North Escambia Area Now Appears On Google Maps Street View
December 10, 2008
Google has expanded their Street View service to provide 360 degree ground level photos on their Google Maps service.
What exactly is Street View? It is exactly that, a street level panorama view from a large number of public roads in North Escambia, along with all of the surrounding communities. With Google Maps, you can view a map of your house and a satellite view of it from space. Now, with Street View, you can view an actual photo of your house and turn around 360 degrees in your front yard.
The inclusion of North Escambia was part of a major addition of cities, towns and rural areas to Street View on Tuesday.
“With just 22 days left in the year, I can’t help but think back to where Street View was at the beginning of 2008. At that time, we had imagery for 23 cities in the United States, and we had just released embeddable panoramas. Although Street View was still in its infancy, we were excited about the user feedback we had gotten and the creative uses we were seeing,” Google Product Manager Stephen Chau wrote in the official Google Blog.
“So we started 2008 with a clear, simple goal: bring Street View to more people in more places. Every time we add imagery for a new city or town, we’re not just benefiting its citizens, who now can preview their driving route or check for parking meters outside their dentist’s office, but anyone traveling to that place or teaching about it or simply curious to see more of the world,” Chau wrote.
It appears that the Google Street View photos in an around North Escambia were taken in the last half of February or the first half of March 2008. We based that conclusion on a few clues:
- There were no leaves on the trees.
- There were no Christmas decorations is Atmore, Flomaton or Century.
- The movie being show at the theater in Atmore was not released until February 14, 2008.
- The gas pumps at the Tom Thumb in Molino are missing; they were replaced in the last half of February 2008.
We did find a several roads in North Escambia that were not photographed by Google, but some of the most remote locations in the area were included.
To try Google Street View for yourself, visit maps.google.com
If you find something interesting in Google Street View around the area, let us know about it in the comments section below. You can click the “link” button in street view and paste a link to your interesting find below.
Pictured above: The Google Street View of the library and town hall in Century. Pictured below: In this Google Street View photo looking toward the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection in Molino, you can see a shadow of the vehicle used to take the photos. Note the pole with camera on top. You can also see to people out for a morning walk that were captured by the Street View cameras.
Escambia County Bank Makes Christmas Contribution To Century Care Center
December 10, 2008
Pictured above: The Escambia County Bank in Flomaton recently made a donation to the Century Care Center to help fund the center’s annual Christmas party. Pictured above: J.R. Jones (left), president of the Escambia County Bank, presents the check to Don Ripley, Century Care Center administrator. Pictured below: Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant visits with Santa Clausduring the bank’s annual Customer Appreciation Day. Pictured bottom: More pictures from the Escambia County Bank Customer Appreciation Day. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Cunningbells Perform At Century Care Center
December 8, 2008
Pictured above and below:: Accomplished handbell group the Cunningbells performed Christmas favorites at the Century Care Center Sunday afternoon. The group performed such songs as “Go Tell It On The Mountain”, “Jingle Bells” and more to the delight of Century Care residents. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Moorer Place, A 35 Acre Retreat, Is Dedicated
December 8, 2008
A 35 acre Christian retreat in Century that could eventually include a worship and prayer center was dedicated Sunday afternoon.
Paul Davidson of Cantonment has purchased 35 acres at the end of McCall Road for the retreat they plan to call The Moorer Place in memory of Paul’s late grandfather. Davidson’s grandfather, the late Paul Nelson Moorer of Forest Home, Ala., was born December 8, 1908.
“100 years later,” Davidson said, “he imparted his love of the land into my life.”
“I felt the land needed to be not only preserved,” he said, ” but preserved for God.”
The 35 acres adjoins the Lake Stone property and offers a scenic view of the lake and dam.
“God put this on our hearts at the first of the year,” Paul Davidson said. “He has really put Century on our hearts through prayer.”
The property was purchased from current owner Carolyn Thompson, but it is actually the home place that once belong to Century Mayor Freddie McCall’s grandfather. “It’s a generation to generation thing,” Davidson said.
“I’m glad to see the property being used for good now,” McCall said. He offered memories of moving to the property in elementary school and even logging the land as a teen with a mule cart.
In recent years, McCall said, a meth lab was found in a barn on the property.
“I think God they got this place to turn it around,” McCall told just over 50 people at the ceremony.
The property currently has only a small house and a barn. Those will be ready after the first of the year as a “place where people can come and relax and enjoy Christian fellowship,” Davidson said. The center is not planned as a church, but as an a place to “strengthen other churches”.
“We will see what God has in store for it,” Davidson said, adding that there is no set timetable for the construction of the worship and prayer center.
For a photo gallery from the dedication, click here.
Pictured above: People look toward Stone Lake from The Moorer Place as the sun begins to set Sunday afternoon. Pictured inset: Ken Malone of Forerunner Ministries offers a prayer over the facility. Pictured below: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (lef) offers memories of growing up on the property while new owner Paul Davidson looks on. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Youth Leader A Winner In Radio Station’s Toby Mac Contest
December 7, 2008
A youth leader from Victory Assembly of God in Molino was one of a dozen winners of tickets and “meet and greet” passes for a Toby Mac concert in Mobile Sunday night.
Youth Pastor Jenny Miller and her husband Sean Miller won two tickets and the “meet and greet” passes from Power 88 radio in Mobile. They were nominated by Victory youth member Kayla Miles.
Sunday night’s concert featured contemporary Christian artists Toby Mac, Relient K and Family Force 5 at the Mobile Civic Center.
A portion of the email that Kayla wrote to Power 88 nominating Jenny Miller for the tickets is below.
