Century Joins Other Local Governments In Natural Gas Vehicle Push
October 28, 2013
The Town of Century has purchased their first natural gas powered truck, and the town’s first filling station will be installed soon. Meanwhile, other local governments are jumping on the natural gas powered vehicle bandwagon in a big way.
“Natural gas is going to be the future,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “We are trying to get in on the ground floor of it.”
The duel-fuel GMC pickup switches seamlessly between compressed natural gas and unleaded gasoline. The only big difference is the price…a gallon of regular unleaded gas is about $3.25, while the town’s cost as a supplier for an equivalent gallon of natural gas is $1 or less.
“The savings will really add up over time,” McCall said, “with natural gas prices down like they are.”
The City of Pensacola, Escambia County and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority are also jumping onto the natural gas bandwagon in a partnership. According to Mayor Ashton Hayward, Pensacola has been able “to transfer over 100 vehicles from diesel to compressed natural gas, a fuel that is cheaper, cleaner, and most importantly, produced right here in America”.
As ECUA transitioned vehicles to natural gas, they projected an annual maintenance cost savings in excess of $350,000 and an annual fuel cost savings about $900,000.
Pensacola has already constructed two CNG fueling stations with a third slated for completion in December.
“We’ll eventually open up to corporate fleets and private vehicles. This gives us a competitive edge in recruiting business and bringing more jobs,” Hayward said.
McCall sees the same opportunities for Century. The first filling station won’t be open to the public, but Century’s mayor hopes to construct a public CNG filling station soon. He’s already spreading the good news of low priced CNG to area trucking companies and other industries. And the town is looking forward to purchasing additional CNG vehicles in the future.
Century’s first CNG truck serves as a rolling billboard as well as work vehicle. The truck, on a state contract price purchase, was $34,999 from Pete Moore Chevrolet in Pensacola. The cost included $9,300 to convert the vehicle to natural gas. A Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is valued at half of the cost of the conversion ($4,650). The cost of the ad wrap from Pensacola Sign and Graphics was $1,728.
The gas department will “sell” one of their existing trucks to the Century Water Department for $12,900, which was already in the water department’s budget for a truck.
In addition, Century’s first filling station equipment and a shed will cost about $30,000 to be funded with LOST – local option sales tax – monies. The equipment will be installed in about six weeks.
Pictured top and bottom: Century’s new pickup powered by compressed natural gas. Pictured bottom inset: Pensacola Energy’s CNG filling station on Pine Forest Road just south of Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names October Students Of The Month
October 28, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their October Students of the Month. They (picture L-R) Kayla Galvan, eighth grade; Aurora McCann, seventh grade; and Keaton Solmonson, sixth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Tighten Florida Texting While Driving Ban
October 28, 2013
Just months after state lawmakers approved a ban on texting while driving, a South Florida senator filed a bill Friday to try to strengthen enforcement. The measure, filed by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, would allow police to stop motorists for texting while driving and give them citations.
The law passed earlier this year only allows enforcement as what is known as a “secondary offense.” That means motorists can only be cited for texting while driving if they are pulled over for other reasons.
The new law took effect October 1, and Sachs indicated at the time she would file a bill for the 2014 session to try to strengthen enforcement.
High School Football District Standings, Schedules
October 28, 2013
Here is a look at local high school football district standings, scores from last week, and Friday night’s schedule for Florida schools:
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Hitting Deer Near Molino
October 27, 2013
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a deer early Sunday morning near Molino.
The accident was reported by a passerby just before 2 a.m. on Sunshine Hill Road just north of Crabtree Church Road. The 58-year old male victim was thrown from his motorcycle after a direct collision with the deer. He told first responders that he had been down in the roadway about an hour before he was found.
He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance as a “trauma alert” with back and leg injuries. The deer did not survive the crash.
The victim’s name has not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also reponded to the crash.
The Power Of Pink: Thousands Take Part In Breast Cancer Walk
October 27, 2013
About 15,000 people took part in the 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday morning in Pensacola.
“My sister and I walked with our mom who is a breast cancer survivor,” Tiffany White of Flomaton said after the walk along with her mother Brenda Peterson of Century.
Like Tiffany, most walked for a reason. For a mom, a grandmother, a friend or their own personal battle against breast cancer. For many, it’s a party-style event, with a variety of festive outfits. The walk begins at the former University Mall and ends at Cordova Mall.
“I try and walk every year in the Breast Cancer Walk, my grandma had it 15 years ago,” said Ashley Suggs of Cantonment. “She’s a survivor!”
There were hundreds of survivors honored during the walk that raises nearly a half million dollars each year for breast cancer research and the American Cancer Society.
Pictured top: Valerie Craft of Century, survivor Brenda Peterson of Century and Tiffany White of Flomaton. Pictured below: The view from Chris Jordan of Cantonment as an estimated 15,000 took part in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday morning in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Ashley Suggs of Cantonment and family walk for her grandmother. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Williams Station Day
October 27, 2013
Hundreds attended the 22nd annual Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday.
Williams Station Day takes its name from Atmore’s early history when in 1866 the community was a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern railroad.
Festival-goers were entertained by a wide variety of musical acts, and a wide variety of arts and crafts were also available. The Alabama Blues Brothers provided the feature entertainment as part of their farewell tour.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: The Alabama Blues Brothers perform during Saturday’s Williams Station Day in Atmore. Pictured inset and bottom: Scenes from Williams Station Day. NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
Master Deputy Gulsby, K-9 Caleb Place In National Competition
October 27, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Wayne Gulsby of Molino and his K-9 partner Caleb recently won third place in the Police K9 Agility Competition during the United States Police Canine Association National Certification Course in Washington, D.C.
Gulsby has been employed by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for about 27 years, and K-9 Caleb has served since February of 2013. Caleb is a German bred and imported German Shepherd and is a certified patrol/bomb dog.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE, Jay, Flomaton Advance Teams To Escambia River Finals
October 27, 2013
The Northwest Escambia Eagles swept three games Saturday with teams advancing to next Saturday’s Escambia River Conference’s league championships in Jay.
Saturday’s championship matchups, times to be announced, are as follows:
- NWE Sophomores vs. Poarch
- NWE Juniors vs. Jay
- NWE Seniors vs. Flomaton
Here are select playoff results from Saturday:
- Flomaton Seniors 27, Poarch 20
- NWE Seniors 33, Jay 0
- NWE Juniors 49, Neal 0
- NWE Sophomores 40, Baker 6
- Jay Juniors over Excel
Results of other games were not submitted for publication.
Pictured top: NWE Senior’s Trent Kite gains yardage as he faces a Jay defender Saturday in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The NWE Seniors shutout Jay 33-0 Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bills Would Give Tax Help To Farmers
October 27, 2013
Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia, filed bills this week that would create new tax exemptions for the agriculture industry.
The bills would provide exemptions for irrigation equipment, replacement parts for farm equipment and repairs to farm equipment. Also, it would allow landowners to keep what are known as “greenbelt” exemptions if they take part in programs with water-management districts that involve flooding land. The greenbelt law is designed to hold down property taxes on agricultural lands.
“This legislation will give much-deserved tax relief to Florida’s family farmers,” Simpson said in a prepared statement. “Florida farmers make our state one of the nation’s most important food producers, and reducing their tax burden will invigorate this crucial sector of the economy.”
The bills will be considered during the 2014 legislative session.
by The News Service of Florida