Nursing Home Throws Birthday Party
June 4, 2008
Century Care Center recently held a birthday party for all their residents recently.
Residents enjoyed a birthday party complete with cake, gifts and songs from the Gospel Lighthouse Academy. Several residents and volunteers were also recognized for their contributions at Century Care Center.
The “Sew ‘N So” club (pictured below) was honored for its contributions to the residents. They hand make activity pillows for the the residents to encourage tactile stimulation. They also make bags for the wheelchairs and walkers.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary To Offer Voluntary Pre-K Program This Summer
June 4, 2008
Bratt Elementary School will be among the schools in the county offering a voluntary Pre-K program this summer.
Parents whose children will be entering kindergarten in August 2008 and who have not yet attended voluntary prekindergarten during this school year have the option to have their child participate in the Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten Program. The program will run from from June 9 through August 4.
The host schools for the program will be Bratt Elementary, Beulah Elementary, Hallmark Elementary, Holm Elementary, Lipscomb Elementary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, and West Pensacola Elementary.
For more information on this program parents should contact Mary Anderson at 595-6915 ext. 227 or Linda Green at 595-6915 ext. 232.
NWE Grizzlies Fall To Hammer Heads
June 3, 2008
The NWE Hammer Heads defeated the NWE Grizzly team 4-3 in minor league play last night. Hammer Heads pitcher Kyle Hinson and Zach Payne combined for 13 strikeouts. Zach Holland and Chris Brown of the Grizzles combined for nine strikeouts.
Ramona Preston photos for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Century Council Member And Businessman Accuse Each Other Of Being Crooked, Corrupt
June 3, 2008
Century businessman Georges Van Nevel and council member Henry Hawkins got into a verbal argument Monday night, calling each other “crooked” and “corrupt”.
At the council meeting two weeks ago, Hawkins reported that Van Nevel had listed his building in the Century Industrial Park for sale, and that “he’s trying to sell the property out from under our noses”. He also said that Van Nevel was still behind on his payments to Century.
“I want to hear a retraction on that,” Van Nevel said Monday night as he claimed he held a “clear title” on the building.
“I don’t know if you do or not,” Hawkins said, “but you are behind on your payments.”
Van Nevel said he had actually been trying to sell the building since 2003, not just a few months. A Pensacola MLS real estate listing for the building was placed by the real estate agent on February 5. He said he intends to sell the building, pay off his mortgage with the town and build another building for his Helicopter Technologies on one of four other lots he owns in the industrial park.
‘What I have done since 2003 is work to bring people to Century,” he said. “It’s been advertised for months.”
“It was news to the council,” Hawkins said. “How are we going to get first option (to buy the building) when we don’t know it’s all over the internet?”
“It sounds crooked to me,” Hawkins added.
“You are trying to damage my business,” Van Nevel said to Hawkins. “You are trying to boot me out of town.” Van Nevel accused Hawkins of going to the fire department in an attempt to get the fire marshal to fine or close the business. Hawkins denied the allegation.
“The thing that was most damaging was…when you said the asking price was too high,” Van Nevel said of a Hawkins interview with a television station.
“I think you are adding to what I said,” Hawkins said. “Do you want me to get the tape?”
“I said it looked crooked, and it is crooked,” Hawkins said, escalating the argument between the two men.
“You are corrupt. I will prove it. You have an ulterior motive to boot me,” Van Nevel said. “There will be an investigation.”
“Bring it on,” Hawkins said.
Speakers addressing the Century Council are allowed three minutes. The council voted after Van Nevel’s first three minutes to allow him three additional minutes. His time ran out after the argument with Hawkins, and he we was not allowed to continue.
“He doesn’t have a deal until somebody offers to buy it (the building),” Mayor Freddie McCall said. At that point, the mayor said the town would have the first option to purchase the building.
Later in the council meeting, after Van Nevel had left the building, the council discussed his claim about a “clear title” on the building.
“I think I have a very clear understanding on that,” Council President Ann Brooks said. She said he may hold a deed to the property, but he does not hold a “clear title” because he has not paid off his mortgage to the town.
