Warm Winter: Good For Gas Customers, Bad For Century’s Budget
April 4, 2012
An unusually warm winter meant lower natural gas heating bills for Century’s citizens, but it was not such good news for the bottom line of Century’s annual budget.
During the December 2011 through February 2012 time period, the town’s revenue from natural gas sold to residents and businesses was down about 50 percent when compared to the same period one year ago.
“There’s less of a bottom line profit,” Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant, explained. The warmer winter, he said, “was just something that was very unusual compared to the prior year.”
But overall, Hudson said the town is on track with their annual budget. In fact, he said the town’s February budget numbers showed the town spent about $28,000 less than projected.
Traffic Delays: Highway 29, Highway 4 Bridge And East Kingsfield Road
April 4, 2012
Road work will cause traffic delays at multiple locations in the North Escambia area in the next few days.
Highway 29 at Muscogee Road
Highway 29 at I-10 overpass
Southbound traffic on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road and at the I-10 overpass in Escambia County will encounter overnight lane restrictions through Thursday between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. as Transfield Services performs routine maintenance.
East Kingsfield at Highway 29
East Kingsfield will be closed from Highway 29 to nearby Pompano Street. The closure is set to begin today for an Escambia County road construction project. Contractor Roads, Inc. expects to re-open the roadway by April 13.
Highway 4 over Escambia River Bridge
Traffic on Highway 4 over the Escambia River Bridge in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will experience intermittent lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m through Thursday. Florida Department of Transportation bridge inspectors will perform a routine inspection on the bridge.
Lavaun Murphy
April 4, 2012
Lavaun Murphy, 76, passed away April 1, 2012, at WellStar Tranquility Hospice in Austell, Georgia. He was retired and a life-long resident of Atmore. He was a novelist, loved hunting and fishing and was an avid Alabama Crimson Tide and Atlanta Braves fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson and Lyda Mae Murphy of Mexia, Alabama, brother Fred Murphy of Atmore, and sister Eloise Brown of Mexia.
Cherishing his memories are his wife of 57 years Alice Murphy; his daughter Carolyn and Gerald Hust of Winston, Georgia; his granddaughter Chelsea Hust of Winston, Georgia; sister Agnes Akers of Russellville, Alabama; and brother Donald and Annie Murphy of Mexia.
Funeral services will be Thursday, April 5, 2012, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Buddy Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Semirah Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Uriah.
The family will receive visitors at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 from 6-8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Part 3: Inside Century Correctional Institution
April 4, 2012
Today, we continue our exclusive look inside the Century Correctional Institution with look inside the library, educational programs and food service. Our series will continue tomorrow.
The food service facility is a point of pride at Century Correctional.
The facility serves 1,400 inmates in about an hour and a half, including service for medical special diet prisoners at the beginning or end of a food shift. The noise at a meal is best described as a low murmur — inmates are allowed only to talk to one of the three others at their table. There’s no conversation or food sharing with neighboring tables.
The annual food service allocation is about $1.18 million. Almost all inmate food is baked or boiled — no frying.
During the winter, there was plenty of fresh cabbage, collards and turnips served at Century CI. Under a partnership with the University of Florida’s IFAS program, inmates grew 460,000 pounds of winter vegetables worth $279,000 that were served a Century CI and correctional facilities across the Panhandle. The total average cost to feed a prisoner at Century CI is $1.48 per day.
Expectations of a cool, comfortable dining experience are out the window during the summer — there’s no air conditioning.
“Stay Shocked == Sober, Humble, Open minded, Committed, Knowledgeable, Educated, Determined”
In an educational building, inmate art offers motivational thoughts long the walls.
Another sign offers a large question mark — “WAIT — What Am I Thinking”.
During our visit to the prison library, inmates worked quietly, shelving books
Inside the Century CI Library is a room that offers a glimmer of hope to inmates looking to get out of prison. It’s a complete law library available to inmates wishing to file motions or formulate their appeal. Several inmates serve as trained law clerks, providing assistance to other inmates. Approved inmates can conduct law research on computers, but there is no internet access on the machines.
A large red sign in the library is perhaps very ironic in a prison. “Sign Out Here”
The remainder of library contains thousands of volumes like any ordinary library. But at the Century CI library, the books and magazines have been screened with no descriptive material about prison escapes or weapons, and no sexually suggestive images.
For more photographs, click here.
For Part 1 of this series from Monday, click here.For Part 2 of this series from Tuesday, click here.
Our series “Inside Century Correctional Institution” continues later this week on NorthEscambia.com.
Picture top: Dining area at Century Correctional Institution. Pictured bottom inset: Law library at Century CI. Pictured below: A portion of the Century CI library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Santa Rosa Spice, Bath Salt Crackdown
April 4, 2012
Authorities in Santa Rosa County executed two search warrants at businesses that were allegedly selling controlled substances commonly known as “spice” and “bath salts”.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Milton Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office executed the search warrants at Showcase Tobacco and Stackhouse Wholesale DVD’s Etc. on Dogwood Drive.
For a photo gallery of items seized, click here.
