Byrneville’s Annual Christmas Carnival To Be Held Tonight
December 5, 2008
It’s a big deal in Byrneville tonight…Bryneville Elementary School will hold its annual Christmas Carnival and basket auction.
The carnival will features lots of fun and games from 5:00 until 7:00 these evening at the school. At 7:00, the annual Christmas basket auction will take place.
For more information, contact the school at 256-6350.
Free Music Night At Barineau Park Community Center
December 5, 2008
Tonight is music night at the Barrineau Park Community Center, with two local acts taking the stage for the free family-friendly event.
“Joyful Sounds” and the “Rowell Bluegrass Band” will perform a free concert at 7:00. The night begins at 5:00 with food and refreshments available.
This is a family-friendly event. No alcohol is permitted on the property, and no smoking is allowed in or near the building.
The concert takes place at the Barineau Park Community Center on Barineau Park School Road, about three miles west of Molino. For more information call 587-5575.
Fire Departments Dispatched To Backwoods Road Century
December 4, 2008
Fire Departments from across the area were dispatched to the 300 block of Backwoods Road at 5:25 this morning.
The caller told dispatchers that they “smelled something funny”. Fire units arriving on scene were unable to locate a fire.
The Century, Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched, along with the Flomaton Fire Department. Most units were canceled prior to their arrival.
Morgan Says No To Building $22 Million Training Facility On 684 Acres Near Molino
December 4, 2008
Sheriff-elect David Morgan is putting a stop on a $22 million deal to purchase 684 acres north of Molino near the Camp O’ the Pines for a regional police, fire and EMS training facility.
Morgan said he is not convinced that the facility is needed.
Pensacola Junior College, The PJC Foundation, Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department entered into an interlocal agreement in 2006 to purchase the land from RMS Timberlands, LLC for $3,278,400. That sale was to be closed by December 18 on the Highway 29 property.
$11 million of the total $22 million price tag for the facility was to be contributed by the sheriff’s department via the county from local option sales tax money. The other $11 million was to come from a state grant obtained by PJC.
Because Morgan wants out of the agreement, the Escambia County Commission voted 3-1 to cancel the agreement at a Wednesday meeting. Commissioner Grover Robinson cast the dissenting vote, and Chairman Marie Young was absent. The final vote to cancel the agreement will come from the commission on December 11. If the county does back out, they will pay a $200,000 penalty.
Morgan plans to meet with County Administrator Bob McLaughlin and Ed Meadows, PJC president, to discuss the project. Commissioner Gene Valentino said he hopes Morgan will change his decision so the county is not out the $200,000.
The attorney representing PJC in the deal, Tom Gilliam, said all three parties — the sheriff, the county and PJC — must be in agreement for the deal to proceed.
Plans called for the facility to being as a state-of-the-art firing range for PJC students and area law enforcement. It was to expand into a fire and emergency medical service training facility.
Morgan will take office as then new Escambia sheriff in January.
Pictured above: Sheriff-elect David Morgan. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Now That’s a Porta-Potty
December 4, 2008
Pictured above: These porta-potties on rails were spotted recently in Century. CSX Transportation is in the midst of a project to replace crossings from Century to Molino, and these portable toilets on a small railroad car are used for the workers. Here, the porta-potties were on the tracks alongside Zion Street near the Cottage Street crossing in Century. The crossing in the northernmost crossing in the state of Florida. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Christmas Parade Has New Route, North Pole Visitor; Will Raise Money For Needy Kids
December 4, 2008
The 6th Annual Molino Christmas Parade has a new route this year, a special guest from the North Pole, and a major goal.
The parade begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 13.
The parade will begin this year on Crabtree Church Road at Sunshine Hill Road and end 1.8 miles away at the Molino Ballpark. At the ballpark a quick meal and visits with the jolly old elf himself will be available.
The meal includes an Alabama Wing House barbecue sandwich, chips and a drink for $5. Bake sale goodes will also be available. And, for all the good little boys and girls, Santa Claus himself will be on hand at the ballpark for a visit and Christmas gift wish lists.
All funds raised from parade entry fees, the bake sale and the barbecue meals will benefit needy children in the Molino community, according to Sonja Luker, one of the parade organizers. The guidance counselor at Molino Park Elementary School will assist in choosing Molino area children in need of Christmas gifts.
