County Rezones Highway 4 Property
January 11, 2008
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to rezone 27 acres of property in the 5100 block of West Highway 4.
The property, owned by David and Nancy Roach, had been zoned VR-1 that allowed for one dwelling for every four acres. The new zoning, VR-2, allows for one dwelling on every three quarters of acre. The new zoning would potentially allow about 35 homes to be constructed.
Raymond Peebles, a board member of the Bratt Assembly of God, addressed the commission in opposition to the rezoning. The property sits adjacent to the church’s property. Peebles told the commission that he was concerned that Godwin Cemetery Road, a private road, would be used to access the property.
Commissioners noted that the property had potential access from Highway 4 and from Dortch Road. They voted 5-0 in favor of the rezoning.
Pictured above: An Escambia County Property Appraiser map showing the rezoned property outlined in red. Highway 4 runs along the southern border of the property. Godwin Cemetery Road is to the east, and Dortch Road is to the west. The Bratt Assembly of God Church can be seen at the corner of Highway 4 and Godwin Cemetery Road.
Panhandle Equine Rescue Receives Donation
January 11, 2008
Panhandle Equine Rescue (PER) received over four thousand dollars in donations Thursday night from a recent horse endurance ride.
The money was presented by the Five Flags Arabian Horse Association to PER at PER’s monthly meeting at Fran’s Country Grill in Molino. The money was raised at the “Blackwater Boogie Endurance Ride” that was held November 30 and December 1 in the Blackwater State Forest near Milton. Over 130 riders from across the Southeast participated in the ride.
The $4,222.46 check was presented by Christina Schiro (pictured above, right) of the Arabian Horse Association to Diane Lowery (pictured above, left), president of PER. Added to $535 in proceeds given to PER last month, the total funds presented to PER totaled $4,757.46.
Panhandle Equine Rescue’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. It is authorized by the Escambia County court system to investigate equine reports in the county.
Recently, PER rescued five of fourteen horses from a resident of Escambia County near the intersection on Highway 95A and Quintette Road south of Molino. The resident was unable to care for fourteen horses at one time, according to Lowery, so PER stepped in. Four boarded horses on the property were returned to their owner, and PER took possession of Firecracker, Rolla, Pretty Boy, Junior (pictured left) and Miss Penny.
“He had too many horses,” Lowery said, “Basically, he was in over his head.” She said the horses were in poor condition when they were picked up by PER, but now they are in good shape. Soon after a vet visit next Wednesday, all five should be available for adoption. All five can be viewed in our photo gallery by clicking here.
PER’s annual Benefit Ride scheduled for February 9 has been renamed “The Charlotte Salzer Memorial Benefit Ride”. Charlotte passed away December 30 after a six month battle with cancer. She was nurse, retired from Atmore Community Hospital. Before and after retiring, she was active in rides for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Atmore’s Relay for Life, Panhandle Equine Rescue, and the Five Flags Arabian Horse Association.
The benefit ride will take place Saturday, February 9 at Coldwater Recreation Area in the Blackwater River State Forest. The approximately 12 mile ride will be followed by an awards ceremony and a meal. For more information click here to download and print a pdf flyer, or contact Chris Jones at 478-2161.
Rain, Maybe Some Storms Tonight
January 10, 2008
Rain is expected Thursday night, with some storms possibly severe.
There is an 80 percent chance of rain tonight. The rain is expected to end around daybreak Friday. It will be cooler on Friday, with a high only around 65. Friday night’s low will be about 38.
Federal Raid At Century Helicopter Company
January 10, 2008
Officials with the U.S. Office of Transportation raided Van Nevel Helicopters in Century’s industrial park Wednesday seizing business records of the business and its owner, Georges Van Nevel.
“Van Nevel is suspected of improperly refurbishing helicopters and helicopter parts, selling unapproved aircraft parts, performing improper repairs on helicopters and misleading the aviation community by false advertisements,” according to federal documents from the Office of Transportation obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
When NorthEscambia.com was on the scene Wednesday, three marked Escambia County sheriff’s cruisers were maintaining a perimeter around the building, keeping onlookers and employees away from the building on Industrial Boulevard. As the driver of one vehicle drove toward the parking lot not using the main driveway but a grassy area on the side, he was quickly approached by deputies before he entered the parking lot (pictured left, click to enlarge).
The raid began during the 5:00 hour Wednesday morning, according to deputies.
Van Nevel operates Helicopter Technologies. It held a FAA repair station certification until Van Nevel voluntarily surrendered the repair station certificate in early August 2007, according to federal documents. Helicopter Technologies supported the FH1100 Company until that certificate surrender, but he had the capability to continue performing helicopter maintenance and repairs under an “Airframe and Powerplant” certificate. But Van Nevel’s companies were still able to sell parts for the FH-1100 helicopter, according to federal documents.
According to documents filed with the Florida Secretary of State, Van Nevel is the only corporate officer for Helicopter Technology, Inc., FH1100 Manufacturing Corp., and Van Nevel Helicopters, Inc.
According to the website fh1100.com, the company also operated the “Van Nevel Helicopters Academy”. The “whois” service at Network Solutions, an internet domain registrar, identifies the owner of the fh1100.com domain name to be Georges Van Nevel.
Federal agents were to seize documents related to all of Van Nevel’s companies, according to federal documents. Documents to be seized include both paper documents and electronic information related to the operation of the company, including employee records, customer records, supplier records and aircraft maintenance information.
