Miss Carver Century Pageant Tonight
January 25, 2008
Miss Carver Century will be named tonight at Carver Century School. The pageant begins at 6:00 in the school cafeteria. Girls from the second to eighth grades will be in tonight’s pageant.
The money raised will be put toward field trip to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery on April 24. The fifth through eight grades will be attending a performance of the “Count of Monte Cristo”.
Blog: North Escambia Is An Urban Area? Huh?
January 25, 2008
We can’t have a rural system of delivery in an urban county.
Let’s read that one again: We can’t have a rural system of delivery in an urban county.
That is what Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson said about the consolidation of our rural volunteer fire departments into a countywide unified Escambia County fire department.
Bogia is urban? Walnut Hill? Bratt? Century is an urban metro? What?
Let’s get visual on this one, Mr Robinson. You can scroll down past the pictures to read more, but I want to use some pretty little pictures. First, the busiest intersection in heart of downtown urban Walnut Hill:
That’s urban Walnut Hill’s busiest intersection. We did get all urban and metro and all when the state put in a flashing caution light a while back there where the lines for Highway 97 and Highway 99A come together. If you sit in the 80 acre cotton/wheat field next to this very busy metro urban intersection, the light can be pretty darn distracting from the urban sprawl around you. Why, you might not even notice the fields stretch over a mile behind you.
For visual exhibit two, we have this:
This is the busy urban sprawl here in our urban county where Highway 97 and Highway 29 intersect in Molino. I mean, there is ONE business at the intersection. And it is a Tom Thumb, much like every other corner in Pcola. But look behind the Tom Thumb. There’s just so much cotton sprawl. No, no, I’m sorry. Robinson urban sprawl again.
Now visual demonstration number three:
The above is the busiest intersection in Century there where Highway 4 and Highway 29 come together. Granted, there is the great urban sprawl in the picture there with the gas station, the Panhandle, the bank and the Burger King. True urban area. Four lane highway. A strip of businesses. And behind the businesses, you have the urban sprawl of, ah…oh wait. It’s those pesky little fields again.
Now, here’s another intersection in Escambia County:
That’s Davis and Creighton. It looks so much like the other three pictures.
Mr. Robinson, perhaps you need to ride around your county. It does not end at 10 Mile Road. That’s not even half of the county below 10 Mile Road. In fact, 10 Mile Road is, well, ten miles from the bay. The urban metro shopping center in Davisville, which is also in Mr. Robinson’s county, is 45 miles from that same bay. If you don’t know where Davisville is, just ride up this way and ask. It’s a great urban area just north of Mr. Godwin’s Regional Airport (which, Mr. R. is so much identical to the Pensacola Regional Airport it isn’t even funny).
But, perhaps, the commissioner from District 4, might argue that a house fire is a house fire, regardless of it is just off Davis Highway or just off Pineville Road in North Escambia. Yep. You’ve got a house, flames, a family losing everything.
It’s 2:30 a.m. It’s dark. No, Mr. Robinson, it’s really, actually dark on Pineville Road. Regardless of the urban sprawl there between the Enon County Manor and the Enon Baptist Church, it’s dark enough to see the stars up here. The neighbor wakes and sees the fire next door, calls 911.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department is dispatched, along with the volunteers from Century, McDavid and Molino. The Atmore FD responds too. The firemen know when they walk out into the 20 degree cold night where the house is, who lives in it and how to find it. They know there’s no mailbox, no number at the end of the little trail that leads to the house back in the woods. They know the man that lives there is 82, lives alone, sleeps in the back bedroom when he’s not staying with his daughter in Bratt, likes to fish and likes to play catch with his grandson.
Would a paid consolidated Escambia County fire department guy from Pensacola sleeping at Walnut Hill’s Station 15 know that? His fancy county GIS mapping system won’t tell him those things, nor will it help him find the house. When he does find it, he won’t know that the man that lived there is going to be spending the night in Bratt and won’t need to be rescued.
And here in our urban neighborhood, his urban neighbors and firemen will make sure he’s OK when he arrives the house to find it burned. They’ll give him a hug. Cheer him up by asking about his grandson who’s playing little league this spring at Bradberry Park. They’ll make sure he gets some clothes, a little money to get the things he needs. His church will do what they can to help him begin his life again in the urban community of Pineville.
