ECAT Applying For Matching Grant For Cantonment, Century, Molino Bus Route
January 20, 2020
Escambia County is applying for a 50 percent match grant to help fund the current Escambia County Area Transit bus route that serves Cantonment, Molino and Century.
The Non-Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program provides federal operating or capital assistance for the operation of public transportation service in non-urbanized areas through the Florida Department of Transportation.
ECAT’s route that qualifies as rural is Route 60, and it typically costs 3% of the overall operating budget. FDOT will reimburse 50% of those costs, up to the maximum awarded. Applications are submitted and are reviewed on a competitive basis, so the amount of the award, if any, is not yet known.
In previous years, ECAT has been awarded enough to offset a full 50% of the Route 60 costs.
The schedule for the Route 60 bus is below.
Pictured: ECAT’s Route 60 bus stop at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Cantonment Home
January 20, 2020
Fire damaged a home in Cantonment Sunday afternoon.
The fire at Booker Avenue and Booker Street was reported about 2:20 p.m. The blaze, which reportedly began in the kitchen of the small wood frame home, was quickly extinguished by firefighters. There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Freezing Weather — Protecting Pets, Plants, Pipes And Other Tips
January 20, 2020
With freezing weather, it is time to take necessary precautions to protect pipes, pets and plants, and check on elderly friends and neighbors.
Here are ways to stay safe during cold temperatures, courtesy of the American Red Cross:
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
- Know the signs of hypothermia — confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.
- Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes — run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
- Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
- Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
- If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
And here are a few extra details and tips from ECUA on protecting pipes against the freeze:
- 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 action guards against the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle 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 repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember 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 line 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.
Fatal Shooting Sunday Night In Escambia County Under Investigation
January 20, 2020
A man was found shot to death inside a residence in Escambia County Sunday night.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home on Marie Avenue off Burgess Road just before 8 p.m. The victim’s roommate arrived home to find the front door open and the victim dead on the floor suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released, and no suspect has been named.
Further details were not released as the investigation continues.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Team Places Fourth In Western National Roundup In Colorado
January 20, 2020
The Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Team placed fourth at the Western National Roundup 4-H Meat Judging Contest recently at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Team members were Jessica Conti, Hannah Schnupp, Ethan Thorne, and Hannah Thorne. Participants had to identify 30 retail cuts, place six retail, wholesale, and carcass classes, and give three sets of oral reasons.
“Through the competition process, the team has developed life skills through activities to understand the processing of beef, pork, and lamb, including retail identification, factors relating to meat quality, and cookery,” according to Brian Estevez, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County 4-H/Youth Development Agent.
“Meat judging participants acquire knowledge and skills in meat identification and grading techniques and then apply those basic skills to the selection process. Participants then develop an understanding and appreciation of the basic scientific principles involved in eating and cooking quality, nutritional value, and consumer appeal of meat. 4-H members on the team also learn life skills such as decision making, problem solving, and goal setting,” he said.”
During the trip to the national contest, the meat judging team participated in a mock contest at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The team also toured Colorado State University and visited with Dr. Katie Abrams, assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Technical Communication. The Western National Roundup 4-H Meat Judging Contest was held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Pickup In Connection With Fatal Shooting Last Week
January 20, 2020
Deputies are searching for a truck that may be connected to a fatal shooting in Escambia County.
Images were captured on video at Glass Drive and Michigan Avenue just minutes after a shooting about 7 p.m. January 13 at the intersection of Pipeline Road and Boswell Road that left 25-year old Julio Jacinto dead. He found inside a white sedan.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said witnesses saw a dark or gray Dodge pickup driving along Pineline Road at the time of the shooting. It was described as having a black toolbox in the bed with chrome handles, aftermarket HID lights and a loud dual exhaust.
Anyone with information about the shooting, the truck or the driver is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 20, 2020
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Tuesday, January 21
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., 3363 W. Park Place
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission – 10 a.m., 418 W. Garden St.
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors – 1 p.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Youth Commission – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Wednesday, January 22
Coffee with the Commissioner – Jeff Bergosh, District 1 – 6:30 a.m., Hardee’s Restaurant, 2500 Wilde Lake Blvd.
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 W. Park Place
Medical Examiners Search Committee – 2 p.m., M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W. Government St.
Florida First Sites Round II Kick Off Meeting – 2:30 p.m., 1000 College Blvd.
Mass Transit Advisory Committee – 3 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 W. Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna
Thursday, January 23
BCC Public Forum – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, BCC Meeting Room, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, BCC Meeting Room, 221 Palafox Place
Crash With Two Boulders Claims Life In Escambia County
January 19, 2020
A young woman lost her life after striking two boulders Saturday in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 19-year old Allanah Sharee Simmons of Milton was traveling east on Detroit Boulevard about a half mile east of Pine Forest Road. Troopers said her 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer left the roadway about 11:40 a.m. during “adverse conditions” and struck a large boulder along the shoulder of the roadway at a business entrance. The vehicle began to spin around and became wedged between the first boulder and a second boulder on the shoulder.
Simmons was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where she passed away from her injuries at 12:32 p.m.
File photo.
Century Set To Finalize Employment Contract With Vernon Prather As Interim City Manager
January 19, 2020
The Town of Century is set to finalize an employment contract this week with Vernon Prather as interim city manager.
Prather will be paid $40 an hour for 30 hours per week, or $1,200 per week. He will have complete control over his work schedule and hours worked. If he exceeds 30 hours per week, he will not be paid overtime but will be allowed to take comp time off at his discretion. He will also receive a $600 per month vehicle allowance, but will not receive employee benefits such as vacation, retirement or insurance.
The council voted 4-1 back in December to hire Prather. Council member James Smith cast the dissenting vote, saying Prather was not Century’s “saviour” and that the town was getting “robbed”. Smith said the town could not afford Prather and could user the same funds to hire three employees.
Prather served Gulf Breeze in various positions from 2006 to 2017, including director of public services, operations consultant and assistant city manager. He also hold wastewater and water system certifications.
The council will have the right to suspend Prather with full pay and benefits at anytime if the council and Prather mutually agree, or if the council votes to suspend him for just cause after he’s been given 10 days notice.
If the council terminates Prather before the expiration of the contract, they will owe him a lump sum cash payment of six weeks salary. Prather can be terminated for cause including criminal conviction. If Prather resigns, he will provide 45 days advance notice, unless all parties agree otherwise.
If the council approves the employment contract with Prather, it will be retroactive to January 1. The contract will end December 1, 2020, unless extended.
The Century Town Council is set to vote on the contract during their regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
What’s Closed For The MLK Holiday, Trash Pickup Info
January 19, 2020
Here are closures in Escambia County and the Town of Century in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday, January 20.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Escambia County offices and departments closed Monday, Jan. 20:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners - All departments, including:
- West Florida Public Libraries (All locations – normal hours will resume Tuesday, Jan. 21)
- The Escambia County Animal Shelter
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office
- Escambia County Area Transit
Exceptions:
- The Perdido Landfill will be open
TOWN OF CENTURY
All town of Century office will be closed. A council meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 21.
ECUA
ECUA business offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday. However, residential and commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will be unaffected by the holiday and will be carried out as usual. Customers may contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for more information.