Century Considers Cutting Back Fence Heights To Cut Crime
June 20, 2012
The Town of Century may consider an ordinance that would cut back the the height allowed for privacy fences in the town — partially in an attempt to cut back on crime.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he wants the town council to consider adopting Escambia County’s fence ordinances. McCall said four Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies have asked him to consider the ordinance because it would be a “great help to them fighting crime”.
McCall said when a resident has a high, solid privacy fence in front of their home “they are hiding something”.
The mayor said Escambia County’s fence ordinance limits the height of a solid fence in front of a residence to three feet and a chain link to a four foot height. Escambia’s ordinance allows for a fence to be up to six feet high along the side and rear yard of a residence. To view Escambia County’s fence ordinance, click here.
The Century council is expected to discuss the fence ordinance at their next regular meeting on Monday, July 2.
Pictured: The Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
National Firefighter’s Group Fires Back, Calls PNJ Cartoon ‘Racist’
June 20, 2012
A major firefighters association is firing back at a Pensacola News Journal editorial cartoon that the group calls “racist”.
Last Saturday, the newspaper published the cartoon by Andy Marlette, that depicts two apparently white firefighters hosing down two black persons. The caption on the carton states: “Don’t worry, since they laid off all the journalists in Alabama we can get away with this kind of stuff again.”
The newspaper says the cartoon is an editorial depiction of an actual photograph from the 1960’s that was published in Life magazine that shows Birmingham, Ala., firefighters hosing down black marchers at a civil-rights march in Birmingham. The cartoon was inspired, the PNJ said, by an announcement that Advance Publications — owners of the Mobile-Press Register, The Birmingham News and The Huntsville Times, will lay off about 400 journalists and newsroom employees in the fall as they drop to a three day publication schedule — cutting back on the number of “watchdog” journalists.
But International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) President Harold Schaitberger calls the cartoon a “senseless, confusing and bigoted illustration that should have never reached print”. The IAFF represents over 300,000 professional firefighters and paramedics in the U.S. and Canada.
“Layoffs are never good. At their worst, they tragically hurt people who work for a living. From a business perspective, they can remove valuable experience and institutional knowledge from a work place. News Journal workers have suffered from layoffs in the past year. And the massive layoffs last week at newspapers owned by Advance Publications in Alabama that threw hard-working journalists and editors into the streets and out of jobs during a terrible economy is deeply disturbing. But none of that is an excuse to insult fire fighters — and it’s time for the illustrator and editors at the paper to stand up honorably and apologize for their ignorance,” Schaitberger said in a news release.
The PNJ is not apologizing; they are standing by the cartoon.
“It’s an editorial cartoon. It’s supposed to evoke an emotional response, it’s not supposed to be taken literally,” a statement released by PNJ Executive Editor Richard Schneider said.
The PNJ has offered the IAFF a chance to respond in a “Viewpoint” column in the newspaper and has invited readers to submit letters to editors.
FWC Considers Black Bear Plan
June 20, 2012
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will focus on conservation of the Florida black bear, the state’s largest land mammal, this week. They will consider taking final action on adopting the FWC’s first management plan for the black bear, which has rebounded from as few as 300 in the wild in the 1970’s to more than 3,000 today.
The goal of the 10-year plan is to “maintain sustainable black bear populations in suitable habitats throughout Florida for the benefit of the species and people.” Public input was invited and utilized in drafting the bear management plan and will be important to its implementation.
The seven bear management units created in the plan provide opportunities for public participation in decisions on managing local bear populations and reducing human-bear conflicts such as the one that occurred recently at a Cantonment apartment complex.
The Commissioners also will decide on removing the black bear from the state’s list of threatened species and adopting a new FWC rule making it illegal to harass, injure or kill a bear in Florida.
Pictured: A black bear wondered through a Cantonment apartment complex for days last month until it was captured and euthanized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Fun Food: Artistic Summer Snack Attack
June 20, 2012
School’s out! One way to get creative with all this extra time and to eat nutritiously is to make and eat healthy snacks. Like an arts-and-crafts project, making a snack can be a great summertime activity. Bonus: the kids get to eat their artwork and you get to sneak nutritious foods into their day for a healthy diet.
