Rotary Learns About Relay For Life
October 23, 2008
Century’s Relay for Life is about six months away, and preparations are underway now for the annual fund raising event for the American Cancer Society.
B.J. Davis (pictured left) and Jessica James from the American Cancer Society told the Tri-City Rotary Club Wednesday afternoon that teams are forming now, and there is still plenty of time for anyone to become involved in this year’s relay in Century.
“You don’t have to have a lot of people to form a team,” Lisa Moretz, Century’s team development chairperson, said. She said Century’s top fund raising team last year was as small employer.
Teams can register for Century’s Relay online at www.CenturyRelay.com by filling out a few simple forms and paying a $100 commitment fee.
Century’s Relay for Life will be April 25-26, 2009. Further details are available at the www.CenturyRelay.com web site.
One local team has an eye-catching fund raiser underway for Relay. The Relay for Life team at Byrneville Elementary School is selling Glamour Magic Photos. Call the school at 256-6350 for details. The date for the photos will be announced.
Fire Destroys Car On Highway 29
October 23, 2008
A car was destroyed by fire on Highway 29 north of Molino Wednesday night.
Reports indicate that a Chrysler 300 sedan was destroyed. Firefighters from the Molino Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue reported the car was fully involved when they arrived at the scene during the 7:00 hour.
The vehicle fire located was on Highway 29 near the intersection of Barth Road. Highway 29 was closed temporarly as firemen extinguished the blaze.
There were no injuries reported.
Alabama Sugarcane Biofuel Could Mean Profits For North Escambia, Power At Your Home
October 22, 2008
A project that could eventually turn thousands of acres of sugarcane into jet fuel for the Air Force officially got underway Tuesday in Atmore, and that project could one day have a significant impact here in North Escambia with everything from jobs, income for farmers and electricity for your home.
The 100 acre test field near Atmore’s Holman Prison will determine if sugarcane can be grown in this area in a quantity and quality sufficient for the Amyris Company to one day construct a $500 million plant somewhere near Atmore, Amyris CEO John Milo said.
That would, of course, have great impact on the Atmore area, with benefits likely to spill over into Florida.
“I think this is something we have there that could benefit both states,” Alabama Governor Bob Riley told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview. “We just don’t know for sure how this is going to go, but we feel like this is going to be big. What will work here in this field in Atmore will work for farmers in Northwest Florida.”
Milo tells us that if all goes well the first year with the 100 acre test field, we can expect to see about 1,000 acres planted in two years and 10,000 acres of sugarcane in three years. By the time year three ends, Amyris will have invested a half billion dollars in a biofuel plant in the Atmore area.
Farmers within 25 miles of that plant would be able to sell sugarcane to the company. Why the 25 mile limit? Sugarcane juice begins to ferment on its own shortly after being harvest, so it must quickly reach the plant.
“If that 25 miles includes Florida, you will see thousands of acres planted in Florida,” Milo said. “The whole idea is to first start here in Alabama, and then perhaps build another plant in Louisiana and one in the Florida Panhandle.”
“I look forward to seeing how this might impact agriculture in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties,” said Libbie Johnson from the Escambia County (FL) Extension Office. “We are always looking for ways to keep agriculture a viable industry in our farm communities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.”
Seth Hammett, Alabama’s speaker of the house and board member for PowerSouth, said that rising fuel costs are making it easy for PowerSouth to look for alternative fuels. He said that if the sugarcane biofuel plant becomes a reality in South Alabama, PowerSouth and Amyris are already talking.
Hammett said PowerSouth is looking at purchasing the pulp byproduct from the sugarcane to fuel electric turbines for providing power to member electric cooperatives. PowerSouth supplies electricity to cooperatives including Escambia River Electric Cooperative that serves customers in portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The biggest problem North Escambia farmers would have with growing sugarcane, Johnson said, would be the investment in all new equipment. None of their existing tractor implements or harvesters would work for planting or gathering the cane.
Sugarcane is planted in fields with “beds” that are six feet wide. A furrow (a long straight hole) is dug, and stalks are laid out end to end. The plants sprout from the “joints” in each piece of cane. The plants sprout in the fall, grow slowly during the winter, and then reach up to 20 feet by the following fall before being cut for harvest. Without specialized equipment, Johnson said it is a very labor intensive process.