If you or your organization would like to be in the parade, you can pre-register at Fran’s Diner, or register the day of the parade. Fees are $15 for a float or vehicle and $5 for each motorcyle, golf cart or horse. Four-wheelers and go-carts will not be allowed.
For more information, contact Sonja Luker at 232-4973 or Fran’s Diner at 587-2803.
Donations such as toys and non-perishable foods can be dropped off at Fran’s Diner.
Pictured above: Santa Claus in last year’s Molino Christmas Parade. Pictured below: The Molino Ball Park’s float in last year’s parade. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Council Makes Gas Reading Changes, Names Ballpark
December 4, 2008
The Century Town Council will be changing the date gas meters in the town are read.
Months ago, the meters were read on the 15th of each month. That was changed to the 25th of the month at a meeting several months ago.
But that has not allowed sufficient time for the information to be entered into the billing system, Mayor Freddie McCall said. On a recommendation by council member Gary Riley, the meter reading date will be changed to the 18th of the month.
In other business, the Century Town Council:
- voted to name the little league ballpark on Church Street the “Lloyd Barrow Ballpark”. Barrow was instrumental in building the park, even contributing his own money for construction. He is also a long-time little league coach. He is currently suffering from medical problems that no longer allow him to coach.
- voted to allow the Century Branch Library to use the council chamber at town hall for a story time on December 18. Over 160 children attended the library’s Christmas story time last year, according to council member and library employee Nadine McCaw. The children were not able to safely or comfortably fit into the library for the story time portion of the event.
County Considers Gas Tax To Fund ECAT Mass Transit
December 4, 2008
The Escambia County Commission is considering adding a gasoline tax to keep Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) buses on the road.
The county currently kicks in about $2.7 million of ECAT’s annual $7.6 million budget. But with an rising number of passengers and a potential decrease in state and federal funding, ECAT officials are looking for more dollars.
Commissioner Grover Robinson said the gas tax would be a viable option. Commissioner Gene Valentino concurred, saying that he does not want to pull money from the general fund for ECAT.
The commission will consider the gas tax at a future meeting.
Since January 2008, ridership on ECAT’s mass transit buses has increased by 25 percent.
Fire Departments Respond To Electrical Fire In Bratt
December 3, 2008
Fire units from across the area were dispatched to a reported the smell of an electrical fire in the 4700 block of Hall Road in Bratt about 8:55 Wednesday morning.
The first units on the scene reported no smoke or flames. Firefighters discovered a burnt electrical outlet inside the one story brick home.
There was no major damage reported, and there were no injuries.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call. The McDavid and Molino stations were dispatched, but they were canceled prior to their arrival.
Pictured above: Firefighters responded to an electrical fire call on Hall Road in Bratt Wednesday morning. Pictured below: A firefighter enters the home to investigate. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Set To Send Trash To Alabama To Avoid Higher Fees In Florida
December 3, 2008
The Town of Century is set to approve an ordinance to allow Allied Waste to dump Century’s trash out of state rather than at Escambia County’s landfill, avoiding the county’s higher tipping fees.
Residential and commercial waste in Century is currently collected by Allied Waste under a franchise agreement with the town. It is trucked to Escambia County’s Perdido landfill. If the town passes the ordinance, Allied would be allowed to take Century’s trash across state lines to the Timberland Landfill near Brewton. Allied currently pays so-called tipping fees to dump the trash at the county landfill. The Timberland landfill is owned by the waste company, so dumping there is a cheaper option for them.
“The bottom line is that we will be saving our residents $1.40 a month,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “We’ve got the option to say where our solid waste goes if it saves our people money.”
Escambia County filed a $1.3 million lawsuit on November 16 of last year against Allied over commercial tipping fees, a charge per ton for waste dumped at the county’s Perdido landfill. The county passed an ordinance that requires all solid waste collected in the county to be dumped at Escambia County’s landfill.
But McCall said Century’s town attorney Matt Dannheisser drafted the ordinance under a loophole he found in the state’s home rule act. That loophole, McCall said, will allow Allied to haul Century’s trash out of the county.
Before the ordinance is approved, the town must hold two public hearings. The date for the those hearings will be announced soon.