Demolition Of Former Century High School Continues As Memorial Is Planned
May 24, 2016
Work is continuing on the demolition of the former Century High School on Hecker Road due to tornado damage, as plans are being made to memorialize Black Cat memories with a monument.
During the EF-3 tornado that struck Century on February 15, the main potion of the old high school was heavily damaged, with windows broken and window frames pushed inward. The Kayo Stanton Football Stadium, including the press box, was also structurally damaged.
Bricks from the school, along with a flagpole and monument, are being salvaged. The bricks will be sold, engraved and place at a monument to the school at a location yet to be determined, but likely the Alger-Sullivan Historical Park, the Nadine McCaw Park or Showalter Park. The town has formed a committee to decide how to use the bricks and memorialize the old Century High School. The committee’s next meeting is tentatively set for 6 p.m. on June 7 at the Century Chamber of Commerce office.
The main Century High School school building was constructed in 1937. Century High School closed 20 years ago after being merged with Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill to form the current Northview High School.
Pictured top and bottom: Looking toward the tornado-damaged Kayo Stanton Stadium. Pictured below: Work continues to demolish the former Century High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Investigation Underway As Large Detached Garage Destroyed By Fire
May 24, 2016
An early morning fire destroyed a large detached garage and at least one vehicle in Cantonment.
The fire was reported about 3 a.m. Tuesday on Reese Lane off Chemstrand Road.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate the cause of the blaze.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Top Suns
May 24, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won the final game of its five-game series against the Jacksonville Suns by scoring the winning run in the 10th inning when center fielder Phillip Ervin scored on a fielder’s choice by shortstop Calten Daal.
Pensacola clung to the, 5-4, victory over the Suns Monday at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Jacksonville third baseman James Roberts flew out to Blue Wahoos right fielder Brandon Dixon. Dixon then gunned the ball to Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker, who fired it to Daal covering second base to double up Jacksonville’s Moises Sierra and end the game.
Although Jacksonville won the series, 3-2, the Blue Wahoos kept pace with the Biloxi Shuckers in the Southern League South Division. Despite going, 6-6, in its last 12 games, Pensacola is now 26-19 this season and remains in second place, just a half game behind the Shuckers.
Biloxi lost, 3-2, to the Tennessee Smokies in 12 innings Monday night to fall to 26-18 on the year.
Pensacola’s Daal, who was 2-5 with three RBIs on two doubles, doubled to center field in the eighth inning to drive in first baseman Kyle Parker. Parker scored from second, after stealing his first base of the season, to put the Blue Wahoos up, 4-3.
Daal now has four RBIs on the season and is batting .356 in 20 games with Pensacola.
However, Jacksonville came back to tie the score, 4-4, in the bottom of the eighth to send the game to extra innings. Jacksonville first baseman Chris Curley singled to center field to score Suns left fielder Austin Dean.
Blue Wahoos southpaw Amir Garrett, the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect, did not get the decision but pitched another fabulous game. Garrett is 3-3 with a 1.49 earned-run average this season. He worked a season high 6.2 innings and gave up three runs, one earned on four hits, and two walks.
Garrett struck out seven Jacksonville batters and now has 54 on the season, which ties him for third in the Southern League.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the fifth when Ervin hit a two-out single to left field to drive in Tony Renda, who had hit his 13th double of the season to left. Renda, who was playing third base Monday, got one hit in each of the last four games against Jacksonville. He was 4-18 with three runs scored and three RBIs in the series and is batting .281 this season.
Ervin who is hitting .121 this year with runners in scoring position now is tied with Brandon Dixon with 17 RBIs this season for Pensacola.
In the second inning, Pensacola jumped to a 2-0 lead. Pensacola’s Daal doubled to left field to score Parker, who led off the inning with a walk. Blue Wahoos catcher Chad Wallach then smacked a sacrifice fly that drove in Dixon for the second run of the inning.
But Jacksonville came back in the bottom of the inning to score three runs and take the lead. The Suns loaded the bases with two outs when pitcher Patrick Johnson singled on a ground ball to Daal, who threw the ball away. That allowed both first baseman Chris Curley and third baseman James Roberts to score tying the game, 2-2. Wallach then allowed a pass ball on strike out by Suns second baseman Yefri Perez, and center field Jeremias Pineda crossed the plate to put Jacksonville up, 3-2.
