FDOT Plans Two Highway 29 Crosswalks In Century Following Fatalities, Injuries
October 2, 2024
There have been numerous pedestrians struck and killed or seriously injured in North Century Boulevard in the town of Century on the last several years. And now, the Florida Department of Transportation is planning safety improvements that will include two new crosswalks on the busy roadway.
The crosswalks are proposed for North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) north of Bradley Street, at the Century Food Mart, and the second is proposed about half a mile away just north of Pond Street. The Florida Department of Transportation will use federal funds for the project.
Plans for the crosswalks are about 60% complete. A construction timetable has not yet been finalized.
Each crosswalk will include a concrete divider in the median, signage and handicap accessibility features (pictured left).
Currently, the only marked crosswalk along the entire 3-mile length of Highway 29 in the town limits is at the corner of North Century Boulevard and West Highway 4.
There are no crosswalks near the Rudolph Street intersection where two Brewton women were struck by vehicles in front of a local restaurant in July 2023. Both passed away shortly after the accident.
FDOT organized a traffic study after a pedestrian was struck and killed in March 2021 while trying to cross North Century Boulevard just north of Pond Street (pictured below).
In May 2019, a 26-year-old woman was struck on North Century Boulevard, just south of the Century Branch Library. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, she was standing on the sidewalk and improperly crossed in front of the vehicle (pictured second below). The pedestrian was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital as a trauma alert by LifeFlight helicopter. She also received a ticket from FHP for failing to yield to the oncoming vehicle because she was not in a crosswalk.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle FFA Members Make Dog Toys From Old T-shirts For Local Rescue
October 2, 2024
Beulah Middle School FFA members created over 75 dog toys Tuesday using old t-shirts.
The dog toys will be donated to A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue in Escambia County.
Beulah Middle FFA Advisor Leanne Jenkins said the project started when officer Cheyenne Armstrong became proficient in making the dog toys from YouTube.
“Students brought old t-shirts in today and created the toys,” Jenkins said Tuesday. “Honestly, it’s the best FFA meeting we have had in seven years. They were so excited to serve!”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Veteran Paul Entrekin Honored During Auburn Football Game
October 2, 2024
Veteran Paul Entrekin of Walnut Hill was honored Saturday during the Auburn game last Saturday against Oklahoma at Jordan -Hare Stadium
Entrekin described the day as “surreal” and “beyond humbling”.
“Semper Fidelis and War Eagle,” he exclaimed.
Entreking graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976.
Entrekin was commissioned as a U.S. Marine Corps officer in 1977 and designated a Naval Aviator in 1980. During his military career he became carrier qualified, flying both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. He was an instructor pilot until leaving active duty in 1986 and then retained reserve status with the Defense Intelligence Agency as a clandestine operative until retiring after Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
No stranger to the air show world nor pushing boundaries, Entrekin soon was nicknamed “The Bandit,” after becoming the first civilian pilot to own and fly a Russian MiG aircraft. He founded Entrekin Aviation as a full-time air show pilot in 1986. He holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records and is recognized on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
He is a member of the prestigious Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has flown more than 30,000 hours in over 50 types of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, ranging from the UH-1N Huey and BD-5J microjet to the Boeing 777, and holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records.
For 31 years, he has serve as the air boss of the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show.
[Read more: Walnut Hill Man Was The Boss Of The Pensacola Beach Air Show. Here's A Behind The Scenes Look.]
A defensive back, he played football as one of head coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan’s “Amazin’s” that defeated Paul “Bear” Bryant’s number 2 ranked (10-0) Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1972 Iron Bowl, by the score of 17-16. It has become known in the annals of SEC college football as the “Punt Bama Punt” game. The Auburn Tigers went 9-1 that year and finished 5th in the nation, ending the season with a Gator Bowl victory over the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
Entrekin also flew for Delta Air Lines for 30 years before his retirement, and over the years has authored a number of books including, “Mighty Hands,” his bestseller “Mr. MiG,” and his most recent children’s book entitled, “Jasper and the Christmas Faeries” set at his Walnut Hill ranch.
