Century Approves New 300 Foot Cell Tower For AT&T, Possibly Other Carriers
February 2, 2021
Cell service can be nonexistent in many parts of Century, regardless of carrier. But it may get better in the coming year or so, at least for customers of AT&T.
Monday night, the Century Town Council approved leasing a small portion of a town park for a new 300-foot tall cell tower.
At a January meeting, the council not reach a consensus on a location to allow construction of the new tower, but the mayor found a location that worked out to be agreeable to all involved.
Motions to approve a variance and lease property by the library or the town’s maintenance shop to a tower company both failed to even receive a second during the January 19 council meeting. Mayor Ben Boutwell then went to work with Diamond Towers to find another location that would alleviate council concerns, provide ongoing income for the town and provide much needed improved cellular coverage.
“If our town is going to progress, we need the coverage. I was not going to let that die,” he said.
Monday night, the council approved a five-year lease with options out to 40 years with Diamond Towers for an AT&T tower on a small parcel of land in the town’s Anthony Pleasant Park off West Highway 4. It’s small area tucked away essentially at the back of the park.
“It will be a great spot,” Boutwell said. “It will be out of the way on a big area back there that’s never been used. It’s away from residents, surrounded by a wooded area so you would not see the base. It’s not too far from Highway 29 and is still in the area where AT&T needed it.”
Diamond Towers will lease the parcel at $1,000 total for one year with an optional extension for one more year at $1,000. Once a tower is constructed, Diamond’s lease will increase to $1,500 per month for at least five years, with another $500 per month due for additional cellular providers collocated on the tower. There are annual options for slight increases.
Tower Plan Fails In January
Two parcels owned by the town were previously under consideration for the tower site:
- A 0.698 acre lot directly south of the Century Branch Library. The tower would be located less than 50 feet from the library property, which is owned by Escambia County.
- A 0.68 acre area located on the northeast corner of the town’s maintenance building property on Alger Road, just across the railroad tracks from the playground at Showalter Park.
“I would not want a tower in my neighborhood,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said of the Alger Road location at the council’s last meeting. “They don’t want it on Alger Road…I’m going to respect those residents.” She said Alger Road residents were concerned about possible ill effects to their health, and she said there would be no changing their minds.
Council President Luis Gomez said January 19 that he did not think the tower belonged along Highway 29, between the library and a commercial building he owns. He said that while he personally does not want it located on Highway 29, it is important to consider that someone might want to locate a business on the property in the future.
“We need cellphone service in Century,” Gomez said. “No one wants to put a business in Century with the stagnant service we have.”
A motion by council member James Smith to locate the tower at the town’s shop on Alger Road and a motion by Jackson to locate it on Highway 29 both failed at the last council meeting to reach a vote due to a lack of seconds.
Pictured: Century Town Council member Sandra McMurray Jackson uses her cellphone during a Monday night meeting at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4. Inside the building, it is usually necessary to connect to the town’s Wi-Fi due to a lack of a cellular signal. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sheriff: Alcohol Heavily Involved In Flomaton Double Shooting; Former Correctional Officer’s Bond Set At $1 Million
February 2, 2021
Bond has been set for a now former Century correctional officer accused of shooting two people at an Alabama birthday party Saturday night.
James Scott Lassiter, age 51 of Flomaton, is charged with two counts of attempted murder. Monday, an Escambia County (AL) judge set his bond at $1 million dollars, and he remained behind bars early Tuesday morning.
“The shooting happened at a birthday party that was being held for one of the victims,” Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “One of the victims had words with Lassiter and it escalated into a fight that later ended up with both victims shot. Alcohol was involved in the disturbance and is believed to have played a large role in the incident.”
The double shooting occurred about 8 p.m. Saturday in the 400 block of McMurphy Lane just north of Old Atmore Road. One victim was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, and the second was transported to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton and then transferred to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
Lassiter fled into a wooded area and was tracked for a little over a mile by a K-9 team from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
At the time of the shooting, Lassister was employed as a corrections officer at the state prison in Century.
