Search Called Off For Missing Plane
August 3, 2008
Three days after an emergency “Mayday” was heard from an aircraft somewhere in the Mobile/Pensacola area, the Civil Air Patrol called off their search on Saturday.
The “Mayday” and emergency locator beacon was hear by multiple aircraft pilots in the area about 3:47 Wednesday afternoon. More than 50 Civil Air Patrol volunteers had put over 450 man hours in the search by early Friday, but nothing had been found.
“No evidence of a specific aircraft in distress has been found and all aircraft with registration numbers that matched the initial distress call have been contacted or accounted for,” according to a civil air patrol press release.
The Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol have focused their efforts on Baldwin County. They say the plane could have gone down anywhere in the area.Nothing has been heard since on radio frequency that is used for emergency location transponders, nor has there been any report of a missing aircraft of pilot.
Miller: Congress Not Working To Reduce Your Gas Prices
August 3, 2008
By Congressman Jeff Miller for NorthEscambia.com
As the Congress wraps up its final week in session until September, I am sad to report to you that the Democratic leadership of this Congress is not working for the American people to reduce gas prices. Speaker Pelosi obviously believes that legislation such as House Resolution 1143, which supports the goals and ideals of the Apple Crunch and the nation’s domestic apple industry, is more important than voting on offshore drilling.
Adding insult to injury, the Democrats forced us to vote on going home without lowering your gas prices. I voted against the leadership of the “do nothing” Congress and against allowing Congress to adjourn for the summer without lowering your gas prices. Unfortunately, the vote was 213-212.
Speaker Pelosi was recently quoted as saying she “wanted to save the planet.” To that end, my colleagues and I signed a letter to the Speaker asking her to celebrate “American Energy Freedom Day on October 1, 2008” because we believe reducing dependence on foreign oil will help America , and the planet.
I’ve attached an excerpt below of our letter to Speaker Pelosi:
“It is our hope that all Democrats and all Republicans can stand together to celebrate American Energy Freedom Day on October 1, 2008. On that day, the current prohibitions on oil and gas leasing on most of the Outer Continental Shelf and on oil shale leasing on federal lands will expire, unless Congress acts to extend them. We strongly encourage you to allow the expiration of these prohibitions on American energy exploration and production, as scheduled under current law, and will actively oppose any attempt to extend them.”
“When these prohibitions expire on October 1, 2008, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008 (Public Law 110-161), all Americans will benefit, for vast amounts of American petroleum and natural gas will immediately become available for leasing activities. Estimates from the Minerals Management Service and the Bureau of Land Management indicate that there are upwards of 18 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil on the currently off-limit areas of the Outer Continental Shelf, as well as more than 55 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Estimates of American oil shale vary widely but range from the hundreds of billions of barrels to trillions of barrels of oil.”
During a recent “teletownhall” I conducted a survey and the overwhelming majority, eighty-five percent, told me that they supported offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico . I continue to support drilling in the Gulf and will work for you to make this happen. I can’t think of many things more important than this and assure you that although the Democrats will be on vacation this summer, I will be traveling throughout Northwest Florida listening to your ideas and telling you what I’m doing to address our energy needs.
I’m Jeff Miller and that’s what I think, what do you think? Email me through my website at www.house.gov/jeffmiller
Letter To The Editor: Thanks For Helping The Elderly
August 3, 2008
As part of an assignment for class that she is taking, Mae Hildreth was tasked with writing an editorial letter to a local newspaper. Her letter to the editor is below. Hildreth is the activities director at Century Care Center.
Letter to the Editor
I would like to express my opinion on an issue concerning the elderly.
I work at a local nursing facility.
Being located in a small, rural community is a blessing. The cache of volunteers who make themselves available to us, adds enrichment to our residents’ lives in untold ways.
There are gifted performers, people available to do arts and crafts, those who help with our wild parties, donate time and labor, and of course the churches who bring spiritual medicine to those who can’t go to church. They are showered with love and gifts.
The majority of those who contribute do so for the blessing it brings themselves, and the residents of our facility. I want to send a great big THANK YOU! to all those wonderful and giving people. I know they will be blessed.
Mae S. Hildreth
Two Churches To Hold Homecoming Services Today; Another Celebrates 100 Years
August 3, 2008
Two area churches will celebrate their annual homecoming services today while another church celebrates 100 years today.
Homecoming services will be held at 10:30 at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Jerry Peebles.
The Faith Bible Baptist Church in Bluff Springs will celebrate its 32nd homecoming today. The day begins with Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11. The day will also kick off a revival meeting for the church, with Evangelist Joe Bryant. Revival services will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
The Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church on Molino Road will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a special service at 10:30 this morning.
Last Day Of Alabama Sales Tax Holiday
August 3, 2008
A three day sales tax holiday wraps up today in Alabama, but the savings won’t be as great in Escambia County, Alabama, as many other Alabama counties. And it will be even less in Atmore.
The sales tax holiday, which runs through tonight at midnight, exempts many back to school purchases like school supplies and clothing. The state’s holiday removes 4 percent in sales tax from exempt goods. But it does not remove county and city tax, unless that local county or city has agreed to participate.
