Work Continues To Replace High Voltage Transmission Line
January 21, 2014
Work is continuing to replace a high voltage transmission line through North Escambia. Powersouth, which generates and supplies power to Escambia River Electric Cooperative, is replacing the existing transmission line across northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured top: A truck used in the installation of new high voltage lines across West Highway 4 east of Bratt. Pictured left: Concrete poles replaced wooden poles on a North Escambia high voltage transmission line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Football Stadium To Be Named For Tommy Weaver
January 21, 2014
The Escambia County School Board is set to consider a resolution to name the stadium at Northview High School as the “Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium”.
Today, the board is set to approve advertising a public hearing on the proposal to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 during the board’s regular meeting the Hall Center on Texar Drive. The name change will be official after being approved at the March meeting.
Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Residents Celebrate MLK Day With Parades, Ceremonies, Music
January 20, 2014
Crowds turned out across the area Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association held their annual motorcade, ending with a program and celebration at the Ag Building. Songs, essays and speeches honored King’s memory, looked forward to the future and honored local community leaders that have passed away. Guest speaker Russell Fountain of the Bethel AFM Church of God in Century addressed the group before a community lunch.
In Atmore, the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade rolled through town to a memorial program and lunch at Escambia County High School on Monday.
Pensacola honored Dr. King with a parade, while a Walk on MLK and program featuring Irma Wilson of Atmore was held in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery from the Century events, click here.
For a photo gallery from the Atmore events, click here.
Pictured top: The Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church Youth Choir performs during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program Monday morning in Century. Pictured inset: Hundreds lined the streets of Atmore for the annual MLK Day Parade. Pictured below: The parade rolls through Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wildfires Keep Four Fire Stations Busy; About A Dozen Acres Burned
January 20, 2014
Two wildfires burned through about a dozen acres Monday near Walnut Hill.
The first fire, reported about 11:20 a.m., was on Garrett Road just off Pine Forest Road. The fire burned about 10 acres and threatened an abandoned home. The second fire was reported about 12:10 p.m. on Goodale Lane off Highway 97A in Enon. That fire burned about two acres.
Dozens of firefighters from the Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue battled the fires, along with the Florida Division of Forestry.
Pictured: A wildfire consumed about 10 acres off Garrett and Pine Forest roads Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Charged With Shooting Behind Escambia Grocery Store
January 20, 2014
Two people were arrested late Sunday night following a shooting outside a Pensacola Grocery Outlet store.
A male victim was shot in the leg behind the Grocery Outlet on Fairfield Drive nearLillian Highway in an attempted robbery about 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Aubry Allen Freeman and Jocelyn Nicole Mercer, both 19, were taken into custody and charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and attempted armed robbery. Both remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon with bond set at $60,000.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.
Ensley Road Closures, Detours Begin Tuesday
January 20, 2014
As part of the Ensley Area Improvements/Detroit Boulevard and Johnson Avenue Realignment project, the following roads will be closed with detours beginning Tuesday, January 21, until Monday, January 27, from the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
- Road work at West Johnson Avenue on the north end and Jones Street on the south end will be implemented beginning January 21, 2014 at 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. with the roadway reopening each morning
- Northbound traffic on North Palafox Street will be detoured west onto Jones Street and southbound traffic on North Palafox Street will be detoured west onto West Johnson Avenue
- From West Johnson Avenue on the south end and West Ensley Street on the north end will be implemented beginning January 24, 2014 at 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. with the roadway reopening each morning after 6 a. m.
- Northbound traffic on North Palafox Street will be detoured west onto West Johnson Avenue and southbound traffic on North Palafox Street will be detoured onto West Ensley Street
Improvements are due to Roadway Realignment Construction per the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
Playground Smoking Ban Swings Through Senate Committee
January 20, 2014
A proposal that could snuff out smoking in parks where children play moved easily through its first Senate test .
The Senate Regulated Industries Committee backed without opposition a measure (SB 342) that would allow local governments to prohibit smoking on public park land that includes children’s areas with at least one piece of playground equipment.
The proposal, by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, would be an expansion of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which was approved by voters in 2002 and prohibits smoking in most enclosed indoor workplaces.
“This bill does not create a blanket ban on anything,” Bradley said after the meeting. “It just simply gives local government the ability to tailor regulations to meet their needs.”
No announced opposition stepped forward during the committee meeting. However, Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, cautioned that complaints will come.
“Every time we attempted a smoking thing, like we did in the restaurants, the first complaints we get are from our military folks, who say, ‘I fought and died, and got shot in World War II, and I can’t have a cigarette at the VFW,’ ” Detert warned. “So be prepared to hear from your veterans.”
Veterans of Foreign Wars posts are considered membership clubs, which under state law are exempt from the tobacco-free standards imposed on restaurants and most bars.
Bradley tried to pass a broader bill (SB 258) during the 2013 legislative session that was intended to restrict smoking on all municipal or county properties, including beaches. The measure, which died in the Senate Community Affairs Committee, also faced opposition in the House before its demise.
Bradley said this year’s “narrowly tailored” bill is more realistic.
“I wanted to try to craft a piece of legislation that has an opportunity for passage,” Bradley said.. “I feel good about our prospects in the Senate, but there is still some concerns from our friends in the House.”
The House version (HB 309), sponsored by Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, has yet to be scheduled to appear before any of its planned committees.
The proposal has the support of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities, the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Counties, the Sierra Club and the American Lung Association of Florida.
Bradley’s proposal must still go before the Senate Community Affairs and Criminal Justice committees before reaching the full Senate.
Across the nation, numerous municipalities and cities already ban smoking at government parks, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, Salt Lake City, and Albuquerque, N.M. Pequannock, New Jersey has banned smoking at public parks with ball fields or playgrounds.
Bradley defended his proposal as not being part of a “grand conspiracy” to further expand the ban on smoking to private outdoor areas across the state.
“I think that it’s appropriate for our children to enjoy playgrounds without having to deal with smoking,” Bradley said. “I’m not interested in banning smoking outdoors on private property.”
Under Bradley’s proposal, a citation could only be issued for those who refuse to stop smoking after being advised of the restriction and refusing to leave the area. The bill limits local ordinances to set fines up to $100 for a first offense and $300 for repeat offenders.
Pictured: Showalter Park in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
by The News Service of Florida
Monday’s Century Council Meeting Rescheduled For Thursday
January 20, 2014
Monday’s regular meeting of the Century Town Council has been rescheduled.
The third Monday of the month meeting was to be held on Monday, January 20, but was rescheduled to Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m. due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday.
For more information, contact the Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 20, 2014
Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekend ending January 16:
Escambia County
Officer Manning observed a subject cast-netting mullet. After watching him for a while, Officer Manning observed the subject leave the area. Officer Manning followed him to his residence where he asked the subject if he caught any fish. The subject stated that he had not, but a fisheries inspection revealed 57 mullet in his cooler. The subject was cited for possession of over the bag limit of mullet.
MLK Day Programs, Parades Planned
January 20, 2014
Parades and special events will honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. across the area on Monday.
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 about 10:00 with guest speaker Russell Fountain of the Bethel AFM Church of God in Century, special music and lunch.
Cantonment
The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in 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 Irma Wilson of Atmore.
Atmore
The 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade will line up 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 Darryl North, pastor of Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center.
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.