Lassiter was hired as a correctional officer by the Florida Department of Correction (FDC) on October 4, 2019, and assigned to Century Correctional Institution. He resigned from his position effective Sunday, January 31, according to Paul Walker, press secretary for FDC.
“FDC has zero tolerance for staff who act contrary to our values: respect, integrity, courage, selfless service and compassion. Any willful breach of our values or participation in illegal activity by FDC staff will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal,” Walker told NorthEscambia.com on Monday.
Alabama Inks Leases For Two New Prisons, Including One Near Atmore
February 2, 2021
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday signed 30-year leases for new prisons to be constructed near Atmore and in Elmore County.
The two new men’s correctional facilities wilk be constructed by CoreCivic’s Developer Team. The state signed a lease agreement with Government Real Estate Solutions of South Alabama, LLC, a CoreCivic entity, for the Escambia County facility on Bell Fork near Atmore.
The agreements are not subject to annual renegotiation; however, options to negotiate occupancy extensions beyond the 30-year lease term are available to the state.
The Alabama Department of Corrections will staff and maintain full operational control of the facilities — these are not private prisons. CoreCivic will construct, own, and maintain the facilities
Construction of the Atmore facility will be staggered with the Wetempka facility to ensure sufficient labor and supply chain availability to support both projects, but construction in Atmore is anticipated to begin later this year or early 2022.
Construction of the two facilities is anticipated to be completed in fiscal year 2025
The two facilities will provide approximately 7,000 beds.
Once ready for occupancy, the ADOC will begin to transition its inmate population into these facilities. Development of this transition plan will soon be underway and informed by many factors, including the recommendations of the Alabama Prison Repurposing Commission.
The total cost of all lease payments (encompassing rent, annual preventive maintenance, and life cycle maintenance) for the Alabama Prison Program are subject to an overall affordability limit of $88.6 million as indexed to fiscal year 2022. The base cost of rent for the facilities will remain flat (fixed price) for the 30-year term.
The exact least amounts are still in negotiations.
“I am pleased that we have reached this important milestone in the Alabama Prison Program, the cornerstone of a multifaceted strategy to address the ADOC’s longstanding challenges and failing prison infrastructure,” Ivey said. “ADOC’s existing dilapidated infrastructure is failing at a rate of one facility every two years, exorbitant deferred maintenance costs are rising by the day, and the Courts may act imminently if real progress is not made soon — given all these risks, there is not one minute to spare.”
“Leasing and operating new, modern correctional facilities without raising taxes or incurring debt is without question the most fiscally responsible decision for our State, and the driving force behind our Alabama Solution to an Alabama Problem. We are improving public safety, providing better living and working conditions, and accommodating inmate rehabilitation all while protecting the immediate and long-term interests of the taxpayers. This is simply the best path forward,” Ivey added.
“It is no secret that, due to decades of inaction and a lack of resources, our correctional system is at a crossroads. Thanks to Governor Ivey’s vision, tenacity, and leadership, we have reached an important step in our continued work to chart a transformative new course for the Department,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Leasing, staffing, and operating modernized prison infrastructure that is owned and strictly maintained by the private sector minimizes our short- and long-term risk for an initiative of this necessary magnitude. These facilities will provide a safer, more secure environment in which our heroic staff can better deliver effective, evidence-based rehabilitative programming to our inmate population.”
Pictured: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey inks to prison lease contracts Monday at the Alabama State Capitol. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High Winds, Low Humidity Prompt Tighter Burn Restrictions
February 2, 2021
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are limiting authorized burns in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties because of high winds and low humidity. Potential burns will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis Tuesday and only those who are certified burn practitioners may be authorized if approved.
Authorizations from the Florida Forest Service are required for prescribed burning – acreage burns – and piles greater than eight feet in diameter. Authorizations are not required for residential yard debris burning in piles less than eight feet in diameter, but Forest Service officials are strongly encouraging residents to refrain from any outdoor burning until conditions improve.
