Century Votes 3-2 To Continue Exploring Wi-Fi Plan
June 2, 2009
The Century Town Council split 3-2 Monday night to take a closer look at getting into the wireless Internet broadband business.
The council will set a special meeting to learn more about the technical side of a business proposal presented two weeks ago by Virginia consultant Rodney Thomas. His plan would build a wireless broadband system in the town with federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Fund. The town would make $10 for each $34 subscriber to the Wi-Fi internet service.
Councilman Gary Riley made the motion to have the technical staff meet with the council to explain the “Century Community Access Network”. But Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he was concerned that if the town gets into the Internet business, it might infringe on a franchise agreement Century has with the Bright House cable company. The mayor said the city does make money off the Bright House franchise, but he was not immediately able to give a dollar figure at Monday night’s council meeting.
“It won’t be near what we could make if we had our own services,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said.
Council President Ann Brooks said she wanted to have the town’s attorney look at the cable franchise agreement to see if there might be a conflict with the town operating an internet service.
“I don’t see any conflict in looking ahead before the contract is up,” Riley said.
Brooks and council member Nadine McCaw voted against moving forward with a technical meeting on the service, while Hawkins, Riley and Sharon Scott voted in favor of the meeting.
Sheriff Seeks Half Million For Bike Patrol, Drug Program, More
June 2, 2009
The Escambia County Commission is expected to approve over a half million dollars in stimulus funding for the Sheriff’s Department, a move that could mean more bike patrols on the streets of Century.
Sheriff David Morgan has asked for $190,001 from a law enforcement grant to increase his bike patrols. The bike patrol has been used four times in Century since January, Morgan said recently.
The commission is also expected to approved $200,000 in stimulus money to establish a mental health program with the goal of reducing the number of mentally ill inmates in the jail population, and $143,650 for a drug court program to provide services and transportation assistance for drug offenders.
The Escambia Commission will vote on Morgan’s requests at their regular Thursday night meeting along with a request for $45,000 for the Pensacola Junior College Police Department for suveillance cameras and $122,470 for the State Attorney’s Office for staff at the Gulf Coast Kid’s House.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Bike Patrol on the streets of Century recently. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Solutia Complete Sale Of Nylon Division, Including Cantonment Plant; Buyer Renames Company
June 2, 2009
Solutia has complete the sale of their nylon division, including their plant near Cantonment, to a New York-based private equity capital group.
Solutia says the $50 million sale of the nylon division, which includes the local plant, was finalized Monday. The purchaser is SK Capital Partners of New York.
The business, including the Cantonment plant, has been renamed Ascend Performance Materials
“I believe a sale to SK Capital positions your business to achieve its full potential. You bring a tradition of excellence and unsurpassed dedication; SK Capital brings a team that is excited about the opportunities it sees in the business. You and the business will do well,” Jeffry N. Quinn, chairman, president, and CEO of Solutia Inc., wrote in an email to employees Monday afternoon.
The 55-year old plant near Cantonment was hit hard by layoffs back in November when over 600 Solutia and contract employees were laid off. The future of the plant has not been announced by the new potential owners. The plant currently employs about 800 people.
Frederic Poses, former chairman and CEO of American Standard and COO of AlliedSignal, will lead an experienced management team with extensive industry expertise. Timothy Strehl continues as president of the company.
“We are attracted by the growth opportunities that exist within Ascend’s businesses, which have solid fundamentals, a strong customer base and talented people. Ascend, as an independent private company, will be focused on leveraging our leading technology to develop new and innovative products for our global customer base,” Poses said. “SK Capital brings valuable experience in all aspects of the business.”
SK Capital Partners invests in several industries including niche segments of the specialty materials, chemicals and health care sectors.
Bratt Elementary Presents Fifth Grade Awards
June 2, 2009
Today, NorthEscambia.com begins a series of stories with award listings from area schools. Today’s listing is from the fifth grade at Bratt Elementary School.
(Editors note: If you are a teacher or administrator at an area school, please send any awards lists that you might have to news@northescambia.com for a future story.)