In fact, he had fallen behind on the mortgage payments. A new agreement was made between Helicopter Technologies and the Town of Century. Under that agreement, Van Nevel was to make double payments in order to bring the mortgage current.
“He was making the two payments, but then the FAA came in, broke out his windows and took all of his paperwork,” McCall said of a federal raid on Helicopter Technologies in early January. “He could not make the double payments then, but we have a new agreement.” Van Nevel, according to Town Clerk Dorothy Sims, is current on his payments to the town under that new agreement.
Pictured above: Georges Van Nevel addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Got A Little Extra Time? Molino Ball Tourney Needs Volunteers
June 3, 2008
A huge 39 team softball tournament is coming to Molino’s Don Sutton Park, and volunteers are needed.
The tournament will take place June 6-13. The Molino Recreation Association needs volunteers to help park cars, collect the $2 entry fee, prep fields between games, work the concession stand, and various other things.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Arty at trigger@frontiernet.net or by phone at 516-2674.
The money raised by the tournament goes to help the entire park, not just the softball teams.
Town Cuts $3,000 Sewer Bill, But Woman Will Still Have To Pay Up
June 3, 2008
The Town of Century will greatly reduce a Century woman’s $3,000 bill, but only because they have to do so. And she’ll still have to pay up all the town can collect.
When Leola Robinson placed a mobile home on property she owns in the 7500 block of Williams Street, she did not connect the trailer to the town’s sewer system. The town billed her each month for the minimum sewage usage charge, and that bill reach about $3,000 by the time the issue came before the town council about a month ago.
Council President Ann Brooks read two town ordinances Monday that indicate that every property owner in the town must connect any structure to the town’s sewer service within three months. If not, the ordinances say the town can charge the property owner a minimum monthly fee and enter the person’s property to connect the service. The ordinances also prohibit septic tanks in the town unless approved by the health department and the council.
“I feel like I was elected to uphold those laws,” Brooks said.
Mayor Freddie McCall said the most the town could collect from Robinson would be charges from the past four years….about $624.
Council member Henry Hawkins said he felt like the council was “barking up the wrong tree” trying to collect from Robinson because the trailer is rented out. “My contention is that we are billing the wrong person.”
But Brooks pointed out the ordinance specifically says “property owners” are responsible for the sewage connection.
“It is still partially our error,” councilman Gary Riley said, since the ordinance stipulates that the town will make the sewage connection at the owner’s expense if the owner does not hire a private plumber.”We are not really forgiving her for anything. “I’m just willing to wipe the slate clean.”
Brooks recommend that the council bill Robinson the $624 and install a sewage tap at her driveway. She would be required, Brooks said, to connect to the sewage tap in a reasonable amount of time. Her recommendation passed on 3-2 vote, with Riley and Hawkins voting against it.
Also at Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting, McCall presented a request from Flomaton for a $1,000 contribution to help fund a July 4 fireworks program in Flomaton. The council took no action on the request after they were unable to locate the funds as being allocated in the annual budget.
In other business Monday night, the Century Town Council:
- Approved a recommendation by accountant Robert Hudson to require department heads to stick to their budgets or get prior approval from the council before going over budget. Department heads will receive a balance sheet for their departments in the next few days along with a memo outlining the new policy.
- Approved $600 in airfare for Brooks to attend classes for municipal officers in Sarasota, Florida. The council had previously approved the conference, but Brooks requested to fly, indicating that it would not be much more expensive that $4 a gallon gas to make the 1,100 round trip drive. Driving would have also required the town to pay for one more additional night in a hotel for Brooks.
- Announced that a military honor wall would be dedicated at 10:00 a.m. on July 4. The wall is located at Roadside Park.
- Heard from Hawkins, who said information printed recently in the Pensacola News Journal about a $1.78 million loan check from the USDA for infrastructure improvements. The check was ceremonial because the town has not actually entered into the loan agreement, but the Pensacola News Journal reported that the town had received the money, Hawkins said. “We need to get this corrected.”
Headed To Atmore? Somebody Might Be Watching From Up Above
June 3, 2008
If you head to nearby Atmore, Alabama, and feel like somebody is watching you, you might just be right.
Atmore Police officers will soon be able to view live feeds from new surveillance equipment that has been installed at major intersections all over town, according to Public Safety Director Glenn Carlee.
