42 Local Nonprofits Receive $850K From United Way
June 14, 2019
United Way of Escambia announced on Thursday the 29 nonprofit agencies receiving $850,000 in grant awards through the organization’s Community Investment Process. Programs operated by these agencies provide critical services to individuals and families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the areas of health, education, and financial stability.
“We are excited to announce the programs and agencies that will receive grant funding for the 2019-2020 year through our Community Investment Process,” said President and CEO Laura Gilliam. “Through this process, volunteers, who are also donors, carefully vet the applicants to ensure that we’re being responsible stewards of our donor’s gifts, as well as making the strongest measured impact possible for our community.”
The undesignated gifts of hundreds of businesses, companies, and institutions, in addition to roughly 7,000 individual donors, create this Community Investment Fund. In 2019-20, 23 programs will receive new one-year grants, while 19 programs are in either the second or third year of 2-3 year grant cycles.
United Way of Escambia County also announced their Top 5 Workplace Campaigns, as well as the winner of a new KIA Soul, John J. Tria, Jr., of Ascend Performance Materials.
TOP 5 WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS
- Gulf Power Company
- Publix Super Markets
- Ascend Performance Materials
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- Armstrong World Industries
HEALTH AWARDS – $377,686
- Ashley Offerdahl Counseling Program – Children’s Home Society of Florida
- Access to Care – Health and Hope Clinic, Inc.
- Family Advocacy – Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Inc.
- Healthy Seniors Food Program – Manna Food Bank, Inc.
- Tummy Bundles – Manna Food Bank, Inc.
- Healthy Start, Century Program – Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.
- Mobile Outreach Program – OASIS Florida
- PUMCM Hot Meal Service – Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
2-3 YEAR COMMITTED AWARDS
- Child Abuse Prevention Education – Gulf Coast Kid’s House
- Epilepsy Services – Epilepsy Florida
- Essential Life Skills – Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc.
- Healthy Lifestyles – Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
- Nutrition Program – Council on Aging of West Florida
- Pearl Nelson Child Development Center, Pediatric Therapy – The ARC Gateway, Inc.
- Senior Companion Program – Council on Aging of West Florida
- Sexual/Physical Abuse Treatment Program – Lutheran Services of Florida
- Victim Services – Lakeview Center
- Youth Development – YMCA of Northwest Florida
EDUCATION AWARDS – $377,008
- AMI Pensacola GED and Vocational Program – AMIkids Pensacola, Inc.
- Capstone Academy – Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc.
- Girls Earning Diplomas (GED) Program – PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
- Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab – Autism Pensacola, Inc.
- ReadingPals – Every Child a Reader in Escambia County
- School to Work – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc.
2-3 YEAR COMMITTED AWARDS
- Academic Success – Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
- Community Based Mentoring – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Heritage Oaks Affordable Housing – Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies
- Independence for Dependent and Homeless Youth – Legal Services of North Flroida
- Pearl Nelson Child Development Center, Early Intervention Services – The ARC Gateway, Inc.
- School Readiness Program – Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County
- Service Learning and Leadership Development – Chain Reaction
- Teenspace – Children’s Home Society of Florida
- Veteran’s Legal Assistance – Legal Services of North Florida
FINANCIAL STABILITY AWARDS – $95,306
- Chadwick House – Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
- Child Care – YMCA of Northwest Florida
- Domestic Violence Shelter – FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Emergency Assistance – Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida
- Every Adult Achieves Self-Sufficiency – Pathways for Change, Inc.
- Feeding Stability – Manna Food Bank, Inc.
- His Place Shelter – Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
- The Mobile Pantry Program – Feeding the Gulf Coast
- Recovery and Career Development Program: A Path to Self-Sufficiency – Waterfront Rescue Mission, Inc.
UWF Rises To Second In Florida For Performance
June 14, 2019
The Florida Board of Governors named the University of West Florida as a top-performing public university for the third consecutive year, with UWF securing a spot in the top two.
