Foy Lane Hartzog
March 15, 2010
Mr. Foy Lane Hartzog, 74, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2010 in Atmore, AL.
Mr. Hatrzog was a native of Louisville, AL, a resident of Atmore, AL for the past 14 years, a retired employee of the Alabama Department of Transportation Highway Department for 31 years, and attended the Upper Prospect Baptist Church in Five Points, AL.
Survivors include: his Wife of 53 years, Connie Hartzog of Atmore, AL; his Son, DeLane and Frances Hartzog of Prattville, AL; his Daughter, Lynn and Randy Williams of Pensacola, FL; 5 Grandchildren, Matthew Williams and Miranda Williams, both of Foley, AL, LaDanna Thomas of Pensacola, FL, Adam Hartzog of Auburn, AL and Heather Hartzog Gunn (Michael) of Prattville, AL; 3 Great-Grandchildren, Ashton Thomas, Brantlie Thomas and Emma Kate Gunn; and two Sisters, Cynthia and Hubert Beasley of Louisville, AL and Shirley and Billy Taylor of Eufaula, AL.
Funeral services will he held Monday, March 15, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. C.L. Langford officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, March 15, 2010 from 2:00 P.M. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Williams, Adam Hartzog, Michael Gunn, Chris Little, Scott Hartzog and Jimmy Taylor.
Thinking Outside The Box: Area Couple Builds Dome Home
March 15, 2010
Energy efficiency is a hot topic these days, with many people thinking of ways to cut energy costs more than ever before. When Charlie and Margaret Simmons of New Iberia, Louisiana, decided to move back to Margaret’s hometown of Jay and build their retirement home, energy efficiency was an important factor in choosing the style of house they would construct. However, there were additional features that prompted them to ultimately choose to build a monolithic dome home.
A monolithic (one-piece) dome is an extremely energy efficient, steel-reinforced concrete structure that can basically be designed for any type of use. The dome structure starts with a reinforced concrete tension ring to which a plasticized airform (balloon) is attached and inflated. All subsequent work is done inside the airform. First, three to four inches of foam is sprayed on the interior. This is followed by a steel rebar structure and then covered with concrete, six inches at the base and about three inches at the apex. Having the insulation on the outside is non-traditional but as Charlie Simmons explained, “That is where God put it on sheep.”
The curved shape of the exterior structure actually reflects energy away. The multiple tons of concrete provide a very stable and well-insulated interior, which in turn, absorbs energy and keeps the temperature relatively constant. The insulation does not deteriorate with time, moisture or compaction. The dome provides a solid thermal envelope and the airtight exterior affords no, or minuscule at most, energy leakage. The dome is so well insulated that fresh outdoor air must be brought in through an air-to-air heat exchanger to minimize energy loss and a HEPA (99.9% efficiency) air filter to take out contaminates. This preconditioned, filtered, pressurized air enters the HVAC system for normal distribution. The pressurization prevents dust from entering even when doors are opened. This feature is especially appealing to Margaret Simmons.
A beneficial effect of this super-insulated home is downsized heat and air equipment. The Simmons’ home is 3,400 sq. ft. and a 1 ½ ton A/C unit adequately services the entire structure. A traditionally constructed home of this same size would most likely require a 5 to 6 ton A/C unit. According to C. Simmons, “The efficiency of the house appeals to me as an engineer, and I like having something that is a little different, too.”
Durability is another feature that attracted Simmons to the dome structure. Simmons commented that the model he chose to construct was tested in a wind tunnel at Texas A&M University to withstand 600 mph winds. The strongest hurricane winds recorded to date have been slightly over 200 mph and tornado winds at just over 300 mph. Typically during violent storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes, high winds acting on flat surfaces and negative air pressure combine and can get under the eves and soffits of a conventional house. This force, in turn, may cause the roof to be ripped off the house. The aerodynamic shape of the dome provides excellent above ground protection against powerful winds in any direction, allowing the wind’s energy to glide past without causing damage to the basic structure. Even sounds from the outside are virtually eliminated.
The durability attribute is also evidenced by its resistance to other forces of nature such as earthquakes, fire, and insects. The monolithic design of the dome has an even distribution of weight and a low center of gravity so that it actually moves with the earth. This design prevents the dome from damage, whereas, a traditional home can be shaken off its foundation as it wobbles with the earth’s lateral shifts in an earthquake.
