Century Celebrates Legacy Of Martin Luther King, Jr. (With Gallery)
January 15, 2018
Dozens turned out in Century Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association held their annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at the Century Ag Building Monday.
Songs, essays and speeches honored King’s memory during the program, which was themed “Keep the Dream Alive”.
“If we can dream it, with the Lord’s help we can achieve it,” guest speaker Pastor Lloyd A. Hicks told the assembly. Hicks was employed by the Alabama Department of Corrections for 28 years and received his first pastoral appointment to Westley Chapel CME Church in Century. He is now employed as a staff chaplain at Brookwood Princeton Medical System in Birmingham and pastors Unity CME Church in Bessemer, AL.
“This is not a black thing; this is not a white thing. This is a God thing,” he said. “If you can dream, and you have the will of the Lord, you can achieve.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marked With Parade In Atmore (With Gallery)
January 15, 2018
Martin Luther King Jr. Day programs were held across the area on Monday. In Atmore, a parade wound through the streets Monday morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Large Crowds Attend Pensacola MLK Parade (With Gallery)
January 15, 2018
Large crowds gathered in downtown Pensacola for the annual MLK Day Parade Monday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos by WEAR 3, click to enlarge.
Escambia EMS Reaches Full Staffing Level, Coverage Expands
January 15, 2018
Escambia County EMS now has more ambulances on the road than ever before, including their newest until stationed in Walnut Hill.
About a year go, there were an average of 11 ambulances on the road and available for calls during peak hours; now, that number is usually 16. It was never a matter of ambulances; it was a matter of people to staff them.
In October, the Escambia County Commission increased the Escambia EMS budget for 13 more people, bringing the staffing level to near 100 percent. Some of those new positions went to staff an Escambia County EMS unit recently stationed at the Walnut Hill Fire Station to primarily serve Walnut Hill and Bratt.
Pictured: An Escambia County EMS unit responds to a motor vehicle accident Saturday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
California Man Gets Federal Prison For Distributing Child Porn In Escambia County
January 15, 2018
A California man has been sentenced to federal prison for distributing child pornography in Escambia County.
Eladio L. Vazquez, 38, of Indio, California, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty on December 26, 2017, to distribution of child pornography. As part of his sentence, Vazquez will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Beginning in December 2016 and continuing for the next six months, a law enforcement officer using an undercover online account in Pensacola observed that an individual with multiple online identities was posting image and video files on social media platforms.
Vazquez also used the dark web to engage in child pornography behavior. In June 2017, based upon investigative information, law enforcement officers in California executed a search warrant at Vazquez’s residence and located child pornography on Vazquez’s cellular devices and laptop. Forensically, law enforcement also located, within Vazquez’s cloud account, significant amounts of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Canova said: “Child predators use the internet as a powerful tool to exploit innocent children, but together with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue those who seek to victimize the most vulnerable members of our society.”
“This criminal thought he had anonymity because of his use of social media,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “We want to use this child predator as a warning to those who will prey on children – we will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes.”
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, the Riverside County (California) District Attorney’s Office, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Perdido Site Off EPA Superfund List Over 50 Years After Train Wreck
January 15, 2018
The U.S. EPA has deleted the Perdido Groundwater Contamination site in Perdido, AL, from the Superfund National Priorities List.
The Perdido Ground Water Contamination Site is located in Perdido, Baldwin County, Alabama, and is the site of a train derailment, which occurred on May 17, 1965. The Site originated as a borrow area which provided sand and fill material to the County for local use. In 1965, a train derailment by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (a predecessor of CSX Transportation, Inc., CSXT) occurred approximately 200 yards east of the intersection of Highways 47 and 61. Chemicals from the derailed tank cars spilled into the drainage ditches along State Highway 61 and caught fire.
Later, as a result of the accident, an unknown quantity of benzene that had not been destroyed by the fire eventually penetrated the soil and entered the ground water aquifer. In 1982, benzene was identified in several residential domestic water supply wells within the community of Perdido.
An alternate supply of drinking water was provided by CSXT by constructing a waterline six miles from the nearby town of Atmore. Approximately 150 Perdido homes within a one-mile radius of the derailment were connected to the alternate water supply.
The train derailment site is less than two miles from North Escambia and the Florida state line.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 15, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of January 15-19:
Monday, Jan. 15
County offices closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, Jan. 16
MyGovernmentOnline.org Contractor/Citizen Builder Training – 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Extension Council – 5:30 p.m., Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment (Agenda)
Wednesday, Jan. 17
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors – 8 a.m., 151 Highway 97, Molino
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee – 3 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, Jan. 18
Community Redevelopment Agency – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place (Agenda)
MyGovernmentOnline.org Contractor/Citizen Builder Training – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review – 9:15 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Bayou Chico Annual BMAP Meeting – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum and Regular Meeting – 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Nightly Traffic Shifts And Road Closure Highway 29 At Broad Street
January 15, 2018
Drivers on Highway 29 in Ensley can expect nightly road closures and traffic shifts through January 17.
— Southbound U.S. 29 at Broad Street: Motorists will encounter traffic shifts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 through Wednesday, Jan. 17 as a crew places pipe across southbound U.S. 29.
— Broad Street at U.S. 29: Broad Street will be closed nightly on the west side of the U.S. 29 intersection from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 through Wednesday, Jan. 17 to accommodate drainage work. Detroit Boulevard and Untreiner Avenue will serve as alternate routes for access to and from Broad Street. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution and watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Northview Weightlifting Girls Move On To Regionals
January 15, 2018
The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting team placed fourth overall at districts with 12 girl advancing to the regional meet.
The following Northview girls placed as listed in their weight class:
Lynnsey Holzapfel, sixth
Emily Stabler, third
Crystal Douglas, fifth
Destiny Braddock, fifth
Lexxi Broadhead, second
Lexxi Baggett, fourth
Hailie Harigel, fifth
Abigail Nelson, fourth
Aubree Love, fifth
Savannah Roley, sixth
Natasha Walker, second
Rayshawanna Davidson, sixth
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Large Shed Fire In Molino Under Investigation
January 14, 2018
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a large shed at a home in Molino Saturday night.
Neighbors reported hearing several small explosions, including one that rocked nearby houses just before 9 p.m. The approximately 20 by 30 foot shed burned to the ground on Highway 97 between Highway 29 and Highway 95A.
There were no injuries reported.
The Molino, McDavid, Cantonment and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
Photos by Kristi Barbour and reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
