Century Seeks New County Code Agreement To Shut Down ‘Junkyard’
August 3, 2011
The Town of Century is once again looking for a way to shut down a business the town says is operating illegally in a residential neighborhood.
George W. Philyaw says what he does behind his privacy fence at 120 front street is recycling, while the town says he is operating a junkyard on property that is zoned residential. Over a year ago, the Century Town Council cited regulations against “spot zoning” and denied Philyaw’s request to rezone the property for a recycling business.
At issue with 120 Front Street, according to the town, is whether or not Philyaw is operating a business on property that is zoned residential — not if the alleged business is a junkyard or recycling operation.
In February of this year, the town council instructed Mayor Freddie McCall to contact Escambia County’s Code Enforcement and seek a cease and desist order against Philyaw and the alleged business he operates.
But Sandra Slay, director of Escambia County Code Enforcement, said at that time that the current interlocal agreement between Century and Escambia County does not allow for the enforcement of issues like zoning, solid waste violations and stormwater.
Now, Century’s attorney has drafted a new interlocal agreement that would allow Escambia Code Enforcement to again take on zoning violations — and ultimately enforcement action against Philyaw. The Century Town Council has approved the new agreement; it now must be ratified by the Escambia County Commission at a future meeting.
The new agreement with Escambia County does not change any of the laws on the books, Mayor Freddie McCall said; it just gives Escambia County Code Enforcement the right to enforce the current laws.
“We have a severe zoning issue in the town,” McCall said. “You’ve got one house that is in the residential area that has junk piled up. He’s running a business…in a residential place.”
McCall makes no secret that Philyaw is the current target of the town’s new interlocal agreement with Escambia County, but he said the agreement would allow the town to use code enforcement to pursue any future zoning violators.
“That is the only issue we have at this time,” McCall said.
“There is a piece of property that is zoned for residential that is being used for commercial. We are going to allow code enforcement to police it for us,” Council President Ann Brooks said.
Philyaw has already been cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement for his property at 120 Front Street because it is zoned residential which does not allow his type of business to operate. But, without the new interlocal agreement in place, Escambia County Code Enforcement has been unable to take further action. Philyaw has told the town council that he simply collects metal for recycling until he has a “load” and then it is sold. The town maintains that the property is a junkyard under the town’s ordinances.
“This is not a home occupation,” Debbie Nickles, a consultant for the town, said at public hearing last year. “Based on my site visit, I consider this a junkyard…junkyards refer to storage of materials.”
Numerous residents spoke against the rezoning at that public hearing, and the council was presented a petition with signatures from about three dozen residents in opposition.
According to town records, Philyaw applied for a business license to operate about four years ago, but the application was denied because the property was zoned residential.
Pictured top: The street view of the property at 120 Front Street, Century as seen just prior to a rezoning hearing during the summer of 2010. Pictured inset: Escambia County Code Enforcement Director Sandra Slay addresses the Century Town Council earlier this year. Pictured below: The “junkyard” is located behind this fence on Front Street. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click the enlarge.
No Charges Filed After Jay High Player Attacked At Football Camp
August 3, 2011
No charges were filed after a Jay High School football player was attacked last week at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes football camp near Marianna.
The 16-year was taken to the Jackson County Emergency Room in Marianna to be evaluated for a possible concussion, according to Major Donnie Branch, chief deputy of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The football player did not suffer a concussion, and was treated and released, the Sheriff’s office report states.
According to Branch, deputies were notified of the incident about 5 a.m. on July 28 by the Jackson Hospital Emergency Room in Marianna. The 16-year old Jay player had been transported to the ER to be evaluated for a possible concussion. He was treated and released to his parents, Branch said.
The incident occurred earlier that morning at a football camp for boys age 13-18 being held at the Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center just outside Marianna. The Jay player was allegedly attacked in his room by players attending the camp from Taylor County High School.
Branch said Tuesday that the juvenile’s parents had declined to press charges in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Farm Services Agency Conducting Food Drive In Molino
August 3, 2011
The Escambia County Farm Services Agency is taking part in a national goal to collect two million pounds of food for families in need this summer.