[Read more: New Children's Book 'Jasper and the Christmas Faeries' Set At Walnut Hill Ranch.]
Pictured top: Veteran Paul Entrekin of Walnut Hill was honored Saturday during the Auburn game last Saturday. Pictured inset: Entrekin with Auburn mascot Aubie. Pictured below: Entrekin and his wife Lisa. Pictured second and third below: Entrekin with Coach Hugh Freeze and Charles Barkley. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Seek Public Input On School Calendar
October 2, 2024
Escambia County Public Schools is seeking input from students, parents, teachers, employees, community members, and other stakeholders as work begins to develop the proposed academic year calendars for upcoming school years.
Interested person was invited to take part in the process by reviewing the draft proposals and taking a brief survey regarding each proposal. Survey results will be analyzed and shared with the District Calendar Committee, composed of representatives from all stakeholder groups.
The surveys are available at the links below:
Broken Windshield Leads To Atmore PD Arrest Of Flomaton Man On Drug Charges
October 2, 2024
A traffic stop in Atmore for a shattered windshield ended with a Flomaton man jailed on drug charges.
The Atmore Police Department stopped 26-year-old Cody Leverette of Flomaton on South Main Street for a shattered windshield.
“During the officer’s interaction with Leverette, the officer noted that Leverette was acting in a suspicious manner and requested consent to search Leverette’s clothing,” Sgt Darrell McMann said.
According to Atmore PD, officers found six grams of synthetic marijuana (spice) in several baggies.
“When the officer pulled the narcotics out of Leverett’s clothing Leverette fled on foot. He was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit,” McMann added.
During a search of Leverette’s vehicle, the officer discovered several items that are used to ingest narcotics, according to police.
Leverette was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to elude a police officer. He remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
Northview Defeats Blacksher For The Second Time This Season
October 2, 2024
Tuesday, the Northview Chiefs traveled to Uriah, Alabama, and returned with a three-match sweep of the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs.
Northview won 3-0 by scores of 22-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-21 18-16. The Bulldogs pulled within two points in the last set, tying it at 16-16 before the Chiefs took the win.
In a previous meeting in mid-September, Northview also beat Blacksher 3-0.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Blacksher 3-0 in September. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
One Person Critically Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash
October 1, 2024
One person was critically injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Monday evening on Highway 29 in McDavid.
An adult female was airlifted by Medstar AirCare after an extended extrication.
The crash was reported just before 6 p.m. on Highway 29 just south of Cotton Lake Road and Camp o’ the Pines.
The woman was southbound when she lost control, struck a guardrail, and overturned in the ditch near a bridge over Pine Barren Creek. It took firefighters about an hour to free the trapped woman from the vehicle using the Jaws of Life and other extrication equipment.
For additional photos, click here.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, which closed southbound Highway 29 for just over an hour.
The McDavid, Molino, Century, and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Attempted Murder For Atmore Shooting
October 1, 2024
An Atmore man was arrested Monday in connection with a weekend shooting.
Edward La’Marlon Jaheim Williams, 23 was charged with attempted murder.
Atmore Police Department officers were called after a gunshot victim arrive in a private vehicle at Atmore Community Hospital about 11:55 p.m. Saturday.
“The victim was shot in the parking lot of Mike and Ike Food Mart on Carver Avenue during a physical altercation,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said Monday.
The victim airlifted to a trauma center. As of Monday morning, the victim was in critical condition in an intensive care unit, according to police.
ECFR Determines Cause Of Beulah Mobile Home Fire
October 1, 2024
Fire investigators have determined the cause of a Saturday night fire that destroyed a mobile home and a vehicle in Beulah.
Escambia County Fire Rescue determined the fire about 6:47 p.m. in 6200 block of West Nine Mile Road was caused by discarded smoking materials outside of the home.
