Fay Related Cancellations, Notices
August 23, 2008
(Updated 2:50 p.m.) NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated with any cancellations or other notices related to North Escambia and Tropical Storm Fay. If your group, business, church or organization would like to make the public aware of any cancellations or changes due to Tropical Storm Fay, email news@northescambia.com.
The following cancellations or event changes have been announced:
- The Century Branch Library closed early at 1:00 Saturday afternoon.
- Several inbound and outbound flights have been canceled at Pensacola Regional Airport.
- The Panhandle Equine Rescue meeting that was scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 at Fran’s Country Grill in Molino has been postponed until a later date.
- Pensacola Little Theatre is postponing its 2008 Crystal Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Party, which was to take place on Saturday, August 23.The Crystal Awards Ceremony and Reception will now take place on Sunday, August 31, beginning at 2:30pm, at the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 South Jefferson Street.
- Northwest Florida Defensive Pistols Shooters Inc. has canceled Saturday’s IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) match at the Escambia River Muzzle Loader’s shooting range. The next match is scheduled for the 3rd Sunday in September.
- ECAT: All mass transit services will operate as scheduled until further notice, including the bus to and from Century, except for: Normal bus service (route 61) to and from Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach will operate until 8:00 p.m. Saturday. The Beach Trolley Service on Pensacola Beach will not operate Saturday or Sunday.
- UWF plans to remain open through the weekend. Classes will be held as scheduled on Monday.
Getting Ready For Fay
August 23, 2008
Pictured above: Part of the school district’s preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Fay was in the installation of storm shutters at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo.
If you have photos related to Fay that you’d like to share, email them news@northescambia.com
Sandbags Available Saturday In North Escambia
August 23, 2008
Escambia County will provide sandbags to residents that need them beginning Saturday in North Escambia and other locations in the county.
Sandbags and sand will be available beginning at 7:00 a.m. Saturday at:
- Century Road Camp, 4901 Camp Road, near Bratt
- Old Molino School, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino
- Road Department, 601 N. Highway 297-A, Cantonment
- Turkey Farm Square, corner of Madrid & Plaza in Cantonment
- John R. Jones Athletic Park, 555 E. Nine Mile Road
- Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway
- Brent Ballpark, 4711 N “W” Street
- Baars Field, 13001 Sorrento Road
There is a limit of 25 bags per family. Residents should bring their own shovels and are responsible for filling their own bags with sand.
Bags and sand will also be available at the Road Department location only on Friday afternoon until 4:00.
One Shelter To Open In Escambia
August 23, 2008
The American Red Cross will open a shelter at Pensacola High School at 1:00 this afternoon.
A nurse will be on duty for special needs patients.
Pensacola High School is located at 500 West Maxwell Street, Pensacola.
Local State Of Emergency Declared
August 23, 2008
Escambia County has declared a local state of emergency in advance of Tropical Storm Fay.
The Escambia County Commission made the declaration in an emergency meeting this morning at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center. The declaration allows the county to make preparations in advance of and during the storm, and issue local declarations as needed. The declaration also served to partially activate the county’s Emergency Operations Center. That may be upgraded to a full activation of the EOC later today.
The county has not opened any shelters or ordered any evacuations at this time. The primary threat from Fay, the county says, will be coastal, lowland and river flooding.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to keep you updated on Fay throughout the weekend.
If your business, church, organization or other group has a closure or schedule change due to the storm, email news@northescambia.com so we can pass that information along.
Fire Departments Respond To Two Area Schools Friday Morning
August 23, 2008
Fire departments were dispatched to fire alarms at two North Escambia schools Friday. Both calls were false alarms.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched just before 11:30 to Bratt Elementary School in the 5700 block of North Highway 99. They were canceled before they arrived at the school. A smoke detector in the cafeteria had been accidently set off.
The Century Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a fire alarm at Byrneville Elementary School in the 1600 block of Byrneville Road earlier in the morning. When firefighters arrived, they discovered that the school was conducting an ordinary fire drill.
Funeral Held For Former Flomaton Player
August 23, 2008
Funeral services were held Saturday for a former Flomaton football player that passed away following football practice last week at a Montgomery college.
Huntington freshman Sam Henry Collins, Jr., 18, died August 15 after being taken to a Montgomery hospital following his collapse at the college’s second football practice of the year.
Collins graduated from Flomaton High School this past spring. He was a defensive lineman for the Hurricanes, and he was an Alabama Class 2A All-State player that was 6 foot 1, 240 pounds.
Funeral services for Collins were held Saturday morning with Rev. John Evangelistia and Rev. Glenn McCall officiating. Interment followed in Pollard Cemetery.
Collins is survived by his parents, Sam Henry Collins, Sr., and Marion Yvonne Monroe Collins of Pollard; one brother, Sam Henry Hooker of Huntsville, Ala.; three sisters, Martha Collins of Pollard, Jeanna Collins Pierre of Atlanta, Ga., and Samantha Boykins of Mobile; and an adopted grandmother, Lynn Hudson. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Flomaton.
