Heaters, Donations Roll In; More Help Need For The Elderly
January 6, 2010
When the call went out for heaters and other donations to help the elderly stay warm during our unseasonably cold weather, the public responded in a big way. But the Council on Aging of West Florida still needs more help.
About 80 heaters, 30 blankets and $1,000 had been donated by late afternoon Tuesday.
“Thank goodness it has kind of balanced itself out between the number of heaters and the number of calls for help,” said Jeff Nall, vice president of marking and communications for the Council on Aging. “So far we have been able to help everyone that called, but we need to be proactive rather than reactive. The need is still there for more donations because the phones are still ringing. It has just been crazy.”
NorthEscambia.com, and WEAR 3 ran stories about the Council on Aging’s need for donations, and that, according to Nall, prompted the public to act.
“It also got a lot of elderly people to think they have made it before just fine, but we are talking about weather that is colder than we usually have lasting for a much longer period of time,” he said. “They might say “It’s been cold before, and I’ve made it a few days,” but it is so much different this time.”
Many times, Nall said, needy seniors will find alternative and unsafe means to get any kind of heat in their homes.
“They will sometimes try to heat the house with their oven,” he said. “I’ve seen flames coming out of an oven before. People need to know that heating with a stove or oven is unsafe.”
Heaters and blankets can be dropped off at any location of Council on Aging of West Florida, including 6025 Industrial Boulevard In Century from 8:30 a.m. until noon and 132 Mintz Lane in Cantonment from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Only new items can be accepted.
Financial donations can be sent to Council on Aging of West Florida, PO Box 17066, Pensacola, FL 32522-7066 or made online at www.coawfla.org.
Seniors in need of a heater, blanket or other assistance should call (850) 432-1475.
Alabama And Florida Residents Can Apply For Disaster Assistance In Atmore
January 6, 2010
Applications are being accepted in person today through Saturday at the Atmore Library for federal disaster assistance following the mid-December floods. Assistance is available to residents and business owners in Escambia County, Alabama, and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.
A disaster area declaration by the U.S. Small Business Administration following December’s floods is making federal assistance available to seven counties in Alabama and Florida.
Assistance in the form of low interest loans is available to homeowners, renters and businesses that were affected by the flooding between December 12 and December 18. Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.”
The SBA also provides mitigation funds to disaster victims up to 20 percent of the verified physical damage. These funds are designed to help borrowers pay for protective measures to minimize damages of the same kind in the future.
For small businesses, and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Interest rates are as low as 2.562 percent for homeowners and renters, four percent for businesses and three percent for non-profit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people affected by these storms and floods with the most effective and customer-focused response possible, to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with federal disaster loans,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority.”
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers will be open as follows:
- Atmore Public Library: Today – Friday, January 8 from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 9 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Escambia County Courthouse, Brewton: Monday, January 11 and Tuesday, January 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Individuals and businesses unable to visit one of the centers in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
For more information, click here for a SBA fact sheet.
The disaster declaration covers Escambia County (Ala.) and the adjacent counties of Baldwin, Conecuh, Covington and Monroe in Alabama; and the counties of Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa in Florida.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Resident Arrested On Drug Charges
January 6, 2010
A Century man was arrested at a local car wash for drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a license.
According to Escambia County deputies, Eric James Grimes, 19, of Highway 168 Century, was in a stall at a car wash on North Century Boulevard at 12:38 a.m. Deputy Scott Rivkin said in his report that he observed Grimes exit his 1999 Mercury Sable. When he approached him, Grimes acted surprised. He reportedly told Rivkin that he did not have a driver’s license. Grimes was observed placing something on the ground.
Deputies found a cigar box that tested positive for methamphetamine. They also located a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue, and a digital scale. Deputies also found a .270-caliber rifle and scope in addition to eight rounds of .270 ammunition in Grimes’ trunk.
Grimes was released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
High School Basketball: Tate, Flomaton, Jay
January 6, 2010
Escambia Academy’s girls came out strong and never looked back against Monroe Academy on Tuesday. The varsity team beat Monroe 71-19, and the EA JV team was victorious 40-9.
BOYS — VARSITY
Escambia Charter 58 Jay 45
Jay lost a non-district game to Escambia Charter 58-45.
Jay — D. Walker 5, Luke Rowel 4, Hunter Boutwell 8, Fisher 10, Conner Weekes 1, Steven Brabham 6, Tyler Prescott 10, Todd Langley 1.
Jay 12 9 12 12-45
Flomaton 59 Mobile Christian 48
The Flomaton Hurricanes picked up a home win against Mobile Christian.
