Ransom Middle Band Participates In US Honor Band
January 10, 2010
Area middle school students from Ransom and Bailey middle schools recently participated in the 2009 Southeastern United States Honor Band.
The Honor Band was held on the campus of Troy University and participants were selected from several states. Students rehearsed with distinguished composers and conductors and at the conclusion of the Honor Band weekend, students presented a concert.
Students selected from Ransom Middle School were Cheyanne Brown, Erin Carty, Jacob Charles, Breanna Fowler, Alex Gibson, Darren Gulsby, Jake Holley, Haley Krostag, Michael McCullough, Geoffrey Nagle, Corey Phetteplace, Kayla Smith and Anna Wilson. Band directors for Ransom Middle School are Janie Walker and Patricia Maness.
Cold, Freezing Weather Continues; Saturday Night Near 15
January 9, 2010
Saturday and Sunday nights, we have hard freeze warnings again with lows in teens. By late week, it will seem like a heat wave with highs reaching the 60’s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for this Saturday:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 12. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 19. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 61.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 42.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 62.
Downed Power Lines Cause Brush Fire, Cold Houses
January 9, 2010
Downed power lines started a small brush fire and left many Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers in the cold early Saturday morning.
The power lines were reported down at 4:22 on Tungoil Road, located between Highway 97 and South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to small brush fire at that time.
The resulting power outage left an unknown number of EREC customers without power for a few hours — leaving many without heat on a morning where the mercury dipped into the mid-teens.
Local Brothers Arrested After Man Says He’s Robbed While Trying To Buy Methadone
January 9, 2010
Two local brothers are behind bars in Santa Rosa County accused in the armed robbery of a man that says he was robbed a gunpoint while he was trying to buy drugs.
Coley Ray Daw, 24, of Gandy Lane, Century, and Rody Lee Daw, 25, of Palafox Street, Flomaton, are both facing felony charges of robbery with a firearm and grand theft.
The incident reportedly began in Flomaton on January 1 when the victim and his brother were at a home in Flomaton where a man referred to as “Coley” approached him offering to sell methadone. The victim agreed to purchase the drugs. The victim and the man called Coley were driven in a pickup truck by another man that Coley called his brother to a boat ramp on Oil Plant Road in Jay where they were to meet the methadone dealer.
Once in Jay, Coley reportedly pulled a large caliber hunting rifle out of a toolbox on the truck and robbed the victim at gunpoint of his money and cell phone. The victim memorized the tag number of the getaway truck as it drove away, leaving him stranded. The victim then walked to a residence for help.
A Flomaton Police Department officer spotted the truck on Sidney Manning Boulevard and took Rody Daw into custody after he was positively identified by the victim as the person driving the pickup truck.
Coley Daw was taken into custody the following day at a home on Cary Street in Flomaton where he was found hiding under a bed. Coley was also positively identified by the victim. Both men were booked into the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton.
Both men waived extradition and were transferred to the Santa Rosa County Jail where they are being held on $52,500 bond each.
Northview Falls To Baker, Jay Beats Ponce De Leon
January 9, 2010
The Northview Chiefs fell to Baker Friday in Bratt.
Baker 75 Northview 59
The Gators held 33-12 lead at the end of the first. Northview almost matched Baker point for point in the second, outscored them by six in the third and matched them evenly in the fourth, but the Gators were victorious 75-59.
Northview 12 15 16 16-59 Baker 33 16 10 16-75
Jay 53 Ponce De Leon 31
Jay beat Ponce De Leon in boy’s basketball action, 53-31. The Royals, paced by Hunter Boutwell with 19, are now 4-7, 2-4 in the district.
Jay — Hunter Boutwell 19, Luke Rowell 7, Dakota Ellis 3, Dakota Walker 3, Bugg Fischer 4, Conner Weekes 4, Steven Brabham 4, Tyler Prescott 9, Todd Laney 2.
