AAA Forecasts 30% Of Population Will Travel For Holiday
December 23, 2011
An estimated 30 percent of the U.S. population will travel during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, the second highest rate in the past ten years.
That’s according to AAA which forecasts 1.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the 2011-12 year-end holiday travel season, a 1.4 percent increase over the 90.7 million people who traveled one year ago. This year’s expected travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and represents 30 percent of the total U.S. population.
The 11-day holiday period is the longest holiday travel season of the year, affording many more Americans time to visit family or take vacations. AAA defines the year-end holiday travel season as Friday, December 23 to Monday, January 2.
Approximately 83.6 million people (91 percent of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways during the holiday period, a 2.1 percent increase compared to 2010-11 when the number of auto travelers totaled 81.9 million. This year’s projected automobile travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and only 100,000 less than the 2006-07 auto travel peak of 83.7 million. Automobile travel remains the preferred choice of transportation for 2011-12 Year-End holiday travelers as nearly 27 percent of the total U.S. population will hit the road.
Air travel is forecast to be down about 10 percent this year, while AAA says about 4.2 percent more people will travel by train, bus or other modes.
Escambia Man Gets Life Plus 10 Years In Cocaine Conspiracy
December 23, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life plus 10 years in federal prison Thursday morning on charges related to conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Pensacola,
according to United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.
The federal indictment alleged Hill and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as in the possession of firearms to further the drug conspiracy.
During the trial earlier this summer, jurors heard evidence of multiple cocaine seizures from Hill. The jury also heard testimony regarding death threats to a member of the Pensacola community who was aiding law enforcement in its investigation. These threats, as well as a drive-by shooting of this person’s residence, were linked to Hill through his cellular telephone records.
Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers sentenced Hill today to life on the drug conspiracy conviction and imposed a ten-year consecutive sentence for discharging a firearm in furtherance of the conspiracy. The severity of Hill’s sentence was based in part on his prior state convictions for felony drug and violent crime offenses.
Photos: Bluff Springs Double Rainbow
December 23, 2011
Thursday’s rain and storms gave way to rainbows in some parts of North Escambia. Philip Bell photographed this double rainbow about 4:45 Thursday afternoon in Bluff Springs.
Photos by Phillip Bell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Bank Robbed
December 22, 2011
A Thursday morning bank robbery in Escambia County is under investigation.
Just after 11 a.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery at the Compass Bank at 6701 North Davis Highway. A suspect entered the bank and demanded cash before fleeing the area. The suspect was described as an approximately 65-year old while male wearing a white or cream colored button-up shirt and dark dress slacks, He was last seen headed north away from the bank.
Further details have not been released.
Anyone with information on the robbery as asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Weather: Minor Flooding, House Hit By Lightning
December 22, 2011
Minor weather-related problems were reported across North Escambia Thursday afternoon.
A house on Cool Creek Lane in Atmore (near Hwy 31 and the Country Club) was reportedly hit by lightning. The strike knocked a few bricks off the outside of the home, but no major damage was reported. The Atmore Fire Department responded but did not find a fire.
Minor street flooding has also been reported in North Escambia, with more widespread flooding in the usual low-lying areas of Atmore.
A tree also fell into some power lines during the noon hour on North Century Boulevard near West Highway 4.
Pictured above: Street flooding at South Trammell and Church street in Atmore Thursday afternoon. Photo by Beth Protsman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Interupt Would-be Robbery
December 22, 2011
Two would-be robbers were arrested two would-be robbers hiding in a dumpster this morning near the former University Mall.
Deputy Kegan Berry was patrolling America’s Best Value Inn on Plantation Rd. when he observed two black males approaching a citizen from behind who was loading his
vehicle in the parking lot of the hotel. The two males ran as they spotted the deputy.
As other deputies arrived and began to search for the two males, they located two guns — a .40 caliber and a .380 caliber — on the ground along with a mask and gloves on the ground where the suspects ran.
Witnesses observed the two males jump in a dumpster behind The Ticket Sports Bar to hide. Both males were located in the dumpster and arrested.
The males were identified as 20-year old Kendall Jones and 18-year old Demicheous Brown, both of Pensacola. Both suspects were charged with loitering and prowling, trespassing and obstruction of justice. Both were out of jail on bond for aggravated battery and aggravated assault at the time of their arrest.
Last Minute Christmas Gift Bargains: Try An Area Thrift Store
December 22, 2011
If you are looking for bargains on your last minute Christmas shopping, one of the thrift stores operated by an area non-profit might just have what you need. From the We Care Economy Shops in Atmore and Flomaton, to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Century, to the Molino Thrift Store, the deals await Christmas shoppers looking to save.