Pictured above: A small sugarcane field in North Escambia behind the Davisville Community Church. This cane was planted about a year ago. Pictured above left: Riley will the first official Alabama sugarcane sprout that could one day become jet fuel. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Gov. Riley Tours Atmore Sugarcane Field That Could One Day Produce Jet Fuel
October 22, 2008
A little bug could one day turn thousands of acres of sugarcane grown into jet fuel for the U.S. Air Force, bringing a production plant and jobs to the Atmore area.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley toured a sugarcane field in Atmore Tuesday that is part of a test project to determine if enough sugarcane can be grown in South Alabama and perhaps Northwest Florida to support a multi-million dollar biofuel plant.
The Amyris company says it has the microbial technology to turn the sugarcane into jet fuel for the U.S. Air Force, and that’s a prospect that excites Alabama Governor Bob Riley.
“They have developed a molecule, a bug, that basically can turn sugar cane into a jet fuel,” Riley said while standing in the field near Holman Prison in Atmore. “We are always looking for alternative ways to green.”
Under the pilot program, 100 acres of sugarcane has been planted in the field owned by the Alabama Department of Corrections and leased by Auburn University to determine if the crop will grow at a viable rate to support the Amyris biofuel plant.
“The is the first step in the process, a process that is going to take years,” the governor said. “When it comes to national security, we have to be energy independent. If you are going to produce it (biofuel for the Air Force), you might as well do it in Alabama.”
When the sugarcane, which was planted about a month ago, is harvested next fall, it will be the first step in determining three things about Alabama sugarcane as a jet fuel source — is it economical feasible, which variety grows best in Alabama’s soil and is it subtainable, Riley said.
“And it does all rest on the Air Force and their decision to use biofuel in their planes,” Riley told the economic and agricultural leaders in the field Tuesday. He said he anticipated that Amyris could produce about a third of the biofuel the Air Force is projected to require.
For a complete NorthEscamibia.com photo gallery from Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s Tuesday visit to Atmore and the sugarcane field, click here.
Pictured above: Atmore Mayor Howard Shell (left) and Alabama Governor Bob Riley talk sugarcane biofuel Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Alabama Congressman Joe Bonner (left) and Riley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Fire’s Engine 519 Crews Creates New Web Site
October 22, 2008
The crew of Century’s Engine 519 have put together a new web site to inform area residents about the firefighters that staff the Century Fire Station each weekday.
The four members of Engine 519’s crew — Lt. Greg Sims and firefighters Greg Therrell, Donald Merritt and Kyle “Crash” Kraatz — staff Engine 519 daily from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The new web site introduces the four crew members, provides information on Engine 519’s services, fire safety and more.
The new Engine 519 web site is www.engine519.weebly.com
NHS Volleyball Teams Drop Games To PCA
October 22, 2008
The Northview Lady Chiefs volleyball teams dropped both their varsity and junior varsity games to Pensacola Christian Academy Tuesday.
PCA took three of five from the Chiefs in varsity action in Bratt, 25-11, 22-25, 16-25, 25-17, 9-15.
The varsity Chiefs are now 12-10 overall, 3-3 in district play.
The JV Chiefs dropped two in a row to PCA, 15-25, 23-25.
Varsity stats:
Amber McMillan: Digs-18
Brittney Thompson: Kills-15, Aces-1. Digs-12, Blocks-12
Caitlin Hall: Assists-11, Digs-3, Aces-2
Shawna Montgomery: Kills – 4, Aces-13, Digs-18, Blocks-2
Junior Varsity Stats:
Miranda Burkett: Digs-5, Kills – 3, Aces-4
Christina Sepulveda: Kills-3, Digs-1
Holly Dickson: Digs-1, Aces-1, Assists-3, Kills-1
Tori Searcy: Assists-3, Digs-2
Obama Brings Message To Escambia County
October 22, 2008
America’s potential First Lady, Michelle Obama, brought her husband’s campaign message and a message about early voting to Escambia County Tuesday.
Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, spoke about the importance of early voting in this year’s presidential election.
