Gulf Power Crews Continue To Assist With Irma Power Restoration
September 14, 2017
Wednesday, Gulf Power crews continued to assist Tampa Electric in restoring power in Dade City following Hurricane Irma. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IMPACT 100 Names Non-Profit Finalists For $107,700 Grants
September 14, 2017
Arts and Culture
- Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society Inc. for project: Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society Historical Center.
- Pensacola Delta Enrichment Center Inc. for project: Young, Gifted and Underprivileged — Warrington Arts Development Project.
- West Florida Historic Preservation Inc., doing business as UWF Historic Trust, for project: History and Storytelling Circle.
Education
- Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers Inc. for project: Capstone Pet Place.
- Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence Inc., doing business as Escambia County Public Schools Foundation, for project: Swim, Soar and Fly into Science! Inspiring Hands-on Exploration of Our Natural World.
- Escambia County School Readiness Coalition Inc., doing business as Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County, for project: Grow with Me.
Family
- Horizons of Okaloosa County Inc., doing business as The Arc of the Emerald Coast, is a finalist for project: IMPACT 100 Dream Wheels for New Beginnings.
- My Father’s Arrows Inc. for project: Mama’s House.
- Young Men’s Christian Association of Northwest Florida Inc. for project: The Wheels on the Bus.
Environment, Recreation and Preservation
- Humane Society of Pensacola Inc., doing business as Pensacola Humane Society, for project: The Humane Express.
- Mother Wit Institute Inc. for project: Save the Ella L. Jordan Home — A Historic Place.
- Pensacola Lighthouse Association Inc., doing business as Pensacola Lighthouse & Museum, its project: Fresnel Lens Restoration.
Health and Wellness
- Community Organizations Active in Disasters Inc., doing business as Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies, for project: BRACED and Ready to Roll.
- Feeding the Gulf Coast Inc. for project: Serving the Community During Disasters.
- Santa Rosa Kids’ House Inc. for project: Changing for Children.
IMPACT 100’s annual meeting is scheduled for October 15 at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front on Pensacola Beach. The three finalists from each focus area will make a presentation at the meeting. IMPACT 100 members will vote on two recipients in each focus area.This is the 14th year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. Since the inception of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area in 2004, the organization has awarded 77 grants to 60 different nonprofit organizations totaling $8,318,000. This year’s awards will bring the total awarded in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to $9,395,000 across 87 grants.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Trapped In Cantonment Near Head-On Collision
September 13, 2017
Three people were injured in a near head-on collision in Cantonment Tuesday night.
The vehicles crashed at the intersection of Highway 95A and Woodbury Circle, behind the Tom Thumb, just after 9 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora driven by 49-year old Daniel Richard of Brewton was northbound on Highway 95A. Richard attempted to turn from Highway 95A to Woodbury Road, but instead pulled into the path of a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 72-year old Herbert Williams of Cantonment.
Williams and his passenger, 60-year old Jimmie Bryant of Cantonment, were transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
Richard was was trapped in his vehicle until firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free him. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Richard was cited for driving while license suspended/revoked involving serious bodily injuries, reckless driving and no seat belt, according to FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Approves $381K In Drainage Projects
September 13, 2017
The Town of Century has accepted a bid for miscellaneous drainage system improvements.
The low bidder on the five-area project was J. Miller Construction of Pensacola at $381,065. Complete bids were as follows:
- B&W Utilities $400,43.85
- Chavers Construction $480,688.50
- J. Miller Construction $381,065.00
- Utility Service Company $628,217.36
The drainage improvements will include work in the Pinewood/Mayo area; George Avenue, Jefferson Avenue/Barnwell Lane area, Hilltop Road, and Ivey Street.
The acceptance of J. Miller Construction’s low bid is contingent upon approval by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, which is funding the complete project.
File photo.
Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
September 13, 2017
In a park where hundreds of Escambia County area athletes play baseball, softball and t-ball every year, one set of baseball diamonds stands out from the rest. A rubber surface covers what would normally be clay and grass on three of the fields at the county-owned John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Complex on Nine Mile Road, providing a safe, fun place for everyone who wants to play ball.
And for the Miracle League of Pensacola, “everyone” truly means everyone.
It’s a place where every player plays, hits, gets on base, scores and wins – every game. Operating out of the John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Complex, the Miracle League of Pensacola provides physically and mentally challenged children and adults an opportunity to play baseball, softball and t-ball just like anyone else, all in a spirited and secure environment.
“The most exciting thing is getting to see the kids,” said Miracle League of Pensacola President and Co-Founder Larry Thompson, who started the program in 2002 with his late wife Donna. “In a sense, we’ve watched them grow up. They’re more than just players to us – they’re part of our family, too.”
Thompson said the program has grown from 28 players at its inception to about 250 for the current fall season.
The Miracle League of Pensacola relies on its many volunteers or “buddies” to keep the program going, along with community partners including the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department.