Florida has a year-round wildfire season that typically peaks in March and April. As the area approaches that transition from winter to spring, residents might consider taking steps to better protect themselves and their neighbors from the threat of a wildfire, according to the Forest Service.
Cleaning pine straw and leaves from roofs and gutters as well as maintaining a debris free zone around the home are good first steps. Creating defensible space – a clean and green landscape within the immediate vicinity of the home and thinned vegetation out 30 to 100 feet from the home – also is advisable in areas prone to wildfire, officials advised.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Southwest Adding Flights From Pensacola To Atlanta, Chicago And St. Louis
February 2, 2021
In March, Southwest Airlines will add nonstop flights from the Pensacola International Airport to Atlanta, Chicago Midway, and St. Louis.
Starting March 11 and continuing through April 11, Southwest Airlines will begin one daily flight to Atlanta (ATL), one flight to St. Louis (STL) on Saturdays, and two flights to Chicago Midway (MDW) on Saturdays.
“Pensacola continues to be a place where airlines see potential and growth as we navigate through the health crisis,” Pensacola International Airport Director Matt Coughlin said. “Our airport staff and our many airline partners are dedicated to providing an easy, safe and healthy flight experience.”
“This is yet another testament to the resilience of Pensacola International Airport and the desire for airlines to continue to expand their services here,” Mayor Grover Robinson said. “I am excited to see new destinations at our airport to not only provide more travel opportunities for residents, but also connect new visitors to our beautiful city.”
Pictured: The Pensacola International Airport. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Hiring 50 New Employees To Staff New Correctional Facility
February 1, 2021
Escambia County is currently hiring for 50 positions to staff the new Escambia County Correctional Facility that is slated to open this spring.
The county is hiring correctional officers, detention assistants and medical professionals for the new facility. For more information on how to apply, click or tap here.
Open positions in Escambia County Corrections and the number of positions available as of Friday are:
- Corrections Officer (Certified) — 5
- Corrections Officer Trainee/School — 20
- Detention Assistant — 18
- Emergency Medical Technician — 1
- Licensed Practical Nurse — 3
- Paramedic — 1
- Registered Nurse — 2
Available benefits include health, dental, life, vision, employee assistance program, flexible spending, long-term disability, legal services, vacations, deferred compensation, retirement and other voluntary insurance products.
For more information about the new facility and a photo tour, click or tap here.
ECUA Warns Of Scammer Claiming To Be Their Contractor In North Escambia
February 1, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is warning customers about someone falsely claiming to work for the utility in the North Escambia area.
“The ECUA has received a report of a person or persons in the area north of Ten Mile Road claiming to be contractors hired by ECUA to install energy-saving water meters,” said Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer. “This is certainly a scam and an attempt to potentially obtain access to the resident’s home.”
ECUA is urging all residents to be vigilant and aware and to never allow persons claiming to be an ECUA employee into their home. Bowers said ECUA employees rarely enter customers’ homes, and if need be, will only enter upon a request from the customer. Usually, this is because ECUA is responding to a service call initiated by the customer to the utility.
“Our community’s and employees’ safety are our greatest priority,” Bowers said.
According to ECUA:
- Most ECUA employees wear uniforms bearing the ECUA logo, and all ECUA employees have identification badges, which they will gladly present.
- Many ECUA employees drive vehicles that bear the utility’s logo.
- ECUA field employees are not authorized to collect payments at any time. Customers are warned not pay any persons claiming to be employees of the ECUA, saying that they have performed work on their property and need the payment for the “service.”
Residents should call the ECUA Customer Service line at (850) 476-0480 to verify any claims made by persons asking for access to their home. ECUA recommends closing the door and letting the person wait outside while making the call. If it is after hours, residents may call (850) 476-5110.
