Carver/Century Student Attempt To Help Set Guinness World Record
November 14, 2008
Students at Carver/Century K-8 School took part in a Guinness World Record attempt Thursday in the fast paced sport of cup stacking.
During the day, students stacked cups up and down in pyramids and prescribed patterns at lightning speed. Guinness World Records is billing it as the “World’s Largest
Sport Stacking Event.” with more than 175,000 stackers expected to participate around the world.
Sport stacking has been termed a “track meet for your hands at warp speed.” It is an exciting sport where students up stack and down stack 12 specially designed cups called Speed Stacks in predetermined sequences as fast as they can. Stackers race against the clock and compete in relays.
Last year, an official count of 143,530 stackers participated to break the first STACK UP! record set in 2006. Once again, thousands of stackers are expected to contribute their sport stacking skills from across the United States and around the world in countries such as Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the UK.
According to Mark Lingle, World Sport StackingAssociation Director, the Guinness event is a great platform to bring together sport stackers across the globe. “Sport stacking is an activity enjoyed by all ages and cultures. It promotes handeye coordination, action, teamwork, speed and lots of fun. This is the third year we’ve teamed up with Guinness World Records, and November 13th promises to be our biggest and best event yet.”
It will be several days before the final number of worldwide stackers is available, and it will take time for Guinness to certify the new world record if one was set Thursday.
Pictured above: Alisha Grice stacks cups Thursday at Carver/Century K-8, just a small part of a world record attempt. Pictured below: Jontashia Myles (left) and Tierra Floyd complete to see who can complete a stack fastest is a “Battlestack” game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Electric Car Company Needs $2.5 Million To Locate In Century
November 13, 2008
It appears more likely that Century will be the site of a new electric vehicle assembly plant, if Escambia County provides $2.5 million in startup money.
LHS EV needs $2.5 million in “capital incentives” to locate and stay in Century, Art Rocker, company spokesman, told commissioners. That money would be in addition to standard tax incentives already approved by the commission.
“We are going to figure out how we can do this and come back with an agreement for the commission to approve,” Larry Newsom, the county’s economic director, told NorthEscambia.com. “They want cash, but we need to figure out how we can do this with something like building or capital improvements. We don’t just hand out cash.”
Commissioner Kevin White said that county staff had been directed to see how the county might provide the $2.5 million in some fashion.
“Present for the county commission an action plan of what you think might be reasonable in terms of county participation in addition to the economic ordinance that’s already on the books,” Commissioner Gene Valentino said.
“I appreciate you bringing this opportunity,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said. “We want to see this happen, but we’ve got to see that we are getting what we are talking about getting together here.
LHS had considered locations in Alabama, including Fort Payne, but commissioners expressed their appreciate that the company has almost settled on Escambia County.
“You have chosen to show your commitment to Escambia County, and I think it is out turn to step up,” Valentino said.”We’ll do our best. We are in tough times, mind you.”
“I applaud the commission for even trying to make this work, and talking and and trying to make this work,” Jay Patel from LHS EV said.
Previous incentives provided to LHS EV, if they should choose Escambia County, include total of $39,000 in rebates for local fees and taxes ranging from $2,250 to $9,750 per year through 2014 and support for state tax breaks. The Town of Century has approved selling or leasing 25 acres of land in the town’s industrial park to the company.
The company says their plant, which will assembly an electric car manufactured overseas, would provided about 250 jobs in the first year, 585 within three years and ultimately up to 1,100 jobs in five years.
Pictured above: Jay Patel (left) and Art Rocker address the Escambia County Commission Wednesday.
Widened Highway 113 Opens Joint Alabama And Florida Project
November 13, 2008
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and a host of dignitaries from both Alabama and Florida dedicated a widened Highway 113 Wednesday, hailing the highway as both an hurricane evacuation route and as a economic shot in the arm.
“This is a great day not only for Florida, this is a great day for Alabama,” Riley said. “It’s going to give us options that did not exist just a few years ago.”
The $22.7 million project, which included funds from the state of Alabama, Flomaton and both Escambia County, Alabama, and Escambia County, Florida, provides 13.5 miles of four-lane divided highway from Highway 29/31 in Flomaton to Exit 69 on I-65.
