Carver/Century Students Celebrate Christmas
December 19, 2008
Pictured: The students at Carver/Century K-8 School presented their annual Christmas musical and play Thursday morning. The students are expecting a special visit from Santa Claus on Friday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Prisons Hit 100,000 Behind Bars, Over 1,500 Prisoners In Century Area
December 19, 2008
Florida prison hit a disturbing milestone Thursday morning — 100,000 people incarcerated in the state’s prison system. A little over 1,500 of those are housed at the Century Correctional Institution and related facilities in the area.
The state releases about 40,000 prisoners per year, and about 13,000 of those return to custody within three years, according to Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Walt McNeal. The 100,000 milestone reached Thursday marks an increase of about 8,000 prisoners in the system since June of 2007, with 2,000 of those being incarcerated since June of 2008.
The Florida legislature cut $332 million from education last year, but the state spend $309 million on prison construction. McNeal has projected that Florida will need about 19 more prisons housing up to 1,300 inmates each over the next five years, if the population growth rate continues at its current pace.
McNeal has said that as many 80,000 of the current 100,000 prisoners will end up back in prison during their lives.
The state spends about $19,308 per inmate per year. About 58 percent of that money goes into security, and another 22 percent into medical costs.
Another 158,000 people are currently out of prison in Florida and serving probationary time.
The Century Correctional Institution consists of five open bay housing units, three cell housing units and has a maximum capacity of 1,345 male prisoners. The facility was established in 1991. Century Work Camp, Pensacola Work Release Center and Berrydale Forestry Camp are under the supervision of CCI.
The total population of Century Correction Institution was 1,446 at the first of this month. There were 143 assigned to the Berrydale Forestry Camp, 82 to the Pensacola Work Release Center and 265 to the Century Work Camp.
Students Of The Month Named
December 19, 2008
The following North Escambia students were selected as December Students of the Month:
- Bratt Elementary: Jared L. Gibbs, second-grade; Taylor D. Kearley, fourth-grade.
- Carver/Century K-8: Keyth B. Grice, seventh-grade; Jason D. Spears, pre-kindergarten.
- Molino Park: Tristen O. Jordan, second-grade; Chelsey K. Skidmore, second-grade.
- Ernest Ward: Jessica N. Lowery, seventh-grade; Marisa K. Penland, eighth-grade.
No Surprise: Another Dense Fog Advisory This Morning
December 19, 2008
It’s becoming a regular morning event across North Escambia — the dense fog advisory.
The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory until 9:00 this morning for the North Escambia area.
A persistent southeasterly wind flow off the Gulf as again allowed widespread dense sea fog to spread into parts of southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.
Visibilities will be one-quarter mile or less across much of the region. The fog is expected to begin lifting around 9:00 this morning.
A dense fog advisory means visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use your low beam headlights and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.
Final Winterfest Winner Winner Named
December 19, 2008
NorthEscambia.com has wrapped up our Winterfest ticket giveway.
The tickets are for Rudolph’s Holiday Stroll. Let Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer guide you through the Seville neighborhood on a brisk evening stroll — you can even bring your pup! Neighbors compete to decorate their houses for the season, and we’ll stop by a few performances featuring great holiday characters. This one hour walking tour is a great way to see the neighborhood up close with one of our talented tour guides. Songs and stories make the evening extra-special.
For more information on Winterfest, visit pensacolawinterfest.org
Thursday’s winner was Christine Barrett of Cantonment.
Other winners during the past couple of weeks include Ashley Daw of Walnut Hill., Heather Findley of Century, Peggy Donald of Century, John Zabelle of Molino, Belinda Perry of Molino, Karen Ensley of Cantonment, Roger Holland of McDavid, Cyndi Daniel of Bratt, Janet Walker of McDavid, Jennifer Woodfin of Barrineau Park, Debbie Boyett of Molino, and Diane Johnson of Flomaton.
Commission Bails Out Clerks Office With Up To $400,000
December 19, 2008
The Escambia County Commission will bail out county’s Clerk of the Court out of his financial mess, but the county wants some oversight into how he spends the money.
Clerk Ernie Lee Magaha asked the commission for $400,000 for non-court operations, including staff payroll. Magaha’s office is about $60,000 in the hole so far this fiscal years. The clerk says that is because filing and recording fees are down because of a drop in real estate construction and transactions in the county.
The commission voted to help Magaha with his budget, up to $400,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year. The money can only be used for non-court operations. In exchange, the couty wants to oversight into how the money is spent, a prospect Magaha says he is not happy with.
Photos: Santa Claus Visits Library For Story Time
December 19, 2008
About 100 kids and kids at heart visited a winter wonderland at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon.
Santa Claus was on hand to take those last minute Christmas wishes. Requests included Nintinedo’s, basketballs, Ipods, dolls, clothes and even a vacuum cleaner.
