Brush Fire In Molino
December 1, 2008
Firefighters were called to a field on fire near Molino late Monday morning.
The Molino, McDavid and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire-Rescue were dispatched to the fire about 11:50 Monday morning in the 400 block of Meharg Road, just off Highway 95A. The fire was reported to be about seven acres. There were no structures damaged and no injuries.
Firefighters completed fighting the blaze at 1:15 Monday afternoon after a Division of Forestry bulldozer was used to plow a line around the fire.
Former Walnut Hill Firefighter Named Foley Fire Department Chief
December 1, 2008
A former member of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department has accepted the job of chief of the Foley (Ala.) Fire Department.
Joey Darby began his firefighting career with the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1992 while he was senior at Ernest Ward High School. He worked his way up through the ranks, and he currently serves as a battalion chief for the Auburn (Ala.) Fire Department.
“Firefighting became a part of me then,” Darby told NorthEscambia.com by phone from Auburn. “I spent a lot of time with Walnut Hill. They were and still are a great bunch of people.”
His volunteer career saw his service begin under recently retired Chief Robert Stewart, a man that Darby still admires.
“I learned a lot from Chief Stewart and from the guys in Walnut Hill,” he said. “Anytime you cut your teeth on something, you become passionate about it. I will never forget the experience I gained in Walnut Hill and the lessons I learned.”
As a young firefighter, Darby was allowed to leave Ernest Ward and answer fire department calls during the day, he said.
Darby was, and still is, happy to be a battalion chief in Auburn. But when he saw the job listing for the Foley chief job, he knew it was an opportunity to get back closer to North Escambia. Foley delayed making a choice from their 75 applicants until after the election. They narrowed the pool to a short list of six and conducted interviews before offering Darby the job.
“I didn’t base this decision just on personal gratification, but on professional opportunity,” he said. “At this stage of my career, it was the thing to do. But the benefits to be back near home were a plus.”
At chief of the Foley Department, Darby will supervise 15 paid firefighters and about 20 volunteers. His first day on the job will be January 5.
Darby is the son of Bill and Jackie Darby of Oak Grove.
Submitted photo.
Two Injured In Different Thanksgiving Crashes; Otherwise A Quiet Holiday Weekend In North Escambia
December 1, 2008
Two different Thanksgiving crashes left two people injured in the Walnut Hill area. Otherwise no major incidents were reported in the North Escambia area over the long Thanksgiving weekend.
A 21-year old Walnut Hill man was critically injured in a single vehicle accident Thanksgiving night.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Jarod Evan Jones, 21, was ejected from his GMC Sierra pickup on Highway 97A near Walnut Hill about 9:00 Thursday night.
A Pensacola man was injured in an single vehicle accident early Thanksgiving morning in Walnut Hill.
The accident occurred just after 12:00 a.m. Thursday on Highway 97 near the Walnut Hill Community Center. The driver of a Z28 Camaro lost control while traveling southbound on Highway 97. The vehicle left the roadway, hit several trees and a culvert before flipping around and landing nearly over on the driver’s side. The first people on the scene said the driver was trapped, but then crawled partial out of the vehicle.
Read more about the Highway 97A accident by clicking here.
Read more about the Highway 97 accident by clicking here.
Pictured above: A Walnut Hill man was critically injured in this single vehicle accident Thanksgiving night near Walnut Hill. Pictured below: A Pensacola man was injured in this crash early Thanksgiving morning in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Participates In Drill, Meet
December 1, 2008
The Northview High School NJROTC recently participated in a drill and athletic meet at Milton High School.
Northview placed sixth out of 12 teams in the event, and they received one trophy. The Northview NJROTC female cadets took third place in pushups.
“It was our first meet and the also the first opportunity for many of our new cadets to meet and compete with all the local schools,” Captain Charlie Code, Northview NJROTC instructor, said.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Northview NJROTC cadets at a recent meet in Milton. Pictured below: Cadets in the athletic portion of the meet. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Will Lower Fuel Prices Mean A Lower Power Rate?
