Alert: Elderly McDavid Couple Victimized, Deputies Say Beware
November 23, 2011
An elderly couple in McDavid fell victim to a scam Tuesday, and sheriff’s deputies are encouraging the public to be wary.
A white male about 50 years old approached the couple in their 70’s at their McDavid home. Deputies said he told them that he was spokesman for Medicare and that he needed to measure rooms in their house. While they were distracted by the man, someone else stole several items from inside the home.
The man was dressed in business casual clothing and was driving black sports car, possible a Trans Am. No other description was available.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents not to let people into their homes with proper, verifiable identification. If residents have any doubt about someone at their door, they are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Business $103K Behind In Rent To Century, Seeks To Buy Building To Save Jobs
November 23, 2011
A business in the town’s industrial park is about $103,000 behind in rent payments to the Town of Century. And to keep the business afloat, the town wants to sell the building to the company.
Donald Dockens and Century Millworks entered into their current lease for the 10,825 square foot metal building in Century’s industrial park in 2002. His monthly rent was set at $1,500, but he said Tuesday that he missed a small provision in the lease that called for a regular annual increase on the monthly lease rate. Since 2002, he also missed numerous rent payments that now total about $103,000, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
McCall said that his administration only recently discovered the long-forgotten lease provision for annual rent increases, and he has been working with Dockens to recoup the missed rent payments.
“We don’t want to run him off; we want to keep him and jobs in Century,” McCall said. “The town has been paid well more than it cost to build the building years ago, so we are willing to work with him.”
Tuesday morning at Century Millworks, there was a steady hum of saws and other machinery running as employees worked to craft the parts needed to make cabinet doors. The company, Dockens said, builds new cabinets for contractors, builders and individuals, “anyone with money”.
There were eight employees hard at work Tuesday morning, using high-tech, computer-controlled equipment to craft cabinets.
“They are good folks, hard working folks,” Dockens said, his clothing covered in sawdust where he had been out in the plant working alongside his employees. “I want to keep them working.”
Century Millworks had employed as many as 15 people years ago, but that changed when the economy, and the home building industry, faltered.
“When the economy tanked, our business tanked,” he said. “I won’t tell you that we are not behind on payments. We are, but we are looking for a way to stay afloat and keep these jobs in Century. This town has been good to us.”
With a current monthly rental rate of $2,500, the $103,000 owed to the Town of Century would amount to over 41 months of past due rent. However, it has not been 41 straight months since Century Millworks made a payment, according to McCall. Eight monthly payments were received in each of the years 2011, 2009 and 2008; 10 payments were received in 2010.
“It’s been a payment missed here, a payment missed there,” McCall said.
The Century Town Council has approved a plan that would allow Dockens and Century Millworks to purchase the building with a lower monthly payment and stay in business.
Once a proper appraisal and legal documents are completed, the town will sell the building to Dockens for an estimated $150,000 plus the $103,000 in back rent. The approximate $253,000 purchase price will be financed by the town at 4-percent interest, dropping the monthly payment to just over $1,500. In the event Dockens were to default on the purchase agreement with the town, Century would foreclose on the property.
Council President Ann Brooks, who said, “It’s something that I recommend that we do”, abstained from voting on the plan because Dockens and Century Millworks are clients of her accounting firm.
“I’m looking forward to getting this worked out,” Dockens said, “and keeping these jobs.”
Pictured top: Peggy Nelson uses computerized equipment to cut cabinet doors Tuesday morning at Century Millworks. Pictured top inset: Century Millwork’s building, owned by the Town of Century. Pictured middle inset: Century Millworks owner Donald Dockens at a computerized moulder machine. Pictured bottom inset: Cabinet doors ready for a final sanding. Pictured below: Century Millworks uses a variety of high-tech equipment to craft cabinet doors for a variety of clients. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Holds Pep Rally
November 23, 2011
Northview High School students showed their team pride Tuesday with a pep rally as the Chiefs prepare for the Class 1A regional finals at 7:30 Friday night in Bratt against Freeport.
For a photo gallery, including “special guest” male cheerleaders, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs held a pep rally Tuesday afternoon in advance of the regional finals Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
700 New Jobs Possible For Santa Rosa County
November 23, 2011
About 700 new jobs could be headed to Santa Rosa County by the end of the year.
The unnamed call center company has narrowed their choice to locations in an unknown number of cities, including the former Clearwire building in Milton.
Back in October, the company learned that Clearwire was moving jobs out of Milton, and contacted Team Santa Rosa’s Cindy Anderson at home and setup a visit. TEAM and the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce jointly showed sites in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to the company, which will provide both technical support and technical service.
