Legal Assistance Available For Tornado Victims
February 22, 2016
Legal Services of North Florida will be at the Century Business Center located at 150 E. Pond Street in Century on from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. and Friday, February 26 from noon to 4 p.m. to meet with income eligible tornado victims who cannot receive assistance due to outstanding title issues with their homes. Staff will be on hand to accept applications, meet with clients, gather information, and provide advice and services. This service is funded in part by Escambia County.
Additionally, residents may visit Legal Services of North Florida’s office between 8:30 and 3 p.m., Monday-Thursday at 1741 N Palafox St. They may also request an application be mailed by calling (850) 432-8222. For more information, call Legal Services of North Florida at (850) 432-8222.
Good Day! It’s National FFA Week
February 22, 2016
It’s National FFA Week in Escambia County, according to a proclamation issued by the Escambia County Commission. The commission commended the county’s FFA chapters, members, parents and advisors and all who support agriscience education and the development of future leaders. Pictured at the county commission proclamation presentation from the Tate High School FFA are Austin Courson, Rachel Grammer, Tori Kelson, Cora Andrews, Patra Miller, Amber Neal, Commissioner Steven Berry and Melissa Gibbs. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Flips Pickup Into Water-Filled Ditch
February 22, 2016
A driver as no where to be found when a pickup truck was found flipped into a water-filled ditch on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment Sunday night.
Firefighters search the truck and ditch for any signs of a victim, but nothing was found. It appeared the driver had fled the scene before the arrival of first responders.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Tour Tornado Damage; Offer Hope For State Aid, FEMA
February 21, 2016
Saturday morning, Northwest Florida lawmakers toured the devastation from last Monday’s tornado, talking to the victims and vowing to do all they can to make sure assistance dollars flow to the Century area.
NorthEscambia.com was along for the ride as State Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Doug Broxson joined Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, Century Mayor Freddie McCall and Council President Ben Boutwell in touring the area.
Along the way, they stopped to talk to residents that were out working on the clean up, like Helen Mincy.
“I don’t have anything and government officials need to get out here and help us. We ain’t got nothing,” she said. As Evers listened, she explained that she was out saving what she could, even 2×4’s, in order to save money on any rebuilding project.
At stop after stop, they heard the frustration of residents who have been told that, so far, there is no state or federal aid on the way.
“To see this with your own two eyes is pretty powerful. People are really hurting, really struggling. That don’t have anywhere to lay their head at night, worried about their stuff, worried about their families,” Ingram said. “We can go back to the capital and sell this in a more personable way that folks need help.”
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Evers agreed.
“I think the damage is devastating far beyond anything that we could have imagined when we heard about it Monday in Tallahassee. We learned a lot today from looking over it. We can actually take what we saw back to Tallahassee and make a difference, maybe release some money at the state level,” he said.
Ingram said that budget proposals are not yet final, giving the Northwest Florida Delegation time to attempt to put money for the Century area into the next budget.
“We definitely have to try to make a play to either reserve some funds from the affordable housing money,” he said. “It was good that we got to see this while we still had a little bit of a time window to act.”
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The lawmakers signed a letter encouraging Gov. Rick Scott to declare a disaster area and make aid available (pictured above).
McCall said he was encouraged after the tour.
“I feel relief. I feel like they have seen firsthand what we’ve got, and I feel like they can better tell the story when they get back (to Tallahassee). I am encouraged that the governor is going to hear about this, and he’ll hopefully pay attention to what we have up here,” McCall said.
A federal disaster declaration from the White House would require documented losses of over $25 million in the county. The EF-3 tornado damage falls short, but Evers announced that FEMA representatives will tour Century next week to determine if any exceptions could be made to that threshold to allow for federal help.
A large percentage of those suffering tornado damage do not have any insurance and live below the poverty level.
Pictured top and bottom. Helen Mincy explains her tornado damage to Sen. Greg Evers. Pictured top inset: Evers and Rep. Clay Ingram (left) drag debris out of Front Street. Pictured middle inset: (l-r) County Administrator Jack Brown, Commissioner Steven Barry and Ingram discuss aid options. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Farm Share Giveaway Helps Tornado Survivors
February 21, 2016
Farm Share partnered with Senator Greg Evers and Representatives Doug Broxson, Mike Hill, and Clay Ingram to sponsor a disaster relief food distribution in Century Saturday at the Century Business Center on Pond Street. Families in need after the devastation of last week’s tornado were given food and supply bags free of charge from Farm Share.
Each household received a variety of fresh produce, canned and dried food, water, juice, paper products, and other needed essentials.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Bush Ends Presidential Bid After SC Loss
February 21, 2016
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush had the money. He had support from large parts of the Republican establishment. And he had a golden name in GOP politics.
But none of it seemed to matter.
After another lackluster finish Saturday in the South Carolina Republican primary, Bush announced he was halting his presidential campaign. Bush made the televised announcement with his wife, Columba, at his side.