“I come here as a wife who has watched her husband grow and flourish in this role. Watching him, I know in my heart and soul that he will be an extraordinary president,” Obama said. “People in Washington have been working on the issues for a long time, we know that. But they haven’t made the kind of progress we’d like to see. We have to ask ourselves, isn’t it time for new solutions, because we know the old ways just won’t do? Isn’t it time for our politics to reflect our realities and our values?”
About 7,000 people attended Obama’s speech at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Pictured: Michelle Obama Tuesday in Escambia County. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Arrest Made After Bratt Shooting; Victim Found In Car In Century
October 21, 2008
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a a man found Monday night outside an ambulance substation in Century.
Jedd Jackson Grimes, 23, of Hall Creek Road Brewton was shot at a residence on Highway 168 near Bratt about 9:20 Monday night. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Department report, Grimes was at a home at 3445 Highway 168, near Wiggins Road north of the Bratt community.
Scottie Ladon Smith, 38, of Walnut Hill was charged with aggravated battery against a person with a deadly weapon and firing a weapon into a vehicle, both second degree felonies. Smith’s mugshot is at left.
Deputies were called to the EMS substation in Century at 9:44 after the EMS crew found Grimes shot in a Mercury Sable outside the building. The sheriff’s department report says Grimes suffered a gunshot wound to his upper chest and left arm from a 12 gauge shotgun and some other type wound to his head.
Late Monday night, deputies responded to Smith’s residence on Highway 168 and placed him under arrest. The police report states that Smith said he was at his residence when Jedd Grimes came over to pick up his girlfriend from the residence. Smith said Grimes and his girlfriend began to argue and physically fight. Smith said he seperated the two. Smith told deputies that Grimes began to drink heavily and threaten several other people that were in the yard. Smith told deputies that Jedd Grimes began to drive erratically in the yard, then begain to beat on his own vehicle.
Deputies say Smith retrieved a shotgun and fire a shot at the rear of Grime’s Mercury Sable. Smtih told deputies that Grimes then made a circle in the yard and hit Smith’s Pontiac. Smith told deputies that Grimes then drove toward him, at which time he fired at the front of the vehicle.
Jedd Grimes was driven to the EMS substation by his uncle, Freddie Grimes. Deputies say Jedd Grimes drove to Freddie Grimes’ home and told him that he had been shot at Smith’s residence. Freddie Grimes told deputies that he tried to drive the victim to Jay Hospital, but was held up by a train and returned to the EMS substation on Industrial Boulevard in Century.
Jedd Grimes was transported by ambulance to the McDavid Fire Station and then transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Smith was booked into the Escambia County Jail and released on a $40,000 bond.
Pictured above top: Deputies question Freddie Grimes who said he drove shooting victim Jedd Jackson Grimes to an ambulance substation in Century Monday night. Pictured above middle: Jedd Grimes is treated inside this ambulance in Century Monday night. Pictured below: A deputy looks inside the vehicle where shooting victim Jedd Grimes was discovered. Pictured bottom: A crime scene unit arrives at the scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Comments Prompt Response From ECUA Member About New Trash Program
October 21, 2008
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is expected to approve an advisory council’s recommendation to take over Allied Waste service in North Escambia and add voluntary curbside recycling.
After a Monday story on NorthEscambia.com about the plan, several people posted comments on this site that were not in favor of the plan, or they felt like that North Escambia was being taken advantage of because the plan calls for trash service to be cut from two pickups per week to one. The plan will add a second 90 gallon container for recylables that will be picked up once a week to those that choose to participate in the voluntary recyling program.
“I agree the Northend is the red-headed stepchild,” one poster on NorthEscambia.com wrote. “Don’t they get 2 pickups in town?”, “Ha-ha folks wake up the county is going to do it to us”, ” If the garbage service is going to once a week, then the bill should be cut in half to match the 50% reduction in service.”, ” I agree that we are being cheated”. Those were just some of the comments posted to this article:
ECUA Taking Over Allied Waste Franchise; Curbside Recyling Coming In January
“I admit to surprise at the overwhelming negativism of the responses on NorthEscambia.com,” Larry Walker, ECUA District 5 member said. “Having dealt with complaints about Allied for four years, I thought that getting rid of Allied would be a major accomplishment and would be viewed as the central feature of the announced plan.”
