Some Gulf Power Customers Victim To Scam Artists
November 2, 2011
Scam artists have victimized residents in Northwest Florida recently by impersonating utility company employees, according to Gulf Power.
The company has received calls in the past few weeks from customers being contacted by someone posing as a Gulf Power employee. The caller tells the victim that their electricity bill is past due and that electricity will be cut off if the customer does not provide a credit card payment immediately. The card numbers are then used to make fraudulent purchases.
According to Gulf Power:
- Gulf Power employees will never call a customer at home seeking any personal information including credit card numbers.
- Gulf Power representatives will never ask a customer for money when they visit a residence.
- All Gulf Power representatives carry badges with picture identification that includes the employee’s name and the company’s name and logo.
Customers should call Gulf Power at (800) 225-5797 with questions about the identity of anyone representing Gulf Power.
Gulf Power is working with local law enforcement agencies to identify the callers. Anyone that has received a call asking for personal information about a Gulf Power account should call local law enforcement and Gulf Power at (800) 225-5797.
Cantonment Woman Sentenced For August DUI Crash
November 2, 2011
A 22-year old Cantonment woman has been sentenced for driving under the influence in an August 19 drunk driving crash.
Keara Marie Duncan was sentenced to 12 months probation and 50 hours of community service, and her driver’s license was suspended for 12 months.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Duncan was northbound on Pine Forest Road in a 2002 Dodge Caravan when she apparently passed out while making a turn onto 9½ Mile Road about 3:20 a.m. August 19, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. She collided with a 2002 Chrysler stopped at a stop sign. The driver of that Chrysler, 32-year old Larry D. Simmons II of Pensacola, was not injured.
Duncan’s blood alcohol level was .125, according to the FHP.
Peanut Butter Prices Headed Up
November 2, 2011
That peanut butter and jelly sandwich is going to cost you more after the next time you pick up peanut butter at the local grocery store.
Some peanut butter brands expect to raised prices by as much as 40 percent due to a short supply of peanuts. Drought across the nation cut peanut production by about 13 percent, according to the USDA.
Pictured above: The sun sets in the distance behind a dust cloud created by a recent peanut harvest at Gobbler Road and Highway 97 near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore, Flomaton, Brewton Received $1.25 Million Sewer Grants
November 2, 2011
Atmore, Flomaton and Brewton have been awarded grants totaling $1.25 million to repair damaged sewer lines.
Community Development Block Grants of $450,000 each to Atmore and Brewton and $350,000 to Flomaton will enable the rehabilitation of sections of old cracked clay sewer lines that have been the source of frequent sewage leaks.
“Without grant assistance, these vital projects would create a huge burden for strained local budgets,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said. “I am pleased we can help Atmore, Brewton and Flomaton improve the quality of life for their residents.”
Over the years, the clay pipes have developed many cracks which allow frequent sewage leaks in residents’ yards. A new lining will be placed inside the old pipes to cover the cracks and eliminate leaks. The liners will be installed by robotic equipment controlled by workers using video cameras.
Atmore will rehabilitate sections of sewer line along Wilson Avenue, benefiting 144 people. The project in Brewton will re-line sewer pipes in the Alco neighborhood, benefiting 448 people. In Flomaton, sewer repairs will be made in an area of downtown bordered on the north by U.S. Highway 31 and Roosevelt Street, on the south by College Street, on the east by U.S. Highway 29 and on the west by Ringold Avenue. The project will benefit 154 people.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Santa Rosa Teacher Faces Possible Elections Law Fine
November 2, 2011
A Santa Rosa County teacher faces what may be the first fine for someone for violating the new election law requirements related to registering voters.
Dawn Quarles faces a potential $1,000 fine for turning in voter resgistration applications for students more than 48 hours after they were signed, a violation of the new elections requirement passed earlier this year by the Legislature. Quarles teaches government at Pace High School, in Santa Rosa County. The old time limit was 10 days.
