Cogongrass In The Panhandle Workshop Planned
January 9, 2014
Escambia County University of Florida/IFAS Extension will hold a Cogongrass in the Panhandle Workshop on Tuesday, January 14.
Held at the Escambia Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST attendees will discuss identification and biology of cogongrass in Northwest Florida and current methods being used for control.
Pre-register by calling Escambia Extension, or by clicking here (specify which location you wish to attend).
The $25 cost of the program also includes lunch.
For more information contact Libbie Johnson, Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or libbiej@ufl.edu.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Log Truck Driver Injured In Collision With Train
January 8, 2014
A Cantonment man was injured when his 18-wheel log truck was struck by a train at a crossing on Quintette Road just east of Highway 95A Wednesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 21-year old Austin Gillenwater of Cantonment was traveling west on Quintette Road about 9:30 a.m. in an 18-wheel log truck. He told troopers that his brakes failed when he attempted to stop for the railway crossing arms. His 1984 Peterbuilt truck came to stop on the tracks as the train was approaching. The CSX train initiated an emergency stop prior to striking the truck.
Gillenwater was taken to Baptist Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the FHP.
There was minor damage to the CSX locomotive and about $10,000 in damage to the 18-wheeler. The logs on the truck and the train’s contents and cargo remained intact during the collision.
Quintette Road was closed by the accident until about noon. No charges were filed in the accident.
The Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Citizens Won’t Get Ballot Vote On Century Barnyard Animal Ban
January 8, 2014
Residents of Century won’t get to vote on a recently enacted barnyard ban despite a grassroots push to place the issue on the ballot.
After three months of back and forth discussions, public meetings and protests, the Century Town Council gave final approval to the new animal control ordinance during a special meeting on December 23.
Before the vote, Century resident Maggie Waters presented the council with a self-styled ballot initiative signed by 86 citizens calling for the ordinance to be placed on a ballot for public vote. The 86 signatures were not documented as being from registered voters.
Unsure if the ballot initiative would require the council to place the issue on the ballot, the council approved the barnyard animal ban on a unanimous vote December 23. The new ordinance went into effect immediately.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall told the council Monday night that town attorney Matt Danneheisser had reviewed the issue and said that the town is not required to place any issue on the ballot due to citizens’ requests.
Since December 23, it has been illegal to keep a horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, or cow within the town limits except in areas that are zoned agricultural or rural residential. Hogs were already prohibited in all areas of the town. One horse or cow will be allowed for every two acres, one donkey or mule per acre and one goat or sheep per one-half acre. The animals and their pens must be 200 feet or greater from a dwelling or property line.
Anyone with the regulated animals in an area not zoned agricultural or rural residential within the town limits, must register their animals at the Century Town Hall within 60 days. The resident must apply for and be granted a variance from the town council within six months or get rid of their animals.
Pictured top: Three members of the Century Town Council were present Monday night, (L-R) Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurray Jackson and Jacke Johnston. Pictured inset: Resident Maggie Waters (right) presents a ballot initiative signed by 86 residents on December 23 to the council calling for a public vote. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Brooks, Riley Selected To Lead Century Town Council
January 8, 2014
The Century Town Council has re-elected Ann Brooks as council president and Gary Riley as vice-president for 2014. Pictured: Century Town Council President Ann Brooks at Monday night’s regular council meeting. Riley was absent from Monday’s meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
GED Classes Offered In Molino
January 8, 2014
GED classes will resume Monday January 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Molino Community Center. Classes will be on Monday and Thursday evenings.
New students can take the TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) on Tuesday, January 14 and complete registration at the Molino Community Center, Room 123. Applications for enrollment are available at the Molino Branch Library in the community center. For more information, call the Molino Library at (850) 435-1760, or George Stone at (850) 941-6200, ext. 2121 or 2117.
More Local Winter Photos, Including Snow
January 8, 2014
Here are more winter weather pictures from North Escambia readers.
Homemade snow fell at the home of Kevin Goodson on Spring Street in Jay (top) and at the home of Bill Linhardt in West Pensacola (below).
Frozen tree and yard in Walnut Hill. (NorthEscambia.com photo)
An icy tree in North Escambia. (Courtesy Kay McCormick)
“So I read online the other day about blowing bubbles when it is in the teens or colder. Said they’;; freeze. Decided to try it this morning. They really do freeze!” — Becka Peebles, Walnut Hill
Perdido Bay along Lillian Highway. (Courtesy Mitch Mosley)
A frozen tree in Walnut Hill. (Courtesy Josh Scott)
Man Convicted Of Murdering Prison Guard Is Executed
January 8, 2014
A man convicted of killing a prison guard while already on Death Row was executed Tuesday at Florida State Prison near Starke. Askari Abdullah Muhammad, 62, died at 6:45 p.m., according to a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections.
He was put to death for fatally stabbing corrections officer Richard James Burke with a sharpened spoon in October 1980.
Muhammad, who was formerly known as Thomas Knight, was initially convicted of kidnapping and killing Sydney and Lillian Gans in 1974. He also escaped from the Dade County Jail while awaiting trial and was involved in a liquor store robbery in Cordele, Ga., where two clerks were shot, with one killed.
Monday Is Deadline To Apply For $50,000 In IP Grants
January 8, 2014
International Paper Pensacola Mill will award $50,000 in Foundation Grants in 2014.
The deadline for all 2014 grant applications is Monday, January 13.
Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., which focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement, and critical community needs. Applicants must be a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, school, or qualifying government entity to apply.
For more information about the Foundation or to apply online, interested applicants should visit www.ipgiving.com. For more information on the grant process, contact Janice Holmes, communications manager, at 850-968-4203 or e-mail janice.holmes@ipaper.com.
Bondi, Wilson Ask Obama For Health Care Meeting
January 8, 2014
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson want President Barack Obama to set up a meeting for them on the Affordable Care Act with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
In a letter to the White House on Monday, the two Republican officials repeated their longstanding opposition to the federal health care law as they asked for the meeting to address a number of issues, including “specific security and consumer safety issues” involving the navigator program.
“Due to the lack of response to the multitude of concerns shared with your Administration by numerous states over the last several months, we are requesting you to direct Secretary Sebelius to meet with the concerned attorneys general to address these issues,” the letter said.
Navigators assist people who apply for insurance through online marketplaces that are key part of the Affordable Care Act.
As the system was rolled out, Florida banned the navigators from the grounds of county health departments claiming concern for consumer information that would be provided to the counselors. Bondi’s spokeswoman Jennifer Meale said in an email Tuesday afternoon that there had yet to be a response from the White House.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview Gets Big District Win Over Freeport
January 8, 2014
The Northview Chiefs opened 2014 with a district win on the road against Freeport, 77-41.
Scoring for Northview were Neino Robinson 31, Cameron Newsome 20, Tony Macroy 13, Nick Lambert 10, and Trent Howard 3. Mccroy recorded 12 assists for the Chiefs.
Northview’s varsity girls will host Rocky Bayou at 5:30 Thursday, following by the varsity boys at 7:00. In big district games Friday, the Chiefs will host Jay. JV girls at 3:30, JV boys at 4:45, varsity girls at 6:00 and varsity boys at 7:15.