Atmore, Flomaton, Brewton Received $1.25 Million Sewer Grants
November 2, 2011
Atmore, Flomaton and Brewton have been awarded grants totaling $1.25 million to repair damaged sewer lines.
Community Development Block Grants of $450,000 each to Atmore and Brewton and $350,000 to Flomaton will enable the rehabilitation of sections of old cracked clay sewer lines that have been the source of frequent sewage leaks.
“Without grant assistance, these vital projects would create a huge burden for strained local budgets,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said. “I am pleased we can help Atmore, Brewton and Flomaton improve the quality of life for their residents.”
Over the years, the clay pipes have developed many cracks which allow frequent sewage leaks in residents’ yards. A new lining will be placed inside the old pipes to cover the cracks and eliminate leaks. The liners will be installed by robotic equipment controlled by workers using video cameras.
Atmore will rehabilitate sections of sewer line along Wilson Avenue, benefiting 144 people. The project in Brewton will re-line sewer pipes in the Alco neighborhood, benefiting 448 people. In Flomaton, sewer repairs will be made in an area of downtown bordered on the north by U.S. Highway 31 and Roosevelt Street, on the south by College Street, on the east by U.S. Highway 29 and on the west by Ringold Avenue. The project will benefit 154 people.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Santa Rosa Teacher Faces Possible Elections Law Fine
November 2, 2011
A Santa Rosa County teacher faces what may be the first fine for someone for violating the new election law requirements related to registering voters.
Dawn Quarles faces a potential $1,000 fine for turning in voter resgistration applications for students more than 48 hours after they were signed, a violation of the new elections requirement passed earlier this year by the Legislature. Quarles teaches government at Pace High School, in Santa Rosa County. The old time limit was 10 days.
The Associated Press reported that Secretary of State Kurt Browning wrote a letter asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the civil fine against Quarles. One reason the state is going after Quarles for the violation is that she has at least one violation in the past, when the time limit was 10 days. Quarles told the AP that because of that, she made sure this year to get the applications in within 10 days – not knowing the time limit had changed.
By The News Service of Florida
Public Meeting: Crabtree Church Road Widening Plan
November 2, 2011
A public meeting will be held next week concerning a proposal to pave the shoulders along Crabtree Church Road between Highway 97 and Sunshine Hill Road in Molino.
Escambia County has received funding from the Florida Department of Transportation Rural Work Program for the design and construction of five-foot asphalt shoulders on the 2.5 mile segment of roadway.
The public meeting to receive input from property owners and stakeholders will be held from 5:30 until 6:30 on Tuesday, November 8 at Molino Park Elementary School at 899 Highway 97.
Firefighters Battle Railroad Cross Tie Fire (With Photo Gallery)
November 1, 2011
Fire stations from across the area responded to a railroad cross tie fire at the state line between Century and Flomaton Monday morning.
The fire was mostly contained to two large piles of cross ties, causing little or no damage to nearby tracks in the CSX rail yard that sits on the state line. Smoke from the 11:25 a.m. blaze could be seen for miles.
There were no reports of injuries.
The Flomaton and Friendship fire departments from Alabama and the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire rescue from Florida responded to the blaze. Firefighters remained on scene until about 1:30 p.m.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Paves Route Across Perdido River; Florida Side Remains Dirt
November 1, 2011
Baldwin County has completed an environmentally friendly paving project on Barrineau Park Road on the Alabama side of the Perdido River, but the Florida side will remain dirt.
Baldwin County paved the 2.8 miles of the former dirt road from the Perdido River to Highway 112. The Florida side stretches from the river to the intersection of South Highway 99 and Highway 196 in the Barrineau Park community.
Escambia County owns the bridge across the Perdido River, according to District 5 Commissioner Kevin White. But the county-maintained dirt road on the Florida side is privately owned by the Barrineau Estate. It is only about four-tenths of a mile long, but the county has no right to pave it.
It is the only east-west route across the Perdido River between Muscogee Road in Cantonment and Highway 31 in Escambia County, Ala. The road is often used by farmers and ranchers as they transport goods to market from North Escambia to Robertsdale, Ala. It is also a shortcut route for many families to activities and shopping in Baldwin County.
Baldwin County identified the road as one of the county’s most environmentally damaging roads and funded the work with a 2007-2008 Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant funds to eliminate or reduce the amount of sediment that reaches waterways and wetlands.
“This project substantially reduced the amount of silt and sediment that was being washed into the Perdido River and Bay and will allow for the continued protection of native plants, fish and wildlife habitats in the wetland areas,” according to a Baldwin County press release.
Pictured above: Before and after images of Barrineau Park Road in Baldwin County, Ala. Pictured inset: Work on the Baldwin County side of the Perdido River in August, 2010. Pictured below: Barrineau Park Road on the Florida side of the Perdido River. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Charged With Byrneville Grand Theft
November 1, 2011
A 21-year old Century woman has been charged in a Byrneville theft.
Hannah Leighann Hamilton of North Century Blvd. was charged with felony grand theft and petit theft last week in connection with a late September incident. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s office report, Hamilton was accused of taking an engagement ring and bracelet from a residence on Byrneville Road.
Hamilton was released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,000 bond.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Molino Fall Carnival
November 1, 2011
Hundreds of people attended a community-wide Fall Festival in Molino Monday night. Sponsored by four area churches, the interdenominational event provided a safe Christian alternative on Halloween night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The event was sponsored by Victory Assembly of God, Highland Baptist Church, CrossFaith Church and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
Pictured top: The “Potty Toss” was a popular game Monday night during an annual Fall Festival in Molino. Pictured inset and below: The annual Fall Festival sponsored by four Molino area churches Monday night in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Charged With Stealing, Selling ‘61 Ford, ‘64 Mustang As Scrap
November 1, 2011
Two Century men are charged with stealing a 1961 Ford truck and a 1964 Ford Mustang from a home in Bratt and selling them as scrap.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office charged 32-year old Jessie James Tedder and Brandon Lee Lambeth, both of Century, with felony grand theft of a motor vehicle. Both were released from jail on $2,500 bond.
The victim reported that he planned to restore the two classic vehicles that were in a state of disrepair when they were taken from a home in the 3600 block of West Highway 4. The victim told deputies that he found the remnants of the vehicles at Advanced Auto Recycling in Escambia County, Ala.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, both Tedder and Lambeth admitted in writing to deputies that they took the vehicles from the victim’s property and sold them for scrap.
Round-up Collects 927 Pounds Of Drugs
November 1, 2011
Last Saturday’s drug roundup at CVS stores across the county and the Sheriff’s Office precinct in Molino collected over 927 pounds of prescription and non-prescription drugs. Residents were invited to drop off their unused or unwanted pharmaceuticals during the event.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held the collection in coordination with the Pensacola Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other local agencies as part of a national take-back effort.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Century Care Center Halloween Carnival
November 1, 2011
Century Care Center held their annual Halloween Fall Carnival Monday afternoon with lots of fun and a haunted house for trick 0r treaters.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.