Fire Damages Home In Century Saturday Afternoon, No Injuries
February 16, 2008
A wood frame house in the 300 block of Pond Street in Century was heavily damaged by fire Saturday afternoon. The fire was reported about 1:00 Saturday afternoon, with the first firefighters on the scene reporting flames visible from the back of the structure.
The back of the home was heavily damaged by fire, and the rest of the home suffered smoke and water damage. A car parked behind the house was also heavily damaged by fire.
There were no injuries reported in the blaze. Fire departments from Century, Flomaton, McDavid and Walnut Hill responded to the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos. Click either photo to enlarge.
Historic Molino Jail Was Uncovered Friday
February 16, 2008
Escambia County Road Prison inmates were not trying to break out of jail Friday morning. Instead, they were trying to get into jail, taking about three hours to clear about 30 feet of brush from in front of a historic jail in Molino. It is located on Brickyard Road, a short distance northwest of Molino Road.
The jail was built about 1915 and repaired in 1927, said Molino Mid-County Historic Society President Lil King. The faint outline of the 1927 date written in the concrete doorway at the time of the repair is still visible today. The jail was repaired after an explosion took off the door, possibly in an escape attempt, King said.
The small brick building is in remarkably good shape after all these years. The tongue and groove wood ceiling looks virtually undamaged. The roof needs some minor repair; and there is some water damage to wood around the bar-covered windows. The front door is missing.
There is just a single room in the old jail. It contains a single cell in the room, with a small area to walk around three sides of the cell. The door of old cell still swings freely, and does not even squeak. There is no obvious sign that the building was ever heated in winter.
The Town of Molino was established in 1913 and was dissolved after hard financial times during the Great Depression. In 1933, the Florida Legislature abolished the town and distributed the assets of the town to Escambia County.
In the document, known as House Bill 322, the legislature directed the county to keep the fair grounds as a public park and that “the jail and city hall be maintained by the said County of Escambia for the use of peace officers of the said county”. Click the photo to the left to read a copy of the document.
The city hall was believed to be located directly in front of the old jail, but it is no longer standing.
It was after King located this document while researching Molino history in Tallahassee that they historical society was able to get the county to clean up the lot around the jail since it became clear the county owns the property.
Jeff Bohannon, superintendent of the Escambia Road Prison, said he was proud to be able to help clean up the lot for the historical society. And the prisoners on the work crew were equally proud to take part.
“You are contributing to a part of history,” Bohannon told the prisoners as they prepared for a lunch break. “I know you get out and do this kind of cleanup thing everyday, but this is special. When you get out, you can come back where with your kids or grandkids and show them what you helped do.”
“I really appreciate each one of you. What you did today, and what you do everyday,” he said.
Several prisoners responded with a “thank you, sir”.
“We look forward to working with the historical society on this project,” District 5 County Commissioner Kevin White said. White observed the cleanup process on site for most of the morning.
King said this was not the first time the jail had been visited in recent years. About 10 or 15 years ago, she said, area schools brought children to the old jail for a tour.
For more pictures from inside and outside the historic Molino jail, click here.
Pictured above: The single cell inside the old Molino jail. Pictured below: District 5 County Commission Kevin White inside the old Molino jail. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos. Click to enlarge.
NorthEnd Youth Gather For A Night Of Fun And Worship
February 16, 2008
About 25 middle and high school students gathered at Northend Community Church Friday night for a night of food, games, music and more. The program entitled “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” was also presented.
Games ranged from eating doughnuts off a dangling string, to bullseye kissing a poster board, to Vaseline nosed cotton ball transfer were big hits.
The guest speaker was the Rev. Jeff Walker from Christ Community Church Baptist Church. The games were led by Daniel Torrez from Cottage Hill Baptist Church.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the event.
0
There Will Be No Gas Sold At Molino Tom Thumb For About Two Weeks
February 16, 2008
The Tom Thumb store in Molino will not be selling gas for at least two weeks. The pumps and gas tanks have been removed at the popular station.
They will be replaced in order to bring the station into compliance with Environmental Protection Agency requirements, according to a company spokesperson at a corporate office in Crestview. That process will take at least two weeks.