Century Receives $400,000 EPA Environmental Grant
May 23, 2016
The Town of Century has received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (ARC) grant for new investments are designed to provide communities with funding necessary to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, promote economic redevelopment and create jobs while protecting human health.
EPA’s Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The investment in Century will provide the funding necessary to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment. Brownfields ARC grants provide resources early on, which is critical for the success of communities’ abilities to leverage additional partnerships and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources needed to meet their revitalization goals.
“This project will actually in partnership with Flomaton,” Town of Century planner Debbie Nickles said. “The money will be used in both towns to test and clean up properties that might be contaminated, such as abandoned gas stations or where there are still old fuel tanks in the ground.”
One of half of of the $400,000 will be used to target potentially contaminated petroleum properties in Flomaton and Century, Nickles said. The other $200,000 will be used to target other types of hazardous waste contamination.
A specific list of properties to be targeted with the grant money has not yet been established.
Sunny Week Ahead
May 23, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds up to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Northeast winds up to 5 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds up to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 80s.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
Saturday: Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.
Sunday: Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.
Northview Class Of 2016 Holds Baccalaureate Service (With Gallery)
May 23, 2016
The Northview High School Class of 2016 held their Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
“Make an intentional effort to include God in all your plans,” guest speaker Rev. Glenn Weber said during the student-led program. “I believe God has planted a dream or a vision or a plan in each of your hearts.”
You have to learn to go through the growing process o get where you want to be in life,” Weber said.
The program also included scripture, prayer and music provide by the Northview Senior Class Ensemble.
Graduation for the Northview High School Class of 2016 will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 28 at the school.
Pictured: The Northview High School Class of 2016 Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Learn To Complete Online Job Applications At The Molino Library
May 23, 2016
Many businesses now only accept online applications for employment, and the Molino Branch Library will offer interested patrons a chance ot learn how to successfully complete and submit online applications.
Online job application classes will be held Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Participants should have basic computer skills to take part in these classes.
For more information, call the Molino Branch Library at (850) 435-1760. The library is located at 6450-A Highway 95A in the Molino Community Complex.
Highway 97 Traffic Delays Tuesday In Walnut Hill
May 23, 2016
Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures on Highway 97 near Wiggins Lake Road in Walnut Hill on Tuesday as crews lay a final layer of asphalt in a bridge replacement project, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Chandler Awarded Gandy Memorial Scholarship
May 23, 2016
Kelsi Rae Chandler has been named the winner of this year’s Gandy Memorial Scholarship.
With a grade point average of 3.71 at Flomaton High School, Chandler has played varsity softball, including summer travel softball, volleyball and basketball since middle school. She also participates in weightlifting.
She has been a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, FFA, Students Against Drunk Drivers, Beta Club, Student Council Association, and Academic All-stars. In her extra time, she is a member of the youth group at Little Escambia Baptist Church and is an active member of the Alger Sullivan Historical Society and the Keith Cabin Foundation Museum.
Chandler has participated in the Coastal Cleanup for Escambia Creek, activities with the Panhandle Historic Preservation alliance, and was recently named Miss Flomaton High School for 2015. She wrote that her grandfather, Don Sales, has been instrumental in fostering her love for both sports and nature, and he is the one who taught her that “If you want to be good, there is no such thing as an off-season”.
The Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008 in memory of Solon Gandy, a 1990 Flomaton High School graduate. Solon was a member of the 1988 Flomaton High School State Baseball Championship team and was a four-year member of the high school Hurricane football team. This scholarship was established to help foster the love of nature and sports in a deserving Flomaton and /or a Jay senior. The scholarship was started by Solon’s father, Coach Bill Gandy, who passed away of cancer in 2015.
Pictured: Solon Gandy’s mother and retired Flomaton High School English teacher, Ms. Brenda Godwin and Kelsi Chandler. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Danceworks Holds Recital (With Photo Gallery)
May 23, 2016
Hundreds attended Heather Leonard’s Danceworks annual recital Saturday night at Northview High School.
For hundreds of photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
