Century Cracking Down On Late Paying Water, Sewer Customers
February 13, 2013
The Town of Century is cracking down on residents who don’t pay up for their water and sewer service on time.
“I have been real lenient with people,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall. But that leniency has led to 50-70 customers per month on the cutoff list, compared to just four last month for the Bratt-Davisville water system, he said.
Century water bills are currently due on receipt, with second notice and a $5 penalty on the 15th of the month and cutoffs scheduled for the 25th. Customers have been allowed to pay the cutoff penalty and earn a reprieve until the next month. The end result, McCall said, is an endless cycle of customers staying one month behind on their bills.
The extreme number of cutoffs is also taxing Century’s employees, McCall said, with four men working part of a day to cutofff unpaid water accounts and two men working for two days to restore service after payments are made.
But beginning next month, McCall said unpaid accounts as of the 24th of the month will be cutoff on the 25th, or the first business day after the 25th if it’s a holiday or weekend. Once a customer pays, a work order will be generate to reinstate service no earlier than the following day. Customers will be allowed one lifetime extension in the case of an emergency.
Finalists Named For Escambia Teacher Of The Year
February 13, 2013
The Top 5 finalists for Escambia County Teacher of the Year have been named.
They are: Randall Van Sickle, Blue Angels Elementary; Tina Grady, Hellen Caro Elementary; Susan Rigby, Pine Forest High; Debby Dorough, Pine Meadow Elementary; and Stephanie Hurst, West Florida High School.
The overall Teacher of the Year award will be announced February 28 during the 28th Annual Golden Apple Awards Banquet at New World Landing.
Convicted Felon Charged With Stealing, Pawning Gun
February 13, 2013
A convicted felon from Century is facing two felony charges after allegedly stealing a gun and later pawning it.
Joshua Duane Griffis, age 26 of North Century Boulevard, was arrested this week for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and grand theft of a firearm for an incident back in October 2012. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
Griffis allegedly went to a residence on Green Village Road in Walnut Hill and told a person known to him that he needed to look for a cell phone charger he had left in the home. The victim, due to a medical condition, was unable to follow Griffis to the rear of the home. Griffis left the residence, telling the victim he was unable to find the phone charger.
The same day, the victim discovered his .22 caliber revolver was missing. The victim’s wife confronted Griffis. According to an arrest report, and he said that he had let a friend working offshore borrow the gun but it would be returned soon.
The victim’s wife later located the gun at State Line Pawn in Atmore where it had been pawned by Griffis, the report states. Pawn shop employees told her they would keep the firearm until she could come in and pay for it, deputies said.
Arrest Made In Christmas Eve Kidnapping, Murder
February 13, 2013
An Escambia County man has been arrested in the 2012 Christmas Eve kidnapping and murder of a Pensacola man.
Trevon Nelson, 28, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon. He was charged with an open count of homicide, false imprisonment, four counts of false imprisonment of a child under age 13, burglary, grand theft vehicle, and evidence tampering.
“This case has been a top priority for us since the kidnapping was reported on Christmas Eve,” said Chief Chip W. Simmons. “There was a lot of time and effort that went into this investigation, and we want to thank the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office and Gun Crime Response Team for their assistance.”
Around 2:45 a.m. December 24, Torrance Hackworth, 32, arrived at his residence at 1321 North J Street and was approached by several males who forced him into the apartment, bound him with duct tape and held him in the apartment.
One of the males awakened Hackworth’s 36-year-old girlfriend and their four children, ranging in age from four to 10, and ordered them at gunpoint into the living room. As all six residents were held hostage, the suspects ransacked the house, demanded money and stole various items, said Detective James Parsons.
When Hackworth insisted he didn’t have any money because he had bought Christmas presents for the children, the suspects said they were going to kill him. The suspects beat and struck Hackworth several times with a firearm in front of the woman and children before dragging him outside and putting him into the trunk of the woman’s vehicle which they used to flee the scene, Parsons said.
Approximately two to three hours after the abduction, the woman’s vehicle was found partially submerged at the Sanders Beach boat launch. Hackworth, who had been shot several times, was later found December 27 deceased in a vacant lot in the 1600 block of North S Street.
Nelson was identified during the investigation, and more arrests are pending, Parsons said.
Panhandler Developer Guilty In Presidential Campaign Finance Case
February 13, 2013
Panhandle developer Jay Odom could face up to five years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday in a scheme to funnel campaign contributions through employees or their family members, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Odom, 56, of Destin, entered the plea to one count of causing a presidential campaign committee to make a false statement to the Federal Election Commission.
Odom, who has been a large Republican donor in the past, was accused of soliciting employees and their family members in 2007 to make maximum contributions to the campaign of a presidential candidate and then reimbursing them for the contributions.