The convenience store will remain open at all times with its ordinary range of products and services. The store is located at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Northview FBLA Students Learn Real World Lessons
February 16, 2008
Never stop learning. That was the lesson that students in Northview High School’s Future Business Leaders of American learned Friday as they wrapped up their celebration of Florida’s FBLA Week.
“When you graduate from high school and go to college you will learn everyday. When you get out of college, you will learn everyday in your life,” Shardra Scott, assistant to the president and CEO of Gulf Power Company, told the FBLA students (pictured left).
“If you learn just one thing from me today, learn that you never stop learning,” she said. “That will keep you marketable.”
Another important thing is to know your competition. She told the students that their competition is not just other people in the job market, but it is a global competition because so many jobs are performed overseas over the Internet now.
“You have to build a diverse work team of people with different experiences,” Scott said of good leader. “You don’t need someone on your team to tell you what you already know.”
She also taught an important lesson about saying “no” with a “yes”. Rather than telling a supervisor that a job can not be done, provide them options on how it could be done.
“But before you can go into leadership, you have to learn to perform where you are, regardless of you work situation,” Scott said. “You are interviewing every day of your life.”
She asked the students how many had MySpace pages. Nearly every hand in the room went up.
“The Internet is a powerful tool, but it can also be a very destructive tool,” Scott said. “How many of you have something raunchy on your MySpace page?” There were no “yes” answers, just a few chuckles. She reminded the students that once something is posted on the Internet, it can be around forever. “Give your best today so it won’t come back to haunt you tomorrow.”
Annie Gilmore, Northview’s Business Ed teacher and FBLA sponsor, presented Scott with a certificate of appreciation for speaking to the NHS FBLA (pictured bottom left0. A certificate of appreciation was also presented to parent Loretta Snow, mother of FBLA President Ashley Snow, for her continued support of the program as a volunteer (pictured bottom right).
Scott joined Southern Company in 1991 as an engineering co-op at Alabama Power Company and has served in a number of capacities including distribution engineer, industrial marketing key accounts manager, power systems coordinator and transmission customer service projects coordinator and team leader.
Scott is a member of the Leadership Pensacola 2008 Class, Gulf Coast Chapter of American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) where she serves on the Education and Governmental Affairs Committees, Gulf Power Engineering Society, Gulf/Southern Association, Gulf Power Transformers and is a recent past participant in Escambia County’s “I Love Science” program.
Scott earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Alabama. She is also a graduate of the Alabama Power Company Leadership Development Program.
Ball Registration In Full Swing Again This Weekend
February 16, 2008
Preparation to play ball will once again be in full swing this weekend across North Escambia. Ball registration will be underway in Century, Walnut Hill and Molino this Saturday.
Registration for Northwest Escambia Little League baseball begins Saturday at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Registration will be held from nine a.m until noon Saturday at the league’s field house. The cost is $35 for the first child from a family, $25 for the second child and free for each additional child. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required for registration, along with with three proofs of residency, such as a utility bill, drivers license or voter registration card.
For more information, call 327-6722 or 327-6155 after five p.m.
Registration continues this Saturday for the Molino Recreation Association at Don Sutton park in Molino. Registration will continue each Saturday from eleven a.m. until two p.m. through February 23. Draft will start Monday, February 25 and continue until March 1.
Registration fees are $65 for the first child, $55 for the second, $50 for the third and free for additional players from the same family. A birth certificate copy is required to be on file for each child.
There will teams for boys and girls of all ages, including “Wee Ball” again. For more information, call 587-4090.
Registration will continue this Saturday for Century Little League. Registration will be underway from 8:00 until noon at the little league park behid the hold hospital. The fee is $55 for the first child and $35 for each additional child. A birth certificate copy is required for registration.
NorthEscambia.com is looking for people to help us with stats and photos from NWE and Molino play this year. If you are interested, use our contact form to let us know.
Superintendent Jim Paul Says He Won’t Seek Re-election
February 16, 2008
NorthEscambia.com has learned that Escambia County School Superintendent Jim Paul will drop out of the race for that office.
