Special Meeting: Century To Vote On Animal Control Ordinance Tonight
December 23, 2013
The Century Town Council will hold a special meeting tonight to hold a final vote a new animal control ordinance that will ban barnyard animals from most of the town.
The ordinance will make it illegal to keep a horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, or cow within the town limits except in areas that are zoned agricultural or rural residential. Hogs are already prohibited in all areas of the town. The ordinance also set minimum setback requirement for animals in permitted locations. The new law will also require non-conforming animals be registered at town hall within 60 days and be removed from the town withing six months unless a variance is granted by the council.
The special council meeting will be held at 6 p.m., beginning with a public forum and comment period on the ordinance.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Try A Local Business Or Thrift Store
December 23, 2013
Time’s running out to finish finding that perfect unique gift or that last minute Christmas bargain.
Brandie’s Cottage, Local Small Businesses
Skip the long lines and hassle at the big box retail giants and try a small locally owned business for that perfect Christmas gift. There are literally dozens and dozens of small business in the North Escambia area with a great selection, including Brandie’s Cottage in Cantonment.
Owned by Brandi Ratcliff of Molino, Brandi’s Cottage offers a wide selection of Christmas gifts, including jewelry, customized clothing, collectibles, scarves, children’s items, collegiate items, gift items, purses and much more.
Brandie’s Cottage is located at 439 North Highway 29, next to the Cantonment Pharmacy, another local business with a great gift selection. Brandie’s Cottage is open today from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., but closed on Christmas Eve.
Molino Thrift Store
The Molino Thrift Store offers a full selection of merchandise at discount prices….including a wide selection of brand new toys in the $1 to $5 range. There’s still a great selection of toys, including remote control cars and dolls, in stock.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is a little different that many other thrift stores. Not only are the prices lower than some thrift stores, the business has a mission of reaching out to those in need and returning their profits directly to the community.
According to Manager Jason Lee, a Baptist pastor, the store returns 10 percent to churches in the community.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is located on Highway 29 at Molino Road, next door to Scott’s Pharmacy, another locally owned business.
Have another favorite locally owned small business in North Escambia that has a great selection of Christmas gifts? Tell everyone about the business in the comments section below!
Pictured top and top inset: Brandie’s Cottage in Cantonment. Pictured bottom inset: New dolls available under $5 at the Molino Thrift Store. Pictured below: Brand new radio control cars at the Molino Thrift Store for $4.49. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Does The Highway 29, Highway 97 Intersection Need A Red Light?
December 22, 2013
Does The Highway 29, Highway 97 Intersection Need A Red Light?
We’ve all seen the numerous NorthEscambia.com stories and photos of accidents, some very serious, at the Highway 29, Highway 97 intersection. And yes, we’ve read the comments on the story that invariably have those calling for a red light and those that think it’s a bad idea. Then there are the others that believe the intersection is poorly designed.
The Florida Department of Transportation and numerous other state and county officials have studied the intersection and have reach a conclusion.
Does The Highway 29, Highway 97 Intersection Need A Red Light? Find out the official answer in a story Monday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: Fire responders remove a driver from their vehicle following a minor crash at the Highway 29, Highway 97 intersection in Molino earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarg.
Lots More Rain Tonight
December 22, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 26. North wind around 5 mph.
- Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Christmas Recycling Workshops for Kids Planned For Perdido Landfill
December 22, 2013
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste is inviting local families to a fun, affordable day camp for kids this holiday season. During each daylong excursion at the Perdido Landfill, kids will participate in fun-filled activities designed to teach the importance of protecting the environment. Activities will include: tour of the landfill, Recycling 101, Household Chemical Waste 101, hands on recycling projects, holiday themed arts and crafts with recycled materials, games that focus on recycling& reuse and an eco-walk on the Perdido Riverwalk Nature Trail.
The daylong camps will take place on December 23 and January 2 from 9 a.m. until 3p.m. The camps are open to children ages five to 10. Each participant is asked to donate one pair of new or gently used shoes to the Soles4Souls charity.
Campers will need to bring clothes that are appropriate to play in and be worn outside, a brown bag lunch, snacks, a reusable water bottle and drinks. Please try to pack a zero waste lunch, which means reusable containers. One snack will be provided at beginning of the day.
The camps will be held at the Escambia County Landfill located at 13009 Beulah Road in Cantonment.
Possible Severe Weather Moving In
December 21, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
- Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Low around 69. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. High near 76. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers likely. Low around 55. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.
- Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 60.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Search For Missing Woman Continues; Case Being Worked As Homicide
December 19, 2013
This story has been updated. Click here for the update.
The search is continuing for an Atmore that’s been missing for over three weeks, and authorities are working the case as a homicide until they find her.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office said 42-year old Marcie Brewton Morgan of Atmore last spoke to a family member on December 3 and was believed to be in the Saraland, AL, area at the time.
She is described as a Caucasian woman with an olive complexion, wavy dark brown hair, blue eyes, about 5-feet 4-inches tall, 150 pounds with a medium build. She may be driving a blue metallic 2001 Lincoln Town Car with a gray vinyl top and Alabama personalized license plate “ECB”.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office is working the case as a homicide until Morgan is located.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Marcie Brewton Morgan is asked to contact the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-2154, their local law enforcement agency or 911.
Lottery Fever: Mega Millions Jackpot Jumps To $636 Million
December 17, 2013
At $363 million, tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is the second-largest in the multi-state game’s history.
If one ticket matches all six numbers for the $586 million mega-jackpot, the winner will have the choice of receiving the full jackpot in 30 annual payments, or a cash option of approximately $341 million before taxes.
The jackpot has been growing since October 1, rolling over 21 times without a winner.
The Mega Millions drawing will be held at 10:00 tonight.
After A Frosty Start, Expect Sunshine And 65 Today
December 17, 2013
After a cold, frosty start to our morning, expect sunshine and high around 65 today. It will be a little warmer tonight, down to 37 before warming to highs of 63 on Wednesday and 70 on Thursday under sunny skies. Pictured above: A frosty field, bales of cotton, steam rising from a distant pond and Tuesday morning’s sunrise as seen from Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Warming This Week
December 16, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Calm wind.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.