Rate Decrease For Alabama Power Customers
December 2, 2009
Alabama Power customers will see a decrease in their electric rates beginning January 1.
The Alabama Public Service Commission voted Tuesday for a 4 percent rate decrease for Alabama Power’s residential customers. The average bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatts of electricity per month will drop from $125.34 to $120.77 per month.
The PSC approved the rate decrease due to declining prices for coal and natural gas used by Alabama Power to generate electricity.
Urgent Need For Blankets, Heaters For Elderly Residents
December 2, 2009
The Council on Aging of West Florida is seeking donations of small electric space heaters, blankets and funds to help the elderly avoid the serious health problems that can result from exposure to the cold.
Heaters and blankets can be dropped off at any location of Council on Aging of West Florida, including 6025 Industrial Boulevard In Century and 132 Mintz Lane in Cantonment. Only new items can be accepted.
Financial donations can be sent to Council on Aging of West Florida, PO Box 17066, Pensacola, FL 32522-7066 or made online at www.coawfla.org.
Seniors in need of a heater, blanket or other assistance should call 432-1475.
New Traffic Light On Nine Mile Road
December 2, 2009
A new traffic signal on Nine Mile Road at Copter Road will be activated Thursday morning.
The Florida Department of Transportation will activate the signal about 9:30 Thursday morning. The signal has been in flash mode to acquaint motorists with the location. Drivers are urged to use caution when approaching the intersection.
Northview Presents Cross Country Awards
December 2, 2009
Northview High School’s Cross Country team recently held their annual banquet, presenting awards to many members.
The following awards were presented:
- FCA Go the Distance Award: Georgia Geotter and Dustin Lewis
- Most Improved: Georgia Geotter and Dillian Crutchfield
- Fastest: Georgia Geotter and Joshua Scott
- Leadership: Sarah Killam, Joshua Scott, and Jackson Smith
- Junmi Ross Award: Jessica Bloodsworth
- Jim Ross Award: Clint Davis
- Coaches Choice Award: Angel Mitchell and Dustin Lewis
The following athletes received a letter for completing their first varsity level sport:
- Jackson Smith
- Jansen Bodiford
- Dillian Crutchfield
- Bubby Sanders
- Georgia Geotter
- Angel Mitchell
The following received bars as returning cross country athletes:
- Clint Davis -2nd year
- Joshua Scott-2nd year
- Dustin Lewis 2nd year
- AJ Lambert 2nd year
- Blake Luker 2nd year
- Jessica Bloodsworth 2nd year
- Sarah Killam 2nd year
For photos of the award winners, click here.
Pictured top: Members of the Northview High School Cross Country team at their annual banquet. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deadline Near To Vote On Farm Service County Committee Member
December 2, 2009
Monday is the deadline for eligible voters to cast their ballot for the Area 3 seat on the USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee.
The only candidate for the seat is Jamie Hall, a local cattleman, hay producer and forester.
Eligible voters must live in the area bounded by Pine Barren Creek to the east, the Alabama state line to the north, the Perdido River to the west and the south boundary of township of Township 4N to the south. The area includes Walnut Hill, Oak Grove and Nokomis. Eligible voters must also be a farm owner, operator, tenant, sharecropper or partner in farm in Area 3.
Ballots are due in the USDA office at 151 Highway 97 in Molino by the close of business on December 7.
For more information, call (850) 587-5345.
Driver Trapped After Highway 97 Crash With 1,800 Pound Bull
December 1, 2009
One person was seriously injured in a collision with a 1,800 pound bull in Walnut Hill Monday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Jesse Croley, 77, of Pensacola, was southbound on Highway 97 about 7:30 p.m. when he struck a black bull on Highway 97 just past Arthur Brown Road. Croley’s Chevrolet Impala then left Highway 97 and continued about 100 yards into a cotton field.
Firefighters from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were forced to use the Jaws of Life to remove the roof on the car in order to free Croley from the wreckage. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance. LifeFlight was requested but was unable to respond to the scene due to weather.
