Century May Get Half Million Drainage Grant For Jefferson, Pond Street Areas
December 10, 2009
The Town of Century may receive a half million dollar grant from Escambia County for two drainage projects.
The projects would include drainage improvements in the Jefferson Street and Pond Street areas. Escambia County may provide the funding under a mitigation program, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
Improvements would include widening drainage ditches and increasing easements to 30 feet — allowing the town to use heavy equipment rather than prisoners to keep the ditches clean and the stormwater flowing.
“This would be really good news for the people,” Century Councilman Gary Riley said.
More Charges Filed Against Couple Accused Of Abusing Horses
December 10, 2009
Additional charges have been filed against a North Escambia couple arrested on animal cruelty charges in October.
Robin Brownie Floyd, 53, and Lynn Livingston Floyd, 42, both of Gilmore Road, Century, pleaded not guilty in November to three counts each of confinement of animals without sufficient food or water. Now, prosecutors have filed five additional first degree misdemeanor animal cruelty charges against each Floyd.
Panhandle Equine Rescue received a tip that several thin horses were being moved by the Floyds to Santa Rosa County, according to PER President Diane Lowery. She said the horses were being transferred to a Santa Rosa County residence and then moved out of state to a horse rescue in Georgia. Lowery said that when PER investigated in September, they found three emaciated horses still on the Gilmore Road property. Warrants were issued, and the Floyds turned themselves in at the Escambia County Jail on October 15.
PER, Lowery said, took photos of the other horses to the State Attorney’s office and requested that there more more counts, “since every horse that suffered neglect mattered”.
A public defender has been appointed for Robin Floyd after the court found him to be indigent. Lynn Floyd has hired a private attorney. They are due back in court in early January, and their jury trials are scheduled to begin January 19. Both remain free on $6,000 bond each.
Corrections Officer Arrested On Drugs For Sex Charges
December 10, 2009
A corrections officer at the Escambia County Road Prison in Cantonment was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly offered to provide Xanax to an inmate in exchange for oral sex.
Lawrence Thomas Vieitez, 49, was charged with procuring for prostitution, sexual battery and possession of a barbiturate. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released on $25,000 bond.
After the inmate complained about the correction officer’s advances, road prison officials filed a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The inmate with fitted with a listening device while working Tuesday under the supervision of Vieitez .
The sheriff’s office reports that a deputy was able to listen in as Vieitez offered to exchange the Xanax for oral sex. Vieitez reportedly went home to retrieve the Xanax. When he returned and that inmate stated that he received the Xanax, Vieitez was arrested.
Vieitez has been placed on administrative leave without pay. He is scheduled to appear at an arraignment hearing on December 30.
The Escambia County Road Prison is operated by Escambia County; it is the only county-operated road camp in Florida.
Area Football Players Honored With Challenger Awards
December 10, 2009
Several North Escambia area football players were among those honored Monday night at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Banquet.
John Sellars from Northview High School, Abe Hutcheon from Tate High School, Andrew Polk from Jay High School, Brian Ross from Flomaton High School and Jon Dean from Escambia Academy each received one of the 22 Challenger Awards presented by the FCA.
One Challenger Award is presented per team, chosen by a secret ballot with all players voting. The player must exemplify Christian values, sportsmanship and academic achievement.
The 41st annual event, held at the Pensacola Civic Center, hosted members of 22 football teams from across South Alabama and Northwest Florida, including the Northview Chiefs. About 1,200 people attended the annual event.
Alabama Crimson Tide freshman football star Trent Richardson, an Escambia High School graduate, was on hand to meet the players.
Driver Hits Downed Tree, No Injuries
December 9, 2009
No one was injured when they collided with a tree downed during overnight storms that moved through North Escambia.
The accident happened when a driver ran into a tree that was down across Highway 168 at Shaw Road near Byrneville.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was called to the scene to remove the tree from the highway. The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the accident.
No ECAT Strike…For Now
December 9, 2009
The union that represents local ECAT bus drivers has voted not to strike over missed raises — as long those raises happen next year.
Drivers for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) voted in November to strike. The members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1395 are in a labor dispute with Veolia Transportation, the private company that runs ECAT for the county.
The issue is a 4.54 percent pay raise that the transportation union says is guaranteed in their contracts. But Escambia County won’t pony up the $225,000 citing a lack of funds.
