Local Man Appointed To District 5 Seat On Marine Advisory Committee
November 29, 2009
Hudson W. Woodfin, Jr., of Barrineau Park has been appointed to the Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee by the county commission.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White recently solicited nominees for the position to the committee, which advises the commission on marine related issues in the county.
Woodfin holds a B.S. degree from the University of West Florida in Industrial Technology/Mechanical Engineering and an A.S. degree from Pensacola Junior College in Civil Engineering Technology. He is currently employed by Ascend Performance Materials as a Optimization Planner.
Woman Shoots Her First Buck: 10 Point, 209 Pounder
November 29, 2009
Melissa Hogan, 29, shot her first buck Saturday at the Black Water Hunting Club at Barnett Crossroads in Escambia County, Ala. Hogan’s buck was 10 point, 209 pounds with a 21 3/4 inch wide spread. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida High School Application Deadline Near
November 29, 2009
West Florida High School is accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year through Tuesday.
West Florida High is a magnet school open to high school students from anywhere in Escambia County. The school’s advanced technology program focuses on providing a unique, comprehensive and useful education that will lead to lifelong personal, career and professional accomplishments. West Florida’s mission is to prepare students for entry into their chosen field or higher educational pursuit through the incorporation of learning experiences and technical fields.
Students and parents may obtain applications at the middle school guidance office or in the front office of Building 1 at West Florida High School.
For further information, please call Lori Anderson at 941-6221, extension 2188.
Satsumas Available From Davisville Man’s Orchard
November 29, 2009
A local man is selling the fruits of his labor — satsumas from his orchard.
Jimmie Davis has 67 satsuma trees in his three-year old orchard in the Davisville community. Some of the individual trees are five or six years old. The satsumas, which are similar to a mandarin orange, are for sale.
To purchase the satsumas, call (850) 327-6711 or stop by 9941 Highway 97.
Pictured above: Jimmie Davis of Davisville with one of his satsuma trees. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Century Wreck
November 28, 2009
There were no injuries in a Century accident that left a power pole on the ground Saturday afternoon.
The accident happened about 1:00 on Old Flomaton Road near Campbell Road. Escambia River Electric Cooperative was called to repair the downed pole.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the accident.
ECAT Bus Drivers May Strike Over Pay Raise
November 28, 2009
Escambia County public transportation bus drivers may go on strike this week.
Drivers for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) voted last week to strike as early as this week. 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.
The union will meet Tuesday to decide what date they might start their strike. Government employees are forbidden to strike in Florida, but since the bus drivers are employees of Veolia, a private company, they are allowed to strike.
ECAT runs one route in North Escambia, with six-day a week bus service to and from Pensacola, Cantonment, Molino and Century.
Gas Prices: Thanksgiving Weekend Travel More Expensive This Year
November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving weekend travel was more expensive this year than last, with the average price of gas up nearly a dollar over last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $2.60 during the Thanksgiving weekend, up from $1.78 last year. But the price is still much better than two years ago when it was $3.04 per gallon.
Around North Escambia, that gallon of gas ranged from $2.55 to $2.64 in an informal survey.
AAA projected 38.4 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled.
The number of travelers by automobile was expected to be 33.2 million in 2009 compared to 32.5 million last year; an increase of 2.1 percent. The number of travelers by air was expected be 2.3 million compared to 2.5 million in 2008; a decline of 6.7 percent. The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, was expected to be 2.9 million compared to 2.8 million last year, an increase of 1.2 percent, AAA said.
Last year, Thanksgiving weekend travel dropped a precipitous 25.2 percent in the wake of the ongoing housing and financial crisis. This year’s expected increase in travel reflects improved consumer confidence from one year ago, better financial market performance and a growing sense among many consumers that the worst of the global economic crisis is behind us, AAA said.
“Although far too many Americans remain unemployed or under other financial stress, AAA’s projected increase in Thanksgiving travel from one year ago is another hopeful sign that economic conditions are stabilizing and improving in some areas. We can also be thankful the gradual recovery we have been seeing in the U.S. travel industry since the start of the summer is continuing,” said AAA’s director of Travel Services, Glen MacDonell.
Pictured: Regular unleaded gas was $2.59 per gallon Saturday at a station on Highway 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Salvation Army Needs Christmas Help
November 28, 2009
The Salvation Army in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties is seeking people to adopt a child or a family for the Christmas season.
