Beth Moore Bible Study At Walnut Hill Baptist
February 5, 2008
A Ladies Bible study from Beth Moore will continue tonight at Walnut Hill Baptist Church. “The Patriarchs” study will take place each Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the church.
The study will be lead by Ellen Boyd, and it is open to women regardless of whether or not they attend Walnut Hill Baptist. The cost is $14.95 for the book.
The church is located at 5741 Arthur Brown Road, about about 1.5 miles from Highway 97. For more information, call 327-4595.
Molino VFD, Forestry Respond to Seely Road Brush Fire
February 4, 2008
The Molino Volunteer Fire Department and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to a small brush fire off Seely Road north of Molino Monday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the approximately one acre fire just after 3:00. Forestry assisted with a bulldozer due to the remote location of the fire. Firefighters found a downed power line in the area; it is was not immediately clear if the downed line sparked the blaze.
Seely Road is located off Highway 97, just south of the Dogwood Park Baptist Church.
District 5 Commission Candidate Launches Website
February 4, 2008
Chris Washler, Republican candidate for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County Commission, officially launched his campaign website this week.
VoteWashler.com provides residents in North Escambia with the means to learn about Washler’s background and his position on the issues, according to his campaign manager, Judy Fehl.
“It is also a tool for voters to get involved in the campaign, whether signing petition cards, contributing to the campaign or just requesting a yard sign,” Fehl said. The site also includes a blog that Washler plans to use to stay in contact with the voters in District 5.
For more information, contact the campaign at campaign@votewashler.com or his campaign manager, Judy Fehl at 393-6205.
Flood Warning Canceled For Escambia River
February 4, 2008
The National Weather Service canceled a flood warning for the Escambia River near Century. At 8:00 Monday night, the river was at 16.8 feet and falling. Flood stage is 17.0 feet.
The river is forecast continue to fall Monday night into Tuesday. At 17 feet, considerable flooding of lowlands can occur.
County Continues Lawsuit Against Allied Waste
February 4, 2008
The impasse between Escambia County and Allied Waste continues, with both sides unable reach an agreement on what the county claims is over a million dollars in unpaid fees.
The county filed a $1.3 million lawsuit on November 16 of last year against Allied over commercial tipping fees, a charge per ton for waste dumped at the county’s Perdido landfill.
The county recently passed an ordinance requiring Allied and other garbage haulers in the county to dump at the Perdido Landfill and pay tipping fees. The county says Allied dumped commercial trash outside the county, but still owes the fees.
Back on November 1, the county gave Allied 15 days to pay up, prove they did not owe the fees or end up in court. Those 15 days passed with the county filing suit. The suit did not move forward in the courts right away while the county and Allied continued negotiations.
But now the suit will continue, with the county adjusting the amount claimed to $1.1 million total for 2005 and 2006.
“For the period Jan. 1, 2005, to Jan. 29, 2008, Allied has delivered more solid waste to the Perdido Landfill than it was required to deliver under the terms of the Franchise Agreement,” Allied Waste said in a written statement. “Allied Waste will continue to honor its obligations under this contract and expects Escambia County to do the same.”
Allied Waste provides commercial service across the county, as well as residential service across North Escambia from 10 Mile Road north to the Alabama line.
The Town of Century contracts waste pickup in the town from Allied. The town bills residents for Allied’s pickups. Recent changes will have Allied directly billing the town’s businesses for commercial waste pickup.
Colmus Family Was In Concert Sunday In Molino
February 3, 2008
The Colmus Family was at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Molino Sunday morning. The Colmus Family is a Christian Country band from Michigan and Kentucky, according to their website.
Their music is described as “country with a Jesus kick”, not Southern gospel and not bluegrass. They have toured since 1983 with their own brand of Christian country music.
The Colmus Family is made up of Edith Colmus Hunt , Dick Hunt and Todd Hunt. Edith plays piano and guitar, and she sings lead and harmony vocals. Dick plays bass and sings lead vocals, and Todd plays lead guitar, mandolin and dobro, and sings lead and harmony vocals.
Their latest CD, “Washed Clean”, is currently receiving airplay across the U.S. and around the world. Their “Bible Stories” CD features two original songs…the title track and “He Didn’t Have to Do It”. They have released several other CD’s that feature old time gospel favorites and original songs.
Aldersgate Methodist Church is located at 6915 Highway 29 North in Molino, just south of the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97.
For more information on the Colmus Family, visit www.colmusfamily.com
Rev. Fil Enfinger Retires After 38 Years In Ministry
February 3, 2008
The retiring Rev. Fil Enfinger and his wife Mary were honored with a reception Saturday at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia. Enfinger has been in the ministry for 38 years.
He first spent three years and eight months at Ray’s Chapel, beginning in 1970. Then he pastored Cottage Hill Baptist Church for 24 years. Then he returned to Ray’s Chapel doing “pulpit supply”–just filling in on a temporary basis. He’s been back at Ray’s Chapel for 10 years.
“I love to preach,” Rev. Enfinger told NorthEscambia.com Saturday afternoon, surrounded by church members, family and friends. “It’s been a good ministry.”
“There have been a lot of baptisms over the years. The Lord has truly blessed,” Rev. Enfinger said.
When asked about the funniest thing that ever happened during the 38 years, he started to tell a story. But his wife Mary interrupted with a “you can’t tell that one” kind of look. So we got the Kleenex wedding story instead.
“I was doing this wedding one time with a young couple. Just as they played the song for me to go out, I got this bad nose bleed,” he said. Acting quickly, he grabbed Kleenex and stuffed them into his nose to stop the bleed. “I did this entire wedding with the Kleenex hanging out of my nose.”
