Ernest Ward Track Meet Canceled
April 5, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School’s participation in a track meet this afternoon at Ferry Pass Middle School was canceled due to weather.
Natural Gas Still Leaking Somewhere Under Hwy 29
April 5, 2012
Over a year after the problem was first publicly revealed as a potential “major public safety issue”, natural gas continues to leak under Highway 29 in Century.
The leak has not gotten any worse, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, as the town continues to jump through hurdles to get a project designed and secure USDA Rural Development loan funding for the project.
McCall said there are ongoing routine checks on the leak to ensure that the problem does not worsen.
About 6,515 feet of 4-inch steel natural gas line was buried beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 29 when the road was widened. Now, 45 years since the almost 1.25 mile long pipe was put into the ground, the town believes the steel is corroding and leaking somewhere between West Highway 4 and McCurdy Street.
The town’s engineer, Dale Long, said this week that funding for the project could come by the end of April, and that it will likely be late this year before actual construction will begin to replace the pipe.
A new 4-inch pipe will be placed on the west side of Highway 29, while a new 2-inch pipe will be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install pipes under the road to service natural gas customers.
The pipe will be installed where existing easements exist or can be obtained at no cost, otherwise, it will be installed under existing sidewalks.
Pictured: Traffic flows on Highway 29 in Century Wednesday afternoon. Decades-old natural gas line buried under the southbound lanes of the highway is leaking. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Rain Chance Tonight; Great Good Friday Weather
April 5, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 78.
Century Man Charged With Felony Animal Abuse
April 5, 2012
A Century man has been charged with allegedly abusing and starving two horses.
Kendrick Jamar Washington, age 23 of Jefferson Avenue, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two felony counts of animal cruelty.
According to an arrest report, Washington placed two horses into a lot on Ramar Street in Century surrounded by a makeshift barbed wire fence. Barbed wire was hanging inside the pen, causing a serious injury to the front leg of one horse.
On January 24, animal control officers found that one horse was tied to a post; the second was found on its side in mud and dirt, unable to get up. Neither horse had access to food or shelter, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Both of the animals were obviously underweight.
Both horses were transported to the Northwest Florida Animal Clinic in Pace for treatment.
Washington was arrested Tuesday night on an outstanding warrant related to the incident. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
Board Seeks Tax Increase To Save County Libraries
April 5, 2012
The West Florida Public Library Board voted unanimously Wednesday to request the Escambia County Commission directly levy a property tax increase to keep public libraries open in the county — including Century and the under-construction Molino Library.
The county may pull its $3.7 million contribution to the library system under a plan proposed by County Administrator Randy Oliver due to a projected $9.5 million budget shortfall.
With a vote of three of five commissioners, the commission can levy the .35 mils tax increase — about $35 on a $100,000 home. But if commissioners do not approve the tax increase, the issue could go to the voters as a referendum on the August ballot.
“The board will go after finding at least three commissioners to vote for the levy,” Bette Hooton, library board president, said following Wednesday’s meeting. “If that’s absolutely a no-go, we will go after the referendum.
“We are not going to go down without trying to save the Molino, Century and Southwest branch libraries,” she said.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the issue at its Committee of the Whole meeting at 9 a.m. on August 12. Wooton and Friends of the Library members are working to gather supporters to attend the meeting.
A yearly user fee of $50 imposed on every Escambia County resident that uses the library has also been suggested as a possible funding source to keep libraries open.
Pictured top: Construction is underway to convert the old Molino School into a library and community center. Pictured inset: The Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Easter Egg Hunt
April 5, 2012
Children from the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center made their annual visit to Century Care Center for an Easter egg hunt Wednesday. The residents prepared a bag of treats for each child and over 300 eggs.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“The children had a wonderful time and we would like to thank the Century Care Center and their staff for all of their hard work in making this annual event wonderful for the
residents and children,” said Pam Townson, Camp Fire Century director.
Pictured: The annual Camp Fire USA took part in an annual Easter egg hunt Wednesday at Century Care Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Easter Celebration For Kids At The Century Library Today
April 5, 2012
The Century Branch Library will hold an Easter Celebration this afternoon.
Children, up to 10, will hear a special story, decorate goose eggs and take part in an Easter Egg Hunt. The free event begins at 4 p.m. at the library at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
For more information, call (850) 256-6217.
Sandra McMurray Jackson Named To BRACE Board
April 5, 2012
Sandra McMurray Jackson of Century has been appointed to the board of directors of BRACE , the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies.
Jackson, a member of the Century Town Council, recently became a member of the Century CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), which is coordinated by BRACE.
Jackson is a 1977 graduate of Century High School and attended Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. She is an active member of First Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She retired after 20 years as a corrections officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. She currently owns Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century.
A Century native, Jackson is the daughter of the late James and Marie McMurray. She was married to the late Rev. Dr. G. Jackson and has two children, Ketric Washington and Demetric Washington.
Pictured top Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” during a disaster drill last October in Century. Pictured inset: Sandra McMurray Jackson at a recent Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter For I-10 Crash
April 5, 2012
A Pensacola woman was been charged with DUI manslaughter for a crash on I-10 in October that claimed the lives of an adult and a child.
Kimberly Renee Rodrigues is now in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Rodrigues was traveling west on I-10 in the early morning hours of October 21 when she rear-ended a 1996 Chevrolet cargo van driven by Melissa Lynn Lyublanovits, 44, of Pensacola.
A resulting chain reaction wreck claimed the life of 71-year old Lovett Junior Cummings and 11-year old Lovett Deshun Cummings II, both of West Palm Beach.
Pictured above: A pickup involved in an October accident on I-10. (Note: The tractor-trailer in the photo was not involved in the crash.)The scene on I-10 in Pensacola where at least two people were killed in a multi-vehicle accident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tralve R. McKinley
April 5, 2012
Tralve R. McKinley, age 87 of Atmore, died Thursday April 5, 2012, in Atmore. He was a mechanic with McKinley’s Auto Service. He was born in Atmore on March 26, 1925, to the late Pearlie and Minnie Smith McKinley.
He is survived by his wife, Ethel Brown McKinley, one son, Steve McKinley; two daughters, Mary Ann Minchew and Debbie Smith of Atmore,; two sisters, Helen Davis of Dothan and Evelyn Spearman of Homa, LA, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be Friday April 6, 2012, at 2 p.m. in McCullough Cemetery with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.