Santa Rosa County investigators said that numerous undercover purchases of controlled substances were made from both businesses over the past nine months. The substances were confirmed as being illegal “spice” and “bath salts” by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
No arrests have been made to date, but the Sheriff’s Office said the State Attorney’s Office will soon make a decision regarding any criminal charges.
The following items were seized, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office:
From Stackhouse Wholesale DVD’s, Etc. – 22 one gallon zip lock baggies (between 400 and 500 grams each) containing an herbal compound. The herbal compound, if sprayed with the synthetic cannabinoid compounds, would have a street value in excess of $1,000,000.00. The owner stated that the herbal compound had not yet been sprayed, however it will be sent to FDLE for testing. A small baggie of alleged Spice was also located, along with numerous containers that used to store Spice (still containing residue).
From Showcase Tobacco – When investigators arrived on scene, the owner stated that they no longer had any illegal substances present on the premises. The search revealed hundreds of packages of Spice (numerous brand names) located in a back room, which are known to be controlled substances per Florida statute. Hundreds of drug paraphernalia items were also seized that were for sale in the establishment. The estimated value of the seized property is approximately $50,000.
Baseball, Softball: Tate, Flomaton, Jay, Northview
April 4, 2012
Escambia beat Tate Tuesday night, and the Jay Royals dropped one to the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Escambia 7 — Tate 4
The Tate Aggies were handed just their second loss of the season Tuesday night.
With a 7-4 loss in Pensacola to the Escambia Gators, the Tate Aggies fell to 15-2 overall, 8-1 in district play.
The Aggies have two more district games this week — Thursday at Pine Forest and Friday at Pace. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
Flomaton 6 — Jay 3
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Jay Royals 6-3 Tuesday night as the Canes 17-game winning streak continues.
Joseph Parker started for the Canes but got a no decision. Hunter Bonds earned the win for the Hurricanes, and Todd Laney took the loss for the Royals. Zack Watson came in during the last innings and got a save. Flomaton is now 18-3 on the season.
Scenic Hwy Closed By Crash; Hundreds Lose Power
April 4, 2012
A portion of Scenic Highway was closed for hours Wednesday morning after a utility pole was snapped in an early morning wreck.
About 3:16 a.m., 21-year old Blake Busbee was eastbound on Scenic Highway in the area of Pelican Lane when he fell asleep and struck the pole, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Busbee was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
He was cited with careless driving by the FHP.
Gulf Power says 811 customers were left without power by the crash. Gulf crews worked throughout the morning to replace the pole.
Pictured: Hundreds were left without power and Scenic Highway was closed for hours after this wreck early Wednesday morning. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Likely For Today
April 3, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southeast. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Convenience Store Robbed At Gunpoint
April 3, 2012
A North Century Boulevard convenience store was robbed at gunpoint Monday night.
The armed bandit entered the Southern Pit Stop just south of the Alabama state line in Century about 9 p.m. The store clerk told deputies that the robber displayed a small caliber silver-colored handgun during the holdup. He fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one inside the store was injured.
The suspect was described as a heavyset black male about 6-foot 2-inches tall. He was reportedly dressed in almost all black — a black shirt, black pants, a black mask and brown gloves.
A K-9 team from Century Correctional Institution tracked the suspect toward Academy Street behind the store. Authorities believe the suspect fled in an unknown type vehicle.
The robbery remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information on the holdup is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: The Southern Pit Stop convenience store in Century was robbed at gunpoint Monday night. Pictured inset: Tracking dogs from Century Correctional Institution begin their search for the suspect. Pictured below: The K-9 unit prepares to search shortly after Monday night’s robbery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Charged With DUI After Two Wrecks
April 3, 2012
A Molino woman was charged with DUI following two wrecks Saturday afternoon on Crabtree Church Road.
Frieda McCrory Allen, 55, was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with DUI property damage and altering a controlled substance prescription.
Allen was first involved in an accident on Crabtree Church Road at the Molino Ballpark. The other driver involved in the crash was cited for being at fault and pulling out in front of Allen. At that time, a FHP trooper said Allen appeared “normal” with no impairments.
Just a few minutes after leaving the first wreck scene, Allen drove a short distance where she struck a culvert at the intersection of Crabbtree Church Road and Sunshine Hill Road. According to the trooper, Allen began to exhibit signs of impairment, including slurred speech and droopy eyelids.
According to an arrest report, she began to ramble things at the trooper that made no sense.
“I can see uh… add uhh… if he uhh.. is in the right. Whatever on the fine. Uhh… You know what I mean… uhh .. that uhh. on the next pm uhh,” is the response Allen gave the trooper when asked about a wrecker for her vehicle, the FHP report states.
Allen then failed several field sobriety tests. A blood alcohol breath test indicated that Allen had no alcohol in her system, but she was “extremely impaired” due to some type of medication, the report states. The FHP is awaiting the results of a urine test.
The trooper located several different medications in Allen’s vehicle, including Lortab. One of the pill bottled “had been altered from the original state that had been prescribed to her”, according to troopers, leading to the drug charge.