The bus drivers voluntarily agreed in 2007 to skip raises on the promise of the 4.5 percent pay increase this year.
Now, the drivers’ union has voted not to strike, if they get a 4.5 percent raise in October, 2010. The drivers also want to see an improvement in their retirement plan
Town Of Century Approves $44 Million In Funding For High Rise Apartments, Charter School
December 9, 2009
The Town of Century has signed off on $44 million in financing for two apartment complex renovations and to construct a charter school expansion in Miami.
The Century Town Council’s approval for the bond issues came as a member of the Capital Trust Agency, an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA.
Century approved three finance ordinances. The first, for up to $15 million, will fund an American Opportunity Foundation, Inc. project to renovate the T.M. Alexander Apartments in Miami. The second will provide AOF $18 million in financing for renovations of the low income Civic Tower Apartments (pictured above) in Miami, and the third will finance the expansion of the Miami Community Charter School, Inc. from a K-8 to a K-12 school for $11 million.
If all of the finance bonds are issued at full amount by CTA, Century will receive $15,400 for their approval signatures. Since the inception of the CTA partnership between Century and Gulf Breeze in 1999, Century has received $468,000 in fees on 17 projects.
The council was quick to approve the two apartment projects. But when presented the charter school project by town attorney Matt Dannheisser, there was obvious hesitancy over the $11 million in funding from a council that controls an annual budget of just $4.5 million.
“I don’t know…” Council member Sharon Scott said before pausing and not continuing her comment.
Century lost their last school when Carver/Century K-8 School was closed and combined this year with Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle. There have been some unofficial discussions about forming a charter school in the town.
After the council approved the Miami charter school funding, Dannheisser presented the council with contact information for the school.
“They may be able to provide you a head start if that’s something (a charter school) that the council wants,” he said.
The $44 million in funding does not come from the Town of Century or the City of Gulf Breeze. It comes from funds belonging to CTA, which has funded projects with Century’s approval ranging from a Seminole Indian resort and a health care facility in Kansas.
Dannheisser said that the CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities.
Pictured above: Century has signed off on a $18 million bond issue to renovate these apartments in Miami. Photo courtesy Google for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Family Named As Alabama’s Young Farm Family Of The Year
December 9, 2009
Gaylan and Angie Shelly of Atmore were chosen as the 2009 Outstanding Young Farm Family during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 88th annual meeting Monday night in Mobile.
The Shellys, who have five children and nearly 2,400 acres of row crops, were selected to compete for the award after being named the Outstanding Young Farm Family in the Cotton Division earlier this year.
The Shellys have a diversified farm that includes cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat – some of which is located in North Escambia. They increased their profit margin over the last couple years by adding grain storage facilities and a trucking business, Gaylan said.
”We built the grain storage bins so we could have more control over when we sold our grain,” Gaylan said. “Then the trucking made sense to me because it always seemed like I was waiting on a truck when my grain needed hauling.”
Gaylan said selling corn to poultry feed companies has allowed him to receive additional money for his corn. “It allows me to cut out the middle man when I sell my corn directly to the end user,” he said. “They’re happy with my corn, and I get more money for my corn. That makes me happy.”
As the 2009 Outstanding Young Farm Family, the Shellys will participate in many activities promoting Alabama agriculture during the coming year.
The Shellys will represent Alabama at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Seattle, Wash., Jan. 10-13, and will receive the use of a 2010 Dodge Journey, $500 cash from Dodge, a John Deere Gator courtesy of the Federal Land Bank of Alabama, a new computer package from ValCom Wireless/CCS Technology Centers located in Abbeville and Dothan, Ala., and several other prizes.
Gaylan, 35, grew up in a farm family in Escambia County. He still farms with his dad, Arlan, and although they aren’t partners, Gaylan said they share equipment and often help each other on their respective farms.
Both Gaylan and Angie said they like their children growing up on a family farm. Angie, 32, home schools the older children and is president of the local home school association. She said she particularly likes cotton harvest time when the weather is cooler and the children can play in the cotton.
For Gaylan, any time he can spend with his family is special, but admits with five children, they have to take turns going to work with him in the fields. “I guess my favorite time of year on the farm is when I spray the crops,” he said. “That’s the time of year I can look over everything and really see how the crops are doing.”
