Prescribed Burn In Jones Swamp Preserve
January 21, 2014
Weather conditions have forced the postponement of a prescribed burn in the Jones Swamp Preserve.
The Escambia County Natural Resources Conservation Division is still preparing for a prescribed burn in the Jones Swamp Preserve, which could be conducted by a certified prescribed burn contractor with assistance from the Florida Forest Service. The prescribed burn could take place between Wednesday, January 22, and Friday, January 24, to restore the natural ecology of the Jones Swamp Preserve and reduce the danger of wildfires.
The Escambia County Natural Resources Conservation Division is keeping a close eye on weather conditions in an effort to complete this prescribed burn this week, but there is a concern that weather conditions will not be favorable.
Work Continues To Replace High Voltage Transmission Line
January 21, 2014
Work is continuing to replace a high voltage transmission line through North Escambia. Powersouth, which generates and supplies power to Escambia River Electric Cooperative, is replacing the existing transmission line across northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured top: A truck used in the installation of new high voltage lines across West Highway 4 east of Bratt. Pictured left: Concrete poles replaced wooden poles on a North Escambia high voltage transmission line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Strong Cold Wind Today, Down To 22 Tonight
January 21, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 22. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 43. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Marilyn Dianne Davis Rice
January 21, 2014
Marilyn Dianne Davis Rice, 57, passed away January 20, 2014, in Gainesville, FL. She was a lifetime resident of Century and a charter member of Faith Bible Baptist Church in Century. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband James L. (Jim) Rice; her godly parents, Willie and Geraldine Davis; grandparents, John and Katie Henderson, Thelma Weaver; and niece, Jeri Dense Davis. She had a special love for children and babysat from her home. She always put others first and would help someone in need. We will miss her and we will never forget her beautiful face.
She is survived by her children, Derek (Casey) Rice and Whitney (Timothy) Dunsford all of Century; grandchildren, Zoey Dunsford, Chandler, Braiden, Mary Grace, Adam, Madison and Cooper Rice; sisters, Jackie (Jason) Thomas of Jay and Susan (Daniel) Macks of McKenzie, AL; brothers, Billy (Karen) Davis and Keith Davis both of Century; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.
Marilyn was a loving mother, wonderful sister, a great daughter and a caring friend.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 25, 2014, at 11 a.m. from the Faith Bible Baptist Church with Rev. Ricky Dunsford officiating.
Burial will follow in Byrneville Methodist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 25, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. until service time at Faith Bible Baptist Church.
Donations can be made to the Marilyn Rice memorial fund at United Bank in Flomaton.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of arrangements.
Northview’s Football Stadium To Be Named For Tommy Weaver
January 21, 2014
The Escambia County School Board is set to consider a resolution to name the stadium at Northview High School as the “Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium”.
Today, the board is set to approve advertising a public hearing on the proposal to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 during the board’s regular meeting the Hall Center on Texar Drive. The name change will be official after being approved at the March meeting.
Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Nicholas “Nick” Aaron Rolin
January 21, 2014
Mr. Nicholas “Nick” Aaron Rolin, 22, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2014, in Atmore.
Mr. Rolin was a native and lifelong resident of Perdido. Mr. Rolin was happy and he never met a stranger. His grandparents, Carlis & Beulah Johnson and Charles Rolin precede him in death.
He is survived by his father and mother, Danny & Pat Rolin of Perdido; one daughter, Autum Hastings of Nokomis, AL; two brothers, Brandon (Donyel) Rolin of Perdido and Patrick Rolin, all of Perdido; one sister, Kimberly (Kevin) Douglas of Lake City, FL; grandmother, Betty Rolin of Atmore; one aunt, Melinda (Dennis) Ferrell of Rabun; three uncles, Mickey (Gena) Johnson of Perdido, John Paul (Chea) Johnson of Bay Minette and Charles Edward Rolin of Monroeville; special great-aunt, Annette McCreary of Daphne; one niece, Madyson Rolin of Perdido; three nephews, Peyton Rolin, Hunter Ganey and Cameron Ganey all of Perdido; Jodi Vinson Stewart and very special cousins, Jessica Ferrell, Logan Ferrell, Hunter Johnson, John Taylor Johnson, Haley Johnson Dillon Johnson and Teri Tolbert.
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 23, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Reo Pugh and Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 22, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Brandon Rolin, Patrick Rolin, Dywayne Hadley, Justin Johnson, Willie Hall, Charles Thomas Rolin, Josh Plant and Rolando Martinez.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Residents Celebrate MLK Day With Parades, Ceremonies, Music
January 20, 2014
Crowds turned out across the area Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association held their annual motorcade, ending with a program and celebration at the Ag Building. Songs, essays and speeches honored King’s memory, looked forward to the future and honored local community leaders that have passed away. Guest speaker Russell Fountain of the Bethel AFM Church of God in Century addressed the group before a community lunch.
In Atmore, the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade rolled through town to a memorial program and lunch at Escambia County High School on Monday.
Pensacola honored Dr. King with a parade, while a Walk on MLK and program featuring Irma Wilson of Atmore was held in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery from the Century events, click here.
For a photo gallery from the Atmore events, click here.
Pictured top: The Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church Youth Choir performs during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program Monday morning in Century. Pictured inset: Hundreds lined the streets of Atmore for the annual MLK Day Parade. Pictured below: The parade rolls through Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wildfires Keep Four Fire Stations Busy; About A Dozen Acres Burned
January 20, 2014
Two wildfires burned through about a dozen acres Monday near Walnut Hill.
The first fire, reported about 11:20 a.m., was on Garrett Road just off Pine Forest Road. The fire burned about 10 acres and threatened an abandoned home. The second fire was reported about 12:10 p.m. on Goodale Lane off Highway 97A in Enon. That fire burned about two acres.
Dozens of firefighters from the Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue battled the fires, along with the Florida Division of Forestry.
Pictured: A wildfire consumed about 10 acres off Garrett and Pine Forest roads Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny Week Forecast
January 20, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Resident Meeting To Provide Input For Century Economic Development Plan
January 20, 2014
Century is turning to its residents for input into the town’s future economic development plan.
Town residents are invited to a meeting Tuesday night at 6:00 at the Ag Building on West Highway 4 to offer their input into the plan.
When Century updated its Comprehensive Plan in March 2012, the need for an economic development strategy was identified as one of the critical issues facing the Town.
Last July, Century was awarded a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The grant provided the Town the opportunity to contract with the University of West Florida’s Haas Center to develop the plan.
One of the main components for developing the plan is to solicit public input. The Haas Center recommended hosting several focus group meetings to include Century business owners, residents, and regional economic development organizations to solicit input into the creation of the plan. The first meeting on January 13 was geared toward local businesses, and was designed to identify local economic issues and opportunities, providing a “wish list” of priorities for the Town of Century and Haas Center staff to incorporate into the final strategic plan.
A final meeting will be held on January 27 for regional economic development organizations.
Century’s Economic Development Strategic and Implementation Plan must be submitted to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity by May 30.
Pictured top: Rod Lewes of the Haas Center (the research and consulting arm of the University of West Florida) makes a presentation last September to the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.