Good News At The Pump
August 29, 2010
Gas prices nationwide have dropped to an 11-month low on news from the Energy Department that U.S. stockpiles are higher than forecast. That has translated to lower prices at the pumps in the North Escambia area.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola market is at $2.55, down from $2.65 one month ago.
AAA is forecasting the lower price at the pump will bring about a four percent increase in Labor Day travel in Florida next weekend.
Pictured: The price was a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.48 at this station at the corner of West Roberts Road and Highway 29 earlier this week. But Saturday, the price had dropped another penny. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Alfredo Sauce Spinach Pizza
August 29, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is an Alfredo Sauce Spinach Pizza that the whole family with love. It’s a homemade version of a restaurant favorite with a special blend of spinach, Alfredo sauce and cheese.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Escambia United Way Announces ‘Big Hairy Goal’
August 29, 2010
The United Way of Escambia County has announced its “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” and a new three-year strategic plan.
“Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal, also known as our vision statement, is to be a recognized leader in mobilizing the community to achieve bold goals in education, financial stability and health,” said Jean Norman, United Way of Escambia County president and CEO.
United Way of Escambia County’s staff and Board of Directors earlier this year developed and adopted a new three-year strategic plan to strategize for further growth and more focused emphasis on the three priorities. The annual meeting allowed United Way to thank community partners and volunteers for their increasing support and participation. During the height of the nation’s worst economic recession in decades, financial giving to United Way of Escambia County was up four percent over the previous year.
The following awards were presented to three individuals and one partner non-profit agency for exemplary support of the United Way mission during the past year:
- Rayell Irish “Color a Brighter World” Award: Presented to Marsha Travis, director of residential programs, FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, for her dedication over 26 years to saving and changing lives. This award is in memory of Rayell Irish, a former United Way employee and active philanthropist.
- Partner Agency of the Year: Presented to The Salvation Army for outstanding partnership to meet basic needs and address the reasons for the need in the first place.
- United Way Service Award: Presented to Michael Thornton, managing partner of Brown Thornton Pacenta & Company, P.As, for outstanding service and leadership as champion of the United Way Financial Stability Coalition.
- Distinguished Community Service Award: Presented to Skip Housh, advocacy chair for United Way of Escambia County, for passionate and persistent advocacy on behalf of children. The Distinguished Community Service Award is the highest honor the United Way of Escambia County Board of Directors can bestow.
Doris Young, vice president of Cox Media and the 2010-2011 United Way Board of Directors Chair, ended the group’s annual meeting by challenging all in attendance to step up their efforts and become year-round ambassadors for United Way and its partner agencies. To become involved with United Way or learn more, call (850) 434-3157 or e-mail info@unitedwayescambia.org.
Driver Avoids Falling Tree, Snaps Power Pole
August 28, 2010
A driver attempting to avoid colliding with a falling tree clipped a power pole Saturday evening in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 6:30 on Highway 95A about a quarter mile south Archer Road. The driver, who was not injured, told authorities that he was trying to avoid the falling tree when he hit the power pole, snapping the pole. The collision brought down power lines on both Highway 95A and Pauline Street.
An unknown number of Gulf Power customers lost power as the pole was being repaired.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Dogs Allegedly Abandoned By Fireman Have Been Found In Good Shape
August 28, 2010
The three dogs allegedly abandoned this week by a Century fireman have been found.
The dogs were found on Highway 4 near Bratt Road, not far from Northview High School, and returned to their owners. The owner said all three were checked out by a veterinarian and are fine.
The fireman told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he abandoned the dogs on Highway 4A at Pine Barren Road.
For more on this story, click here.
ECUA’S New Wastewater Plant Scheduled To Begin Operations Monday
August 28, 2010
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s new Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment is scheduled to begin operations on Monday.
The first wastewater flow through the $320 million facility will come about six years after Hurricane Ivan’s devastating impact on Northwest Florida and the ECUA’s Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The CWRF has been designated as an AWT (advanced wastewater treatment) facility, meaning it will produce effluent of a very high quality, which will be disinfected to the level required for unrestricted exposure to the public.
