Drought Gets Worse, Rain Could Come By Sunday
October 23, 2010
Drought conditions continue to worsen across the North Escambia area, but next week’s weather forecast holds a bit of hope for rain.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map published Thursday, most of the area is in a severe drought, while the western half of Escambia County, Ala. into Baldwin and Mobile counties are experiencing an extreme drought.
There is a chance of some relief beginning Sunday — there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms for late Sunday afternoon and Sunday night, with a 60 percent chance of rain continuing for Monday.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is published by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln using a variety of climatic data.
Prep Football Roundup
October 23, 2010
Here’s a look at football scores from across the area:
Florida
Northview 34, Jay 0
Tate 22, Milton 19
Pine Forest 34 Pace 17
Catholic 24 Walton 19
Choctaw 38 Washington 31
Navarre 51 Escambia 7
Freeport 39 Bozeman 19
Baker 20 Holmes County 12
South Walton 41 Sneads 14
Alabama
Flomaton 48 Choctaw Co. 6
T.R. Miller 48 Catholic 35
Fort Dale 42 Escambia Academy 20
Saraland 27 W.S. Neal 20 (Thursday game)
Escambia County 35 Monroe 14 (Thursday game)
Tate Aggies Get District Win Over Milton
October 23, 2010
The Tate Aggies beat the Milton Panthers 22-19 in a District 1-4A game Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium.
The Aggies took the lead less than two minutes into the game on a 53-yard run from Tadarryl Carmichael. The two point conversion failed, 6-0. Milton turned the tables with a TD and a good kick for Panthers lead by one, but the Aggies scored again with a 1-yarder from Ladarian Young. Young was in for the two pointer, 14-7 Aggies.
Milton had the only score of the second quarter with a 37-yard pass for a touchdown. The kick failed, and the Aggies held on to a 14-13 halftime lead.
Tate scored again in the third with a 23-yard pass from David Moorhead to Alex Westergreen and good two point conversion by Carmichael. Milton had the only score of the fourth on a 15-yard pass, but they missed their two point attempt for a 22-19 Aggies win.
Chiefs Beat The Royals (With Photo Gallery)
October 23, 2010
The Northview Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals 34-0 Friday night in Bratt.
For a complete game photo gallery, click here.
For Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley, it was a chance to try a few new tricks, including running a spread offense more than usual.
“We did some different things tonight; at times we did it well offensively and times we had some mistakes. We’ve got to come back next week and be better and correct the mistakes that we had,” he said.
“I knew there would be mistakes the first time out, Wheatley said. “We had a couple guys be in the wrong spot, but we are going to get that corrected and be a better football team for it.”
The Chiefs scored early against their rival Royals. With 8:19 to go in the first quarter, Roderick Woods put Northview on the board. A good kick, and NHS was up 7-0. The Chiefs would strike again with 1:19 in the first quarter with a Montaio Mitchell touchdown and a good kick from Lance Bushaw.
The Chiefs took their 14-0 lead into the second quarter when Bushaw had a 40-yard field goal with 8:10 on the clock, 17-0.
Woods added a 72-yard touchdown seconds into the third quarter. A good point after, and the Chiefs lead expanded to 24-0. But Northview was not done, adding a 49-yard touchdown run from Mitchell in the third an another Bushaw field goal in the fourth for their 34-0 win.
For a complete game photo gallery, click here.
The Chiefs (6-1, 5-1) will travel to Sneads next Friday night for another important district matchup. The Jay Royals (0-7, 0-6) will host Bozeman.
With a win at Sneads next week and against Vernon at home, the Chiefs will be in the Class 1A playoffs.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Acquitted On Elder Abuse Charges
October 23, 2010
A Cantonment woman has been found not guilty on charges that she abused two elderly patients under her care.
Crystal Dawn Watts, now 29, was acquitted after a six-member Escambia County jury deliberated about an hour. She was accused of using a pillow to cover the face of an 86-year old patient in her care for approximately 30 seconds, which left the patient gasping for breath. On the same day, Watts pushed an 87-year old patient in her care at the Homestead Village Retirement Center multiple times, causing the patient to bruise, according to the Florida Attorney General’s Office said. She was fired from the facility shortly thereafter.
But Watts contended that the stories were false, created by a coworker jealous over a job promotion at Homestead Village.
If convicted on both counts, Watts would have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Day Of Caring Works On North Escambia Projects
October 23, 2010
Friday, over 100 volunteer teams took part in the annual United Way Day of Caring in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including projects at Northview High School, Jim Allen Elementary and the Cantonment Senior Center.
At Northview High School, volunteers from Exxon Mobil joined the school’s horticulture class in a campus cleanup and planted flowers.
At Jim Allen Elementary, volunteers from Publix sanded and repainted several pieces of playground equipment.
At the Cantonment Senior Center, volunteers from Gulf Power Company washed the outside of the building, painted the front porch and cleaned up the facility’s yard.
Volunteer projects across the two counties included yard work at homes of elderly or disabled residents, repair of playground equipment at children’s centers and schools, planting gardens and grounds beautification at schools and nonprofit outreach centers, and help building a Habitat for Humanity home.
Friday marked the 18th year of the United Way Day of Caring in Escambia County. There will be more than 90 projects completed in Escambia County and more than 30 projects in Santa Rosa County, with over 1,100 volunteers taking part.
