Wednesday Storms Cause Damage Across Area
February 6, 2008
High winds and heavy thunderstorms struck the North Escambia area Wednesday morning causing some damage, including a tree down on a house and two vehicles in Century.
Marvin Marshall said he was in the bed in his mobile home on Ramar Street when he heard a loud crashing noise.
“It was loud,” he said. I ain’t never heard anything like it. I thought a car had hit the house or something. Then I heard the wind and knew it must have blew something down.”
A large oak tree in front of 17 Ramar Street had split in half, with half of the tree crashing down, hitting the corner of the house and Marshall’s truck and car parked nearby.
Marshall said his wife and 19 year old son were at home in the house, but they were not injured.
Crews from the Escambia County Road Department worked to remove the still-standing portion of the tree because it posed an immediate risk to the neighborhood.
Trees and power lines were reported to be down across the North Escambia area. Power lines were reported to be down near Byrneville Road near Highway 4. A tree was reported down on power lines on State Line Road. Trees were reported downed on Occie Phillips Road near Walnut Hill. There was a report of a tree down in the road on Highway 164 just east of Pine Barren Board. Trees and power lines were reported down on McCall Road and Dawson Road.
Power outages were reported across the area.
The storms have cleared the NorthEscambia area. The wind and rains were associated with a fast moving cold front that is expected to have temperatures falling into the upper 30’s tonight.
Pictured above: The tree down on Ramar Street in Century Wednesday morning. Pictured below: The tree struck two of Marshall’s vehicles. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Century Chamber Cuts Ribbons At Three Businesses Tuesday
February 6, 2008
It was a big day for business Tuesday in Century. Ribbon cuttings were held at three new Century businesses Tuesday morning. Ribbons were cut at Whataburger, Jordan’s Embroidery and the Tea Room at the Country Bumpkin.
Whataburger (pictured left) is located at 8340 North Century Boulevard. The Tea Room (pictured below) is located inside the Country Bumpkin at 7850 North Century Boulevard. Jordan’s Embroidery (pictured bottom of page) is located next door to the County Bumpkin in the same building. NorthEscambia.com photos. Click any photo to enlarge.
For more photos from Tuesday’s ribbon cuttings, click here.
Let The Good Times Roll! Century Care Residents Celebrate Mardi Gras
February 6, 2008
Residents at the Century Care Center celebrated Mardi Gras Tuesday in grand style with both a parade and a party.
Mozell Roberts was named CCC’s Mardi Gras Queen, and David Comalander was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King. (Both picture left)
The parade, held Tuesday morning, featured lots of throws, including Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets. Residents in Mardi Gras costumes paraded and rolled through the hallways in their wheelchairs to the delight of other residents watching the parade.
An afternoon Mardi Gras party was held for residents.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from Tuesday’s Mardi Gras events at Century Care Center.
Special thanks to Mae Hildreth for these submitted photos.
Blood Drive Held Tuesday At Northview High School
February 6, 2008
A blood drive was held Tuesday at Northview High School with students giving the gift of life. The Northwest Florida Blood Center reports that 45 faculty and students donated 34 units of blood.
Pictured above: Junior Ashley Snow donates blood for the third time in her life Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Senior Nick Prather donates blood for the first time. Pictured bottom of page: Senior Andrea Byars makes her second ever blood donation.
Another blood drive will held Sunday, February 17 in Molino at both Aldersgate Methodist Church and Highland Baptist Church. The bloodmobile will be at Aldersgate Methodist in the morning from eight until eleven, and it will move to Highland Baptist Church in the afternoon from noon until two.
To reserve a time to donate and “give the gift of life” at either location, contact Sandra Greenwell at 587-2489 or Betty Ashcraft at 587-5294 prior to the drive.
Donors must be in generally good health. Other requirements include:
- At least 17 years of age
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lb
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
Kansas Road Being Repaved
February 5, 2008
Kansas Road near Walnut Hill is being repaved. Workers were out early Tuesday morning working on the roadway, just off Highway 97. Kansas Road winds about four miles from Highway 97 to Arthur Brown Road.
Multiple Community Agencies Receive Funds From Town Of Century
February 5, 2008
The Town of Century voted Monday night to fund several community agencies and organizations.
The council voted to provide Carver/Century K-8 School with a $500 donation toward an upcoming 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”.
The council originally considered a $250 donation, but that amount was quickly doubled.
“$250 is good,” said council member Gary Riley, but it would be good if the town could show a better donation…let the people know we are doing what we can for our kids.”
The council approved a motion by council member Nadine McCaw to make $2,000 donations each to the Carver Community Center, the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Century Little League, the Century Sports Association and the Century Chamber of Commerce.
