Local Man Wins Crusade To Prevent More Deaths At Highway 29 And Byrneville, Bluff Springs Roads
October 27, 2008
A local man took on the state highway department and won…caution lights are up and the speed limit will soon be lowered at Highway 29 and Byrneville Road.
Leroy White (left) lost his granddaughter on Thanksgiving day 2005 at the intersection of Byrneville Road/Bluff Springs Road and Highway 29. It’s a tragedy that he says could have been prevented with a traffic signal, and he went on a mission to have the Florida Department of Transportation make some changes.
That crusade include a petition with 450 signatures requesting improvements at the intersection and an August 15 article on NorthEscambia.com.
Tommie Speights, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transporation, said that petition and the news coverage on NorthEscambia.com led the DOT to study the intersection.
Flashing yellow lights have been installed on “intersection ahead” signs both north and southbound as Highway 29 approaches the intersection. If all goes as planned, new speed limit signs will be posted Friday, lowering the Highway 29 speed limit near the intersection from 65 to 55 mph, Speights said. Additionally, he said, the state had recommended that the county install solar powered flashing lights and signs on both Byrneville Road and Bluff Springs Road as they approach Highway 29.
“Hopefully it will do some good,” White told NorthEscambia.com. “There’s been too many wrecks there. I’m glad they are finally doing something about it.”
Callista LeEtta White died November 27, 2003, at the intersection. She was returning to Pensacola after spending time on Thanksgiving with her family. It was raining, and she approached Highway 29 too fast, apparently not realizing that she was near the intersection. She missed the stop sign and hydroplaned into the path of of a tractor trailer truck on Highway 29 about 7:35 p.m. The 2003 Northview High School graduate died a short time later at West Florida Hospital.
The most recent fatality at the intersection was on June 23 when Carolyn Hightower, 60, of Pensacola died as a result of injuries she sustained in a two vehicle accident there. Her husband, Richard Hightower, 63, was seriously injured in the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol said that Floyd D. Calloway, 65, pulled into the intersection from Bluff Springs into the path of the Hightower’s SUV.
“I just didn’t want to see it happen to another family,” White said.
Pictured above: The new caution light on Highway 29 looking south toward Byrneville Road.. Pictured below: The accident at the intersection that claimed the life of a Pensacola woman on June 23. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Default Judgement In Foreclosure Against Helicopter Technology; Town To Settle With Another Party
October 27, 2008
The Town of Century’s foreclosure on the old Helicopter Technology building is moving closer to completion with default judgments issued against the defunct helicopter company and every other defendant except one.
A default judgement for foreclosure was issued against Helicopter Technology after the company or its representatives failed to respond to the foreclosure suit.
“A default judgment essentially means that those defendants have admitted to and agreed with the allegations in our complaint,” Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney, wrote in a letter to town officials. “In essence, it is deemed that they have admitted to the property being sold at public auction and their interests being foreclosed.”
The town filed foreclosure proceedings against Helicopter Technology back on August 26. At the time the foreclosure was filed, other defendants had claims against Helicopter Technology including accountants Williams, Cox, Weidner & Cox; Carr, Riggs, Ingram LLC, which is the successor to Williams, Cox, Weidner & Cox; and Anthony and Demetri Urella who had also obtained a judgment against Helicopter Technology.
Default judgments were obtained against all of the defendants except for Williams, Cox, Weidner & Cox.
“To obtain or convey clear title to the property, it is necessary to foreclose the interests of all defendants,” Dannheisser wrote in his letter to the town.
Dannheisser negotiated a $2,500 settlement with Williams, and the town council has approved that settlement offer. The payment will be made only after the successful completion of the foreclosure sale.
“Doing so will enable the property to be sold at a foreclosure sale within thirty-five days after the judgment is entered,” the attorney wrote.
Recap: Complete Northview Homecoming Coverage
October 27, 2008
The Northview High School Chiefs celebrated Homecoming 2008 Friday night, and NorthEscambia.com had complete coverage.
If you missed NorthEscambia.com Saturday morning, you missed complete coverage from Northview’s homecoming, including hundreds of photos.
Click any story title below to ready the story and see a photo gallery from each story.
Chelsea Sims Crowned 2008 Northview High Homecoming Queen
Heartbreaking Homecoming For Northview Chiefs
Northview Tribal Beat Band Debuts New Uniforms
Railroad Crossings From Century To Molino To Be Closed For Repairs
October 27, 2008
Work will continue for the next several weeks at railroad crossings from Century to Molino.
Hecker Road in Century is still closed while CSX makes repairs to that crossing. Repairs and closures are also planned at crossings at several other crossings in the area.
Tentative plans call for the closure of crossings at Cottage Street, East McCurdy Street, Front Street, Jefferson Avenue, East Pond Street, Bogia Road, Cotton Lake Road, South Barth Road, North Brickyard Road and South Brickyard. Several other private crossings that run east off Highway 29 across the CSX tracks will also be closed for repair.
The final closures are expected to take place by December 8.
Other area crossings including those at Highway 4 in Century, Bluff Springs Road, Whirlpool Road, Mystic Springs Road and North Barth Road are not scheduled to be closed.
The closing of the Hecker Road crossing is near Carver/Century K-8 School. That closure has caused school buses to be rerouted and is expected to cause minor problems for parents dropping off and picking up their children from the school.
Pictured above and below: Hecker Road was closed last week at the railroad crossing while CSX Railroad makes repairs. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Sunday Fire Destroys Trailer In Enon; Bratt Home Damaged In Separate Fire
October 26, 2008
Fire heavily damaged an abandoned trailer in the Enon Sunday afternoon, and a home in Bratt was damaged by fire Sunday evening.
The trailer fire was reported about 1:30 in the 10400 block of South Pineville Road in Enon. Witnesses say a trash fire behind the trailer spread, igniting the mobile home.
The fire in Bratt was reported just after 6:00 Sunday night in the 8000 block on Bratt Road. The stove fire caused minor damage.
There were no injuries reported in either fire.
The Walnut Hill, Molino and McDavid Stations of Escambia County Fire-Rescue responded to the first blaze, and the McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill and Molino stations responded to the second fire.
NorthEscambia. was among the first on the scene. To see an exclusive, complete photo gallery of the fire from before the fire trucks arrived to the fire being extinguished, click here.
Pictured above: Fire heavily damaged the an abandoned mobile home on Pineville Road in the Enon community Sunday afternoon. Pictured below: The first fire truck arrives at the scene. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Sunday Morning Wreck In Davisville
October 26, 2008
There were no injuries in a two vehicle accident involving about a half dozen people Sunday morning in Davisville.
The driver of a Buick LaSabre apparently rear-ended a Chevrolet Silverado. Some of the occupants of the car were evaluated by Atmore Ambulance for potential injuries caused the vehicle’s airbags deployed. The two occupants of the truck were uninjured. No one was transported to the hospital.
The accident happened at about 10:50 on Highway 97 at Nokomis Road, near the Diamond gas station.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured above: There were no serious injuries to any of the about half dozen people involved in a two vehicle accident in Davisville Sunday morning. The driver this Buick LaSabre apparently rear-ended a pickup truck. Photo by Delaney R. for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Beats Brewton
October 26, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Midgets shutout Brewton Saturday in little league football.
The Midgets beat Brewton 35-0.
Colton Williams led the way with touchdown runs of 50 and 23 yards. Daulton Tullis, Brandon Freeman and Dalton Daniel each score a TD against Brewton.
The last regular season games for NWE will be next weekend at Pace Blue.
Thousands From Across Our Area Enjoy Williams Station Day
October 26, 2008
Thousands from across South Alabama and Northwest Florida enjoyed Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday.
Residents and visitors alike turned back their clocks to 1866 when their community was named Williams Station – just a supply stop along the Mobile & Great Northern railroad.
It was a simpler time, when life revolved around the railroads and folks marked time by the sound of the steam engines chugging through town or the whistle of the local lumber mill. The regional festival featured a fun day of family entertainment. Williams Station Day was packed with great venues to fit every taste, with an old fashioned sampling of southern heritage seasoned with the blues, arts and crafts, cane milling and railroad memorabilia.
Historic Pensacola Avenue was the setting for two separate art shows, both fine arts and crafts. Ancestors and artisans demonstrated the art of making pottery, fine art, primitive art, painted gourds, soap making, bird houses, baskets, and photography. Many were shopping early for Christmas gifts.
Entertainment featured a “A Mission of Fun” with The Alabama Blues Brothers (a.k.a. Jamey and Justin Crisler from Town Creek, AL). Dressed in signature black suits and night-black Ray-Bans, these outstanding Blues impersonators accompanied by talented musicians, performed show stoppers that include “Soul Man”, “Rawhide”, and many other great R & B Blues Brothers tunes.
Engine running, a working locomotive was available for tours from the AL & Gulfcoast Railroad. On a much smaller scale, a model train show took place inside the YMCA.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Williams Station Day, click here.
Williams Station, which would later become Atmore, was named for a Walnut Hill man. Click here to read that story from NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: Thousands attended the annual Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday. Pictured below: The excitement was just a little too much for this guy to handle. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Big Sunday At Several North Escambia Chuches
October 26, 2008
Several North Escambia churches are celebrating big events this Sunday, including one having a 100th anniversary homecoming.
Members of the First Baptist Church of Bratt will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church on Sunday beginning at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Lawson Jolly will bring the message at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served following the morning service services. Everyone is invited to attend.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church will hold Homecoming services Sunday morning at the church in Bogia. Pastor Nathan Brown will be speaking in the morning service. Sunday School begins at 9:45 and worship services begin at 10:30. There will be a covered dish lunch following the morning service. There will be no evening services.
Homecoming services will be held Sunday at Highland Baptist Church in Molino. The guest speaker will be Bro. Troy Massey. Sunday school begins at 9:30 and worship begins at 10:45. There will be a covered dish lunch following the morning service. There will be no evening services.
New Life Fellowship Assembly of God in Walnut Hill will be holding their Homecoming on Sunday at 10:45 a.m featuring the McCrays. Everyone is welcome.
What’s The Plant With The Unique Bloom?
October 26, 2008
The McCann family in Byrneville has had an interesting show of nature at their home, and they’d like to know what it is really called.
Bill McCann says his family on Gloryland Road has always called this a “Finger Leaf” plant, but he does not know what it is really called. He says it was in their house for about two years as a potted housed plant, and it was moved outside about four years ago.
He said the plant had buds on it this year for the first time, and the first bloom opened for about two days before closing. Additional blooms have opened since, and the plant is gettting new leaves.
If you know what the plant is, Bill would like to know (as would we). You can offer your thoughts in the comment section below.
Pictured above and below: The McCann family in Byrneville has this plant in their yard, and they’d like to know what it is called. It has a rather unique bloom (below). Submitted photos, click to enlarge.
