Century Set To Appove Water Rate Hike, Support For Library Tax
January 26, 2013
The Century Town Council is poised to hike water rates and agree to implement a proposed Escambia County property tax as a dedicated funding source for the county’s library system.
The town will hold a public hearing a take a final vote Monday night to approve an overall 10 percent rate hike to be implemented with an immediate 5 percent increase and additional 5 percent increase six months later.
If the ordinance passes, the rate for the first 1,500 gallons of water will increase to $9.45 on February 1 and increase again to $9.90 on August 1. Each additional 1,000 gallons will be $2.27 on February 1 and $2.49 on August 1. Sewer rates will remain the same at $13 for the first 6,000 gallons of water used.
The rate increase would be the first in the Century since 1995. In the past, the town has had difficulty applying for, or receiving the full amount of, federal grants for the water system because Century’s rates were markedly lower than surrounding areas.
The council will also hold a public hearing and take a final vote to approve an ordinance to collect a MSTU within the town to support the county’s libraries. Countywide, the tax will generate an estimated $3.7 million for library operations. The tax is estimated to cost the average Century resident from $1 to $7 on their property tax bill beginning next year.
The water rate increase and library tax public hearings will be held during the Century Town Council’s meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Monday at the town hall.
Pictured top: Century Town Council members Gary Riley, Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurry Jackson and Jacke Johnston. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Sold Out: Miss NHS Pageant Tonight
January 26, 2013
The 2013 Miss Northview High School will be named tonight before a sellout crowd.
NorthEscambia.com will provide live coverage and results when the winner is named on our Facebook page (click to like).
Pictured above: Miss NHS 2013 contestants (front row, L-R) Ashley Cunningham, Penny Banda, Julia Thorpe, Shaquanna Jones, Tiffani Pritchett, Jody Paramore, Julie Hester, Ashley Mooney,Mariah Albritton, (middle) Lily Townson, Audra Martin, Ariel Holland, Olivia Neal, Karmen Watson, Clarissa Ross, Kamryn Brock, Courtney Lambert, (back) Misty Doran, Rebekah Sepulveda, Ashlynn Mccall, Morgan Ward, Lauryn Walker, Kaitlyn Abbott, and Kendal Cobb. Pictured in front of the group is Miss NHS 2012 Charlie McPherson. Pictured left inset: A few of the contestants practice a dance routine.
Nice Weekend Weather
January 26, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Monday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light southeast wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 35.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Pictured: Friday evening’s sunset. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Body Found Behind Highway 29 Business
January 25, 2013
The body of a female was found in a field behind a business on Pensacola Boulevard about 1:50 Friday afternoon. The body was discovered behind Alternative Powersports, near Kenmore Boulevard.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of death; foul play is suspected. Investigators said the body appears to have been at the scene for at least a couple of days.
Further details have not been released.
Today: Sunny And 64; Warmer For Thursday
January 23, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Health Advisory Issued Due To Ensley Landfill Fire
January 22, 2013
A health advisory has been issued due to a landfill fire that is continuing to burn in the Ensley area.
The Cove Landfill, located directly behind Pine Meadow Elementary School, has been burning since Friday, often producing large amounts of smoke. The fire is burning underground, where natural debris such as tree limbs, stumps and other natural material spontaneously combusted. Officials say there is no construction debris in the material.
Children at Pine Meadow Elementary were relocated from portable classrooms into the main building on Tuesday as a precaution. Air conditioners and fans were used to keep air circulating for students.
Escambia County was working Tuesday afternoon to dump large amounts of dirt on the fire in an effort to smother and extinguish it.
HEALTH ADVISORY
“Smoke is a respiratory irritant that can cause scratchy throat or irritated eyes and nose. Smoke can also worsen conditions such as asthma and other chronic respiratory or lung conditions. Dust generated from fire response activity may also worsen these conditions,” the Escambia County Health Department said in a health advisory release.
The health department offered the following tips:
- Pay attention to local air quality reports, news coverage, or health warnings related to smoke.
- Use common sense when outside conditions are smoky. Avoid outdoor activities, particularly for children and persons with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease.
- While inside, residents should close windows and run their heating or cooling system, if possible. Keep the fresh air intake closed, and change or clean the system’s filter as needed to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
- Help keep particle levels lower inside. When smoke levels are high, try to avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and even candles. Do not vacuum, which stirs up particles already inside your home. Also do not smoke tobacco.
- Follow your doctor’s advice about taking medicines and following your asthma management plan if you have asthma or other lung disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
- For medical emergencies, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
Pictured: Smoke billows from the Cove Landfill behind Pine Meadow Elementary School Tuesday. Photos by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cold Night, Sunny Wednesday
January 22, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
MLK Day Programs, Parades Planned
January 21, 2013
Parades and special events will honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. across the area today.
Century
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association will honor Dr. King with a motorcade in Century Monday morning. The motorcade will line up at the old Carver School on Pond Street at 8:00 a.m. The motorcade will roll at 8:30 a.m. and will end at the Agricultural Building on West Highway 4. A program and celebration will follow in the Ag Building at 11:00 with guest speaker Lorenzo Jones, special music and lunch.
Cantonment
The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Cantonment starts at 4:00 at the corner of Washington and Carver off Muscogee Road behind the paper mill. Line up for participants is at 3:30 at the corner of Washington and Carver. Parade will travel Washington, Robinson and Booker before returning to Carver.
Flomaton
A Walk on MLK will begin to line up at 8:45 a.m. and begin at 9 a.m. at Martin Luther King and Highway 31 and end at Damascus Missionary Baptist Church where a celebration will begin at 10 a.m. Guest speaker will be H.K. Matthews.
Atmore
The 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade will line up at 8:30 a.m. at Houston Avery Park and roll at 10 a.m. The parade will travel north on MLK Avenue, turn right on Carver Avenue to Ashley Street, turn left on Main Street to McRae Street, turn right on Presley Street and end at Escambia County High School. A memorial program will follow in the ECHS auditorium about 11:30 a.m. with guest speaker Warrick Maye, assistant principal at Escambia County Middle School.
Pensacola
Parade, 11 a.m., downtown beginning at the intersection of Spring and Garden street east to Palafox, turns north on Palafox, Palafox to Wright Street, turns back around onto Palafox south to Main Street. Over 5,000 free books and 10,000 free bookmarks will be distributed to children at the parade.
MLK Day Closings
January 21, 2013
The following will be closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday:
- All Escambia and Santa Rosa county offices
- All Florida and Alabama state offices
- Century, Jay, Atmore, Flomaton, Pensacola city offices
- All West Florida Public Library branches
- Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools
- ECAT: No buses run today
- Santa Rosa County libraries
- All post offices, but mail will be collected from collection boxes and post offices boxes will receive mail. Express mail will be delivered.
ECUA: There will no trash collection changes.
Century Reschedules Town Council Meeting
January 21, 2013
The Century Town Council has rescheduled their normal third Monday of the month meeting.
The meeting scheduled for Monday night will be held next Monday, January 28 at 7 p.m. The meeting was rescheduled due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
The meeting is open to the public.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.