Century Car Plant Not A Done Deal; Plant And Jobs Could Go To North Alabama Or Even Flomaton
October 17, 2008
An electric car manufacturing company locating in Century is not a done deal. A former tenant in the Century Industrial Park could be problem that could cost the town up to 1,100 jobs, if the car company does not choose locations being considered in Alabama. If Century does not land the plant, it could end up as close by as Flomaton.
The electric car compay, currently called Project Green Leaf, is considering Century and locations in Alabama for their main plant. A resolution approved Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission says that manufacturing location being considered in Century is 6081 Industrial Boulevard…the building that was occupied until a few months ago by Helicopter Technologies.
The Town of Century filed foreclosure against Helicopter Technologies and its owner, Georges Van Nevel, in late August to regain the building that they financed. In the meantime, Van Nevel left the country, according to Century Mayor Freddie McCall. McCall and the town’s attorney thought that they had reached an agreement for Van Nevel to sign the building back over to the town with going to court, but that had not happened as of late Thursday. Van Nevel is believed to be in the Philippines.
McCall said he had contact with Van Nevel this week, and he still had not moved forward with turning the property back over to the Town of Century. So it remains in foreclosure, a process that can sometimes take months to complete in the court system. McCall said there was no way to know if the town would regain ownership fast enough for Project Green Leaf.
Escambia County Administrator Bob McLaughlin said that Jay Patel, the Pensacola hotel owner behind Project Green Leaf, is considering a location in Fort Payne, Alabama, to manufacture plug-in stations for electric vehicles, including those that might be produced in Century.
NorthEscambia.com confirmed that Patel and his associates have looked at locations in Fort Payne. Officials in Dekalb County, Alabama, confirmed on the condition of anonymity that Patel and his company have toured several locations in and around Fort Payne for their plug-in station company, or perhaps even the entire electric car manufacturing facility.
Meanwhile, NorthEscambia.com has learned that Patel and his associates met earlier this week in Flomaton with Escambia County (AL) representatives to discuss the possibility of locating some or all of the facility in the Flomaton area.
NorthEscambia.com has made numerous calls to Patel’s office at a Pensacola hotel, but those calls have not been returned by Patel. One call was returned by Art Rocker, who indentified himself as vice-president of the company. He said that company officials were not commenting on the project at this time.
“We sure hope they end up here in Century,” McCall said. “We offer many incentives they just are not going to find anywhere else.”
Locations in the town of Century, in addition to local financial support, offer money saving status as an Enterprise Zone, Brownfield Zone and Florida Enterprise Zone. Each of those “zones” provide a different set of financial incentives and tax credits for industry.
Click here to read “County Supports Electric Car Plant In Century; Up To 1,100 Jobs Possible”.
NorthEscambia.com was the first to break the story about the electric car plant a week ago, and we will have continuing coverage.
Northview Student Selected For 2009 Ambassador Trip To Italy, Greece
October 16, 2008
A Northview High School student has been selected as a student ambassador to Greece and Italy, and she needs your help to get there.
Alexis Roach, a 16-year old sophomore, was selected for the government sponsored People to People ambassador program. Students are selected to participate in the program based upon outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.
The People to People program provides international travel opportunities to students in a State Department program that was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Student Ambassadors experience hands-on learning opportunities and immerse themselves in the arts, sports and family life of cultures around the world.
Alexis will take part in a program called “Modern and Ancient Civilizations” for 19 days beginning June 13. She will visit Italy and Greece, including Rome, Naples, Mount Etna, Athens and Crete.
“This trip isn’t about going on vacation,” she said. “I will be earning credits for high school and college.”
On the trip, she will learn about local cultures, visiting landmarks and museums along the way.
“I’m looking forward to learning about other cultures, what they have and don’t have,” Alexis said.
In order to participate in the program, Alexis must raise about $7,000 to cover her travel expenses. She plans to raise the money in a variety of ways, including fund raisers like fish frys.
“It’s a blessing to me to have an opportunity like this,” Alexis said.
Anyone wishing to support Alexis Roach’s trip to Italy and Greece can make a donation at any branch of Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union, including branches in Pensacola or Atmore.
Authorities Continue To Seek Answers In Death Of Michigan Man
October 16, 2008
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An autopsy has been performed on the body of a Battle Creek, Michigan, man was found hanging near his vehicle along the Conecuh River in Escambia County, Alabama, and authorities are seeking the public’s help to find out what happened.
The results of the autopsy, which was performed Monday, have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com was the first area media to report on Sunday that the body of Claude VanDusen, 57, was found late Thursday of last week near his vehicle under a bridge near Highway 29 and Escambia County (AL) County Road 4. They say VanDusen had been dead for about three days.
