Century Man Passes Away Following December Wreck
January 21, 2020
A Century man has passed away from injured he received in a wreck just before Christmas.
Richard Davis, 61, lost control of his Nissan Frontier on Highway 4A near Tulip Road about 7:15 p.m. on December 22. The pickup left the roadway and slammed into two trees.
Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free Davis. He was transported by Escambia County EMS as a trauma alert to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He passed away on Saturday, January 18.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Ballpark Won’t Have Organized Ball This Spring
January 21, 2020
“Play ball!” won’t be echoing through the Cantonment Ballpark on an Opening Day this year. There were be no league organized youth baseball or softball this spring at the Cantonment Ballpark, but county officials say they are working to make sure the park won’t be totally silent this spring.
The Cantonment Youth Sports Association recently announced they won’t be playing “due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances” that were not explained in brief social media announcement. The league told the county the decision was made due to a lack of participation and not enough players to field the teams necessary.
“The ballpark is a great asset, and we are still going to make it available to the community,” Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Mike Rhodes told NorthEscambia.com. He said the park is available for team practices, travel leagues and tournaments.
Rhodes is urging Cantonment area parents to sign their children up for tee ball, baseball and softball at another county park near Cantonment. Registrations are underway at Northeast Pensacola (NEP), Molino Ballpark, Northwest Escambia (NWE) and other county parks. For more information, visit each ballpark’s website or call Escambia Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
Rhodes said work is underway to make sure organized youth ball returns to the Cantonment Ballpark in the future.
Pictured: Opening Day 2019 last March at the Cantonment Ballpark. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Flooded Escambia River Pushes Log Jam Against Highway 4 Bridge
January 21, 2020
Floodwaters have pushed a large log jam in the Escambia River against the Highway 4 bridge between Century and Jay. There has not been any reported damage to the bridge from the log jam, and the Florida Department of Transportation said midday Tuesday that a maintenance team has been dispatched to remove the debris.
The Escambia River was at about 17.75 feet at the time of these photosMonday, just above flood stage of 17 feet.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Women’s Sewing Group Quilt Donation Keeping Escambia Westgate Students Warmer
January 21, 2020
Students in wheelchairs at Escambia Westgate are a little warmer and cozier on cold days thanks to a donation this school year. The Beulah Baptist Church Women’s Sewing Group created quilts for the students. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices On The Decline Again
January 21, 2020
Florida gas prices are declining again after jumping 7 cents last week.
Florida drivers are paying an average of $2.52 at the pump. The state average is 4 cents more than a week ago, 10 cents more than a month ago, and 29 cents per gallon more than this time last year. Despite the recent volatility at the pump, drivers are still paying nearly 30 cents per gallon less than last year’s high of $2.80.
The average price per gallon Monday night in Escambia County was $2.43, while two gas stations in Cantonment were at $2.32.
“The sudden, but brief jump at the pump came as a surprise, considering wholesale prices remained low last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gasoline supplies are soaring, reaching the highest level in almost a year. That combined with low fuel demand should help restore downward pressure on prices at the pump.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Quick Tips: How To Be Safe If Using Space Heaters
January 21, 2020
With the return of cold winter weather, it’s important to remember a few safety tips if using space heaters.
Celebrating The Legacy Of Martin Luther King, Jr. (With Photo Gallery)
January 20, 2020
A crowd headed out on a cold Monday in Century to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association (CFIA) held their annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at the Century Ag Building Monday.
The program and celebration featured guest speaker Pastor Karen Shuford of Wesley Chapel Church in Century and special music. It followed a motorcade around Century.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECAT Applying For Matching Grant For Cantonment, Century, Molino Bus Route
January 20, 2020
Escambia County is applying for a 50 percent match grant to help fund the current Escambia County Area Transit bus route that serves Cantonment, Molino and Century.
The Non-Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program provides federal operating or capital assistance for the operation of public transportation service in non-urbanized areas through the Florida Department of Transportation.
ECAT’s route that qualifies as rural is Route 60, and it typically costs 3% of the overall operating budget. FDOT will reimburse 50% of those costs, up to the maximum awarded. Applications are submitted and are reviewed on a competitive basis, so the amount of the award, if any, is not yet known.
In previous years, ECAT has been awarded enough to offset a full 50% of the Route 60 costs.
The schedule for the Route 60 bus is below.
Pictured: ECAT’s Route 60 bus stop at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Cantonment Home
January 20, 2020
Fire damaged a home in Cantonment Sunday afternoon.
The fire at Booker Avenue and Booker Street was reported about 2:20 p.m. The blaze, which reportedly began in the kitchen of the small wood frame home, was quickly extinguished by firefighters. There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Freezing Weather — Protecting Pets, Plants, Pipes And Other Tips
January 20, 2020
With freezing weather, it is time to take necessary precautions to protect pipes, pets and plants, and check on elderly friends and neighbors.
Here are ways to stay safe during cold temperatures, courtesy of the American Red Cross:
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
- Know the signs of hypothermia — confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.
- Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes — run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
- Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
- Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
- If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
And here are a few extra details and tips from ECUA on protecting pipes against the freeze:
- Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This action guards against the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember the backflow preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water line are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.