December 1, 2008
Will lower fuel prices mean a lower power rate? Escambia River Electric Cooperative says not just yet.
The following was submitted by EREC.
The decline in gasoline prices comes as a welcome relief for Americans. As crude oil costs continue their downward trend, consumers feel less pinch at the pump and more pennies in our wallets.
The reduction in oil costs has prompted questions from our members about whether electricity prices will follow suit. Unfortunately, in the short term, they will not.
You might be surprised to know that crude oil plays virtually no part in electricity generation, which for us comes primarily from coal (67 percent) and natural gas (29 percent). Despite lower prices in today’s natural gas market, Escambia River EC is subject to fuel contracts executed months ago at higher prices.
Our budget is similar to your household budget.
Say you buy a new car. You go to the bank to borrow money to pay for it. You make payments to the bank whether you drive that car or not, and your payment stays the same, whether the price of that particular model of car goes up or down on the market. This is your fixed cost.
You also have variable costs – fuel and maintenance – that depend on the number of miles driven. You try to manage variable costs as best you can. When you pass by a station with a high price for gasoline, you might try to put off filling up until you see a lower price. If you drive by a station with a seemingly low price, you might fill up right then, gambling as to whether you could have gotten a better price had you waited a day more.
Our power plants operate much the same way. We borrow money to build and operate our power plants, and we have long-term and short-term contracts for fuel used to make electricity. We also purchase electricity other utilities in addition to our own generation.
We also have variable costs. If we “drive” our power plants more because consumers demand more electricity, we have to buy more fuel to make that electricity. Like you at the gas station, we do our best to buy fuel when the price is low. We buy much of our fuel in advance, to make sure we have enough when it is needed. These long-term contracts give us the benefit of stable costs, even when the market skyrockets or plummets. This is why your electricity bills don’t double or triple during times of high fuel costs, such as when a hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico.
One reason gasoline prices have fallen lately is due to the economy. Consumers have taken steps to conserve gas by driving less and carpooling. Basic rules of supply and demand dictate that when demand lessens and supply increases (or even remains the same), prices drop.
We encourage our consumers to conserve electricity in the same way. Not only will using less energy keep your electricity bills more affordable now, but it will also benefit us all in the long run.
Walnut Hill Fire Department Responds To Mayhaw Road Sunday Night
November 30, 2008
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call on Mayhaw Road about 7:10 Sunday night.
The residents of a two story brick home reported smelling something burning after turning on their heating system. After an investigation, firefighters were unable to find anything burning.
The Molino and McDavid stations were also dispatched to the call but were canceled.
Century Historical Group Holds Boxcar Barbecue
November 30, 2008
Southern barbecue, bluegrass and gospel music, time with friends and a little history were all part of the annual Boxcar Barbecue in Century.
The annual Alger-Sullivan Historical Society fund raiser was held Saturday in the town’s historic district.
With church choirs, music from groups like the Sons of the Pines, and more, there was plenty of entertainment for everyone. There was also a display of antique tools, pottery making, civil war reenactors, an attic sale, museum tours and more.
And what would a Boxcar Barbecue be without…barbecue? Hot barbecue from Big Stevie’s Barbecue from Brewton, hot dogs and soft drinks were available.
Visitors were also able check the progress on the restoration of Old 100, the historic steam locomotive at the ASHS’s railroad museum.
The event is the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s last fund raiser of the year.
Click here for a photo gallery from Century’s Boxcar Barbecue.
Pictured above: With fire shooting from the barrel, this picture captured the actual shot of an Civil War era gun Saturday at Century’s Boxcar Barbecue. Pictured inset above: A Civil War reenactor. Pictured below: A gospel group performs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Whew! Record Breaking Hurricane Season Comes To An End
November 30, 2008
It’s finally time to put away those bottles of water and those other hurricane preparedness items…the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends today.