Some works of art need the following elements:
- Foundation – slices of whole wheat bread, tortillas, English muffins, lettuce leaves, rice cakes, zucchini or cucumber rounds, apple or pineapple slices.
- Glue – peanut butter, low-fat cream cheese, cheese spread, hummus, refried beans, low-fat yogurt, jam, pizza sauce, or low-fat ranch dressing.
- Bling – seeds, nuts, grapes, raisins, match stick carrots, olives, beans, low-fat granola, diced fruits and veggies.
Start from the foundation and work up to the bling. Create faces, animals, or landscapes. Let the plate be your canvas. It’s a great way to try a new food or sample a food prepared in a totally different way.
For other works of art, use toothpicks, skewers, popsicle sticks, or edible pretzel rods to make shish kabobs. Cut out cheese shapes with small cookie cutters and add to the stick alternating with cut up fruits and vegetables. Make a beautiful edible bouquet.
Kids are also more likely to enjoy new foods if they are served in fun containers. Try using mugs, champagne glasses, ice cream cones, or party hats.
Be sure to include nutritious foods from all the food groups as your artists create throughout the summer: load up on fruits and vegetables, incorporate whole grains, go lean on the dairy and protein.
No sitting around loading up on the unhealthy “junk” foods out of boredom this summer. The time for healthy edible snack art is now.
Cantonment Man Charged In Olive Road Store Burglary
June 20, 2012
A Cantonment men has been arrested in connection the burglary of an Olive Road convenience store.
Kenneth Lamar Grandison, age 44 of Hicks Street, was charged with felony criminal mischief, burglary of an unoccupied structure, possession of burglary tools with the intent to use, resisting arrest, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on an $18,000 bond.
He is accused of attempted to break into the TQ Mini Mart on Olive Road early Sunday morning. Grandison allegedly fled the area in an Oldsmobile that was spotted by deputies a short time later at Palafox and Olive roads. When deputies caught up with the vehicle, Grandison bailed out and ran, according to an arrest report. He was apprehended at gunpoint without incident in the backyard of a home on Whitehead Drive.
Deputies reportedly found drug paraphernalia and marijuana on Grandison’s person and burglary tools in his vehicle.
According to an arrest report, the glass was shattered in the front door of the business, and the door was destroyed in an attempt to pry it open, but it did not appear Grandison made entry into the building.
Santa Rosa Upgrades Recycling Program; No Need To Sort
June 20, 2012
Single stream or “single sort” recycling is now available in Santa Rosa County. Residents utilizing the public recycling areas or residential curbside recycling no longer need to separate or sort recyclables by type, but can collect and dispose of all recyclable materials in the same container. The recycling process is made possible by the recent contracting of recycling services with West Florida Recycling.
Accepted Recyclable Materials:
- Paper – all paper including office paper waste, shredded paper, hardback and paperback books, magazines, junk mail including envelopes, phone books, and pizza boxes.
- Glass – all glass except light blubs, plate glass or safety glass.
- Metal – All aluminum, tin and steel including tin cans, aluminum cans, aluminum foil, pie tins, cake tins, and empty aerosol cans.
- Plastic Containers – All plastic except Styrofoam and motor oil containers.
- Cardboard – all cardboard including pizza boxes. To help save space in the recycle bins, please break down or flatten all boxes.
Non-recyclable Materials
- Light blubs
- Styrofoam
- Motor oil containers
- Mylar – found in plastic balloons, chip bags, and candy bags
- Waxy Cardboard – found in milk cartons, orange juice cartons, wine boxes and waxy produce and seafood boxes.
- Any household garbage like food waste and diapers.
- Oil, gas, paint, antifreeze, fertilizers, pesticides and other household hazardous waste can be disposed of at no charge at the Household Hazardous Waste Center located at the entrance of the Central Landfill, 6337 Da Lisa Road in Milton, Monday- Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Recycling Tips
- Labels do not have to be removed from any containers.