The University earned 94 points out of the 100-point scale in the Board’s performance-based funding model results from the 2018-19 academic year. UWF scored its highest point total in the six-year history of the metrics and finished one point behind the University of Florida. The distinction for UWF comes one month after the U.S. News & World Report ranked the Florida State University System No. 1 in the country for the third consecutive year.
“We are a top-ranked university in the best university system in the country,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “Once again, UWF has distinguished itself as a leader in higher education. This ranking is a testament to our hard-working students, faculty and staff and our no limits approach to education.”
Under the performance funding model, the Board of Governors scores Florida’s 11 public universities based on 10 metrics designed to incentivize university excellence and improvement. These metrics establish a minimum acceptable level of performance on issues including graduation and retention rates.
Pictured: The University of West Florida celebrated a significant milestone at the Fall 2018 Commencement last December, awarding the 100,000th degree since the institution opened in 1967. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
South Alabama Fugitive In Custody After A Week On The Run
June 13, 2019
A fugitive on the run for a week in South Alabama is now in custody after a four to five hour standoff with police Thursday.
John Cobb was arrested near the Covington-Conecuh county line about 6:30 p.m. Thursday by deputies from the Covington, Conecuh and Escambia County (AL) sheriff’s offices.
Deputies said John Cobb was at a home in the Damascus area Friday night but was gone by the time they arrived. The search continued in the area until 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Sunday night, K-9s tracked Cobb until rain washed out the scent trail.
Tuesday, deputies responded to a burglary and found that someone had showered and slept in a camp house, and they found a shotgun had been stolen from another camp house. A truck Cobb allegedly stole was recovered in Conecuh County.
And Tuesday night deputies from Escambia and Conecuh counties responded to a burglary in Brooklyn where a pistol and rifle were stolen.
For the next two days, Cobb continued to elude law enforcement.
ECSO: Man Fabricated Shooting Story, His Girlfriend Charged With Battery
June 13, 2019
Authorities say a man that claimed he was shot Wednesday afternoon in Escambia County was actually injured in a domestic violence situation.
The victim was shot in the hip in the 200 block of Topaz Avenue and went to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment. He told investigators that he was breaking up a fight between two teens when he was shot, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office now says he fabricated the story.
The ECSO charged the victim’s girlfriend, 30-year old Xiaomae Jenkins, with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of a marijuana in connection with the shooting incident. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Sheriff’s Office says the victim is expected to recover. His identity has not been released.
Financial Expert Recommends Sweeping Changes To Save Century
June 13, 2019
An independent financial consultant that wrote the Town of Century is “teetering on a financial cliff, and quick decisive action is needed to rescue it” sat down with the town council Wednesday evening to expound on his report. He recommended the town divest management of its utilities, hire a chief financial officer, get rid of their current accountant and just simply learn to work together.
With natural gas and water utilities losing about a million dollars in three years, Bob Inzer told the council they must take action now.
“Those are big numbers for a city of your size,” he said, adding most cities operate their utilities to make money to offset other expenses or provided additional services. He said it was the council’s responsibility to know about financial problems and take corrective actions on a timely basis, but “looking at the minutes (of council meetings), that’s not happened”.
He said the town’s charter, which has not been updated for four decades, is “antiquated” and presents a role for the mayor’s office that is more like that of a city manager. The council, he said, has been left with only limited information about the financial condition of the town from the mayor and town employees.
“The buck stops really with the council in this community,” Inzer said “You’ve got to find a way to work together.”
“Y’all are the board of directors. This is your money, this your system, this your government. Somebody’s got to be asking the questions and paying attention to what is going on,” he said.
Inzer repeatedly told the council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
“You hire the people that have that expertise to report to you, and you hold them accountable,” he said. “…I believe your city is not operating with the level of oversite it needs to be as evidenced by your losses.”
If the town were to hire a CFO, that could replace the town’s current accountant. “I would think he would not be needed,” Inzer remarked.
