning.
Escambia County EMS was dispatched to the Escambia River Gun Club on Rocky Branch Road about 11:15 a.m. Saturday. It was not immediately clear if the injury occurred at the gun club or at a nearby location.
The man, reportedly in his 60’s, was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Provides Free School Supplies
August 11, 2019
The Cantonment Improvement Committee held a back to school bash Saturday.
The group distributed backpacks and schools supplies and provided a free lunch at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The event was made possible by community partners including Ascend Performance Materials, International Paper and the Cantonment Rotary Club.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
. 
Lightning Strikes McDavid Home
August 11, 2019
A McDavid home was struck by lightning late Saturday afternoon.
It happened about 5:30 p.m. at a two story home on Lambert Bridge Road near Pine Barren Road.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded and found evidence of a lightning strike, but no fire. There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Haas Center Conducting Century Survey, Holding Focus Group Meetings Tuesday
August 11, 2019
The University of West Florida Haas Center will hold focus group sessions Tuesday to survey Century area residents on community goods and services needed in the area, and an online version of the survey is also available.
The survey is available now at Haas.uwf.edu/CenturySurvey. The focus group meetings will be held at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. at 4400 Hecker Road.
The survey is part of a $24,500 marketing study funding by the Escambia County Commission.
Back To School: What Time Does Your Child’s School Start And Release?
August 11, 2019
School begins Monday, August 12 in Escambia County.
For a printable school start and release time schedule, click here. The schedule includes complete details such as drop off times, bus departure schedules and early release times.
Crary Road Bridge Replacement Project Completed
August 10, 2019
Work is now complete on a $776,874 Florida Department of Transportation project to replace the current bridge on Crary Road over Pritchett Mill Creek near Century.
The work involved replacing the current bridge structure with a box culvert, paving the roadway approaches, and improving drainage. Crary Road had beenen closed between Tedder and Byrneville roads since November 2018 for construction.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Back To School: Here Are Printable School Supply Lists
August 10, 2019
School begins Monday, August 12 in Escambia County. Here are the school supply lists for elementary and middle schools:
For the Escambia County elementary school supply list, click here.
For the Escambia County middle school supply list, click here.
(High schools do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
Rescue Clear: Escambia Emergency Dispatcher Retires After 30 Years
August 10, 2019
A voice that has been on the other end of 911 in Escambia County for 30 years retired Friday afternoon.
William “Bill” Jordan has answered and dispatched thousands upon thousands of 911 calls in Escambia County.
His three decades of service was to come to an end with one last radio call. He turned to the microphone and paused. Then he turned his head way, laughed and turned back to the microphone.
“This is Escambia County Fire Rescue Communications Center, Pensacola, Florida. The following dispatcher is out of service. 2826 (his radio number). Clear, Rescue clear at at 16:57.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Alright,” he said with a sigh. Three decades were over. So he thought.
“Squad 3 Escambia.”
“Squad 3,” Bill answered.
“Godspeed.”
He stood up, walked away and then turned to look back at the dispatch desk. And the radio calls kept coming from fire stations across the county.
“Ladder 13 Escambia.”
“Ladder 13,” he replied.
“Good luck. Thank you for your service.”
Engine 17. Ladder 13. Engine 14. The radio calls continued with best wishes.
“I really wasn’t expecting all this,” he said to those in the dispatch center.
“1803 Escambia.”
“1803?”
“Thank you for you service. Enjoy your retirement sir.”
“901 Escambia.”
“All units standby,” Bill said. He looks at the dispatch computer. A structure fire call on Creighton Road was coming in.
“Let’s do it,” Bill said as he hit the dispatch tones that alerts fire stations needed for the call. Like a ship’s captain at the helm, he settled into his chair, and soon begin to dispatch fire engines to the fire.
“….commercial structure fire,” Bill said as he went back work serving Escambia County’s citizens.
Pictured top: William “Bill” Jordan on his last shift, ending a 30-year career as an Escambia County dispatcher. Pictured inset: Bill reacts as he signs off the last time. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Smokey Bear Celebrates 75th Birthday
August 10, 2019
Friday, the Florida Forest Service joined the nation in celebrating 75 years of Smokey Bear, the face of the longest-running public service advertising campaign in United States history, continuing his legacy of bringing awareness to unwanted, human-caused fires.
“Wildfire prevention remains one of the most critical issues in our state,” said Jim Karels, state forester and director of the Florida Forest Service. “Florida’s climate creates a unique challenge for our year-round wildfire season, making it imperative for us to educate Floridians and visitors alike on the importance of Smokey Bear’s message.”
Smokey Bear’s wildfire prevention campaign has had a dramatic impact since its introduction in 1944. Progress continues today with an approximate 14 percent reduction in the average number of human-caused wildfires from 2011-2018, compared to the previous 10 years.
While his work has been successful, more than 75% of all wildfires in Florida are caused by human carelessness, which means Smokey’s message remains relevant. Since January, the Florida Forest Service has responded to 1,295 wildfires that have burned over 87,200 acres in our state.
Pictured: A 75th birthday party for Smokey Bear Friday at the Blackwater Forestry Center. Escambia County is part of the Blackwater district. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.