“A fisherman called in complaints about an abandoned vehicle that was being vandalized and a deputy responded and a short time later, found the body in a wooded area near the bridge,” Escambia County (AL) investigator John Gleaton said.
The results of an autoposy have not been released, but authorities in Escambia County are calling the death suspicious.
VanDusen’s step son, Chris Hooper, told NorthEscambia.com that the entire incident had been especially tough on the family due to the uncertainty about what happened. He said that local media in Michigan had differing reports, with some news outlets reporting that the death was a suicide and others reporting that it was from natural causes.
“What in the world is going on? Can’t anyone get there stories straight before going and releasing this to the public?” Hooper said.
Back in Michigan, VanDusen’s family says he left home Wednesday morning of last week, cashed his $800 biweekly check, and headed to a hardware store to buy some insulation. That was the last time anyone in his hometown knew of his whereabouts until Escambia County (Alabama) authorities notified Battle Creek Police about the discovery of the body.
Authorities in Michigan say VanDusen had no known connections to anyone in Escambia County, Alabama, or North Escambia, Florida. If you have any information about this case, you are asked to call your local law enforcement agency.
Has Beens and Crazy Canadians Win Scalpball Tourney
October 16, 2008
The Northview Volleyball program held a Scalpball fundraiser recently at the school and at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
The first place winner was the “Has Beens”, the adult team bracket winner. The runner-up was the the “Crazy Canadians”, the teen bracker winner.
“We want to thank all teams for participating in our event and hope that we see everyone out here again next year,” said Betty Heaton, Northview volleyball coach.
A total of 15 teams entered the Scalpball tournament. There were 10 student teams and five adult bracket teams, the largest the school has ever had in the four on four tournament.
“Thanks to everyone again who helped make our third fund raising Volleyball Tournament a success,” Heaton added. She also thanks the First National Bank and Trust for their continuing support of the Northview Volleyball team.
Pictured above: The “Crazy Canadians”. Pictured below: The “Has Beens”. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
A Mile-Long Sunflower Show
October 16, 2008
Two long rows of sunflowers are putting on a mile long show in Oak Grove.
The rows of sunflowers, if placed end to end, would stretch about a mile. They are located in a soybean field in the Oak Grove community. The field is bordered by North Highway 99, Highway 164 and Melvin Road, making it possible to drive all the way around the field. The closeup sunflower photos here were taking along the Highway 164 end of the field Wednesday afternoon.
Pictured above: A bee sits on a sunflower in Oak Grove Wednesday afternoon. Pictured below: More photos of the sunflowers. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward PTSA Elects President
October 16, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association elected its new president Wednesday afternoon
Deidra Singleton was elected president of the PTSA for the 2008-2009 school year.
Other officers for this school year were not elected; those officers will be elected next week.
The Ernest Ward PTSA will meet again next Wednesday afternoon following a school advisory council meeting at 3:15 in the school’s media center.
Trapped Student, Counselor Rescued In School Fire Drill
October 15, 2008
Emergency officials from across Flomaton and Century responded to Flomaton Elementary School Tuesday morning for a disaster drill that simulated a fire with two trapped victims.
“We have a structure fire at 1634 Poplar Street…at the Flomaton Elementary School. Be advised we have one child missing in the building,” the dispatcher said while alerting the fire department to the call.
Within about two minutes, all 343 children were out of the building, except for one student and a counselor trapped inside an office in the middle of the mock fire.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the drill, click here.
For a video from the drill, click here.
Moments later, units from the Flomaton Fire Department, the Escambia County (FL) Fire-Rescue Century Station’s Engine 519, Escambia County (FL) EMS, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department and the Flomaton Police Department were at the school.
Firemen entered the building and began a “right search” — a touch and feel type search that would be done in a low viability, thick smoke situation where firemen enter the first room to the right and search for victims. A short time later, the “victims” were discovered in a school office. Counselor Susie Kirk and fifth grader Oliva Tatum were quickly evacuated to a waiting ambulance for treatment.
“In case something really happens like this, it is good that we can have this experience,” Tatum, 10, said after her rescue, “in case one day we really do get trapped somewhere.”
“I tell you, it went great. You just never know what is going to happen in a case like this,” Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton told NorthEscambia.com, adding that the drill provided his agency the chance to review the drill to find any mistakes they might have made. “This is going to be a super training for all of us.”
He also had a lot of praise for the students at staff at Flomaton Elementary.
“It took two minutes to get 343 kids out of the building,” Stanton said. “It was great. You just won’t believe how the kids came out of the building.”
The response was originally planned last week as part of a fire drill for Fire Prevention Week, but postponed due to rain last Tuesday.
Pictured above: Student “victim” Olivia Tatum, 10, is loaded into a waiting ambulance following a mock disaster fire drill at Flomaton Elementary School this morning. School counselor Susie Kirk (far right) was also rescued from the “burning” building. Pictured below: Firemen conduct a search looking for victims trapped in the mock fire. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Video: Fire Drill, Trapped Student Rescued At Flomaton Elementary
October 15, 2008
NorthEscambia.com was there Tuesday morning as Flomaton Elementary School was evacuated in a mock fire. Click the following video to watch the events unfold.
For a complete story and photo gallery from the drill, click here.
(If you can’t see the video, it is because your school or employer is blocking it. You should be able to watch the video from your home internet connection.)
Scary Stuff: Scientists Warn Giant Hissing Roaches Could Invade Florida, North Escambia
October 15, 2008
As if North Escambia residents aren’t bugged enough by roaches, a growing interest among reptile enthusiasts to farm the insects as lizard food could result in several new cockroach varieties invading the state, University of Florida entomologists warn.
Phil Koehler and Roberto Pereira, researchers with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, wrote an article in last month’s Florida Pest Pro magazine, alerting pest control operators and homeowners to be on the lookout for several new species of cockroach.
Their main worry is the Turkestan cockroach, which has made itself at home in the southwest United States after being brought in by military personnel and equipment returning from the Middle East.
The other types of roach they say Floridians could soon be in danger of stepping on include the Madagascar hissing roach, the lobster roach and the orange spotted roach, none of which are known to be established in the state.
“We have 69 species of cockroaches in the United States and 29 of them were brought in from other countries,” said Koehler, an entomology professor. “And now we have these new species being shipped into the state.”
Pointing at a hefty, 3-inch-long Madagascar hissing roach, he noted: “People just won’t like having that around their house.”
But with a few keystrokes and a credit card, it could certainly happen, said Pereira, a research associate scientist. “They keep telling us we live in a global economy and society,” he said. “All of these cockroaches you can get over the Internet — you can order something from the Pacific Northwest and have it here in two days or less. You can transfer things that way very easily.”
James Tuttle, a longtime reptile enthusiast who now runs a roach-supply company called blaberus.com that ships insects all across the country, said roaches as reptile food “is probably the most popular thing going these days.”
Crickets, which used to be a more popular reptile food source, are noisy with all their chirping, smell bad when they die and don’t reproduce quickly the way roaches do once a farm is up and running. And they cost more.
“It’s the economy,” he said. “You can spend $50 a month buying crickets, so that’s $600 a year, or you could spend $50 (on roaches) and in six months, never have to buy food again.”
Breeding roaches in captivity isn’t quite as easy as most think, Tuttle said, and roaches have so many natural predators — spiders, turtles, frogs, birds and rodents among others — that unless a large number escaped at once, they’d have a difficult time getting established in the wild.
And he said he knows of several pet-reptile owners in Florida who already have roach farms in their homes that haven’t disrupted the environment, even when a few escape here and there.
But under perfect conditions, he conceded, “it’s possible.”
“I would be stupid, and anyone else would be stupid, to say that they can or can’t, without a full-on study,” Tuttle said.
Tuttle said he agrees with the UF researchers’ contention that the Turkestan roach poses the biggest threat, given that it so easily settled in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Ron Box, director of education and scientific affairs with West Palm Beach-based Hulett Environmental Services, said he is gathering photographs of the cockroach species mentioned in the Florida Pest Pro article for his technicians, so that they’ll recognize them if they see them.
“So far, knock on wood, we haven’t had any,” said Box, whose company has 10 offices throughout Florida. “But I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we did.”
In this photo released from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, entomologists Phil Koehler and Roberto Pereira watch as a bearded dragon lizard peers into a jar filled with Madagascar hissing cockroaches at the university’s main campus in Gainesville. The entomologists recently warned Floridians and pest control experts that a growing internet trade in exotic roaches could lead to unwanted infestations. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Years After Ivan: Steeple Returns To Walnut Hill Church
October 15, 2008
Fours years after Hurricane Ivan ripped the steeple from the top of Annie Jones United Methodist Church, a new steeple now sits atop the small concrete block church.
The steeple was installed Tuesday morning at church, which is located on Arthur Brown Road near Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
For more photos from the steeple installation at Annie Jones United Methodist Church, click here.
Pictured above: A new steeple was installed under beautiful blue skies Tuesday morning at Annie Jones United Methodist Church in Walnut Hill, four years after the church lost its previous steeple to Hurricane Ivan. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Some photos in the gallery are courtesy Sherry Digmon.