Council On Aging Distributes Over $30K In Gifts To Nearly 800 Clients
December 28, 2016
The Council on Aging of West Florida distributed $31,314 worth of gifts to 791 clients across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this Christmas.
The crafts, blankets, clothing, decorations, household goods and hygiene products were given to the Council on Aging by 43 area donors and organizations.
This marks one of the most successful years for the Council on Aging’s annual drive to give presents to homebound aging adults in the area. Each year, the Council will begin receiving gifts in early to mid-November before distributing them at Senior Dining Sites, The Retreat, and other distribution points across the two-county region. Some volunteers, like those from Temple Beth El and Navy base-workers, even elected to play Santa Claus and go on dedicated gift-delivery routes, spreading joy to all they encountered.
“Seniors are neglected more than any other group,” said Debbie Manning, who hand-made many gifts this year. “During Christmas especially, kids are taken care of through Toys for Tots and other programs. Seniors are the least represented group.”
In addition to the presents that delivered holiday cheer to hundreds of aging adults, the Council on Aging helped distribute hundreds of blankets and dozens of heaters to senior citizens who are particularly vulnerable to the cold weather this time of year.
“I’ve seen moms with children, heads of companies, and retirees alike go out of their way to purchase that special gift they knew would warm the heart of someone they have never even met,” said Tricia Dixon, volunteer coordinator for the Council on Aging. “For some elderly adults, these are the only presents they receive. Many have family who no longer live here or have passed on, so it brings them a special kind of joy as they unwrap items meant especially for them. It reminds them that we still care, that we are happy to give back to those who have given us so much.”
“It took all of our staff cooperating throughout the month of December to make this program run smoothly,” said Margaret Jerauld, the Council’s activities supervisor. “From compiling master lists of clients, to pickup and delivery of gifts, to counting donations and getting thank you letters written, the great staff at the Council on Aging worked together to make the 2016 Christmas season special for seniors in our area.”
If you are interested in volunteering to help the Council on Aging, or if you would like to drop off any new heaters or blankets, call (850) 432-1475.
Two Injured In Two Muscogee Road Wrecks
December 28, 2016
Two people were injured in two different wrecks Tuesday night on Muscogee Road in the area of Pace Parkway in Cantonment.
One accident involved a pickup truck that ran off the roadway into a wooded area, while the second crash involved a SUV and an 18-wheeler. None of the injuries were severe.
Further details on the crashes have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
2016 In Photos: February
December 28, 2016
Today, we continue our look back at the year 2016 in photos with a look at February.
Gov. Rick Scott and other leaders toured tornado damage in Century.
Local legislative delegation members in Century sign a letter to Gov. Rick Scott thanking him for his efforts on tornado recover.
An EF-3 tornado ripped through Ferry Pass.
Kristy Imhof, the new Escambia County Teacher of the Year, received a surprise visit in her seventh grade language arts classroom at Ransom Middle School
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Laura Chavers received the seventh annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA.
Fire destroyed a church van on Highway 29 in Century.
Over a dozen North Escambia railroad crossings were closed for repairs.
Northview principal Gayle Weaver face to face with BMX bike jumping over her during a motivational event before the student body.
The Pensacola Opera presented “Jack and the Beanstalk” at the Century Branch Library.
Three North Escambia area high schools — Tate, Northview and Escambia County (Atmore) — were surprised with golden footballs from the NFL to commemorate Super Bowl 50.
ECUA and Escambia County held a groundbreaking for a new recycling facility.
One family was evacuated after a chemical tanker accident in Walnut Hill.
At least three people were injured and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed as a tornado ripped through the North Escambia area from McDavid and Century
The National Weather Service determined that the tornado that hit Century in February was an EF-3 with 152 MPH winds.
Two men pray together at the Abundant Life Assembly of God in Century during a food distribution event for tornado victim.
A food distribution was held for tornado victims in Century.
An Amtrak inspection train rolled into Atmore in advance of the possible return of rail service to the Gulf Coast.
Volunteers from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue visited Molino Park Elementary School’s after-school program to teach the students about fire safety.
The inside of the 114-year old Century United Methodist Church, complete shift off of its foundation by the Century tornado.
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When an EF-3 tornado slammed into Century last Monday, it not only damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, it also blew away a large part of Century’s economic development hopes for new jobs. The former Alger-Sullivan Lumber property just off Front Street was heavily damaged, including a collapse of the rear portion of the largest building.
Escambia County Fire Rescue first responders learned about getting out of a tight spot — a really tight spot – during training held at Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment.
Reward Offered After Generators Stolen From Cantonment Business
December 28, 2016
A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person that stole two Honda EU2000 generators from A-1 in Cantonment.
The generators have distinctive marks and wear on top from a cage used to hold them down during transport. They also have special metal gas caps with right angle quick connects for an auxiliary fuel tank.
A cash reward is being offered; call (850) 968-4400.
Representative photo.
Man Drowns In The Escambia River Near Century
December 27, 2016
The body of a 73-year old man was recovered Monday afternoon from the Escambia River.
Authorities said Alton Morris was fishing with his girlfriend from a dirt bank at Fischer Landing in Century when he somehow fell forward into the river just before 2 p.m.
His body was recovered about a mile down the river, past the Escambia River Bridge about 4 p.m.
For more exclusive photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Century Family’s Home
December 27, 2016
Fire destroyed a wood frame home on West Pond Street in Century Monday evening.
The call came in just before 6 p.m., with the first emergency personnel on scene reporting that the home was fully involved and already mostly on the ground.
It was not immediately known how many people living inside the home but all were left homeless. There were no injuries reported.
The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Jay Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also reported to the blaz
This was the ninth red bulb in the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign, representing the ninth residential structure fire with damage in the county this December.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First Case Of ‘Strangles’ Reported In Escambia County
December 27, 2016
A disease called “strangles” has been reported in a horse in Escambia County.
The Equine Disease Communication Center says says one premise in Escambia County was placed under quarantine for strangles. The exact location of the horse has not been released.
According to the owner of the horse, it was brought back to Escambia County from the Bastrop kill pen facility in Louisiana on December 20. No other animals have left the facility since the clinical signs began.
This is the first case of strangles in Escambia County and the 24th in Florida this year.
Strangles is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection of horses and other equines caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus equi. The disease is contagious among horses. In rare cases, humans have contracted infections from the bacteria that causes Strangles.
File photo.
Escambia Property Tax Discount Ends Soon
December 27, 2016
Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley reminds everyone that the three percent discount on payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Saturday, December 31. All tax collector offices will be open normal business hours on Friday, December 30.
To receive the three percent discount, payments must be:
· mailed with a December postmark;
· left by midnight, December 31, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
· made online by midnight CST, December 31 at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Since all offices are closed December 31, January 1 and 2, customers who make their payment in person at any tax collector office on Tuesday, January 3, will receive the three percent discount, however, their payment will be dated January 3, 2017 not December 31, 2016.
We also offer a more convenient way to wait in line for walk-in services. Customers who do not have an appointment can still save time by texting an office location to join a line immediately. With this system, customers can check in from anywhere, receive status updates, and be able to request additional time, if necessary.
Text the office location to (850) 344-1875 (after 8:30 a.m.):
o ectc downtown
o ectc marcus pointe
o ectc molino
o ectc warrrington
To check the status of your taxes or to pay online, visit our web site at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by phone at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252 or email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com with any questions.
Offices are located at:
- Downtown – 213 Palafox Place
- Marcus Pointe – 6451 North W Street
- Molino – 6440 Highway 95-A North, Suite A
- Warrington – 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A
For more information, call (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.
Negron Eyes Possible Medicaid Changes
December 27, 2016
With Donald Trump moving into the White House and Republicans controlling Congress, Florida Senate President Joe Negron said he wants to start working on a “framework” for how the state could move forward with major changes in the Medicaid program.
Conservatives have long discussed the idea of turning Medicaid into a block-grant program that would give states more flexibility in crafting details of how they provide health care to low-income residents. That discussion has been refueled with last month’s election of Trump, who has made Medicaid block grants part of his health-care platform.
Negron said he has he talked with Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Dana Young, R-Tampa, and Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, about “building a framework for what a block grant program would look like now that there is a reasonable chance that would happen.”
“I don’t want to want to wait until the federal government acts and Congress acts and then we go into next session and try to build it,” Negron, R-Stuart, said. “I’d like to build out the model of what a Florida-run Medicaid system would look like, and then when Washington acts, Florida would be ready to go.”
Medicaid, which is funded by the federal and state governments, is a highly complicated program that provides care to about 4 million Florida residents, which children making up more than half of the state’s enrollees, according to presentations given this month to lawmakers.
The program is governed by federal laws, with states able to seek approval for what are known as “waivers” to make changes. Perhaps the best example in Florida is a waiver that the state has used in recent years to require most Medicaid beneficiaries to enroll in managed-care plans.
Broadly, a shift to a block-grant program would involve the federal government sending money to states, which would have more freedom to run the programs as they wish. But such a change would be controversial and need approval in Washington, with critics contending that it ultimately would lead to cuts in health-care funding for low-income people.
“A Medicaid block grant would institute deep cuts to federal funding for state Medicaid programs and threaten benefits for tens of millions of low-income families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities,” the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said in a report posted online Nov. 30. “To compensate for these severe funding cuts, states would likely have no choice but to institute draconian cuts to eligibility, benefits, and provider payments.”
But with Florida, like Washington, fully controlled by Republicans for at least the next two years, leaders including Negron and Gov. Rick Scott are touting the idea of moving to a block-grant system — a change that Negron likened to inventing the “system from scratch.”
“I think that gives us a lot more flexibility for our Medicaid system and hopefully would, I think, provide an extraordinary opportunity for the House and the Senate to look at ways to perhaps make health insurance available to men and women who get up and go to work every day in Florida but maybe can’t pay the full cost of their health insurance,” Negron said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Two Arrested After Escambia County Shots Fired Incident
December 27, 2016
Two people were arrested after a shots fired incident Monday morning in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call about 5:30 a.m. in the 700 block of Fairfield Drive. No one was found to be injured.
The victim told deputies she was in a physical altercation with her ex-boyfriend when he fired a gun.
Tre-marcus Williams was apprehended while running from the crime scene in a car. Shaqur Fank, a passenger in the car, was found to have ammunition and narcotics on him.
Williams has been charged with aggravated assault, battery, firing a weapon and possessing a weapon.
Fank has been charged with possessing a weapon and drug possession.