Florida Gas Prices Trend Downward A Couple Of Cents
February 1, 2021
Florida gas prices on average trended downward a couple of cents last week, according to AAA. Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.38, two cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.34 for a gallon of regular unleaded, unchanged since last week.
The lowest price Sunday night in North Escambia was $2.25 per gallon at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. The bottom dollar per gallon price in Pensacola was $2.21 at a convenience store on East Olive Road.
“Drivers got a break from rising prices at the pump, last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil prices have lost upward momentum, due to lingering concerns about how rising cases of coronavirus will hamper global fuel demand. Gas prices should hold steady or even slip a little lower this week, unless oil prices rise again.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Library Is Closed For The Next Three Weeks For Remodeling
February 1, 2021
The Century Branch Library will be closed for the next three weeks for an extensive interior remodel.
The remodel will feature an expansion of the children’s area by reducing on-site storage. There will also be improvements to the public service desk for increased accessibility, an improved adult reading area, new carpet, new paint, new lighting and new furnishings.
An additional sidewalk, benches, bicycle area and tables have already been added outside the library.
While the library will be closed, Feeding the Gulf Coast youth meals will be available for the week each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Library materials that have been reserved through the library’s website will also be available each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Borrowed items can be returned during the closure by using the outdoor book drop on the south side of the building.
Pictured: Some of the outside improvements at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Healthy Kids Data Hacked
February 1, 2021
Floridians who were enrolled or applied for coverage from a children’s health insurance program between 2013 and 2020 are being urged to take steps to protect their finances after a cyber attack.
Florida Healthy Kids says a vendor, Jelly Bean Communications Design, experienced a cybersecurity incident. The company hosted the FHKC website at the time of the incident. The security incident involved the personal data of online applicants and enrollees. FHKC has no confirmation at this time that anyone’s personal information was removed from the system.
FHKC was notified that several thousand applicant addresses had been inappropriately accessed and tampered with. These addresses are collected as part of the online Florida KidCare application. FHKC engaged independent cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough review of the incident to confirm the scope and severity of the security incident.
The cybersecurity experts identified significant vulnerabilities in the hosted website platform and the databases that support the online Florida KidCare application
The tampering of applicant addresses, together with the potential exposure of personal information dating back to November 2013, constitutes a reportable data breach under Florida and federal law.
The types of information that may have been exposed include:
- Full Name and Date of Birth
- Email Address and Telephone Number
- Physical Address and Mailing Address, if different
- Social Security Number
- Financial Information, to include wages, alimony, child support, royalties, other income, and tax deductions
- Family relationships of those individuals included on the Florida KidCare Application (i.e. mother of child, sister/brother of applicant, etc.)
- Secondary Insurance Information
What Consumers Can Do To Protect Themselves
Individuals who applied or enrolled with Florida KidCare coverage between November 2013 – December 2020 are encouraged to take readily available steps to protect themselves from potential harm, including:
- Fraud alerts – Fraud alerts are a free service offered by all three national credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) and requires potential creditors to contact an individual before any new account is opened. Fraud alerts remain in place for one year, and consumers only need to contact one credit agency for all three credit agencies to place a fraud alert on an account.
- Security freezes – Security freezes are beneficial tools for parents to protect children who have no need for credit accounts. A security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, is the best way to prevent new accounts from being opened without a person’s permission. It is a free service offered by all three national credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) that prevents new credit accounts from being opened under someone’s name without written authorization. Be aware that a security freeze will impact the ability to apply for new credit (such as a car loan, home loan, credit card, etc.). Unlike a fraud alert, consumers must contact each credit reporting agency separately to set up a security freeze.
- Monitoring – Close monitoring of all credit card, bank, and credit agency reports for any unusual activities is recommended. For additional information on how to protect one’s identity and to report identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov.
To set up a fraud alert or security freeze, contact the three national credit reporting agencies below:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation is a nonprofit, public-private partnership created by the Florida Legislature to expand access to affordable, child-centered health insurance