Linam Named Liberty Bowl MVP
January 3, 2011
An Atmore son was named the defensive MVP for the University of Central Florida Knights as they defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 10-6 in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.
Josh Linam, a junior middle linebacker for the Knights, grew up in Tavares, Florida, and Atmore. On Friday, he made his career interception, the tenth different Knight to make an interception this year but just the second linebacker.
What was going through Linam’s head during his MVP interception? “I was thinking just catch it and not fumble it so coach wouldn’t get mad,” he said.
The Knights tied the game up 3-3 just before the half, but even that score was tinged with a bit of disappointment. UCF got an interception from Linam and promptly moved the ball to the 6-yard line. But that’s where the drive stopped after a spiked pass, an incompletion and a stopped scramble.
Linam said there was a bit of disappointment in giving up six points to the Bulldogs.
“We thought we would give up zero. We knew it was going to be a tight ball game, and we prepared for that. We just came out and did our job,” he said.
Linam was named to the All Conference USA All Academic 1st Team, ESPN-nominated for Academic All American, ESPN All District 3 Academic 1st Team and Conference USA player of the week versus Houston with 17 tackles.
Linam finished season with 78 tackles, 9.0 tackles for losses and one interception.
Linam is the son of Dr. Kevin R. Linam of Atmore.
Pictured top: Josh Linam (#50) assisted with a tackle in the Autozone Liberty Bowl as UCF beat the Georgia Bulldogs 10-6. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
January 3, 2011
ECUA will pick up its customers’ Christmas trees curbside as part of the regular yard waste collection service. The use of drop-off sites has been discontinued this year due to waning demand over the last few years.
Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees and to ensure that trees, or portions of the trees are no more than six feet in length. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash, and should not be placed in the green garbage containers.
For more information, please call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480
$3 Pain At The Pump
January 2, 2011
The New Year is bringing pain at the pump. The price of a gallon of regular gas has topped the $3 mark around the North Escambia area, and analysts say prices will only continue to rise in the new year.
The average price of a gallon of standard-grade gasoline in Escambia County was $3.04. That’s up 43 cents a gallon from the year-ago price of $2.61, according to the daily price survey published by AAA.
Analysts with AAA said pump prices will likely increase through January, hold steady in February and then jump again in the spring. By the second quarter, gas prices of $3.75 are predicted, with more increases during the summertime.
John Hofmeister, an ex-president at Shell Oil, has told several national media outlets that $5 a gallon gas could be a reality by 2012.
The highest-ever average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $4.05 in July of 2008.
Pictured: Gas tops $3 a gallon at this station on Highway 29 at Roberts Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
It’s A Girl: Meet The First Baby Of 2011
January 2, 2011
Olivia Marie Folmar was the first baby of 2011 born in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. She was born about 1:50 Saturday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital. The daughter of Evan and Sumer Flomar, Olivia weighed 8 pounds, 15 ounces. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2010 Persons Of The Year: Wilbur Earl Hendrix
January 2, 2011
NorthEscambia.com is naming Persons of the Year for 2010 each day this week.
Wilbur Earl Hendrix of Molino has posthumously been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
Hendrix was one of five Molino residents that organized and founded the Molino Volunteer Fire Department, and he served as Molino’s first fire chief.
Hendrix passed away July 31, 2010, at the age of 76. He was a lifelong resident of Molino.
In 1968, Wilbur Hendrix and his wife Carolyn founded Hendrix Lawn and Cycle and Hendrix Service Center. Together, they owned and operated the successful, community-minded business for over 38 years.
“A man of God and family, Wilbur will be remembered by those who knew him best as someone who worked with his hands his entire life. Wilbur was creative and inventive, able to find ingenious solutions, and could always be looked to when something needed repairing, even after his fingers and wrist had to be repaired. He was always willing to help anyone in need of finding a problem with automobiles, lawn mowers and equipment, even traveling strangers who needed help. He never turned his back on anyone who needed his help,” according to his obituary.
