Photo: Bells Will Be Ringing
December 22, 2011
The bells were ringing with the spirit of Christmas Wednesday night as a newly formed hand bell team at the First Baptist Church of Bratt performed for the church’s annual Christmas dinner.
The “Belles of Bratt” were led by Dianna Hawsey in songs such as Angels We have Heard on High, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells and Gentle Mary Laid Her Child.
Team members are Susan Amerson, Kasey Baggett, Karen Brown, Laura Chavers, Brenda Dunsford, Wille Jean Edwards, Patricia Gregory, Gayle Hanks, Debbie Hester, Star Pugh, and Kim Sanders.
Submitted photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
ECAT Announces Holiday Schedule
December 22, 2011
Escambia County Area Transit has announced its service schedule for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The schedule is as follows:
- Friday, December 23 – Full Service/Administrative Offices Closed
- Saturday, December 24 – Last Bus departs ECAT Terminal at 6 p.m.
- Route 59 Express – Last Bus departs Downtown at 5:40 p.m.
- Beach Jumper – Last Bus departs Downtown at 4:05 p.m.
- Sunday, December 25 – No Service/Administrative Offices Closed
- Monday, December 26 – No Service/Administrative Offices Closed
- Friday, December 30 – Full Service/Administrative Offices Open
- Saturday, December 31 – Last Bus departs ECAT Terminal at 6 p.m.
- Route 59 Express – Last Bus departs Downtown at 5:40 p.m.
- Beach Jumper – Last Bus departs Downtown at 4:05 p.m.
- Sunday, January 1 – No Service/Administrative Offices Closed
- Monday, January 2 – No Service/Administrative Offices Closed
- Saturday, December 10 through Sunday, January 8 – No UWF Trolley Service
Christmas Gift Idea: Jay Historical Society Cookbook
December 22, 2011
The Jay Historical Society is offering a unique last minute Christmas gift – the group’s cookbook with a side of history entitled “Tastes and Tales of the Great Pine Level”.
The 200-page book is available now for a $20 donation to the historical society at Jay Pharmacy, Duramed, The Iron Gate, Town of Jay, Kountry Kuts, and Uptown Salon. For more information, call (850) 675-0406, 675-3772 or 675-6480.
Florida Gas Prices Still Falling
December 22, 2011
Gas prices continue to fall with Florida motorists paying a few pennies per gallon less this week than last week and more than a dime less than they were paying at the pump a month ago, according to auto club AAA.
The average Florida price per gallon of $3.26 is down 4 cents from last week, and down from $3.38 a gallon a month ago.
It’s still higher than it was a year ago, however, when motorists were paying $2.99 a gallon. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.22, a few pennies below Florida’s.
AAA says prices are expected to continue to drop into the new year.
“Europe’s lingering debt issues and somber economic outlook continue to put downward pressure on oil prices,” AAA said in its weekly report. “The dollar gained momentum after the value of the euro fell curbing the appeal of oil as a commodity. Oil prices also dropped after OPEC agreed to increase output quotas to 30 million barrels a day to meet future expected growth numbers.”
Florida’s Population Grown Among Nation’s Highest
December 22, 2011
There were 256,000 new people that called Florida home during a 15-month period ending July 1, 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday in the first post-2010 Census population update.
Florida had the third highest numeric gain during the period, following Texas (529,000) and California (438,000). Overall, the nation grew at its slowest rate since the mid-1940s, adding 2.8 million over the 15-month period, to 311.6 million. Its growth of 0.92 percent between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. Only three states, Rhode Island, Michigan, Maine, lost population during the period.
If the population growth continues, Florida could pass New York as the most populous state in a few years.
Home For Christmas: Northview Grad Among Last Troops Out Of Iraq
December 21, 2011
A Northview High School grad was one of the last U.S. Army soldiers to cross the border last weekend as the war in Iraq ended. And this weekend, he’s hoping to be back home for Christmas.
SPC Andrew Bolen is a member of the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Squadron, 82nd Airborne. He was deployed April 17 with a tour expected to last 12-18 months, but the end of the Iraqi war has cut that deployment short.
“It’s an honor to say we got to finish something that great soldiers before us started, giving closure to our fallen comrades” Bolen told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview from Kuwait Tuesday as he awaited a long flight back to the United States. So far, there was no word on what day that flight will be. He will return first to his home in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for Christmas, with plans to soon visit his hometown of Byrneville.
“I’m very happy he’s coming home; you just don’t know how happy I am,” his mother, Ruth Bolen, said. “He’s my Christmas present.”
Bolen and his wife Meghan have two children — 18-month old Gabriel and Gracelyn who was born July 29, in the midst of his deployment. The 2007 Northview graduate is the son of Ruth and Rae Bolen of Byrneville.
Gulf Power Customer To See Slight Decrease In Bills Next Month
December 21, 2011
Gulf Power customers will see a decrease in their electric bill beginning in January, according to Jeff Rogers, company spokesman.
