Verizon Wireless Service Returns After 5 Days Of Dropped Calls
October 21, 2010
After five days of dropped calls, Verizon wireless customers in the North Escambia area should now be able to make and receive calls on their cell phones as usual.
“In Davisville, the calls are dropping or not connecting,” one NorthEscambia.com reader posted on our Facebook page. “It took 19 tries to complete a five minute conversation on Monday evening from Walnut Hill,” another reader posted.
The service disruptions in North Escambia were the result of Verizon’s purchase of Alltel Communications and the integration of Verizon and Alltel equipment, according to Gretchen LeJeune, a media relations manager for Verizon Wireless.
The $28 billion deal closed in September 2009, but the equipment changes in the local Mobile-Pensacola Verizon market are being completed this month.
“The problems were the result of a database error that impacted the towers in your area,” LeJeune said. The database upgrade problem created customer problems in North Escambia beginning Friday and lasting through midday Wednesday.
She said none of the Verizon towers in the area were actually down during the period, but they were not properly processing calls.
Hundreds of NorthEscambia.com readers contacted us by email or on our Facebook page expressing their frustrations with the company. “They told me it was just me and my phone,” one reader wrote. “They said I was the only one having any problems.”
NorthEscambia.com experienced the same difficulties in making and receiving calls during the period on our multiple Verizon phones. We were told by multiple customer service representatives in regards to our account that there was no known issue in the North Escambia area. In fact, when we first contacted LeJeune Wednesday morning, she said Verizon was unaware of any problem.
“According to our system, everything is working perfectly,” she said Wednesday morning. But by Wednesday afternoon, LeJuene said the database problem had been isolated and corrected after our phone call.
“It’s a huge undertaking integrating the two networks,” she said. “Mistakes happen, and we are sorry for any inconvenience. Verizon Wireless still has the most reliable network.”
Pictured above: A Verizon Blackberry displays “Call Was Lost” while attempting to dial Verizon’s customer service number Tuesday. Verizon’s Walnut Hill tower can be seen in the background. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Named One Of The Coast’s Best Local Websites
October 21, 2010
NorthEscambia.com has been named one of the best local websites in the 10th annual Pensacola Independent newspaper’s Best of the Coast issue.
2010 was the second year running that NorthEscambia.com was honored in the Best of the Coast issue. Last year, NorthEscambia.com was named the Gulf Coast’s “Best Local Blog” (a specific category that did not exist this year).
We join other media winners Best TV Station WEAR, Best Radio Station Cat Country 98.7, Best TV Personality Mollye Barrows and Best Radio DJ Mark the Shark of TK101.
The extensive “best of” lists are a who’s who of Pensacola, Escambia County and the rest of the coast as chosen by a vote of the Pensacola Independent’s readers.
Read “Best of the Coast 2010″ from the Pensacola Independent News by clicking here.
Editor’s note: NorthEscambia.com is on the “Complete Winners List” at the link above. And, by the way, we are big fan of the “Restaurants” list. Mmmm.
Adopt-A-Spot Program To Keep Escambia River Landing Clean
October 21, 2010
Members of the Northwest Florida Tree Hound Club are working to establish an Adopt-A-Spot program Fischers Landing along the Escambia River in Century.
Much like the Adopt-A-Highway program, volunteers in the Adopt-A-Spot program will work to keep sections of the landing and river banks clean of litter. According to club president Jim Huie, about 15 member of the group live in Century and will regularly work in the cleanup effort.
“We just want to give something back,” Huie told the Century Town Council.
“We don’t have anything to lose on this,” McCall said, as he applauded the group’s efforts.
Extreme Home Makeover Build’s North Escambia Foundation
October 21, 2010
The Extreme Home Makeover house under construction this week in Pensacola sits upon a uniquely North Escambia foundation.
The red dirt used for foundation was donated by Campbell’s Sand & Gravel in Century and owned by James Campbell. Four dump trucks and seven 18-wheelers each dumped two loads of dirt at the construction site on Rainbow Avenue.
American Concrete, located in Molino, donated the concrete for the foundation of the home, and lumber for the house was donated by Cantonment Building Materials. Both companies are owned by Billy Campbell.
Construction on the 3,500 square foot house started Monday and will be complete by this Sunday for Finis Gaston of Baker. The Pensacola episode of Extreme Home Makeover is scheduled to air December 12.
Pictured top: Campbell’s Sand & Gravel of Century dumps a load of dirt for the foundation of the ABC Extreme Home Makeover house under construction this week in Pensacola. Pictured below: Cantonment Building Materials donated lumber for the home. Shown with some of the lumber of Robert Rodgers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Representing Florida At National FFA Convention
October 21, 2010
A Tate High School grad is representing the State of Florida FFA as a national delegate.