We Care Economy Shops, Atmore and Flomaton
The We Care Economy Shops in Flomaton and Atmore offer a wide variety of merchandise, from clothing for the entire family to housewares and furniture in their thrift shop.
The store also sells a variety of toys, furniture seasonal items and clothing. All of the items are inspected before being sold, and some items are new.
Proceeds from the store fund the We Care Program, a prison ministry program founded in 1970. The We Care Program spreads their message in prisons, including Holman and Fountain in Atmore and the Century Correctional Institute.
The We Care Economy Shop in Flomaton is located on Highway 31 about a half mile from Highway 113 in a former hardware store building. The We Care Economy Shop in Atmore is located downtown at the intersection of Highway 31 and Main Street.
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, Century
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store also offers a variety of merchandise at bargain prices.
The store offers a vast array of items including glassware, toasters, lamps, couches, desks and office equipment, books, movies, shoes and the complete range of clothing in their new location on North Century Boulevard next to the Dollar General.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international organization with a mission to help the poor and homeless. Their thrift stores are a way of raising money to accomplish that mission.
Molino Thrift Store
The Molino Thrift Store offers a full selection of merchandise at discount prices.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is a little different that many other thrift stores. Not only are the prices lower than some thrift stores, the business has a mission of reaching out to those in need and returning their profits directly to the community.
According to Manager Jason Lee, a Baptist pastor, the store returns 10 percent to churches in the community.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is located on Highway 29 at Molino Road, in the former Grocery Advantage building.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Man, 82, Charged With Passing Stolen Checks In Century
December 22, 2011
An elderly Jay man is facing felony charges for allegedly passing stolen checks at a Century grocery store.
Marvin M. Creamer, 82, was charged with grand theft and two counts of passing a forged instrument. He remains in the Escambia Jail without bond for failing to appear back in 1999 for driving under the influence.
Creamer allegedly provided his Florida driver’s license and passed checks for $987 and $896.64 at the Food Giant on North Century Boulevard, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’ Office arrest report. The checks had been reported as stolen to the Flomaton Police Department by S&S Construction in Flomaton.
Judge Joyce Williams ordered that Creamer could be released without bond to a responsible adult on the check charges.
EPA Approves New Air Pollution Standards That Could Add To Your Power Bill
December 22, 2011
The EPA announced on Wednesday controversial new air-pollution standards that could force expensive upgrades at some Florida power plants that have been long-sought by environmental and health advocates.
Gulf Power Company has repeatedly raised concerns about the standards in recent months, saying Wednesday that they needed to review details of the final standards to gauge their impact.
Before the release Wednesday, the EPA made changes to earlier proposals for the standards. Sandy Sims, a spokeswoman for Pensacola-based Gulf Power, said the company will review the final version and look at options for complying.
“Our main concern is how best to continue to provide reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity to our customers,” she said in an e-mail.
In October, Florida Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi joined 24 other states in calling for EPA to delay implementation of the standards.
“We cannot allow Floridians, many of whom are already suffering financial hardships, to bear the brunt of costly federal regulations,” Bondi said at the time.
Purses Snatched From Elderly Escambia Women; One Suspect Named
December 22, 2011
Purses were snatched from two elderly Escambia County women in separate incidents, including one in Cantonment.
Cantonment Purse Snatching
An elderly Cantonment woman had her purse snatched as she returned home recently, and sheriff’s investigators are searching for a van believed to be involved in the crime.
The 76 year old woman was returning home from shopping when she was approached by a white male asking if she needed help. The victim said that the suspect then forcibly took her purse from her and fled in a white minivan.
Deputies recovered the victim’s purse from a dumpster behind a Shell gas station at 7955 North Davis Highway after receiving a report of a while male throwing away a purse. He was described as being between 40-50 years old, full white beard and a mustache, 5-foot 6-inches tall with a medium build.
Anyone with information on the suspect or the van pictured above is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
85-Year Old’s Purse Snatched
Sheriff’s investigators are investigating a robbery of an elderly woman in the Myrtle Grove area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said an 85-year old woman was waiting outside of her home on 69th Avenue for her daughter to pick her up when a small dark-colored vehicle pulled up beside her. The victim told deputies that she was then pushed to the ground by the suspect as he took her purse.
Investigators have identified one suspect as Marqual Lee. He is wanted for robbery, battery on a person 65-years of age or older, grand theft and three counts of illegal use of credit cards. He was identified by the Sheriff’s Office through tips received from media coverage.
The victim called her credit union and was advised that her debit card was used shortly after the robbery at a Tom Thumb in the 32506 zip code of West Pensacola. Shortly after that, her debit card was used at Footlocker in Cordova Mall by the suspects. The suspects also visited another store in the mall where they were caught on camera.
The elderly victim suffered minor injuries, but did not require any immediate medical attention.
Anyone with information on crime or the identity of the men in the photo below is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