It just does not work the same in North Escambia as it does off Davis Highway, Mr. Robinson. We can’t have a rural system of delivery in an urban county. Perhaps. But we are not an urban county. When a fire truck is speeding toward your house, it all comes down to time and distance. More of land in this county is rural than it is urban.
You are right, Mr. Robinson. We can’t have rural system of delivery in an urban county. Nor should there be an urban system of delivery in a rural county. And this is a rural county.
I know you disagree. Ride north, Mr. Robinson. This is a rural county. It ain’t Miami-Dade. We can’t have an urban system of delivery in our rural county. You need to discover just how rural this county is. C’mon up. We’ll take you snipe hunting.
If you want to contact Mr. Robinson, his email is district4@co.escambia.fl.us. Email him a link to NorthEscambia.com and tell him to read the blog. His phone number is 595-4940 at work. That number will get his assistant. Don’t won’t to talk to his assistant? His home phone number is 430-4552. He lives in one of those urban neighborhoods where the nearest house if 15 feet out the window. So much like urban North Escambia.
Comments? I’d love to hear them. Fill our our contact form, or email news@northescambia.com.
Friday Was Elmira Gandy Crapps Day; She Turned 101 Years Old
January 25, 2008
Friday was proclaimed Elmira Gandy Crapps Day in the town of Century. Friday was a milestone day for Crapps when she turned 101. That’s one hundred and one.
She was born in Butler County, Alabama, near Georgiana in 1907. Theodore Roosevelt was president. A loaf of bread cost four cents. A gallon of milk was 29 cents. A new Ford? That would set you back 600 bucks.
She moved to a farm with her family in the Gandyville community in 1925, and still lives just down the road from that home.
She still drives, mostly to three places: the Piggly Wiggly for groceries, her church and her hairdresser. She’s still an active member of Poplar Dell Baptist Church, and very quick to give the Lord all the credit for her age and her health.
When asked her secret for a long life, she quickly replied that there was no secret. “It’s good living and a love of God. I’ve been blessed by the Lord and walk with Him,” she said.
Crapps is still active, very active in fact. She walks “seven times” most days, weather permitting, down her football field length driveway. She cooks three meals a day. This past summer, she canned pears and put peas and beans in the “deep freeze”.
When asked about the biggest change in her lifetime, she said “the way people wear, or don’t wear clothes”.
She never had children, but has “a ton” of nieces and nephews. Her father, John Oxford Gandy lived to the age of 108. In 1973, the Florida Legislature named Gandyville after him. He, by the way, had a first cousin that also lived to be 108.
Wednesday afternoon she arrived at the Panhandle Restaurant in Century for a bit of a surprise. Waiting for here were Century Mayor Freddie McCall, Sr., former mayor Benny Barnes and several friends and family members.
McCall presented her with the official proclamation of “Elmira Gandy Crapps Day” in Century on January 25, 2008 (pictured below). She smiled shyly while McCall read the proclamation to her and gave her a hug. She made a wish and blew out a single birthday candle on a slice of Panhandle pie, and ordered a grilled cheese, pickles on the side.
Friday, she planned to celebrate birthday number 101 with family and friends. And a trip to the hairdresser.
Click here for a photo gallery.
Escambia Commission Postpones Vote On Unified County Fire Department
January 25, 2008
The Escambia County Commission has delayed voting on the consolidation of the county’s volunteer fire department into one unified Escambia County fire department. The commission was set to approve the creation of a countywide fire department at their Thursday night meeting.
The fire department issue will now be discussed at the commission’s committee of the whole meeting at 9:30 on February 12. The proposal would have eliminated each of the county’s volunteer departments and created a single department answering to a single county fire chief.
There are four volunteer departments in the North Escambia area…Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill. All four would be eliminated as independent departments under the county’s plan.
The commission current contract with the volunteer fire departments expires on September 30, and commissioners Gene Valentino and Mike Whitehead have publicly stated they do not wish to see the contract renewed.
