Century Convenience Store Robbed Tuesday Night
July 30, 2008
The Southern Pit Stop on North Century Boulevard was held up Tuesday night.
Deputies say a black male robbed the convenience store at 9321 North Century Boulevard about 9:50 Tuesday night. The lone male entered the store, pushed down a clerk and grabbed an undetermined amount of cash from the register. He did not display a weapon, according to deputies. The store clerks were not injured.
He was described as a black male, about 5 feet 6 inches tall. He was wearing blue pants, a blue bandana with eye holes cut into it, and possibly a blue shirt. One of the store clerks told deputies he had a clean appearance.
Escambia County deputies from Century, Molino and Cantonment setup a perimeter for several blocks around the store. The Flomaton Police Department also assisted in the ground search, while the Escambia Sheriff’s Department helicopter searched from the air.
The K-9 team from Century Correctional Institute tracked the suspect’s trail out of the store, around behind it, across North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) and down Jackson Street. The dogs lost the suspect’s scent to the northeast of the store a short time later.
The search for the suspect was called off about 11:00 Tuesday night.
Pictured above: The Southern Pit Stop on Century Boulevard was robbed about 9:50 Tuesday night. Pictured below: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy enters the store. Pictured bottom: An Escambia Deputy and Century Correctional Institute K-9 officer follow a search dog behind the store. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Bills Are Headed Up; Average Usage In 2007 Cost $70, Will Jump To $113 By September
July 30, 2008
If you are a Gulf Power customer, your electricity will cost you more beginning with your September bill.
Tuesday, the Florida Public Service Commission approved an 11.3 percent increase for Gulf Power, the electric utility in the area of North Escambia from Century south through Molino and continuing south into Pensacola. Areas such as Bratt, Oak Grove, Walnut Hill and Davisville west to Baldwin County, Alabama, are served by Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
Residential Gulf Power customers will see an increase of 11.3 percent, raising the cost of 1,000 kilowatt hours from $102.22 to $113.76. In September 2007, that same amount of electricity would cost just $70.29.
Citing double-digit increases in the price of natural gas and coal, Gulf Power asked the Florida Public Service Commission to approve an increase in electricity prices to cover a $76 million shortfall in 2008 revenues.
Gulf Power makes no profit on the cost of fuel. Customers are billed only what Gulf Power pays for the fuels used to make electricity.
To lessen the impact on customers, Gulf Power asked the FPSC to spread the increase out until the end of 2009, rather than collecting all of the shortfall in 2008 – the normal annual recovery period.
“The increase in the cost of fuel that we are experiencing is unprecedented,” said Gulf Power’s General Manager of Public Affairs John Hutchinson. “We don’t like increasing our prices especially at this difficult time. But just like the rising cost of gasoline, the cost of the fuels we use continues to climb. By spreading the shortfall out over a longer period of time we hope to lessen the impact as much as possible.”
The average price of coal, which fuels more than 80 percent of Gulf Power’s electricity generation, has risen 30 percent in the last year while average natural gas prices have jumped 47 percent since 2007.
Gulf Power was the third major utility in Florida to seek a mid-year fuel adjustment, with Florida Power and Light and Progress Energy seeking increases earlier this month. Normally, the FPSC adjusts electricity prices each January for fuel price fluctuations. But coal and natural gas prices have risen so rapidly in 2008, utilities are being forced to ask for mid-year adjustments.
Electric utility customers pay only the actual fuel costs that the company incurs. When fuel prices go up, the additional costs are passed through to customers. And when fuel prices go down, the savings are passed through to customers. Fuel costs have a major impact on electricity bills, accounting for almost 50 percent of the total bill.
To help customers, Gulf Power offers free energy checkups to identify energy efficiency measures to save homeowners and businesses money on their electricity bills. The company also offers rebates on Geothermal heating and cooling systems which save up to 40 percent on heating and cooling costs, as well as innovative rates and residential energy management systems to help customers lower their bills. And, the company offers a number of payment options and programs to help customers smooth out payments during high-bill months. Plan details and energy-saving tips are available at www.gulfpower.com.
Molino Company’s Truck Stolen, Flipped Over In Pensacola
July 30, 2008
A truck belonging to a Molino company was totaled in Pensacola Wednesday after it was stolen by a group of teenagers.