Each group had received the same $2,000 donation last year, except for the chamber. The chamber of commerce had received a $5,000 donation from the city during the last fiscal year.
Century Council Chooses DEP Fine Project; Approves Free Fitness Classes
February 5, 2008
The Century Town Council picked from three environmental projects to satisfy a $16,000 fine at their Monday night meet. The council voted to move forward with plans for a water pressure tank at the Century Correctional Institute.
The town faced a fine from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for wastewater violations. That fine was either $11,000 cash or at least $16,000 spent on a project approved the the DEP.
The council was presented three options by Dale Long of Fabre Engineering:
- A pressure tank installed at the Century Correctional Institute to allow the shutdown, cleaning and maintenance of a water tower that serves the prison. Total estimated cost: $53,695
- The reconstruction of a sewage lift station on North Century Boulevard that has been hit by vehicles. The project would move most elements of the lift station underground to avoid any future damage. Total estimated cost: $71,280
- Installation of a permanent generator at the sewage lift station that serves Century Correctional Institute. Total estimated cost: $59,550
Council member Nadine McCaw expressed her support for the generator, but the other council members all supported moving forward on the pressure tank project at the prison. Detailed plans for the project will be present to the DEP by Fabre Engineering.
Also at Monday night’s meeting of the Century Town Council, Century Care Center Administrator Don Ripley (pictured left) asked the council for use of the Ag Building/Community Center each Monday and Wednesday night for free fitness classes. His request was approved 5-0 by the council.
The classes will be open at all 116 employees of the CCC, as well as anyone in the public. Ripley said that he was not requesting the use of the building on any night that was already reserved, nor would the scheduled fitness classes prevent anyone from reserving the building on one of those nights.
He said he expects that 20-30 people from his facility will be in the first classes.
The council spent over 20 minutes discussing the town’s bills with Town Clerk Dorothy Sims prior to voting to approve paying the bills, except for a payment to Allied Waste. Sims said the $11,357 Allied Waste bill presented to the council was incorrect, and she was waiting for a corrected bill from Allied.
In other business:
- Mayor Freddie McCall reported he had authorized $3,076 in emergency repairs to a sewage lift station on Upton Road.
- A motion by council member Henry Hawkins to install fire hydrants in a private development on Ranch Road failed due to a lack of a second. A developer plans to install 50-60 mobile homes on the property. The fire hydrants would have support about 14 mobile homes in phase one of the development.
- Heard a request by council member Gary Riley that the town consider a golf driving range for the benefit of the town’s citizens and as a possible income source
- Heard a request by Riley to consider a Fourth of July fireworks show in the city, and determine what such a show would cost.
- Voted to purchase a $500 advertisement in an upcoming issue of The Tri-City Ledger.
Past Due Sewer Services To Be Shut Off; Courtesy Calls Coming For Past Due Accounts In Century
February 5, 2008
Monday night, the Century Town Council voted to move forward with plans to shut off sewer service to some non-paying Central Water Works customers and to start making courtesy calls before shutting off water and gas for other customers.
“We’ve got a major problem in areas where Central Water Works has the water and we have the sewer,” said Mayor Freddie McCall.
When a customer that receives water and sewage service from Century fails to pay their bill, their water is shut off. But there are several customers in the town limits of Century that receive water service from Central Water Works and sewage from the town of Century. When those customers fall behind on their accounts, the city was unable to turn off their water.
So the council voted 5-0 to purchase sewage shut off valves for those customers. When they fail to pay in the future, their sewage service will be stopped. Each valve s was estimated by the mayor to cost about $300.
McCall said one customer owes the town about $2,000, and another owes back payments of $800-$900. They will receive letters notifying them that their service will suspended unless payment arrangements are made.
The town will also start making courtesy calls before disconnected a customer’s water or gas.
“We have a quite a few elderly people usually one time paying their bills,” council member Gary Riley said. “Some times, they just forget.”
Florida TaxWatch Says Property Taxes Doubled In Escambia
February 5, 2008
The non-profit group Florida Tax Watch says property taxes in Escambia County essentially doubled between 1999 and 2006. Millage rates remained the same, but taxable property values doubled.
The study also found that:
- Escambia County’s operating millage rate was the highest of the three comparable counties – Leon, Manatee, and Marion counties
- Population growth has been minimal since 1999 in Escambia County
- Total revenues and expenditures per person increased more than the 67-county average,
exceeding amounts necessary for inflation adjustments
Complete results from the study will be released on March 31. The study was funded by private donations.
Florida TaxWatch offers its analysis to assist the county in budget adjustments necessary to implement
Amendment 1, now part of the Florida Constitution following its recent passage on January 29th.
According to Escambia County officials, Amendment 1 is expected to reduce county tax revenues by
approximately $11 million.
Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan research institute.
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.