An engine from the nearby Beulah Fire Station arrived within one minute and 40 seconds after the call to find the mobile home well-involved in fire. The blaze was declared under control by 7:10 p.m. The home and a nearby vehicle were both complete losses. There were no injuries reported.
The Beulah, Cantonment, Ensley, Ferry Pass and Brent stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Mourns Loss Of Beloved Public Safety Employee Tamika Williams
October 1, 2024
Escambia County is mourning the loss of beloved Public Safety employee Tamika Williams, who passed away on September 21, 2024. Tamika had worked for Escambia County for 10 years, and she will be deeply missed by her colleagues and loved ones.
Tamika was a dear friend and a mentor to many, described as someone who led by example and by faith. Tamika’s impact extended beyond the Public Safety Department, not only to her colleagues in other departments, but also to her community outside of the workplace.
“There’s only one Tamika,” Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said. “Her loss is deeply felt by the county as a whole. Anybody who knew Tamika in the county knew they could go to her and get good information and good advice. She was always a person you could lean on.”
Tamika served as the Public Safety business operations manager during her entire career with the county, which began in September 2014. Although she served in a leadership role, Tamika’s colleagues say it was much more than her job title that made her a true leader.
Her commitment to following policies and procedures made Tamika a “go-to” person for many of her colleagues, who often came to her seeking guidance and advice. In addition to helping her coworkers with work-related issues, Tamika also became a trusted friend to many, both inside and outside of the workplace.
“She was a confidant for many,” said Public Safety director’s aide Kelly Goad, who worked with Tamika for seven years. “Many went to her for help, not only for work, but personal. She was a Christian and she could lead by faith, so she could relate to you on many levels.”
As a mentor to many young women through the county’s Summer Youth Employment Program, Tamika devoted herself to guiding and motivating interns, ultimately helping several of them gain full-time employment. Tamika also played an integral role in the inaugural HERricane Escambia program, a day camp for girls that aims to empower them to pursue careers and leadership roles in emergency management.
“Tamika was very big in inspiring those young ladies, teaching them, motivating them, setting the mark for them,” said Billing Manager Shandra Jenkins, who worked with Tamika for over nine years. “She also helped them build their resumes, and if any of them had questions, she always had an open-door policy. She was very approachable. She always gave words of encouragement.”
Along with being a trusted friend, Tamika was a dedicated mother, wife, and new grandmother – but she still made time to engage in her community. Tamika was heavily involved in the Pensacola Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving as their treasurer, spending countless hours volunteering, and helping establish a student chapter of Delta Sigma Theta at the University of West Florida. Tamika was also very engaged in her church, New Life Deliverance Temple Church in Navarre.
Although she was a stickler for policies and procedures at work, Tamika’s colleagues said she also had a gift for spreading laughter and fun. She could often be heard in the hallways cheerfully saying “Morning, ma’am,” or her favorite expression when something didn’t meet her standards: “A MESS.”
“You always knew when she was in the room,” Gilmore said.
Tamika also started a door decorating contest during the holidays, bringing her competitive spirit and a whole lot of cheer to Public Safety offices.
“You want to talk about extra?” Goad said. “That’s going to be missed this year. She would have people singing and dancing, and everybody else would just do their door. So she definitely made a difference as far as comedic relief.”
Tamika’s colleagues agreed that her loss will leave a void that’s impossible to fill.
“She was our right and left hand,” Jenkins said.
“On behalf of Escambia County, I’d like to extend our sincere condolences to Tamika’s family, friends, loved ones, and our colleagues impacted by this tragic and immeasurable loss,” Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno said. “We join Tamika’s family in grieving and supporting one another during this incredibly difficult time, and we will continue to offer support services for any of our employees who have been impacted by this tragedy. Tamika was an incredibly special, bright person who will never be forgotten by her Escambia County family.”
A homegoing service has been scheduled for Tamika Williams in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, on Friday, October 4, 2024 9 a.m. Burial service will immediately follow at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Road, Memphis, Tennessee.
A local memorial in the Pensacola area is also being planned, with details to be announced.