The news release indicates the scheme involved $23,000, through it does not name the presidential candidate. Odom, who entered the plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Lacey A. Collier, is scheduled for sentencing April 23.
Odom also was a prominent player in an airplane-hanger controversy that led to the exodus of former House Speaker Ray Sansom from the Legislature in 2009.
Let The Good Times Roll: Seniors Celebrate Mardi Gras
February 13, 2013
Residents at the Century Care Center celebrated Mardi Gras Tuesday in grand style with both a parade and a party.
The parade featured lots of throws, including Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets. Residents in Mardi Gras costumes paraded and rolled through the hallways in their wheelchairs to the delight of other residents watching the parade.
Pictured: Celebrating Mardi Gras Tuesday at the Century Care Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway Technician Hit By Car Passes Away
February 13, 2013
A highway technician passed away Tuesday from injuries he received after being hit by a car Monday morning on Nine Mile Road.
Brian Steinbeck, an employee of HSA Consulting Group, was assisting in the placement of a traffic counter across East Nine Mile Road at Scenic Hills Drive. Brigitte Keith, age 42 of Cantonment, applied the brakes on her 1999 Honda as she approached other traffic slowed for the contractors. She lost control and rotated into the median where she struck an unoccupied GMC truck and hit Steinbeck.
Steinbeck, 25, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. He passed away from his injuries on Tuesday, according to the FHP.
Keith was not injured
Charges against Keith are pending, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Area Champ Flomaton Lady Canes Advance To Sub-Regionals
February 13, 2013
The Flomaton Lady Hurricanes have won their fourth consecutive Class 2A Area 1 Championship by beating Leroy 51-44.
Leading the Canes were Dezeray Wesley, with 15 points, 9 rebounds; Hannah Fillmore 14 points , 5 rebounds, 5 steals; Jocelyn Wiggins, 13 points, 10 rebounds; Aleiha Emmons with five points; and Mercedes Butler with 4 points and 7 rebounds.
The Flomaton Lady Hurricanes advance to the Sub-regionals at home Thursday night at 7:00 versus Zion Chapel.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Learn About Antique Roses At Upcoming Program
February 13, 2013
Master Gardeners will present an upcoming program about antique roses.
During the “Mondays in the Gardens” free gardening program offered at the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center Gardens, Sally Menk will deliver a presentation, “Antique Roses – Their History and Care” in the shade garden classroom on Monday, February 18th at 10 a.m.
Menk is a Consulting Rosarian for the American Rose Society in Santa Rosa County. In addition, she has been a Santa Rosa Master Gardener for 24 years.
The UF/IFAS WFREC Gardens are located on the Pensacola State College, Milton campus. Visitors can follow the signs on campus to find the gardens.
The gardens are free and open to the public from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Both self-guided and guided tours are available. Changing seasonal gardens feature a multitude of horticultural displays including shade, formal, children’s and water gardens, bulbs, roses, shrubs, trees and perennials.
For more information please contact Mary Derrick, Residential Horticulture Extension Agent, at (850) 623-3868 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Century Preps For Disasters With New Shelter, Transportation, Supplies
February 12, 2013
With the help of BRACE — the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies — Century is getting disaster ready with a new designated shelter, transportation plans, free preparation supplies and more.
The American Red Cross has certified the Ag Building on West Highway 4 in Century for use as shelter for emergencies not including hurricanes. A power generator is being installed at the building for $6,000, almost completely funded with $5,500 in grant money, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. The building does not meet structural requirements for use as a hurricane shelter.
For hurricanes, the closest available shelter for Century residents will still be Northview High School. But many Century residents have complained for years that many without transportation would be unable to reach the shelter if they chose to evacuate their homes.
Greg Strader, founder of BRACE, said arrangements have been made with ECAT to transport Century residents to Northview, about eight miles away, in the event of a hurricane evacuation.
“They will deploy transportation assets as needed,” he said, “even pickup up residents at their homes.”
Bucket filled with a tarp, flashlight, radio and other supplies, known as “72-hour to go” kits, will also be made available to homebound Century residents through BRACE.
BRACE will also represent Century in the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center in the event of an activation during emergencies such has a hurricane, acting as liaison between the county and the town.
And coming up this summer, BRACE will offer Teen CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training at the Carver Community Center. CERT training includes basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Over two dozen adult Century residents complete CERT training in 2011.
Pictured top: Greg Strader, founder of BRACE, addresses the Century Town Council as members Jacke Johnston (left) and Annie Savage (right) listen. Pictured inset: A “72-hour to go” kit for homebound residents. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.