Photos: A Really Cool Swing Set
January 6, 2010
A North Escambia family had one of the coolest swing sets around thanks to our winter weather. An overnight temperature in the upper teens and a sprinkler left on all night created this wintry scene with huge icicles Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Hunter Kinnard climbs a very frozen rope ladder. Submitted photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
For more photos of the swing set and all of its icicles, click here.
Do you have interesting photos that you would like to share with our readers? Email the photos with a description to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion on our site.
Frozen Fountain Photos
January 6, 2010
Our daily look at the Century Care Center’s frozen fountain continued on Wednesday with a solid block of ice.
Thousands of people have been watching our daily photos of the ice build up in the Nona Hightower Fountain at Century Care Center. Our first photos on Monday showed a few icicles; by Wednesday morning the fountain was finally completely frozen.
“No water is flowing at this time from the pineapple (at the top of the fountain),” Linda Jackson, activities assistant at the Century Care Center, said Wednesday morning. “It’s just that cold!”
Pictured above the Nona Hightower Fountain at Century Care Center Wednesday morning. Pictured below: The fountain Monday morning. Submitted photos by Linda Jackson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Church To Hold Pinewood Derby
January 6, 2010
A Pinewood Derby is coming to Bratt, and you are invited to participate.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will hold its “nearly annual” Pinewood Derby on the afternoon of Saturday, January 30. The race is open to boys and girls age three and up, men and women.
Workshops will be held at the church each Wednesday night in January from 6:00 until 7:00 to provide assistance is shaping, sanding, weighting, painting and wheeling the cars.
“Parents are not only welcome but are encouraged to attend with your children and even build your own car,” Pete Amerson, race organizer, said.
There will be two race divisions. The main even will be for children age 3 to sixth grade who build their car in the workshops. The second event will be for youth in grades seven and up, adults, and any children that take their car away from the workshops.
“While both events have a 5-ounce maximum weight limit, the secondary event allows for more flexible building, although this still does not allow the car to have any type of self-propelled operation or interfere with the track or other racers,” Amerson said.
A registration fee of $7 will include everything needed to build and race your car.
For more information or to enter the Bratt Pinewood Derby, contact Pete Amerson at (850) 324-6923 or email PeteAmerson@frontiernet.net.
Pictured top: The last “almost annual” Pinewood Derby at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Pictured inset: Two Pinewood Derby cars. Pictured below: The track. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five Area Teens Injured In Alabama Wreck
January 5, 2010
Five area teens were injured in a single vehicle accident Monday night near Wallace, Alabama.
The accident happened on Hammac Road, a dirt road south of Wallace. Authorities say the driver of pickup truck, identified as Brandon Mathis of Century, lost control about 7 p.m. The vehicle then overturned. Reports indicated that none of the five teens in the truck were wearing seat belts.
Mathis and the four passengers in the truck — Mitchell Crutchfield of Flomaton, Brittney Roley of Bluff Springs, Logan Hammond of Century and a minor age female — were transported by ambulance to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton. None of the injuries were considered life threatening.
Family members said Hammond was transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola early Tuesday morning where he underwent several hours of surgery for a badly broken arm and a crushed elbow.
The accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Wallace, Alabama, is located north of Flomaton, just south of I-65.
Updated: Teens Tonight, Snow Thursday Night And Even Colder For The Weekend
January 5, 2010
Updated 3:50 p.m. It’s going to be C-O-L-D tonight, snow is forecast for Thursday, and it forecast to be even C-O-L-D-E-R for the weekend.
Tonight is forecast to be around 16, and forecasters are calling for a 60 percent chance of snow by Thursday night with an overnight low around 20.
Here is your frigid Florida forecast for North Escambia and surrounding areas:
- Tonight…Clear. Lows around 16. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night…Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Light winds.
- Thursday…Cloudy. Chance of rain in the morning…then scattered rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent.
- Thursday Night…Mostly cloudy. Rain and snow likely in the evening…then isolated snow showers after midnight. Lows 19 to 24. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
- Friday…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.
- Friday Night…Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Lows around 15.
- Saturday…Partly sunny in the morning then clearing. Highs in the upper 30s.
- Saturday Night…Mostly clear. Lows around 11.
- Sunday…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Lowest wind chill 1 below to 9 above zero in the morning.
- Sunday Night…Mostly clear. Lows around 17.
- Monday…Not as cool. Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.
- Monday Night…Partly cloudy. Lows 23 to 28.
- Tuesday…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s.
Pictured above: The Nona Hightower Fountain this morning at Century Care Center. Submitted photo by Mae Hildreth for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Oliver Marshall Hanks
January 5, 2010
Mr. Oliver Marshall Hanks, 84, passed away on Sunday, January 3, 2010 in Bratt, Fla.
Mr. Hanks was a native and lifelong resident of Bratt, a veteran of WWII, retired from the Frisco Railroad after 41 years, a member of the Century Masonic Lodge for 50 years, a farmer and attended the Oak Grove Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Elizabeth Hanks.
