Manna Food Pantries Purchases New Home
April 18, 2016
MANNA Food Pantries has purchased its new future home, the Pensacola Mill Supply Building on North “E” Street.
The 23,000 square foot building is located less than two miles from MANNA’s current home near two bus routes and the bus terminal. The building is large enough to house both client services and warehouse operations under one roof for the first time in decades — greatly improving service quality to the hungry.
“As we approach the anniversary of the 2014 flood that severely impacted MANNA, we are grateful and excited to have found a new home that best serves the needs of our community and of MANNA,” said DeDe Flounlacker, MANNA Executive Director. “The location provides important access from downtown and other nearby areas where many people who need our help live.”
The non-profit hopes to have renovations completed and to be moved into the building by early 2017.
“We will be reaching out to our supporters throughout the community as MANNA embarks on a capital campaign to raise approximately $1 million to pay for the new building, renovations and move,” said Flounlacker. “After the flood, the community was so generous and helped us get back on our feet to resume feeding the hungry. And now we’ll be able to take services to a new level in serving the hungry. We’re excited about the impact we’ll be able to make from this building and location.”
Not a soup kitchen, MANNA Food Pantries is a local, grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to fighting hunger in Escambia & Santa Rosa counties. Our 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. We are nonsectarian, community focused and volunteer supported. We believe every person has a right to live free of hunger and to be treated with respect and dignity.
Jim Allen Third Graders Take On Multiplication Challenge
April 18, 2016
Adult visitors need to be ready if they visit a third grade classroom at Jim Allen Elementary School. They will find themselves in a battle as they try to complete the “Multiplication Challenge”, as did recent visitor Malcolm Thomas, Escambia superintendent of schools. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Treatment, Military Voting Bills
April 18, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott has signed two bills that are expected to help people get mental-health or substance-abuse treatment and make it easier for military personnel from Florida to vote.
With those moves, Scott finished acting on all 272 bills — including the state budget — approved by the Legislature this year. He signed all but three. The treatment measure includes what is known as a “no wrong door” policy, which would allow people who need mental-health or substance-abuse treatment to get it no matter how they enter the systems — whether through criminal offenses or personal crises. To do that, the bill would create central receiving facilities to function as single points of access to emergency care and intervention services. Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Chairman Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, sponsored the bill, with House Children, Families and Seniors Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-Treasure Island, spearheading the issue in the House.
The military-related measure creates a task force to review the development of an online voting system for overseas military voters as a way to return completed absentee ballots. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, also requires landlords to act within seven days on lease applications submitted by service members. The bill also makes clear that former members of the Florida National Guard are eligible for the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Top Biloxi
April 18, 2016
For the second time in six days, Pensacola Blue Wahoos Beau Amaral started the game with a lead-off home run. It’s also the only two times the speedy center fielder has done that in his professional career.
Between Amaral’s first inning home run and starter Daniel Wright and relievers Nick Routt, El’Hajj Muhammad, Alejandro Chacin combining on a two-hit shutout, Pensacola defeated the Biloxi Shuckers, 5-0, Sunday at MGM Stadium. It was Pensacola’s pitching staff’s second shutout in a row, after beating the Jacksonville Suns, 3-0, at home Saturday.
The win improves the Blue Wahoos record to 9-2 – it’s best start in team history – and puts them in first place in the Southern League South Division. Biloxi falls to 7-3 on the season.
On a 1-1 count against Biloxi starter Jorge Ortega, Amaral jacked the next pitch over the right center field wall to put Pensacola ahead, 1-0. That would be all the runs Pensacola needed Sunday.
Amaral worked in the offseason on his hitting with his dad, Rich, who played 10 years in the big leagues. He was 2-5 in the Biloxi game and now leads the Blue Wahoos with two home runs and six RBIs and is batting .282.
However, after Amaral’s solo blast a pitching duel ensued. Wright, who was starting in place of Nick Travieso who went on the disabled list with a pulled groin, threw five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, walked one and struck out six batters.
Biloxi’s Ortega allowed six hits in 5.2 innings of work, struck out three and gave up Amaral’s blast.
Pensacola’s bullpen then continued to shut down the Biloxi lineup, giving up one hit and striking out three. The Blue Wahoos’ pitchers have also thrown four one-run games this year.
The Blue Wahoos added four runs in the top of the ninth for some wiggle room, lighting up Biloxi’s fourth pitcher of the game Hobbs Johnson.
Third baseman Eric Jagielo started the inning with a walk, left fielder Phillip Ervin singled, Tony Renda grounded out to Biloxi third baseman Nate Orf to force out Jagielo at third. Right fielder Pin-Chieh Chen then hit an infield single to Orf who threw the ball away trying to get Chen out at first, allowing Ervin, who was 4-4 on the day, to score from second for a 2-0 Blue Wahoos lead.
Hobbs walked Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson to load the bases and then threw a wild pitch that allowed the speedy Renda to score from third putting Pensacola ahead, 3-0. Orf then committed his second error of the game on a ground ball by first baseman Ray Chang that let Chen score, 4-0.
The scoring ended when shortstop Zach Vincej singled to left field to score Hudson for a commanding, 5-0, lead for the Blue Wahoos.
Chacin capped the shutout and win by setting Biloxi down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth with two strike outs.
Update: Missing Escambia County Woman Found
April 17, 2016
Update 6 p.m.: This missing senior silver alert has been canceled after Jean Rodriguez Yenzer was located as is safe.
A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for Jean Rodriguez Yenzer.
The 85-year old was last seen in on Mohawk Trail in Pensacola wearing a pink, black and white striped sweater and black leggins. She may be traveling in a 2005 black Ford Focus with Florida tag number DKII73. She is possibly accompanied by a small black and white dog.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Open Until Thursday
April 17, 2016
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers will open through Thursday in Century and Pensacola to assist tornado victims.
The loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to business, non-profits, churches an individuals that suffered physical or economic losses as result of the EF-3 tornado on February 15 in the Century area or the February 23 EF-3 tornado in the Pensacola area.
The Century Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be at the Century Business Center at 140 East Pond Street will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and until final closing at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.
The Pensacola location will be open at the West Florida Regional Planning Council office at 4081 East Olive Road, Suite A. The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and until final closing at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.
Both locations will be closed on Sunday.
The types of loans available include:
- Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
- Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to the SBA and the ability to repay all loans. Collateral is required for physical loss or economic injury disaster loans over $25,000. Loan terms range up to 30 years with interest rates from 1.813 to 6.25 percent.
Only uninsured or otherwise uncompensated disaster losses are eligible.
The deadline to apply for physical damage assistance if June 6; the deadline for economic injury assistance applications is January 9, 2017.
The loans are also available in the contiguous Florida county of Santa Rosa and the contiguous Alabama counties of Escambia and Baldwin.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Winning $90K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold In North Escambia
April 17, 2016
Someone is over $90,000 richer after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the State Line Gift Shop, 11208 Highway 97 in Davisville was one of three winning tickets sold for Saturday night’s drawing worth $90,334.20 each. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Lakeland and Pinellas Park.
The 527 tickets matching four numbers won $82.50 each. Another 14,294 tickets matching three numbers are worth $8.50 each, and 125,610 ticket holders won a free Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Saturday’s winning numbers were 01-10-12-20-21.
Pictured: The State Line Gift Shop on Highwy 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Residents Report Series Of ‘Explosions’ For A Second Week
April 17, 2016
For the second consecutive week, numerous residents across a portion of the North Escambia area reported hearing and feeling multiple strong “explosions” or “booms” Saturday night.
Residents from Pensacola to miles north of Brewton and Flomaton reported varying levels of impact, all the way up to their entire homes and the ground shaking, along with a loud explosion sound. The majority of the reports we received came from the Flomaton, Century and Jay areas.
No explanation for the reports was found Saturday night.
Blue Wahoos Get First Shutout Of The Season
April 17, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lowered its team earned run average even more with Rookie Davis, Wandy Peralta and Kyle McMyne combining for the team’s first shutout this season.
Pensacola’s ERA dropped to an absurd Southern League-leading 1.80 in its, 3-0, victory Saturday over the Jacksonville Suns in front of a packed sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Strong pitching has been the theme for the 2016 version of the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate in its first two series against Jacksonville and the Mississippi Braves. It has thrown four one-run games.
Despite feeling under the weather when he arrived at the park, Rookie Davis picked up his second victory, leading the way with six scoreless innings. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four.
Davis said he didn’t tell anyone how sick he felt.
“I didn’t want it to be an excuse,” Davis said. “I wanted to put it all on the line. The other team doesn’t feel sorry for me.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he was impressed that Davis “battled through” his sickness and a hip flexor injury suffered in spring training.
The Blue Wahoos tough-to-hit pitching staff is getting a lot of credit, but Pensacola has relied on strong defense, as well.
In the fourth inning, J.T. Riddle smacked a single to right field sending Austin Dean, who drew a lead-off walk, to third. But Riddle rounded the bases too far and got caught in a run down. However, Dean decided to bolt for home and Pensacola first baseman Brandon Dixon gunned him out at the plate on a nice tag by catcher Chad Wallach.
“Our ERA under two shows how good our defense is,” said Davis, who has allowed one run in 11 innings for a 0.82 ERA. “It’s not just the pitching staff. We’re not averaging 27 strikeouts per game. We have a great defense behind us.”
Kelly said it was a good thing the rundown of Riddle took so long.
“Dean got a little anxious and Wallach made a good play on a tough throw,” Kelly said.
Pensacola scored first in the fourth inning when Davis hit a slow and high chopper to second base that scored third baseman Tony Renda from third. Blue Wahoos center fielder Beau Amaral then doubled down the right field line to drive in both Dixon and Wallach and just like that Pensacola led, 3-0.
It was the 22-year-old Davis’ first RBI since he was an 18-year-old playing in high school. He said he wasn’t trying to hit the ball to the opposite field, his swing was just behind.
“I was a little bit late,” Davis said. “I always pictured my first RBI coming on a hit.”
Pensacola has now won its first two series and is 8-2 and in first place in the Southern League South Division. It’s the team’s best start in its five-year history.
The Wahoos travel to Biloxi to play the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate the Shuckers Sunday afternoon. The Shuckers are in second place this season. The game will be a rematch of last year’s South Division playoffs that pitted the two teams against each other and was Pensacola’s first playoff appearance since it was established in 2012. Biloxi won the playoff series.
Also Saturday, Pensacola second baseman Alex Blandino, the Reds sixth best prospect, was activated Friday after an injury in spring training while playing in the World Baseball Classic qualifier for Nicaragua. He got his first hit Saturday in his seventh plate appearance on a blistering line drive to left field. He’s now 1-7 in two games.
Kindergarten Registration Underway In Escambia County
April 17, 2016
Children who will be five-years old on or before September 1, 2016, are eligible to register for kindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year. New kindergarten students enrolling in the Escambia County School District may register now at the school which serves their residential area during the regular school year.
To local your child’s school, click here. For more information, contact the School Choice Office at (850) 469-5580.
At the time of registration, parents will need:
- Child’s birth certificate
- Child’s social security card
- Proof of residence, such as a recent electric bill or rent receipt (Telephone and cable bills are not acceptable)
- Immunization Record (DH form 680)
- Physical form (DH form 3040, or other comparable form)