“First, the proposed ECUA service is identical, both north and south. The ECUA has no intention to provide a lower level of service in the North End than in the southern area,” Walker continued.
The proposal will be considered by the entire ECUA board, all of which sits on the advisory council that is making the recommendation, Thursday afternoon at 3:00.
Walker submitted a multi-point list of his thoughts to NorthEscambia.com:
1. Yes, the agreement is that ECUA will take over Allied’s residential franchise area, effective January 1, fourteen months before the current end of Allied’s franchise. I am greatly pleased by this. It is nice to win this one.2. The franchise takeover is just one piece of a multi-faceted agreement. One other facet that affects a few NorthEscambians is that, in return, ECUA is turning its commercial-sanitation business over to Allied. This will displease some commercial customers (users of dumpsters), but it is an essential part of the overall deal. Those commercial customers who don’t want to deal with Allied will have three other commercial collectors to choose from at the expiration of their current ECUA contracts (which are transferred to Allied). I objected to this feature of the deal but was convinced that it is necessary in order to achieve the overall deal. In short, Allied would not have agreed to the deal if we refused to give them the commercial side.3. Billing will be monthly rather than quarterly.4. The monthly charge–which was due to go up to $19.62 plus fuel recovery fee–will be reduced a bit, to $17.97 plus fuel recovery fee.5. For this charge, the customer will receive once-a-week pickup of garbage (90 cubic gallon can).6. At no additional cost, the customer may elect to receive once-a-week pickup of recyclable materials. A second 90-gal. container will be provided.7. The customer who must have more weekly pickup of regular garbage than one pickup of a 90-gal. container will have to pay $5 for a second garbage can, and both will be picked up on the same day. I don’t like this feature, but it is another facet that I am accepting because of the good features in return. I hope that most people who think, initially, that they will need two regular garbage cans will find that, by recycling, they can reduce their need for regular garbage pickup to one can a week.8. When the changeover occurs, the Allied cans will be left in place, for use by ECUA. Since many Allied cans are defective–no lid, broken lid, etc.–this is not the ideal arrangement, but without it ECUA would not be able to take over the service area on such short notice.9. As of today, I am still submitting “lid lists” to Allied, i.e., requests for repair or replacement of defective Allied cans. To date, Allied has repaired or replaced 250 cans at my request, and I am submitting a list of 27 more addresses tomorrow. Allied may be unwilling to respond to such requests, now that its departure is imminent. Customers may rest assured, however, that ECUA will move methodically to repair or replace all defective cans after January 1.
“Rest assured that I am following the comments posted on NE.com, but I also invite direct messaging to me of one’s opinions. My email is larry@larrywalker.com. I need to hear from District 5 residents about this matter, and I will appreciate hearing from you. Please let me know what you think of the proposed program. If you have any questions, ask them, and I will try to answer,” Walker said.
“The ECUA board will consider approving the new program at its monthly meeting, at 3:00 p.m. on October 23 in the ECUA board room on Hamman Street in Ellyson Industrial Park. Ellyson Park is located at the east end of Copter Road, which runs east from E. Nine Mile Road and crosses N. Davis Highway, just south of where N. Davis Hwy merges with E. Nine Mile Rd. Once in Ellyson Park, take the second left,” Walker wrote.
Fire Units Dispatched To Fran’s Country Grill In Molino
October 21, 2008
Fire stations from Ferry Pass to Century were dispatched to a reported commercial structure fire at Fran’s Country Grill in Molino this morning, but the call turned out to be a trash fire.
The Molino Station of Escambia County Fire-Rescue was first dispatched to a vehicle fire at the popular Molino restaurant just before 6:00. Based upon information from the caller about flames over or near the building, the call was upgraded to a commercial structure fire. That prompted dispatchers to send fire units from stations in Ferry Pass, Ensley, Cantonment, McDavid and Century.
An further investigation by a caller and a call from the restaurant indicated that the fire was actually boxes burning behind the building. All fire stations were then canceled except for Molino. The first Molino unit on the scene reported that the restaurant was burning boxes in a barrel behind the building on Highway 29,
All fire units were completed by about 6:05.