The Associated Press reported that Secretary of State Kurt Browning wrote a letter asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the civil fine against Quarles. One reason the state is going after Quarles for the violation is that she has at least one violation in the past, when the time limit was 10 days. Quarles told the AP that because of that, she made sure this year to get the applications in within 10 days – not knowing the time limit had changed.
By The News Service of Florida
Public Meeting: Crabtree Church Road Widening Plan
November 2, 2011
A public meeting will be held next week concerning a proposal to pave the shoulders along Crabtree Church Road between Highway 97 and Sunshine Hill Road in Molino.
Escambia County has received funding from the Florida Department of Transportation Rural Work Program for the design and construction of five-foot asphalt shoulders on the 2.5 mile segment of roadway.
The public meeting to receive input from property owners and stakeholders will be held from 5:30 until 6:30 on Tuesday, November 8 at Molino Park Elementary School at 899 Highway 97.
Elaine Dean
November 2, 2011
Mrs. Elaine Dean, 84 of Flomaton passed away on October 29, 2011, at a local hospital.
Mrs. Dean was a member of the Flomaton community since 1947, coming from Atmore. She was a homemaker and had worked as a dispatcher for Flomaton City Hall, secretary for the Flomaton First Baptist Church and as bookkeeper for Western Auto.
She is survived by her husband, Judson Dean of Flomaton; sons, Wayne Allen and Gay Dyess-Dean of Atlanta and Larry Eugene and Debora Dean of Pensacola.
Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, November 1, 2011, at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 2, at 11 a.m. with Dr. Jerry Keese officiating at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery.
Firefighters Battle Railroad Cross Tie Fire (With Photo Gallery)
November 1, 2011
Fire stations from across the area responded to a railroad cross tie fire at the state line between Century and Flomaton Monday morning.
The fire was mostly contained to two large piles of cross ties, causing little or no damage to nearby tracks in the CSX rail yard that sits on the state line. Smoke from the 11:25 a.m. blaze could be seen for miles.
There were no reports of injuries.
The Flomaton and Friendship fire departments from Alabama and the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire rescue from Florida responded to the blaze. Firefighters remained on scene until about 1:30 p.m.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Paves Route Across Perdido River; Florida Side Remains Dirt
November 1, 2011
Baldwin County has completed an environmentally friendly paving project on Barrineau Park Road on the Alabama side of the Perdido River, but the Florida side will remain dirt.
Baldwin County paved the 2.8 miles of the former dirt road from the Perdido River to Highway 112. The Florida side stretches from the river to the intersection of South Highway 99 and Highway 196 in the Barrineau Park community.
Escambia County owns the bridge across the Perdido River, according to District 5 Commissioner Kevin White. But the county-maintained dirt road on the Florida side is privately owned by the Barrineau Estate. It is only about four-tenths of a mile long, but the county has no right to pave it.
It is the only east-west route across the Perdido River between Muscogee Road in Cantonment and Highway 31 in Escambia County, Ala. The road is often used by farmers and ranchers as they transport goods to market from North Escambia to Robertsdale, Ala. It is also a shortcut route for many families to activities and shopping in Baldwin County.
Baldwin County identified the road as one of the county’s most environmentally damaging roads and funded the work with a 2007-2008 Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant funds to eliminate or reduce the amount of sediment that reaches waterways and wetlands.
“This project substantially reduced the amount of silt and sediment that was being washed into the Perdido River and Bay and will allow for the continued protection of native plants, fish and wildlife habitats in the wetland areas,” according to a Baldwin County press release.
Pictured above: Before and after images of Barrineau Park Road in Baldwin County, Ala. Pictured inset: Work on the Baldwin County side of the Perdido River in August, 2010. Pictured below: Barrineau Park Road on the Florida side of the Perdido River. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Charged With Byrneville Grand Theft
November 1, 2011
A 21-year old Century woman has been charged in a Byrneville theft.
Hannah Leighann Hamilton of North Century Blvd. was charged with felony grand theft and petit theft last week in connection with a late September incident. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s office report, Hamilton was accused of taking an engagement ring and bracelet from a residence on Byrneville Road.
Hamilton was released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,000 bond.