The department received a $158,000 grant from the Office of Justice Programs, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant was awarded in August 2006.
Motomesh Camera Systems are being installed at critical points throughout the city along public thoroughfares. Police officers will soon be able to view the video from their patrol cars with wireless broadband connections.
According to the Web site http://motomesh.motqisv.com/, “Motorola’s mesh networking technology enables users to wirelessly access critical broadband applications seamlessly- anytime, and anywhere from and between fixed, portable and mobile devices.”
Carlee said that the cameras would not invade private property and would be for security purposes only. They are not traffic cameras, but are surveillance cameras used for solving burglary and other criminal cases.
“We will be able to go back to the video from a certain day and view the scene,” Carlee explained.
Photos and story courtesy AtmoreNews.com
Allied Waste Wants To Feed The Entire Town of Century, Council Does Not Accept Invitation
June 3, 2008
Allied Waste offered to throw a party for the town of Century, but the town did not accept the invitation.
Mayor Freddie McCall told the town council Monday night that Allied Waste had offered to hold a picnic for the entire town and feed everyone jambalaya on July 5. The mayor asked the council to approve renting a tent for the event and purchasing items like catfish and hushpuppies to accompany the jambalya.
“I think it is a great gesture,” McCall said of Allied’s offer. Allied provides waste pickup on a contract basis in the town.
“I think that’s a good gesture, but are they working with us on the bills,” Council President Ann Brooks asked. The town has not paid an Allied Waste bill since October, according to Town Clerk Dorothy Sims, because every bill the town has received from Allied has been grossly incorrect.
“They billed us for all the businesses,” Sims said. Allied’s agreement with the town says that Allied will bill each individual business in the town for waste service. “We let them know that we are not going to pay them until they get it straight.”
“They haven’t picked up garbage on Old Flomaton Road in a week. I’d like to see them do their job first,” Brooks said. “It looks like they just skipped Old Flomaton Road altogether.”
“They know they have a problem,” McCall said.
On accepting the free picnic for the town’s residents, Brooks asked “do we want to send them a message that everything is O.K. ?”
“They missed the pickups and they bill us wrong,” council member Gary Riley said. “Now they want to feed us?”
No motion was brought to the table to accept the picnic offer.
Free Classified Ads Are Here!
June 3, 2008
NorthEscambia.com has added a classified ad page, and, best of all, ads are FREE!
Ads for individuals are free, up to 60 words. They must include a phone number or email address. Items for sale, items to give away, items wanted, pets, cars, trucks, real estate, you name it…you can list it for free on our classifieds page. Ads will run for 10 days, at which time they can be renewed…for FREE!
And for limited time, business ads on our classifieds page are also FREE! Business ads are free until June 6 and will run for one week. Limit two ads per business under the free offer. All ads are subject to approval. After June 6, business ads will be available on the NorthEscambia.com Classifieds for a small charge.
To visit the NorthEscambia.com Classifieds, click here.
Memorial Board: Students, Teachers, Community Remember Mrs. Smith
June 2, 2008
Molino Park Elementary School teacher Sharon Smith died Friday, the last day of school, moments after waving goodbye to her students. It was also her retirement day.
Many NorthEscambia.com readers have emailed us comments about Mrs. Smith and the influence she has in her 36 years at Molino and Molino Park elementary schools.
If you like to add your comments to this page, email news@northescambia.com or use our contact form. To read our story from Friday afternoon about Mrs. Smith, click here.
Here is a sample of the comments we have received so far:
- One moment I feel so happy for Sharon continuing her retirement party in heaven with Dent and Reggie, and then here comes another wave of sadness about loosing such a great friend. I’ll just say thank you God for her fine example and witness, and please send Molino Park Elementary more teachers just like her. And I know that Sharon would send a special congratulations and thank you to Mrs. Barrow who shared that last walk with her. – Charles Woodward
- Mrs. Smith was my fourth grade teachers 3 years ago at Molino Park. I loved her very much. She was kind and helped us all do the best we could. After I left her class we would always email each other every week and I would send her stories that I had written and she loved to read them. When I left Molino Park and moved to middle school at Ernest Ward last year, I would have my mom stop by Molino Park every now and then so that I could say hi to Mrs. Smith and all my other teachers I had had in the past. I got to see her for one last time on Thursday, May 29 during her class party. I am sad that she is gone and will miss her very much. – Courtney S.