In addition to Escambia County donating the land at the park for the Miracle League to use, the Parks and Recreation Department has assisted with sidewalks, bleacher areas and perimeter areas to the newest Miracle League field. Recently, the department also coordinated with Miracle League to provide additional field safety netting and enhanced parking options.
Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said the Miracle League of Pensacola has been a great community asset, and the county is honored to be able to support the organization’s mission.
“I’ve witnessed the joy on their faces and the sense of accomplishment on players’ faces over my years at the county,” Rhodes said. “I’ve witnessed the feeling of inclusion by those players when they’re getting to play a game that some probably thought they’d never get to play.”
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry also spoke to the organization’s positive impact.
“The success and growth at the Miracle League is a fantastic example of a volunteer board and nonprofit organization changing the lives of not only our players, but also their families and all of our player buddies and our coaches,” Barry said. “Many of our volunteers, buddies, and their families have given thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to support our players and I thank them.”
And while Escambia County Parks and Recreation plays a role in Miracle League, Rhodes said the real credit belongs to the Miracle League volunteers who work hard on a daily basis to keep the program going.
“We’re happy to do the part that we can to provide the park, to provide the location and to assist with improvements at the facility, but the volunteers that provide assistance at the Miracle League provide such a key element to that organization’s mission and the success they’ve had over the years,” Rhodes said.
Commissioner Lumon May, who represents District 3 where the park is located, agreed that the county is pleased to support Miracle League and what it brings to the community.
“Miracle League of Pensacola provides an opportunity for all athletes to participate in the great game of baseball, which can be life-changing for those who might not have been able to play otherwise,” May said. “Youth sports are such a fundamental part of childhood, and nobody should be excluded from participating based on their ability.”
Thompson said one of the most rewarding parts of Miracle League is getting to witness the smiles on the players’ faces and watching them overcome physical limitations to achieve things they may have once considered impossible.
“I’ve seen kids come in with cerebral palsy that can’t hit a pitched baseball,” Thompson said. “We used to use a tee 90 percent of the time when we started, and now you may see us use a tee 10 percent of the time. It’s amazing to think you can take the same group of kids and see them hit a pitched ball – people who didn’t think they could even play ball.”
The Miracle League of Pensacola strives to facilitate a sense of inclusion for all who play, Thompson said, with the age of participants ranging from 3 years old to 61 years old.
“The Miracle League is built at a regular baseball park,” he said. “It’s not where I play ball – it’s where we play ball.”
To learn more about the Miracle League of Pensacola or how to become a volunteer, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County EMA Responds To Irma Flooding In Clay County
September 13, 2017
The Northwest Florida All Hazards Incident Management Team from Escambia County Emergency Management and Santa Rosa County Emergency Management responded to flooding in Clay County, just southeast of Jacksonville. They were joined by other agencies, including Mississippi Task Force 1 with the Department of Homeland Security, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, to assist local Clay County Officials. Pictured is “Thor”, Escambia County Emergency Management’s mobile command center deployed for Hurricane Irma recovery. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Brewton Teen Enters Manslaughter Plea In Deadly Hit And Run
September 13, 2017
An Alabama teen accused of hitting a middle school student with her vehicle, then leaving the scene, entered a plea in court Monday.
Monday, Donnavia Zandra Williams entered a blind plea to manslaughter, throwing herself at the mercy of the court. She could face two to 20 years in prison.
Williams was 17 in February of 2016, when the deadly crash occurred. She told police her windshield was icy, and she’d thought she hit a mailbox.
Devon Spencer, 12, and a friend were walking on Williamson Street, traveling from an apartment complex to W.S. Neal Middle School. The friend was not seriously injured, but Devon died a few days later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Her sentencing is set for November 2017.
Pictured top: Devon Spencer.
Scott, Tebow Huddle Over Irma
September 13, 2017
A New York Mets minor leaguer with a Heisman Trophy from his time in The Swamp brought some star power to Gov. Rick Scott’s Hurricane Irma relief efforts Tuesday.
After visiting a special-needs shelter together Monday night in Jacksonville, Scott teamed with former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow on Tuesday to thank volunteers and workers at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee and then left to do the same in Lee County.
“In the midst of a really tough time, you know I think so many people that were hurting have something to hold on to because there were so many volunteers … and they knew there were people in it with them,” Tebow said during the Tallahassee stop. “It doesn’t take away their pain, and it doesn’t take away their fear and doubt of the unknown, but it does give them a little comfort to know that there are people battling with them and loving and supporting them.”
Tebow, who grew up in the Jacksonville area and stopped by a number of Northeast Florida evacuation shelters, had worked with Scott to rally people to volunteer at shelters and in relief efforts before Irma made landfall Sunday in the Florida Keys and Southwest Florida.
“It’s not like you can make everything better at once, but you can know that people are praying for you and they love you and they are here with you walking this journey with you,” Tebow said.
Also, before Scott took part Monday in an aerial survey of damage in the Keys, the governor talked about Hurricane Irma’s storm impacts with Tebow, college football’s 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. Tebow played minor-league baseball this year in the New York Mets system.
