Power Companies Are Ready For Tropical Storm Claudette
August 16, 2009
If your power goes out because of Tropical Storm Claudette, the four power companies that serve the area say that they are prepared to restore your power as soon as possible.
“Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. is ready to respond should Tropical Storm Claudette cause damage to the EREC power system,” Sabrina Owens, EREC spokesperson, said Sunday afternoon. EREC serves about 10,000 of electric customers in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Other customers in the North Escambia area are served by Gulf Power, Alabama Power and Southern Pine Electric Cooperative.
The following numbers can be used to report outages:
- EREC: 1-877-OUT-EREC or 1-877-688-3732.
- Gulf Power: 1-800-487-6937
- Alabama Power: 1-800-888-2726
- Southern Pine: 1-866-867-5415
And remember that if the power is out, you can still access NorthEscambia.com on most cell phones at www.NorthEscambia.com
Farm Bureau Seeking Youth Speech Contest Participants
August 16, 2009
The Escambia County Farm Bureau is looking for youth 14 to 18 to participate in a youth speech contest to be held September 1 in Molino.
“What challenges will affect the sustainability of Florida agriculture for the future?” will be the contest topic. The event will take place September 1 at 4 p.m. at the Escambia County Farm Bureau office at 153 Highway 97 in Molino. Contestants must be residents of Escambia County and must perform their five minute speech. Applications are due by noon on August 28. For an application, click here.
For more information, contact Libbie Johnson, Escambia County Extension Services, at 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu.
NWE Meeting Today: Officers, Board Members To Be Named
August 16, 2009
Northwest Escambia Little League Baseball will hold their monthly meeting Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The 2009-2010 season nomination and election of the board of directors and officers will be held at this meeting. Anyone interested in becoming an officer or board member must attend. The public is welcome. More info? Call (850) 327-6722.
High Tech Jail On Wheels: Sheriff’s Office Using New Paddy Wagons
August 16, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has two new paddy wagons capable of transporting up to 14 suspects each to jail.
The two paddy wagons, also known as “Mobile Booking and Transportation” vehicles, have a laptop computer that can be used to remotely process a suspects jail booking paperwork. The vehicles can also be configured to segregate male prisoners from females, or adults from juveniles.
The sheriff’s department purchased two of the vehicles to be able to more efficiently transport prisoners, according to Lt. Gary Montee.
When the transport vehicle is used, the arresting deputy will not longer be required to drive a suspect to the jail — putting the deputy back on patrol quicker.
“They are going to keep patrol officers on the street more,” Montee said. “All the paperwork is finished in the unit with the laptop, and the transport time from the arrest to the jail is saved for the deputy.”
Montee could not say when the new paddy wagons might be used in North Escambia, but added that they would be especially valuable because they could save a North Escambia deputy a long round tip to the jail in Pensacola.
Pictured above:One of the new Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Mobile Booking and Transport” paddy wagons outside of the Escambia County Jail. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Not Just For Books: A World Of Services Awaits At The Library
August 16, 2009
Jillian Thorton of Bluff Springs was happy on a recent afternoon, reading a good book by a window in the Century Branch Library. Meanwhile, sister Jenna Thornton and her friend Leah Fischer were on the computer, and brother Chance Thornton was busy searching the shelves for a good book. It was a break from a hot summer afternoon.
The Thorntons are not alone; the Century Branch Library has seen a surge in traffic the past few months, with over 2,000 individuals using the library in July.
The library offers many free items and services beyond just books that people find useful, especially in the down economy, Librarian Patricia Rigel said.
“Like our movies,” she said. “We have hundreds of movies, including the latest releases.” The library’s movie collection is divided into two sections — one for children and one for adults.
The Century Branch Library has computers in the children’s area, and computers with Internet access in another room.
“More and more people are using the computers,” Rigel said. “With the bad economy, more people are using the computers to look for a job.” She said 400 people used the library computers during July.
“Libraries do better when the economy is down,” she said. “People find that they library offers so many things that are free.”
From reading a favorite book without paying $30 at the bookstore, to the movies for checkout, to the free internet, a chance to read magazines for free, books on tape/CD and more — people are discovering that the library offers a lot of free entertainment and education, Rigel said. The library also offers free wi-fi for persons wishing to use the Internet on their own laptops.
