What were Pensacola’s top stories this week? Take a look

Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week that are available only to our subscribers.

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Five Flags: Late Model driver Elliott Massey grateful for each race after COVID battle

Late Model driver Elliot Massey is thankful to be back in the driver’s seat after he waged a war against the Delta COVID-19 variant for a week-and-a-half in 2021 at his home.

Area hospitals had no available beds despite Massey’s worsening condition. Oxygen helped him breathe and IVs nourished his weak body while hospice nurses drew blood twice a day. He lost 35 pounds in that nine-day period.

Massey eventually recovered thanks to medicine and those twice-a-day blood labs, but his near-fatal battle against COVID’s Delta variant terrified him, Ashlyn, their children and everyone who knows him.

“I feel blessed to be here,” Massey said. “It makes you appreciate things a lot more. I don’t take things for granted anymore.”

Count short-track racing at Five Flags Speedway among those things.

Full story: Five Flags: Late Model driver Elliott Massey grateful for each race after COVID battle

Son of Navy's first Black master shares father's story at NAS Pensacola

Phillip Brashear stood in front of over 100 flight students and spectators on Thursday at the National Naval Aviation Museum to tell them how with hard work, dedication and faith they can achieve anything.

There was no better way to explain this than by talking about his prestigious father, Carl Brashear, who became the first African-American master diver and first amputee Navy diver in U.S. military history. His life was replicated on screen in the 2000 film "Men of Honor," where he was played by Cuba Gooding Jr.

“Well, my father, I always described him as achieving five hurdles: racism, poverty, illiteracy, physical disability and later on substance abuse. If my father could overcome those five things, he took the ability for us to complain about anything away,” Brashear said. “He died with a smile on his face after overcoming that and if he can do those things, that's a living example for all of us to follow that there's nothing that we can’t achieve in this world through faith and hard work.”

His father motivated Brashear to serve a 40-year Army career, rising to the rank of chief warrant officer. He said he hopes to motivate others like his father did for him when he was growing up.

Full story: Carl Brashear's bravery inspired the 'Men of Honor' movie, and now NAS Pensacola students

Santa Rosa Medical Center plots expansion, growth of North County service

There has never historically been an overabundance of qualified medical professionals willing to live and work in Santa Rosa County, but Santa Rosa Medical Center has committed to changing that, according to its CEO, Justin Serrano.

Serrano spoke Tuesday to the Milton City Council and highlighted some of the short-term goals of the hospital that is based on Berryhill Road, including a commitment to invest in bringing 43 providers to the area and expand its services.

With an increase in staff size and expansion of specializations, the medical center is also looking to better the quality of care provided at a growing number of facilities in the north part of Santa Rosa County, Serrano said. Two goals for 2023 include providing 24-7 cardiac care access to county residents and adding a capability to treat stroke victims.

Full story: Santa Rosa Medical Center plans to expand services. Cardiac, stroke care among top goals

Santa Rosa summer feeding program gets No Kid Hungry Florida grant

Becky Mulford is a teacher at Central School in Santa Rosa County and a volunteer who delivers food to families in need.

She has experienced heartwarming moments like children screaming with delight when she brings them loaves of fresh bread. She also seen heartbreaking situations such as families living in tents with no power.

Her experience comes from helping rural families through No Kid Hungry Florida, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty. The organization released a survey this year stating 47% of parents with kids in public school and 48% of rural respondents have experienced one or more symptoms of food insecurity in the past year.

To combat food insecurity in these communities, No Kid Hungry Florida provided a $50,000 grant toward a partnership between Santa Rosa County District Schools and FoodRaising Friends Inc. to expand and improve their child nutrition programs in the county for 163 families.

Full story: It can be hard for kids to get good food out in the country. Luckily these groups deliver

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola news this week: Here's a recap of the top stories