He also recommended that the town sell the town’s utilities or outsource their management.
“It was harsh, but it was an eye opener,” council member Luis Gomez said. “It felt like 95 percent was spot-on.”
To read more about Inzer’s report in depth, click here for an earlier NorthEscambia.com story. Inzer has spent nearly 50 years in municipal finance, including 30 years with the City of Tallahassee. Through the Florida League of Cities, his services and report were at no cost to the town.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Summer Fun: Brand New Playground At Barrineau Park Community Center
June 13, 2019
A brand new playground has been installed and is ready for summer fun at the Barrineau Park Community Center. The community center is located at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road [Map]. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Felony Battery By Strangulation
June 13, 2019
A Century man was charged after allegedly choking his ex-wife.
Lawrence Scott Hamilton, 33, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of felony domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated battery. He was released on a $7,500 bond.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she and her ex-husband of 13 years had recently gotten back together again and have been residing as a family unit. She told deputies she had spent the night at a friend’s house, but when she returned home Hamilton did not believe her and became increasingly violent.
He threw a cell phone at the victim, causing an injury before he grabbed her by the throat and choked her, according to arrest report. She told deputies Hamilton stated “I should just kill you now” the report states.
After the incident de-escalated, Hamilton transported the victim to Jay Hospital. She was transported from there to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola by ambulance for treatment.
Escambia Deputies, Escambia Fire, Pensacola PD Going On Strike, And It’s All About Doughnuts
June 13, 2019
The Pensacola Police Department (PPD), Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) and Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) are going on strike against their beloved doughnuts Wednesday, June 26 through Friday, June 28 to support Manna. During the doughnut strike, first responders have vowed not to devour a single doughnut until 20,000 pounds of food has been donated to fight hunger in the local area, the equivalent of 26,600 meals.
Each day of the strike, members of PPD, ECSO and PFD will be at grocery locations in Escambia County from 3 to 6 p.m. to collect donations from the public. To view the grocery locations for each day of the strike, please visit www.mannahelps.org. Members of the public may also support the first responders by dropping off food donations to Manna, 3030 North E Street, Pensacola, any day during the strike, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“One in five children go to bed hungry in our community. The support of our local first responders is critical during the summer months, when children are out of school and the need for assistance increases,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “They are truly our heroes!”
Once the goal has been reached, our local first responders will return to shamelessly devouring the glazed goodness that all first responders know and love.
Manna is a local, grassroots non-profit dedicated to fighting hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Their mission is to offer emergency food assistance, service the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engage the entire community in the fight against hunger.
ECUA Helps Prep Local 4-H Students Headed To Legislative Program
June 13, 2019
Escambia County 4-H members were busy this week preparing for a mock legislative program in Tallahassee.
Annually, 4-H high schools members from Escambia County join other 4-H members in Tallahassee to develop their debating, analyzing legislation, and public speaking skills through a mock legislature program at the state capitol. This year’s program is scheduled for June 24-28.
This civic education event allows students to write bills, act as lobbyists, pass the bills through various committees and debate the potential laws on the state house and/or senate floor as acting representatives and senators. This exercise provides the 4-H’ers an opportunity to debate issues and experience the legislative process firsthand.
In preparation for the week of mock legislature, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) hosted the students on Tuesday, June 11, in the ECUA board room, allowing the students to practice their legislative skills in a governmental chamber environment. The training prepared the students for the upcoming 4-H Legislature and gain an understanding of board proceedings similar to legislative committees that are conducted in organizations in all forms of government and private corporate enterprise.
The local students have participated in an intensive five-part training program, which was directed by 4-H agents and adult volunteers, who contributed their knowledge of parliamentary procedure, research, debate, the art of persuasion, and formal presentation in committee and chamber sessions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Jay
June 13, 2019
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in Jay.
Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have ahunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
Courses will be held:
June 19 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & June 29 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
June 26 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & June 29 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.