NorthEscambia.com Surpasses 250,000 Pages Served
December 7, 2007
Thursday night, NorthEscambia.com surpassed a quarter million page views after being online for just over a month.
A page view is simply one person viewing one page on the site. That does not mean that a quarter million people have viewed the site…one person will usually view more than one page per visit. The photo gallery pages are not included in the 250,000 page view total.
The site has been averaging 10,000 to 15,000 page views per day the last few weeks, according to site statistics.
Many inquiries have been received by NorthEscambia.com concerning the availability of advertising on the site. Ads are not currently available on the site, but there is a waiting list for potential advertisers. There are just a few slots remaining when advertising is available. If your business would like to be on the list to possibly advertise on NorthEscambia.com, let us know by filling out our contact form.
Some interesting facts about NorthEscambia.com visitors:
- The most viewed story involved the death of an Escambia County Deputy in Walnut Hill.
- The second most viewed story was about the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry.
- The number one “referrer” (a site or link sending visitors to the site) was email…meaning many, many people emailed somebody the link to the site and they visited it.
- The second greatest source of visitors was Google. Yahoo was the second most popular search engine sending people to the site.
- Other links sending lots of visitors to the site were in the Pensacola News Journal’s forums (they’ve since deleted links to our site) and from the Northview High School web site.
- The number one search term used at Google to find the site was “north escambia”.
- 80% of visitors are running Windows XP. 6% are running an Apple Mac, one person is still running Windows 95 and a handful are running Linux and WebTV.
- The most popular day of the week for NorthEscambia.com has been Monday; the slowest day has been Sunday.
- Very few people are viewing the site during the three a.m. hour; way too many are still up during the midnight hour.
- The most popular hour for the site has been the noon hour (people visiting during lunch at work, perhaps).
- There have been visitors from Israel, Brazil, the Seychelles islands off Africa, Germany, Japan, China, Taiwan, Canada and Switzerland.
- The greatest number of visitors have come from the Frontier internet service (they provide dialup and DSL in Walnut Hill and Molino), followed by Cox high speed, Road Runner, Bellsouth and AOL.
- The site also popular with users within the Escambia County Schools, Wildblue satellite users, Escambia County and the U.S. Government.
In case you are wondering from all that…we don’t know who you are when you visit the site unless you fill out our form and tell us. The server knows that someone from a particular internet provider visited the site, what pages were viewed, their operating system (Windows XP, Linux, etc.) and where they came from (such as Google, another web site, etc.). Again, we don’t know who you are personally.
County Votes to Make Funding Molino Community Center A Priority
December 7, 2007
The Escambia County Commission approved requesting federal and state funds Thursday night that included making renovation of the old Molino Elementary School a “first priority”.
It will cost an estimated $4 million to renovate the school into a community center. Thursday night’s vote will lead to the county seeking out both federal and state funding for the renovation. The vote did not obligate the county to renovate the building; it just affirmed that they will attempt to find funding sources.
The school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school would transfer ownership from the Escambia County School District to the Board of County Commissioners under a plan that would allow the school district to use the Pensacola Civic Center ( a county facility) rent-free for 10 years for high school graduations. The school district currently pays $40,000 a year for use of the civic center.
Plans call for the school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the gym and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
Pictured below: A 2006 aerial view of the old Molino Elementary School.
District 5 Commisioner White Honored By Commission; Other Business Conducted
December 7, 2007
District 5 Commisioner Kevin White was honored at Thursday night’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission for his work as this past year’s chairman of the commission.
“He served in a year that was certainly difficult,” said new commission chair Mike Whitehead. “It was budget issues…it was a turbulent year. I think there was a number of issues that this board had to tackle, and I believe that you did a very good job of leading us through those issues.”
“I believe we came out a better, a stronger, a leaner meaner county than we were before,” he said. “Unfortunately, I think we are looking at another year of the same thing.”
“I appreciate the time, the effort and the talent you brought to the job; it is not as easy one,” Whitehead told White. “On behalf of the entire board…we appreciate what you have done.”
White was present a plaque by the commission.
— In other North Escambia area business, the commission refused to alter a code enforcement lien against property owned by the estate of Roxie Mae Blackmon at 2390 Chance Road in Molino. Mark Whittaker from Hammons, Longoria & Whittaker, P.A. requested the lien be removed.
But code enforcement officer Charles Walker stated that the property was still in violation of county ordinances, with an abandoned mobile home on the property having numerous broken windows.
— The commission also voted to implement a tougher ethics policy required commissioners and county employees to make more explicit disclosures about business relationships. This comes after former County Admistrator George Tuart’s resignation following undisclosed business relationships.
— Increased false fire alarm fees. The 1992 ordinance charged $50 after three false alarms. The new fee scheduled is $50 after the second false alarm and up to $500 for eight or more false alarms in a year.