Unlike most Alabama counties, Escambia County did not approved the tax holiday. A total of 55 of Alabama’s 67 counties are participating.
Atmore did not choose to participate in the sales tax holiday. A total of 189 cities in Alabama are participating.
The towns of Flomaton, Brewton and East Brewton will give their shoppers a break from city tax this weekend on exempt back to school purchases.
In general, the following items are exempt during the Alabama sales tax holiday this weekend:
- Clothing that is priced at $100 or less
- School supplies priced at $50 or less
- Books priced at $30 or less
- Textbooks priced at $30 or less
- Computers and computer equipment priced at $750 or less
For a more complete, click here for a pdf from the Alabama Department of Revenue.
ECUA District 5: Incumbent’s Money 10 To 1 Over Challenger
August 2, 2008
The race for the District 5 seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is has one candidate’s finances leading his challenger 10 to 1, but it is still an interesting race.
It is Barry Tweedie’s third attempt for the seat on the utilities board. He first ran for the position in 2000 when incumbent Larry Walker ran for the Escambia County Commission. He lost to Robert Tegenkamp.
In 2004, Tweedie ran again against Tegenkamp, but both men lost to Walker.
Now, in 2008, Tegenkamp is in the race for Pete Gindl’s District 5 place on the Escambia County School Board.Tweedie is once again facing Walker for the seat on the board that governs, as the name implies, utilities in Escambia County. South of 10 Mile Road, ECUA provides trash service. They also provide water and sewer service for those residents as well.
In North Escambia, ECUA is reponsible for the trash franchise with Allied Waste, a franchise agreement that expires in 2010…in the middle of the term for whichever man wins. Walker has tried several times during his tenure to give Allied the boot and end the franchise early.
Through July 18, the last required reporting period, Walker had raised $10,505. Tweedie’s total came in at just $1,100. Of that $1,100, $1,000 was a loan from Tweedie himself. The other $100 was a single campaign donation from one supporter.
It is worth noting that Walker did contribute to his own campaign as well, but it was just $520. The rest of his contributions have been from 50 supporters in amounts ranging from just $20 to the legal maximum of $500.
On July 18, Walker had a balance of $6,383.58 in his campaign account. He had spent $4,121.42 on his campaign, mostly for miscellanous promotional materials like signs, coffee mugs, and t-shirts.
Tweedie had spent $353 on his campaign as of July 18, giving him a $747 balance. His money went toward signs, printed handouts, and a ballfield banner.
Walker, who has served a total of four terms on the ECUA, will face Tweedie on primary election day, August 26.
Book Signing Held
August 2, 2008
A book signing was held Friday for the The Flomaton Centennial Scrapbook at the Escambia County Bank.
“It’s what its name implies: a scrapbook mixture of topics presented in pictures, text and old newspaper clippings,” said author Jerry Simmons.
Compiled by Simmons, the book has a history of Flomaton’s first 100 years and 346 plus pages with pictures. “But it’s not a history book,” he said. “It’s not a picture book.”
The book also contains information and pictures from South Flomaton on the Florida side. South Flomaton became Century in 1980.
“It depicts Flomaton as a tiny little settlement which grew because of the railroad. Due to the nature of its people and the people of the surrounding area it has lasted these 100 hundred years even though the importance of the railroad to its existence has diminished,” Simmons said.
The book can be purchased for $40 at the Escambia County Bank in Flomaton.
It can also be purchased through the Escambia County Historical Society with a portion of the sales price going toward the society’s scholarship fund. To order, call Simmons at (251) 765-2629 or (251)867-7332. Or, stop by the Thomas E. McMillan Museum at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
PDF samples of the book may be found at http://www.escohis.org/flcent/flc_ent_preview.html
Pictured above: Members of the Centennial Book Committee at the Escambia County Bank Friday were (standing, L-R) Lunette Weaver Ptomey, Dot Weaver Ptomey, Beverly Simpson and Jerry Fisher. Seated is Jerry Simmons. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Big “R” Drive-In located in South Flomaton (present day Century) in 1962.. It later became Garrett’s Drive-In, pictured bottom in 1970. Today, it is the Sandwich Deli in Century. Pictures from the Flomaton Centennial Scrapbook.
Reward Now Offered For Info On Jail Escapees
August 2, 2008
It’s been a week since two men escaped from the Santa Rosa County Jail. They are still on the run, and Crimestoppers is now offering cash for information that leads to their capture.
Santa Rosa Crimestoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to the arrest of either man.
The first escapee is Ricky Dale Spears, 43. He was in the county jail on charges that included kidnapping and aggravated battery. The second is David Chappell Dixon, 20, whois was awaiting trial on armed robbery, aggravated battery and escape charges.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department launch a massive search last weekend after the two were discovered missing. Authorities say they escaped due to a design flaw in the jail that had a 12 inch by 12 inch opening that the two crawled through to the roof.
