Feeding the Gulf Coast Launches Millie, the Mobile Market, With Grand Opening Celebration In Jay
January 6, 2024
Feeding the Gulf Coast launched its newest initiative designed to help people living in “food deserts” Friday morning in Jay.
Millie, a mobile Market, held a grand opening celebration this Friday, January 5, at the Jay Farmers’ Market. A variety of fresh produce, including eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, corn, and oranges, was available for purchase during the event.
Millie will travel routes throughout Feeding the Gulf Coast’s Florida service area, addressing pockets of low food access (food deserts) where supermarkets are scarce, to provide community members the opportunity to buy affordable fresh produce and other nutritious foods at a significantly discounted rate. As the program progresses, the Mobile Market aims to become a SNAP-authorized retailer, enabling families to use their SNAP benefits for purchasing nutritious food.
“We are thrilled to launch this exciting new program as an extension of the food bank,” says Michael Ledger, Ppesident and CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast. “There are many obstacles to healthy food access within rural, hard to serve communities. This vehicle will help broaden the availability of nutritious and affordable food to those we serve, bringing hope and health to our Florida communities.”
Feeding the Gulf Coast collaborates with local farmers to purchase produce specifically for the Mobile Market.
Ice Flyers Struggle With Scoring Chances, Fall 2 – 1 Against Peoria
January 6, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers. correspondent
The Ice Flyers didn’t lack for opportunities in Thursday’s game against Peoria.
But they left with another frustrated feeling.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The Ice Flyers failed on six power play chances, including a 5-on-3 situation in the second period, then couldn’t answer in the final 10 minutes after a go-ahead goal led to the Peoria Rivermen skating off with a 2-1 victory at the Pensacola Bay Center.
It became the Ice Flyers fourth consecutive loss.
“When we’ve gotten down in these third periods, we have fallen completely flat,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “When that happens, you need guys to elevate and become even more desperate, more hungry. We have a lack of desperation in our team right now and that is a concern.”
A crowd of 3,609 in the Ice Flyers fourth home game in 12 days watched the Ice Flyers get stymied without a goal in the first two periods. That changed when Mitch Atkins scored 18 seconds into the third period when getting a loose puck, making a quick move and firing into a wide-open net.
That lift brought energy back into the Bay Center on Hometown Heroes Night sponsored by Kia Autosport-Pensacola. The theme night honored area first responders, health care workers and teachers, all of whom in attendance received a loud ovation when asked to stand and be recognized.
People working in either of those three fields were able to purchase discounted tickets at the Bay Center box office.
The game itself contained a unique element after the Rivermen and Ice Flyers agreed upon a six-player trade on New Year’s Day with the Ice Flyers getting veteran forward Joseph Widmar and rookie Adam Keyes, along with defenseman Dale Deon. Widmar had six goals and league-high 24 assists for the Rivermen, pushing him to second in league scoring prior to the game.
Deon, in his third season with Peoria, will join the Ice Flyers this weekend.
In exchange, Ice Flyers winger Dante Zapata and defensemen Meirs Moore and Jayson Dobay switched benches and dressing rooms at the Bay Center to join Peoria.
The Ice Flyers started slow. They were outshot 11-1 in the first 10 minutes.
“It didn’t seem like anybody was really going early on,” Graham said. “Actually I thought Widmar had really good pace. You could tell he wanted to play against his former team.”
In addition to Widmar, Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger continued making terrific saves throughout the game and kept it a one-score opportunity through two periods.
“I thought Dinger was the first star of the game,” Graham said. “That’s great when you can get great goaltending like that. It could have easily been a 3-1 or 4-1 game without Dinger playing so well.
“Just offensively, anemic. And a lot of stemmed from our inability to win faceoffs early on. When you are having to bring pucks out every shift under heavy forecheck, it allows the other team to get their game going. (Rivermen) are very consistent in getting pucks in deep. Their top players were consistent doing it.”
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The Ice Flyers (13-12) had four power play chances in the second period. They gained a 5 on 3 advantage for 1 minute, 24 seconds on consecutive Rivermen penalties less than four minutes into the period.
But the Ice Flyers couldn’t get the right shot.
“The story of the game was our anemic power play,” Graham said. “The power play is just an absolute abomination right now. Key guys are not executing, not winning battles and just unwilling to shoot the puck.
“It has hurt the team when you are struggling, you are just way overthinking things, instead of just keeping it simple and putting things to the net right now. Unfortunately, as a coach, there are only so many things you can help a player out with.”
After Atkins tied the game in the third period, Peoria’s Alec Baer scored on a rebound with 8:18 remaining that Mundinger had no chance to stop. From that point, the Ice Flyers had few chances, even when Mundinger was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:33 left to play.
“It’s been the same all year… It seems like it takes us for awhile to get going,” Graham said. “And once we get going it’s like, ah-ha, everybody just wakes up on the bench and wait, we just scored a goal? And we start playing better hockey.”
The Ice Flyers will now seek to alter their slide on the road Friday against the Macon Mayhem, then will travel to face first-place Birmingham on Saturday in the fourth matchup between these teams in two weeks.
“It’s just urgency and desperation,” said Graham on what his team needs to change. “We need to see a huge heartbeat from the team.”
Angela Rose Named Ransom Middle Teacher Of The Year
January 6, 2024
Angela Rose is the Ransom Middle School Teacher of the Year.
A photo of Rose was not made available by the school.
NorthEscambia.com is welcoming 2024 honoring the Teachers of the Year from North Escambia schools over the next several days. Escambia County’s overall Teacher of the Year will be named in February.
Man With A Cane, 74, Charged With Robbing Bank
January 5, 2024
An Escambia County man with a cane has been charged with robbing a bank Friday in Pensacola.
