Seasonable Weather Returns
October 1, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. East wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 82.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Columbus Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 83.
Historical Society To Manage New Molino Community Center
October 1, 2012
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society will manage the new Molino Community Center and Historical Museum when it opens later this month in the newly renovated old Molino Elementary School.
The historical society will pay the county $3 for a three-year lease on the facility.
The Escambia County Department of Community Affairs has partnered with local, non-profit organizations in the management of community centers throughout the county. The organizations provide the ongoing management related to the facilities. In exchange the non-profits receive lease fees from other groups, businesses and individuals that lease the community center for special events.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Local Governments Begin New Budget Years
October 1, 2012
Monday was the first day of the new 2012-2013 budget year for local governments.
The Escambia County Commission approved a $356 million fiscal year 2012-2013 budget with no tax increases.
The Town of Century’s budget for the fiscal year is about $2.14 million less than last year. The 2012-2013 budget was set at $2,889,827. Last year’s $5,032,816 budget was unusually large for Century due to grant income and expenditures of $1,913,000. There were no ad valorem tax increases.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power, ECUA Water Reuse Project Wins National Award
October 1, 2012
Gulf Power Company has won a national award for its water reuse project with Emerald Coast Utility Authority, after reusing nearly five billion gallons of treated wastewater at its Plant Crist rather than water from the Escambia River.
The WateReuse Association named Gulf Power the Water Reuse Customer of the Year. In 2010, ECUA began piping water from its new water treatment plant in Cantonment to Gulf Power, which uses the water in its steam generating process.
Gulf Power has reclaimed more than 4.8 billion gallons of reclaimed water — the equivalent of 7,318 Olympic-size swimming pools.
The award recognizes customers who have advanced the acceptance of water reuse through innovative marketing and/or unique applications of reclaimed water.
“With our scrubber system we are providing cleaner electricity for Northwest Florida, but this partnership with ECUA also helps preserve and conserve a valuable natural resource,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications Manager. “It shows that through partnerships, we can provide solutions for sustainable resources and responsible growth. This partnership benefits Northwest Florida with cleaner air and cleaner water.”
At Plant Crist, Gulf Power has significantly reduced the amount of water it draws from Escambia River. The reclaimed water, which is highly treated, is used by Plant Crist to cool air going into the scrubber system and for equipment-cooling operations. Up to 80 percent of the water is evaporated.
The scrubber system, which cost $645 million and started operating in December 2009, reduces regulated air emissions from Plant Crist by more than 95 percent.
Pictured top: Gulf Power’s Plant Crist with a scrubber system in operation (right tower). Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Holland Named ‘Ag Innovator’
October 1, 2012
Bruce Holland of Allentown has been named the the Santa Rosa County Agriculture Innovator of the Year.
Holland, who operates Holland Farms, received the award from the Santa Rosa County Extension Service. Holland Farms is a diversified business that produces fresh produce, green peanuts, and is involved in agro-tourism with their pumpkin patch and other fall events.
The farm is a family affair with all the members of the family involved in different activities. BJ Holland, Bruce’s son and the farms manager, is responsible for starting the hay ride and the haunted hay ride last year.
Bruce’s daughter Julie, a high school business teacher, helps out with the farm’s bookkeeping and maintains their website and Facebook page. Bruce’s brothers Charles and Melvin also assist in the daily operation of the farm.
Whether it be in producing, marketing, adding value to existing crops, developing agro-tourism venues, or promoting agriculture they have led the way. Bruce says the key to their success is simply
“We like people, I like visiting with folks. When they come to our farm we go out of our way to make sure they feel welcomed and have a good time. It’s a long way out here to the farm and we want to make it worthwhile to the people who come,” Holland said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Margaret Louise Campbell Gandy
October 1, 2012
Ms. Margaret Louise Campbell Gandy 73 of Molino, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2012.
Ms. Gandy was born January 8, 1939, to Rufus and Katie Campbell in Century and had resided in Molino for 10 years coming from Century.
