Is Your Heater Safe, Or Was It Recalled? Find Out Here
January 3, 2012
Several models of electric space heaters have been recalled in the past few months by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, including:
- Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essentials Heaters (2.2 million units) The heaters can malfunction resulting in overheating, smoking, burning, melting and fire.
- Lasko Portable Electric Heaters (107,500 units) An electrical connection in the base of the unit can overheat, causing it to melt and expose the electrical connection, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
- Honeywell Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats (77,000 units) The thermostats can overheat, causing them to melt and smoke. This poses a burn hazard to the consumer.
- GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters (90,600 units) An electrical component in the heating system can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
- Meijer Touch Point Oscillating Ceramic Heaters (13,000 units) The oscillating mechanism in the heaters can short out, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
To find out more about the recalled products, including model numbers and photos, visit the CPSC website.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
January 3, 2012
You can recycle your natural Christmas tree in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
In Escambia County:
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will pick up Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.
Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees and cut the trees so that no portion is longer than six feet. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash, and should not be placed in the regular garbage container or recycling cans.
ECUA will not offer drop-off sites for trees this year because of the lack of participating the last few years.
For more information, call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
In Santa Rosa County:
Santa Rosa County residents are urged to start the New Year “green” by recycling their live Christmas trees. Trees dropped off by Tuesday, January 31 at the five recycling areas around the county will be chipped and offered as free mulch at Clean Community System in Milton at a later date to be announced.
When dropping off trees, please place the trees in the designated area identified by signage. Do not place trees in front of the recycling containers. Trees can be disposed at:
- Jay Transfer Station, on Transfer Station Road
- Quintette Recycle Area at the Five Points Intersection
- Pace Patriot Boulevard next to Pace Volunteer Fire Department
- Tiger Point recreation area in Gulf Breeze, east of Walmart
- Clean Community System on Park Avenue
Helpful Hints To Prevent Frozen Pipes
January 3, 2012
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is offering helpful tips to prevent the expense of frozen pipes — especially external, exposed pipes that are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing.
Short Term:
Run a Trickle of Water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run thin trickles of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water, but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to that of repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
Long Term:
The Backflow Preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water lines are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
Disconnect And Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This will prevent the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
For more information visit the ECUA web site @ www.ecua.org, or call Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
‘Killer’ Charged With Shooting Into House After Victim Stole Crack
January 2, 2012
A Cantonment man is behind bars after allegedly shooting into a house in an incident that began when he claimed he took $40 worth of crack cocaine from his dealer — known as “Killer”.
Brad Tamarcus Tucker, 27, was booked into the Escambia County Jail late last week on charges of firing a firearm into a dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, using a firearm during the commission of felony and intimidation of a witness. He remained in jail early Monday morning with bond set at $550,000.
The charges were related to a January 10, 2011 incident in which Billy Earl Grantham III of Cantonment told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he attempted to buy crack cocaine from a dealer he knew only as “Killer”. Grantham told deputies that he was in the car with “Killer” when he took $40 in crack without the money to pay for it.
Grantham told deputies that he exited the car, with “Killer” following him — and threatening to kill him. Grantham then went inside his home in the 1100 block of Kathleen Avenue. About 20 minutes later, someone fired at least two rounds into his home.
Grantham’s friend told deputies he saw “Killer” stand in Grantham’s driveway and fire three times with a semi-automatic handgun. The friend told deputies that he knew “Killer” lived on Lake Drive in Cantonment. Both Grantham and his friend identified “Killer” has being Tucker from a photo lineup, according to an arrest report.
Students Head Back To Class (With 2012 School Calendar)
January 2, 2012
Students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida are headed back to class Monday following a couple of weeks out for Christmas Break, while students in Escambia County, Ala., returned to class Tuesday.
