Natural Gas Pipeline To Be Installed Along Hwy 29, Not In Century Residential Neighborhoods
March 16, 2018
A company installing a natural gas pipeline has abandoned plans take a path through a Century residential neighborhood.
Instead, Florida Public Utilities (FPU) will install the pipeline under sidewalks along Highway 29 under a new agreement reached with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
“FDOT just approved a new plan this afternoon,” Barry Kennedy, director of gas operations for FPU, told NorthEscambia.com Thursday afternoon. “We will be using Highway 29 after they agreed we could go under the sidewalks and our hours were extended.”
FDOT will allow the company to work 5 pm. to 5 a.m. to bore and place the pipeline under the sidewalks on the east side of Highway 29 south from East Highway 4. There will be minimal lane closures, Barry said, with work expected to last about six weeks.
FDOT previously approved plans to run the pipeline along Highway 29 through Century, but new restrictions were imposed. FDOT specified that the gas pipeline be placed underneath the outer northbound lane of Highway 29, and work would only be allowed during the night and overnight hours. The job would require digging large holes in Highway 29 every 1,000 to 1,500 feet in order to bore the pipe under the roadway. It was estimated that the process would take about three months.
FPU then switched plans, looking to bury the pipeline aong Jefferson Avenue and Salters Lake Road within an estimated two week time frame. But that idea raise the ire of local residents along Jefferson Avenue in Century as they expressed concerns over property values, damage to their property and safety.
Pipes that were preliminarily placed along Salters Lake Road, but not buried, will be removed.
The Town of Century held a public meeting last week with concerned residents and FPU, and schedule another meeting for Thursday, March 16 — but that meeting was canceled Thursday afternoon after the new agreement was reached with FDOT.
Florida Public Utilities is constructing the pipeline along a 42-mile route through North Escambia from Century to Nine Mile Road. The pipeline continues south from Century along Highway 29 right of way from Century to Old Chemstrand Road. From there, an eight-inch line will follow Old Chemstrand Road to Ascend, while another eight-inch line will continue south on Highway 29 to Highway 95A in Cantonment to West Roberts Road to Pine Forest Road to West Nine Mile Road where the project will connect to an existing gas system.
Florida Public Utilities is a private company, not a government agency.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Don Ripley Retiring As ‘Century Care’ Administrator
March 16, 2018
Century Health and Rehabilitation Administrator Don Ripley is retiring. A retirement reception in his honor was held Thursday.
Ripley has been a dedicated member of the Century community since 1999 when he set out on a mission to make what was then called the Century Care Center the best skilled nursing Home in the area.
He devoted time and effort to projects like the construction of a stocked fish pond for residents, a producing garden, and numerous programs to reach the interest of residents.
Ripley was also devoted to the community, volunteering as a board members and vice-president of the Century Area Chamber of Commerce, where he served on numerous committees and recruited volunteers. He was also a proud supporter of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, the Century Lions Club, the Rotary Club, and local schools.
In 2016, the Century Area Chamber of Commerce named Ripley their Citizen of the Year.
Ripley said he plans to spend time fishing during his retirement. He final day on the job will be March 30.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First Responders Attend LifeFlight Training Class
March 16, 2018
Multiple local agencies attended a LifeFlight training class Thursday evening at the Flomaton Fire Department.
Local fire departments support LifeFlight be establishing safe landing zones and standing by in case of an accident involving the helicopter and crew.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Paved Walking Track Opens At Escambia Extension Service In Cantonment
March 16, 2018
A new paved walking track is now open at the Escambia County Extension Service at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 16, 2018
Jim Allen Elementary School has named their Students of the Month. They are Macey Echols and Carson Jordan. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winn Dixie Parent Company Files For Bankruptcy Protection
March 16, 2018
Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn Dixie and other brands, said Thursday afternoon it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The company said it will close 94 “under performing” stores, none of which are in the immediate North Escambia area. The closure list does includes stores 10 stores in Alabama, including locations in Mobile and Monroeville, and 35 in Florida. The company will continue to operate 582 stores.