“We are all excited about the opportunity to do a little something extra for the needy in our communities that we serve. We encourage you to participate with your donation to help our fellow citizens,” said Suzette Cooper of the Escambia County FSA Office.
A food collection box has been set up in the lobby of the Escambia County Farm Bureau Building at 151 Highway 97 in Molino. Non-perishable food items, as well as personal hygiene items, are being collected through August 31. All items will be delivered to local food banks for distribution. For more information, call (850) 587-5345 ext 2.
Items most needed include:
- Canned Fruits — in light syrup or its own juices
- Canned Vegetables– low sodium, no salt added
- Multigrain Cereal — Cheerios, cornflakes, Grapenuts, raisin bran
- Grains — brown and white rice, oatmeal, bulgar, quinoa, couscous, pasta, macaroni & cheese
- Canned Proteins — tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter, beans
- Soups — beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey rice
- 100% Juice –all sizes, including juice boxes
- Condiments — tomato based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, oils
- Snacks — individually packed snacks, crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, granola/cereal bars, pretzels, sandwich crackers
- Paper Products and Household Items — paper towels, napkins, cleaning supplies
- Hygiene Items — diapers, deodorants for men & women, feminine products, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste, shampoo
Alabama Man Charged With Murdering 2-Year Old
August 3, 2011
An Escambia County, Alabama, remains behind bars, charged murdering a toddler after a young girl died from severe blunt force trauma.
Homer Herbert II of the Boykin community was indicted Monday by an Escambia County (Ala.) Grand Jury on one charge of capital murder. According to the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Herbert is accused of being involved in the death of a 2-year old child.
Intrina Heaven Johnson died in an ambulance on the way to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton last Thursday morning. Authorities said Hebert was watching Johnson for a neighbor overnight before calling 911 for help.
Herbert is being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
Voncile Findley Mize
August 3, 2011
Mrs. Voncile Findley Mize, 94 of Flomaton, passed away August 2, 2011, at Century Care Center after a lengthy illness.
She was a lifetime resident of the Flomaton community and a homemaker. She was a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church and of the Women’s Missionary Church. Mrs. Mize is preceded in death by her husband, Ivey and grandchildren, Steven, Shanda and Terry Lynn Mize.
She is survived by her daughter, Ann Neita (Virgil) Armstrong and son, Gary Dewayne (Joan) Mize, both of Flomaton, AL; five grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Wednesday at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 4 at 11 a.m. at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dexter Truesdell and Rev. Doug Hogg officiating. Interment will follow in Mize-Wadkins Cemetery in Flomaton, AL.
Pallbearers will be Thomas Turk, Don Hammonds, Caleb Turk, Zack White, Colton Hammonds and Turner Armstrong.
Qualifying Ends This Week For Century Council, Mayor Election
August 3, 2011
Qualifying is underway this week for the office of mayor and two town council seats in Century that will be on the town’s ballot in the fall.
Council Seat 1, currently held by Ann Brooks, and Seat 2, held by Nadine McCaw until her recent death, and Mayor Freddie McCall’s post will be on the October 11 ballot. A runoff election, if needed, will be held November 8.
Qualifying for the election will be held until noon on Friday. To qualify for any of the offices, a candidate must be a registered voter in Century. In addition, any candidate for mayor must have been a resident of Century for six months prior to their qualification date. The qualifying fee for mayor is $185.50 and $48 for a council seat.
Staff from the Supervisor of Elections Office will accept qualifying papers at the Century Town Hall on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. until noon. Qualifying papers will also be accepted at the Supervisor of Elections Office on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place in Pensacola from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. until noon on Friday.
Saturday morning, NorthEscambia.com will publish the final list of candidates qualified to seek office in Century this year.
For the October election, voter registration books will close on September 12, and for the November run-off, voter registration books will closed on October 10.
Area Football Star Commits To Auburn
August 3, 2011
The national champion Auburn Tigers landed a star local player Tuesday.