Randall Lawrence Digsby was charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The robbery occurred at 9:47 a.m. at the Synovus Bank at 125 West Romana Street. Police said he was armed with a knife.
Digsby didn’t get far after the holdup. Pensacola Police officers arrested him two minutes later just outside the bank.
PPD said a small amount of cash was taken and recovered.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery, False Imprisonment Of Ex-Girlfriend
January 5, 2024
A Cantonment man is charged with the battery and false imprisonment of his ex-girlfriend.
Daniel Shawn Brown, 51, was charged with battery, larceny, kidnapping false imprisonment, hindering communications and violation of a domestic violence injunction.
Brown allegedly prevented his ex-girlfriend from leaving his room at the Home Stay Lodge on Davis Highway, punched her in the eye and took her phone, purse and keys.
After being prevented from leaving for an entire day, she was eventually able to “become violent” and run away from the motel and call for help, an arrest report states.
‘Keep the Wreath Green’ Ends with 13 Residential Fires In Escambia County
January 5, 2024
Escambia County recorded 13 residential structure fires in December, represented by 13 red bulbs at the conclusion of “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
“Keep the Wreath Green 2023 proved to be an improvement compared to totals from previous years,” said ECFR Fire Chief Adam Harrison. “However, there were still 13 occasions where Escambia County residents were displaced from their homes during the holiday season. Throughout 2024, Escambia County Fire Rescue encourages residents to include fire safety in their New Year’s resolutions.”
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign wass a collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths were on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, as well as Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb was replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential homes.
Free smoke detectors are available from ECFR…call at 850-595-HERO (4376)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Longtime Escambia 4-H Supporter, State Hall Of Fame Member Anne Peterson Passes Away
January 5, 2024
Anna Bell Peterson of Century, a longtime supporter of 4-H in Escambia County and state hall of fame member, passed away January 2 at the age of 83.
For over 40 years, Anne Peterson served as a volunteer for Escambia County 4-H. Anne began at an early age taking riding lessons in a barn led by a local 4-H horse club leader. That barn was where she began to adopt the knowledge and culture she would strive to emulate for the remainder of her 4-H volunteer career. Anne’s early years largely impacted her path in life, and ultimately led her to volunteer with 4-H.
Anne began volunteering with a club as a young adult, and from there pursued every opportunity to continue her service. From volunteering at county events to volunteering at sleep over camps like Camp Timpoochee during the summer, she took the opportunities she believed in most and supported them whole-heartedly. Anne served on multiple committees and boards at the local, district, and state levels with the goal of sharing her experiences and looking for ways to make the 4-H program stronger and better. From the horse program to the legislative program, Anne participated in the planning and execution of county, district and statewide events. Anne even volunteered on the Area North 4-H Horse Show Committee and State 4-H Horse Advisory Committees, even though she did not have any youth who compete in the events.
Anne invested years of volunteer service in 4-H, but she also shared with others her dedication and passion for 4-H and youth development, which continued to inspire the youth and families she worked with. Anne’s impact was felt in the projects she took on, but her ever-steady impact on the individuals she encountered, reached far beyond what is immediately observable. Anne never strayed far from her passion that was sparked in that barn, and as she continued to serve others, leaving her fingerprints on their lives as well as the 4-H program. Anne received multiple awards for her service over the years, some of which include the 2019 Florida 4-H Horse Program Elaine Keir Memorial Outstanding Volunteer Award, and an induction into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame.
Anne demonstrated an astounding longevity in her volunteer career.
A visitation for Anne Peterson will be held Monday, January 8, 2024, from 3- 4 p.m. at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, Florida, followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m.
Information courtesy UF/IFAS Extension.
Rosanna Newman Named Escambia Westgate Teacher Of The Year
January 5, 2024
Rosanna Newman has been named the Escambia Westgate School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com is welcoming 2024 honoring the Teachers of the Year from North Escambia schools over the next several days. Escambia County’s overall Teacher of the Year will be named in February.
Saturday Auburn University License Plate Event Expanded To Include Other Specialty License Plates
January 5, 2024
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector, will host an event to issue specialty license plates benefiting local causes on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Marcus Pointe office located at 6451 North W Street, Pensacola. Appointments are encouraged and may be made at EscambiaTaxCollector.com
The Auburn University license plate is the second license plate to be authorized in Florida for an out-of-state university. Universities must sell 3,000 pre-sale vouchers before a license plate may be manufactured and sold to the public. The University of Georgia became the first to achieve this goal last year. The University of Alabama is working to become the third but needs to sell an additional 780 pre-sale vouchers before the license plate may be issued and made available.
In addition to the Auburn University license plates, attendees may purchase a voucher for the University of Alabama license plate, a University of Georgia license plate, a University of West Florida license plate, or a Blue Angels license plate. The proceeds from these plates benefit local schools or organizations.
Appointments can be made at https://www.jotform.com/build/233536730009048 or by visiting EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
New Executive Director Of The Escambia Children’s Trust Asks For A Pay Increase
January 4, 2024
The new executive director of the Escambia County Children’s Trust is getting a raise before her first day on the job.
Lindsey Cannon asked that her salary be increased by $5,000 to $125,0000 a year plus benefits.
Cannon and Walker Wilson were named the two finalists for the position. Cannon is currently the executive director for the Children’s Home Society of Florida for the western and Emerald Coast region. Wilson is the executive director of the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board.
The taxpayer-funded salary was advertised at $120,000 a year plus benefits.
The ECT board is set to vote on the raise at their next meeting on January 10.
The first executive director of the taxpayer funded ECT, Tammy Greer, resigned unexpectedly back in August.