Escambia County Settles Frontier Communications Phone Bill Due Since 2015
September 4, 2019
Escambia County has settled a billing dispute with local telephone company Frontier Communications involving service at the fire station in Bratt.
Frontier agreed to accept a $9,958.98 full payment on a $15,446.63 bill for the Escambia Fire Rescue Bratt fire substation on Highway 99.
In November 2018, Frontier contacted Escambia Fire Rescue to seeking full payment on a bill that had not been paid since March 2015. It was discovered that the address on the bill had been wrongly changed, and the billing statement were going to an unknown address. In the meantime, monthly charges for two business telephone phones and broadband internet service continued to accrue without payment.
The county attorney’s office said $2,119.19 of the bill was undisputed for authorized services since $2,119, and Frontier countered with an offer of a 90 day credit on the account. The parties settled on the $9,958.98 amount, and the account has billed correctly. Frontier eliminated all charges for broadband internet service.
Pictured: Frontier Communications Bratt central office (foreground) and the Escambia Fire Rescue’s Bratt substation (background). NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Beats Snooks Christian
September 4, 2019
The 2019 Ernest Ward Eagles opened their regular season Tuesday in Walnut Hill with a 36-12 win over Snook Christian Academy of Foley.
Ernest Ward will travel to T.R. Miller on September 10 and Snook on September 24 before their next home game on October 1 against T.R. Miller.
Ernest Ward has the only middle school football team in Escambia County.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Tough Tuesday For Northview, Tate
September 4, 2019
Northview
The Baker Gator defeated the Northview Chiefs in high school volleyball action Tuesday in Bratt. In varsity play, Baker beat Northview in three, 25-15, 25-20, 25-11. In JV play, Northview fell to Baker 25-17, 22-25, 10-15.
The Chiefs will host Central on Thursday. For more Northview junior varsity photos, click here.
Tate
In varsity action Tuesday, Gulf Breeze defeated Tate 25-20, 25-9, 25-18.
Pictured: Junior varsity action between Northview and Baker Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Multiple Wrecks During Tuesday’s Rush Hour, Including A 5-Vehicle Crash
September 4, 2019
Three rush hour accidents occurred Tuesday afternoon on North Pensacola Boulevard and on Nine Mile Road.
Five vehicles were involved in a crash at 5:38 p.m. on North Pensacola Boulevard at Ensley Street, near the Ensley fire station (bottom photos).
At 5:20 p.m., a crash with injuries occured on North Palafox Street just south of Nine Mile Road. One vehicle came to rest on its roof in the CVS pharmacy entrance (pictured below).
And at least person was injured in a wreck on Pensacola Boulevard at Diamond Dairy Road (pictured top) The driver of the pictured pickup truck was trapped and extricated by firefighters in about 12 minutes..
Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Gov. Kay Ivey Names Atmore’s Rachel Patterson Elementary As ‘Alabama Bicentennial School Of Excellence’
September 4, 2019
Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore was named as one of 21 Alabama Bicentennial Schools of Excellence by Gov. Kay Ivey.
During a program with the governor in Montgomery Tuesday ,each school also received a $5,000 grant to support its continued commitment to student-led community engagement.
Rachel Patterson has participated in a Panda for Pets projet to benefit the Atmore Animal Shelter by increasing community awareness. The project started about a year ago with a $2,000 grant as seed money, and the students have conducted fundraisers to keep the program moving forward.
Rachel Patterson was one of 200 schools in Alabama to receive the $2,000 grants in August 2018 for community service and engagement projects connecting classrooms with their local communities.
“As Alabama nears 200 years of statehood, it is important to engage our students. After all, our students are the future of our state and the ones who will lead generations to come into the next 200 years and beyond,” Governor Ivey said. “I am proud to award grants to twenty-one schools to carry out their community service and engagement projects. This is an exciting time for our state, and I am glad to see our young people taking initiative.”
In addition to receiving the Governor’s Award grants, the Schools of Excellence will be invited to participate in commemoration ceremonies in Montgomery on December 14, 2019, the culmination of Alabama’s bicentennial.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Romagnano Prefiles For Escambia County Property Appraiser
September 4, 2019
Republican Chase Anderson “Andy” Romagnano prefiled Tuesday to seek the office of Escambia County Property Appraiser.
He is seeking the seat currently held by Democrat Chris Jones. According to the latest filings, Jones has raised $66,600 for his campaign.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To Prison For Meth, Other Drug Charges
September 3, 2019
A Cantonment man is headed to prison after being convicted on multiple drug charges.
Michael Anthony Hare, 47, was sentenced to 30 months in state prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver within 1,000 feet of a church, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia .
In May, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT team executed a search warrant in the 100 block of Mintz Lane as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
In Hare’s bedroom, deputies located a quantity of methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe with methamphetamine residue, marijuana, a grinder with marijuana residue and other drug paraphernalia, according to an arrest report.
The residence is located about 200 feet from the Church of the Living God on Pace Parkway.
Gulf Power Sends Crews To Help After Hurricane Dorian
September 3, 2019
Gulf Power has sent crews and other resources to help Florida Power & Light recover from the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian. Even if Florida is not directly hit by Dorian, winds and feeder bands could cause flooding and damage. The Gulf Power team joins resources from other out-of-state energy companies to ensure customers of its sister company FPL get their power back on safely and as quickly as possible.
The crews arrived Monday afternoon and staged at Daytona International Speedway.
“In the aftermath of a hurricane, we understand how important it is to get power restored so that communities can begin to recover and people’s lives can return to normal,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “So many came to help Northwest Florida after Hurricane Michael’s devastation last year, including FPL, and it is our honor to now help their customers in their time of need. We stand ready to assist in any way possible.”
Gulf Power’s service territory and customers will not experience any impact from Dorian. The company is supporting FPL, and other energy companies if needed, as they restore power to their communities. Nearly 100 Gulf Power lineworkers and support personnel headed south in advance of the storm so that they can get to work as soon as the storm has passed.
In addition, Gulf Power stands ready to assist with other resources, including customer service employees who are trained to help take calls from FPL customers and teams of logistics workers who can help staff FPL’s staging sites. In total, Gulf Power has nearly 225 employees that are actively ready to support the restoration effort for FPL customers. Gulf Power has also released approximately 180 contractors that can assist the FPL team, including debris removal, power restoration and customer service needs.
Grant Helps Connect The Walnut Hill, Bratt-Davisville Water Systems
September 3, 2019
A Northwest Florida Water Management District grant helped connected two North Escambia water systems to provide better service for about 5,000 customers.
The District’s grant of $82,229 helped pay to construct more than two miles of 6-inch water main for the interconnection of Walnut Hill Water Works and the Bratt-Davisville Water System. Both systems are part of the Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
“The two water systems can now operate as one system, share resources and provide a more reliable source of water to its customers,” said Sabrina Owens, spokesperson for EREC. “This project was needed to ensure water quality for the future of the water system customers, and it would not have been possible without the Northwest Florida Water Management District grant funds. The use of EREC in-kind labor and equipment kept project costs to a minimum.”
“The District’s Water Supply Development Grant program has provided millions of dollars in much-needed support for communities all across northwest Florida as they address their water supply needs,” said Jerry Pate, Vice-Chairman of the District’s Governing Board who represents Escambia County. “Many of these communities are small and would otherwise have trouble securing funding for projects like this.”
The district’s grant also helped pay for the addition of six bores, 20 valves, and seven fire hydrants to the interconnection, which stretches along Highway 99 from Gobbler Road to the water well and water tower at Water Tank Road.
“We can’t take lightly the importance of providing a safe and reliable source of clean water to residents in northwest Florida,” said Sen. Doug Broxson. “I appreciate the cooperation between the Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the water management district to serve the residents in northern Escambia County.”
The completed project also increases water pressure and fire safety for both water systems.
“This project may appear to be small to some people, but its impact is huge for these residents,” said Rep. Mike Hill, who represents Escambia County. “Providing clean water, increasing water pressure, upgrading fire safety – these are things that make a positive impact on everyone in this area. I appreciate the work by all involved to complete this project.”
Escambia River Electric Cooperative provided match funding in the amount of $82,229 for construction crews and material supplies for the project.
The funding is part of the District’s Water Supply Development Grant program, which launched in 2013 and has awarded funding for 70 projects totaling more than $21.6 million. These projects have helped local governments and utilities make potable water distribution system improvements, replace aging infrastructure, evaluate and develop alternative water supply projects, and address local drinking water quality issues. Two-thirds of the projects are in rural or financially disadvantaged communities.
Pictured: This Bratt-Davisville Water System well and tower on Highway 99 at Water Tank Road is now interconnected to the Walnut Hill Water Works system. Photo by Jeff Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Hold Special Meeting On Employee Health Benefits
September 3, 2019
The Century Town Council has scheduled a special council meeting on employee health insurance.
The meeting to discuss health benefits for employees for the upcoming fiscal year is set for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at town hall.
The town’s fiscal year begins October 1.