The Florida Public Service Commission has approved a decrease in electricity bills due to lower coal and natural gas prices.
Currently, the electric bill for an average home using 1,000 kilowatt-hours is $127.16. At the beginning of 2012, the same amount of electricity will cost $125.80, a decrease of $1.36.
“The FPSC adjusts our prices each year based on the cost of the fuel used to make electricity, power bought from other utilities and providers, environmental compliance expenses and the cost of energy efficiency programs for customers, said Rogers. “Through prudent planning of our generation needs, we are able to optimize our fuel purchases and environmental compliance expenses which will result in a net decrease to our customers in January 2012.”
Gulf Power monitors its fuel mix to use the most cost-effective generation available during a 24 period, allowing the company take advantage of lower fuel prices for coal and natural gas, Rogers said.
Man Who Tried To Kidnap Wife, Pulled Shotgun On Mother-in-law Pleads Guilty
December 21, 2011
A 47-year-old truck driver from Atmore pleaded guilty this week in Baldwin County to attempting to kidnap his estranged wife — who was pregnant with another man’s child, struggling with the wife’s new boyfriend over a sawed-off shotgun, and a string of other offenses a December 2010 incident.
“Troy Barton of Atmore went to his mother-in-law’s house in Baldwin County with the intent to kidnap his estranged wife, Tammy Barton,” said Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney Megan Doggett, who prosecuted the case. “He brought with him a short-barrel shotgun and a duffle bag filled with pillowcases, zip ties, duct tape and various medications, intending to tie up the mother-in-law and her husband and take his wife by force if she was unwilling to come with him.”
Barton’s wife was not at the Bay Minette home of her mother, Linda Allen, but his wife’s new boyfriend, Leroy Taggert, was, Doggett said. “They struggled to gain control of the shotgun and it discharged. The mother called 911 and he was arrested there.”
In Baldwin County Circuit Court, Barton entered a blind plea, meaning there was no pre-determined agreement with prosecutors on a sentence, to first degree burglary, second degree attempted kidnapping, possession of a short-barrel shotgun, unlawful imprisonment and reckless endangerment.
Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon praised Sgt. Daniel Steelman and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case and testimony that led to concurrent sentences for Barton of 20 years (split to serve five) on the burglary, 10 years (split to serve three) on the attempted kidnapping, and one year each on the other charges.
According to Escambia County (Fla.) court records, Barton is a former resident of Molino.
20,000 Kids Around The World To Receive Christmas Gifts From Escambia Area
December 21, 2011
Over 20,000 children around the world will receive a small box of hope this Christmas, thanks to dozens of Escambia area churches.
The churches and individuals donated a total of 20,057 simple, gift-filled shoe boxes as part of the 17th year of Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. The First Baptist Church of Bratt served as an official “relay center” for North Escambia while also accepting boxes from Escambia County, Ala.
The Christmas boxes collected at FBC Bratt will be delivered to children in Panama, Ukraine, Macedonia, Bahamas, Uganda, Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Seychelles, Togo, Benin, Belize, Ecuador and Madagascar.
“It is so exciting,” student Pastor Tim Hawsey, who coordinated the program at First Baptist Bratt, said. “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational non-profit organization that has mission’s opportunities all over the world. This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise.”
While the collection effort was a success this year, Hawsey hopes to see an increase next year.
“Maybe next year we can double our intake because even with the millions of boxes turned in nationwide, there will still be many children that will not get a box because of the vast number of needy children in the world,” he said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
100 Mph Chase Near Flomaton Ends With One Jailed
December 21, 2011
A burglary suspect remains behind bars after a high speed chase reached speed over 100 mph near Flomaton.
According to information released Tuesday by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, the department received a call of an attempted burglary and theft at a residence on Oil Well Raod. While deputies were on the scene, dispatchers received another call of another theft on nearby Ledcaylynn Drive.
The victims at the second residence told deputies that 21-year old Matthew Brian Kidd had stolen a television valued at about $1,000 and fled in a white Kia. As deputies searched the area, they spotted Kidd’s vehicle at the intersection of Oil Well and Wolf Log roads. As deputies activated lights and sirens for a traffic stop, Kidd fled the area at a high rate of speed.
“He began to travel at a high rate of speed,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release. “Mr. Kidd was driving in a reckless manner that endangered his life and the lives of other innocent drivers on the highway. He had no regard for his life or others and was traveling at speeds greater than 100 mph. He was also driving on the wrong side of the road, meeting traffic head on, and failing to stop at numerous stop signs and intersections.”
Kidd abandoned his vehicle near railroad tracks north of Pollard and fled on foot in the direction of Old Highway 31 and Wolf Log Road.
A K-9 team from Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore apprehended Kidd a short time later inside the Hillcrest Cemetery on Wolf Log Road.
Kidd was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton where he was booked on multiple traffic violations, felony theft and misdemeanor charges and violation of parole.