Austin Courson is Florida’s representative at the 83rd National FFA Convention going on this week in Indianapolis. He is a 2009 Tate gradudate and still works locally with many FFA chapters including Tate, Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle to inform young people about FFA and agriculture.
The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national organization comprised of over 500,000 students throughout the United States. Over 15,000 students in 320 chapters throughout Florida are engaged in a wide range of agricultural education activities, leading to more than 300 professional career opportunities in the agricultural industry.
Friday Final Day To Register To Vote In Alabama
October 21, 2010
Friday is the last day for Alabama residents to register to vote in the November 2 election.
Information about voter registration, sample ballots and information about absentee ballots is available at www.alabamavotes.gov.
In Escambia County, Alabama, voters can register by 4 p.m. Friday at the Satellite Courthouse at 8600 Highway 31 in Atmore or at the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton.
To register to vote in the State of Alabama, an individual must meet the following qualifications:
- Be a United States Citizen
- Reside in Alabama
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have rights restored)
- Have not been legally declared “mentally incompetent” by a court
For more information, contact the Escambia County Board of Registrars at (251) 867-0243.
Fire Heavily Damages Home’s Pool Deck
October 20, 2010
Fire heavily damaged the wooden deck of a Davisville home Wednesday afternoon.
The fire in the 9800 block of Highway 97 was reported just before 5 p.m. A large section of a home’s pool deck was destroyed by the fire, but the home was not damaged. Residents of the home had partially knocked the fire down and protected the back wall of the home using garden hoses prior to the fire department’s arrival.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the blaze.
Pictured top and inset: Firefighters work to extinguish hot spots under the deck. Pictured below: Smoke pours from the deck prior to the fire department’s arrival. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Airlifted After Escambia River Bridge Crash (With Photo Gallery)
October 20, 2010
The driver of a concrete truck was airlifted to the hospital following a crash on the Highway 4 bridge over the Escambia River Wednesday morning.
Officials said it appeared the driver suffered a medical problem that caused the accident. According to witnesses, the westbound driver first struck the westbound side of the bridge before traveling across both lanes of traffic into the eastbound guardrail. He then traveled several hundred feet along the guardrail before coming to a stop.
The driver was transported by LifeFlight to an area hospital. His condition was not immediately available.
The accident, which happened just after 8 a.m., was just inside Santa Rosa County.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Jay Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EWMS Eagles Beat Escambia Academy To End Perfect Season
October 20, 2010
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles ended their season undefeated with a 16-6 win over the Cougars of Escambia Academy Tuesday night.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
After a scoreless first quarter in Walnut Hill, the Cougars took a 6-0 lead with just over a minute to go in the half.
Following a big gain from Jaran Miles to start the third quarter, Cameron Newsome added the first Eagles touchdown of the night. With good two point conversion pass to Jaylen Parker, the Eagles regained the lead, 8-6, with 6:57 to go in the third.
Ernest Ward solidified their win with a touchdown from Jaran Miles with 1:13 remaining the game. The two point conversion was good, with a quarterback keeper from Aaron McDonald, 16-6.
The Eagles of Ernest Ward are the only middle school football team in Escambia County, Florida.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Members of the undefeated EWMS Eagles team are: Jaran Miles, Cameron Newsome, Jaylen Parker, Austin Cunningham, Hunter Sherouse, Aaron McDonald, Ryder Gifford, Micheal Richards, Jonathan Griffis, Gavin Grant, Elijah Harbison, Ben Linam, Tristan Hendrix, Justin Kite, Bricen Iannone, Kenneth Nelson, Murphy Bryan, Chris Brown, Jacob Johnson, Aden Davis, Zachary Holloway, Hunter Johnson, Austin Whitehead, Tristen Partwood, Tydré Bradley, Jon’Micheal Hart and Matthew Lee.
Team managers are: Bethany Merchant, Chasen Freeman and Kristal Whitehead.
Ernest Ward coaches are: Keith Griffin, Jeremy Greenwell, Jordan Coon, Trey Johnson and Jay Jefcoat.
Extreme Home Makeover Property Was Sold By County For $1
October 20, 2010
The Rainbow Avenue property being used for this week’s Extreme Home Makeover build in Pensacola belonged to Escambia County until it was sold “for the development of affordable housing” for $1 about a month ago.
The 0.38 acres was acquired by the county through a governmental foreclosure in September 2005. The Escambia County Commission declared the property surplus and put it out for bid in February 2006 for a minimum bid of $21,220.
In May, the Escambia County Commission authorized selling the property to the highest bidder in excess of $12,635. The dollar figure represented the amount the county spent to remove a 636 square foot dilapidated structure on the lot.
Unanimously approving a motion by Commissioner Kevin White, the county agreed to sell the property to Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. for $1 for the purpose of developing affordable housing. The county waived document and closing fees associated with the sale.