Survivors include his son, Michael M. and Gayle Hanks Of Atmore, AL; three daughters, Frances Kay Hanks of Pensacola, FL, Betsy and Will Perkins of Oak Grove, FL, and Amy Nanette and Richard Caum Of Molino, FL; 6 Grandchildren, Tabitha Hanks (Mason) Frazier, Cory (Katrina) Hanks, Sara Perkins (Todd) Harris, Lawrence Dale Perkins, Marshall Keith Caum, and Lennie Nannette Caum; 3 Great-Grandchildren, Olivia Frazier, Anna Beth Frazier, and Naomi Hanks; a Brother, Homer Lee Hanks of Oak Grove, FL; and three Sisters, Claudia Kunert of San Diego, CA, Malveen Lang Of Pensacola, FL and Ruth Morgan Of Cantonment, FL.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Roy Chewning officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 5, 2010, between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Mason Frazier, Cory Hanks, Todd Harris, Dale Perkins, Marshall Caum, and Edward Godwin. Honorary pallbearers will be his Men’s Sunday School Class.
Deputies Release Sketch Of Walmart Rape Suspect
January 5, 2010
Escambia County deputies have released a composite sketch of a suspect that kidnapped a woman from an Escambia County Walmart before raping her.
The incident was reported about 11:25 last Friday night in the parking lot of the Ensley Walmart on Highway 29. The woman told deputies that she was having car trouble in the parking lot when the man put a knife to her throat and forced her into the back of a van. She was driven a short distance before her attacker raped her. She was driven back to Walmart and dropped off, told that she would be killed if she reported the attack to authorities.
The suspect is a white male believed to be 30 to 40 years old. He had brown hair with some red mixed it, and a mustache and goatee. The suspect had a thin build, smelled like cigarettes and had sunken cheeks, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
“The suspect vehicle is believed to be a newer model dark blue minivan, most likely borrowed due to the suspect being unfamiliar with the controls,” Roy said. “The vehicle is possibly a Ford Windstar, Dodge Caravan or a Chrysler Town and Country with windows throughout.”
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (850) 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP (7867).
Pictured: A composite drawing of the suspect in a New Year’s Day rape and kidnapping. Submitted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Velma Odom
January 5, 2010
Mrs. Velma Odom, 74, passed away On Saturday, January 2, 2010, in Brewton, AL.
Mrs. Odom was a native of Bluff Springs, FL, a former resident of Atmore, AL, and a resident Of Range, AL, for the past eight years. Preceded in death by a Daughter, Donna Sue Odom.
Survivors include: her Husband, Orrie Odom Of Range, AL; two Sons, James Odom and Frank Odom, both Of Range, AL; 7 Grandchildren; 2 Great-Grandchildren; two Brothers, Wilmer Scott of Bay Minette, AL, and Billy Scott of Little River, AL; and two Sisters, Ruth Scott of Atmore, AL, and Roberta Johnson of Atmore, AL.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Thurl Pearson officiating.
Burial will follow at Hartwood Methodist Cemetery in Range, AL.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 5, 2010, from 1:00 P.M. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Dorothy Natt Robinson
January 5, 2010
Mrs. Dorothy Natt Robinson, 74, passed away on Friday, January 1, 2010, at a Mobile Hospital.
Mrs. Robinson was a native and former resident of Newark. NY, and a resident of Atmore, AL since 1999. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Brooks Memorial Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a twin Daughter, Donna Lee Sullivan (twin to Deborah), and a Sister, Roberta Graf.
Survivors include: her Husband, James, “Bill” Robinson of Atmore. AL; two Sons, Gerald Edward Sullivan of Newark, NY, and Robert Joseph Sullivan of Newark, NY; a Stepson, Allen Gray Robinson of Pensacola, FL; three Daughters, Elaine Faulknerson, of FL, Deborah Lynn Price of Lyons, NY, and Cynthia Ann Meminger of Winder, GA; a Stepdaughter, Angela Darlene Grissett of Pensacola, FL; 15 Grandchildren; numerous Great-Granchildren; and a Brother, Robet Natt of Marion, NY.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 4, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Boyd officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetary.
Visitation was held Monday, January 4, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Marcus Pezent, Ryan Pezent, Hubert Brown, Aburey Teale, Ellie Bailey and Monroe Womack. Honorary pallbearers were her Sunday School Class.
Escambia Seeks $7 Million In Disaster Grants, Including $600K for Century
January 5, 2010
Escambia County is applying for a $7 million disaster recover grant to be used by Escambia County, the Town of Century and the City of Pensacola.
Century’s $600,000 portion of the grant funds, if approved, will be used to upgrade a drainage ditch that serves primarily the Jefferson and Pond Street areas. The town does not currently have a dedicated easement for the ditch, so the town’s ability to maintain it has been hampered. As a result, the ditch has grown up with heave vegetation and debris from storms, and as a result it is difficult for the town to maintain it with hand labor and small equipment. The goal of the project will be to secure easements for the adjacent property owners and to clear and reshape the ditch to improve it so that it can be better maintained in the future.
The design, engineering and project management portion of the Century project is estimated to cost $100,382, and the construction phase is estimated to cost $499,618. Escambia County will manage and complete the project. Century will not be required to provide any matching funding for the project.
$1.05 million of Escambia County’s portion of the grant, if approved, would partially fund the acquisition of the Maison Deville Apartments, which were damaged by Hurricane Ivan and further impacted by Hurricane Gustav. The 144-unit complex would be replaced by 25 unis of mixed income rental housing. $2.85 million would be used by the county for a new homeless service center that would house the Waterfront Rescue Mission and provide homeless services.
Pensacola’s $3 million will be used for low and moderate income housing improvements.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Grants totaling $81 million are available statewide under funding approved by Congress for areas declared disaster areas due to 2008 storms. Escambia County was one of six counties in Florida declared disaster areas due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav.