Escambia County Goes High Tech To Determine Road Pavement Priorities
December 18, 2011
Escambia County is working on a high-tech mapping project that will help officials determine which roads need to be repaved first.
Escambia County has entered into a $228,498 contract with Transmap Corporation to map about 1,300 miles of already paved roadways. The results will allow Escambia County to rank each roadway by condition so that a paving priority can be determined.
The maps will include a 360-degree view of all roadways and right of ways, including images from a dedicated pavement camera showing every inch of pavement in the county. The end result will be loaded into a pavement management database that will show, among other details, the condition of pavement by roadway.
Pictured top: A mapping vehicle from Transmap Corporation maps Highway 99 north of Crabtree Church Road recently. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Santa Trades Sleigh For Fire Truck To Visit McDavid Area Children
December 18, 2011
Santa Claus traded in his sleigh Saturday for a big red fire truck as he visited boys and girls across the McDavid Fire Department district. The Jolly Old Elf stopped at children’s homes, visiting with children and listening carefully to those last minute Christmas wishes.
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department has provided the Santa escorts for about 20 years.
Pictured above and below: Santa Claus visited with children around McDavid Saturday thanks to the McDavid Fire Department. NorthEscambia.com and submitted photos by Mandi Kinley, click to enlarge.
One Dead, One Injured In Shooting Near Baptist Hospital
December 18, 2011
One person is dead and another is critically injured after they were shot Saturday night near Baptist Hospital.
The incident occurred in the 1200 block of West Moreno Street about 7:15 p.m. Pensacola Police Department detective James Reese said one person died at the scene and one was transported to Baptist Hospital. Names are not yet being released pending notification of next of kin.
Reese said a white vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Suburban or similar model, was seen leaving the area westbound on Moreno Street following the shooting.
A motive for the shootings remains under investigation. Additional details will be released when they become available.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact Detective James Reese at (850) 435-1976 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Oh Holy Night: Byrneville Church Displays Manger Scene
December 18, 2011
The annual manger scene display at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God in Byrneville is available for viewing nightly. The church is located at 2311 Highway 4A, just south of Highway 168. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Do you have great Christmas light display photos? Email news@northescambia.com to share.
Sunny Monday, Rain By Tuesday
December 18, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Calm winds.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Christmas Day: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Now’s The Time To Check Your Voter Registration
December 18, 2011
Voters have just a few more days to update their registration information for the January 31, 2012 Presidential Preference Primary. January 3 is the last day to register to vote or to change party affiliation.
New registration must be completed on or before January 3 at 5 p.m. to be effective for the first election of 2012.
To check registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click Am I Registered?.
Now is also the time for voters to request an absentee ballot and update record sand signatures. For an absentee ballot, visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or email the elections office. Early voting begins January 21 at four locations throughout Escambia County. While only Republicans will be eligible to vote in that party’s Presidential Preference Primary, all voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to vote on the countywide referendum that will appear on the ballot.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their records:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Mail the completed application no later than January 3 to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, P.O. Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, second floor, in downtown Pensacola. Or, call 850-595-3900 or email the Elections Office, soe@escambiavotes.com, to have a form mailed to you.
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, second floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available at many locations throughout the county. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com, call or email the Elections Office.
Walnut Hill Church Steps Back For Victorian Inspired Christmas Banquet
December 18, 2011
The ladies of Walnut Hill Baptist Church recently took a step back in time during a Victorian-inspired Christmas banquet.
For the catered banquet, church members decorated tables to match the theme, and guest speaker Cindy Still related the many ways the Victorians celebrated Christmas. Still said many modern day Christmas traditions are from the Victorian era — including caroling, Christmas cards and the Christmas tree.
Walnut Hill Baptist Church members that participated in table decorating for the event were Somer Bridges, Karla Bryan, Kathy Faircloth, Paula Ferguson, Pam Gabriel, Ramona Gay, Katie Godwin, Luanne Henderson, Katlyn Jacobson and Tammy Wilson.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Do you have news or photos to share from your church? Email news@northescambia.com.
Pictured top: Paula Ferguson with her Victorian-inspired table decorations during a recent banquet at Walnut Hill Baptist Church. Pictured below: Banquet attendees learned about Victorian Christmas traditions. Photos submitted by Ramona Gay and Marilyn Ward for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Offers Recycling Workshop For Kids
December 18, 2011
Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management will host another recycling workshop over the Christmas holidays to give children a learning experience in recycling. The workshop will be offered on Thursday, December 22, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Preregistration is required as space is limited. All workshops are held at the Perdido Landfill, 13009 Beulah Road in Cantonment. The cost of the workshops is a donation of one pair of new or gently used shoes for Soles4Soles.
Activities at the camp will include tours of the landfill and recycling center, arts and crafts with recycled materials and games that focus on recycling and reuse. Participants should wear clothes that are appropriate for outside play and bring a lunch, snack and drinks. Organizers ask that participants pack a zero waste lunch in reusable containers.
The event is sponsored by the Department of Solid Waste Management. For more information or to preregister, call (850) 937-2160.
Ronald “Chad” Williamson
December 18, 2011
Ronald “Chad” Williamson, 37, was carried by Jesus’ angels to his heavenly home on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Chad was born in Pensacola and was a member of Highland Baptist Church. Chad has been a fighter and has had a strong will to carry on but he no longer has to fight, he can now rest at the feet of his Savior.
Chad was preceded in death by his aunt Benita Holder King.
Chad is survived by his loving parents, Ronnie and Teresa Williamson; his special little sister, Moriah Williamson; grandparents, Bill and Edna Taylor, Harold and Audrey Holder; aunts and uncles, Deborah and Larry Andrews, Belinda and David Perry, Cindy and Dink Kennedy, Jackie and Gene Milstid, Terry and Pat Monahan, Debbie and Bill Terry, Billy and Dahlia Taylor; and cousins, Melissa Renacker, Tim Andrews, Joni Andrews, Bobby King, Marissa Perry, Austin Perry, Leslie Kennedy, Jessica Peacock, Stacy Monahan, Amanda Ruth, Melissa Hicks, Michelle Carpenter, Rebecca Moorer, Noel Taylor, Evan Taylor, Jennifer Cook and Jason Terry.
Visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at Faith Chapel North from 6-8 p.m. The celebration of Chad’s life will be Thursday, December 22, 2011, at Highland Baptist Church, Molino, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Brian Calhoun officiating.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his friends: Dean Hassebrock, Vinn Nguyen, Tom Mealey, Steve Barry, Al Hampton and Aaron Perry.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Highland Baptist church in Chad’s memory.
Marie Driver Whitehead
December 18, 2011
Marie Driver Whitehead, age 94, of Cantonment passed away Friday, December 16, 2011. She was born in Monroe County, Alabama.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Willis Floyd and her daughter, Helen Emerich.
Survivors include her three sons, James (Carlie) Whitehead of Cantonment, Wayne (Joan) Whitehead of Pensacola and Willis Whitehead, Jr. of Mobile, one brother, Robert Driver of Gonzalez along with numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, December 19, 2011, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with Rev. Robert Porter officiating. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Assembly of God Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.