Pallbearers were members of the Flomaton High School football team.
Submitted photos by Michael Newton.
Saturday Last Day For Early Voting
August 23, 2008
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford confirmed that the county’s four early voting locations will be open Saturday, as previously scheduled, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Although no changes to the regular Election Day schedule for Tuesday are anticipated, given the uncertainty of the weather situation early next week, voters are encouraged to take advantage of early voting on Saturday.
The sites for early voting are:
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Tyron Branch Library, 5740 North 9th Avenue
On Election Day, Tuesday, August 26th, the polls will be open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm. For further information on absentee ballots, sample ballots, precincts and polling locations, please contact the elections office at (850) 595-3900, or visit their website at www.EscambiaVotes.com.
District 5 Commission Republican Candidates Talk Consolidated Government
August 22, 2008
The four Republican candidates for Escambia County Commission District 5 faced the cameras Thursday night for a political forum on WSRE public television. One hot topic was the consolidation of county government with the City of Pensacola.
“I think in order to save money, it is a very viable option that needs to be looked at in the future,” candidate Randall McCrackin said. He added that if Escambia County and Pensacola could put aside some differences, he thinks the consolidated government would be viable.
“Working with the City of Pensacola would be great in certain areas,” Packy Mitchell said. “I think it would be a great thing to do, if it serves as a cost savings to the public.”
“There are concerns in District 5 about a centralized government being able to provide adequate services to the north end,” Chris Washler said, “because the north end issues are drastically different than what you find down in Pensacola.” He added that both governments need to be more efficient before consolidation talks proceed, and only then should it be seriously considered.
“There’s been an open dialog between us (the county commission) and the city; we’ve built a good relationship,” incumbent Kevin White said. “We are going in the right direction. Consolidating the two governments, I think, is a way off. There’s a lot of issues to work through to make that happen.” He said discussion is currently underway between the county and Pensacola to consolidate building inspections and parks and recreation.
One issue where the four Republican candidates agreed was the need for a county economic development agency. Currently, the county contributes $400,000 plus per year to the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce to conduct economic development in Escambia County. All four men agreed that using the Pensacola Chamber for Escambia County economic development was not the best option for the county.
Questions for the Rally 2008 forum on WSRE were prepared by League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area and were submitted from the community. You can watch the Rally 2008 online at wsre.org. Thursday night’s show is expected to be posted in the next few days. The Republican Primary Election is next Tuesday.
Editor’s note: It is worth noting that in another article here on NorthEscambia.com, you will read comments about Century’s economy from the Democratic candidates for District 5 commission, while there are no such comments from the Republicans. The Republicans were not asked for their comments on Century in the questions prepared by the League Of Women Voters.
Pictured below: (L-R top) Randall McCrackin, Packy Mitchell, (L-R bottom) Chris Washler and Kevin White on WSRE Thursday night. Click to enlarge. Courtesy WSRE.
Democratic Commission Candidates Discuss Century’s Economy
August 22, 2008
Century’s economy was a topic of discussion last night on WSRE public television as the two Democratic candidates for Escambia County Commission took part in a political forum.
“To start with, we need more effective police patrols in Century,” candidate Jim Barnett said. “We need to do everything we can to bring jobs to Century.”
Barnett also sees a solution to Century’s economic woes by using public transportation to get Century residents to jobs at places like International Paper, Solutia and the county’s new sewage treatment plant when it opens.
“Possibly we could give priority jobs to people in Century and have them ride the ECAT bus to the new sewage plant being built in Cantonment,”Barnett said. “But people in Century need help right now.”
John Hartman said Century has taken its own steps toward economic development with things like establishing enterprise zones.
“Where we need to help Century is with our expertise on economic development,” Hartman said.
He added that the completion of the four lane widening of Highway 113 in Alabama will complete the four lane corridor from the interstate to the beach, an improvement that Century can capitalize on.
“That’s a good opportunity for Century to develop something along the roads,” he said.
The two candidates also addressed having one consolidated government for the Century, Pensacola and the county.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people in District 5, and they are not for consolidating government with the city,” Jim Barnett said. “They already feel like they have been left out in the cold too long.
“Political consolidation, it kind of leaves people feeling like they may be lacking in the representation that they receive,” John Hartman said.
But both men agreed that consolidating some services, like vehicle maintenance and human resources, might be a good thing.
Questions for the Rally 2008 forum on WSRE were prepared by League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area and were submitted from the community. You can watch the Rally 2008 online at wsre.org. Thursday night’s show is expected to be posted in the next few days. The Democratic Primary Election is next Tuesday.
Pictured below: (L-R) Jim Barnett and John Hartmanon WSRE Thursday night. Click to enlarge. Courtesy WSRE.
