Several Century Streets To Be Repaved Beginning This Week
January 30, 2013
Work to resurface several Century streets is set to begin this week.
Roads, Inc., under a contract rate established with Escambia County, will pave the following:
- Maple Street, $10,090.05
- Nadine McCaw Park, $4,356.55
- Front Street, $25,022.55
- Jefferson Avenue, $41,764.45
- Salters Lake Road, $17,522.30
- Ivy Street (near Hwy 29), $2,000
Century has previously completed paving projects totaling about $308,000 on Freedom Road, Old Flomaton Road, Hecker Road, Elm Street, Hilltop Road, West Cottage Street, Academy Street, Pleasant Hill Road, Ramar Street, Bonwell Lane, Gifford Lane, Barnwell Lane, Field Road and Sellars Road.
The projects began with a priority list created by the Century Town Council back in 2010.
Pictured: Field Road (top) and Sellers Street (below) were among the most recently resurfaced streets in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Burglary, Copper Theft At Town Owned Industrial Building
January 30, 2013
A burglary and copper theft at a vacant town-owned industrial building in Century is under investigation.
Someone busted out a window at the former Van Nevel Helicopters building on Industrial Boulevard in Century. Several small items appeared to have been removed from the building, but the most damage done in the crime was outside the 40,000 square foot building.
The suspect forcibly removed sections of industrial size copper tubing leading from multiple air conditioning units into the building, town officials said. The units themselves were not opened or damaged.
Town employees believe the thefts occurred sometime between Friday and Tuesday morning when the broken window was discovered.
The Van Nevel Helicopters building has been empty for years after the business owner apparently fled the county amidst financial difficulties. The Town of Century foreclosed on the property in August 2009. The heating and cooling systems in the building were replaced with new, energy efficient units in 2011.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician dusts a broken window for fingerprints at the former Van Nevel Helicopters building in Century. Pictured inset: The crime scene tech photographs damage to an air conditioning unit. Pictured below: The vacant town owned building was burglarized some time between Friday and Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Shovels And Rope: Country Rock Duo With Local Ties On Letterman Tonight
January 30, 2013
A husband and wife country rock duo with local ties is scheduled to appear tonight on the Late Show With David Letterman on CBS. Shovels and Rope is Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, based in Charleston, S.C.
Hearst is the daughter of Michael Hearst of Canoe, AL — a small community on the Alabama/Florida line just east of Atmore.
Formed in 2010, Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst sing harmony driven folk, rock and country songs using two old guitars, a kick drum, a snare, a few tambourines, harmonicas, and and maybe a little keyboard sometimes. They tour constantly as a two piece, making as much noise as they can.
“I dare to match them (Shovels and Dirt) with the couple that set the standard for country duets, Johnny Cash and June Carter. Both couples share Southern roots and that music-from-the-back porch country sound, and all involved had solo careers first and showed their affection for each other onstage,” Val Haller wrote in the January 8 edition of the New York Times.
As for the name Shovels and Rope, the group’s website says: “The name Shovels & Rope comes from the title of a record by Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent called Shovels & Rope. It’s a pretty good record featuring several murder ballads where some characters were hanging and others were doing the burying, so the title seemed apt. It now serves as the official moniker of the band.”
Flomaton Drama Club To Present ‘All Shook Up’
January 30, 2013
The Flomaton High School Drama Club will present “All Shook Up” Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:00. Admission is $5.
“This musical is a lot of fun! If you can think of an Elvis song, it’s probably in this musical,” Jerry Aaron, Drama Club advisor said.
“All Shook Up” is inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley. The musical is described: Into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar-playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy that’ll have you jumpin’ out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel”.
Flomaton’s production stars Deston Taylor as Chad, the guitar playing roustabout, and Victoria Roe as Natalie Haller, the local female mechanic who is looking for some excitement. Tyler Dove plays the part of straight-laced military school student; Dean Hyde and Hannah Blair plays the girl who was raised on the wrong side of the tracks Lorraine.
“Both of our male leads are played by veterans of the Drama Club but our female leads are both freshman. These girls are very talented and have worked hard to get this show ready for the production,” Aaron said.
K. J. Head plays Lorraine’s mother Sylvia; Seth Harrison plays Natalie’s dad Jim. Of course the town has a nosey Mayor played by Dezare Turner.
“We have about 25 students involved in this production, and they have worked hard learning to dance and sing this great music. Olivia Singelton has done a great job with the chorography, I certainly could not have done it without her, “Aaron added.
Pictured top: (L-R) Travis Coleman, Tiffany Hardy, Olivia Singelton, Taylor Morris, Taylor Graves, Matt Ledford and Kerrie Kornegay. Deston Taylor kneeling. Pictured below: Girls that love Chad. Pictured inset above: Chad played by junior Deston Taylor is just a roving roustabout, Natalie played by fresham Victoria Roe loves Chad, and Dennis played by Senior Dan Condrey loves Natalie. Picture bottom: Cast members Back row – Seth Harrison, Trent Sutton, Grace Carrier, Trevor Reeves, Scarlett Carter, Kimberly Waldrop, Eric Bossard. Second
row – Dan Condrey, Tyler Dove, Madison Buffington, Kristen Dixon, Hannah Kaylor, Dezarae Turner. Front row – Tiffany Paige, Chelsea Turner, Nickie Brittingham, Hannah Blair, K. J. Head, Alexis Williams, and Daniel Lambeth. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Require CPR Training For All High School Grads?