Flomaton — Alex Bradley 5, Austin Patterson 8, Ryheem Dixon 14, Tee Mitchell 15, Ta-Ta Ellis 17.
Flomaton 12 11 20 16-59 13 10 8 17-48
Tate 77 Pine Forest 74
The Tate Aggies slipped past the Eagles of Pine Forest 77-74.
Tate — Jabrille Rasheed 1, Petey Jones 21, Spencer Tayhlor 1, Chris Walden 4, Tevin Brown 15, Dylan Anderson 16, Shamone Jones 13, Adam Stump 8, Whitmey Richardson 2.
Tate 12 17 18 30-77 Pine Forest 16 14 15 29-74
Escambia Academy 64 Pickens Academy 51
In recent boys basketball action, the Escambia Academy Cougars beat the Pickens Pirates, 64-51. The Cougars were led by Keaton Maher with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Escambia Academy — Michael Hippa 12, James White 7, Nate Smith 4, Keaton Maher 23, Darron McGhee 7, Brandon Goddard 5, Tanner Kirk 6.
GIRLS — VARSITY
Pine Forest 65 Tate 40
Pine Forest handed a home loss to Tate in a district game. Chelsea Hall led scoring for the Aggies with 14.
Tate — Chelsea Hall 14, Meghan Briske 12, Courtney Brown 7, Marinna Cobbs 4, Avery Cobb 3.
Tate 5 4 18 13-40 Pine Forest 13 22 16 14-65
Escambia Academy 71 Monroe Academy 19
The Escambia Academy girls slammed Monroe Academy Tuesday. EA had a 24-0 lead at the end of the first, and held Monroe to just four points in the first half for a 42-4 lead headed into the third period. Amber Huskey had 15 points, and Jordan Jaye had 11. Every player on the EA roster had points on the board.
Escambia — Amber Huskey 15, Jordan Jaye 11, Lacie Flowers 8, KayLeigh Miller 8, Kristen Matthews 6, Rachel Fuller 6, Taylor Helton 4, Samantha Lee 4, Grayson Emmons 6, Lulu McGhee 2, Paige Allen 2, Page Lancaster 2.
Escambia 24 18 20 12-74 Monroe 0 4 9 6-19
Pickens Academy 50 Escambia Academy 41
In recent girls high school varsity basketball action Saturday, Pickens downed Escambia Academy 50-41. The Cougars were paced by Jordan Jaye with 12 and Amber Huskey with 10.
Escambia — Jordan Jaye 12, Amber Huskey 10, KayLeigh Miller 3, Taylor Helton 4, Carlie Broughton 4, Rachel Fuller 4.
Escambia 13 6 7 15-41 Pickens 13 6 7 15-41
GIRLS — JV
Escambia Academy 40 Monroe Academy 9
The JV Escambia Academy Cougars beat Monroe Academy 40-9 Tuesday. Grayson Emmons led the Cougars with 16 points.
Escambia — Grayson Emmons 16, Lacie Flowers 8, Peyton Snider 6, Clare Dawe 2, Brooke McGhee 2, Paige Allen 2, Lulu McGhee 2, Page Lancaster 2.
Escambia 10 12 14 4-40 Monroe 2 4 1 2-9
Photos: A Really Cool Swing Set
January 6, 2010
A North Escambia family had one of the coolest swing sets around thanks to our winter weather. An overnight temperature in the upper teens and a sprinkler left on all night created this wintry scene with huge icicles Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Hunter Kinnard climbs a very frozen rope ladder. Submitted photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
For more photos of the swing set and all of its icicles, click here.
Do you have interesting photos that you would like to share with our readers? Email the photos with a description to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion on our site.
Frozen Fountain Photos
January 6, 2010
Our daily look at the Century Care Center’s frozen fountain continued on Wednesday with a solid block of ice.
Thousands of people have been watching our daily photos of the ice build up in the Nona Hightower Fountain at Century Care Center. Our first photos on Monday showed a few icicles; by Wednesday morning the fountain was finally completely frozen.
“No water is flowing at this time from the pineapple (at the top of the fountain),” Linda Jackson, activities assistant at the Century Care Center, said Wednesday morning. “It’s just that cold!”
Pictured above the Nona Hightower Fountain at Century Care Center Wednesday morning. Pictured below: The fountain Monday morning. Submitted photos by Linda Jackson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Church To Hold Pinewood Derby
January 6, 2010
A Pinewood Derby is coming to Bratt, and you are invited to participate.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will hold its “nearly annual” Pinewood Derby on the afternoon of Saturday, January 30. The race is open to boys and girls age three and up, men and women.
