Century Residents Invited To Town Economic Development Meeting Tonight
March 31, 2014
The Town of Century is asking residents to attend a meeting tonight to offer input into the town’s future economic development plans. A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Ag Building on West Highway 4 to give citizens a chance 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.
Meetings with the public, businesses and economic stakeholders were previously held. At tonight’s meeting, residents will have one more opportunity to discuss the plan’s vision, mission, objectives and goals.
Century’s Economic Development Strategic Plan must be submitted to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity by May 30.
Picture top: Robert Mitchell (left) speaks as Century council member Gary Riley (right) listens during an economic development planning meeting in late January. Pictured inset: Resident James McMurray offers input at the meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Prayer And WD-40: Hattie Schneider Celebrates 105th Birthday
March 31, 2014
Hattie Schneider of Molino is celebrated her 105th birthday Monday.
She gives credit for her long life to “prayer and WD-40″. Hattie says she is not sure why she has lived so long or what God’s purpose is for her, but she has trust in the Lord.
She has one son, Carlton Abbott, two grandchildren, and many great and great-great grandchildren. Her family and friends said they thank God everyday for blessing them with her, and she is a true inspiration to everyone.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Road Resurfacing Project Underway
March 31, 2014
Work is underway to prepare for the paving of a ortion of Bratt Road from North Pine Barren Road to West Highway 4. A section of Bratt Road was recently surfaced east of North Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Warm And Sunny Start To The Week
March 31, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Sunny, with a high near 77. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
- Friday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.
- Saturday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Evelyn Carr Shiver
March 31, 2014
Evelyn Carr Shiver, age 95 of Cantonment, passed away on March 31, 2014. She was a former resident of Jay. She was a member of Cantonment First Baptist Church and retired from Harvesters Credit Union in Cantonment. Evelyn was a loving, caring and generous person. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lola Carr; husband, Warren G. Shiver; one sister and four brothers.
She is survived by her son, Fred W. (Linda) Shiver; daughter, Wanda S. (Randy) Clark; sisters, Velma Bradley, Thelma Wilson, and Pamela Murphy; brother, Horace Carr; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2014, from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 pm.
Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Century Care Center and staff and Covenant Hospice for all their gentle love and support shown to our loved one.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Cantonment Mobile Home
March 30, 2014
An early Sunday morning fire destroyed an unoccupied mobile home.
The fire was reported at 2:25 a.m. in the 400 block of Garmo. Road, off Becks Lake Road. The mobile home was mostly involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene. Neighbors told firefighters that no one was currently living in the trailer.
Firefighters were hampered by the physical location of the trailer in fighting the fire; it was located down a long narrow driveway that was inaccessible to large fire trucks.
There were no injuries reported; the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Sunny Days Forecast
March 30, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night Clear. Lows in the lower 40s. West winds around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Monday Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Monday Night Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. South winds around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
- Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
- Thursday Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s.
- Thursday Night Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Friday Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Vietnam Veterans Get Long Overdue ‘Welcome Home’ (With Gallery)
March 30, 2014
It was a tearful welcome home Saturday for a small group of Vietnam veterans….a welcome home 40, 50 or even more years overdue.
“When I came home to California, I kissed the ground. And I looked around,” said Alabama VFW State Commander Val Obergon, pausing for a moment. “And I looked around. Nothing. There were no parades; no welcome home. Nothing.”
National Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day is observed on March 29, the 41st anniversary of the last U.S. troops leaving Vietnam — except for the prisoners of war. Saturday, a few dozen people gathered for a ceremony sponsored by the Atmore Memorial Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 7016.
“I am thankful to God for this day we can be welcomed home. I have a family sitting here today. Some of the other guys represented by this flag,” Vietnam veteran Harold Askew said, standing before the POW/MIA flag, “they didn’t get that chance.”
Yellow ribbons were tied to trees around Atmore’s Heritage Park for the event which included the patriotic music, food and fanfare of a welcome home ceremony most of the Vietnam veterans in attendance had never received.
“It was a special thank you and tribute to those that came back,” Vietnam veteran Mike Hanks said. “It’s something that was long overdue.”
“Those that served in the Vietnam War are deserving of our country’s praise,” Alabama Rep. Alan Baker said in an address to the group. “They are our unsung heroes.”
Baker ended his speech in the crowd, with a personal “thank you” and a hug for each veteran. “No sir,” the state representative said to an elderly veteran who struggled in an unsuccessful attempt to rise from his chair. “I’ll come down there to you.”
The ceremony concluded with VFW Ladies Auxiliary members giving each Vietnam Veteran a gift and a hug — and sometimes a quick kiss on the cheek — to thank them for their service. It was a scene reminiscent of a welcome home ceremony that has played itself out over and over for other American wars.
And tears that were decades overdue fell from the eyes of several veterans as they were finally welcomed home.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Veterans are welcomed home during national Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day Saturday in Atmore. Pictured top inset: Vietnam Veteran Harold Askew remembers the prisoners of war that never returned from Vietnam. Pictured bottom inset: Alabama Rep. Alan Baker leans down to hug a veteran that struggled unsuccessfully to rise from his chair. Pictured below: A yellow ribbon tied around an oak tree welcomed the Vietnam veterans home. Pictured bottom: Several of the Vietnam veterans in attendance at Saturday’s event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Molino Ballpark (With Photo Gallery)
March 30, 2014
Saturday was Opening Day for Molino Recreation Association and the Molino Ballpark.
For photo galleries, click the links below:
For an Opening Day ceremonies photo gallery, click here.
For photos from select Opening Day games, click here.
Pictured above and below: Opening Day action at Molino Ballpark. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Court: Prison Guards Can Use ‘Stand Your Ground’
March 30, 2014
An appeals court Friday ruled that a correctional officer can use the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law in a case stemming from an altercation with an inmate.
A three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal sided with correctional officer Brad Heilman, who was charged with aggravated battery after an inmate was injured in an incident at Lake Correctional Institution.
A circuit judge found that Heilman could not use the “stand your ground” law in defense because of another state law that deals with circumstances when correctional officers can use force. But Friday’s seven-page opinion, written by appeals-court Judge Thomas Sawaya and joined by judges William Palmer and Wendy Berger, concluded that the Legislature intended for the “stand your ground” law to apply to correctional officers and sent the case back to circuit court.
The “stand your ground” law says people can use deadly force and do not have a duty to retreat if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm. The law offers criminal and civil immunity in such cases.