“We found out after Ivan what it was like to have a four lane coming out of the coast of Florida and coming into Flomaton into a two lane,” Riley said. “We backed up traffic for miles. And that’s when we really did realize we’ve got to do something to get people on up to 65. One of these days, we are going look back and we are going to say that building this road saved hundreds if not thousands of lives because we were able to evacuate people from the Gulf Coast where otherwise it might not ever have happened.”
Riley had nothing but praise for Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant. Bondurant was instrumental in pushing the plan through state government and obtaining funding.
“I’ve never met anyone any better than Dewey,” Riley said. “He came in and not only put together a plan that would work, then…he went out and secured the funds that made this a reality. This would not have happened without the mayor. The mayor’s leadership on this was just exemplary.”
Escambia County, Florida, kicked in $4 million in funds toward the widening, providing a example of how different jurisdictions would work together for a common good.
“This is probably the best example of governments working together that I have seen since I have been in the governor’s office,” Riley said.
Florida will reap benefits from the expanded Alabama roadway, several of the dignitaries at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting said. In addition to the hurricane evacuation route, there are expected economic benefits to Century and the rest of Escambia County, Florida.
“When you have access to a four lane, when you have that type of infrastructure, people begin to look at your community than they would if it were just a two lane road. You are going to look back and see little businesses open all along 113,” Riley said.
“For economic development, it opens it wide open for the town of Century now,” White said. “It’s your major north-south coming into Escambia County (FL) now, so it’s a wonderful thing.”
The 14 mile widening project broke ground on September 11, 2007. Escambia County, Florida, contributed $4 million to the project. Flomaton and Escambia County, Alabama, each contributed $500,000 with the state of Alabama and the federal government picking up of the rest of the nearly $22.7 million tab.
The highway also includes a new four-span, 204 foot bridge to accommodate northbound traffic.
Wednesday’s ribbon cutting was actually over 40 years in the making. Florida and Alabama agreed back in 1967 to four-lane roads on both side of the state line for an evacuation route. Florida finished their part along Highway 29 by 1990, but Alabama did nothing more after acquiring right-of-way back in the 1970’s.
For a complete photo gallery from the Highway 113 ribbon cutting, click here.
Pictured above: Dignitaries including Alabama Governor Bob Riley cut the ribbon on the newly widened Highway 113 in Flomaton Wednesday. Pictured below: Gov. Riley thanks Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White for Florida’s help on the project. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Wreck Injures Two Near Walnut Hill
November 13, 2008
Two people were injured in a single vehicle rollover accident on Highway 97 near Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon.
The accident happened about 1:45 Wednesday afternoon on Highway 97 just north of Howell Road. The driver pickup truck with a load of tires on a utility trailer lost control. The vehicle overturned and landed upright in a field.
Two people were transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The FHP, Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue, Engine 1819 from Molino and Atmore Ambulance responded to the call.
Pictured above: Two people were injured in this one vehicle rollover accident Wednesday afternoon. Pictured below: Emergency crews work to remove the victims from the truck. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Century Accident Injures Two
November 13, 2008
Two people were injured in an accident that left one vehicle upside down on Highway 29 on Century Wednesday morning.
The accident happened near Highway 29 and Highway 4 about 11:30.
A pickup truck collided with a Honda CRV, causing the Honda to overturn near Southern Treasures. The vehicle landed on its roof just off North Century Boulevard. The two people in the Honda were injured, with it taking about 20 minutes to free the driver of the vehicle with the Jaws of Life.
Lifeflight was called to the scene, and a landing zone was setup in the parking lot of the Whataburger, but Lifeflight was canceled prior to its arrival.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Click here for a complete photo gallery to watch the extrication process.
Pictured above: Emergency officials work to free the drive of the vehicle. Pictured below: The Honda CRV suffered major damage. Pictured below: The pickup involved in the crash sustained minor damage. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wednesday Night Rollover Accident On Highway 99 In Bratt
November 13, 2008
Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident in Bratt that left one vehicle upside down in ditch, the third rollover accident in North Escambia on Wednesday.
The accident happened at the intersection of Macks Road and North Highway 99 about 9:40 Wednesday night. State trooper say Charles Garrett, 44, of Century pulled away from a stop sign on Cecils Road toward Macks Road and into the path of a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Kolby Amerson, also of Century. Garrett’s pickup was hit broadside by Amerson.
The pickup came to rest alongside Macks Road and Amerson’s Nissan landed upside down in the ditch by North Highway 99. Troopers say Amerson was not wearing his seatbelt, but was not serious injured in the accident. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital for evaluation. Garrett also sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP. Charges against Garrett are pending the outcome of that investigation.
Two other rollover accidents Wednesday sent a total of four people to the hospital. One accident occurred in Century (click here for that story) and the other occurred in Walnut Hill (click here for that story).
Pictured above: Kolby Amerson was injured in this accident Wednesday night that left his Nissan upside in a Bratt ditch. Pictured below: The FHP says the driver of this truck pulled into Amerson’s path. Pictured bottom: Firemen survey the damage to Amerson’s Nissan Pathfinder. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Considers Stipend Payments For Volunteer Firefighters
November 13, 2008
The Escambia Commission is expected to approved a new stipend payment policy for volunteer firefighters at their regular meeting next week.
The plan provides payments to volunteers to help offset their expenses such as fuel.
Under the plan, a Firefighter Trainee will receive $100 per month, if he or she has completed a 12 hour orientation course and obtains Firefighter I within one year of joining Escambia Fire-Rescue.
A certified Firefighter I or II will receive $300 per month. A certified lieutenant will receive $350 per month, and a captain will receive $400 per month. An assistant district chief’s stipend will be $450 per month, and a district chief will receive $550.
In order to receive the payments, a firefighter must meet qualifications for their position and respond to 25 percent of their department’s first 50 calls per month and 12.5% of all calls over 50 per month.
The policy also provides for a retention incentive during the firefighter’s anniversary year as follows:
5 years of service: $200
10 years of service: $400
15 years of service: $600
20 years of service: $900
25 years of service” $1,200
The stipend policy also allows payment of up to $500 per firefighter to extended services follow an extended disaster such as a hurricane.
Click here to read the entire volunteer firefighter stipend policy.
Santa Rosa Coats For Kids
November 13, 2008
The Coats for Kids campaign is underway in Santa Rosa County, and there is a drop-off location in Jay where you can help.
The program collects gently used or new coats for needy children in the county.
Coats can be dropped off at Jay City Hall on Highway 4.
For more information, contact Marianne Back, community projects coordinator for United Way of Santa Rosa County, at 623-4507 or e-mail marianne@unitedwaysrc.org.
Restoration Works Begins On Old 100 Steam Engine
November 12, 2008
A shiny coat of paint and more is in store for Century’s Old 100.
After over a year with no obvious changes, the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society contracted Mr. Denvard Moss of Birmingham to begin work on the restoration of the steam engine Old 100. Deep South Cranes of Pensacola made a trip to the historical park in Century to move some components of the engine so work might begin in earnest.
It turns out that the men operating the crane were a couple of North Escambia and Santa Rosa County fellows, Curtis Fillingim of Walnut Hill and Bryan Watson of Jay. Both men have some pretty solid connections with this part of the counties, having lots of relatives living in the area.
Because of the estimated weight of the boiler and tight place the crane had to operate, Deep South had to send their largest piece of equipment to make the moves. In preparation for the shifting around of the boiler, estimated to weigh in at over ten tons, and the tender’s water tank, a mere 2 tons, Moss had to manhandle several railroad crossties in position to rest the parts.
For more photos from Old 100, click here.
Moss, who has restored many steam engines across the southeast, is presently dividing his time between the historical former T.R. Miller locomotive now at the historical village just off Tarragona Street in Pensacola, and another engine in Cummings, GA. He comes highly recommended to the ASHS by Louis Zadnichek, a former scrap metal broker residing in Fairhope, and a former owner of Old 100.