Workshops will be held at the church each Wednesday night in January from 6:00 until 7:00 to provide assistance is shaping, sanding, weighting, painting and wheeling the cars.
“Parents are not only welcome but are encouraged to attend with your children and even build your own car,” Pete Amerson, race organizer, said.
There will be two race divisions. The main even will be for children age 3 to sixth grade who build their car in the workshops. The second event will be for youth in grades seven and up, adults, and any children that take their car away from the workshops.
“While both events have a 5-ounce maximum weight limit, the secondary event allows for more flexible building, although this still does not allow the car to have any type of self-propelled operation or interfere with the track or other racers,” Amerson said.
A registration fee of $7 will include everything needed to build and race your car.
For more information or to enter the Bratt Pinewood Derby, contact Pete Amerson at (850) 324-6923 or email PeteAmerson@frontiernet.net.
Pictured top: The last “almost annual” Pinewood Derby at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Pictured inset: Two Pinewood Derby cars. Pictured below: The track. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five Area Teens Injured In Alabama Wreck
January 5, 2010
Five area teens were injured in a single vehicle accident Monday night near Wallace, Alabama.
The accident happened on Hammac Road, a dirt road south of Wallace. Authorities say the driver of pickup truck, identified as Brandon Mathis of Century, lost control about 7 p.m. The vehicle then overturned. Reports indicated that none of the five teens in the truck were wearing seat belts.
Mathis and the four passengers in the truck — Mitchell Crutchfield of Flomaton, Brittney Roley of Bluff Springs, Logan Hammond of Century and a minor age female — were transported by ambulance to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton. None of the injuries were considered life threatening.
Family members said Hammond was transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola early Tuesday morning where he underwent several hours of surgery for a badly broken arm and a crushed elbow.
The accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Wallace, Alabama, is located north of Flomaton, just south of I-65.
Deputies Release Sketch Of Walmart Rape Suspect
January 5, 2010
Escambia County deputies have released a composite sketch of a suspect that kidnapped a woman from an Escambia County Walmart before raping her.
The incident was reported about 11:25 last Friday night in the parking lot of the Ensley Walmart on Highway 29. The woman told deputies that she was having car trouble in the parking lot when the man put a knife to her throat and forced her into the back of a van. She was driven a short distance before her attacker raped her. She was driven back to Walmart and dropped off, told that she would be killed if she reported the attack to authorities.
The suspect is a white male believed to be 30 to 40 years old. He had brown hair with some red mixed it, and a mustache and goatee. The suspect had a thin build, smelled like cigarettes and had sunken cheeks, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
“The suspect vehicle is believed to be a newer model dark blue minivan, most likely borrowed due to the suspect being unfamiliar with the controls,” Roy said. “The vehicle is possibly a Ford Windstar, Dodge Caravan or a Chrysler Town and Country with windows throughout.”
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (850) 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP (7867).
Pictured: A composite drawing of the suspect in a New Year’s Day rape and kidnapping. Submitted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Seeks $7 Million In Disaster Grants, Including $600K for Century
January 5, 2010
Escambia County is applying for a $7 million disaster recover grant to be used by Escambia County, the Town of Century and the City of Pensacola.
Century’s $600,000 portion of the grant funds, if approved, will be used to upgrade a drainage ditch that serves primarily the Jefferson and Pond Street areas. The town does not currently have a dedicated easement for the ditch, so the town’s ability to maintain it has been hampered. As a result, the ditch has grown up with heave vegetation and debris from storms, and as a result it is difficult for the town to maintain it with hand labor and small equipment. The goal of the project will be to secure easements for the adjacent property owners and to clear and reshape the ditch to improve it so that it can be better maintained in the future.
The design, engineering and project management portion of the Century project is estimated to cost $100,382, and the construction phase is estimated to cost $499,618. Escambia County will manage and complete the project. Century will not be required to provide any matching funding for the project.
$1.05 million of Escambia County’s portion of the grant, if approved, would partially fund the acquisition of the Maison Deville Apartments, which were damaged by Hurricane Ivan and further impacted by Hurricane Gustav. The 144-unit complex would be replaced by 25 unis of mixed income rental housing. $2.85 million would be used by the county for a new homeless service center that would house the Waterfront Rescue Mission and provide homeless services.
Pensacola’s $3 million will be used for low and moderate income housing improvements.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Grants totaling $81 million are available statewide under funding approved by Congress for areas declared disaster areas due to 2008 storms. Escambia County was one of six counties in Florida declared disaster areas due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav.