Century Public Hearing To Discuss New Playground For Showalter Park
September 3, 2013
The Town of Century will hold a public hearing next Monday to consider a recommendation from the Century Recreaton Advisory Committee to submit a grant application to renovate the existing playground area at Showalter Park.
The town is submitting two grant applications to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. FRDAP is a competitive program which provides grants to local governments for outdoor recreational projects. The grants are administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
A public hearing was previously held August 19 on a $125,000 grant application for a splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex.
The public hearing next Monday will be for a grant application for $50,000 to replace playground equipment at Showalter Park. The current equipment is in poor repair and is not designed for disabled users. If the grant is awarded for the playground equipment, no matching local funds will be required.
The public hearing will be held Monday, September 9 at 7:10 p.m. during a regular meeting of the Century Town Council. The hearing and the meeting are open to the public.
Grant applications are due September 30. The 2014-2015 FRDAP grants are contingent upon approval of an annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature.
Pictured top: A conceptual drawing showing a potential splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex in Century. Courtesy graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$3.7 Million Project Making Safety Improvements On Jacks Branch Road
September 3, 2013
A $3.7 million project will enhance the safety of Jacks Branch Road.
The Florida Department of Transportation is funding the design and construction of the safety enhancements as a “Local Agency Program” project. Escambia County has bid the project, awarded the construction contract to Roads, Inc., and the county will manage the construction.
The work includes widening the travel lanes to 11 feet and added four-foot paved shoulders, along with some minor draining improvements. Escambia County will fund and perform milling and crack relief concurrently with the planned construction.
The project will begin at Muscogee Road to the south and end at Barrineau Park Road to the north.
Pictured: The intersection of Jacks Branch Road and Schifko Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Iconic Silver Screen Theatre Closes After 30 Years
September 3, 2013
An iconic Escambia County business announced its closure on Monday.
“After the end of the day, The Sliver Screen Theatre will be closing the doors for good. This will be the last day to watch a movie at The Silver Screen. We thank all of you for everything over the last 30 years,” the movie theater posted on its Facebook page about noon. “We hope to see you one last time.”
Over the years, The Silver Screen in Pensacola operated as a normal movie theater, a 99-cent theater and often advertised dinner and a movie combos. And it was known at one time for regular showings of the 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”.
“So sad to hear,” Jimmy Henry said on Facebook. “So many memories from my childhood as well as memories with my children.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Summer Of 2013 Was 4th Wettest Ever
September 3, 2013
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Pensacola recorded 34.41 inches of rain this summer (June 1 – August 31). This was 13.64 inches above the normal summer rainfall of 20.77 inches. This made the summer of 2013 the fourth wettest on record. The wettest summer ever recorded in Pensacola was just last year when 39.19 inches was recorded.
A volunteer observer for the National Weather Service in Gonzalez recorded 47.01 inches of rainfall June through August.
Mobile recorded 23.25 inches of rain this summer. This was 2.93 inches above the normal summer rainfall of 20.32. The wettest summer in Mobile was way back in 1900 when 35.70 was recorded.
Pictured: Flooding on July 11 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia 4-H To Hold Adult Volunteer Program Open House
September 3, 2013
There will be a 4-H volunteer recruitment open house session this Thursday for persons interested in the 4-H Youth Program in Escambia County.
Attendees will lean about requirements and guidelines, training opportunities, volunteer activities and the role of 4-H volunteers in the community. These 45 minute sessions will include a program overview, learning stations and projects exhibits; session times are 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Escambia County Extension Office at 3740 Stefani Road.
For information on the Escambia County 4-H Adult Volunteer Program or the open house, contact Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230.
Northwest Escambia Sweeps Baker
September 3, 2013
The Northwest Escambia Eagles swept Baker in their season opener on Saturday.
The NWE Freshmen defeated Baker 37-0. Kaden Dove, Liam Hatcher, Jackson Simmons and Zyonne Wesley all scored for the Freshman Eagles.
The NWE Sophomores defeated Baker 14-7. Kaden Odom scored one touchdown and extra point. Luke Bridges recovered a Baker fumble which resulted in Wright scoring a touchdown and Odom scoring the extra point.
