Pine Barren Baptist To Hold VBS
June 15, 2008
Pine Barren Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School this next week, June 16-20, from 6:00 until 8:30 each evening.
For a list of other upcoming Vacation Bible Schools in the North Escambia area, click here for our events page.
If you would like to list your church’s upcoming Vacation Bible School here on NorthEscambia.com, or list any other community event, click here for our contact page or send an email to news@northescambia.com with your information.
Lawn Care Seminar: “My Weeds Look Better Than Your Weeds”
June 14, 2008
Love it or hate it, it’s that time of the year again…time to work on the lawn. If you have ever wanted to know how to improve your lawn, there’s a conference next week in Jay for you.
“Florida Lawn Field Day” will be held next Thursday at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay.
The conference will cover a variety of lawn care topics from top experts in the lawn care field.
Speakers and topics will include:
- When do you use a rototiller and when do you use a bulldozer?
- When to conduct an irrigation system audit?
- Slice and dice and poke some holes
- Killing bugs without using pesticides
- My weeds look better than your weeds
- Who would have thought there were rules…
- Mowing Practices: More than just going back and forth
Speakers will include Beth Bolles and Carrie Stevenson from the Escambia County Extension Service; Dr. Jason Dettman-Kruse, Theresa Friday, Dr. J. Bryan Unruh, Ken Rudisell, Phil Moon and Dr. Barry Brecke from the University of Florida; and Dan Mullions from the Santa Rosa County Extension Service.
The registration fee is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The admission price includes lunch.
The conference will take place at the West Florida Research and Education Center at 4253 Experiment Road in Jay from 8:00 until 3:30.
For more information, contact Robin Vickers, events coordinator, at (850) 983-5216 Ext. 113 or email rvickers@ufl.edu.
Register online at wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu (scroll down and choose the conference under “June 19″).
Teacher Arrested For Shooting Horse, Then Setting Fire To Barn
June 14, 2008
A Flomaton woman, who is also a Florida teacher, has been charged with killing her horse Abby and burning her barn in an attempt to claim $100,000 in insurance money on a horse she reportedly bought for $800.
Brenda Gradia, 41, is also accused of claiming $30,000 in insurance money on another horse that she falsely claimed died of a snakebite back in December.
Gradia admitted to shooting her horse and then setting fire to the barn in the early morning hours of May 23.
She was arrested and charged with arson, cruelty to animals and attempted theft by deception. She is free on a $50,000 bond.
Gradia is a special education teacher at King Middle School in Milton.
Her home, and the barn that was burned, are about a half mile north of the Alabama-Florida state line. The Century Volunteer Fire Department assisted the Flomaton Fire Department with the barn fire in May.
Miller: No More Excuses Energy Act To Combat Gas Prices
June 14, 2008
Submitted by Congressman Jeff Miller
These days, gas money doesn’t go very far. Prices have soared to unprecedented levels and most people remember with envy the days when their finances weren’t patrolled around the rising cost of fuel. But despite the despair that comes with watching the numbers increase at the pump and the frustration over its continued climb, Republican members are combating high prices and taking action to relinquish America’s dependency on foreign oil. This is nothing new. Republicans have made countless proposals to alleviate high gas prices. Unfortunately, these efforts have not been matched by the Democratic majority.
It is incredibly frustrating that the House spends its time talking on resolutions “Marking the 225th Anniversary of the Treaty of Paris” and “Supporting the goals and ideals of the International Year of Sanitation,” instead of debating the best way to increase domestic energy supply. While these resolutions may be important for highlighting historical events and educational campaigns, they do not serve the American people well or do anything to lower gas prices.
The Republicans lost the majority and the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007. Since that time gas prices have risen by $1.73. A year and a half ago, the public was serenaded with the Democrats’ promise of energy reform and comprehensive legislation that would bring down the cost of oil. Now, we are entering into the summer months when increased travel and its subsequent demand for oil leads to higher gas prices. Where is the plan they promised the American people? Where is their Common Sense Energy plan to bring prices down at the pump?
