Is Your Heating System Safe?
October 30, 2008
Most North Escambia residents turned on the heat for the first time this season during the past couple of days. For most, it was just flip the thermostat and enjoy as the warm air began to flow. But many of those people, even though they were warm and cozy, may have missed an important step…a heating system inspection.
“An inspection is important to make sure the system is clean and all of the safety features are working,” Durwin Unruh, owner of Casa Heating and Cooling in Walnut Hill, said. “You can rest assured at night after an inspection that your system is safe and running properly.”
It’s not just really old systems that can become unsafe. He said on Wednesday he inspected a system that was just seven years old that had a rust problem that could have been a serious safety problem for the owner.
An inspection, Unruh said, can be especially important on a gas system to make sure there are no carbon monoxide issues.
A system that is running properly can also save energy –and money — during the winter months.
“And if the system is over 10 years old, it’s time to start thinking about a new one,” Unruh said. “Systems today have a come along way in terms of safety and efficiency that can make replacing an old system worthwhile.”
Heating system inspections should be done by qualified companies that can be found in the local phone book. Unruh and Casa can be reached at 327-4684 or online at www.casaair.com.
Early Voter Turnout “Remarkable”
October 30, 2008
Over 32,000 people have now cast their ballots in early voting in Escambia County.
Escambia Supervisor of Elections David Stafford told NorthEscambia.com that the early voting turnout has been “remarkable”. He said that by the time the four early voting locations in the county closed Wednesday night, a total of 32,259 people had cast their ballots.
Early voters can cast their ballots through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Early voters can choose any one of the four sites:
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, second floor.
- Supervisor of Elections branch office, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment.
- Lucia M. Tryon Branch Library, 5740 N. Ninth Ave.
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway.
Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. next Tuesday.
A Story Of Hope: Century Relay For Life Holds Kickoff
October 29, 2008
A team kickoff rally for Century’s 2009 Relay for Life was held last night with about a dozen teams represented.
“We are fired up and getting ready for Relay,” Paula Jernigan, event organizer, said.
Jernigan, who announced that Tuesday night that she had been cancer free eight years to the day, is in her second year as organizer. She said that her first experience with Relay was inspired by Dillon Diamond (pictured left), a young man that she introduced.
‘I was diagnosed in November 1999,” Diamond said. “And as you see I am standing here now. It’s because of what Relay does.”
Century’s Relay for Life runs from noon Saturday, April 25, 2009, until 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 26. For more information or to sign up a team, visit CenturyRelay.com
Teams already registered for this year’s Century Relay include: Byrneville Elementary, Carver/Century K-8 School, Century Branch Library, Century Correctional Institute, Town of Century, Critter Gitters, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Northview High School, McDavid Fire Department, Walnut Hill Fire Department and NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: Glow sticks light a “Hope” bag in a dark cafeteria at Carver/Century K-8 School Tuesday night. Each glow stick was placed in the bag in memory of, or in honor of, someone with cancer. Pictured below: The silhouette of Relay team members walking a Relay “lap” around the cafeteria, which was lit only by lights outside the building. Pictured bottom: Jacke Johnston of the Byrneville Elementary School team accepts a spirit award. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Area Woman Featured On International TV, Watch Video Here
October 29, 2008
An area woman was featured on international television Tuesday night.
Olvena Smith, a 92 year old poll worker from Canoe, Alabama, (that’s just across the state line from North Escambia) was featured on BBC World News on BBC America. BBC is the British Broadcasting Company.
The BBC featured Smith’s 55 year tenure as a poll worker in Alabama.
Click here to watch the video on BBC America’s web site.
Good News: Gas Prices Continue Downward Spiral
October 29, 2008
Gas prices across North Escambia continue to fall, with the lowest price in each community late Tuesday ranging from $2.59 to a low of $2.41.
The lowest price we could find in North Escambia was at the Tom Thumb in Molino, with a gallon of regular unleaded selling for $2.41 a gallon.
The average price of a gallon of gas has dropped more than $1 in Florida in the past month. The state average is $2.71, down from $3.73 this time last month. Analysts say that with the falling price of crude, now down to less than $65 a barrel, we can expect gas prices to continue to decline. Some analysts are predicting that gas will fall below $2 a gallon by Christmas.
The lowest price in Escambia County late Tuesday was $2.29 at several stations, including Murphy USA at the Creighton Walmart, a Tom Thumb on Pensacola Bldvd., and several stations on Nine Mile Road.
Local Students Perform In All-County Honor Chorus
October 29, 2008
The 2008 All-County Choral Gala was held Tuesday night at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola with two North Escambia elementary schools participating.
Students from Bratt and Molino Park elementary schools were among the dozens of students selected to participate in the program that featured music ranging from classic to contemporary.
Zachary Holland, Libery Peebles and Lori Harrell represented Bratt Elementary; and Moriah Magahan, Jordan Summerlin and Sabrina Wine represented Molino Park Elementary on the Elementary All-County Honor Chorus. Bratt’s students were coached by music teacher Emily Pollard, and Molino Park’s students were coached by music teacher Twinette McDonald.
Pictured above: Bratt Elementary students (L-R) Zachary Holland, Libery Peebles and Lori Harrell represented Bratt Elementary in the All-County Honor Chorus Tuesday night at Olive Baptist Church. Submitted cell phone photo by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com.
Century, Flomaton Trick-Or-Treat Thursday Night; Others Friday Night
October 29, 2008
Trick-or-Treat has officially been moved to Thursday night in both Flomaton and Century.
Trick-or-Treat in Century will be from 5:00 until 8:00 in Century. The town will hand out candy to trick-or-treaters from 6:00 until 8:00 at Roadside Park.
In Flomaton, the town’s annual Fall Festival will be held downtown from 6:00 until 8:00 Thursday night, and trick-or-treat hours will be 5:00 until 8:00.
In the City of Atmore, trick-or-treat will be 5:00 until 8:00 Friday night.
In the rest of Escambia County, Florida, there’s no official trick-or-treat times, but it will be held Friday night.
Walton Downs Northview In District Volleyball Tourney
October 29, 2008
The Northview Chiefs dropped district tournament games to Walton High School Tuesday night in Pensacola.
Walton downed the Chiefs 13-25, 15-25, 26-28.
Northview stats:
Shawna Montgomery: Aces-3 Dig-1
Brittney Thompson: Kills-7, Block-1
Caitlin Hall: Assists-5
Amber McMillan: Aces-3, Digs-7
Northview is 13-11 overall, 3-3 in the district.
Early Voting Extended
October 29, 2008
Early voting hours have been extended at the Escambia County’s four early voting locations. Governor Crist issued an executive order Tuesday mandating the change in schedule throughout the state.
Early voters may cast their ballots today through Saturday, November 1st, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Early voters can choose any one of the four sites:
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, second floor.
- Supervisor of Elections branch office, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment.
- Lucia M. Tryon Branch Library, 5740 N. Ninth Ave.
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway.
Wednesday is the last day to request an absentee ballot, which can be obtained by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-3914), or by using the online form at www.EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address
where the ballot should be mailed. Requests must be received no later than Wednesday, October 29th. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Freeze Warning Issued; Almost Earliest Freeze Ever
October 28, 2008
The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning from 1:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.
An overnight low from 28 to 30 is expected overnight, with several hours below freezing across the area. A freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or
highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
The average first freeze of the season in North Escambia is November 21. The earliest ever recorded freeze was October 27, 1957.
Widespread frost is also expected by morning. Wednesday’s high will be 65 under sunny skies.
Wednesday night’s low will once again be around the freezing mark, with patchy frost possible.