The Chevrolet Avalanche was stolen from a store at New Warrington Road and Jackson Street in Pensacola.
Gary Criswell, 47, was driving the truck about 1:00 Tuesday afternoon when he stepped inside the store for a few minutes. That’s when the truck was stolen. The truck belongs to Criswell’s employer, D&B Builders of Molino.
The Escambia Sheriff’ Department received a tip that the truck had been spotted in the Montclair area. A deputy passed the truck on Massachusetts Avenue about 3:30. By the time the deputy had turned around, the truck had been wrecked on nearby Warehouse Lane. The Chevy Avalanche was on its side just off the roadway.
Deputies located two teens that were believed to have been in the truck. One was located at a nearby business, and the other was located at an apartment complex. One was seriously injured; the other was suffering from severe injuries. Both were transported Sacred Heart Hospital. Deputies believe there may have been two more teenagers in the truck at the time of the accident.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Apply For Southern Pine Beetle Program
July 30, 2008
The Division of Forestry is re-offering the Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost Share Program to eligible non-industrial private forest landowners.
The goal of the program is to minimize southern pine beetle damage in Florida by helping forest landowners reduce the susceptibility of their pine stands to this destructive insect pest.
Periodic southern pine beetle outbreaks in Florida have resulted in millions of cubic feet of pine timber killed on thousands of acres. Forest management practices, such as thinning, prescribed burning, other competition control, and use of less-susceptible pine species can improve the health of pine stands and decrease their likelihood of developing southern pine beetle infestations.
The program offers up to 50 percent cost reimbursement for pre-commercial thinning, prescribed burning and mechanical underbrush treatments in existing pine stands, and a $50 per acre incentive payment for landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning.
In addition, landowners may apply to receive up to 50 percent reimbursement for the cost of longleaf seedlings and $25 per acre in planting cost assistance to establish a longleaf pine plantation. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties located within the range of the southern pine beetle. Qualified landowners may apply for up to two approved practices per year. The minimum tract size requirement is 10 acres and funding requests may not exceed $10,000.
For an application and more information on program requirements and procedures, forest landowners can contact the Florida Division of Forestry in Molino at (850) 587-5123. Applications were available beginning July 30 and will be evaluated on a first-received, first-served basis. The program is supported through temporary grants from the USDA Forest Service and will be offered only as long as funding is available.
Area Hospital Gets New Leader
July 29, 2008
An area hospital that serves North Escambia has named a new administrator.
Bill Perkins has been promoted to Atmore Community Hospital administrator and Baptist Health Care vice president.
Perkins joined Baptist Health Care in April 1990 and has held a number of management and administrative positions, most recently serving as corporate director of decision support.
Perkins earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of West Florida and master’s in health services administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill.
During much of 2008, Perkins has worked closely with current administrator Bob Gowing and the hospital’s board of directors to identify and implement service and growth initiatives at Atmore Community Hospital.
Gowing, a 38-year Baptist Health Care employee, will be returning to the Baptist Hospital campus to join the leadership team preparing for the West Florida Hospital acquisition.
He will be integral in the planning and implementation of incorporating the new location and its services into the Baptist Health Care Corporation. Gowing has served as administrator at the affiliated Atmore hospital for more than nine years.
Three Of Four District 5 School Board Candidates Raise Almost Even Money
July 29, 2008
If the amount of money raised by a candidate directly translated into votes or a measure of popularity, the race for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County School board will be an interesting one.
Three of the four candidates for the seat are within $500 of each other in the amount of money raised by their campaign through July 18.
Tom Harrell had received $5,925.00 in monetary contributions to lead the pack…but financially, it’s a very small lead. Incumbent Peter R. Gindl, Sr. had raised $5,704.56, and Bill Slayton had received $5,455 in monetary contributions by the last reporting deadline on July 18. The fourth candidate in the race, Robert Tegenkamp had received a $1,500 from himself.
All four candidates had spent most of the their campaign accounts by July 18.
Tom Harrell had spent $4,873.10 for a balance of $1,051.09 in cash remaining. Most of the funds Harrell spent in the last reporting period were for printing, mailing and screen printing.
Peter Gindl had spent $4,271.78 for a $1,432.78 in cash remaining. He spent over $3,000 on campaign signs, and also purchased t-shirts as his larger campaign expenses.