We can no longer afford to have the Majority drag their feet on this issue. Starting this week and continuing throughout the summer, House Republicans will file a discharge petition each week the House is in session. These petitions will cover energy legislation focused on providing relief for the high gas prices. A discharge petition of the House of Representatives provides a way for Members to bring to the floor a measure not reported from committee. Essentially, it will allow deliberation on important energy policies that the Democratic leadership have tried to stifle.
The Republicans introduced a discharge petition on June 10 for H.R. 3089, the No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007. This comprehensive energy bill tackles all of the major topics of the energy debate. New American oil refineries, investment in clean energy sources such as wind, nuclear, and captured carbon dioxide, and the opening of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and America’s Deep-Sea Energy Reserves are just a few of the solutions in this bill that will help combat America’s dependence on foreign oil.
No longer able to withstand the Democrat’s stalemate, House Republicans are aggressively tackling the energy problem. I signed the discharge petition for H.R. 3089, and plan to do so for every piece of energy legislation that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil and drive down the price of fuel.
County Set To Make Offer To Purchase Old Molino School
June 13, 2008
Escambia County will make a $2 million offer to purchase the old Wedgewood Middle School property in Pensacola and the old Molino Elementary School.
At Thursday morning’s County Commission Meeting of the Whole, the commission was set to discuss the purchase the old Wedgewood Middle property for a one-stop county facility. The Escambia County School Board’s asking price for the property located off Highway 29 north of W Street is $4 million.
The commission decided to offer $2 million for that property and the old Molino Elementary on Highway 95A in Molino. The school board’s asking price for the Molino property is $400,000.
Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the gym and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The Molino school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
FHP: Speed Was A Factor In Serious McDavid Crash That Injures Century Man
June 13, 2008
A Century man was seriously injured in a one vehicle accident on Highway 29 in McDavid Friday morning. The accident happened near the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 164 about 6:50 Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Andrew Davis, 22, of Century was southbound on Highway 29 at a high rate of speed when he apparently ran off the road near Watson’s Convenience Store, struck a highway signpost and culvert. He then became airborne and overturned onto the highway. Davis was ejected. There were no passengers.
Davis was transported from the scene by LifeFlight with critical injuries to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Highway 29 remained completely closed for about an hour while southbound traffic backed up for several miles.
The FHP says Davis was not wearing a seatbelt and that charges are pending. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident. .
For a photo gallery from the accident, click here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
An “A-maize-ing” Adventure Awaits With Bratt Cornfield Maze
June 13, 2008
Perhaps the most “a-maize-ing” entertainment in the North Escambia area is in Bratt, and it is a challenge that few can meet. It’s just plain “cornfusing”.
“Bratt’s A-maize-ing” cornfield maze is once again open on Highway 4 near Bratt. It is an elaborate maze cut into a six acre cornfield.
So far this season, no one has successfully found their way through the maze, said maze owner Colvin Davis. He and his wife Lavelle have operated the maze for each of the past seven years.
“Some people get really determined to make it through,” Colvin said. “But sometimes I have to go in and get them.”
“I had one lady that came three nights in a row that was really determined to get all the way through without cheating,” he said. “But I had to go in and get her.”
Colvin said he can navigate the maze in about 30 minutes. The fastest folks that have managed to find their way out in years past take about an hour.
The idea for the corn maze became a reality seven years ago when Colvin finally decided “there must be some way to make some money rather than selling corn for $2 a bushel.”
The a-maize-ing idea came from an article Colvin had read in the early 1990’s in Progressive Farmer magazine.
“My son laughed himself nearly to death when I told him what I had decided to do,” Colvin said.
The maze begins with a sketch on graph paper. The corn is planted, and the maze is cut with a small tractor and by hand with a hoe. The letters A, B, C and D mark the correct path’s progression through the maze, but many never find their way past A, he said.
“It’s real rewarding. It’s something for me to do, have a good time and make a little profit,” he said.
Many of the maze visitors are from church groups. The largest church group so far to tour the maze at one time was 132.
In addition to the maze, Colvin offers a free hayride to maze visitors. And he sells other corn goodies like corn dogs, corn chips, popcorn, moonpies and cold drinks.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Bratt’s A-maize-ing Cornfield is located at in Bratt. That’s about a mile and a half east of Highway 97. It is open from 5:00 until 10:00 p.m. (bring your own flashlight!) Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights for groups by appointment. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under five are free with an adult admission. For more information, call 327-6372.