All of the reclaimed water from the plant will be reused, eliminating any potential surface water discharge, according to ECUA. Unique safety design features were included in the state-of-the-art plant; the CWRF is constructed to withstand category 5 hurricane force winds of up to 190 mph and the site is a minimum of 50 feet above sea level, removing it from any potential flood issues.
Unlike most new construction projects of this size, the ECUA was able to complete the $320 million replacement project under budget, and on-time, in about five years. Steve Sorrell, ECUA’s executive director says, “The secret to the success of CWRF project is teamwork and a visionary Board of Directors. The ECUA board focused on the big picture and the needs of the community, putting aside political issues.
My team was allowed to manage the project’s day-to-day operation, allowing us to act with the efficiency of a private organization, keeping the process moving without having to get approvals in advance.”
ECUA engineers have already completed pressure testing and cleaning of the new transmission lines and the three new regional pumping stations. During the week of August 23, ECUA pumped clean water through the system to conduct the final process checkout.
Start-up of the CWRF will begin on Monday, August 30. It will then take a few months before the entire system is fully functional, but it’s expected that all flow will be diverted from the Main Street Plant by January 2011.
The initial start-up includes bringing “seed sludge” from other ECUA facilities to start feeding the biological treatment process, much like a bread starter, according to ECUA.
Once the treatment system is ready, wastewater flow will be diverted from the Main Street Plant and pumped to the CWRF. The rate at which the diversion flow is increased will be determined by how quickly the biological treatment is operating in its new environment at the CWRF. All reclaimed water from the CWRF will go directly to area industries — Gulf Power and International Paper — for use in their industrial processes. When not reused by industry, effluent will be disposed of on spray fields at the plant’s site.
The funding for the project came from five sources and is the largest public works project in Escambia County’s history.
“In this era of financial constraints, the project has been an economic catalyst, stimulating positive income growth and job opportunities for the Northwest Florida area,” Sorrell said.
Escambia County Tops Miller In OT; Tate Falls To West Florida; Clarke Beats Escambia Academy
August 28, 2010
Friday night was the first regular season games for Escambia County High School and Escambia Academy in Alabama, and the Tate Aggies played a little preseason football in Florida.
Escambia County 35 T.R. Miller 34 (OT)
It was a nail-biter in Atmore Friday night as the Escambia County High School Blue Devils beat the T.R. Miller Tigers 35-34 in overtime.
The Blue Devils took the lead 7-0 in the first with a five-yard run from Rico Stallworth. But Miller answered with an Anthony Herbert touchdown to even it up at 7-7 in the first. Herber scored again, and with a missed point after, the Tigers held a 13-7 lead. The Blue Devils would strike again just before the half with Chris Smith in for six for one yard out. A good extra point, and the Blue Devils were up 14-13 heading into halftime.
Stallworth added another TD in the fourth. A good extra point, the Blue Devils were back on top 21-13. The Tigers picked up a two-yard touchdown and missed the two-point conversion to make the ECHS lead 21-19 . Smith was in again with about two minutes to go in the ballgame from a couple of yards out. After a missed extra point, ECHS was on top 27-19.
But it was not over, as the Tigers scored again and made a two point conversion to tie the game 27-27 with under a minute on the clock.
In overtime, T.R. Miller drove to the one and was in for six. The kick was good, and Miller was up 34-27. The Blue Devils took possession and drove to the one. On fourth down, Stallworth was in again for a one-yard touchdown. It was Stallworth again for the two-point conversion, and the Blue Devils took the win 35-34.
For the T.R. Miller Tigers, it was their first game without Coach Donnie Rotch on the field or in the stand. Rotch, who died in a traffic crash earlier this month in Brewton, was honored by his beloved Tigers with special helmet decal.
For Escambia County High School, Friday night was the regular season coaching debut for former Northview High School Coach Mark Heaton.
Escambia County will be on the road next Friday against B.C. Rain while the T.R. Miller Tigers will travel to Bayside Academy.
West Florida 21 Tate 20
The regular season in Florida does not start until next Friday night, but the West Florida Tech Jaguars and the Tate Aggies met in a Kickoff Classic Fiday night at Woodham Middle School. The Jaguars came out on top, 21-20.