“I like the books on CD,” Rigel said. “When you are driving you can just pop one of those in the car CD player and enjoy your favorite book.”
The library also a meeting room available for use by non-profit groups and organizations.
The Century Branch Library will soon be offering several free beginning level computer courses, including mouse skills on September 9, typing on September 16, keyboarding on September 23, and an introduction to Windows on September 30.
During the month of July, 2,039 people used the Century Branch Library. The library issued 51 new library cards in July.
The Century Branch Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. On Thursday, the library is open from noon until 8 p.m. The Century Branch Library is located at 7991 North Century Boulevard. For more information on the library or any of its services, call (850) 256-6218.
Pictured top: Friends Jenna Thornton and Leah Fischer use the computers at the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Jillian Thorton reads a book while Chance Thornton searches for the perfect book at the library. Pictured bottom: The Century Branch Library’s DVD’s available for checkout span the top shelf of a bookcase. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Public Notice Town Of Century
August 15, 2009
The Town of Century is considering applying to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for a FY 2008 Emergency Set-Aside Funding Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of up to $538,198.00. These funds must be used for one of the following purposes:
1. To benefit low and moderate income persons; or
2. To aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or
3. To meet other community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community and where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs.
The categories for which these funds may be used are in the areas of housing or neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization, and economic development and include a variety of activities including:
Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization: housing rehabilitation, demolition of dilapidated housing and relocation of residents, weatherization and energy-efficiency improvements, code enforcement, land assembly or site preparation for new construction, physical improvements activities such as water and sewer improvements, street improvements, drainage and neighborhood facilities.
Commercial Revitalization: rehabilitation and demolition of dilapidated buildings, relocation of residents, physical improvement activities such as water and sewer improvements, street improvements, drainage and neighborhood facilities.
Economic Development: infrastructure improvements, acquisition of real property loans to private-for-profit business, purchase of machinery and equipment or energy conservation.
For each activity that is proposed, at least 70% of the funds must benefit low and moderate income persons.
In developing an application for submission to DCA, the Town of Century must plan to minimize displacement of persons as a result of planned CDBG activities. In addition, the Town of Century is required to develop a plan to assist displaced persons.
The public hearing to receive citizen comments concerning the community’s housing and community development needs will be held at Century Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard, Century, Florida on Monday, August 17, 2009, at 6:15 p.m. To obtain additional information concerning the public hearing, contact Dorothy Sims at (850) 256-3208. The public hearing is being conducted in a handicapped accessible location. Any handicapped person requiring an interpreter for the hearing impaired or visually impaired should contact Dorothy Sims by Thursday, August 13, 2009, and an interpreter will be provided. Any non-English speaking person wishing to attend the public hearing should contact Dorothy Sims by Thursday, August 13, 2009, and a language interpreter will be provided. To access a Telecommunications Device for Deaf Persons (TDD) please call 1-800-955-8770 and ask for relay to the Town of Century.
Pelicans Comeback to Defeat Diablos
August 15, 2009
With a 9-4 win over the El Paso Diablos Friday night, the Pelicans now lead the American Association South Division by three and a half games. The Pelicans erased a 3-0 Diablos lead by putting up four runs in the fourth inning, and five runs in the eighth.
The Diablos jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first by scoring Jorge Alvarez on a Juan Camacho double. An inning later, El Paso added two more runs by plating Mike Provencher and Jerry Verastegui. Provencher reached on an error by the second baseman, Verastegui walked, and Kennard Bibbs brought both home with a single.
Enter the Pelicans.
With two out in the top of the fourth, Marshall McDougall walked. Marcos Rodriguez followed with a RBI double. Chase Burch hit Rodriguez in with a single, and Burch scored when Adam Darby hit a triple. Lou Palmisano brought Darby in with a triple of his own, and the Pelicans led 4-3 after the fourth inning.
El Paso tied it with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Jeff Vincent tripled and Provencher doubled. The run would be the Diablos’ last, as the Pelicans strung another rally together in the eighth.
