Library Director Asks For Public’s Support For New Molino Branch
January 22, 2010
The director of the West Florida Library is asking the public to push our local legislative delegation to work to fund a new library in Molino.
Last year, Escambia County purchased the old Molino School on Highway 95A for $400,000 for a library, community center and perhaps a museum. The county has budgeted funds toward the renovations, but additional funding is needed to complete the library.
In 2007, the county applied for a $500,000 state library construction grant. That 2007 application was ranked number two for funding among 23 applicants; but, the Florida Legislature did not fund any applicants. The county has already committed $510,408 in matching local option sales tax funds toward the $1,010,408 total library cost. The same application was again re-submitted in 2008 and ranked number three, but due to funding constraints, the Legislature did not fund any projects. The county has submitted the grant request a third time.
“This $500,000 is vitally important for the construction of the library and the furnishings inside,” Gene Fischer, director of the West Florida Library wrote in an email sent Thursday to library supporters. Fisher asked in the email that supporters contact members of the legislative delegation and encourage them to approve the funding this year.
Escambia County currently does not have a library between the Tryon Library, located on Langley Avenue a short distance from Sacred Heart Hospital, and the Century Branch Library — a distance of about 40 miles. Fischer said that library supporters have tried for 12 years to locate a library in the middle portion of the county.
“This is an opportunity to fulfill that need,” he wrote. “Please let the legislators know that this construction is not only to support formal and informal education, but it is also an economic stimulus to the ailing state construction industry.”
The grant, if awarded by the legislature, would require the county to use the facility as a library in Molino for a minimum of 20 years.
Contact information for the local legislative delegation is in the comments section below.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
the road to the crown: Meet The Girls, Part 4 With Photos
January 22, 2010
Today, it’s part four of our five part series “the road to the crown” brought to you by Tammie’s Cuttin’ Loose and Mike Newton Photography. We are following 30 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss Northview High School” for 2010.
Today we are taking a behind the scenes look at a recent practice. To see the photos, click here.
Our series “the road to the crown” will continue Saturday with more behind the scenes photos. The pageant is Saturday night at 6:30, and NorthEscambia.com will have the new Miss Northview High School and all the photos here Sunday morning.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Cop Charged With Sexually Assaulting Man
January 22, 2010
A former Flomaton cop remains in jail after he was charged with sexually assaulting a man in Pensacola.
Tracey Allen Johnson, 40, is being held in the Escambia County Jail in lieu of $17,000 bond. Johnson provided jail officials with a North Escambia address on Frank Ard Road just north of Quintette Road. Court records indicate his address to be in Loxley, Alabama.
Johnson was charged by the Pensacola Police Department with sexual assault, harassing communication, battery and stalking after an incident at a Pensacola motel. According to police reports, Johnson picked up the 33-year old male victim at a bar. Johnson then, according to the report, took the man back to a hotel room where he had sexual relations with the victim while he was passed out.
The victim told Pensacola Police that he first met Johnson in early November at the Emerald City bar, the “Gulf Coast’s premier gay/high-energy dance bar”, according to the establishment’s web site. The victim said Johnson stated that he was an Alabama State Trooper and that he had a phone that would allow him to check a person’s address, criminal warrant status and license plates. Johnson, according to Pensacola Police, is not a law enforcement officer. He did, however, work as a patrol officer for the Flomaton Police Department for less than six months in 2005.
After the incident in the motel room, the victim said he began to receive multiple text messages, telephone calls and emails from Johnson, including one message with a picture of what he claimed was Johnson’s private parts. The victim also said Johnson threatened to physically harm him and slash his tires.
Johnson denied that had he the victim’s phone number, according to the police report, until officers told him they had listened to voice messages that he had left on the victim’s phone. Johnson sent a text message, according to officers, in which he claimed to have had intercourse with the victim three times. Johnson told police that the relationship between the two men was consensual. Johnson said that after the hotel encounter, the two men even had breakfast together.
Felon Busted After Firing Shotgun In Front Yard
January 22, 2010
A convicted felon is behind bars after allegedly firing a shotgun in the front yard of his Cottage Hill home.
Derrick Jerome Phelon, 38, is charged with improperly exhibiting a firearm and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon following the incident shortly before midnight Wednesday.
Phelon was “extremely intoxicated and had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person” when deputies responded to a shots fired call on Williams Ditch Road. According to the arrest report, the incident started as an argument between Phelon and his fiancee that eventually led to him firing the shot into the air outside their home. The fiancee and her six-year old son had fled the residence before deputies arrived. They were later located unharmed by other deputies on Highway 95A near Quintette Road.