Anyone with information on the two can call Crimestoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
Pictured above: Santa Rosa Jail escapees David Dixon (left) and Ricky Spears. Submitted photos.
Minor Injuries In Gravel Truck, Van Accident
August 1, 2008
A wreck involving a van and gravel truck in Century left one person with minor injuries Friday morning.
The accident happened about 11:30 on North Century Boulevard just north of East Highway 4, in front of the Panhandle Restaurant.
One person in the van was treated for minor injuries.
The front of the tractor trailer rig struck the driver’s front corner of the van. The van remained across the northbound lanes of Highway 29, slowing traffic for about a half an hour. The truck driver pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant.
It was raining at the time of the accident; however, it was not immediately clear if the rain contributed to the cause of the accident.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Century Volunteer Fire Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, Escambia County EMS and the FHP all responded to the accident.
Pictured above: NorthEscambia.com was there as the first fire truck arrived on scene. Pictured below (scroll down): Emergency personnel check the driver and passenger of the van. Picture bottom: The front of the truck that struck the van. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lots Of Area People Have Money Waiting For Them; Local Governments Too
August 1, 2008
You may have money waiting for you and not even know it. Hundreds of North Escambia residents do, as do most area governments.
The Florida Department of Financial Services holds unclaimed accounts valued at more than $1 billion, mostly from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings. Unclaimed Property also includes tangible property such as jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from safe deposit boxes. But most of the time, it is good old American cash (well, really checks).
In spending just a few minutes searching the site, it is easy to see that hundreds of North Escambia residents are owed money. Money that they can claim simply by asking for it.
For some random examples, there are 40 people in the Century zip code with a last name beginning with “S’ that have money for the asking. Names like Smith, Stewart, and Stallworth. There are 13 people with last names that being with “M” in the Molino zip code with unclaimed money…people with last names like Miller, Milstead and Morgan. In the McDavid zip code, 21 people with last names that start with “B” have unclaimed funds. There are last names like Blanton, Burkett and Burgess on the list.
How do you find out if you have unclaimed money waiting for you in Florida? It’s a free and simple process. Visit www.fltreasurehunt.org and search for your name. Then you fill out a few simple forms to claim your money. The whole process is free; there are no fees involved.
If you are an Alabama resident, or believe you might have unclaimed property in Alabama, you can visit the Alabama State Treasurer’s website.
NorthEscambia.com also discovered that many local governments have funds owed to them that they have not claimed. The Town of Century, Escambia County, the Escambia Sheriff’s Department, the Walnut Hill and Century volunteer fire departments and even the Byrneville Community Center all have unclaimed property.
Here’s a partial list of government entities around the area with unclaimed property being held by the State of Florida:
- Town of Century, cash from Axa Saaxa Financial, Inc.
- Town of Century, cash in lieu of fraction share from Axa Saaxa Financial, Inc.
- Town of Century, unexchanged stock of successor from Axa Saaxa Financial, Inc.
- Town of Century, other certificates of stock from Axa Saaxa Financial, Inc.
- Escambia County, check from Ford Motor Credit Co.
- Escambia County, refund from American Family Life Assurance Co.
- Escambia County, miscellaneous checks from Ford Motor Credit Co.
- Escambia Sheriff’s Department, accounts payable from Hilton Hotels
- Escambia County Clerk, cashier’s check from Bank of New Orleans
- Escambia County Clerk, multiple expense checks from American General Finance
- Escambia County Tax Collector, accounts payable from ADT Security
- Escambia County, official checks from Regions Bank
- Escambia County Jail, refunds from Dept. Of Attorney General
- Escambia County, vendor checks from International City/County Mgmt. Association
- Escambia County One Stop, vendor check from T-Mobile
- Escambia County Road Bonds, bearer bond interest from State Board of Administration
- Escambia County Schools, amount due under policy from comptroller
- Escambia County Schools, multiple refunds from West Florida Regional Medical Center
- Escambia County Schools, accounts payable from Sacred Heart Hospital
- Escambia County Sheriff, warrants (checks) from the judicial administration
- Escambia County Sheriff, accounts payable from AT&T Wireless
- Escambia County Tax Collector, vendor checks from Wayne Dalton
- Escambia County Tax Collector, vendor checks from Ford Motor Credit
- Escambia County Tax Collector, accounts payable from Illinois Tools Works
- Escambia County Tax Collector, official checks from Barnett Bank
- Escambia County Tax Collector, cashier’s check from Whitney Bank of New Orleans
- Escambia County Tax Collector, vendor check from Escambia County Clerk of Court
- Escambia County Tax Collector, official checks from Suntrust Mortgage
- Escambia County Tax Collector, official checks from Cellco Partnership
- Escambia County Tax Collector, checks written off from Riechold Chemical
- Escambia County Tax Collector, cashier’s checks from Beach Community Bank
- Escambia County Utilities Authority, vendor checks from National Fire Protection
- Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, refund from Continental Insurance
- Century Volunteer Fire Department, credit checks from Insurance Co. of North America
- Byrneville Community Center, checks from Escambia County Clerk of Circuit Court