In 1976, Zadnichek, the late engineer J.R. Phillips, and Max Grice, a scrap metal dealer of Mobile, three Railway & Locomotive Historical Society members, purchased the wood-burning “cabbage stack” engine for junk in late 1974 from the Jim Walter Door Corporation of Century, and trucked it 95 miles to Mobile where they restored the No. 100 to operation as part of the Alabama Bicentennial. The engine, a 48-ton Baldwin 2-6-2 with slopeback tender, underwent a 13-month overhaul costing nearly $40,000.
No. 100 was built in September 1919 for the Britton Saw Mill Co., Florala, Ala. Four years later, it was sold to The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company in Century for use on its subsidiary common carrier, the Escambia Railway, abandoned in 1947. The Escambia Railway once operated a total of nearly 200 miles of logging railroad in Florida and Alabama with an all-time roster of at least 29 locomotives. No. 100 was used as a general-purpose logging engine until 1935 when it was rebuilt for use as the sawmill’s switch engine.
As the sawmill switch engine, No. 100 would occasionally operate over Louisville & Nashville tracks from Century to Flomaton, Ala. This practice continued up until its retirement in 1954, making it the last wood burning steam engine to run on “Old Reliable” tracks. From 1954 to 1957, the 2-6-2 was used as an auxiliary sawmill boiler and then placed on display on Front Street in Century.
By late 1974, the No. 100 was in such poor condition from vandalism and weather deterioration that Jim Walter Doors, new owners of the sawmill, decided to sell the eyesore for junk. Fortunately, the locomotive found a good home and was saved from the torch.
No. 100 was used as a standby switch engine on a private industrial railroad in Mobile. The engine was designed with a low center of gravity for rough track, tight clearances and sharp curves, as well as to deliver high tractive effort for relatively little fuel and water consumed, so the 2-6-2 was right at home in its new role. The engine was normally fired up once every two weeks.
After the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, Old 100 was sold to the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville, Indiana, a not-for-profit Railroad Museum, where until the early 1990s it faithfully hauled tourists on a daily roundtrip run. The late J.R. Phillips, who did the restoration work on #100, had a lifetime driving privilege of this historic and locally beloved engine.
When the engine developed boiler problems, it was removed from service until a new boiler might be fabricated. However, there were problems with the new boiler upon delivery and because of financial concerns and tightening of Federal regulations, the engine was not placed back in service at all, but rather sat in a sad condition for over 14 years.
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society inquired as to its availability for sale and upon discovering the WVRR was receptive, set out to raise funds to bring the engine back “home.” With the assistance of grants from the State of Florida and a tremendous outpouring of support and donations from local people, the engine made its way from Indiana to Century in May of 2007.
Placed on a specially laid track, supplied through the good graces of CSX workers and their spare time, the engine seemed doomed to languish again in its own back yard because of disagreements as to its future. However, the move to restore it to a static display condition is once again under way, as a result of more private funding and the expertise of Denverd Moss.
Moss is optimistic that real progress in the restoration may be seen early 2009 and shortly thereafter an icon of Century’s past will once more be the town’s centerpiece.
For more photos from Old 100, click here.
Article and photos submitted by Jerry Simmons
Pictured top: Old 100 was dismantled to allow for restoration work to begin on the 89 year old steam engine. Pictured below: The boiler is lowered to the ground. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Honors Veterans With Parade
November 12, 2008
Atmore honored area veterans with a parade Tuesday afternoon.
Several floats, a band and more were in the annual Atmore Veterans Day parade.
There were several motorcycle riders in the parade, including members of the forming chapter of of the Escambia County Christian Motorcyclists Association, Doug and Tyler Chandler of Atmore and James Price of Bay Minette. They were joined by members of the Baldwin County and Mobile C.M.A. chapters.
“We were humbled to participate in the Veteran’s Day parade to honor the men and women who gave us the right to ride the roads and spread the message of Jesus Christ. We don’t take for granted our freedom to travel share our faith with others. Only because of the blood of others who died in battle can we share the saving grace of the blood of Jesus Christ,” Doug Chandler said.
For a complete photo gallery from the Atmore Veterans Day Parade, click here.
The Escambia County C.M.A. chapters is currently recruiting members from both Escambia County, Alabama, and north Escambia County, Florida. For more information about the local chapter of C.M.A., email BigDCMA@mchsi.com or call (251) 294-0386.
