Today Is Spring 2011 Drought Disaster Loan Deadline
May 21, 2012
Today is the deadline for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes to file for federal economic injury disaster loans available in Florida as a result of drought that began on April 1, 2011.
These loans are available in the counties of Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton in Florida.
“These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Alabama. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” Skaggs added.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate for eligible small businesses and 3 percent for non-profit organizations with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov . Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may also apply for loans electronically from SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ .
New 5-Year Plan For Century To Be Unveiled
May 20, 2012
A new direction for the Town of Century is set to be unveiled Monday night in the form of a marketing plan covering the next half decade.
Century hired the Pensacola marketing firm Ideawörks to create the new five-year comprehensive marketing strategy to include “grant identification, development, PR plan, five-year marketing plan and budget”.
The plan was part of an $11,450 package purchased late last year that included $4,200 for a “basic website design”, $1,750 for a content management system (CMS) to allow town employees to update the website, and $5,500 for the marketing plan.
The website was unveiled early this month with the slogan “Century. Traditional Values. Today’s Technology”. The goal of the site is to offer information “about local government, services the municipality offers, news, events, business information and more. The site includes Century’s history, photographs from around the town, city and council news, staff directory, information regarding economic development, resource links and a handful of other items”.
The site does not currently include town council agendas or minutes from previous meetings. It does provide a searchable municipal code database provided by an outside company.
The new site is located at centuryflorida.com.
Monday night at 6:00 during a special council workshop, Ideawörks is set to present the five-year marketing plan for Century.
Caron Sjöberg, president of Ideawörks, has previously said one of the primary goals of the website and plan is economic development for Century.
Pictured: Screenshots of Century’s new website.
Clear Night, Sunny Monday
May 20, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. East wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming northwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Tropical Storm Alberto Forms
May 19, 2012
Tropical Storm Alberto, the first storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, formed Satuday afternoon off the coast of South Carolina. Alberto poses no threat to the North Escambia area.
For the latest on Tropical Storm Alberto, click the above image to enlarge.
Sunny Sunday Forecast
May 19, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Sunny Weekend
May 18, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Blood Drive This Afternoon At Century Town Hall
May 17, 2012
Area residents will have the opportunity to give the gift of life at a blood drive this afternoon in Century.
The Bloodmobile will be at the Century Town Hall from 3-7 p.m. today.
Pictured above: The Bloodmobile will be open until 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com file photo click to enlarge.
Slight Rain Chances, Warm And Sunny
May 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. North winds around 5 mph.
- Friday: A Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 90. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Spring Football: Northview Tonight; Tate, Flomaton, Jay Friday PM
May 17, 2012
The Northview Spring Game will be tonight at 7:00 as the Chiefs host the Jaguars of West Florida High School. General admission is $6.
Tate High School will hold a Crimson and Gray intersqaud game at home Friday at 6:30 p.m. Tate will travel to Washington High for Spring Game on May 28 at 7 p.m.
The annual Jay High Blue and White game will be at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Flomaton Hurricanes will play Georgiana in a Spring Game Friday night at 7:00. Admission is $5.
Deputies To Begin Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign
May 16, 2012
Monday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office began a two-week “Click It or Ticket” crackdown designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county. The campaign will run day and night.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.
“That’s why Escambia County deputies are joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign from May 21 through June 3″, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.