Here is a look at the remaining holiday and break days for the 2011-2012 school year:
Escambia County, FL
- January 16 — MLK Day
- January 17 — Teacher Work Day (no students)
- March 19-23 — Spring Break
- April 6 — Teacher Work Day (no students)
- May 28 — Memorial Day
- June 1 — Last Day of School
Santa Rosa County, FL
- January 16 — MLK Day
- January 20 – Teacher Work Day (no students)
- February 20 — President’s Day
- March 12-16 — Spring Break
- April 2 — Teacher Work Day (no students)
- April 6 — Good Friday
- May 28- Memorial Day
- June 7 — Last Day of School
Escambia County, AL
- January 16 — MLK Day
- February 20 — President’s Day
- April 6 — Good Friday
- April 23-27 — Spring Break
- May 24 — Last Day of School
2011 Persons Of The Year: Wade Jernigan And Organ Donors
January 2, 2012
NorthEscambia.com is naming Persons of the Year for 2011. The recipients were nominated by our readers as individuals that have a made a difference in North Escambia during the past year — people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2011. Additional Persons of the Year will be named on Tuesday.
Recipients named so far include the volunteers and supporters of the Health and Hope Clinic, and Northview Athletic Director Sammy Day.
An unexpected tragedy and a simple act of unselfishness led to the selection of 16-year old Kenneth Wade Jernigan and everyone that has signed their name as an organ donor as 2011 North Escambia Persons of the Year.
A heart of gold, always a smile, always positive, always there, and always giving of himself. Those are just some of the ways Wade Jernigan’s friends described him in the hours following a tragic wreck on a cool December morning not far from Northview High School. And, even in his death, he continued to give of himself.
After doctors did all they could do, Wade was kept on life support at Sacred Heart Hospital in order to donate his organs.
“Through his unselfish, giving spirit he chose to be an organ donor, and even though we greatly grieve his passing, through it he gave eight people and their families life and in this way he lives on through them,” his obituary said.
His impact on the communities of North Escambia was perhaps more profound than we will ever know. The Northview family grew closer together. Students signed up to become organ donors, perhaps multiplying the number of lives saved by Wade Jeringan’s death many times over. Many young people also examined their mortality and many made life altering decisions in their personal and spiritual lives.
An anonymous commenter on a NorthEscambia.com story about Wade Jernigan perhaps summed up the reason that all that are signed up to be organ donors and Wade Jernigan are 2011 North Escambia Persons of the Year:
“I’ve never in my time being at Northview witnessed the halls so empty of emotion and noise. Silence had overwhelmed us completely. This tells you how great of a guy he was. It hurts us all to think the guy you surrounded yourself with in case you were having a bad day, is gone,” the Northview student wrote.
“In return, we will all grow stronger, and learn from this.”
Top Stories Of 2011
January 2, 2012
Here is the first part of our pick for the Top 11 Stories of 2011. The remainder of the list will be published on Tuesday.
11. Jay Hospital
The Town of Jay was abuzz in late April that Jay Hospital was about to be closed, sold or merged with another facility. A town meeting was called and 250 residents were told that Baptist Healthcare and Naples-based Health Management Associates wanted to form a new partnership involving Jay Hospital and the Santa Rosa County Medical Center in Milton. Dr. David Smith said Baptist wanted to strike the word “non-profit” from their contract with Santa Rosa County, perhaps leading to a reduction in services at the 55-bed hospital. Century and Flomaton leaders also spoke out against any change in the hospital’s services. After the public outcry, Baptist never requested any change to their lease.
10. Health and Hope Clinic
The Pensacola Bay Baptist Association opened their second Health and Hope Clinic in Century to meet the needs of uninsured and medically underserved in Escambia County. The clinic is entirely volunteer and donor supported, bringing access to health care to potentially hundreds of North Escambia residents that otherwise could not afford it.
9. Conecuh Woods
The Conecuh County (Ala.) Commission gave their blessings to a proposed 5,100 landfill near Repton despite an outcry against it. The Conecuh Woods landfill will include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then into Escambia and Pensacola bays. Downstream governments joined a lawsuit seeking to stop the landfill that was filed by the tiny town of Repton, Ala., (pop. 280). Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida, Century, Flomaton, Atmore, Brewton and Pensacola all joined the suit expressing concerns about potential harm to drinking water. No decision was rendered by the end of the year.
