‘Karen’s Light’ Now Active On Hwy. 29
October 25, 2010
A new traffic signal was activated Tuesday at a Highway 29 intersection that claimed the life of a Molino woman, and for one Walnut Hill woman, it will be a bittersweet moment.
Karen R. Broxson, 23,of Molino died following a two vehicle accident at Highway 29 and 9 1/2 Mile Road in July of 2009. Since that time, two other people have been killed in accidents at the intersection, including Eloise Hall, 76, of Pensacola.
Broxson’s aunt, Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill, went on a crusade for a traffic signal at the busy intersection to prevent more deaths.
“If there had been a light at that intersection, my niece would still be here with us,” Amerson said. “I hope having the light there will save another from going through what we have experienced.”
Amerson, along with friends and family members, worked to gather over 1,500 signatures on a petition that was presented to the Florida Department of Transportation. The FDOT conducted a study and determined that the traffic signal was needed.
“This light is Karen’s Light may it shine as bright as her beautiful smile,” Amerson said.
Broxson’s accident happened when a Toyota Rav 4 driven by Katherine L. Hosack, 50, of Cantonment pulled from a stop on 9 1/2 Mile Road into the path of her southbound Chevrolet Blazer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Boxson’s Blazer was spun around several times by the force of the impact and overturned in the southbound lanes. The FHP says Broxson was ejected in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt. Broxson was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital where she died a few hours later. Hosack was charged with failure to yield and fined $500.
Pictured top: This July 2009 accident claimed the life of Karen Broxson at the intersection of Highway 29 and 9 1/2 Mile Road (courtesy WEAR TV 3). Pictured insets: Karen Broxson and the sign erected in her honor at the intersection (submitted photos). Pictured below: The traffic light is installed at the intersection. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Move That Bus! Extreme Home Makeover Reveal
October 25, 2010
With superstar Mariah Carey, the Tate Showband of the South, a Christmas parade and thousands screaming “Move That Bus!”, Finis Gaston saw his new “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” home for the first time Sunday afternoon.
Crowds waited for hours as bands and cheerleaders and TV production crews practiced in front of the new 3,600 square foot house, which was completely decked out with Christmas decorations. The Extreme Makeover episode filmed Sunday in Pensacola will air as a Christmas special on December 12.
For more photos from the “Big Reveal”, click here.
Then the excitement erupted as a white van drove up to the home on Rainbow Avenue, and out stepped Mariah Carey — a pop legend with more number one songs to her name than Michael Jackson.
But the crowning moment was the one we’ve all seen played out on TV so many times — a limousine drove up behind the Extreme Makeover bus. On cue, the crowd yelled those famous words — “Move That Bus!”. And then Finis Gaston, along with the nieces and nephews in his care, stepped into their new home.
The design of what they saw — four bedrooms, three baths and a nursery — will remain a secret until the show airs in December.
For more photos from the “Big Reveal”, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Nearly 7,000 Escambia Early Votes Cast In Past Week
October 25, 2010
Early voting in Escambia County has been busy, with nearly 7,000 people casting their ballots in Escambia County.
During the four hours of early voting on Sunday, 634 people cast their ballots at the four Escambia County voting locations. A total of 6,916 ballots were cast during the first of two early voting weeks, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. Sunday’s turnout was a bit heavier than Saturday when 588 votes were cast, but the busiest day so far was last Friday when 1,206 voted early.
There are four early voting locations in Escambia County:.
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place 2nd Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- West Florida Genealogy Library (former Tryon Branch Library), 5740 North 9th Avenue
Early voting will be offered Monday, October 25th through Saturday, October 30th from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Early voters will cast paper ballots through digital scanners, and may choose any one of the four sites.
There are two early voting locations for Santa Rosa County residents:
- Elections Office (behind McDonalds on U.S. 90, Milton), 6495 Caroline St., Suite F
- South Service Center (one block east of the zoo on U.S. 98), 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze.
Early voting in Santa Rosa County will held from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. through October 30.
Another option for voters is to cast an absentee ballot, which can be obtained by contacting the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-3914), or by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed, and must be received no later than Wednesday, October 27. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 2. Absentee voters may now follow the status of their ballot by clicking “Track My Ballot” on EscambiaVotes.com.
To obtain an absentee ballot in Santa Rosa County, contact the supervisor of elections by mail, phone (850-983-1900), e-mail (bodenstein@santarosa.fl.gov), fax (850-983-1829), or by using the online form at www.santa rosa.fl.gov/elections.
EA Lady Cougars Finish Season At No. 2 In State
October 25, 2010
The Lady Cougars of Escambia Academy finished second in the state Saturday in AISA Class A volleyball, while the Cougars’ JV team is celebrating a season that ended with 16 straight wins.
The Lady Cougars defeated Edgewood Academy in semi-finals. In the state finals, Clarke Prep defeated EA 25-19, 25-20, 26-28, 25-16 for the Class A crown at Montgomery’s Faulkner University.
In the recent regional tournament, the Cougars were seventh seed, but easily knocked off second seed Marengo Academy and third seed Lowndes Academy.
“To go in as the last seed and to come away being one of only four teams left in the state is an unbelievable feat and a great job by the entire squad,” Coach Chad Weaver said of his Lady Cougars, who had previously won just one regional game during the regular season. “The varsity ladies were beaten up all year by the teams in our region, and then they stepped up their play in the regional tournament.”
