Federal Stimulus Money Could Come To North Escambia
February 15, 2009
If all goes as planned, the federal stimulus package will bring over $5 million in road construction to North Escambia with a major resurfacing project on Highway 29.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s local District 3 plans list $567 million of projects that are “shovel ready”. Of the 16 counties in district, 10 had shovel ready projects for a quick start, including Escambia with $11,381,560 in projects. Santa Rosa County had $42,940,424. Both counties were far suprassed on the funding list by Okaloosa County at$49,756,096; Bay County at $81,240,290; and Walton County at $339,905,612. Walton County’s money list includes a major bridge project.
“We got screwed by FDOT,” District 5 Commissioner Kevin White told NorthEscambia.com. “We did not get very much funding at all.”
The Highway 29 resurfacing project would be Escambia County’s largest at $5,049,904. It would resurface the highway from Highway 97 to north of Pine Barren Road. With the federal money, the Highway 29 project could begin within 120 days, according to Tommie Speights, Public Information Director for District 3 of the FDOT. Without federal money, the Highway 29 resurfacing project is not scheduled to take place within the next five years, he said.
Other Escambia projects to be funding with the federal stimulus money, if it is approved, includes $4.6 million to resurface a portion of Blue Angel Parkway, and about $800 thousand each to add turn lanes on Gulf Beach Highway and Blue Angel Parkway.
Northview Chiefs Miss Out On District Title
February 15, 2009
The Northview High School varsity boys basketball team had their hopes of a district title crushed by Catholic High School in the district tournament at NHS.
The Crusaders downed Northview 70-59.
Catholic held a strong lead at the end of the first period of play, 22-13. By the half, the Crusaders had expanded that lead to 32-21. Catholic held NHS to just two points in the fourth period of play.
Catholic 22 11 18 18 — 70
Northview 13 8 14 2 — 59
Northview: Lance Bushaw 15, Aaron Bellamy 11, LaDarion White 10, Luke Killam 7, Colton Sims, Wayne Marshall 4.
Catholic went on to beat South Walton 51-43 Saturday night to capture the District 1-3A Championship.
Florida Forestry To Host Best Management Practices Workshop
February 15, 2009
The Florida Division of Forestry will host a Forestry Best Management Practices Workshop on Friday, February 27th from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Topics to be discussed will include special management zones, stream crossings, different types of forestry activities involving waterways and wet weather operations. For additional information or to register for the class, contact Adam Parden with the Florida Division of Forestry at (850) 587-5123.
The workshop will be held at the IFAS Extension Office in Cantonment. The workshop is free to the public.
Annual Ruritan Club Farm Auction Coming Up Soon
February 15, 2009
It’s less than two weeks until the annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction.
The auction will take place on Saturday, February 28 at 9:30 a.m.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but household items, household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items and more. Sellers can register their items on Thursday or Friday, or prior to the start of the sale on on Saturday morning. Buyers can register prior to 9:30 on Saturday morning.
Concession will be available all day from the Ruritan Club.
Last year, over 200 buyers registered for the annual sale.
For more information, call 327-4479 or 327-4318.
Valentine’s Day Wedding At Century Care Center
February 15, 2009
Love was in the air and wedding bells were ringing Saturday afternoon at Century Care Center with a Valentine’s wedding to remember.
Karen Sue Coleman married her best friend Benjamin Edward Leonardi. Karen wanted her father, Floyd Coleman, to walk her down the aisle. Mr. Floyd has been a resident at Century Care for nearly six years. Rather than take him out of Century Care for the wedding, Karen decided to take the wedding to him.
The wedding took place with family, friends and a lots of Century Care Center residents outside under the center’s gazebo. And Karen got her wish, as her father Floyd escorted her down the aisle.
“It was chilly and windy, but the residents had been excited all week. They weren’t about to miss it,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center activities director.
The wedding was followed by a reception for the happy couple in the Century Care Center dining room.
Pictured top: Mr. and Mrs. Karen and Benjamin Leonardi enjoy wedding cake Valentine’s afternoon at Century Care Center. Pictured inset: Karen is walked down the aisle at her wedding by her father, Century Care Center resident Floyd Coleman. Pictured below: More photos from Saturday’s wedding. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘High-Rise’ Fire At Escambia Grain In Walnut Hill
February 14, 2009
(With Photo Gallery) Firefighters spent about an hour early Friday evening working to extinguish a fire at Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill.
The fire was reported about 5:00 in a large metal grain dryer unit that towers about 60 feet into the air in front of the 100-foot high grain silos. Flames were visible from near the top of the dryer when the first emergency responders arrived.
Firemen first used a high pressure nozzle located on a truck to knock down the flames, shooting water 60 plus feet into the air to hit the fire. They then positioned the nozzle at several locations along the ground, spraying the high pressure stream of water into the dryer from different angles.
Firemen used a thermal imaging camera from ground level to determine if the fire inside the metal structure had been extinguished.
The fire was reported to be out about 6:00. There were no injuries.
Click here for an exclusive photo gallery from the scene.
The Walnut Hill, Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, along with the Atmore Fire Department.
The grain dryer is uses heat to dry the moisture from grain prior to storing it in a silo for transport.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Time To Register To Third Annual Molino Softball Clinic
February 14, 2009
The third annual Molino Softball Clinic will be held at Don Sutton Park on March 28.
The clinic will be directed by Charity Butler, former pro softball player with the Michigan Ice.
It will include defensive and hitting drills from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a pitching clinic from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m..
Sign up will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. $25 for one session, $35 for both. Checks are payable to Molino Ballpark. The click is for ages 14 and under.
If you need more information, contact Donnie Nicholson at (850) 207-0663 or visit charitynbutler.com.
Need A Little Extra Cash This Weekend?
February 14, 2009
If you need a little extra cash this weekend, NorthEscambia.com might just have a rainy Saturday answer to you.
Take a few minutes and look around your house for unwanted items, then use the free NorthEscambia.com classifieds to turn a little profit.
To submit your classified ad, email classifieds@northescambia.com, or click here for our contact form.
Ads for individuals in are FREE, up to 60 words. Ads must include a phone number or email address. All ads subject to approval. Business ads are available for a small charge.
And when you are looking for an item, don’t forget to check our classifieds page to see if the item might be listed.
To visit our classified page, click here or just look for the “Free Classifieds” link in the menu bar of every page.
Free Seminar To Address Transport Of Hazardous Materials
February 14, 2009
A seminar will be held next week to discuss the transportation of hazardous materials, HAZMAT safety goals and regulations, and the impact of transporting materials across state borders.
The seminar, hosted by U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL), is important for farmers, agribusinesses, or anyone that transports diesel fuel, gasoline, pesticides or ammonium nitrate fertilizer across state lines.
The free seminar will take place Thursday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to noon EST at the North Florida Research and Eduction Center in Quincy, Fla. You can also attend remotely from the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road in Cantonment.
For more information, or to sign up, contact the Escambia County Extension Office at 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu by Monday.
The seminar will include representatives from
- the Hazardous Materials Safety Administration – U.S. Department of Transportation
- the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- FL, GA, and AL law enforcement
Bluff Springs Accident Leaves Some In The Dark, No Injuries
February 13, 2009
An unknown number of people were without power Friday afternoon in the Bluff Springs area following an accident that sent a power pole crashing down.
The accident happened about 3:10 Friday afternoon on Highway 29 near Byrneville Road. A truck reportedly hit a power pole in the area. There were no injuries in the accident.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was called to the scene, along with the Florida Highway Patrol.
Gulf Power dispatched a service truck from the Milton area to restore power.