January 30, 2013
Public school students would be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation as part of their physical education under a measure filed Tuesday. The bill would require students to complete an accredited CPR course at least once before graduating from high school. The bill is sponsored by Clay Ford, R-Gulf Breeze. Class times vary, but CPR can be successfully taught in two to three hours.
Blood Drive Thursday At Tate High In Honor Of Senior Halee Boyd
January 30, 2013
A blood drive will be held tomorrow at Tate High School in honor of student Halee Boyd.
Halee, a Tate senior, is battling a rare cancer and is currently in pediatric intensive care fighting a blood infection, according to Mardi Boyd, her mother. Tuesday morning, Mardi Boyd appeared on Tate High’s in-house television morning show to appeal to students to give blood.
The blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. until 2:30 Thursday at the school for students, faculty and staff. All blood types are needed. Generally, healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Donors that are 16 must have parental consent.
Pictured: Mardi Boyd, mother of cancer patient Halee Boyd, appeared on Tate High School’s in-house morning show Tuesday morning to encourage students to give blood. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Boys Take Two From WS Neal
January 30, 2013
The Northview Chiefs took two from W.S. Neal Eagles Tuesday in boys basketball in East Brewton.
Northview 79, WS Neal 41
In varsity action, Northview beat WS Neal 79-41. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Neino Robinson with 34, Cameron Newsome with 13, Laderious Franklin with 8 and Shane Bushaw with 8. With the win, Northview improved to 12-6 on the season.
Northview 50, WS Neal 27 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Northview beat WS Neal 50-27. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Tydre Bradley with 16, Keondrae Lett with 13 and Nick Lambert with 11. The JV Chiefs improved to 6-2 on the season.
Both teams wrap up regular season play Friday at Tate. The junior varsity game tips off at 5:30, and the varsity plays at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Gary Kitchens
January 30, 2013
Mr. Gary Kitchens, 68, passed away on Monday, January 28, 2013, in Monroeville.
Mr. Kitchens was a native of Waynesboro, MS, a former resident of Flomaton, and has resided in Monroeville for the past 10 years. Mr. Kitchens was an employee at Little Hawk Mining Co and he loved to fish. His son, Michael Kitchens and his parents, Henry Horace and Sallie Kitchens precede him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Kitchens of Monroeville; one daughter, Tammy Davis of Pensacola; one sister, Betty Inez Fizer of Crestview; a special niece, Hootie of Monroeville; and many other special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Saturday, February 2, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Dunn and Rev. Robert Knowles officiating.
Visitation will be Friday, February 1, 2013, from 6 until 9 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Katie “Eloise” (Warren) Simmons
January 29, 2013
Katie “Eloise” (Warren) Simmons, age 73, of Jay, was relieved of all her earthly pains and cares and was called home to her Heavenly Father on January 28, 2013. Eloise was a great cook and artist. She enjoyed sewing, fishing, and gardening. She was a loving wife, sister, and friend. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie Frank Warren and Mary Cooper Warren; nephew, Ronald Craig Locklin and her beloved dog, Josie.
Eloise is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 52 years, Doug Simmons; two brothers, Frank Warren of Sneads, FL and Jerry (Pam) Warren of Conway, SC; three sisters, Janice Faye Locklin, Maxine (Mike) Pace of Brewton, and Kemp (David) Soule of Pensacola; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2013, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Cora Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 1, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church with Rev. LaDon Hall, Rev. Earle Greene, and Rev. Matthew Dobson officiating services. Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be the deacons of Cora Baptist Church, Mickey Diamond, Roger Dobson, Merlin Edwards, Leon Jackson, Jerry McGee, Frank Rowell and Dr. David Smith.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Jay Fire Department Station #27.
The family would like to thank Dr. C. David Smith, Jay Fire Department Station 27, Baptist Home Healthcare, and Betty from Covenant Hospice of Pace. The family would like to give a special thanks to the pastor, deacons, and members of Cora Baptist Church for all the prayers, food, and support given to the family during our time of need.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Burglary Suspect Shot By Deputies Is Identified
January 29, 2013
Sheriff’s investigators have identified the man who was shot and killed by deputies after responding to a burglary in progress call Sunday night.
Paul Gordon Thayer, 49, was fatally shot. Deputies arrived on scene and encountered Thayer, who was armed with a firearm. During the encounter, Thayer pointed the firearm at deputies at which time the deputies discharged their firearms fatally wounding Thayer.
The incident occurred at a self-storage facility in the area of Mobile Highway and Dominguez Street about 10:30 p.m.
Deputy Sheriff Wayne Wright and Deputy 1st Class Mark Smith have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings. Wright has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2007, and Smith has served since 2005.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office are continuing their investigation.
Pictured top: A burglary suspect was shot and killed late Sunday night in a deputy-involved shooting. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.