No charges have been filed against Van Nevel or any employee or agent of any of his companies.
NorthEscambia.com was unable to contact Van Nevel for contact on Wednesday.
At Monday night’s meeting of the Century Town Council, Town Clerk Dorothy Sims reported to the council that Helicopter Technology last made a payment to the town in September 2007, and that payment was for their May 2007 rent in the town’s industrial park.
Click here for more photos from Van Nevel Helicopters.
Pictured top: A marked Escambia County deputy cruiser sits outside Van Nevel Helicopters as federal agents conduct a raid inside Wednesday. All photos exclusive NorthEscambia.com photos.
Snowflakes For Century Care Center
January 10, 2008
The residents of Century Care Center decorated snowflakes Wednesday for residents under hospice care.
Sally Cary with Covenant Hospice of Northwest Florida joined the Century Care residents in an arts and crafts program.
While working on the project, Care provided Mardi Gras beads, King Cake and punch for the residents.
Photos submitted by Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center.
Video: Steeple Goes Up At Aldersgate Methodist
January 10, 2008
A new steeple was installed Wednesday afternoon at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Molino. The steeple replaces one that blew off the sanctuary during Hurricane Ivan on September 16, 2004.
Century Fire Dept. Responds To Backwoods Road
January 9, 2008
The Century Volunteer Fire Department responded to the report of a residential structure fire at 11:00 Wednesday night. Firefighters on the scene in the 300 block of Backwoods Road reported the fire was out upon their arrival. There were no injuries.
ECAT Adds New Services For Century And Molino, Including Saturday Bus
January 9, 2008
The Escambia County Area Transit system (ECAT) has added new stops in Century and Molino effective this week. The new service will includ a new Saturday bus.
A new midday bus now runs Monday through Friday in addition to morning and afternoon service. ECAT has also added new Saturday bus.
The new midday bus on Route 60 begins Monday through Friday at the ECAT transfer center at 11:30. Headed north, it stops at Highway 29 and 9 Mile Road at 11:50, Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment at 12:03, Highway 20 and Highway 95A in Molino at 12:17 and the Century Courthouse at 12:35.
Southbound, the new midday bus on Route 60 begins Monday through Friday at the Century Courthouse at 12:35. It then stops at Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Molino at 12:47, Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment at 12:56, Highway 29 and 9 Mile Road at 1:05 and ends at the ECAT transfer center at 1:25.
From the ECAT transfer station, riders can connect to buses that can take them across most of the Pensacola area.
The new midday bus is in addition to a southbound bus that leaves the Century Courthouse Monday through Friday at 6:15 a.m. and stops in Molino at 6:17 on its way to Pensacola. An evening bus returns to Molino from the Pensacola area at 6:47 and arrives in Century at 6:35.
The new Saturday morning bus leaves the Century Courthouse at 10:35, stops in Molino at 10:47, then travels to Cantonment at 10:56, Highway 29 and 9 Mile Road at 11:05 and then arrives at the ECAT transfer station at 11:25.
The new Saturday evening bus follows the same schedule as the Monday through Friday evening bus, arriving back in Molino at 6:17 and Century at 6:35.
The base fare for all buses on Route 60 is $2.35. For students, it is $1.25. For senior citizens, disables citizens, and Medicare card holders, the fare is $1.10.
Route 60 carries a 50 cent surcharge on 10-Ride, seven or 30 day passes and all day passes. Not including the surcharge, the 30 day pass sells for $47 or the reduced rate of $35 for senior citizens and the disabled. The seven day pass sells for $14.50, and the one day pass sells for $5.25.
Click the map image above or the time chart below to enlarge and print.
Click here for a printable pdf of the map and time schedule.
Miss Northview High School Pageant Scheduled For January 19
January 9, 2008
The annual Miss Northview High School Pageant will be held on Saturday, January 19 at 7:00 in the school auditorium.
“This year we have 25 talented and lovely young ladies competing for the title of Miss NHS 2008,” said pageant coordinator Anna Barry. The pageant is sponsored by the Northview High Varsity Cheerleaders.
Admission is $5 per person. Advance tickets are on sale now in the school office. Tickets must be purchased in advance; they will not be available at the door.
Pictured above: Contestants in the Miss Northview High School pageant practice a physical fitness routine. Click the photo to enlarge.
U.S. Marshals Arrest Man After Drunken Family Brawl
January 9, 2008
The United States Marshals North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Jimmy Cash of Flomaton, Alabama, at his home Monday in connection with an incident authorities say happened at a family Christmas party near Century.
Authorities say Cash became drunk at the family’s Christmas party back on December 23, and when family members asked him not to drive, he became violent. According to an Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Department report, Cash then got into a fight with a family member and assaulted a second family member that tried to break up the fight.
The second victim was then allegedly strangled by Cash and the fight continued outside. After that Cash reportedly kicked in a back door of the home. Then he went to a car where the second victim’s six year-old daughter was inside and started punching and breaking the windshield, according to police reports. That victim once again tried to stop Cash, but Cash reportedly grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the ground.
Cash, 48, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Task Force and Flomaton Police Department at his home on the 700 Block of Upper Creek Road without incident about 2:30 Monday afternoon. He was transported to the Escambia County (Ala.) Jail, and is awaiting extradition back to Escambia County, Florida.
He will face a long list of charges in Escambia County, Florida. That list includes battery or domestic battery by strangulation, battery on a person 65 years or older and a felony charge of cruelty toward a child/abuse without great harm. He also faces two misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief with property damage.