The Rev. and Mrs. Enfinger were honored with a reception and video slide show Saturday afternoon at Ray’s Chapel.
And the best part of the 38 years? “Getting to serve the Lord,” Rev. Enfinger said. “It’s all about Him.”
Click here for a complete photo gallery from Saturday’s reception Rev. Phil and Mary Enfinger at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
Burn Awareness Week Begins Sunday In Escambia County
February 3, 2008
February 3-9 is Burn Awareness Week in Escambia County. This year’s campaign theme is “Preventing Gasoline Burns.” Escambia County Fire Rescue would like remind all Escambia County residents that most gasoline injuries are avoidable through proper use and storage.
Please remember the following tips when using, handling, and storing gasoline:
DOs
• Use gasoline only to fill the gasoline tank of a car, motorcycle, lawn mower, etc.
• Watch for any source of heat that can ignite gasoline vapors such as sparks or flames, even if it is located many feet away.
• Handle gasoline responsibly at all time and for kids, only under adult supervision.
• Add gasoline only after an engine has completely cooled, an engine that is still warm can ignite gasoline vapors.
• Store gasoline only in an approved gasoline container
• Store gasoline in a well-ventilated outside storage area that is not attached to your home, such as a shed or garage, preferably in a locked cabinet. Be sure there are not ignition sources nearby.
• Make sure gasoline containers are out reach of children
• Keep only the minimum amount of gasoline required (generally, no more than a gallon).
DON’Ts
• Don’t use gasoline anywhere near a barbeque grill.
• Don’t use gasoline to light a barbeque grill or to start or accelerate any kind of fire.
• Don’t use gasoline as a cleaning fluid or solvent.
• Don’t experiment with gasoline in any way. A few minutes of experimentation could result in a lifetime of painful surgeries, disfiguring scars, or even death.
• Don’t sniff or huff gasoline; it can cause brain damage or death.
• Don’t allow children to touch gasoline or a gasoline container, even under supervision
• Don’t handle gasoline near a flame source, such as matches, lighters and pilot lights on stoves and water heaters.
• Don’t use gasoline indoors.
• Don’t siphon gasoline by mouth, as it is harmful or fatal if swallowed.
• Don’t induce vomiting if gasoline is swallowed. Instead seek medical attention.
• Don’t store gasoline in a glass jar, milk jug or any other non-approved container.
• Don’t store gasoline near a source of heat or sparks, such as a hot water heater, furnace, clothes dryer or any appliance that uses a pilot light.
• Don’t keep gasoline anywhere inside a home or vehicle.
Escambia County Fire Rescue encourages everyone to follow these safety tips. For additional information, please visit the following website: www.burnawarenessweek.org.
Catholic Downs Northview Girls In 1-3A Semifinal
February 2, 2008
The Northview Chief girls were defeated by Catholic 60-33 Friday in Bratt.
The game got off to an uneven start, with Catholic up 25-12 in the first period. Gabe Wesley sank 12 points for the Chiefs. Other scorers were: Melissa Garrett 8, Timeka Marshall 6, Karissa Lee 2, Shiniqua Jones 2, Brittney Thompson 2, and Angela Rodriguez 1.
The Changing Face Of The Homeless Right Here In North Escambia
February 2, 2008
There’s a changing face to the homeless population in Escambia County, and many of those homeless people are right here in North Escambia.
The word “homeless” usually brings to mind an image of a pour soul sleeping on park bench, under a bridge or begging for money at a busy Pensacola intersection. But there is a much larger segment of homeless people in our county, many of them sitting in North Escambia classrooms during the day and going home…well, not actually going home anywhere.
“The fastest growing segment of the homeless population is families with kids,” said Lon Roberts, a homeless advocate with the Escarosa Coalition on the Homeless. “The average age of these is nine.”
A homeless person is not just one sleeping outside, he said. A homeless person many be a family forced to stay in a motel, or live with relatives because they have no other place to go.
“Being homeless does not mean that you are living in a tent somewhere,” Brunie Emmanuel, coordinator for the Escarosa Coalition on the Homeless, said.
“I work with the school system to help determine the need,” Roberts said. “Schools don’t always know. They don’t think of doubling up as homelessness.”
Friday, the homeless coalition teamed with many other community and faith based organizations to hold a free fish fry in Century. Participants were fed a catfish meal with all the fixings. They were asked, but not required, to respond to a questionnaire about their home situation.
Questions like “where did you sleep last night” and “how long have been homeless” were asked as the men, women and children ate.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the need for homeless services in North Escambia, and determine the best response to those need. Then the group plans to determine how to fund that response.
“My project has no money,” Roberts said. But sometimes he is able to match a need with a provider such as a church that might have a clothes closet or a food closet.
He did have a $15,000 grant to buy underwear, a very basic need among people. When that money ran out after three years, he received a few thousand more in donations.
“I just take one day at a time,” he said. “God is good. He provides.”
Faith plays an important part in the homeless coalition’s efforts, with many churches supporting the organization.
The homeless fed on Friday were given the opportunity to leave with socks, blankets and flashlights.
In addition to the EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless, other participants in Friday’s lunch in Century included the Pensacola City Housing Board, the Florida Department of Children and Families, Gonzalez United Methodist Church, Hillcrest Baptist Church, the Town of Century, Brownsville Baptist Church and United Ministries.
Other churches and organizations that would like to become involved in the project, or persons needing assistance, can contact Rita Icenogle or any of the volunteers at the United Way at 595-5905.
Picture above: One of the children at Friday’s lunch. Pictured below: Blankets and socks were available.