The children also enjoyed a story, crafts and a goody bag filled with tasty treats.
For a complete photo gallery with about 100 photos from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Santa is told a secret Christmas wish at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: He was not sure what to tell Santa. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ninth Red Bulb Added In The Keep The Wreath Green Campaign
December 19, 2008
A ninth red bulb has been added to the wreaths across Escambia County in the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign. One of the red bulbs represents a Sunday fire in North Escambia.
On 7:27 p.m. Wednesday, a fire was reported in the 200 block of Washburn Street in Ensley. Firefighters found a fire coming from one of the bedrooms, caused by an electrical short in a power strip that had been placed underneath a piece of furniture. The fire was quickly extinguished. While there were no working smoke alarms in the home, all occupants were able to escape the home without injury. Firefighters from Ensley, Brent, and Ferry Pass responded.
The eighth red bulb was the result of a Sunday fire in North Escambia. On Sunday, December 14 a fire was reported in the 5800 block of Nokomis Road in Davisville. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire coming from the window at the end of a mobile home, moving down the hall toward the rest of the house. The fire was extinguished before any further damage was done to the home. The fire was caused by a child playing with matches and catching the bed on fire. No injuries were reported and the American Red Cross was called to assist the family. Firefighters from Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid, and Atmore responded. Read more about that fire and see pictures by clicking here.
To help citizens stay safe and “keep the wreath green”; Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department have holiday safety tips including:
- Have a plan in case you have a fire. In the unfortunate event you become trapped, close doors and stuff the door cracks to keep smoke out. Try to call 911 and let them know exactly where you are and signal for help from a window.
- Pay special attention to young children, elderly people and the disabled. Be sure to include them in your plan.
- Design an evacuation plan for your home and family. Make sure everyone understands exactly what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.
- Know two ways out of every room and practice them to make sure you can do it.
- Crawl low under smoke and feel closed doors for heat. If the door is warm, find another way out.
- Get out as fast as you can and stay out. Never go back inside. Once you’re safely outside have someone go to a neighbor’s house and call 911.
If you need a working smoke detector in your home, you can obtain a free on by calling 595-HERO.
Pictured above: This Sunday fire in Davisville added the eighth red bulb in Escambia “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Live Nativity Scene Tonight
December 19, 2008
“From Christmas To The Cross”, a life walk-through of the life of the Savior, will be held tonight at the First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill.
It will feature a live nativity scene and a live walk-though from the birth to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The event from 6:30 to 8:30 is free, Free hot chocolate, hot apple cider, coffee and cookies will be served.
The First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill is located at 230 Williams Ditch Road.
“From Christmas To The Cross” is sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill, Cottage Hill United Methodist Church and Providence Methodist Church. For more information, call 968-2357.
Molino’s Gizmo Angus Farm Wins Conservation Award
December 18, 2008
The family behind Gizmo Angus Farm in Molino was named the Conservation Family of the Year by the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District.
Owners Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore accepted the award Wednesday morning at the group’s annual awards ceremony in Molino.
The Gilmores, along with son Jacob, raise mostly purebred Angus cattle on two separate tracks in the Molino area. They currently have about 80 head of cattle.
“We appreciate the honor of this award,” Debbie Gilmore said. The Gilmores also thanks their partners Rick and Lamar Wiggins.
The Gilmores got their first cow in 1992 and have been improving their herd and land ever since. In 2001, they leased a large farm which allowed them to increase their herd size, and they formed Gizmo Angus Farms LLC. In 2006, they purchased the property they had been leasing.
In December of 2006, they stopped by the USDA-NRCS/Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District office to discuss what improvements they could do to help apply better conservation to their farm and improve their operation.
“We talked about their problems and objectives,” Conservationist Josh McElhaney said. “I told them that I thought that the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) could help them offset some of the expenses of applying conservation practices to help their farm.” The Gimores applied and were accepted into the program in May of 2007.
The Gilmores wasted no time in implementing their conservation practices, addressing many issues with their land. They had areas infested with invasive exotic cogongrass, needed more fencing to improve their grazing system, and to fence the cattle out of sensitive areas like streams. They also installed a well, pumping plant, pipelines and watering troughs. That watering system included over 5,000 feet of pipeline. They also installed over 14,000 feet of fences. Their contract with USDA-NRCS was completed in just 14 short months in July of 2008.
The Gimores have been active in the Northwest Florida Cattleman’s Association, Florida Angus Association and other organizations for many years.
“We appreciate their dedication and hard work,” McElhaney said.
Pictured above: Conservationist Josh McElhaney, Soil and Water Board Member Richard Freisinger, Gizmo owners Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore and Gizmo partner Rick Wiggins. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: A scene from Gizmo Angus Farm near Molino.