“Instead of buying a gift for someone who has everything, adopt an angel in their honor,” said Yvonne Warthen Christmas coordinator for the Salvation Army.
People interested in providing support to a struggling family through the program have until December 10th to sign up. They can do so by calling (850) 432-1501 ext. 13 or emailing escarosa@uss.salvationarmy.org. Callers should denote the sex and number of children or the size of the family they want to sponsor.
Staff will provide the sponsors with their recipient family’s gift request list. The families’ identities will remain confidential, though sponsors will know the ages and genders of its family members.
The large number of unmatched children and families results from the economic downturn and a declining supply of jobs, said Warthen.
Angel Trees are located at all Members First Federal Credit Unions can be faxed or emailed from The Salvation Army’s office.
Deer Season: What You Need To Know
November 28, 2009
We are in the four-day Thanksgiving weekend deer season, and here are some tips and reminders from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers the following tips and reminders.
After two tree stand hunting deaths in the area, the FWC is urging hunters using a tree stand to wear a safety harness. Read that story here.
The general gun season comes in Thanksgiving Day and lasts four days through November 29. Two weeks later, the season reopens December 12 and runs through February 17.
The highly anticipated antlerless deer season, often called “doe week,” is December 19-25.
During doe week, the daily bag limit’s one buck and one doe, or two bucks. You may not take two does in one day like you may during archery season, and spotted fawns are never legal game. And by the way, WMAs do not have an antlerless deer season.
Hunters can take bucks having at least one antler 5 inches or longer. On private lands, the daily bag limit for deer is two.
Fall turkey season in Northwest Florida is November 26-29 and December 12 – January 17. Only bearded turkeys and gobblers are legal game, and you must have a $5 turkey permit to hunt them. The bag limit’s one bird per day, and a total of two during the archery, crossbow, muzzleloading gun and fall turkey seasons combined.
Shooting hours for deer, turkeys, quail and gray squirrels is a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. All legal firearms, muzzleloaders, bows, crossbows and handguns are legal for taking these resident game animals during the general gun, antlerless deer, fall turkey, and quail and gray squirrel seasons.
The first thing you need to do is pick up a $17 Florida resident hunting license. Nonresidents pay $46.50 for a 10-day license or $151.50 for 12 months.
If you plan to hunt one of Florida’s many wildlife management areas (WMAs), you’ll also need a $26.50 management area permit, but don’t forget to study the brochure for the specific area you plan to hunt, because dates, bag limits and rules differ greatly from area to area.
You can buy your license and permits over the telephone by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA or online at www.wildlifelicense.com/fl. Just have your credit card ready. You also can purchase them from tax collectors’ offices and most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies.
Northwest Florida Hunting Season Dates
(not applicable on wildlife management areas)
Archery Oct. 17 – Nov. 15
Deer-dog training Oct. 31 – Nov. 19
Crossbow Nov. 30 – Dec. 6
Muzzleloading gun Nov. 20-22 & Feb. 18-28
General gun Nov. 26-29 & Dec. 12 – Feb. 17
Antlerless deer Dec. 19-25
Fall turkey Nov. 26-29 & Dec. 12 – Jan. 17
Quail and gray squirrel Nov. 14 – March 7
Bobcat and otter Dec. 1 – March 1
Spring turkey March 20 – April 25
Wild hogs, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers and coyotes may be taken year-round.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except during spring turkey season when shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset on private lands.
For hunting regulations and dates on wildlife management areas, click the following links:
For other wildlife management area regulations, click here.
For complete Florida hunting information, click here.
Information courtesy Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
No Serious Injuries In Friday Morning Highway 97 Wreck
November 27, 2009
Two people received minor injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident Friday morning in Walnut Hill.
The accident happened on Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road. The Florida Highway Patrol says Benjamin Hess, 19, of Atmore, failed to negotiate a curve while headed north on Highway 97. His 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix went airborne over a driveway and overturned in a ditch before coming to rest upright. Hess and his passenger, Trey Lambert, of Atmore, were not seriously injured. Both were wearing their seat belts. They refused to be transported to the hospital.
The FHP says Hess was cited with failure to use due care.
Atmore Ambulance, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the call.
Pictured above and below: Two people escaped serious injury in this accident Friday morning on Highway 97 Pictured inset: A front tire was ripped off the vehicle when it hit a culvert. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