— Began a nationwide search to replace County Attorney Janet Lander who retires in January.
Gospel Concert Scheduled For Saturday In Century
December 6, 2007
“The Big Gospel Concert” will be held Saturday night from 5:00 until 8:00 at the athletic field at the old Century High School. The event will feature gospel choirs, praise teams, gospel rappers and more. Refreshments including popcorn, hot dogs and drinks will also be available.
Admission to the even is $2.00 for ages 11 and up, $1.00 for ages 4-10 and free for children under three. Profits from the event will be matched by the Modern Woodmen of America Camp 16611 in Century.
Money raised by the event will be used for a free Christmas lock-in on the former Century High athletic field from 1:00 to 6:00 on December 22. The lock-in will feature free toys, game, bikes, school supplies, pizza, hot dogs, chicken and drinks.
The lock-in is sponsored by the Modern Woodman of America Camp 16611, New Life Baptist Church of Century, Truth for Youth, Inc., and other local churches and businesses.
Click the picture above to load a larger poster for the event. For more information, call Rev. John Powell at (850) 393-0332 or Rev. Irvin Stallworth at (850) 313-3779.
Current Survey Work Leading To Highway 97 Being Resurfaced
December 5, 2007
Survey work currently underway along Highway 97 in North Escambia is in preparation for the resurfacing of the road beginning in late 2009.
The $1.77 million survey and design phase of the project is ongoing, said Tommie Speights, Public Information Director for District 3 of the Florida Department of Transportation. The survey work and preliminary engineering is being conducted by Volkert and Associates of Mobile. The survey is expected to be finished by January of next year.
“The project is scheduled to let for contract in August 2009,” Speights told NorthEscambia.com. “It would then take three to four months to begin actual resurfacing, so work would begin in about December of 2009.”
Budget figures show that the resurfacing project is expected to cost $17.1 million and be completed in 2010. The entire roadway is be repaved from Country Road 95 (Old Palafox) across Highway 29 to the Alabama state line, a distance of about 23 miles. No major drainage changes are expected to the route’s 55 cross drains under the highway, with the exception of some possible changes near the intersection of Highway 97 and Crabtree Church Road.
Existing 12 foot wide travel lanes and five foot paved shoulders will be milled and resurfaced. This project does not include the four-laning of Highway 97. A four lane highway is not in any of the state’s current plans for Highway 97.
Pictured Above: Survey crews work recently on Highway 97 near County Road 99 in north Escambia County.
Memorial Fund Established For Deputy’s Family
December 4, 2007
A memorial fund for the family of Escambia County Deputy Lt. Raymond Simmons has been established by the The Northwest Florida Chapter of the Police Benevolence Association. Simmons died November 24 in Walnut Hill.
The association is asking for 100 deputies to pledge to work one side security job and donate $150.00 to the fund in Simmon’s memory. Deputies typically work extra duty security jobs and earn about $150.00 for eight hours. Any deputy willing to make the pledge is asked to email nwfpbawebmaster@yahoo.com with their name and fulfill their pledge within 90 days.
Anyone else wishing to make a donation for his children can do so at any branch of Pen Air Federal Credit Union, including the branch at 8460 North Century Boulevard in Century.
“We have an opportunity to work extra duty employment outside our jobs as officers,” said benevolence association President Bain Custer. “We are asking each officer to commit an eight our shift. But anything would help.”
“It is important to us that we do this for Ray’s children and his wife Summer,” Custer said.
Funeral services for Simmons were held Friday, November 30 at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment. He was laid to rest at Bayview Memorial Park. He had served 14 years with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Picture above and below are submitted photos from the funeral of Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Raymond Simmons.
Canadian Geese Wintering in Walnut Hill
December 3, 2007
It’s a scene that has been repeating itself about a month now. Just before sunset, a large flock of birds flies over Highway 97 near Gobbler Road in a majestic triangle. Passing motorists quickly notice that these birds are different than what is normally seen in the North Escambia area. With wingspans up to five feet and a weight of 20 pounds, these are no ordinary birds heading west toward the setting sun.
But for Jimmy and Doris Van Pelt, the view of these birds is much better each day. About a month ago, Mrs. Doris headed down to their pond, which is tucked away in a hollow just out of sight of Highway 97, to feed her ducks. But she and her cat Mr. Subs found several extra friends that day. Sixty three extra friends to be exact, visiting her Muscovy ducks, Mallard ducks and her neighborhood herons.
All those Canadians that visit the Gulf beaches ever winter — the locals call them snowbirds — can’t compare. You see, Mrs. Doris has real “snowbirds” hanging out everyday at her pond. These snowbirds are the real deal…Canadian geese.