The NWE Juniors beat Baker 40-7. Jaden Cunnigham ran in two touchdowns and one extra point. Jaheem Durant scored two touchdowns, running one back for more than 50 yards. Jayden Jackson also scored two touchdowns one a defensive touchdown after striping the ball from a Baker player. Michael Merchant scored one extra point.
The NWE Seniors beat Baker 44-0. Trent Kite scored two touchdowns, Seth Killam threw a long touchdown pass to Keeton Solmonson. Killam also returned an interception for a touchdown, Aunterio Minor ran in one touchdown and Cameron Cloud threw a touchdown pass to Tanner Deese.
Northwest Escambia’s Eagles will travel to Uriah this Saturday with games beginning at 2 p.m.
McDavid Man Charged With Shed Burglary
September 3, 2013
A McDavid man is facing multiple charges for allegedly burglarizing a shed on Sandy Hollow Road in Walnut Hill.
Haden Brock Howard, 19, was charged with felony burglary and grand theft charges for stealing a generator, chainsaws, a pressure washer and other power tools. Howard allegedly knew the victim’s family and knew that they were out of town during the weekend in which the items were stolen.
The family’s 14-year old son told deputies that he and Howard owed money to Howard’s drug dealer on Cypress Street in Walnut Hill, and the stolen items were traded for spice, marijuana and crack cocaine.
Howard was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allowing the 14-year old son, another 14-year boy and his 15-year old girlfriend the means to purchase and use crack cocaine, marijuana and spice in his presence.
Howard was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $14,000 bond.
Escambia Commission Schedules Extra Meetings In September
September 3, 2013
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners has scheduled additional meetings in the month of September. Below is a complete listing of the Board’s upcoming meetings:
- Thursday, September 5, Agenda Review, 9 a.m.
- Thursday, September 5, Public Forum and BCC Regular Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 10, Budget Hearing 1, 5 p.m.
- Thursday, September 12, Committee of the Whole Workshop, 9 a.m.
- Monday, September 16, Agenda Review, 9 a.m.
- Monday, September 16, Public Forum and BCC Regular Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 24, Budget Hearing 2, 5 p.m.
All meetings will be held in the Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place.
Mobile Claims Season Finale Over Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos
September 3, 2013
The Mobile BayBears posted three runs in the first inning and coasted the rest of the way to a 10-1 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the final game of the season on Monday afternoon at Hank Aaron Stadium. Pensacola finished the season with a record of 59-79, including a 34-35 mark in the second half.
Reds top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson got the start for Pensacola, but didn’t make it past the first. Ender Inciarte led off the game with a solo homer off Stephenson (L, 0-2), who got two quick outs before allowing four straight to reach, culminating in a Mike Freeman two-run single to make it 3-0. Stephenson allowed three runs on three hits with a strikeout and two walks in his final start of the year.
The rains hit in the last of the third inning with Chris Manno on the mound, causing a brief delay before pinch-hitter Keon Broxton smoked a two-run single through the left side to make it 5-0. The rains hit even harder and forced a delay of an hour and 20 minutes.
Mobile doubled its lead in the last of the seventh with a five-run frame against Pat Doyle and Jamie Walczak. Nick Evans provided an RBI single off Doyle to make it 6-0 before a sac fly from Freeman made it 7-0. Broxton provided the exclamation mark with a three-run blast against Walczak to make it 10-0.
Bo Schultz faced the minimum in three innings for Mobile before leaving due to the rain delay. Willy Paredes (W, 3-0) picked up the victory with a scoreless top of the fourth inning.
The Wahoos were able to get on the board in the ninth on a Devin Lohman double scoring Juan Silverio.
The next time the Wahoos hit the field will be April 3, 2014 at home against the Tennessee Smokies. 2014 season ticket information will become available later in the month.
All Florida Lawmakers Registered To Vote In The Right District
September 3, 2013
None of the state Legislature’s members are registered to vote outside their districts, according to a letter from the Department of State obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.
“We have determined that the full residential address recorded as of August 29, 2013, in the Florida Voter Registration System for each legislator is located within the district to which he or she has been elected,” says the letter to Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Gaetz and Weatherford asked for the review in the wake of questions asked by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and other critics who charge that some legislators don’t live in their districts.
by The News Service of Florida