Scott told reporters that people staying and working in hurricane-evacuation shelters have appreciated Tebow’s appearances and efforts.
On Friday, Scott retweeted a message from Tebow that said, “@FLGovScott is asking for more volunteers. LET’S RALLY, Florida! Go here: volunteerflorida.org.”
Scott last week also retweeted a message from Miami rapper Pitbull, a former paid ambassador for the state’s tourism industry, who said, “Florida residents & visitors, please be diligent. Evacuate where needed. Be safe. We will be back bigger, better, stronger.”
The storm work by Tebow won’t get him a “Great Floridian” honor — Scott’s already given him that designation.
Tebow was part of the 2013 class of “Great Floridians” that included former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, the late Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, golfer Bubba Watson, and 16th Century Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon, each recognized for making significant contributions to the progress and welfare of Florida.
Tebow, who is also a college-football analyst for ESPN, has a charity intended to help children in need. He’s also said he can envision a future career in politics.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida with contribution from Tom Urban, NSF.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EREC Sends Line Crew To Assist With Irma Recovery
September 13, 2017
Escambia River Electric Cooperative line crews will assist Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Madison, FL, with hurricane recovery. Tri-County Electric is one of the cooperatives who suffered severe damage during Irma. Over 90% of Tri-County’s service area was without power as of Tuesday afternoon. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Irma Focus Turns To Recovery
September 13, 2017
More than 5.5 million homes and businesses in Florida remained without power at midday Tuesday after Hurricane Irma plowed through the state.
Food, water and gas deliveries were starting to return in Central and South Florida as the demand swells from returning evacuees. Airports started to provide limited operations. And the process of allowing people to return to homes was underway in most areas outside the storm-ravaged lower Florida Keys.
Irma is expected to cost the state and federal government billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, Florida Power & Light spokesman Rob Gould asked customers on Tuesday to be patient as they wait for restoration of electricity.
“We understand what it means to be in the dark. We understand what it means to be hot and without air conditioning,” Gould said. “We are out there 24-7. This will not be just a daylight operation. We will be restoring power day and night.”
The company, with more than 20,000 restoration workers, anticipates getting power back by the end of the weekend to most of its customers in eastern parts of Florida.
A deadline of Sept. 22 has been set for restoring power to customers in the company’s western counties, which include all or parts of Manatee, Hardee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, Collier and Monroe.
The timelines don’t include homes and areas that were completely destroyed by the storm, Gould noted.
Juno Beach-based FPL reported 2.8 million of its nearly 5 million homes and businesses were still without power on Tuesday.
St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida had 1.27 million of its 1.8 million accounts in the dark on Tuesday. And Tampa Electric still had to reconnect 300,000 of its 750,000 accounts on Tuesday.
“Restoration will take days — but, thankfully, not weeks,” Tampa Electric President and CEO Gordon Gillette, said in a prepared statement.
Tampa Electric said power had already been restored to about 20 percent of its customers who had been impacted.
Statewide, electricity has been restored to more than 1 million homes and businesses as the broader recovery process got underway from Irma, which hit the Keys and Southwest Florida on Sunday and traveled up the state before exiting North Florida on Monday.
“What you’re going to see today all around the state, is you’re going to see more resources,” Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday morning while at Jacksonville International Airport. “This impacted the whole state, so it’s hard to pre-position all the assets you’d want to position if the storm just came from one coast or the other. But even with that, I think the number is over 30,000 individuals from out of state are helping us get our power on.”
Scott had earlier in the day taken an aerial tour of Jacksonville with the Florida National Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard had provided Scott with a similar view of Key West on Monday.
Damage assessment continues in the Florida Keys, where engineers are determining if bridges can handle the weight of returning vehicles. Water and sanitation also remain issues, Scott said.
Problems in Jacksonville stem from flash flooding from the St. Johns River. The U.S. Coast Guard reported rescuing more than 100 people Monday in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who put the number that needed rescuing from floodwaters at around 300 on Tuesday, expressed some frustration about people not heeding evacuation warnings.
“It would have been nice if there weren’t people in the areas that were affected by the surge, but the first responders just stepped right up and did their jobs,” Curry said.
Curry said he would have evacuated if he wasn’t the city’s mayor.
“We’re not trying to be difficult. We’re not trying to make people’s lives inconvenient,” Curry added. “I think the governor said it best leading up to this, evacuations are not about convenience, they’re about safety.”
Search and rescue operations continued in the Keys and Southwest Florida. Among other developments Tuesday:
— More than 94,000 people remained in about 400 shelters still in use across Florida.
— The Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee remained safe, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
— The Florida Highway Patrol was escorting 44 tractor-trailers with relief supplies and 600 utility trucks into Southwest Florida.
— Port Tampa, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral reopened for fuel trucks.
— Florida reopened 20 state parks in the Panhandle, but 147 others throughout the peninsula remained closed Tuesday morning.
— Lakeland-based Publix reported 22 of its 776 stores in Florida remained closed on Tuesday.
by The News Service of Florida