Neither is fire a detriment to the home. The exterior of the home is painted with a silicon based GE (General Electric Company) paint that will withstand 550 degrees F. and the concrete used in construction doesn’t burn. Nor are pests such as termites a concern because there is no wood in the structure for the termites to eat. Because of the dome’s resistance to weather, fire, and insects, the structure virtually has a lifespan of centuries rather than years. As a result, home insurance costs are greatly reduced.
The dome house’s economic feasibility is another appealing characteristic. Because of the limited number of components used in the structure itself, the cost is about the same as a conventional home of the same size. The dome’s shape, design, and quality of construction materials keep required future upkeep and maintenance virtually nonexistent.
The Simmons decided a dome house would best meet their needs for a retirement home. Construction began in April of 2008 and was completed in November of 2009. Living in Louisiana during the various construction phases of the home could have posed complications for Simmons; however, local Virgle Bedsole served as project manager and could oversee the day to day operations of the home’s development. Bedsole says, “This project has been different from building a conventional house. Each step along the way, you have to think things through carefully, not just handle it the usual way.”
The interior of the home is beautiful with its teak wood flooring, cabinets and doors made of cypress salvaged from an old plantation home, and spacious floor plan. In addition, the home also features energy efficient LED lighting and the latest technological advancements. The Simmons seem to have thought of everything in regards to constructing a home they can enjoy for many years to come.
Pictured top: The Charlie and Margaret Simmons monolithic dome home in Jay. Pictured top inset: The dome’s airform fully inflated. Pictured middle inset: The garage entrance area of the home near competition. Pictured bottom inset: The kitchen area of the home. Submitted photos by Sabrina Owens for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Arrests In State Line Home Invasion, Sexual Assault
March 15, 2010
The search is continuing for the suspect in a February 18 home invasion and sexual assault near the Alabama-Florida state line, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in solving the crime.
The incident was reported about 8:45 a.m. on Old Atmore Road just west of Tulip Street in Flomaton. A 40-year old female told Flomaton Police that a “husky” or “stocky” male, about 6-foot tall entered her trailer and sexually assaulted her. The victim told police that the suspect did not speak during the attack. She was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital for evaluation.
The victim did not know the race of her attacker. She described him as being dressed in all black and wearing a mask, according to Flomaton Police Chief Terri Tolbert. The victim did not know if the suspect fled on foot or in a vehicle. Tracking dogs from Century Correctional Institution and Fountain Prison in Atmore were called to the scene, but they were unable to locate the suspect.
Tolbert said the victim believed that the attacker entered the home through an unlocked front door.
The incident is still under investigation by the Flomaton Police Department. The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department and the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Anyone with information on the attack is asked to contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured top: Tracking dogs were used to search for the suspect on February 18. Pictured below: Authorities such for the suspect in a home invasion in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man To Remain In Prison For Cantonment, Molino Burglaries
March 15, 2010
A Cantonment man will serve his full sentence in state prison in connection with burglaries in the Molino and Cantonment areas according to a ruling last week by an Escambia County judge.
Patrick Hosea Bell, 21, was sentenced late last year to five years in state prison on burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief and cocaine possession charges. Last week, Judge Frank Bell denied a motion for reduction or modification of the sentence, according to Escambia County Circuit Court records.
Jermaine Lamar Patterson, 18, was also sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the same North Escambia burglaries. Another accomplice, Sara Louise Temoney, 22, was charged with fewer burglaries and sentenced to six months in jail and has since been released.
Bell, Patterson and Temoney were arrested in March, 2009, by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies after an attempted burglary on Clymil Drive, just south of Williams Ditch Road in the Cottage Hill area. At that time, deputies said the arrests cleared about 25 burglaries in the area.
The arrests came after the Clymil Drive resident came home to find a vehicle backed to his home and called for help. Deputies located the vehicle and made their arrests, but not before the female suspect reported that she had been carjacked, deputies said.
In the typical burglary attributed to the trio, one suspect would knock on the front door of the home. If no one answered the door, the suspects would back their car up to the home and kick in the backdoor, deputies said. Most of the burglaries took place in isolated areas, often at homes where trees or shrubbery block the view of the home from the road.
In one incident in early March of last year, a man returned to his home in the 4000 block of Chestnut Road in Molino to find one of the burglars inside his home.
The sheriff’s office said tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise were recovered from the burglaries.
Gone With The Wind: ECUA’s Trash Trucks Spread Message
March 15, 2010
ECUA’s sanitation trucks are spreading a new message with a new look about not spreading litter with the “Bag Your Bags” campaign.