Guard Unit Begins Deployment Monday For Afghanistan
January 2, 2011
An area guard troop is preparing for deployment to Afghanistan on Monday
The 1165th Military Police Company from Fairhope and Brewton will leave Monday for about a month of training in Mississippi before deploying to Camp Eggars in Kabul Afghanistan to provide security. Camp Eggers is near the Presidential Palace and the U.S. Embassy.
Members of the 1165th have previously been deployed to Iraq twice and to the Olympics in Salt Lake City. They also assisted in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
Nearly 200 members of the 1165th Military Police Company based in Fairhope are being deployed, including about 25 based at Brewton’s Don Bryant National Guard Armory.
There will be a public farewell ceremony at noon Monday at the Fairhope Civic Center, 161 North Section Street.
Featured Recipe: Pineapple Sweet and Sour Chicken
January 2, 2011
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a “Pineapple Sweet and Sour Chicken”, a simple dish with exotic flavors that will appeal to most any palette.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
2010 Persons Of The Year: Royce Ward
January 2, 2011
NorthEscambia.com is naming Persons of the Year for 2010 each day this week.
Royce Ward of Walnut Hill has posthumously been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
Ward was a longtime member of the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, and served as the group’s president when the club organized the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1965. A farmer and cattleman, he also served four years in the U.S. Navy achieving the rank of lieutenant. He was a graduate of Ernest Ward High School and the University of Florida. Ward was a lifelong member of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Ward passed away August 25, 2010.
WEAR 3 To Remain On Cable In Century, Cantonment For Now
January 1, 2011
Cable television customers in Century and Cantonment won’t be losing WEAR 3 — at least for the next couple of weeks.
Bright House Networks and the Sinclair Broadcast Group reached a last minute deal late Friday that will keep WEAR 3 on the cable systems in Century and Cantonment until January 14. In the meantime, negotiations toward a long-term retransmission agreement will continue between the two companies.
“We will continue to work toward a fair deal for our customers,” said Bright House CEO Steve Miron.
“We intend to continue our good-faith negotiations during this period with the intent of finalizing a longer-term agreement at pricing that reflects the higher cost of programming we are faced with today,” said Barry Faber, executive vice president and general counsel of Sinclair.
Nationwide, the talks affect just over 30 television stations that are owned or operated by Sinclair.
SEC Bowl Game Schedule
January 1, 2011
Here’s a look at this season’s remaining SEC team bowl games:
Tuesday, Jan. 4
Allstate Sugar Bowl
#8 Arkansas (10-2, 6-2) vs. #6 Ohio State (11-1)
Louisiana Superdome (72,000) • New Orleans, La. • ESPN • 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Arkansas in bowl games: 12-22-3 • Arkansas in Sugar Bowl: 1-4 (1962, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1980)
Friday, Jan. 7
AT&T Cotton Bowl
#11 LSU (10-2, 6-2) vs. #17 Texas A&M (9-3)
Cowboys Stadium (71,167) • Arlington, Texas • FOX • 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
Series Record: LSU leads, 26-20-3 • Last Meeting: A&M, 33-17 (Sept. 2, 1995 at College Station, Texas)
LSU in bowl games: 21-19-1 • LSU in Cotton Bowl: 2-1-1 (1947, 1963, 1966, 2003)
Saturday, Jan. 8
BBVA Compass Bowl
Kentucky (6-6, 2-6) vs. Pittsburgh (7-5)
Legion Field (71,594) • Birmingham, Ala. • ESPN • 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Kentucky in bowl games: 8-6 • Kentucky in BBVA Compass Bowl: First appearance
Monday, Jan. 10
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
#1 Auburn (13-0, 8-0) vs. #2 Oregon (12-0)
University of Phoenix Stadium (73,000) • Glendale, Ariz. • ESPN • 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Auburn in bowl games: 20-13-2 • Auburn in BCS National Championship Game: First appearance