Yep…Canadian geese in Florida. Sounds unusual. And it is. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission estimates that in an average winter there are about 1,000 Canadian geese in Florida. Of those, most are actually permanent residents of the area around Orlando and Tallahassee. They estimated that in recent years, only about 200 or so actually migrate into Florida from Canada.
Some might think their visit here is nothing unusual, remembering when they were much more common in these parts. Perhaps back during their childhoods. And they would be right, the Fish and Wildlife Commission says that about 47,000 Canadian geese used to visit the Florida Panhandle each winter during the 1960’s. But into the next decade, those numbers dwindled due to the expansion of farming in the Tennessee Valley. With the new foods supplies available to our north, the geese simply did not fly this far south.
On NorthEscambia.com’s recent visit to Mrs. Doris and her pond, there were 43 Canadian geese leisurely floating about. That’s down from the 63 she first counted about month ago. She does not know what happened to the others, but she speculates they’ve fallen to coyotes or other animals.
But there’s always the rest of the story to tell. The beauty and splendor of these visiting Canadians has not been without its downside. For the farmers with fields that are near Mrs. Doris’ pond, the geese are not welcomed.
The encyclopedia says “The diet of the Canada Goose generally consists of green vegetation and grains.” Winter wheat is just beginning to break through the ground in Walnut Hill. You do the math. It’s not hard to see the problem here for the farmers. Entire areas are being picked clean in the fields. It’s like the ultimate all you can eat buffet for the geese.
So they are nice to watch, but need to go, some might say. But there’s a catch. It’s called the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes any direct control, such as killing, touching, or disturbing live geese, nests, or eggs by a person or his/her property, of problem geese…well, a problem. And a violation of federal law. The farmers are left to wonder what to do.
In the meantime, Mrs. Doris will continue watch the geese in awe. When NorthEscambia.com visited with her, she hopped into her golf cart and headed down the hill to the pond, delighted to introduce her new found friends from up north. Mrs. Subs the cat wondered down the hill behind her. Under the fence he went, watching the Mallard ducks with that wide-eyed look only a cat can give. With a swish of his bobtail, he thought about pouncing on a duck that passed by. He declined, knowing the pain and suffering that a Mallard can inflict on a little bobtail kitty. No Mallard today for Mr. Subs.
But then he turned toward the pond. There in the reflection of the golden hillside, those huge Canadian geese swam toward the shore in the dimming light of the setting sun. Oh how he wanted one of those. He looked for a while, then turned back toward Mrs. Doris. Maybe tomorrow.
The geese turned back toward the center of the pond, preparing for their late afternoon flight west. They would be back in the morning, to spend their day on Mrs. Doris’ Walnut Hill pond.
(And you if know where the geese are going at night, NorthEscambia.com and Mrs. Doris would love to know. Click here to contact us, and let us know.)
Glenn Key Honored By Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department
December 2, 2007
Glenn Key of Oak Grove was honored Saturday night by the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department with the department’s annual community service award.
Key was out of town when the fire department held its annual fish fry and awards presentation on November 3. WHVFD Fire Chief Robert Stewart took the opportunity to present the award to Key at the Walnut Hill Ruritan’s annual Christmas party Saturday night.
Stewart said Key had served the community well, being involved in many projects over the past 50 years. Key first moved to the area in 1956.
Picture above: Glenn Key (left) receives the annual community service award from Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Stewart.
Walnut Hill Ruritan Celebrates 60 Years
December 1, 2007
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club celebrated its 60th anniversary at the club’s annual Christmas party Saturday night.
Outgoing club President William Reynolds (pictured left) presented Billy G. Ward (right) with a plaque honoring him as a surviving charter member. Ward was among the first members of the club that signed the club charter in 1947.
A portion of the original charter from June 1947 is pictured left. Click it to enlarge and read the charter, including the names of all of the original members of the club.
Over the years, the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club has been involved in many local projects, including the formation of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, the development of Bradberry Park, free local calling from Walnut Hill to the county seat of Pensacola and countless other community projects.
New club officers for 2008 were installed Saturday night by longtime club member Glenn Key. Billy R. Ward (pictured left) was named the club’s president. Mike Godwin was named vice president, Perry Byars secretary, James Formby treasurer and Royce Ward was named a three year director.
Pictured left to right below are Mike Godwin, vice president; Perry Byars secretary; James Formby, treasurer; Glenn Key (with microphone) and Royce Ward, three year director of the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club.
Click any photo on this page to enlarge it.
Unity Donates Prayer Shawls to Century Care Center
December 1, 2007
Unity Church of Christianity of Pensacola donated prayer shawls and lap robes to residents of the Century Care Center on Saturday. Click here for a complete photo gallery from the Unity donation to the residents of Century Care Center. (Submitted photos)