“I’m proud of the campaign that we’ve run to unify our country and to advocate conservative solutions that would give more Americans the opportunity to rise up and reach their God-given potential,” Bush said, appearing emotional. “But the people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken, and I really respect their decision, so tonight I am suspending my campaign.”
The announcement ended the possibility of Bush following his brother and father into the White House and left five Republicans — including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a former Bush protege — in the race.
Rubio later said he has “incredible affection and admiration” for Bush and the Bush family.
“He was the greatest governor in the history of Florida, and I believe and I pray that his service to our country has not yet ended,” Rubio said.
While the favorite of many Republican insiders and fund-raisers, Bush could never appear to get his footing in a race that has been largely dominated by the outsider Donald Trump. That showed again Saturday, with Trump easily winning the South Carolina primary after also winning in New Hampshire.
Bush announced the campaign suspension as results showed him winning less than 10 percent of the vote in South Carolina and trailing Trump, Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Trump repeatedly took shots at Bush during the campaign, including describing the former governor as “low energy” — a description that got widespread attention.
Bush was elected governor in 1998 and was a dominating presence during his two terms in Tallahassee, earning a reputation as something of a policy wonk. In his speech Saturday night, Bush defended his policy-driven approach to the noisy presidential campaign.
“In this campaign, I have stood my ground, refusing to bend to the political winds,” Bush said. “We put forward detailed, innovative, conservative plans to address the mounting challenges that we face, because despite what you might have heard, ideas matter, policy matters, and I truly hope that these ideas that we’ve laid out will serve as a blueprint for a generation of conservative leaders at every level of government so that we can take back our country.”
Rubio, who was in a battle Saturday night with Cruz for second place in South Carolina, tried to cast the campaign after Bush’s exit as a three-candidate race that includes Rubio, Cruz and Trump. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and physician Ben Carson also remain in the race.
“After tonight, this has become a three-person race, and we will win the nomination,” Rubio said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Photos: Go Inside The Tornado Damaged Century Methodist Church
February 21, 2016
Someone joked to the Rev. Janet Lee that a great hymn for this Sunday morning would be the great classic “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. She didn’t seem amused.
The community has leaned on the Century United Methodist Church for about 114 years. A simple, but beautiful wooden church that’s stood strong on Church Street since just after the turn of the Century. Notably, a couple of years longer, we’re told, than the Baptist church next door.
Now the church building is precariously leaning after last Monday’s tornado lifted it off it’s foundation and shifted the entire building about two feet away. The building, according to a structural engineer, is a total loss and in danger of possible collapse. It will have to be torn down.
Since Monday, church members and volunteers have worked, despite the danger, to remove stained glass windows, pews and other furniture, and chandeliers from the building. Members have former members have stopped by, some posing for pictures on the porch, and reminiscing about the weddings and funerals and special services — the important moments in their lives and the in the lives of their families — that took place in the little wooden church.
Some are quick to point out that Church is the gathering of the Lord’s people, not the physical building. That Century UMC body, for now, will be holding services in a house they own just across the street for the tornado damaged church.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Reimagine Flomaton Touches Communities In Need
February 21, 2016
The goal of Saturday’s Reimagine Flomaton event was to breathe new life into Flomaton where the faithful reached out to touch the hearts and lives of area residents in need. The event was planned months ago, and suddenly took on a new importance after tornado ravaged areas of Century and Flomaton last Monday.
The event at Hurricane Park included a 15,000 pound food distribution, as well as other free activities and giveaways including clothing, diapers, pillows and laundry detergent. A free lunch was also available.
There were free children’s activities including face painting, bounce houses and a coloring contest in which three children won new bicycles. There was also live Christian music, dance and more.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Showband Members Raising Hawaii Trip Money
February 21, 2016
The Tate High School Showband of the South has a variety of fundraisers planned for the next several months to benefit the band’s trip to Hawaii next December to play at the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Saturday, a group of band students were raising money outside Tractor Supply on Nine Mile Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Small Business Mobile Assistance Center Deployed To Century
February 21, 2016
Following the tornado that swept through northern Escambia County on Monday, the Florida SBDC at the University of West Florida deployed its emergency response Mobile Assistance Center to the town of Century to aid local businesses impacted by the storm.
The FSBDC at UWF has partnered with the Century vouncil members and city officials to place the MAC—a 38-foot RV equipped with laptops, printer, satellite communication, and more—at the Century Chamber of Commerce. Florida SBDC at UWF disaster specialists will be available on-site to help affected businesses prepare disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges.
“We are here to help the business community of Century,” said Kelly Massey, regional director for the Florida SBDC at UWF. “Our center is glad to offer assistance through our MAC unit after this recent storm and tornado hit. We know it has caused damage and grief to the people there, and we intend to provide no-cost consulting services to assist Century in their post-storm challenges.”
“We are deeply saddened to see and hear the stories of damage and loss that individuals and small businesses in our area have suffered,” said Michael Myhre, CEO and network state director for the Florida SBDC Network. “We want businesses to know that we’re here to help in this time of need.”
For more information, contact the Florida SBDC at UWF at (850) 474-2528.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.