- Containers do not need to be rinsed.
- Lids do not need to be removed from any containers.
- Pizza boxes with grease can be recycled.
- To help save space in the bins please break down or flatten all boxes.
- Recycle areas are not disposal areas for furniture or household garbage that is not recyclable material. Violators may be fined for illegal dumping.
As part of the contract, West Florida Recycling collects the material left at the 19 recycling drop off points throughout the county and purchases recycling material from the county. For more information on recycling and a list of recycling drop off locations visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/recycle.
Tanker Truck Wrecks, Burns On I-65 Near Atmore
June 19, 2012
A tanker truck carrying fuel burst into flames Tuesday in wreck on I-65 south of Atmore, sending a black cloud of smoke that could be seen for miles billowing into the evening sky.
Just before 7 p.m., the truck driver ran off southbound I-65 at about the 51 mile marker — about 3 miles south of the Poarch/Jacks Springs Road Exit.
The truck driver suffered only minor injuries, according to Alabama State Troopers. There were no other injuries in the single vehicle crash.
For about five hours after the crash, southbound interstate traffic was detoured along Highway 31 between Atmore and the Perdido exit. I-65 was reported to be open again by 12:14 a.m.
Further details, including the name of the driver, were not immediately released.
Pictured: A fuel tanker truck burns on I-65 south of Atmore Tuesday evening. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Slight Rain Chance Tonight
June 19, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Isolated showers before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming east.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
Century Man Charged With Drug Possession, Battery On Deputy
June 19, 2012
A Century man is facing multiple charges including drug possession and battery on a police officer after an incident Friday night in Century.
Escambia County deputies reported that they were on patrol near Pond Street and Jefferson Avenue when they observed several black males sitting around a table at the edge of the road. When deputies made contact with the men, they noticed a small baggie of marijuana on the ground. They obtained consent from the men for a pat-down search.
As deputies were searching 42-year old John Calvin Carter, they located what was believed to be narcotics in Carter’s sock. He was ordered to turn around and place his hands behind his back, but Carter instead shoved a deputy in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Carter then ran east on Pond Street, according to an arrest report.
Deputies gave chase and observed Carter remove the item from sock and drop it as he ran. When deputies caught up with Carter, he “reached into his pocket with his left hand as though he was attempting to remove something else that I believed to be a weapon”, the deputy wrote in the arrest report. Another deputy gave Carter numerous orders to remove his hands from his pocket before firing his taser at Carter.
After Carter hit the ground, deputies attempted to take him into custody but he continued to try to get to his pocket, the report states. Deputies tased him a second time and took him into custody.
The item Carter allegedly dropped was determined to be crack cocaine, according to the arrest report.
Carter was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. He was later released from jail on a $7,500 bond.
Century Approves $871 Installation Of Device To ‘Recycle’ Electricity
June 19, 2012
The Town of Century is moving forward with the installation of an energy savings box that a salesperson promised would save the town money on electric bills by “recycling and reusing” electricity.
Two weeks ago, the town voted to purchase the device, and Monday night the town council approved spending $871 for Paul Patrick Electric of Milton to install the “Peak Energy Saver”.
Don Statam of Peak Energy Technology told the council that the Peak Energy Saver would save the town about $300 per month if installed at a water tower that serves the Century Correctional Institution.
The “power factor correction unit” works by storing electricity in capacitors until it is needed for the excess starting load created by electric motors.
The town will pay $750 up front for the device for a 90 day trial period. If the town is satisfied that the Peak Energy Saver actually saves money, the town will pay an additional $750 to complete the $1,500 purchase price. In the event the town is not happy within the 90 day period, Statam said the company will provide a full refund, minus installation costs.
“That electricity just goes back out the wire,” Statam said two weeks ago as he demonstrated a Peak Energy Saver for the Century Town Council. “They (the power company) just sells it to you over and over again….Gulf Power themselves capture it to use again.”
Picture top: Don Statam of Peak Energy Technology demonstrates a “Peak Energy Saver 200″ for the Century Town Council on June 4. Pictured inset: A closeup of the device. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.