Pictured top: Volunteers work to beautify the campus at Northview High School in Bratt. Pictured below: Day of Caring volunteers at Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured inset: Volunteers at the Cantonment Senior Center. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Flomaton Hurricane Homecoming Parade
October 23, 2010
The Flomaton High School Homecoming Parade rolled through Flomaton Friday afternoon.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the parade, click here.
Pictured above: The Flomaton Hurricane band marches in Friday afternoon’s homecoming parade. Pictured below: The FHS class of 2000 shows their Hurricane spirit. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Two Storage Sheds (With Photo Gallery)
October 22, 2010
Fire destroyed two storage sheds in Century early Friday afternoon.
The resident on the 400 block of Tedder Road, across from the Century Correctional Institution, told firefighters that she had been burning trash in a 55-gallon barrel that was located just a few feet away from one of the two adjacent sheds.
For a photo gallery, including photos taken before the fire department arrived, click here.
A wood frame shed had already burned to the ground by the time the fire was reported. A metal shed was heavily damaged as well.
Personnel from the prison across the road responded to the blaze when it was noticed; they reported finding the female resident of the home trying to extinguish the fire with a garden hose that had already burned into two pieces. Escambia County EMS was called to the scene to evaluate the female for smoke inhalation, but she refused transport to the hospital.
The Century, McDavid, and Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the blaze.
For a photo gallery, including photos taken before the fire department arrived, click here.
Pictured above: A wood frame shed that was located in foreground had burned to the ground by the time firefighters were called Friday afternoon. Pictured inset and below: Smoke boils from inside one of the sheds after firefighters force the door open. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ribbon Is Cut For New Company That Could Bring Hundreds Of Jobs
October 22, 2010
A ribbon cutting was held for Friday afternoon a group of new industries planned for Century that could mean up to 500 jobs, breathing life back into the old Alger-Sullivan Lumber complex that has sat idle for a number of years.
Century Lumber and Land, LLC plans is already working to renovate a portion of the old lumber mill site for new industries and new jobs.
“It’s exciting, and maybe that’s an understatement,” said Jim Craft, CEO of Century Lumber and Land.
“If this all comes out like it is planned to be, it’s going to be a shot in the arm for Century,” Mayor Freddie McCall told the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting. “It’s just unimaginable what it is going to do.”
“Escambia County is proud to have you here; we know that jobs are the most critical thing in our economy right now,” Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson said as he pledged Escambia County’s help in any manner possible to make the Century venture a success.
As dignitaries from across the area gathered for the ribbon cutting, a steady stream of people ventured onto the complex hoping to apply for a job (pictured). But according to Craft, applications will not be accepted at the Front Street location.
Applications are currently being accepted at Workforce Escarosa at 8120 North Century Boulevard.
The ribbon cutting was first tentatively set for September 18, then was delayed until October 16. Then, company officials delayed the ribbon cutting a third time until Friday while they worked to finalize financing for their ventures.
Century Lumber and Land, LLC plans to join Railmark Holdings and Milton Timber to announce a total of five ventures slated for Century.
The companies will, over a course of time, be in the business of:
- treating railroad crossties
- dry kiln treating domestic lumber for the building industry
- building and selling lumber kilns
- repairing freight railcars, railroad track and maintenance
- processing and marketing Paulownia trees as biomass fuel and wood products
In addition, officials have announced that a methane generation plant operated by Integrated Energy Partners of Orlando may locate at the Century complex. IEP had previously announced plans to locate in Jay, but the company was unable to persuade the Santa Rosa County Commission to back an industrial bond issue. IEP has asked the Century Town Council for a memorandum backing a bond issue, but that council has referred the request to their attorney for review.
Century Lumber and Land unofficially announced the ventures at a September 2 meeting of the Century Chamber of Commerce. Century Lumber and Land Manager Jim Craft said at that meeting that the operations would eventually employee 300 to 500 people within a 36 to 42 month period.
Pictured top: The ribbon is cut Friday afternoon for Century Lumber & Land’s new venture in Century. Pictured inset: A group hoping to apply for a job gathered during the ribbon cutting. Pictured below: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (left) addresses the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Late Night Mobile Home Fire Claims One Life
October 22, 2010
A mobile home fire claimed the life of a Flomaton man late Thursday night.
Firefighters said the body of Wayne Johnson, 59, was discovered in his mobile home after the blaze on Wayne Lane, near the intersection of Highway 113 and Wolf Log Road.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
A passing motorist reported the blaze about 11 p.m. According to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, the older single-wide mobile home was fully engulfed when his department arrived on scene minutes later.
Stanton said family members told first responders that Johnson, who lived alone, was in the mobile home. His body was discovered in a bathroom directly adjacent to his bedroom. The bedroom was totally destroyed by the fire.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation by the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth, and Pineview fire departments responded to the fire, along with Escambia County (Fla.) EMS, the Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office.
Stanton said Thursday night’s fire was not the first involving Johnson. He said that a few years ago, another mobile home at the location was destroyed by fire and Johnson was airlifted to the hospital with burns. That fire was ruled accidental.
The fire was the second fatal fire in the Flomaton area in less than a year. In January, Verda Mae Gandy Abrams, 91, died in the blaze at 65 Tulip Street on the Alabama/Florida line. [Read more...]
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured: A 59-year old Flomaton man died in this mobile home fire Thursday night. Pictured inset: Firefighters work to extinguish hot spots following the blaze. Pictured below: Two firefighters stand in the remnants of victim’s bedroom, which was totally gutted by the fire. The victim’s body was found in the bathroom, which in the left of the photo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