This was the second time in less than a year that Phelon was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the arrest report.
He is also facing a bad check charge. Phelon is being held in the Escambia County Jail on $21,000 bond on all three charges.
Manhunt Turns Up Empty After Attempted Robbery In Atmore
January 22, 2010
A manhunt for two attempted robbery suspects turned up empty Thursday night in Atmore
Two black males reportedly attempted to rob the Rapid Return Tax Services office on North Main Street a little before 7:00 Thursday night. One was described as wearing a dark color hoodie jacket and white shoes. The men fled the store on foot.
Atmore Police set up a perimeter and called for tracking dogs from the Fountain Correctional Facility. The suspects’ trail was tracked north of the robbery location, but no arrests were immediately reported.
High School Basketball: Northview, Jay, Flomaton
January 22, 2010
Here’s a look at Northview, Jay and Flomaton basketball action from Tuesday afternoon.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pensacola Christian 48 Northview 45
The Northview Chiefs fell to Pensacola Christian Academy 48-45 in Bratt Thursday afternoon. Lance Bushaw had 9 for the Chiefs, and Stanely Chestnut added 7. NHS will be at home against Freeport on Friday.
Northview–Lance Bushaw 9, Stanley Chestnut 7, Aaron Bellamy 6, LaDarion White 6, Colton Sims 3, Roderick Woods 2, Jake Clayton 2.
Northview 8 3 9 15-35 PCA 13 11 12 12-48
Jay 55 Flomaton 49 OT
The Flomaton Hurricanes lost to the Jay Royals Thursday in overtime. The Canes were led by Robinson and Dixon with 13 each, and the Royals were paced by Hunter Boutwell with 17.
Jay — Dakota Walker 8, Luke Rowell 9, Hunter Boutwell 17, Bugg Fischer 4, Connor Weeks 7, Steven Brabham 3, Tyler Prescott 4, Todd Laney 3
Flomaton — Alex Bradley 1, Neino Robinson 13, Phillip Lloyd 3, Austin Patterson 3, Ryheem Dixon 13, Ta-ta Ellis 6, Dalvin Craft 5.
Flomaton 10 10 10 12 7-49 Jay 7 10 9 16 13-55
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Northview 46 Pensacola Christian 27
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian Thursday afternoon 46-27. Shaniqua Jones and Angela Rodriguez had 13 each for the Chiefs. Northview jumped out to an early lead 14-7 by the end of the first quarter. PCA rallied to closed Northview’s lead to 22-19 at the half, but it was all Chiefs in the last two quarters. Northview outscored PCA 14-2 and 10-6 in the last two periods.
Northview — Sarah Killam 4, Laneicia Gomez 8, Shaniqua Jones 13, Amber McMillan 4, Angela Rodriguez 13, Miranda Burkett, Megan Ryan 3.
Northview 14 8 14 10-46 PCA 7 12 2 6-27
Flomaton 43 Jay 32
Paige Harwell led Flomaton with 24 points Thursday as the Lady Canes beat Jay 43-32.
Flomaton — Paige Harwell 24, Hoomes 1, Brittany Mallot 2, Steele 4, Williams 4, Tara Gafford 8
Jay — Ginger Jennings 5, Courtney Hammac 7, Tessa Hendricks 6, Candice Mulford 3, Danielle Skaggs 2, Amber Steadham 5, Becca Calloway 4.
F
Some Escambia Roads Closed Due To Flooding
January 21, 2010
Flooding has forced the closure of several North Escambia area roads.According to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County public information manager, the following roads are closed:
- Pineville Road – between Highway 97-A and Ryals Lane
- Occie Phillips Road – between end of pavement off Hwy 97-A and Pineville Road
- Lambert Bridge Road – from the bridge to Velor Road
- Carnley Road – dirt portion from Fannie Road to the Alabama stateline. Road washed out
- Rocky Branch Road – starting ¼ mile North of Quintette Road to end, road under 2 feet of water for approx 100 yards
- Cotton Lake Road – from last house on road going east to the river, road under water
- Hwy 196 (Barrineau Park Road) – from the Railroad Track to the Perdido River Bridge, road under water
The following roads have reopened:
- Rigby Road – between Still Road and Highway 4
- Pin Oak Lane – Highway 29 to east end
- Wingfoot Way – between Rolling Hills Road & Diamond Dairy Road
Pictured above: Rigby Road in Bratt Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Deputies Release Sketch Of Suspect In Weekend Home Depot Robbery
January 21, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released a composite sketch of the suspect in the weekend armed robbery of the Home Depot on Nine Mile Road.
