Century Still Seeking Slogan Suggestions
February 12, 2015
The Town of Century is still looking to the public for a help in finding a new identity, and there’s still just a day left to make suggestions.
The town is accepting new slogan ideas through February 13, with the town council to consider a winner at their regular meeting on February 16. Century Mayor Freddie McCall is personally contributing a $50 prize for the winner.
The town council has previously voted to eventually remove “Welcome to Century” signs that welcome visitors into Century from the north and south on Highway 29. The signs, dedicated two years ago, were built by Century Correctional Institution and feature a giant saw blade with the town’s most recent slogan “The Dawn of a New Century.”
“Our image needs to change,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said recently, noting that the town’s sawmill has been closed for over 50 years. “We are not a sawmill town anymore.” He said the signs would be donated to the local Alger Sullivan Historical Society for use in their museum.
To submit a slogan idea for the Town of Century, click here for an entry form.
The change is coming after a recommendation from Brice Harris of the University of West Florida’s Haas Center, author of the town’s new strategic plan.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Cold Blast: Low To Mid 20’s Tonight
February 12, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 24. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 50. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Washington’s Birthday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
- Monday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Tuesday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.
Escambia County Offers Cold Weather Safety Tips: Pets, Plants, Pipes And More
February 12, 2015
With temperatures expected to drop well below freezing tonight, Escambia County residents should prepare their family, pets and home for the extreme cold. Considerable attention should be provided to people performing outdoor activities to make sure they have the appropriate layered clothing on to protect themselves from the near zero degree wind chill. Parents need to provide special consideration to those children waiting at school bus stop in the morning and making sure that children cover exposed skin and dress in layers.
Escambia County offers the following cold weather safety tips:
Protecting People
- Stay indoors, dress warmly and use safe heating sources.
- Guard against wind chill – One of the gravest dangers of winter weather is wind chill. The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also effected by wind chill.
Pets
- Do not leave pets out in the cold.
- Bring all pets indoors and make sure they have a warm blanket to lie on, as well as plenty of food and water.
- If pets must stay outdoors, provide a pet house or other type of shelter and line the bottom with plenty of blankets or hay along with extra food and water. Try installing a light bulb flood light in the pet house at a safe distance away from the pet to avoid burns. The heat from the bulb will help keep them warm. However, do not use light bulbs when bedding with hay.
Pipes
Water expands when it freezes and can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house if ice forms. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your home by taking a few simple measures to protect your home:
- Use faucet covers, wrap rags, paper, trash bags or plastic foam around faucets and outdoor pipes.
- Cover any vents around your home´s foundation.
- Protect outdoor electrical pumps and bring water hoses indoors.
- Open the cabinets under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around water pipes.
- Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is secure.
- If you have a swimming pool, either drain the circulation system or keep the pump motor running. Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could cause damage.
- Let faucets drip, but do not run a big stream of water.
- If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure the faucets are turned off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.
- If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility for instructions on protecting your water heater.
If Pipes Freeze
- Turn off the water at the shut-off valve and call a plumber for help.
- Do not use lamps or electrical appliances to thaw frozen pipes. Leaking water from thawing pipes could cause a short and you can be electrocuted.
- If you try to thaw your own pipes, apply heat slowly, and move the heat toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot – cracking ice can shatter a pipe.
Practice Fire Safety
- Use extra care with supplemental heating units.
- Make sure that all-combustible materials such as drapes or chairs are at least three feet away from any heating unit.
- Avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces and do not leave a fireplace unattended.
- Most importantly, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.
Plants
- Water your plants thoroughly. The water will act as an insulator. Dry plants are more susceptible to freezing.
- After watering, cover plants with a breathable material, such as fabric not plastic.
- Place mulch at the base of your plants and do not prune prior to a freeze. Pruning encourages soft growth, which is susceptible to freezing. Spraying the leaves of plants with liquid seaweed will also toughen them against cold.
ECSO To Honor Jail Explosion Heroes, Other Deputies
February 12, 2015
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will hold its annual award ceremony today during which several deputies will receive the Medal of Courage for rescues during the flooding and jail explosion last April.
Escambia County Jail employee Kelley Bradford will be recognized with the Civilian Gold Medal of Honor, and Chris Hankinson will be honored with the law enforcement Purple Heart. Hankinson was paralyzed as a result of the natural gas explosion, while Bradford is credited for saving his life.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vendors Needed: Blue Jacket Jamboree Returns March 7
February 12, 2015
The annual Blue Jacket Jamboree is returning to Northview High School on Saturday, March 7, and local vendors are needed to sell their wares.
Interested craft vendors should contact Linda Till at (850) 572-1076 or Pam Kleinatland at (850) 712-6267. Food vendors should contact Kleinatland or Angus Brewton at (850) 256-5831.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree will be held on the campus of Northview High School from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on March 7. Admission is free for the event, which will include arts, crafts, food, a car show and entertainment.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
20’s By Thursday Night
February 11, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39. West wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 25. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 50. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 46.
- Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
- Washington’s Birthday Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
- Monday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Cooler Nights In Store
February 10, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
- Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 24. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 49. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 56.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 24.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 46.
- Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
- Washington’s Birthday Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Cooler For Remainder Of The Week
February 9, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 51.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
- Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 56.
Valentine’s Fun At The Century Branch Library
February 9, 2015
The Molino Branch Library will offer a Valentine Candy Craft Monday at 6 p.m. Kids can create a candy heart lollipop along with a Valentine card to give someone special. Space is limited. Call the Molino Branch Library at (850) 435-1760 to register.
The Century Branch Library will present “Giving Your Heart Away” on Thursday at 5 p.m. at 7991 North Century Boulevard. Participants can enjoy stories, treats and make a handmade Valentine for someone special.
AgSave$ – Securing Your Farm’s Financial Future
February 9, 2015
Farm families face unique issues concerning retirement and succession planning (who will own and/or manage the farm when the current owner is no longer able). Farming is a business which has evolved into more than just a way of life.
Now, successful farming includes in-depth financial planning, implementing and evaluating new enterprises, new techniques, new tools, and planning future ownership and management of the farmstead. Many times, unfortunately, “exit” strategies for retirement and succession of leadership are often overlooked.
The question, “Who will continue the farm?” is just as important as assessing the value of land, equipment, and livestock. The first step, which is often the hardest, in building a succession plan is to include and communicate with family members about the process. Some questions to get the conversation started with your family include:
- How do I become financially stable?
- How do I retire well?
- What do I need to do to secure the future of my farm?
To help with this important process, the University of Florida IFAS Extension faculty in the Panhandle are offering a newly developed personal finance and succession planning program for Florida farmers and their families called AgSave$. Farmers and their families involved with any agricultural industry are invited to join our Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, in a proclamation for the kick-off event, the AgSave$ Summit, at the UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County office on February 23 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Marianna with “satellite sites” located at the Extension offices in Jay Monticello
The first event is free of charge, and will focus on the importance of succession planning. Lunch is also provided free.. Registration for the AgSave$ Summit is being offered online a: bit.ly/AgSavesSummit, or by calling your local Extension office.
Following the initial “Summit,” you may wish to enroll in our AgSave$ Workshop Series beginning on March 24. This four session series of interactive workshops will focus on the basics of securing your farm’s financial future and will be offered locally in County Extension offices across the Florida Panhandle. The cost of this series is $55 for the entire family (up to four members). In addition to learning from our featured speakers, which are experts in the field of financial planning, participants will receive a Farm Journal Legacy Project Workbook to help walk your family through the succession planning process. For more information on these programs, contact Libbie Johnson or Dorothy Leeat the
UF IFAS Escambia County Extension office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment at (850) 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu or dclee@ufl.edu.