8. Northview Quarterback Suspension
The Northview Chiefs were without starting senior quarterback Brandon Sheets as they faced Chipley in the second-ever state semifinal game for the Chiefs. Sheets was suspended for a game by the Florida High School Athletic Association. The first flag against Sheets in playoff game against Chipley came after a touchdown when Sheets stopped just across the goal line and dropped the ball near a Freeport defender. The second flag came on the next play. As a referee was explaining the flag to coach Sid Wheatley on the Chiefs’ sideline (pictured), Sheets ran back on the field to run the extra point play. That’s when Sheets allegedly mocked a referee by looking at him and clapping. Northview’s appeal of the suspension was denied by the FHSAA.
7. Wicked Weather
The list of top stories from 2011 would certainly not be complete without the weather. From a freezing start to the year in January to extreme drought and tornadoes, 2011’s headlines often included the weather. An EF-1 tornado slammed the heart of McDavid in March with 105 mph winds, damaging or destroying several homes. The destruction was much more intense at the end of March as 263 people died in a massive tornado outbreak in Alabama, many of them in Tuscaloosa. A McDavid native was among those killed; Iva Mae Cantrell died in Jefferson County, Ala. Following the tornadoes, North Escambia communities rallied to help north Alabama with supplies and volunteers. Weather headlines in 2011 also included an extreme, record-setting drought that impacted local agriculture.
6. Cancer Scam Arrest
Communities across North Escambia were stunned at the arrest of a Molino couple, Chris and Sonja Luker, on allegations that she faked a cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars in donations. An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigation determined the Lukers used thousands of dollars in fundraising dollars to avoid foreclosure on their home and purchased a $4,000 Harley motorcycle. Both were awaiting trial by year’s end on a felony fraud charge.
The Top 5 stories of 2011 will be published on Tuesday.
Pictured top: About 250 people attended a community meeting in support of Jay Hospital in late March. Pictured top inset: Northview Coach Sid Wheatley discusses the suspension of quarterback Brandon Sheets with an official. Pictured bottom inset: One of the homes destroyed by a tornado on Main Street in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
East Pond Street In Century Closed This Week
January 2, 2012
East Pond Street in Century will be closed this week for a scheduled drainage improvement project.
The street will be closed Monday through Friday from Jefferson Avenue west to Ramar Street near Highway 29, according to the Town of Century.
For more information, contact Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.
2011 In Photos: September
January 2, 2012
We are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2011. Today, we are featuring photos from September.
Fire completely destroyed this brick home on State Line Road near Century.
Students from Bratt and Byrneville elementary schools learned about peanuts during a special in-field demonstration.
Bus driver Tonia Allen found this little girl wandering alone in South Highway 99 near Walnut Hill. She was returned unharmed to her parents.
A weak funnel cloud was caught on camera near Fairground Road and the Escambia River in Molino.
An estimated $80,000 in marijuana was seized from a home on Highway 29 just north of Highway 97 in Molino.
Hundreds of students gathered to pray during the annual See You at the Pole event at a several schools.
At Atmore woman was critically injured in this early morning crash on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
A butterfly enjoys pretty weather in late September at the Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton.
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Jay Royals.
Ernest Ward Middle School’s Eagle’s beat the Baker Gators.
Northview’s junior varsity beat the Blue Devils of Atmore.
Residents of Century Care Center enjoyed a little fall fishing at the facility’s pond.
The Escambia Gators beat the Tate Aggies.
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated the Lady Royals of Jay.
The National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola officially dedicated the “Marine One” helicopter used to transport Presidents Nixon and Ford.
Northview, Ernest Ward, Tate and Jay took part in a soggy Cross County meet in Pace.
Jacob Dunsford gains yardage for the Ernest Ward Middle School as the Eagles defeated J.U. Blacksher.
Fort Walton beat Tate 33-0.
A boat belonging to a missing former Jay resident was found in Mexico, but there was no sign of Lee Kent.
Three men were charged in connection with an accident that claimed the life of a Southern Choctaw football player and injured several others after leaving a game in Flomaton.
Heavy surf pounded Pensacola Beach from Tropical Storm Lee.
Century Care Center Celebrates The New Year
January 2, 2012
Families and friends gathered with residents at the Century Care Center Sunday to celebrate the New Year. As they looked forward to 2012, they also looked back at 2011.
“Century Care Center wishes to thank all of the local churches, families, staff and organizations who have supported us throughout the year, especially for our wonderful Christmas,” Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