Defense was not the name of the game for either team; both teams scored on every drive before the clock ran out. Antawn Carter scored for the Jags on 76-year, 10-play drive. Then it was Tate’s turn, with quarterback Nathaniel “Thumper” Grice with a 34-yard TD run. A missed two-pointer, and the Jags were up 7-6.
The Jags drover it in again, capped by a touchdown pass from Kyle Faxlanger to Jake Morris. 14-6. It was Tate’s turn to score again, with Lorenzo Long, a running back, with a 27-yard run. On West Florida’s next drive, Faxlanger tossed to Jake Morris for another TD. The Aggies answered after a 14-play drive ending with a three-yarder running back Josh Dees. Long got the two point conversion.
Last year, the Aggies won the matchup 35-0.
The Aggies will be at Washington High School next Friday night at 7:30 in a non-district game.
Clarke Prep Academy 51 Escambia Academy 30
It was a tough night on the road for the Escambia Academy Cougars as they lost to Clarke Prep Academy 51-30. It was the first regional game of the year for the Cougars (1-1, 0-1).
The Gators had just over 500 yards on the ground in their defeat of the Cougars, who were ranked ninth in the Alabama Independent School Association going into the game.
Escambia Academy will be at home in Canoe, Ala., next Friday night as they host Jackson.
Walnut Hill Community Mourns Loss Of Royce Ward
August 28, 2010
The Walnut Hill community is mourning the loss of Royce Ward, 78.
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.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, August 29 at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Ted Bridges, Rev. LaDon Hall, Rev. James Boyd and Rev. Jerry Peebles officiating. Interment followed in theWalnut Hill Baptist Church cemetery. Visitation was held Saturday at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Pictured: Royce Ward was honored in November, 2009, by the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department for his part in organizing the agency. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Former Cop Pleads Not Guilty To Burglarizing Pharmacy With His Brother
August 28, 2010
A former Alabama cop arrested for allegedly helping his brother burglarize a pharmacy has entered a not guilty plea. The brother was arrested earlier this year at a Pensacola motel.
Matthew Kirk, 36, of Brewton was arrested August 17 after being indicted by an Escambia County (Ala.) Grand Jury. The former East Brewton Police Department lieutenant (pictured left) is charged with two counts of third degree burglary, one count of second degree theft of property and one ethics violation.
Authorities believe Kirk aided his brother in the burglary of a Fred’s pharmacy in East Brewton on March 23. Kirk was the only police officer on duty in the small Alabama town at the time the burglary occurred.
Kirk, who is free on a $100,000 bond, entered the plea in Escambia County (Ala.) Circuit Court.
The police officer’s brother, Jason Daniel Kirk, 30, of Flomaton, was arrested in April in Escambia County, Fla., with just under a half pound of illegal pills.
Members of the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at Kirk’s room at the Value Place Extended Stay hotel on Scenic Highway in Pensacola. During the search of the room, deputies found a lock box that contained quantities of Xanax, oxycodone, methadone, morphine and hydrocodone, according to the arrest report. One bag of hydrocodone weighed in excess of 200 grams (0.44 pounds), the report stated.
The room also contained sales and inventory figures for the illicit narcotics, and the key to the safe was located on Kirk’s person, deputies said. Kirk (pictured left) admitted to ownership of the narcotics, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
Investigators said at the time that they believed the pills were from the East Brewton pharmacy burglary. Jason Kirk later told authorities that his brother Matthew Kirk was his accomplice.
Matthew Kirk resigned from the East Brewton Police Department in April.
Jason Kirk remains in the Escambia County (Fla) Jail on $307,500 bond. He has entered a not guilty plea on all charges and is set for trial in September. At the time of his arrest, Jason Kirk was also charged with negotiating a $57.45 worthless check at the Southern Pit Stop, Inc. in Century. He pleaded guilty to writing the bad check and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Crash Slows Friday Highway 29 Travel
August 28, 2010
At least one person was reported injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway 29 Friday night. The accident involving a SUV and a pickup truck was reported about 10:15 p.m. on Highway 29 just north of Ten Mile Road. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
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