Burglary, Copper Theft At Town Owned Industrial Building
January 30, 2013
A burglary and copper theft at a vacant town-owned industrial building in Century is under investigation.
Someone busted out a window at the former Van Nevel Helicopters building on Industrial Boulevard in Century. Several small items appeared to have been removed from the building, but the most damage done in the crime was outside the 40,000 square foot building.
The suspect forcibly removed sections of industrial size copper tubing leading from multiple air conditioning units into the building, town officials said. The units themselves were not opened or damaged.
Town employees believe the thefts occurred sometime between Friday and Tuesday morning when the broken window was discovered.
The Van Nevel Helicopters building has been empty for years after the business owner apparently fled the county amidst financial difficulties. The Town of Century foreclosed on the property in August 2009. The heating and cooling systems in the building were replaced with new, energy efficient units in 2011.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician dusts a broken window for fingerprints at the former Van Nevel Helicopters building in Century. Pictured inset: The crime scene tech photographs damage to an air conditioning unit. Pictured below: The vacant town owned building was burglarized some time between Friday and Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Drama Club To Present ‘All Shook Up’
January 30, 2013
The Flomaton High School Drama Club will present “All Shook Up” Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:00. Admission is $5.
“This musical is a lot of fun! If you can think of an Elvis song, it’s probably in this musical,” Jerry Aaron, Drama Club advisor said.
“All Shook Up” is inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley. The musical is described: Into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar-playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy that’ll have you jumpin’ out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel”.
Flomaton’s production stars Deston Taylor as Chad, the guitar playing roustabout, and Victoria Roe as Natalie Haller, the local female mechanic who is looking for some excitement. Tyler Dove plays the part of straight-laced military school student; Dean Hyde and Hannah Blair plays the girl who was raised on the wrong side of the tracks Lorraine.
“Both of our male leads are played by veterans of the Drama Club but our female leads are both freshman. These girls are very talented and have worked hard to get this show ready for the production,” Aaron said.
K. J. Head plays Lorraine’s mother Sylvia; Seth Harrison plays Natalie’s dad Jim. Of course the town has a nosey Mayor played by Dezare Turner.
“We have about 25 students involved in this production, and they have worked hard learning to dance and sing this great music. Olivia Singelton has done a great job with the chorography, I certainly could not have done it without her, “Aaron added.
Pictured top: (L-R) Travis Coleman, Tiffany Hardy, Olivia Singelton, Taylor Morris, Taylor Graves, Matt Ledford and Kerrie Kornegay. Deston Taylor kneeling. Pictured below: Girls that love Chad. Pictured inset above: Chad played by junior Deston Taylor is just a roving roustabout, Natalie played by fresham Victoria Roe loves Chad, and Dennis played by Senior Dan Condrey loves Natalie. Picture bottom: Cast members Back row – Seth Harrison, Trent Sutton, Grace Carrier, Trevor Reeves, Scarlett Carter, Kimberly Waldrop, Eric Bossard. Second
row – Dan Condrey, Tyler Dove, Madison Buffington, Kristen Dixon, Hannah Kaylor, Dezarae Turner. Front row – Tiffany Paige, Chelsea Turner, Nickie Brittingham, Hannah Blair, K. J. Head, Alexis Williams, and Daniel Lambeth. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Require CPR Training For All High School Grads?
January 30, 2013
Public school students would be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation as part of their physical education under a measure filed Tuesday. The bill would require students to complete an accredited CPR course at least once before graduating from high school. The bill is sponsored by Clay Ford, R-Gulf Breeze. Class times vary, but CPR can be successfully taught in two to three hours.
Blood Drive Thursday At Tate High In Honor Of Senior Halee Boyd
January 30, 2013
A blood drive will be held tomorrow at Tate High School in honor of student Halee Boyd.
Halee, a Tate senior, is battling a rare cancer and is currently in pediatric intensive care fighting a blood infection, according to Mardi Boyd, her mother. Tuesday morning, Mardi Boyd appeared on Tate High’s in-house television morning show to appeal to students to give blood.
The blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. until 2:30 Thursday at the school for students, faculty and staff. All blood types are needed. Generally, healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Donors that are 16 must have parental consent.
Pictured: Mardi Boyd, mother of cancer patient Halee Boyd, appeared on Tate High School’s in-house morning show Tuesday morning to encourage students to give blood. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Boys Take Two From WS Neal
January 30, 2013
The Northview Chiefs took two from W.S. Neal Eagles Tuesday in boys basketball in East Brewton.