BRATT ELEMENTARY FIFTH GRADE
Student of the Year: O’Neisha Spencer
Shining Star Award: Bethany Reynolds
Presidential Educational Achievement –Gold Medal: Bethany Reynolds; David Thorpe; Bradley Van Pelt; Kaitlyn Abbott; Saige Garrett; Gavin Grant; Meagan Ogle; Nathan Donald; Savanna Roux; Brianna Parker
Presidential Educational Achievement — Silver Medal: Jadlyn Agerton; Kayla Caraway; Dariane Guy; Lorri Harrell; Jordan Taylor; Shnala Banks; Mark Lee; O’Neisha Spencer; Christopher Brown; Gavin Coon; Zachary Holland; Tyler Houston; Grady Rigby; Liberty Peebles
American Citizenship Pens: Jadlyn Agerton; Lilly Allen; Tamara Barrows; Allan Brown; Kayla Caraway; Dariane Guy; Lorri Harrell; Bethany Reynolds; Kyle Smith; Jordan Taylor; David Thorpe; Bradley Van Pelt; Kaitlyn Abbott; Shnala Banks; Saige Garrett; Jacob Gibbs; Gavin Grant; Brayden Hubbard; Mark Lee; Danielle Robinson; Nathan Singleton; O’Neisha Spencer; Auston Trump; Christopher Brown; Gavin Coon; Sarah Dutton; Leah Fischer; Natalie Goetter; Megan Hardy; Zachary Holland; Danielle Jackson; Meagan Ogle; Jessica Barrows; Breanna Campbell; Amber Freeman; Laurel Haag; Cole Lambert; Deonte Mitchell; Brianna Parker; Liberty Peebles; Bradley Rolin; Ladarrius Thames
Sons of the American Revolution Award: Lillie Allen; Bradley Van Pelt; Saige Garrett; Danielle Robinson; Meagan Ogle; Savanna Roux; Jessica Barrows; Steve Wilson
Escambia Writes Certificate, 6.0: Meagan Ogle
Hurricane Season Begins: Does Century Still Have A Shelter?
June 1, 2009
Today marks the first day of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, but the future of a public shelter in Century is unclear following the closure of Carver/Century K-8 School.
Carver/Century K-8 School served as Century’s only public shelter, with a capacity to house up to 547 people in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. The Escambia County School Board voted to close the school at the end of this school year, and school staff is working this week to pack up the contents of the school in order to move school furnishings to Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he has asked Superintendent Malcolm Thomas if the town and the American Red Cross would still be allowed to use the building for a public shelter, but McCall said that so far he has not received an answer.
The mayor said there are no other buildings in Century with a sufficient size and wind rating that could be used for a public hurricane shelter.
The next nearest Escambia County public hurricane shelters to Century are located at Northview High School and Molino Park Elementary. Northview has a hurricane shelter capacity of 1,260. Molino Park has space for 2,225 evacuees.
Molino Park is 20 miles from Century, and Northview is about nine miles away. Those distances would present a great problem for persons needing to evacuate from Century, McCall said, because many do not have adequate, dependable transportation.
In addition, the mayor said Century has a greater need for a public hurricane shelter than some communities simply because of the number of substandard housing units in his town.
Pictured above: The future of a hurricane shelter in Century is uncertain. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Fifth Grade Math FCAT Scores The County’s Best
June 1, 2009
Fifth grade students at Byrneville Elementary School had the highest FCAT math proficiency score in Escambia County.
With 83 percent of fifth grade student taking the math FCAT scoring a grade level 3 or above, Byrneville’s score was tops in the county.
The district average was 58 percent scoring a grade level 3 or above.
Take A Survey: What Do You Think Of Your Child’s School?
June 1, 2009
The Escambia County School District is giving you the chance to take a survey and rank how well your child’s school and its staff performed.
The survey, offered on the district’s web page, allows participants to rank many school performance areas based upon how they feel about statements such as:
- I feel welcome at this school.
- Learning is interesting at this school.
- The principal at this school communicates effectively.
- Students are challenged to their ability at this school.
- Students receive recognition for good performance in academics.
There is also an open-ended question designed to recognize outstanding persons in the school district: “Can you identify one individual in the Escambia School District who has had an impact on you or your family during this school year?”
The survey is completely anonymous with no attempt to identify the participants, the district says, and the survey asks for “frank and honest” responses.
To take the survey, click here and then click on the red “Take the School Climate survey” link near the upper right corner of the page.
Attention Teachers, Schools, Parents: Send Us Awards Info
June 1, 2009
Teachers and schools from across North Escambia are encouraged to submit the names of students that received awards during your recent awards programs. We will begin publishing award lists on Tuesday and continue for several days.
Moms and dads: You are invited to submit your award ceremony photos to us as well.
Email the information to news@northescambia.com with the subject line “Awards”.
Please include a valid email address or phone number that we can use to contact you if we have questions.
Parking Improvements Made At Barrineau Park Community Center
June 1, 2009
The Barrineau Park Community center recently received 37 new parking spaces installed by the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department. A new walkway was added to provide a clear and level means of getting to and from the building from the parking area. A driveway was added to allow for parking on both sides of the sidewalk. Split rail fences were used to protect the play area, identify the driveway and to generally beautify the park. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Is Your Church Having VBS?
May 31, 2009
Now is the time to submit your Vacation Bible School announcements to NorthEscambia.com so that we can include them on our events page and let everyone know.
Email your VBS event details to: news@northescambia.com
Please try to submit your information as far in advance as possible.