“Next week I will formally notify the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office that I will not seek a third term as Superintendent of Schools in Escambia County.” Paul said. “I will have no further comment on this matter.”
Paul was arrested January 10 near Clearwater, FL, and charged with DUI after his blood alcohol level was tested at 0.128. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08. Deputies said they spotted Paul’s rental car speeding and “weaving dramatically”.
“I didn’t feel in anyway that I was unable to drive,” he told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview on January 11, just one day after his arrest. “But I’m sure everybody says that who’s had drinks and gets behind the wheel of a car.”
Paul’s next court hearing on his Pinellas County DUI charge has been set for March 25.
“There is no excuse, there’s no rational explanation for what happened. I did something that was against the law. And it was nobody’s fault but my own,” was Paul’s opening statement in his exclusive NorthEscambia.com interview. Click here to hear this comment from Paul in mp3 format.
To hear Paul’s complete exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com, click here.
Escambia Schools Progress Reports Went Home Friday
February 15, 2008
Third nine weeks progress reports were sent home with students today from all Escambia County Schools. Next Wednesday will be an early release day for all elementary and middle school students. Wednesday will be a late start day for high school students.
For more information, contact your child’s school.
Northview’s Got Talent Series Round One Will Be Tonight
February 15, 2008
Move over American Idol, because Northview’s got talent. And they’re going to prove it.
A talent show series entitled “Northview’s Got Talent” will continue at 7:00 tonight in the school’s theater. In the spirit of American Idol, three judges will offer a critique of each performer.
Judges are Todd Corder, an area musician; Landon Manning, band director at T.R. Miller High School in Brewton; and Luke Manning, band director at Brewton Middle School.
Entrants range from soloists, to a complete bands, to storytellers and twirlers, to an appearance by “President George Bush”.
The finals will be held at 6:00 on Saturday, March 1 in the theater. Admission is $5 for each performance.
Entrants for tonight’s Northview’s Got Talent are:
- Matt Ziza and “PeaceLess” — Band
- Sarah Killam and Chelsea Sims — Dance
- Zach Lamb — Telling Bible Stories
- Codaryl Lowery — Dance
- Hayley Simpson and Caitlyn Brown — Twirling
- Racheal Baurer — Singing
- Olivia Godwin — Singing
- Allie Bryan — Singing
- Harrison Whitehead — Comedy
- 12 Gates — Band
- Carley Hetrick — Singing
New Communications Tower Tops Off Thursday
February 15, 2008
One of the tallest structures in North Escambia was topped off on Thursday. A new communications tower near Gobbler Road and Still Road in Oak Grove hit 330 feet on Thursday afternoon.
The tower is owned by Alabama Electric Cooperative and is used for communications between rural electric cooperatives. The new tower was constructed directly adjacent to a 280 foot tall tower also owned Alabama Electric Cooperative. The old tower, constructed in 1987, will be taken down in the new few weeks.
The new tower will actually reach to a height of 348 feet when the antennas on top are counted in the measurement.
It was constructed by Tower Systems South, Inc. of Winter Park, Florida, using individual 30 foot high sections. The sections were raised one at a time using a temporary steel mast extending above each section to hoist sections up. Four people were up on the tower to assist in the lift and to bolt each section together.
This tower is the third highest in the North Escambia area. A tower owned by Escambia County at 7955 Bratt Road tops out at 370 feet. A cellular tower owned by Pinnacle Towers at 381 Highway 164 near Highway 29 in McDavid is 353 feet high.
A large American flag was gently waving in the wind at the top of the construction mast above the tower as it was being constructed.
For a photo gallery of the tower construction, including photos of the workers on the tower, click here.
Pictured top of page: An American flag waves over 300 feet above Oak Grove Thursday afternoon while a worker climbs to the top of a new communications tower. Pictured left side of page: A new 330 foot high communications tower being constructed Thursday afternoon. In this photo, the tower is at 300 feet before the last 30 foot section is added. The old tower (with antennas to the left in the photo) is 280 feet high, not counting the antennas. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos. Click either photo to enlarge.