Work For Minimum Wage? You Got A Pay Raise
January 3, 2012
If you work for minimum wage in Florida, you received a 36-cent pay raise on Sunday.
Minimum wage in the state jumped from $7.31 to $7.67 an hour on January 1. That’s good news for about 253,000 Floridians at the bottom the pay scale, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Experts say that many businesses will also bump up other wager earners to keep their pay scales in line.
Tip earning employees also received a pay raise of 36-cents per hour, with a wage increase to $4.65.
It was part of a 2004 measure approved by voters that raises the minimum wage in the state in each year at a rate that is tied to inflation. The federal minimum wage will remain at $7.25.
2011 In Photos: October
January 3, 2012
We are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2011. Today, we are featuring photos from October.
An improvised oxygen mask made from a water bottle is used on a puppy revived by CPR after a Century house fire.
This woman was among those arrested during an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Operation Clean Sweep” in Century.
This accident at Chemstrand and Ten Mile roads presented an interesting image.
Jay Elementary School made the national news after racy images were found on slap bracelets given to students as prizes from a fundraising company.
Incumbent Mayor Freddie McCall shakes hands with defeated challenger Henry Hawkins after Century election results were announced.
Annie Carter Savage and her husband Lloyd react to the news that she has been reelected to the Century Town Council.
Northview High beat Feeport in a district matchup.
Tate High School held their Senior Night.
A CERT disaster training exercise was held in Century.
Two people were seriously injured in this crash on Highway 29 in Bluff Springs.
Logan Doremus and Trace Franklin perform the skit “Nerd USA” during a talent show at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Hundreds of people attended the annual Williams Station Day in Atmore.
Senior Night was held at Northview High School.
Hundreds of area residents attended the annual Fall Festival in Flomaton.
A copper thief destroyed air conditioning units at the Davisville Community Center.
One person was injured in this crash in which they said they were trying to avoid hitting a deer.
Rebecca Wilburn watches through an ambulance window as first responders work to save her 9-year daughter following an ATV accident in Walnut Hill.
Funeral services were held for Megan Wilburn, a 9-year old Bratt Elementary School student killed in an ATV accident.
Homecoming was held at Tate High School.
Fall was in the air at the annual Molino Park Carnival.
Bratt Elementary School students took a virtual trip to Russia during a week-long Global Corner Learning Center program at the school.
The Second Annual Chief Challenge 5K was held at Northview High School. Overall male and female winners were Georgia Goetter and Isaac McGahan.
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals 56-7.
The Jay High School band performs a variety of “Car Tunes” at a Friday night football game in Jay.
Milton defeated the Tate Aggies 35-17.
Diann Stewart of the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue explains fire safety to a group of students at Bratt Elementary School.
A “Dig Pink” volleyball game between Northview and Flomaton benefits cancer awareness.
A new free Health and Hope Clinic to serve the needy opened in Century. Above, Executive Director Rick Hollis discusses clinic details with volunteer Billy R. Ward of Bogia.
Pac-Man and Pie: Someone spray-painted graffiti that included a slice of pie and apparent Pac-Man characters on the 120-foot tall Bratt-Davisville Water System water tower on North Highway 99.
The Century Town Council approved a business tax rate equal to that charged by Escambia County.
Thousands of people attended the annual Jay Peanut Festival.
Jay High School held their annual homecoming parade during October.
Beverly Nichols
January 3, 2012
Beverly Nichols, 65 of Atmore, Al died Saturday, December 31, 2011, at her residence.
She was a retired seamstress with Vanity Fair Mills. She was born in Atmore on September 11, 1946, to the late Dallas H. and Ara Dean Bray Nichols.
She is surved by two brothers, Ralph Nichols of Uriah, and George E. Nichols of Bakersfield, CA; two nephews, Jeffery Nichols of Uriah and Johnny Nichols of Andalusia; and one niece, Penny Melton of Bakersfield, CA.
Graveside services will be Friday January 06, 2012, at 2 p.m. in Godwin Cemetery in Bratt with Rev. Mark Whittington officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
Fire Destroys Northern Santa Rosa County Home
January 3, 2012
A late night fire on New Year’s Eve destroyed a home in northern Santa Rosa County, marking the sixth and final candle to be extinguished on the “2011 Keep Your Holidays Bright” fire safety tree.
A passerby reported the fire at 11:06 p.m. in the 6400 block of Highway 4 in Berrydale. The fire was fully involved when the first fire crews arrived on scene at 11:15 p.m. There were no injuries reported; the residents were not at home at the time of the fire. A family of three was left homeless by the blaze.
The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office. The Berrydale, Jay and Allentown fire departments responded to the blaze.
There were four candles extinguished on the Santa Rosa County fire safety tree in 2010, each marking residential fire in the county. There were six residential fires in 2009.