Northview 79, WS Neal 41
In varsity action, Northview beat WS Neal 79-41. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Neino Robinson with 34, Cameron Newsome with 13, Laderious Franklin with 8 and Shane Bushaw with 8. With the win, Northview improved to 12-6 on the season.
Northview 50, WS Neal 27 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Northview beat WS Neal 50-27. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Tydre Bradley with 16, Keondrae Lett with 13 and Nick Lambert with 11. The JV Chiefs improved to 6-2 on the season.
Both teams wrap up regular season play Friday at Tate. The junior varsity game tips off at 5:30, and the varsity plays at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Burglary Suspect Shot By Deputies Is Identified
January 29, 2013
Sheriff’s investigators have identified the man who was shot and killed by deputies after responding to a burglary in progress call Sunday night.
Paul Gordon Thayer, 49, was fatally shot. Deputies arrived on scene and encountered Thayer, who was armed with a firearm. During the encounter, Thayer pointed the firearm at deputies at which time the deputies discharged their firearms fatally wounding Thayer.
The incident occurred at a self-storage facility in the area of Mobile Highway and Dominguez Street about 10:30 p.m.
Deputy Sheriff Wayne Wright and Deputy 1st Class Mark Smith have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings. Wright has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2007, and Smith has served since 2005.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office are continuing their investigation.
Pictured top: A burglary suspect was shot and killed late Sunday night in a deputy-involved shooting. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Morning Fire Destroys Northern Santa Rosa County Home
January 29, 2013
Fire destroyed an abandoned home in northern Santa Rosa County about 8:30 this morning. The home, located on Highway 89 near Allentown, was fully involved when the first units from the Allentown Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene. There were no injuries reported. Reader submitted photo by Jeremy Wells, click to enlarge.
Health Alert Lifted After Cove Landfill Fire Extinguished
January 29, 2013
The Escambia County Health Department has lifted the health advisory that was issued last week for health risks associated with smoke from the Cove Landfill fire.
Health officials said they have been informed that the debris fire has been extinguished and environmental health inspectors have confirmed that the resultant smoke has dissipated. The landfill is located in the Ensley area behind Pine Meadow Elementary.
Persons who believe they are experiencing residual health problems or symptoms related to the smoke should contact their primary care physician, according to the health department.
Pictured: Smoke billows from the Cove Landfill behind Pine Meadow Elementary School on January 24. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Legislative Delegation To Consider Century, ECUA, Pensacola Requests
January 29, 2013
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation will meet Thursday to decide if three local proposals will be presented for action to the full 2013 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature.
The proposals were submitted by the Town of Century, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and the City of Pensacola.
Century is requesting a bill that permit the town of opt-out of a four-cent gas tax approved last year by the Escambia County Commission. Scheduled for implementation in 2014, the tax is expected to net about $4 million countywide for mass transit.
Century officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
ECUA is seeking legislation that would allow it to purchase fuel without state sales tax under the same terms as municipalities and counties. ECUA is also requesting management audits be required every five years, rather than the current three year period.
The City of Pensacola is looking for more flexibility on pension plans. Specifically, the city wants a state law called the Pensacola Civil Service Act repealed. Although reenacted in 1984 as a special act, the law had its origins in the 1931 Charter of the City, a charter that was repealed and replaced by referendum of the voters on October 8, 2009, when the current charter was adopted.
Escambia County’s legislative delegation, consisting of Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ford, and Rep. Clay Ingram, will meet Thursday at the University of West Florida, Building 90, at 5 p.m.
Century Raises Water Rates, Now Taking Credit Cards
January 29, 2013
The Century Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to raise water rates — the first rate increase for the town’s water customers since 1995. The overall 10 percent rate hike is to be implemented with an immediate 5 percent increase and additional 5 percent increase six months later.
The rate for the first 1,500 gallons of water will increase to $9.45 on February 1 and increase again to $9.90 on August 1. Each additional 1,000 gallons will be $2.27 on February 1 and $2.49 on August 1. Sewer rates will remain the same at $13 for the first 6,000 gallons of water used.
In the past, the town has had difficulty applying for, or receiving the full amount of, federal grants for the water system because Century’s rates were markedly lower than surrounding areas.
The town also announced that major credit cards are being accepted for water, sewer and gas bills. The customer will be charged an extra 3.5 percent fee for service.
Pictured: Century Town Council members Sandra McMurry Jackson and Jacke Johnston at Monday night’s meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.