The campaign encourages ECUA customers to always place recyclables and garbage securely inside plastic trash bags, ensuring that the materials stay in the intended container and transfer properly to the sanitation trucks. The idea, according to ECUA, is to keep the contents of trash containers from becoming litter.
“We have 40 sanitation trucks that will cover all of Escambia County with the exception of the City of Pensacola, and the Town of Century,” Randy Rudd, ECUA director of sanitation, said. “We think this is a cost effective means of getting the word out to customers on the importance of bagging garbage and recyclables to help prevent litter.”
Pictured above and below: The “Gone With the Wind” campaign featured on an ECUA sanitation truck. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Skies Early Week; Flood Warning Extended For Escambia River
March 15, 2010
Our official North Escambia area forecast calls for sunny skies for the first part of your week, with just a slight chance of rain by Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, a flood warning has been extended until late Thursday night for the Escambia River near Century.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Flood Warning: Escambia River Near Century
The flood warning has been extended until late Thursday night for the Escambia River near Century.
Last Sunday night, the stage was 17.0 feet. No flooding was occurring and minor flooding was forecast. The flood stage is 17.0 feet. The river was forecast to rise above flood stage by Monday morning and continue to rise near 17.4 feet by Tuesday morning. The river will fall below flood stage by Thursday evening.
Amber Armstrong Completes Basic Training
March 15, 2010
Air Force Airman Amber N. Armstrong graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
She is the daughter of Richard and Teresa Armstrong of Old Highway 31, Flomaton, Ala.
Armstrong is a 2009 graduate of Flomaton High School.
Location Change For Today’s Northview Softball Games
March 15, 2010
There has been a location change for a couple of Northview High School softball games against West Florida Tech.
The game scheduled for this afternoon with West Florida Tech will be played at West Florida Tech. The April 8 game against West Florida Tech will be played at Northview. The JV games will begin at 4 p.m., and the varsity games will follow at 6 p.m. on both dates.
What Are The Odds That You’ll Hit A Deer? Probably Higher Than You Think
March 14, 2010
Odds are, you or someone you know in North Escambia has hit a deer. If not, odds are you won’t have to wait long for that to change — maybe even on your next trip out to the store. In fact, a vehicle-deer collision happens every 26 seconds in the U.S.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. cause more than 150 fatalities each year. Last year, one North Escambia resident died after he hit a deer while on his motorcycle. Tad Fredrick Cann, 46, of Walnut Hill struck the deer about daybreak on February 9, 2009, near the intersection of Molino Road and Sunshine Hill Road.
In addition to actual collisions with deer, many North Escambia area accidents are attributed to drivers attempting to avoid deer.
The number of vehicles on U.S. roadways has grown by seven percent over the last five years. But the number of times those vehicles have collided with deer has swelled by much more than that.
Using its claims data, auto insurer State Farm estimates 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. during the two-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009. That’s 100,000 per month.
The most likely state in which to hit a deer? West Virginia with a 1 in 39 chance. The least likely? Hawaii. Just 1 in 9,931 — about the chance of randomly picking one piece of clover that turns out to have four leaves.
The likelihood of colliding with a deer in Florida during the next year is 1 in 1,147 across the state. But in the North Escambia area, our chances are much more like those in Alabama — about 1 in 205. Deer-vehicle crashes were up 38 percent in the last five years in Florida and up 16 percent in Alabama during the same period.
The average property damage cost of these incidents was $3,050, up 3.4 percent from a year ago, according to State Farm.
Pictured: The driver of this Nissan 350Z was not injured when he plowed through a Highway 97 cemetery in February, 2009, in an attempt to avoid a deer. Pictured inset: The driver of this car suffered minor injuries in a collision with a deer on Highway 4 near Northview High School in July, 2009. Pictured below: Four people were injured in this Miller Road accident when the driver of this SUV tried to avoid a deer in August, 2009. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Changes In Escambia’s Search For New County Administrator
March 14, 2010
There have been changes in Escambia County’s road to selecting a new county administrator.
Most notably, the job will now be advertised as a three-year position instead of the one year contract that has been offered by the Escambia County Commission. The commission has voted to spend an extra $3,000 to extend the application process through the end of the April; the selection process was due to be completed by the first of April.
About 50 people have applied for the county administrator job, while the current Interim County Administrator Larry Newsom has withdrawn his name from the candidate list. He will return to his division manager job when a new top county boss is hired.