- I grow up with Sharon, (shag) was her nickname, in a small town called Red Bay, Florida. She was the sweetest person, she had a warm spirit, and a eautiful smile. Shag, we will always miss you. –Carolyn B.
- Mrs. Smith was my teacher many years ago and also taught my daughter, Angel, in 4th grade. She was a Godly person and wasn’t afraid to share that with others. She engouraged Angel and saw potential in all her students. As her motto goes: Always do your best, she was the BEST. She will be dearly missed and ALWAYS remembered. We love you. – Lynn and Angel Lathan
- hi my name is shelby. mrs.robinson was my teacher but mrs. smith was my teacher half of the day and i loved her so! mrs. smith signed everyone’s year book that day and she signed mine and i’m keeping it forever cuz she was a very loving teacher!! i will allways love her! and no one can ever take her place in my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – Shelby M.
- I had the pleasure of working with and being able to call Sharon Smith a dear friend for eight years. In 2000 my job at Barrineau Park Elem. became a shared position with Molino Elem. and Sharon was the one that made me feel like part of the “family at Molino”. I was fortunate enough to move to Molino Park when it opened. Sharon’s love for children and teaching was evident in all she did. I will truly miss my friend and prayer partner. – Belinda Perry
- Mrs. Smith taught our two oldest sons when she was at the old Molino school. Our daughter didn’t have her but came to know and love her when Mrs. Smith’s and Mrs. Secord’s classes were next door to each other. She was a blessing to anyone that came into her path. Now it is a Blessing knowing that she is with Jesus. – Melanie Dix
- Mrs. Smith we Love You and will miss you dearly. All our love. – The Ging Family
- On behalf of the family of Sharon Smith, we thank you and feel blessed that we got to share this awesome teacher and woman with the world. She finished her work here and due to her faithfulness in spreading the love of God to others inspite of her pain and heartache, He rewarded her by reuniting her with her husband and child. We will miss her greatly but she is happy and at peace! Thank you, Molino Family for loving her, too. – Doreatha Jackson, Deborah Long, Miranda Bethune, Eutasia Brooks
Mrs. Smith was one of those teachers that you carry in your heart for your entire life. She taught our son Adam 11 years ago and now daughter Kaitlyn this year. She will be missed by all that she touched directly and indirectly. Our hearts go out to her family. – The Kleinatlands - I went to school at Molino Park. Mrs.Smith was loving and and a heart of gold. I used to visit her a lot when I went there. I will miss her dearly just along with everybody else. One thing I always remember is that something that happens like this is in God`s plan. It is just a stepping stone in life. I will try to go to the wake. – Cheyenne Godwin
- Mrs. Smith was my fourth gade teacher last year. She encouraged me and the other students very much. I was very sad when I heard of her going, but I know she is in Heaven with her husband and son.
!!!!!! – Benjamin Linam - Mrs. Smith was my teacher. She was a loving and hard working teacher. She always said “Do your best and make no excuses”. We all are heart broken! – Allison Woodfin
- My son had Mrs. Smith when he was in the fourth grade, she was a wonderful loving person that truly cared for her students, and will be greatly missed by all. My son has many wonderful memories with Mrs. Smith and will cherish them more now then ever. She challenged him to do his best and to try what he thought to be impossible. He took her passing hard but knows that she is in Heaven with her son and husband where she is happy and healthy. I know there was a special place in Heaven just for Sharon Smith. She was Loved by all that knew her and will be missed by all of us, especially her children.
- If I could tell Mrs. Smith one more thing I would tell her THANK YOU for tutoring me and my brother Aden, and her warm and cozy hugs every day. I will always love and remember you. Love, Alliana Davis
- Nearing retirement in education myself, I can only imagine how it must feel saying goodbye for the last time. Over the years teachers adopt students and they become our own. Sharon Smith was obviously a dedicated teacher and a wonderful person. Her legacy of love is an example for us all. –Carol Hensel Moore