“It would have been so easy to throw in the towel after the disappointing season we had, but you overcame and became the team we all knew you could be,” Weaver said. He said the state championship series was an opportunity of a lifetime for seniors Amber Huskey, Taylor Helton, Samantha Lee and Tory Rodriegus, as well of the rest of the squad.
With Weaver as the head coach, the EA Lady Cougars are also led by Assistant Coach Tammy Garrett and are “assisted” by Ronnie Huskey.
The JV Escambia Academy volleyball team at Escambia County also had a very noteworthy season. After losing their first match, the JV team went on a 16-game winning streak to finish the season at 16-1.
Pictured top: The Escambia Academy Lady Cougars (front, L-R) Niki Bryan, Lacie Flowers, Shelley Mothershed, Shyla Godwin, Maud Meacham, Brooke McGhee, (back, L-R) Coach Chad Weaver, Breann Rolin, Raven Weaver, Samantha Lee, Peyton Snider, Amber Huskey, Taylor Helton, Allie Brooks, Tori Rodriguez and Coach Tammy Garrett. Pictured inset: Tori Rodriguez and Amber Huskey. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
District 5’s White To Be Named Commission Chair
October 25, 2010
The next chairman of the Escambia County Commission will be Kevin White.
White, the District 5 commissioner that represents North Escambia, will be installed as the new commission chair at the final BOCC meeting in November. White currently serves as vice chairman of the commission.
When White moves up to commission chairman, District 1 Commissioner Wilson Robertson will become the new vice chairman of the Escambia County Commission.
Every November, any newly elected commissioners are installed and a board reorganization takes place.
Weekend In Photos
October 25, 2010
There was a lot going on in the North Escambia area this weekend, and NorthEscambia.com was there with hundreds of photos. Click any item below for more photos.
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Female Ejected In Highway 97 Crash Sunday Night
October 24, 2010
A female was ejected from her vehicle in a single car crash Sunday night in Molino.
The accident happened on Highway 97 north of Molino Park Elementary School. The female, believed to be in her 50’s, was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital following the 7:20 .m. crash.
She apparently lost control of her vehicle on the wet roadway and entered a ditch were she struck a tree. Further details and the woman’s condition were not immediately available; the accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Perfume Leads To Store Evacuation
October 24, 2010
Strong perfume led the evacuation of a Cantonment convenience store Saturday night.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to the Tom Thumb at Woodbury Circle and Highway 29 about 6 p.m. Saturday for a strange, irritating odor that was bothering customers and employees. The store was evacuated as a precaution.
First responders were able to determine that the odor was a perfume. There were no injuries reported.
Pictured above: This Cantonment Tom Thumb convenience store was evacuated Saturday evening due to a strong, irritating odor that turned out to be perfume. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Unemployment Up In Escambia, Down In Santa Rosa
October 24, 2010
The latest job numbers show a slight increase in the number of unemployed in Escambia County, Fla., while Santa Rosa County had over 800 people return to work during the same monthly period.
Escambia County’s unemployment increased slightly— up from 10.9 percent in August to 11 percent in September. That represented a couple dozen jobs lost in a month for a total county unemployment of 15,696 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.9 percent.
Santa Rosa County also recorded an a full percentage point drop in unemployment— from 10.7 percent in August to 9.7 percent in September. Santa Rosa County gained 846 jobs during the period, with a total of 6,993 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 9.5 percent.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County, Ala., held decreased slightly over the month from 10.9 to 10.6 percent, representing 1,533 unemployed. Last year’s unemployment rate for the same period in Escambia County was 13 percent.
Florida’s jobless rate inched up in September to 11.9 percent, an increase blamed on continued sluggishness in housing and credit markets that has idled construction and slowed sales of existing property. September’s rate, released by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, is up slightly from a revised 11.8 percent in August and higher by almost a point from the 11 percent posted in September 2009.
In human terms, the figure translates into 1.1 million Floridians who were unable to find work during the month. The figure does not include those who have stopped looking and others who may have had hours cut back or are working at a part-time positions.
“There are not a lot of bright spots in the employment report,” said Sean Snaith, University of Central Florida economist. “But that should not come as a big surprise. We’ve been forecasting that the unemployment rate would drift up through the end of the year.”
Much the lag has been the result of slow demand growth. In addition, Snaith said many companies have amped up productivity and are bringing existing workers, who may have cut back hours in recent years, to full-time status.
“A lot of firms are being able to handle what increased demand there is with the people they have,” Snaith said. “They don’t need to hire new workers.”
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 8.9 percent in September, declined from the August rate of 9.2 percent but was above the year-ago rate of 10.7 percent.
Photos: Flomaton’s Great Homecoming
October 24, 2010
Flomaton took part in the statewide Alabama Year of Small Towns and Downtowns Saturday with their first ever Flomaton Great Homecoming.
Arts and crafts vendors, foods and entertainment set the stage for the event. During the Flomaton Great Homecoming, the town opened the doors on their brand new library which will be complete and officially opened in a few weeks.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: The Flomaton Great Homecoming was held Saturday. Pictured below: Residents got a sneak peek of the town’s brand new library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