“I’m not going to vote to renew a contract,” Whitehead said at a recent commission meeting. “We’ve talked about it for two years. It’s time to move; it’s time to make it happen.
Valentino and District 5 Commissioner Kevin White pushed Thursday to have the vote postponed a month.
“My concern is with volunteers who feel they haven’t been heard,” Valentino said.
“We can’t have a rural system of delivery in an urban county,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said.
“There are 15 ways of doing things differently out there,” county Fire-Rescue Chief Ken Perkins said. “And right now, there’s nothing I can do about that. I’m trying to run a $10 million department here. Right now, I feel I am hindered in doing that.”
County Renews Atmore Ambulance Contract For Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville
January 25, 2008
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to renew a contract with Atmore Ambulance to provide emergency medical services for the portion of North Escambia in the 327 phone exchange.
Atmore Ambulance has been providing ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville and surrounding communities in the 327 telephone exchange since 1978.
The county’s current contract with Atmore Ambulance expires on February 3. The contract was first executed in 2004 for a three year period, with an option to extend it for two one-year periods. The cost was $70,000 for the first year, $72,500 for the second year and $75,000 per year for the third, fourth and fifth years.
Under the terms of the contract, Atmore Ambulance directly bills patients for services rendered at an amount not greater than that billed by Escambia County EMS, which provides ambulance service for the rest of the county.
The commission renewed contract Thursday night at the recommendation of Public Safety Director Janice Kilgore.
Northview Girls Lose Thursday
January 25, 2008
The Northview High School girl’s varsity basketball team lost on the road Thursday night. The Lady Chiefs were defeated 39-34 at Central High School.
The Northview junior varsity and varsity boy’s teams will be on the road Friday night to take on Walton.
Former School Member Files To Run Against Paul
January 24, 2008
Former Escambia County School Board member Cary Stidham qualified Thursday to run against incumbent Jim Paul for superintendent of the Escambia County Schools. She joins Myra L. Simmons in the race against Paul, who was arrested two weeks ago for DUI.
Stidham filed as a Democrat after changing her party affiliation. Stidham was elected as a Republican in the District 2 representative on the board in 1998 and 2002. In 2006, she lost to Gerald Boone. Boone garnered 56 percent of the vote in that election, beating Stidham by more than 1,000 votes.
Another Candidate Enters District 5 Commission Race
January 24, 2008
Republican Packy Mitchell of Cantonment has become the fifth candidate to enter the race for the Escambia County Commission in District 5.
Mitchell filed Wednesday for the seat held by incumbent GOP candidate Kevin White of Molino. Other candidates filed in the race include Republicans Randall McCrackin and Chris Washler, and Democrat John Hartman.
Northview FFA Students Compete, Place In District Event Thursday
January 24, 2008
Students from Northview High School’s FFA participated in the District 1 FFA Career Development Event in Jay Thursday.
Northview’s FFA placed first in the Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event. Pictured above, left to right, are Micah Byars, Aimee Clarke, Alyson Shoemaker, Jennifer Lowe and Andrea Byars from Northview receiving the award from District 1 President Austin Courson. The group will participate in the state contest in June.
Allison Vidak received the second place district award in theFFA Creed Speaking Career Development Event. She is pictured above receiving her award from District 1 President Austin Courson.
Alyson Shoemaker, Jennifer Lowe, Aimee Clarke and Candice Greenwell participated in the Agribusiness Management Career Development Event Thursday. This event is judged at the state level and results will be announced in a few weeks.
Micah Byars, Jacob Shiver and John Handrop participated in the Ag Mechanics Career Development Event. This even is also judged at the state level and results will be announced in a few weeks.
Romney To Campaign In Escambia Friday Afternoon
January 24, 2008
Florida’s GOP front runner, Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, will make a brief campaign stop in Pensacola Friday afternoon.
Romney will appear at Avalex Technologies at 115 A Gregory Square in downtown Pensacola at 12:30 according to his campaign website. Avalex is a company that specializes in creating aviation navigation systems.
In the latest polls released Thursday, Romney held a slight 30 to 26 percent lead over Arizona Senator John McCain for Florida’s Republican vote.