Jay 18 14 4 17-53 Ponce De Leon 13 3 7 8-31
Last Day For In-Person Disaster Applications In Atmore For Alabama, Florida Residents
January 9, 2010
Today is the last day to apply in person at the Atmore Library for federal disaster assistance following the mid-December floods. Assistance is available to residents and business owners in Escambia County, Alabama, and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.
A disaster area declaration by the U.S. Small Business Administration following December’s floods is making federal assistance available to seven counties in Alabama and Florida.
Assistance in the form of low interest loans is available to homeowners, renters and businesses that were affected by the flooding between December 12 and December 18. Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.”
The SBA also provides mitigation funds to disaster victims up to 20 percent of the verified physical damage. These funds are designed to help borrowers pay for protective measures to minimize damages of the same kind in the future.
For small businesses, and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Interest rates are as low as 2.562 percent for homeowners and renters, four percent for businesses and three percent for non-profit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people affected by these storms and floods with the most effective and customer-focused response possible, to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with federal disaster loans,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority.”
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers will be open as follows:
- Atmore Public Library: Today - January 9 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Escambia County Courthouse, Brewton: Monday, January 11 and Tuesday, January 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Individuals and businesses unable to visit one of the centers in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
For more information, click here for a SBA fact sheet.
The disaster declaration covers Escambia County (Ala.) and the adjacent counties of Baldwin, Conecuh, Covington and Monroe in Alabama; and the counties of Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa in Florida.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Cold Weather Shelter Closes; Others Are Open In Escambia, Santa Rosa
January 9, 2010
The cold weather shelter in Century has closed, but others shelters are still open in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
On Thursday and Friday nights, the EscaRosa Coalition For the Homeless had opened a cold weather shelter in Century’s Habitat Building (the former Carver Middle School) on East Pond Street. But due to low utilization, the shelter has been closed. Officials are prepared to reopen the shelter if the need arises, according a release from Escambia County.
Escambia County cold weather shelters are open at:
- East Brent Baptist Church, 4801 North Davis Highway (operated by Red Cross)
- Waterfront Rescue Mission on Main Street, Pensacola
- The Salvation Army on North S. Street
Shelters in Santa Rosa County are open at:
- Ferris Hill Baptist Church located at 6848 Chaffin Street in Milton
- Billory Baptist Church located at 8162 Stillwater Cove in Holley
Persons utilizing the shelters are asked to bring pillows, blankets, personal toiletries and any prescription medications.
Northwest Escambia Baseball Registration Today
January 9, 2010
Registration for Northwest Escambia baseball and softball begins Saturday for ages 3 to 18 for Wee ball to big league.
Registration fees are: 1st child, $35, 2nd child: $25, 3rd child: free. Children will be measured and a $20 uniform deposit collected at registration. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required.
There will also be a cleat swap…bring a pair of outgrown cleats and trade/swap while supplies last.
NWE registration will be held from 10 a.m. until noon January 9, 16 and 23 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Photo: Hot Coffee, Frozen Pool
January 9, 2010
The picture above shows a cup of hot coffee sitting on a sheet of ice in a Byrneville pool.
“I sat my hot coffee cup onto the frozen water of the pool and was able to take a photo without the cup even falling through,” Angi Baker said. (The dark objects at the bottom of the pool are leaves, she said.)
Do you have a cold weather photo to share? Email your picture to news@northescambia.com
Submitted photo by Angie Baker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Thrift Store Reopens Today
January 9, 2010
If you are looking for bargains, there’s a chance to find them Saturday in Century.
On Saturday, the Century United Methodist Church Odds ‘N Ends thrift store will reopen for 2010. The store is located across from the church at 531 Church Street. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m..
The store features a selection of toys, kitchen items, linens and gift items, but does not sell clothing. When the store opens Saturday, there will be two chairs and a small couch available.
“There are no expensive items,” said Minister Janet Lee. “This is a ministry for our community, with all proceeds going to the Century United Methodist Church’s mission projects.”
The store is normally open the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.