Incumbent McCall Prefiles For Century Mayor
June 15, 2016
Tuesday, incumbent Mayor Freddie McCall pre-filed to seek a third term. McCall, 75, was elected to the Century Town Council in 2004, and was first elected mayor in 2007.
“We have too many good things going in Century right now, and I want to see them through,” McCall said, explaining his decision to seek reelection. “We have accomplished so much in Century, and I don’t want to see someone else mess it up.”
“I am running on my record, and I am looking for a better day in Century,” he said.
In addition to the mayor’s office, two councils seats are also for election in this year’s municipal election in Century.
The town has set qualifying dates for Council Seat 1, currently held by Ann Brooks; Council Seat 2, currently held by Annie Savage; and mayor, currently held by McCall. Qualifying will be open from noon on Monday, June 20 until noon on Friday, June 24.
Interested candidates can qualify at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Pensacola during the week. In additional, a staff member from the Supervisor of Elections Office will be at the Century Town Hall on Wednesday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to receive qualifying forms.
Council members must be residents of the town, while the town charter requires that the mayor have resided in the town for at least six months.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Fire Departments Respond To Report Of Mobile Home Fire
June 15, 2016
Area fire departments responded to a reported double-wide mobile home fire in the 4100 block of North Highway 95A about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. They arrived to find that an air conditioning unit was the source of smoke.
There was no fire damage, and there were no injuries.
The Cantonment, Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Pace Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the call.
Molino Scouts Hold Flag Retirement Ceremony (With Gallery)
June 15, 2016
Three Boy Scouts unfolded an American Flag Tuesday evening for the last time on the front lawn of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino to present its colors. A group of Scouts gathered around along with their parents and said the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag…which was faded, soiled and even torn.
Cubmaster of Pack 430, Kevin Danforth, said the flag was first used to cover a coffin during a military funeral, and it was then flown in front of the church for several months. Now it was time for the tattered flag to be retired — burned after being cut into pieces of cloth. Quietly, the scouts cut the flag, leaving leaving the blue star field intact to symbolize an unbroken union.
“It ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces,” Danforth said.
Then the flag was placed, blue star field first followed by the stripes, into a fire burning in a half barrel. The crowd watched as the fire consumed the flag remnants, and they sang “God Bless America”. The scouts then cut numerous other worn American Flags into pieces which were also incinerated.
The flag retirement ceremony is a way American flags can be retired when they’re too worn to fly, according to the U.S. Flag Code, a set of guidelines on treating the nation’s flag respectfully.
Tuesday was Flag Day.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Arrested For Burglary, Meth
June 15, 2016
A McDavid man has been arrested for a Flomaton burglary and on multiple drug charges.
Faron Ray Wilson, 24, was arrested for a 2015 burglary on Bridlepath Lane in Flomaton. When he was taken into custody at a home on Poplar Street, Flomaton Police reported that Wilson was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Flomaton Police.
Wilson was charged with unlawful posession of a controlled substance – methamphetamines, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, third degree burglary and second degree theft of property. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton. He was also being held on an outstanding arrest warrant for Florida.
Flomaton Police are continuing to investigate the burglary, and Chief Bryan Davis said more arrests are likely.
Bicyclist Hit By Vehicle
June 15, 2016
A bicyclist was struck be a vehicle Tuesday night near Cottage Hill. The accident was reported about 7:45 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 95A and Cedertree Lane. Injuries to the bicyclist were not believed to be serious. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Tied For First After Loss To Montgomery
June 15, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are in the race for the first half Southern League South Division crown headed into its last series that starts Wednesday against the rival Mobile BayBears.
It’s only the second time the ball club has been in first place headed into the last series of the half since its inception five years ago. The other was the second half of last year.
Pensacola, which is six-for-six in series wins at home, is now 37-27 and tied for first with the Biloxi Shuckers. They beat the Birmingham Barons and end their season with a five-game series on the road against the Jacksonville Suns.
“I like our position,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly in his second year heading the club. “It’s a lot better than seven other teams in the league right now. It’s much more exciting to be playing for something in the last series.”
The Montgomery Biscuits escaped with a win in the final game of the series, 7-1, Tuesday in front of 3,532 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola and Biloxi have shared first place all season this year. In 2015, the second half was decided in the next to last game of the season when Pensacola beat Mobile to win the division and play Biloxi in the South Division playoffs, which the Shuckers ended up winning.
“Mobile will be a tough series,” Kelly said. “They have good pitching and a very good bullpen. We have to win as many as we can in those six games.”
Pensacola and Mobile are playing six games to make up a rain out in the last game of the series at Hank Aaron Stadium.
On Tuesday night, Montgomery put the game away in the seventh inning by sending 10 hitters to the plate and scoring five runs on five hits. Biscuits Tommy Coyle scored the first run when he doubled, reached third on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Jake DePew and then scored on a squeeze play by Biscuits shortstop Juniel Querecuto to make the score 3-0.
The big hit came from Montgomery third baseman Patrick Leonard who smacked a one-out line drive to right center with the bases loaded, scoring all three runners on to put the Biscuits ahead, 6-0. Leonard scored the final run of the inning when second baseman Kean Wong singled to center to extend Montgomery’s lead, 7-0.