She was the owner of Gandy’s Ambulance Service and then went to work for Escambia County Emergency Medical Services as a supervisor and coordinator. After retiring from Escambia County, she started Gandy’s Nursery and Landscaping.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rufus and Katie Campbell; brothers, Dennis and Cornelius Campbell; her children, Troy Gandy and Dianne Salter.
She is survived by her daughter, Katie (Roger) Burkett of Century; son, Robert (Yvette) Gandy of Berrydale; brothers, Billy (Faye) Campbell of Pensacola, James (Velda) Campbell of Century; sister, Dorthy Johnson of Century; 10 grandchildren, Patrick (Cara) Salter of Milton, Maunica (Will) Williams of Century, Mickey (Robbie Lynn) Burkett of Flomaton, Carlyn (Wesley) Salter of Jay, Jeremy (Monica) Grimes of Century, Javis Grimes of Century, Megan (Anthony) Golden of Berrydale, Jared Gandy of Berrydale, Joy (Justin) White of Jay, Philip Gandy of Berrydale and Kennedy Salter of Jay. She was the proud great-grandmother of 11 beautiful great-grandchildren, Emily, Rebecca, Trinity, Joshua, Ava, Jacklynn and Weston Salter, Madalyn and Kendall Grimes, Landon Golden and Amber Burkett; many nieces, nephews and loved ones.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at Berrydale Baptist Church in Berrydale from 6 until 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Berrydale Baptist Church.
Interment will follow in McCurdy Cemetery in Century.
Pallbearers will be Patrick Salter, Jeremy Grimes, Javis Grimes, Jarred Gandy, Philip Gandy, Will Williams, and Justin White.
Dig Pink Volleyball Matches To Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness
October 1, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes will take part in a Dig Pink volleyball match this week to raise breast cancer awareness.
Dig Pink is an organization raising awareness for cancer through volleyball. A hospitality room will be available for survivors and cancer survivors will receive free admission to the games.
The Dig Pink event will take place Thursday, October 4 with the junior varsity playing at 4:30 and the varsity playing at 6:00 at Northview High School in Bratt.
Donations are being accepted now on the Northview Dig Pink website (click here.)
Pictured: Action from last year’s Dig Pink matchup between Northview and Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Helen Louise Jackson
October 1, 2012
Mrs. Helen Louise Jackson, age 79 of Century, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2012, at Jay Hospital.
Mrs. Jackson was born in Century and spent her lifetime there. She was a homemaker and a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, J.B. Jackson of Century; daughters, Terri (Mark) Fremin of Century, Julia (Stacey) Long of Dahlonega, GA and Debrah Jackson of Century; brother, Bob Carnley of Brownsville, TX; sister, Carrie Jackson of DeQuincy, LA; eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Cloud and Rev. Steve Hart officiating.
Interment will be in McCurdy Cemetery in Century.
Pallbearers will be Shawn Long, Brandon Long, Matthew Thomas, Jay Croley, Adam Johnson, Josh Butts, and Cody Fowler.
Addie Belle Copeland
October 1, 2012
Addie Belle Copeland, 89 of Atmore, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2012. She taught school for 38 years. The last 25 years of those were at Davis Elementary School. She retired in 1980, was an active member of First Baptist Church of Atmore and worked tirelessly for many years teaching Sunday school, training union, vacation Bible school and initiated the Bible drill program.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Eddie Carl Copeland.
Survivors include her daughter, Sheila Copeland of Montgomery; her son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Anita Copeland of Cary, NC; two grandchildren, Jared (Ali) Copeland of Austin, TX, and Laura Copeland (Terry) Pollard of Tulsa, OK; three great-grandchildren, Jack and Chuck Copeland, and Mya Pollard.
Services will be Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at 10 a.m. from the First Baptist Church of Atmore with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Interment and graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. in Longino Baptist Church Cemetery in Philadelphia, MS.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Dr. John Smith’s Sunday school class.
Family will receive friends Tuesday October 2, 2012, at the First Baptist Church of Atmore from 9 a.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.