Molino Park Elementary Students Donate Food Items To Their Community
November 24, 2022
Molino Park Elementary School students stepped up to help fight hunger in the Molino community in a very big way this year.
The school collected food for the food pantry at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino.
- Tie between Daniels and Gilmore classrooms
- Pre-K — Crites
- Kindergarden — Blackburn
- 1st grade — Ms.Warren
- 2nd grade — Robar
- 3rd grade — Sapp
- 4th grade — Bodiford
- 5th grade — Fletcher
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drivers Getting A Road Construction Break Until Monday
November 24, 2022
Florida drivers are getting a little break from road construction during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be no construction related lane closures on state roads through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm To City Week Thanksgiving Meals Distributed To 1,000 Families (With Photo Gallery)
November 24, 2022
About 1,000 Thanksgiving meals were distributed to Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents this week as part of Farm to City Week.
The meals were distributed to 500 pre-registered applicants at the Waterfront Rescue Missing in Pensacola and 500 at the Milton Community Center. The distribution included a ham or turkey, loaf of bread, apples, dessert and fresh produce such as collard greens, cabbage, zucchini, and sweet potatoes.
At least 50 volunteers took part in the distribution.
On Monday, high school and middle school FFA members, boy scouts and other volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked to harvest fresh items at the West Florida Research and Education Center near Jay.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The produce was paired with all of the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal from Feeding the Gulf Coast and the Waterfront Rescue Mission.
The three agencies donated 338,189 pounds of food to local nonprofits between 2010 and 2021. About 38,900 pounds came from produce harvested at the WFREC, and it all goes to feed lower-income families at Thanksgiving.
“Our Farm to City event is one of the best things we do each year,” said Wes Wood, director of WFREC. “Exposing high-school students to agriculture and helping provide a healthy Thanksgiving meal to 1,000 needy families in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties is gratifying.”
National Farm to City Week is a national effort to bring about a better understanding between rural and urban people by increasing knowledge and appreciation for agriculture.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery Of His Girlfriend At The County Landfill
November 23, 2022
A Cantonment man is charged with allegedly attacking his girlfriend at the county landfill.
Courtney Markett Thompkins, 28, was charged with misdemeanor battery, felony battery by strangulation in a domestic violence situation, obstructing justice by preventing communication to a law enforcement officer, and petit theft.
The victim, identified as Thompkins’ live-in girlfriend, gave him a ride to work at the Perdido Landfill. The two became involved in an argument, and Thompkins took her iPhone and prevented her from going inside an office to call for help, according to an arrest report.
He then grabbed her hair from behind and wrapped his hand around her throat, preventing her from breathing, the report states. The two returned to their residence on Old Chemstrand Road, where he stole her iPhone XR and case, along with a set of keys, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the incident at the county landfill was caught on surveillance video.
The landfill incident occurred on September 1, with Thompkins just recently arrested on an outstanding warrant. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning without bond for failure to appear on unrelated charges of criminal mischief, marijuana possession and resisting arrest.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
November 23, 2022
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for October. They are Stefan Josipovic and Destiny Burt, both sophomores. They are pictured with principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves Sworn In
November 23, 2022
D.C. Reeves was sworn in as the new mayor of Pensacola on Tuesday.
New council members District 2 Charles Bare and District 6 Allison Patton were also sworn in, and District 4 member Jared Moore was sworn in for his second term.
District 7 councilman Delarian Wiggins was elected city council president, and District 3 councilman Casey Jones was elected vice president.
The city council also recognized outgoing Mayor Grover Robinson and outgoing council members Sherri Myers and Ann Hill.
Swearing In Held For Three Escambia School Board Members
November 23, 2022
The Escambia County School board held a swearing in ceremony Tuesday.
Newly elected District 3 member Davis Williams took the oath of office.
District 1 member Kevin Adams and District 2 member Paul Fetsko were both sworn in for another term.
Fetsko was elected board chairman, and Patty Hightower of District 4 was elected as vice chair.
NorthEscambia.com images, click to enlarge.
Escambia Swears In Commissioners, Board Passes Gavel to New Chair
November 23, 2022
The oath of office was administered to two Escambia County commissioners Tuesday, and the gavel was passed to a new chairman and vice chairman.