The big inning in the seventh might have been prevented, if reliever El’Hajj Muhammad cleanly fielded a bunt down the third base line by Montgomery catcher Jake DePew and then thrown Querecuto out at first, instead of throwing home late trying to get Coyle.
Pensacola right-hander Nick Travieso and pitching coach Danny Darwin have been working on his delivery. It seemed to pay off as he threw six innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out five. In his past three starts, Travieso had given up 12 runs, 10 earned in 12.2 innings.
“It was nice to see him get back on track,” Kelly said.
Travieso did labor in the fourth inning giving up two runs to Montgomery on one hit, one hit batter, two walks and two wild pitches. He hit the Biscuits’ Leonard with a 90 mph fastball to lead off the fourth. Leonard then took second on a wild pitch. Travieso then walked Montgomery DH Mike Marjama and both he and Leonard advanced on another wild pitch. Montgomery center fielder Tommy Coyle, batting .126, reached his bat out and sent the ball into right field that scored Leonard and Marjama to put the Biscuits on top, 2-0.
Meanwhile, Biscuits right-hander Taylor Guerrieri, the Tampa Bay No. 6 prospect, threw five scoreless innings to improve to 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA. He allowed just three hits, one walk and struck out four Pensacola batters.
Kelly said Guerrieri threw a cutter that broke six-to-eight inches, keeping the Pensacola batters off balance.
“He was very effective,” Kelly said.
Judge To Hear Arguments In Abortion Law Challenge
June 15, 2016
A Tallahassee federal judge will hear arguments June 29 on a request from Planned Parenthood to block parts of a major abortion law approved this year by Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued an order setting the date to hear arguments about whether to issue a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order against the law, which is scheduled to take effect July 1.
Planned Parenthood filed the lawsuit June 2 and challenged the constitutionality of three parts of the controversial law. The complaint, in part, targets a section of the law that seeks to prevent state agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans from contracting with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics that perform elective abortions.
While government agencies are already barred from funding elective abortions, Planned Parenthood argues that the new law would prevent clinics from receiving money to provide other health services for women, such as pap smears, pregnancy testing and screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
The complaint also challenges part of the law that would require the state Agency for Health Care Administration to inspect at least 50 percent of abortion-clinic patient records each year. In addition, the complaint challenges a section of the law that would change the state’s definition of trimesters of pregnancy.
No Injuries In Molino Crash
June 14, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Highway 99 at Molino Road. The accident involved a passenger vehicle and a pickup hauling a loaded horse trailer. The horse also did not suffer any serious injuries. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update: Driver Cited After Log Truck Overturns In Century
June 14, 2016
The driver was cited after a log truck overturned in Century Monday afternoon, shutting down North Century Boulevard.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 66-year old Ronald Edward Crutchfield of Brewton was traveling north in the outside lane of North Century Boulevard near Jackson Street just before 5 p.m.. As he rounded a curve in the roadway, the weight of his load shifted to the right side, causing the vehicle to overturn as it exited the curve.
Crutchfield suffered minor injuries and was transported to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
Power lines were downed by the accident across North Century Boulevard, closing all four lanes of the highway. Gulf Power initially reported 24 customers without power following the crash.
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NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Council Discusses Transportation Wish List With State
June 14, 2016
When Highway 29, the main artery through your town, is closed due to an overturned truck and downed power lines, it makes it a bit easier to explain transportation needs to the state.
“Right now, Highway 29 is shut down because another big truck has wrecked in that curve,” Mayor Freddie McCall said. “That curve needs to be fixed.”
Tuesday evening, the Century Town Council met with Virgie Bowen of the Florida Department of Transportation to discuss the department’s Five-Year Plan — a tentative work plan for fiscal years 2017-2021. As the meeting was going on, the clean up was continuing on Highway 29 near Jackson street after a log truck overturned in a curve and hit a power pole. [Click here for more on the accident.]
“The elevation is wrong in the outside lane,” McCall told Bowen about the curve. Several trucks have overturned in the curve over the past several years, including a peanut truck a few years ago that damaged a city sewage system lift station. The station was rebuilt mostly underground to lessen or prevent future damage.
Bowen also heard a request that the state consider a parking or signage for tourists that stop for photos with the “Welcome to Florida” sign on Highway 29 at the state line. Sometimes, McCall said, tourists will stop in the travel lanes of Highway 29, turn on their emergency flashers and get out for a photo.
Bowen discussed a FDOT Transportation Alternative Program that would fund projects such as sidewalks on roadways that are not state highways. The council discussed the possible need for a sidewalk along West Highway 4, a county road within the town limits, from Highway 29 past Industrial Boulevard to a local dialysis center. A community center, nursing home, church, numerous residences and a large apartment complex are along the roadway, leading to a large number of pedestrians.
Members of the Century Town Council additionally complained about speeders on Highway 29 through the town. They acknowledged that they often see the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office actively enforcing speed limits, and they questioned in a portable radar-speed sign might be available that would display a driver’s speed compared to the legal speed limit.
The council’s requests will be compiled by Bowen, and she will return for a June 20 meeting with the council.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