The Tigers received a verbal commitment from defensive lineman Tyler Nero of Escambia County High School in Atmore. The 6-foot-1, 285 pound Nero had been recruited by Alabama, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky and South Alabama before deciding to head to the Plains.
Nero told the Mobile-Press Register that he felt like “he fit in better at Auburn”.
Another Escambia County High Blue Devil also made a college commitment recently — senior defensive lineman Dalvin Craft is headed to Southern Miss.
Dorothy Lee Nelson Raines Martin
August 3, 2011
Ms. Dorothy Lee Nelson Raines Martin, 75, passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at a Pensacola hospital.
Ms. Martin was a native of Fannie, a former resident of Flomaton, and a resident of Atmore, for the past 19 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Annie Lee Nelson, a brother, Howard Paul Nelson and a nephew, Richard Leon McGhee, Jr. .
She is survived by two sons, Dennie Berdette Johnson of San Diego, and Lee Allen Johnson of Sacramento; four daughters, Eia-Leasha Martin of Atmore, Evelyn Frances Crofton of Depoe Bay, OR, Libby Day and Lynn Ferguson, both of Pensacola; her ex-husband, Lavon Raines of Atmore; five grandchildren, Walker Martin, Kali Capadona, Dena Patterson, Rosia Patterson, and Matt Patterson; six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Eloise Peacock of Atmore, Helen Ann Nelson and Joy Faye Smith, both of Perdido; and two nieces, Rhonda Kay Kendricks of Atmore and LaTisha Ann Smith of Perdido.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 5, 2011, at 2 p.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Windy Shaughnessy officiating.
Burial will follow at Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 4, 2011, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Gulf Power Helping Veterans Connect To Jobs
August 3, 2011
Gulf Power Company has partnered with other utilities to develop “Troops to Energy Jobs,” an effort to link military veterans to job openings in the energy industry.
The program was initiated by Washington-based Center for Energy Workforce Development, which has predicted that almost 40 percent of utility employees nationwide will retire or leave their jobs through attrition during the next five years, leading to almost 200,000 job openings. Southern Company, Gulf Power’s parent firm, helped develop CEWD in 2006 to address the approaching workforce shortage.
“There is a huge correlation between the skill sets that military men and women have and the skill sets that we need,” Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power’s Workforce Development coordinator said. “This program is an example of how our industry has worked on a national level to make sure we have the talent we need, while continuing to support our military community.”
Last year, Southern Company was named one of G.I. Jobs Top 10 Military Friendly Employers for 2010. Gulf Power has actively recruited military servicemen and women over the years by working directly with local military bases.
Darryl Johnson, Work and Family Life consultant for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton said the local military has had a strong relationship with Gulf Power and Southern Company for 25 years.
“They have been enormously helpful in providing us with job openings and information to help us best place our men and women in a good job,” said Johnson. “I like to call it a “win-win-win” situation. Gulf Power fills a position with someone who has the experience they need, the military serviceman or woman finds a great job, and I get to connect the two.”
Active military personnel who are interested in the “Troops to Energy Jobs” program can go to www.cewd.org and look for the “Troops to Energy Jobs” section. Some of the positions expected to be available include engineers, technicians, line workers, plant operators and pipefitters. To apply for a job at Gulf Power, go to www.southerncompany.com and click on “Careers.”
Excessive Heat Warning: Heat Index Up To 115
August 3, 2011
There is an excessive heat warning in effect for your Wednesday with temperatures expected to climb to about 100 with high humidity pushing the heat index to between 110 and 115 degrees by afternoon.
Heat index values this high can cause even the most physically fit to succumb to heat exhaustion, or even a heat stroke, according to the National Weather Service, which recommends plenty of fluids, air conditioning and staying out of the sun.
- Wednesday…Sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs around 100. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Heat index readings 110 to 115.
- Wednesday Night…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Highest heat index readings 105 to 107 in the evening.
- Thursday…Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Thursday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday…Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Friday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday…Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday Night…Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Sunday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Sunday Night…Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Monday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Monday Night…Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Tuesday…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.