Cat Country 98.7 Named CMA Small Market Station Of The Year
October 10, 2019
Cat Country 98.7’s Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton received a surprise phone call Wednesday morning from country music megastar Carrie Underwood.
“I have some news for you this morning,” Underwood said. “Congratulations! WYCT (Cat Country 98.7) you are the CMA broadcast award winners for Small Market Station of the Year!”
“Thank you so much Carrie Underwood,” Candy said, as Brent remained pretty much speechless for a few seconds, which is saying a lot for a morning radio host.
“I have no words,” Brent said.’ Thank you so much….What a thrill to represent our community in Nashville this year. I am so excited.”
“You deserve it,” Underwood replied.
Cat Country will receive the Country Music Association’s Small Market Station of the Year Award during the annual CMA Awards in Nashville on November 13. The CMA awards will be telecast locally on WEAR 3.
Stations are judged by a panel of broadcast professionals on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and format leadership.
Cat Country 98.7 was named CMA Station Of The Year once before in 2017. The station is locally owned by ADX Communications.
Pictured top: Morning hosts Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton react to a phone call from Carrie Underwood letting them know Cat Country 98.7 has been named CMA Small Market Station of the Year. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three People Killed In Lillian Bridge Crash
October 10, 2019
Three people were killed in a fiery crash Thursday morning on the Highway 98 Lillian Bridge in Escambia County.
Russell Joseph Drummund, age 19 of Elberta, was traveling east from Alabama on the bridge about 4:50 a.m. when his 2007 Chevrolet Impala crossed the centerline into the westbound lane and collided head-on with a Peterbilt box truck hauling lumber, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Drummund and his passenger, 19-year old Christian Coleton Beech of Lillian, were both ejected and pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of the truck, 48-year old Sheldon Ray Liddell of Pensacola, was also pronounced deceased on scene.
The bridge was expected to remain closed into the afternoon for cleanup and the investigation.
Molino Man Pleads Guilty, Sentenced On Child Porn Charges
October 9, 2019
A Molino man was sentenced to state prison Tuesday on child pornography charges.
Steven Ryan Godwin pleaded guilty to nine counts of possession of child pornography and was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackelford to nine and a half years in state prison. He will also be designated as a sexual offender upon release.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement had charged Godwin with 20 counts counts of possession of child pornography for images found on his cellphone, along with one count of transmitting child pornography for a file he allegedly sent by Facebook Messenger. According to an arrest report, the Facebook message depicted an exposed 11-13 year old nude female sitting against a wall.
In August 2018, FDLE agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a suspect was uploading child porn to another user on Facebook. Authorities were able to trace the uploads to a residence in the 3500 block of Highway 97 in Molino.
FDLE agents obtained a search warrant that was served at Godwin’s residence in September 2018. When the occupants of the home were exiting, Godwin continued to reach towards his waistband before dropping a LG cell phone, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The phone was seized and contained child pornography images featuring children under the age of 10, with multiple images including children younger than two years old, according to FDLE.
Analysis of the phone included the image allegedly sent via Facebook Messenger and 140 child pornography images, according to FDLE.
NAS Pensacola Names 10-Year Old Cancer Patient As Commanding Officer
October 9, 2019
NAS Pensacola made a young man commanding officer Tuesday afternoon as he continues his battle with cancer.
Kohlton James, 10, visited NAS Pensacola and was named commanding officer for the afternoon.
“Skipper” Kohlton was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2 and battled it for seven years. Kohlton was cancer free for 10 months before it returned.
He is about to begin chemotherapy and is determined to beat it again.
His dream is to join the military and be a pilot. Capt. Tim Kinsella Jr., commanding officer, gave Kohlton a NAS Pensacola hat with his new call sign, “Iron Man,” and a set of aviation wings.
He was also given a signed photograph from the Blue Angels and was driven to the National Naval Aviation Museum in a police car. At the museum, he had a party with his friends and got to pose for a photograph in front of the F4U Corsair aircraft his great grandfather actually flew in World War II.
Base officials said they look forward to the day Kohlton returns to NAS Pensacola to become a Navy pilot.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Taking Purse From Vehicle At Gas Station
October 9, 2019
A Cantonment man is facing a felony charge for allegedly stealing a woman’s purse out of her vehicle at a gas station.
Danielle Lamar Nettles, 42, grabbed the purse out of the victim’s Nissan Rogue she was inside the Circle K at Kenmore Road and Highway 29 paying for gas, according to an arrest report. The woman ran outside and grabbed the purse out of Nettles’ hands before calling the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
A witness old deputies that Nettles grabbed the purse out of the vehicle, looked through it and then put it back in the vehicle before the victim ran outside.
Nettles was taken into custody at the nearby Key West Inn and booked into the Escambia County Jail on a felony charge of burglary and petit theft with bond set at $3,000.
One Dead, Two Critically Injured After Being Rear-ended By ECUA Truck
October 9, 2019
One person is dead after a collision with an Emerald Coast Utilities Authority vehicle on Perdido Key Tuesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 19-year old Victor Hernandez Rogel was driving a Ford F250 ECUA maintenance truck east on Perdido Key Drive when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Captiva that was slowing in front of him.
A passenger in the Chevrolet, 60-year old Melissa Farmer of Portland, Tennessee, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver, 20-year old Ashley Farmer, and a passenger, 22-year old Jacob Farmer, were both airlifted to South Baldwin Hospital in critical condition. Robel was transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries.
Any charges are pending the outcome a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Pam Barnes Named Molino Park Elementary Teacher Of The Year
October 9, 2019
Pam Barnes has been named teacher of the year at Molino Park Elementary School. She teaches third grade at Molino Park. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Department Of Corrections Announces $1,000 Hiring Bonuses
October 9, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced $1,000 hiring bonuses for new hires at several institutions statewide, including the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton.
Applicants who complete their correctional officer certification through either FDC or certain state colleges will be eligible for the bonus. Paid training is available through the program.
The bonus program does not include the Century Correctional Institution.
Certified new hires are eligible to receive bonuses at the following institutions:
- Apalachee Correctional Institution (Sneads)
- Calhoun Correctional Institution (Blountstown)
- Columbia Correctional Institution (Lake City)
- Cross City Correctional Institution (Cross City)
- Dade Correctional Institution (Florida City)
- Franklin Correctional Institution (Carrabelle)
- Florida State Prison (Raiford)
- Gulf Correctional Institution (Wewahitchka)
- Hamilton Correctional Institution (Jasper)
- Hardee Correctional Institution (Bowling Green)
- Jefferson Correctional Institution (Monticello)
- Liberty Correctional Institution (Bristol)
- Madison Correctional Institution (Madison)
- Martin Correctional Institution (Indiantown)
- Mayo Annex (Mayo)
- Northwest Florida Reception Center (Chipley)
- Okeechobee Correctional Institution (Okeechobee)
- Reception and Medical Center (Lake Butler)
- Santa Rosa Correctional Institution (Milton)
- South Florida Reception Center (Doral)
- Suwannee Correctional Institution (Live Oak)
- Taylor Correctional Institution (Perry)
- Tomoka Correctional Institution (Daytona Beach)
- Union Correctional Institution (Raiford)
- Wakulla Correctional Institution (Crawfordville)
- Walton Correctional Institution (De Funiak Springs)
For more information regarding a career with the Florida Department of Corrections, visit FLDOCjobs.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview Ranked No. 4 In FHSAA Projected Playoff Rankings
October 9, 2019
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) on Tuesday released their football rankings showing which schools are currently in playoff positions.
Northview is ranked No. 4 in Region 1-1A, which means if the playoffs were held today the Chiefs would be in. There are no districts in Class 1A. The top six teams in each district make the playoffs, with the top two receiving a bye in the first week.
Teams are ranked based upon a RPI formula. RPI stands for Ratings Percentage Index. In short, it is a way to measure a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on the strength of their schedules.
Class 1A – Region 1
1. Baker (6-0), RPI .708
2. Freeport (6-1), .642
3. Vernon (5-1), .636
4. Northview (4-2), .593
5. Graceville (4-2), .536
6. Holmes County (2-4), .486
The Math
The RPI is based upon a mathematical formula that takes into the number of games won (WP), the winning percentage of the opponent (OWP), and the winning percentage of the opponent’s opponents (OOWP). The math looks like this:
The score of a game does not matter beyond winner and loser. There is no factor for score differential in the RPI formula. A 1-0 win counts the same as 100-1.
Out of state opponents are counted the same as in state opponents.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Wanted Felon Arrested After Deputies Surround Cottage Hill Neighborhood
October 8, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office surrounded a Cottage Hill neighborhood Tuesday afternoon in an effort to take a convicted felon into custody.
Joseph Randall Bush, 36, was taken into custody on Williams Ditch Road about 4 p.m. on outstanding warrants for burglary, larceny, dealing in stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $205,000.
Maj. Andrew Hobbs said received information that Bush was at a location in the area, and he has a known tendency to flee from law enforcement. Deputies quickly surrounded the immediate area before Bush was taken into custody.
It was not immediately clear if Bush ran from deputies.
According to Escambia County Jail records, Bush was released September 1 after being arrested on drug possession, battery, kidnapping and criminal mischief charges.
Pictured: A wanted felon was arrested in Cottage Hill Tuesday afternoon. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