Leandro led off the eighth inning with a single. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. McDougall walked, and Marcos Rodriguez followed him with a triple to put the Pelicans up by two. Burch hit another single to score Rodriguez again, and Adam Darby thanked Burch by hitting his fourth homer of the year to bring the score to Pelicans 9, Diablos 4.
The score would hold, as Tyler Wilson pitched the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to earn his fifth victory of the year. Wilson allowed one hit and struck out three in relief of starter Aaron Jackson. Jackson went five innings, allowing four runs, though just one was earned. He walked two but struck out three. Ulysses Roque entered the game in the ninth inning and allowed a leadoff hit, but shutdown the next three batters, including a strikeout to end the game.
The Pelicans won, Fort Worth lost, and Grand Prairie beat Shreveport-Bossier to put the Pelicans’ lead in the division to three and a half games, with the Air Hogs in second, the Captains a half game behind them, and Fort Worth five games back in fourth place. El Paso is six games back in the cellar.
The Pelicans will face the Diablos again on Saturday in the middle game of this three game series, with Pensacola starting RHP Dane DeValk against the Diablos’ RHP Josh Neitz. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. Central Time. Fans can listen live on NewsRadio 1620 or online via SportsJuice.com.
Woman With Local Ties Named To Leadership Of 2.8 Million Member Church
August 15, 2009
A woman with North Escambia ties has become the first woman elected to the leadership of the national Assemblies of God USA.
Elizabeth (Beth) Grant, a veteran missionary and coordinator of the Women in Ministry Network, was greeted with a standing ovation from ministers and delegates after her election as the ordained female executive presbyter. The Assemblies’ Executive Presbytery is a 20-member body that serves as the board of directors for the 2.8 million-member fellowship of Pentecostal churches.
She was one of four candidates for the position on the Executive Presbytery that the 2007 General Council set aside for a woman, the first female position on that body.
“Ladies, thank you for hanging in there. But after 90-something years, what’s a few hours?” she said.
“We are here today and we in this vote are saying thank you God for the women in our Movement,” she said. “As I travel this nation, I meet many of you (women), and you inspire us, you inspire this Movement by your obedience to God.”
Grant had already made a little bit of history two years ago, when she was one of the three candidates in the final rounds of balloting for assistant general superintendent. Based on available records and memories at the time, Grant was the first woman to advance that far in the election for a top executive office.
Grant and her husband David have served as Assemblies of God missionaries to Southern Asia for 28 years. They currently run Project Rescue in India, a ministry to prostitutes and sex-trade workers in five cities.
She is the daughter-in-law of the Rev. Curtis Grant, a longtime pastor at the Molino First Assembly of God and the Faith Temple Assembly of God Church in Pensacola. The Rev. David Grant, her husband, grew up in the area until becoming a leading missionary director in the Assembly of God church. They both have numerous relatives in north Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured: Rev. Beth Grant addressed the 53rd General Council of The Assemblies of God at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Photo by Lane Simmins, The Council Today, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tropical Wave Bringing Weekend Rain; Tropical Storm Ana In Atlantic To Grow
August 15, 2009
Tropical storm Ana has formed , and there’s a good chance of showers and thunderstorms for your Saturday. Sunday also looks to be a wet day as tropical moisture associated with a tropical wave moves across the area with good shower and thunderstorm coverage. The tropical moisture is forecast to linger across the area on Monday.
Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor tropical storm Ana 900 miles east of the Windward Islands.
Ana is moving to the west at 16 miles per hour with a gradual turn toward the west-northwest expected.
Maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph with Ana forecast to be at or near hurricane strength by Thursday. The forecast path takes the storm near south Florida by Thursday.
Your local North Escambia forecast is as follows:
Saturday
Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the morning…then numerous showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. Numerous showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70
percent.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph becoming around 5 mph in the late evening and overnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Monday
Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Peace Dude! Happy Hippie Day!
August 15, 2009
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first day of Woodstock music festival. The residents of Century Care Center celebrated on Friday with Hippie Day — compete with tie dye t-shirts and lots of lighthearted fun.
Pictured above and below: Hippie Day at Century Care Center. Pictured inset: Longtime Century Care Center resident Myrtle Bray. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