Hi my name is Kayla Miles and I would like to nominate my Youth Pastor for
the contest.Her name is Jenny Miller and her husband Sean Miller they have been married
for a year and to me they are like another set of parents. I can tell them
anything and they will listen, not turn their backs.They came about a year and a half ago around my birthday I was very excited
when we got new youth pastors because some awkward things had been going on
in our church.We attend Victory Assembly of God in Molino, Florida. The youth group name
is Impact Student Ministries.
Pictured above: Sean (L) and Jenny Miller from Victory Assembly of God in Molino.
Santa Claus Arrives In Saturday Night Atmore Parade; North Escambia Groups Participate
December 7, 2008
Thousands lined the streets of Atmore Saturday night for the annual Twilight Christmas Parade that featured Santa Claus and almost two dozen floats.
Several North Escambia organizations were represented in the parade, including the Northview High School Tribal Beat band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders, FFA students from Ernest Ward Middle School and Northview High, Walnut Hill Baptist Church, the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Bratt Assembly of God Church, and dozens of North Escambia residents participating with other groups.
The theme for this year’s parade was “A Nursery Rhyme Christmas”. The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade was Mother Goose.
Santa Claus arrived on a float sponsored by the First National Bank and Trust near the end of the parade. Another common site around this year’s parade was the portable TV, with many people watching the Alabama-Florida game.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with 14 pages of photos from the parade, click here.
Pictured above: The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleader float. Pictured middle: The Northview High School cheerleaders march in the parade. Pictured below: Walkers with the Walnut Hill Baptist Church float. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Holds Annual Christmas Carnival
December 6, 2008
Byrneville Elementary School held its Christmas Carnival was held Friday night at the school.
The annual event, sponsored by the school’s P.T.O., featured a special guest from the North Pole. Santa Claus was on hand for photos and Christmas wish lists.
The carnival also included a host of games, including a ring toss, cake walk, football toss, face paiting and more. The evening’s festivities ended with a gift basket auction, with proceeds going to the P.T.O.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Santa Claus was on hand for the annual Christmas Carnival at Byrneville Elementary School Friday night. Pictured below: Face painting was one of many activities at the event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jingle Bells: Bratt Elementary Second Grade Presents Christmas Play
December 5, 2008
Bratt Elementary School’s second graders presented their Christmas play “A Place in the Christmas Choir” Thursday.
From a barked version of Jingle Bells to a swinging cat dance, the play told the story of a Christmas choir made up of elves, cats and dogs.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the play, click here.
The play was directed by music teacher Emily Pollard and featured the second grade classes of Genia Bashore, Tracy Foster and Ericka Nelson. Volunteers Jennifer Lehmann, Ashley Long, Stephanie Booth and Stephanie Berry also assisted with the production.
Students in the play were:
Elves: Gabbrielle Peebles, Delaney Reynolds, Kaitlin Berry, Radley Belanger, Titianna Williams, Janie Kite, Brandon Dean, Christian Heritage, Isaiah Thigpen, Aurora McCann, Madison Rainwater, Bailey Hayles, Catherine Casey, Gabrielle Kline, Allison Rice, Noah Moore, Jared Gibbs, Cody Comalander, Roger Dockens, Michael Ward
Dogs: Cameron Long, Larry Philyaw, Jordan Capps, Tanner Deese, Matthew Windham, Justin Powell, Dalton Brown, Jessey Reaves, Anthony Harrelson, Cameron White, Logan Chavers, Brandon Berry, Hadden Barlow, Isaak Armstrong, Justin Cruce
Cats: Shelby Bashore, Madison Sherouse, Reini Bodiker, Leia Godwin, Madison Nassar, Gia Singleton, Kayla Baggett, Danielle Stuckey, Samantha Roux, Meggan Brown, Ann-Margaret Boothe, Susannah Amerson, Lexxi Baggett, Aaliyah Tucker, Memory Peebles
Santa Claus: Zachary Hilton; Mrs. Claus: Lydia Smith; Happy: Henry Wiggins.
Pictured above and below: Scenes from the Bratt Elementary School second grade Christmas play Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola’s Winterfest Celebration Stars Ernest Ward Student; Win Tickets From NorthEscambia.com
December 5, 2008
Winterfest is Pensacola’s favorite holiday celebration, and this year’s performance includes an Ernest Ward Middle School student in a starring role.
Angel Mitchell, 12, portrays the “hero girl” from the book “The Polar Express” in this year’s elaborate production. The Polar Express scene includes a large scale fiberglass train engine, accented by fog, steam and sound effects.
The Winterfest tours and performances light up downtown Pensacola from Historic Seville to the Palafox Business District. This year, there are six different exciting tours for the whole family, including a special Santa’s Express Tour that’s great for young children, and the flagship Performance Tour featuring 14 fun stops over 45 minutes with your favorite holiday characters.
All of the tours begin in Plaza Wonderland, a lovely historic park we fill with holiday cheer with photos with Santa Claus, tasty treats at the Gingerbread House, and rides on Santa’s Little Choo Choo.
NorthEscambia.com has joined in the promotion of Pensacola’s Winterfest, and we will have lots of tickets to give away. We will also have continuing coverage of Winterfest. To register to win tickets, click here.
For more information about Winterfest, visit pensacolawinterfest.org.
Pictured above: Santa Claus, gives a bell as a gift to Joe Minshew as “the boy” from the book The Polar Express at Pensacola’s Winterfest. Looking on are Bill Whalen as the conductor and Ernest Ward Middle School student Angel Mitchell as “hero girl”. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
A Spectacular Planetary Show
December 2, 2008
Pictured above: Venus and Jupiter were visible near the moon Monday night about 6:00. Here, the two planets and the moon are pictured over the Walnut Hill water tower at Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road. Neptune was also visible just out of the photo frame. You can see the same celestial show tonight in the southwest sky just after sunset. For the photo buffs: This was a seven second bulb exposure at 1600 ISO taken from Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.