The bull was severely injured in the crash and had to be put down.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
For more exclusive NorthEscambia.com photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: Emergency personnel work to free a driver trapped in his car after a collision with an 1,800 pound bull Monday night in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The car came to rest in a cotton field about 100 yards from the point of impact. The roof of the Chevrolet Impala was removed in order to free the driver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Approaching Storm Could Be Worse Than Ida; Hard Freeze Coming Too
December 1, 2009
Forecasters say a strong low pressure developing over the Gulf could be worse than Tropical Storm Ida when it moves inland late tonight into Wednesday morning.
The storm is expected to have sustained gale force winds over 45 mph as it makes landfall. That will push tides well above normal, leading to coastal flooding. The storm will also bring offshore seas as high as 18 feet.
Inland, the storm is expected to drop as much as eight inches of rain in the Florida Panhandle. Localized flooding is expected, and a flash flood watch has been issued from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.
By mid morning Wednesday, an approaching cold front will send a squall line of likely severe thunderstorms across the area. And by the end of the week, we are forecast to have our first hard freeze of the season with temperatures in the 30’s.
Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:
- Today: Rain likely, mainly after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 59. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 53. Breezy, with a east wind 10 to 20 mph becoming south. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
- Wednesday: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of rain. High near 66. Breezy, with a south wind around 20 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Santa Rosa To Borrow Millions To Build New Jay High School
December 1, 2009
Santa Rosa County will borrow about $12.6 million to build a new main building at Jay High School and construct a new kitchen at Central School.
The Santa Rosa County School board approved the $12,585,000 loan for both projects at a special meeting on Monday. The $12.6 million will fund the acquisition, construction and equipping of Jay High School as well as the additions to Central School. The yearly repayment on the loan will be about $1.1 million with an interest rate of 4.11 percent from Suntrust Bank.
Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis caused extensive cracks to appear in the walls of Jay High, prompting the installation of over five dozen braces in the school’s 48,000 square foot main building north of the gym.
Plans call for an 80,000 square foot building to be constructed north of the Jay gym. It will included classrooms, media center, art lab, music suite, cafeteria and administrative area. Construction is expected to begin by March of 2010 and be complete in about 18 months. The building will also be used as a hurricane shelter for the Jay community.
The current building will be demolished or partially salvaged.
Molino Christmas Parade This Saturday
December 1, 2009
The 7th Annual Molino Christmas Parade will be held this Saturday afternoon at 1:00 with a special guest from the North Pole.
The parade will begin again this year on Crabtree Church Road at Sunshine Hill Road and end 1.8 miles away at the Molino Ballpark.
After the parade, 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. A meal including a hot Alabama Wing House barbecue sandwich, chips and a drink for $5 will be available at the Molino Ballpark after the parade. Bake sale goods will also be available
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 motorcycle, golf cart or horse. Four-wheelers and go-carts will not be allowed. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded for best float and best horse. Parade participants must line up by noon.
For more information, contact Sonja Luker at (850) 232-4973. Jayson Ging at (850) 587-2825 or Fran’s Diner at (850) 587-2803.
Donations such as toys and non-perishable foods can be dropped off at Fran’s Diner.
For more information and a parade entry form, clickh here.
Pictured: Scenes from the 2008 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Keep The Wreath Fire Safety Campaign Begins
December 1, 2009
Two red bulbs were lit last year for residential fires in North Escambia as part of the Keep the Wreath Green safety awareness program.
Monday, Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department kicked off the 2009 “Keep the Wreath Green,” program designed to promote fire safety during the month of December. With this program, officials hope to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life saving tips.
This year, the sixth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
To help citizens stay safe and “keep the wreath green,” officials are providing a holiday safety tip for each day of the month; visit www.keepthewreathgreen.com for a complete list.
Last year, red bulbs were lit for two North Escambia fires:
On Sunday, December 14 a fire was reported in the 5800 block of Nokomis Road in Davisville. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire coming from the window at the end of a mobile home, moving down the hall toward the rest of the house. The fire was extinguished before any further damage was done to the home. The fire was caused by a child playing with matches and catching the bed on fire. There were no injuries.
Another fire was reported December 23 in 2200 block of Welcome Road, just south of Quintette Road. When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the home and a fire in one of the rooms. The fire was quickly extinguished, and the house sustained fire damage to one room and smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. There were no injuries.
Pictured above: The wreath at the Century fire station. Pictured below: A December 14, 2008, fire in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