Now, Santa Rosa County is finalist for the jobs.
“This is a highly competitive process,” said Dave Hoxeng, Team Santa Rosa chairman. “We believe we are the only option still being considered in Florida.”
TEAM is working to line up state and local incentive packages for the company and will make a presentation to the Santa Rosa County Commission next week before presenting a deal to the company.
“Of course, the communities that we are in competition with are also lining up their incentives. This opportunity is for a lot of jobs and it is very competitive,” Hoxeng said.
Slayton Elected School Board Chairman
November 23, 2011
A new chairman and vice chairman were elected Tuesday for the Escambia County School Board.
District 5 board member Bill Slayton, who represents the North Escambia area, will be the board’s chairman for the next year. District 1 member Jeff Bergosh was elected as vice chairman.
The next regular meeting of the Escambia County School Board will be Tuesday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the J.E. Hall Center at 30 East Texar Drive in Pensacola.
Margie Eleanor Waters
November 23, 2011
Mrs. Margie Eleanor Waters, age 78 of Century passed away on Monday, November 22, 2011.
Mrs. Waters was a native of Flomaton and a lifetime member of the Flomaton and Century communities. During her working years, she worked as a clerk for the Town of Century, and she attended the Flomaton Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses. Mrs. Waters is preceded in death by her husband, James Donald Waters; brother, Charles Johnson; sister, Carol Griffis; and grandson, David Waters.
She is survivied by sons, James Waters and Bruce Waters, both of Flomaton, Donnie Waters of Canoe, AL, and Kevin Waters of Bratt; daughters, Gloria Weatherford of Huxford, AL, and Janie Knowles of Century; sisters, Grace Stokes of Jay, Margaret Bliley of Flomaton and Edna Miller of DeFuniak Springs; 18 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mrs. Waters will be held on Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held from 1:30 until service time.
Investigators Still Seeking Clues In Pharmacy Burglary
November 23, 2011
The investigation is continuing into a weekend burglary at a Cantonment pharmacy.
Someone made entry into the Kim’s Pharmacy on Highway 29 about 11:00 Saturday night through the front door. The burglar made his way quickly to the rear of the building, a blue plastic tub in hand, taking prescription narcotics.
He is believed to have fled the scene in a older model white sedan.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Kim’s Family Pharmacy is offering a $500 reward into addition to the reward offered by Crime Stoppers.
Pictured: Still captures from surveillance video during a burglary at Kim’s Family Pharmacy in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Franklin “Frank” Hadley
November 23, 2011
Franklin “Frank” Hadley 74 of Atmore died Tuesday November 22, 2011, at his residence. He was born in Goodway, AL, June 9, 1937, to Charles F. and Nora Tomlinson Hadley and was retired from Monsanto.
He is survived by his wife, Mazie K. Hadley; one son, David Hadley and wife, Linda of Atmore; one brother, John L. Hadley and wife, Nell of Greenville, SC,; two sisters,
Anne Barlar and husband Joseph of Foley and Eloise Ward of Gulf Shores; and one grandson, Charlie Hadley.
Graveside services will be Friday November 25, 2011, at noon at Uriah Cemetery in Uriah, AL, with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating. Active pallbearers will be Whit Whitaker, Gerald Stacey, Scott Fuller, Raymond Bolden, George Snow, and John Smith. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Hendrix, Clark Wooten, Bobby Wooten and Ronnie Brown.
Family will receive friends Friday morning November 25, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore from 10 until 11 a.m.
Featured Recipe: Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake
November 23, 2011
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are featuring recipes on NorthEscambia.com this week. Today’s featured recipe, from columnist Janet Tharpe is a Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake.
Atmore’s Linam Makes 1st Team Capital One Team, Nominated Academic All American
November 23, 2011
Former Atmore resident Josh Linam, senior linebacker for the University of Central Florida Knights, has received a spot on the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District First Team. By being voted onto the First Team, Linam will now be included on the Capital One Academic All-America ballot which will be voted upon beginning this week.
Linam is currently majoring in sports and fitness and holds a cumulative grade-point average of 3.36
Prior to his junior season, Linam was used off the bench in 24 games as he racked up 21 tackles from 2008-09. However in 2010 he broke out and started every game as middle linebacker, guiding UCF to a Conference USA title and an AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory over Georgia. Linam completed the year with 78 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, an interception and a sack.
Now as a senior in 2011, Linam has amassed 42 tackles to rank third on the team, has 6.0 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles while starting eight games.