While it was a quiet hurricane season for us here in North Escambia, today actually marks the end of a record season that was one of the most active since 1944, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). There were 16 named storms this year. Eight were hurricanes, five of them major at Category 3 or higher.
Tropical Storm Fay was Florida’s biggest problem as it caused flooding across the state with a record four landfalls in August.
It was also a record season because it was the first Atlantic season to have a major hurricane form in five consectutive months from July to November.
For the first time ever, six consecutive storms (Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike) hit the United States. A record three hurricanes (Gustav, Ike and Paloma) hit Cuba.
Now that hurricanes season is over, state officials say that it is time to — you guessed — start preparing for the next hurricane season.
“Preparedness does not end with the hurricane season. Now is an excellent time to review, update your plans, take inventory of disaster supplies, and recycle goods and batteries,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate.
Author With Local Ties Signs Copies Of ‘The Know It All Kitty’
November 30, 2008
Children’s book author and storyteller Kathy Jernigan signed copies of her book The Know It All Kitty and the Peanut Butter Factory in Century Saturday.
Jernigan is a storyteller and songwriter that grew up in Brewton and spent a lot of time with her grandparents O.P. and Eula Mae Renfroe. Her mom, Adelaide (Renfroe) Jernigan, was raised in Century.
Jernigan, who now lives in Century, signed books at the Country Bumpkin and at the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Boxcar Barbecue.
She said the book promotes sharing, courage and fun. She wrote the story to entertain her nieces and nephews when they were two and three years old.
In the book, the kitty really does know everything, it’s just the Know It All Kitty needs a lot of help along the way to live up to his name. He wants to share peanut butter goodies with his friends, so he musters his courage to do the one thing he hates to do… go underwater. He has to face his fears once again as he discovers a lake wizard in an underwater cave, and a hidden peanut butter factory. He sets off the alarm in the factory and it scares him silly, but he makes it out with a sack full of goodies for his friends.
Autographed copies of the book are available for sale at the Country Bumpkin on North Century Boulevard. It is also available for order from Amazon.com and Trafford.com (click either site name for order information).
Pictured above: Author Kathy Jernigan of Atlanta signs copies of her book The Know It All Kitty and the Peanut Butter Factory at the Country Bumpkin in Century on Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Longtime Ernest Ward High School Coach Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
November 29, 2008
A former longtime North Escambia coach was recently inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame.
Better known as Coach Latham, Joe Latham dedicated his life to sports, making his mark in in his 27 years at Ernest Ward High School. He coached basketball, tennis, baseball and football.
Coach Latham graduated from high school in Maplesville, Ala. in 1939. After serving in World War II, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1948. He was picked up by the Los Angeles Rams, then went to Detroit as a single-wing fullback before beginning his coaching career.
Coach Latham coached all sports but his favorites were football and baseball. He coached at Walnut Hill, Pass Christian, Miss.; Franklinton, La.; Orville, Ala.; and Wildwood, Fla. He dedicated 36 years of service to young people – 27 years at Walnut Hill. Coach Latham returned to Walnut Hill in 1960 after coaching in south Florida for two years.
He received a number of honors during his career.
He was named Coach of the Year for the Escambia River Conference in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1971.
In 1965, Coach Latham was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, having played fullback there in the 1940s. He was assistant coach for the North All-Star Football Team in 1965.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at his alma mater in Maplesville, Ala.
To honor Coach Latham for his dedication, the Ernest Ward High School stadium was named for him in the 1980’s.
Article and photos courtesy Atmore News.
Pictured top: Coach Joe Latham. Pictured below: Members of the Latham family on hand for the Hall of Fame ceremony were (L-R front) Suzanne Rodgers, Kathryn Rodgers, Laura Latham, Mary Hunter Latham; (L-R middle) Cynthia Rodgers, Evelyn Latham, Carolyn Loggins, Jay Russell, Gary Loggins; (L-R back) Mark Rodgers, Leigh Ann Russell, Joe Latham Jr., Susan Latham. Submitted photos by Atmore News for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
