Local Solutia Plant Could Be For Sale; Stock Falls $2 On News
July 1, 2008
Changes could be coming for the Solutia plant near Cantonment, even a possible sale of the business.
Solutia Inc. announced Monday that it has retained HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. to explore strategic alternatives with respect to its nylon business, including a possible sale.
“We have transformed our nylon business from a North American-focused fiber business into the world’s second-largest producer of nylon 66 plastics,” commented Jeffry N. Quinn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Solutia Inc. “The nylon business is on a path for further growth and improvement in financial performance, and we believe strongly in the strategic course we have set for the business.”
“However, given the strength of our high-margin specialty chemical and performance materials businesses and the current industry dynamic in the nylon segment, it is an appropriate time to explore strategic alternatives available with respect to the nylon business that would better position both the nylon business and the rest of Solutia for reaching their ultimate potential,” he added.
While the nylon division’s $1.892 billion in sales account for just over half of Solution’s 2007 income, the company cited the rising cost of raw materials as on reason for the sale. In the first quarter of 2008, the nylon division experienced a 10 percent increase in sales compared to the first quarter of 2007. But the nylon division lost an estimated $7 million for the quarter.
Solutia emerged from bankruptcy just four months ago. The company employs about 1,000 people, many from North Escambia, at their plant near Cantonment.
Shares fell after the announcement Monday to $11.79, down about $2.11 from Friday’s close.
Pictured above: An aerial view of the massive Solutia plant near Cantonment.
Tonight Is Your Chance To Speak Your Mind On County Issues
July 1, 2008
If you want to have your voice heard in county government, or just want to hear first hand what is going on in North Escambia’s District 5, there is a meeting for you tonight.
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White will hold a town hall meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Molino Park Elementary School. He will update residents on projects in North Escambia and take your questions concerning county issues.
Molino Park Elementary is located at 899 Highway 97, just north of Highway 29 in Molino.
Another town hall meeting with the commissioner will be held at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, July 8 at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church, 699 S. Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Kate Sherrill Named Salutatorian Of Class
July 1, 2008
Kate Elizabeth Sherrill of Walnut Hill recently served her class at the Christian Institute of Arts and Sciences as salutatorian.
CIAS is an umbrella school, accredited by the state of Florida, which oversees home-schooled students in a rigorous college preparatory program. In addition to her course work at CIAS, Kate was duel-enrolled at Jefferson Davis Community College.
Kate was named to Who’s Who in American High Schools, is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and is on the National Honor Roll.
She is also active with the Greater Escambia Council of the Arts, appearing most recently as the witch in Into the Woods.
Kate works at Annie’s Community Cup and serves Walnut Hill Baptist Church as pianist. She also teaches private piano lessons.
She will attend Faulkner State Community College this fall on a vocal music scholarship. Kate is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill and the granddaughter of Sam and Dean Graham and the late Hunk and Senie Sherrill.
Celebrate The Fourth Today At The Library
July 1, 2008
The next installment of the Summer Reading Series at the Century Branch Library will be at noon on today as the library celebrates the Fourth of July in grand style.
There will be a watermelon eating contest, a watermelon seed spitting contest, apple pies, pigs in a blanket and a hula hoop contest.
Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, George Washington, and more will make special appearances. The program is for children of all ages and is free. For more information, call the library at 256-6217.
Residents Report Funnel Cloud Over Molino; No Damage; No Problems
June 30, 2008
A funnel cloud was reported in the air in the Molino area about 2:10 Sunday afternoon near Crest Lane off Highway 29, but there was no real damage.
Witnesses told NorthEscambia.com that they saw the rotation of a funnel cloud over the Crest Lane area near the end of Crest Place. They said it sounded almost the same as the February 17 tornado that destroyed several houses in their subdivision.
One resident’s ladders were tossed about their backyard. Trash cans were overturned and small lawn furniture was moved about. There were a few small limbs down around the area, but there was no major damage.
The Molino Volunteer Fire Department and the Escambia Sheriff’ Department responded to the area. They fire department returned to their station, where they continued to standby into the afternoon in case more severe weather developed.
There were no injuries reported. Power was still on in almost all of the Molino area following the funnel cloud report.
Pictured above: This small tree was broken over on Crest Land Sunday afternoon. Pictured below: A few dead tree limbs, like this one on Cedartown Road at Highway 95A were also down around the area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EWMS Class of 78 Holds Reunion, Honors Former Teachers
June 30, 2008
The Ernest Ward High School Class of 1978 recently held their 30th reunion.
Former Ernest Ward teachers and class sponsors Patty Stone and Jean Webb were on hand for the evening that began with a special presentation of photos with 70’s music.
One of the highlights of the evening was Mrs. Jean Webb’s (now known as JJ) introduction and signing of her newly published book, “Feet of Clay”, with the reading of a special dedication to her former students.
The reunion was hosted at B&T Barbeque in Atmore.
Pictured above: (front, L-R) Mike Wilson, Alan Lowery, Ronald Hartner; (second row, L-R) Lenora Wilson-Grissett, Tony Killiam, Barbara Singleton-Hollingsworth, Linda Amerson-Jackson, Nancy Bentley-Barger, Judy Pickern-Parham; (third row, L-R) Richard Cook, June Hansen-Hall, Gary Gibbs, Dianne Crews-Hall, Becky Bryars-Angles, Anita Conway; (back row, L-R) Zelda Coon Berry, Jeffery Smith, Elaine Bryan-Holk, Tara Killiam-Wiggins, Cathy Dortch-Reynolds, Kathy McLain-Jones, Malcom Mitchell and Rita Powell Parker. Pictured below: Patty Stone (left) and Jean Webb. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
It’s A Boy!
June 30, 2008
Two sago palm plants planted around the CrossFaith Church sign at the church’s old location on Molino Road bloomed recently, and they were both boys.
Sago palms, like many plant species, require a boy and a girl to reproduce to produce more of the popular plants…just good old basic biology.
In the late spring or early summer, the mature male sago produces a golden cone shape like you see in the pictures. It can grow to over two feet. A female sago produces a huge golden cabbage-shape flower.
Most sagos will be 15 to 20 years old before they flower, and they do not usually flower in pots. They must be well established in their landscape. They do not flower every year. Usually the flowers appear every two or three years. Sagos produce a new set of leaves during the non-flowering years.
The cone have since dried and turned a bit brown since these photos were snapped.
Pictured above: A male flowering sago palm on Molino Road at the old location of CrossFaith Church. Pictured below: A closeup of the flower. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Abandoned Building Burns
June 29, 2008
An abandoned building on East Highway 4 in Century was destroyed by fire Saturday night.
The fire was reported in the wood frame building about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The building was a fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on the scene on East Highway 4 between Highway 29 and Jefferson Avenue.
Authorities said the wood frame structure had been empty for about 10 years. It had been used as a residence years ago, and housed a propane company in the 1950’s.
There were not reported injuries in the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Century Volunteer Fire Department, the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department and the Molino Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the fire. The Flomaton Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, but they were diverted to an accident call in front of their fire station before they responded.
Angel Food Ministries Provides About $70 Of Top Quality Food For $30
June 29, 2008
Saturday was distribution day for Angel Food Ministries at the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment. It’s a simple program where anyone can save more than half off the cost of groceries. And, perhaps best of all, everyone qualifies, no strings attached.
The program 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.”
The $30 June box of food included 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.
The July $30 box of food includes a 40 ounce Marie Callender Family Cock Pot Dinner with meat, one and half pounds of boneless pork fillets, five pounds of chicken chunks, one and half pounds of meaty beef ribs, 28 ounce meatloaf with gravy, one pound of beef fajitas, one pound of cooked meatballs, one pounds of all meat hot dogs, one pound of broccoli, one pound of pea and carrots, 28 ounces of pasta sauce, one pound of pasta, 32 ounces of milk, 32 ounces of Hawaiian Punch, 12 corn tortillas, a seven ounce blueberry muffin mix, a dozen eggs and a dessert.
“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.
Editor’s note: 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. We can tell you that the frozen pizza from June’s menu was pretty good.
Pictured above: Volunteers at Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment work to distribute food Saturday at the church. Pictured below: A box of food being loaded. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Names Spring Honor Students
June 29, 2008
The University of West Florida has named its spring semester Dean’s Honors List and President’s Honor List.
All undergraduate students who earn a grade point average equal to or greater than 3.5 on a minimum of six semester hours of graded coursework at UWF are recognized on the Dean’s Honor List.
All undergraduate students who earn a grade point average equal to or greater than 3.9 on a minimum of six semester hours of graded coursework at UWF are recognized on the President’s Honor List.
The following students from the North Escambia area were named to the Dean’s Honor List at UWF:
Century: Rachel Andrews, Amy Benauer, David Bryan, Nicole Cook, John Doran, Bradley Faulk, Stella Harrelson, Thessalon Harrison, Rachel Killam, Amy Underwood.
McDavid: Danette Walker
Molino: Jason Amnott, Emily Coleman, Jennifer Sigler, Christopher Wade, John Whitfield.
Cantonment: Melissa Aiken, Jacob Armbrust, Stacey Barnes, Jessica Bousquet, Cynthia Boyd, Michele Bradley, Dorothy Carr, Charnai Carrier, Michael Colonna, Camillee Deguzman, Brook Edmisten, Crystle Ellis, Arthur Fletcher, Thomas Ford, Victoria Fox, Whitney Gay, Katelyn Geri, Laura Ghiorso, Elizabeth Godwin, Heather Graham, Kenneth Gray, Mariah Guilford, Tadessa Ham, Nicole Haubrich, Brandy Ingram, Patricia Jones, Michael Kyle, Corrie Lenn, Katie Lewis, Christina Luciano, James McAllister, Ryan McCauley, Kelley McDowell, Linsey McLain, Lauren McManus, Christopher Meade, Jessica Miller, Heather Miller, Michael Moehle, Aaron Moneyham, Chelsea Pipkins, Joseph Potts, Kathleen Renfrow, Stacy Ross, Brandon Sapp, Stefanie Swords, Mohammad Taha, George Trice, Heather Walpole, Carl Weber, Cherith Welter.
The following students from the North Escambia area were named to the President’s Honor List at UWF:
Century: Brittany Levins, Carla Payne.
McDavid: Jarrod Brown, Kyle Simpson, Scott Walker, Brandon Walker.
Molino: Susan Arnette, Cynthia Plenkers, Kristen Smith, William Tanner, Noel Taylor.
Cantonment: Cara Armbrust, Sean Bowers, David Bramblett, Janet Branch, Rachel Castleman, Patricia Cazenavette, Jennifer Chambers, Amanda Clanton, Ruth Corbin, Leah Duff, Caitlin Duff, Susann Fehl, Stephanie Godfrey, Jennifer Godwin, Brittany Green, Angela Hensel, Ashley Kotwal, Christina Kwon, Anthony Manzi, Scott Miller, Teresa Mullins, Kelly Poley, Christopher Rawson, Brooke Rowell, Steve Schickel, Charlotte Somerville, Kaitlin Teets, Jamie Vail, Cole Yuknis.