At about 6:40 Sunday night, about 20 minutes before the store would normally close, a store employee said a masked man with a gun forced him into the manager’s office and ordered him to open the store’s vault. The employee was unable to open the vault.
When a manager entered the office, the gunman forced him to open the vault. The robber fled the store with an undisclosed amount of money. The store manager and the employee were left behind in the manager’s office, their hands bound with zip ties.
The gunman was described as being about 6 feet tall, about 160 pounds and in his early 40’s. He was wearing a dark gray jacket, gray Dickies band pants, black gloves with “mechanic” written on them, and gray shoes with blue stripes. He had a thin mustache.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Need Help With Your Gulf Power Bill?
January 21, 2010
After record cold in January, many North Escambia Residents are facing higher electric bills, and for many household that may cause difficulties. Gulf Power participates in several program to help customers save money on their energy bills, make their homes more energy efficient or help them get direct assistance.
Some of those programs include:
- Gulf Power participates with the Salvation Army in Project Share, a program that provides emergency assistance to those who need help with energy bills. Project Share and other non-profit programs assist the elderly, the disabled, the sick, and others experiencing financial hardship. Eligible customers can apply for Project SHARE assistance at The Salvation Army office in their county. Eligibility requirements for Project SHARE recipients are set by The Salvation Army. Gulf Power customers can donate to the program by indicating so on their power bill.
- Gulf Power offers a bill payment option called Budget Billing. Budget Billing can “levelize” monthly payments so customers can know approximately how much their bill will be each month and avoid high cost fluctuations caused by increased energy purchases during very cold or hot periods. To find out more about payment assistance, call our Customer Care Center at 1-800-225-5797 anytime, day or night.
- Gulf Power also has many programs to help customers save money by making their homes and businesses more energy efficient.
- The WAP (Weatherization Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) are federal, statewide programs that help pay energy bills for low-income households. To find out more about qualifications, contact your county’s local WAP and/or LIHEAP agency, which can be found on the Department of Community Affairs Web site at http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/liheap/index.cfm or by calling the state’s information line at 2-1-1.
Gulf Power offers the following cold weather energy tips to save money on future bills:
Temperature settings
Heating a house makes up about half of your electricity bill so set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower in the winter. Did you know that you can decrease the amount of energy you buy for heating by three percent or more for every degree below 68 degrees you set your thermostat?
Programmable thermostats are a good investment, or you can take advantage of Gulf Power’s Energy Select. It’s a program that allows customers to pay different rates for electricity during the day according to a set schedule. For only $4.95 per month you can save energy 87 percent of the time with Energy Select. The program comes with a free programmable thermostat so the homeowner controls the heating and cooling system, water heating and even pool pump to take advantage of the low price periods. It also comes with free surge protection and a system called outage alert. Outage alert will automatically notify Gulf Power of a power outage at the home.
Heating and cooling equipment
The home’s heating system is extremely important. If it’s an older, less efficient unit, upgrading to a geothermal heating and cooling system or a high efficiency air-source heat pump may be a wise choice. Contact Gulf Power at 1-877-655-4001 for a free Energy Check-Up. Let the Energy Experts show you how to save money today.
Routine maintenance
A well-maintained heating system runs more efficiently. A complete tune-up of the home heating system can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 and more, but this is a very worthwhile investment and can reduce your heating bill from 3 to 10 percent. Some companies offer regular service contracts, which are a convenience if you tend to forget system maintenance. Remember to replace the filter every month.
Ductwork
Duct leakage can account for 20 percent of the heating and cooling cost. Getting ducts sealed up should be at the top of the list for making your home energy efficient.
Insulation
Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective energy saving measures. Different types of insulation material have different R-values. The recommended level is R-38 in the attic.
Weather-stripping and caulking
Weather-strip door jambs and caulk any cracks around windows to prevent cool air from entering your home.
Window units
If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can’t be moved, put a cover over it to prevent drafts.
Humidifier
Use a humidifier to keep your home more comfortable. Adding moisture allows you to reduce the thermostat setting without feeling colder.
Other tips are available on the Energy Tips section at www.gulfpower.com, along with an extensive set of Frequently Asked Questions on energy use in the home.
Customers can get a free Energy Check-Up online or at your home with an appointment. Gulf Power energy experts will analyze your house and electricity use, and look for ways to make the house more energy efficient. Just go to www.gulfpower.com or call 1-877-655-4001.
Northview Students Plant 50 Cypress Trees For Arbor Day
January 21, 2010
Wednesday, agriscience students at Northview High School planted 50 bald cypress trees along the edge of the school’s retention pond. The trees were provided by, and planted under the supervision of, the Florida Division of Forestry in observance of Arbor Day.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.