And if you are looking at the aerial picture on this page thinking you could use one to find your way through the maze…”good luck” says Colvin. He’s had people use the pictures and even GPS units to try to find their way through. But so far, that’s not helped anyone conquer Bratt’s A-maize-ing Cornfield.
Pictured above: An aerial photos of the cornfield maze. Pictured middle: The had to find “exit” to the maze. Pictured below: Colvin Davis at the entrance to Bratt’s “A-maize-ing” Cornfield. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Get About $70 Of Groceries, Including Steaks, For $30: No Strings Attached
June 13, 2008
As the cost of food continues to rise, there is a program available at a local church that can save more than half off the cost of groceries. And, perhaps best of all, everyone qualifies, no strings attached.
It’s called Angel Food Ministries, a program that provides food relief to more than a half million families a month across the nation.
It’s a simple concept…pay $30 for a box of food worth about $70. There are no applications; everyone qualifies. The process is simple too…just stop by the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment, pay the $30 and return on the designated pickup day to receive the box of food. They even accept food stamps.
Allen Memorial United Methodist Church has been the local host for the Angel Food Ministries program since October of 2006, according to their program director Katrina Williamson.
“It’s a great program,” Williamson said. “It can really help people out.”
Orders for June must be placed Monday from 10 until noon at the church at 206 Pace Parkway in Cantonment for a food delivery on June 28. The church accepts cash or food stamps.
The $30 June box of food includes 1.5 pounds of rib eye steaks, 1.5 pounds of hamburger patties, two pounds of pork riblets, four pounds of chicken leg quarters, two pounds of breaded chicken tenders, a 20 ounce supreme pizza, one pound of mild Italian sausage, two pounds of French fries, one pound of sliced carrots, one pound of mixed vegetables, a 32 ounce container of two percent shelf-stable milk, six ounce pancake mix, 15 ounce pork and beans, 14 ounce ketchup, 7.5 ounce macaroni and cheese, a dozen eggs and a dessert item.
Specials are also available each month with the purchase of a regular box of food. For instance, this month, one special is 24 ounce t-bone steaks, two pounds of meaty baby back ribs, two pounds of thick cut pork chops and one pound of sausage for $20.
“Our food is “restaurant grade” meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. which we acquire through our involvement with only the best producers/vendors of high quality, “name brand” foods. Never “seconds” or “day old” type products are involved,” according to the Angel Food Ministries web site.
For more information about the program, call Allen Memorial United Methodist Church at 968-6213 or visit www.angelfoodministries.com. To visit the church and place an order…take Highway 20 south into Cantonment. Turn right at the red light onto Muskogee Road. Take the second right onto Pace Parkway.
Other churches in the North Escambia area that might be interested in hosting the Angel Food Ministries program can visit www.angelfoodministries.com for more information.
NorthEscambia.com has ordered a box of food. We will run a follow-up story in July to remind you about the program and let you know what we thought of the food.
Escambia Looks At Vehicle And Transportation Cost Saving Measures
June 13, 2008
The Escambia County Commission Committee of the Whole took a look at the county’s vehicle inventory and ways to possible save money on transportation costs at their Thursday meeting
With thousands of dollars in increased fuel costs per month, the commission discussed ways to decrease fuel usage.
“There are things like electric cars, hybrids,” County Administrator Bob McLaughlin said, “Use of biodiesel or other types of biofuels. We are going to take a look at the infrastructure and the use of liquefied natural gas. So the technology is there; it’s a matter just of taking a look at how we are going to do that and how we can be more efficient and reduce our fuel consumption.”
Commissioner Mike Whitehead suggested looking at some the county’s low mileage vehicles as a way to save money. He said it makes little sense to pay the insurance on a vehicle that is only driven a few hundred miles per year. Mileage that low, he said, is a likely indicator that the vehicle is not really needed by a department.
“The ones that are not being utilized,” Whitehead asked. “why do we have them at all?”
Each county department will be required to submit justification for each vehicle in that department to the commission.