This past year, the entire family got into the farming business. The corn planter skipped a large area in the middle of a field, and Gaylan said it would have been a shame to waste the fertilizer that already had been applied.
“So the kids planted watermelons,” Angie said. “It was a great experience for them and for all of us really. They ended up with lots of watermelons. We took them to the farmers market and the kids sold lots of them. They sold some in the front yard where they had homemade signs. They were pretty good salesmen really, and they’re already planning to do it again next year.”
Gaylan said he wasn’t surprised by how much the children liked the experience of growing and selling their own crop. “They’ve already got farming in their blood,” he said with a smile.
Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers Director Brandon Moore said the awards program seeks to honor families like the Shellys, not just for what they are doing, but also for the inspiration they provide other farmers around the state.
“The Shellys exemplify all that is good about agriculture,” Moore said. “They not only run their farm well, but truly are examples of how farming is more than just a job, it is a wonderful way of life.”
Pictured: Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry A. Newby presents the Outstanding Young Farm Family Award to the Shelly family of Atmore in Escambia County. The Shellys were awarded a new John Deere Gator by the Federal Land Bank Association of Alabama. From left are, Newby, the Shelly family (Gaylan Shelly with Breah, Drew, Kaleigh, Angie, Alana and Valen) and sponsors Doug Thiessen and Ben Gore of the Federal Land Bank of South Alabama. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Signs As Kicker For Washington Redskins
December 9, 2009
The Washington Redskins have signed a Tate High School graduate as their new place kicker.
The Redskins announced Tuesday that they have signed place kicker Graham Gano to the roster and released Shaun Suisham. Gano, a rookie out of Florida State, was with the Baltimore Ravens in preseason but lost the kicking job to Steve Hauschka. Gano, 22, was born in Arbroath, Scotland, and grew up in Pensacola, graduating from Tate High School in 2005 as an All-America First-Team selection by USA Today.
Gano was with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League earlier this year. He converted 14-of-16 field goals, including a league-high 53-yarder, and he also kicked the game-winner in the UFL championship game.
At Florida State, Gano won the Lou Groza Award as the league’s best kicker and exarned All-America honors during his senior season. He made 24-of-26 field goals, including 18 in a row, for the Seminoles.
Gano, 6-1 and 200 pounds, replaces Suisham, who has served as the Redskins’ kicker since December 2006. Suisham missed a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game vs. New Orleans. It proved to be a critical miss, as the Saints rallied to defeat the Redskins 33-30. Suisham had connected on 18-of-21 field goals for the Redskins in 2009.
Gano’s debut with the Redskins will be this Sunday in Oakland against the Raiders. He has a three year contract.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Your Help Needed: Christmas Care Packages For Troops In Iraq
December 9, 2009
A Molino woman is asking the North Escambia community to help her send Christmas care packages to American troops serving in Iraq.
Katie Hilburn’s fiancee, Spc. Ben Piatt, also of Molino, is two months into his tour of duty as a combat engineer in northern Iraq. He is schedule to be in Iraq until October of next year.
After hearing about the soldiers’ needs, Hilburn decided to send the care packges to Piatt’s unit in Iraq during the Christmas season.
“There are a lot of soldiers who don’t have family or have anyone to send them stuff, and I want to make sure that they do get stuff this year,” Hilburn, 20, said. “I am asking the community to go to Cole’s Barbershop and donate supplies.”
The supplies will be collected at Cole’s until Monday, December 14. They will then be shipped to Piatt, 21, and his unit in Iraq. Cole’s Barbershop is located next to Fran’s Country Grill on Highway 29.
Items being collected include:
Body Care
Mens liquid body soap
Shampoo
Baby wipes
Q-tips
Shaving cream
Razors
Foot powder
Chap stick
Food
Ramen noodles (in the cup)
Beef jerky
Cereal bars
Peanuts
Cookies
Candy bars
Crystal Light (peach tea, lemon tea)
Popcorn (microwavable)
Saltine crackers
Peanut butter
Fruit cups
Macaroni and cheese (in a cup)
Miscellaneous
Playing cards
DVD’s
Magazine’s (hunting, fishing, guns, sports)
Games
International phone cards
Pictured top: Katie Hilburn and her fiancee Spc. Ben Piatt prior to his deployment to northern Iraq. Pictured inset: Spc. Piatt in Iraq. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.