Bill Slayton had $1,246.79 cash remaining after spending $4,208.21. In the last reporting period, most of the money Slayton spent was for stamps and signs.
Tegenkamp had just $62.48 in his campaign account on July 18. He one campaign contribution of $1,500 was from himself. He spent $1,437.52 in fees to the county to qualify for the election. Unlike the other three candidates, Tegenkamp paid the qualifying fee rather than getting at least 369 registered voter signatures from District 5 to qualify at no charge.
School board elections in Escambia County are nonpartisan. The primary election is August 26.
Pictured above: District 5 Escambia County School Board candidates (L-R) Bill Slayton, Tom Harrell and Peter Gindl. NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Atmores Visit Atmore From Across The Pond; He’s The Former Queen’s Bodyguard (Yes, THAT Queen)
July 29, 2008
North Escambia’s neighbors to the north recently had a few visitors from across the big pond. The Atmore family from England recently paid Atmore a visit on their tour of North America.
Kenneth and Ann Atmore of Bexleyheath, England, toured portions of Canada and the United States recently. She is a dental nurse. He’s a retired police officer, retired from the job of The Queen’s Police Officer. That’s right…he was the personal bodyguard for the Queen.
The Atmores hit several local restaurants, the library, city hall and more as they were treated with almost celebrity status in Atmore.
For the complete story of the Atmores visit to Atmore from the Atmore News, click here.
Molino Polling Place Moved From VFD To Barrineau Park
July 29, 2008
Voters in Molino will no longer be voting at the Molino Volunteer Fire Department.
Molino’s Precinct 19 has been moved from the fire department to the Barrineau Park Community Center at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road. The new polling location is about four miles from the fire department on Molino Road.
The change was made to better accommodate the large number of voters in the precinct, according the the office of David Stafford, Escambia elections supervisor. There are 3,372 voters in the precinct.
Each voter in Molino’s Precinct 19 has been mailed a letter explaining the change and providing a map of the new location. Each voter in the precinct will also receive a new voter registration card with the updated polling location.
Voters with questions or who would like additional information should contact the Elections Office at 850-595-3900 or soe@EscambiaVotes.com, or visit www.EscambiaVotes.com
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Gulf Power Donates To Local Chapter Of American Red Cross
July 29, 2008
The Gulf Power Foundation has donated $20,000 to the Northwest Florida chapter of the American Red Cross.
“Red Cross continues its work, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, responding to local disasters,” said Lynn Erickson, spokeswoman for Gulf Power. “There always will be people in need, and the Red Cross always has been there to help.”
Unfortunately, Red Cross is in need of financial support after providing emergency assistance in 2008 to more than 1,300 people during 353 local disasters including house fires, tornadoes and flooding. They also have provided emergency communications for 2,185 military members and their families this year.
The Rev. Lonnie Wesley from Little Rock Baptist Church and Sheri Frost, Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Florida Chapter of Red Cross, were on hand at a news conference Monday at Gulf Power’s Corporate Office in downtown Pensacola.
Rev. Wesley shared how the Red Cross helped his church and families after a direct hit from a tornado last year. Frost provided details of other assistance provided locally by Red Cross and the dire needs of the agency.
After recent hurricanes ravaged the region, Gulf Power and the Red Cross had their hands full meeting people’s basic needs for food, shelter and power.
“In the past, when disaster has hit, Gulf Power and the Red Cross both have worked restoring people’s lives and offering hope,” Erickson said. “And right now the Red Cross needs our help-so they can continue providing much needed assistance when people need it the most.”
Those who want to give to the local Red Cross chapter can go to www.YourRedCross.org
Gulf Power is the electric utility in North Escambia for customers in Century, south through Molino and into Pensacola.
Walnut Hill Church Holding Revival, Homecoming Services
July 28, 2008
Walnut Hill Baptist Church will continue their revival this week, and the church will hold Homecoming services Sunday.
Services will be at 6:00 Monday through Wednesday evenings with the Rev. Gene Pickern, a former missionary in the Caribbean.
The church will hold their annual Homecoming service this Sunday morning at 10:30 with the Rev. Jerry Peebles as the guest speaker.
Walnut Hill Baptist is located at 5741 Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill, about a mile and a half from the caution light at Ernest Ward Middle School.
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