During the meeting, newly elected District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender, who was reelected, took the oath of office for their term through November 2026.
“I am humbled and hope to bring a fresh outlook to the board from my many years of experience in leadership positions during my career in the Navy. Being a registered nurse for the last 31 years, I truly understand the importance of listening. The people of District 2 will have a commissioner that will listen and work diligently for what is fair and right. I intend to make every effort to work with my fellow board members to tackle the many issues facing District 2. ”
“The most pressing issues are the Gulf Beach Highway-Sorrento Road expansion, preserving NAS Pensacola and Corry Station from any mission degradation, a storm water drainage plan, ordinance reform and blight clean up, and finally, begin cleaning up both Bayou Chico and Bayou Grande, both of which have been neglected for many years. I ran on being caring, capable, and committed, but more importantly, assuring the board maintains integrity, honesty and transparency to our citizens is fundamental,” he added.
Bender said, “I am excited and honored to serve Escambia County as the District 4 representative for another four years. I want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my family. I look forward to working hard for another four years as we complete the projects underway and start new ones.”
District 3 Commissioner Lumon May will serve as chairman, and District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will serve as vice chairman for the coming year.
“It remains my highest honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Escambia County. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues as we navigate the opportunities and challenges before us. My commitment to each of you is that I will always do my best to ensure our community is the best place to live, work and play,” May said.
May accepted the chairmanship from District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
“I am proud of the work the county has accomplished over this past year, working together with and for the citizens we serve,” Bergosh said. “I remain enthusiastically optimistic about the continued upward trajectory of the county going forward. With a newly constituted board and fantastic leadership throughout the county, starting at the top with our Administrator Wes Moreno and the team he is assembling, I’d like our citizens to know they can expect progress, positive leadership and responsible resource stewardship from their county in the years to come.”
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DeSantis Appoints Escambia Man To Florida Judicial Nominating Commission
November 23, 2022
An Escambia County man was appointed Tuesday to Florida’s Judicial Nominating Commission by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Zachary “Zack” Smith is a Legal Fellow with The Heritage Foundation. He received his bachelors, masters, and law degrees from the University of Florida. Smith was appointed for a term ending July 1, 2026.
The Judicial Nominating Commission selects nominees to fill judicial vacancies within the Florida court system.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Up 20% This Year, Farm Bureau Says
November 23, 2022
The cost of a classic Thanksgiving feast is up 20% this year, according to the Farm Bureau.
Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving meal for 10, which is $64.05 or less than $6.50 per person. This is a $10.74 increase from last year’s average of $53.31.
The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs more than last year, at $28.96 for a 16-pound bird. That’s $1.81 per pound, up 21% from last year, due to several factors beyond general inflation. However, the survey was conducted before stores began offering loss leader pricing on frozen turkeys to get shoppers in the door.
The shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.
In recognition of changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, the Farm Bureau price survey also includes ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans, in an expanded holiday menu. Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increased the overall cost by $17.25, to $81.30. This updated basket of foods also increased in price (up 18%) compared to 2021.
The cost for the classic meal was the most affordable in the South – $58.42, followed by the Northeast – $64.02, Midwest – $64.26 and West – $71.37. The expanded meal (classic meal plus ham, green beans and Russet potatoes) was the most affordable in the South – $74.90, followed by the Midwest – $81.53, Northeast – $82.76 and West – $88.55.
Individual Prices
- 16-pound turkey: $28.96 or $1.81 per pound (up 21%)
- 14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix: $3.88 (up 69%)
- 2 frozen pie crusts: $3.68 (up 26%)
- Half pint of whipping cream: $2.24 (up 26%)
- 1 pound of frozen peas: $1.90 (up 23%)
- 1 dozen dinner rolls: $3.73 (up 22%)
- Misc. ingredients to prepare the meal: $4.13 (up 20%)
- 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $4.28 (up 18%)
- 1 gallon of whole milk: $3.84 (up 16%)
- 3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $3.96 (up 11%)
- 1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): 88 cents (up 8%)
- 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.57 (down 14%)