Is Your Heater Safe, Or Was It Recalled? Find Out Here
January 3, 2012
Several models of electric space heaters have been recalled in the past few months by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, including:
- Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essentials Heaters (2.2 million units) The heaters can malfunction resulting in overheating, smoking, burning, melting and fire.
- Lasko Portable Electric Heaters (107,500 units) An electrical connection in the base of the unit can overheat, causing it to melt and expose the electrical connection, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
- Honeywell Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats (77,000 units) The thermostats can overheat, causing them to melt and smoke. This poses a burn hazard to the consumer.
- GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters (90,600 units) An electrical component in the heating system can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
- Meijer Touch Point Oscillating Ceramic Heaters (13,000 units) The oscillating mechanism in the heaters can short out, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
To find out more about the recalled products, including model numbers and photos, visit the CPSC website.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
January 3, 2012
You can recycle your natural Christmas tree in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
In Escambia County:
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will pick up Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.
Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees and cut the trees so that no portion is longer than six feet. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash, and should not be placed in the regular garbage container or recycling cans.
ECUA will not offer drop-off sites for trees this year because of the lack of participating the last few years.
For more information, call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
In Santa Rosa County:
Santa Rosa County residents are urged to start the New Year “green” by recycling their live Christmas trees. Trees dropped off by Tuesday, January 31 at the five recycling areas around the county will be chipped and offered as free mulch at Clean Community System in Milton at a later date to be announced.
When dropping off trees, please place the trees in the designated area identified by signage. Do not place trees in front of the recycling containers. Trees can be disposed at:
- Jay Transfer Station, on Transfer Station Road
- Quintette Recycle Area at the Five Points Intersection
- Pace Patriot Boulevard next to Pace Volunteer Fire Department
- Tiger Point recreation area in Gulf Breeze, east of Walmart
- Clean Community System on Park Avenue
Helpful Hints To Prevent Frozen Pipes
January 3, 2012
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is offering helpful tips to prevent the expense of frozen pipes — especially external, exposed pipes that are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing.
Short Term:
Run a Trickle of Water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run thin trickles of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water, but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to that of repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
Long Term:
The Backflow Preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water lines are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
Disconnect And Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This will prevent the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
For more information visit the ECUA web site @ www.ecua.org, or call Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
Lillie “Ates” Rowell
January 3, 2012
Lillie “Ates” Rowell was born on October 11, 1939 and went home to our Lord on January 2, 2011.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Society and the Jay Historical Society.
Ms. Rowell is survived by her children, Michael Rowell, Steven Rowell, Kenneth (Cherie) Rowell, Marion Rowell Blue, Dennis (Anne) Rowell, and Danny Rowell; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Barbara Barnes and Johanna Phillips; brothers, Curtis Ates and Colvin Ates; and cousin and special friend, Mary Phillips.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Fred Shelby Rowell; parents, Vinson and Minnie Ates; brothers, Clifford Ates, Cecil Ates, and Clinton Ates; sister, Betty Nelson and a lifelong friend, Grace Copeland.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012, from 6-8 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 6, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Community of Christ Cemetery in Berrydale.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
‘Killer’ Charged With Shooting Into House After Victim Stole Crack
January 2, 2012
A Cantonment man is behind bars after allegedly shooting into a house in an incident that began when he claimed he took $40 worth of crack cocaine from his dealer — known as “Killer”.
Brad Tamarcus Tucker, 27, was booked into the Escambia County Jail late last week on charges of firing a firearm into a dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, using a firearm during the commission of felony and intimidation of a witness. He remained in jail early Monday morning with bond set at $550,000.
The charges were related to a January 10, 2011 incident in which Billy Earl Grantham III of Cantonment told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he attempted to buy crack cocaine from a dealer he knew only as “Killer”. Grantham told deputies that he was in the car with “Killer” when he took $40 in crack without the money to pay for it.
Grantham told deputies that he exited the car, with “Killer” following him — and threatening to kill him. Grantham then went inside his home in the 1100 block of Kathleen Avenue. About 20 minutes later, someone fired at least two rounds into his home.
Grantham’s friend told deputies he saw “Killer” stand in Grantham’s driveway and fire three times with a semi-automatic handgun. The friend told deputies that he knew “Killer” lived on Lake Drive in Cantonment. Both Grantham and his friend identified “Killer” has being Tucker from a photo lineup, according to an arrest report.
Brrr! Middle 20’s Tonight, Colder Tuesday Night
January 2, 2012
We are expecting the lowest temperatures so far this winter season tonight and Tuesday night.
Necessary precautions should be taken to protect exposed pipes and sensitive outdoor plants, and adequate shelter should be provided for outdoor pets and animals. Also, plans should be made to check on the elderly or those without proper heat.
Here is your freezing cold North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 25. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 21. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming west.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.