“Southeastern Grocers has conducted a thorough review of options for reducing our current debt. Taking this step was critical to our future and the long-term health of our business,” the company said. “After careful consideration, we have chosen to voluntarily implement a court-supervised, prepackaged restructuring agreement. We have not taken these steps without careful planning and consideration. As part of this restructuring, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close 94 underperforming stores. It is our goal to work through our financial restructuring as quickly and efficiently as possible, and we will emerge from this process likely within the next 90 days.”
“This course of action enables us to continue writing the story for our company and our iconic, heritage banners in the Southeast,” said Anthony Hucker, Southeast Grocers president and chief executive officer.
Southeast Grocers operate under the Winn Dixie, BiLo, Harvey’s Supermarkets and Fresco y Más names.
Pictured: The Winn Dixie store in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Lifters Place At Districts
March 16, 2018
Tate High School’s Chandler McGuffey won first place at Districts 183-pound weight lifting class. Spencer Ruiz won third in the 159-pound weight class and Juanita Gonzales won third in his weight class. Submitted photos.
Alabama Executes Death Row Inmate
March 16, 2018
Alabama death row inmate Michael Wayne Eggers, 50, was executed tonight by lethal injection at the William C. Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala. The execution was carried out at 6:54 p.m. Eggers was pronounced dead at 7:29 p.m.
Eggers was sentenced to death for the 2000 capital murder of his employerBennie Francis Murray, 67, in Walker County. Prosecutors said he admitted to strangling Murray during an argument.
His final words were, “no ma’am”, when Warden Cynthia Stewart asked him if he had a final statement.
Eggers had two family members, a spiritual advisor and two friends witness the execution. There were no witnesses for the victim.
Eggers has previously dropped his appeals asked the state to quickly schedule his execution.
Kitchen Fire Erupts At Apartment – While Firefighters Were Fighting Kitchen Fire Across Street
March 16, 2018
While firefighters were fighting one apartment kitchen fire Thursday afternoon, another kitchen fire broke out at a second apartment across the street.
The first kitchen fire was in the 500 block of Martin Luther King Drive, taking about 15 to 20 minutes to bring it under control.
As firefighters from the Flomaton Fire Department and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were fighting the first kitchen fire, they receive a report of another kitchen fire across the street.
One person was transported to Jay Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Escambia County (FL) EMS and the Flomaton Police Department also responded.
Escambia Sheriff, Commission Reach Preliminary Budget Agreement
March 15, 2018
For an update to this story, click here.
The Escambia County Commission and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan have reached a preliminary budget settlement, months after Morgan appealed his budget to Gov. Rick Scott.
Under the four-year agreement, Morgan will receive an extra $1 million for the current fiscal year that ends September 30. The commission will increase Morgan’s budget by an additional $2.6 million in the next two fiscal years, and $2.9 million in the final year. The funds will be for benefits and raises for the implementation of a pay plan.
Beginning April 1, 2018, the BOCC will reduce budgets for discretionary outside agencies by 50 percent, except for Pathways for Change and Community Health Northwest Florida (formerly Escambia Community Clinics). In fiscal years 2019-2021, funding for outside agencies in the general fund will not exceed $734,374. These funds will be used for the implementation of the sheriff’s pay plan.
Discretionary funds for each commissioner, previously at $50,000 each, will be cut by half to $125,000 total ($25,000 each) for the next three years, with $125,000 going to the sheriff’s budget each year.
Under the agreement, Morgan agreed that 50 percent of Law Enforcement Trust fund monies will go toward funding school resource officers. If that is not possible, the remainder can be used to offset other ECSO general fund expenditures as allowed by law.
Commissioners Steven Barry and Lumon May voted against the agreement.
Morgan asked for over $2 million when he appealed his budget to Scott last October to help with pay compression issues.
Pictured: Gov. Rick Scott and Escambia County David Morgan during a meeting October 5, 2017, at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center concerning then Tropical Storm Nate. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.