Commissioners To Look At County Employees Taking Vehicles Home
June 12, 2008
Escambia County has 417 vehicles on the road, ranging from pickup trucks, SUVs vans and fire trucks. And the county is expected to review the necessity of each one.
The county commission will look at each vehicle in a committee workshop Thursday, looking for ways to shave dollars and cents. Commissioners will also look at the authorized use of 24/7 vehicles…vehicles that employees are authorized to take home with them each day.
There are currently 60 county owned vehicles that are authorized for 24/7 or take-home use. Of those, 39 are used by volunteer fire departments. The other 21 are used by county staffers that are allowed to take the vehicles home.
Those 21 non-fire department vehicles are expected to be the target of discussion as will the 350 other vehicles used by county departments. Some of those vehicles get low gas mileage, like a Chevrolet Extended Cab used by the Department of Solid Waste Management that averaged just 4.6 miles per gallon last year.
The 21 non-fire department vehicles driven home by county employees or designated for 24/7 use, according to information obtained by NorthEscambia.com, are below. Listed for each is the vehicle, the employee, the city of their home address, their position and their department.
- 1995 Chevy 4×4, John Sanders, Pensacola, Lead Equipment Mechanic, Public Works
- 2001 Ford Explorer, Stanley Gray, Milton, Administration, Solid Waste
- 2003 Ford F550 Service Truck, Dennis Rigby, Walnut Hill, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Solid Waste
- 2000 Ford F150, John Gilly, Pensacola, Field Supervisor, Solid Waste
- 2001 Chevy Truck, Cleo Millender, Pensacola, Pensacola, Operations Supervisor, Solid Waste
- 2005 Ford F150, Albert Hargis III, Pensacola, Building Code Inspector, Building Inspections
- 2005 Ford F150, Harry Thomas Gibson, Navarre, Building Code Inspector, Building Inspections
- 2002 Ford F150, Raymond Sunday, Pace, Building Code Inspector, Building Inspections
- 2005 F150, R. Michael Willet, Gulf Breeze, Building Code Inspector, Building Inspections
- 2006 Chevy Impala, Anna Rebecca Miller, Gulf Breeze, Unlicensed/Unpermitted Enforcement, Building Inspections
- 2000 Ford Explorer XLT, Jeff Bohannon, Pace, Division Manager, Road Prison
- 1999 Ford Explorer 4×4, Wayne McGlothren, Pensacola, Adminstrative Sgt., Road Prison
- 2001 Ford F250 Super Duty, Pensacola, Firefighter Trainer, Fire Services
- 2000 Crown Victoria, Ken Perkins, Gulf Breeze, Fire Chief, Fire Services
- 2006 Ford Explorer, Stephen Renaldi, Pensacola, Fire Marshal, Fire Services
- 2005 Ford F250 Super Duty, Jim Sanders, Pensacola, Battalion Chief, Fire Services
- 1995 Ford Bronco, Steven Barnes, Pensacola, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Emergency Medical Services
- 2006 Ford Expedition, Mike Weaver, Pensacola, Division Manager, Emergency Medical Services
- 2000 Dodge Durango, Michael Hardin, Pensacola, Bureau Chief, Public Safety
- 2001 Ford Crown Victoria, Frank Clements, Gulf Breeze, Emergency Operations Officer, Emergency Management
- 2000 Chevy Blazer, John Dosh, Pensacola, Division Manager, Emergency Management
Some of the 39 fire department vehicles on the 24/7 take-home list are assigned to volunteer fire departments in North Escambia.
According to John Sims, Fire Services Manger, the take-home fire department vehicles are assigned to fire chiefs, deputy chiefs and assistant chiefs.
“These personnel take these vehicles home and are on call 24/7,” Sims said in a county memo. “They are expected to respond from their homes or wherever they happen to be when their pager alerts them. These vehicles are emergency vehicles with lights and sirens. They allow the individual to proceed directly to the scene of an emergency for scene evaluation and size up before the larger apparatus arrive.”
There are three such vehicles assigned to the Century Volunteer Fire Department, three to the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, two to the Molino Volunteer Fire Department, and one to the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Pictured above: Vehicles similar to this white pickup are assigned to volunteer fire department chiefs and assistant chiefs to allow quick response to emergencies such as this fire Wednesday afternoon in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo.