WEGS 91.7 FM Remains Off Air
March 13, 2010
If you have been missing WEGS 91.7 FM on your radio dial, you are going to have to wait a bit longer to enjoy their programming.
WEGS 91.7 has been off the air since a lightning strike at the station’s transmitter in Milton; the station will need to replace the entire length of coaxial cable from the bottom to the top of the transmitter.
“The best case scenario on the station being back on the air is next Thursday,” Chris Paden, WEGS operations manager, said. The whole process will be delayed by a shipping error on the coaxial cable, Paden said, with it not being shipped on time and it being shipped to Orlando instead of Milton.
WEGS is operated by Olive Baptist Church.
Public Transportation In North Escambia Could Be Cut Back
March 12, 2010
The only Escambia County Area Transit route that serves North Escambia will be cut back if proposed changes in the county’s public transportation routes are made.
The Saturday transit bus that serves Century, Molino and Cantonment would be eliminated due to low ridership if the plan presented to the Escambia County by ECAT is approved. The route would also no longer service the “Park-n-Ride” lot at the old Winn Dixie in Cantonment.
The “Route 60″ bus makes three weekday trips with stops between Century and the ECAT transfer center where it allows riders to connect to the rest of the ECAT network. It currently makes the run twice on Saturdays.
Most of the proposed changes across the county are simple route changes or service additions, with just a few routes seeking service cuts.
According to an ECAT memo from General Manager Kenneth Gordon, the route changes in the county are designed to improve safety, improve on-time performance, improve connectivity between routes, provide service to under-served areas, reduce complaints and improve operating efficiencies.
ECAT is required to present proposed route changes to the Board of County Commissioners for discussion and public input. After the board discusses the plans on March 11, a 30 day period for public comment will be allowed and then then plan will go back to the commission.
The North Escambia to Pensacola Route 60 bus in the most expensive bus per hour in the entire public transportation system in the county.
The bus costs $11.15 per passenger to operate, according to ECAT numbers from the last fiscal year — a decrease from $16.27 the previous year. That’s the most expensive cost per passenger by far over any other bus in the system, with every other route falling below $8 per person (except for a free tourist route). The next most expensive route per person is a crosstown/airport route that costs ECAT $7.82 per person. The Century and Molino to Pensacola bus is also the most expensive per hour to operate in the ECAT system, at $60.67, down from $78.29 per hour the previous year.
A total of 9 ,430 riders took the Route 60 bus over a one year period, up from 7,819 the previous year. That compares to 162,403 on a Davis Highway area bus.
Pictured above middle: The “Route 60″ Century and Molino to Pensacola ECAT route map. Pictured below: A timetable for the bus. Click to enlarge.
Manhunt In Brewton For Wanted Century Man; Reward Offered
March 12, 2010
A search for a wanted Century robbery suspect led to a manhunt in Brewton, Alabama, Thursday afternoon.
Shawn Demarcus Simmons, 30, of Ivey Street, Century, has been named one of the most wanted fugitives in Escambia County, Fla. A tip led the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office and the Brewton Police Department to look for Simmons in the Martin Luther King Avenue area of Brewton around midday.
Tracking dogs from the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore were used in the search for Simmons, but he was not apprehended.
Authorities say Simmons should be considered armed and dangerous. He is wanted in Florida for aggravated battery, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and robbery with a firearm in connection with the February 25 robbery of Devante Aaaron Knight, 18, of Hecker Road, Century.
Simmons has scars on his upper and lower lips, scars on both legs and a tattoo on his left arm. In addition to the area of his home on Ivey Street, Simmons has been seen on Zion and Cottage streets in Century and is known to frequent Brewton. He has been known to use the names David Jones, Sean Simpson and Sean Simmons.
Knight was arrested after he allegedly snatched a purse containing $2,000 in cash from an 85-year old woman in Escambia County, Alabama. The day after the purse snatching, Knight was himself the victim of a robbery where the $2,000 was allegedly stolen by Simmons. Knight was arrested last week in Escambia County, Florida, and subsequently extradited back to Alabama.
Anyone with information on Simmons’ whereabouts should call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers can remain anonymous and can receive a reward of up to $1,000 for information.
Traffic Update: Highway 97 Lane Closures Take Spring Break
March 12, 2010
Beginning today, there will be no road construction related lane closures on Highway 97 for two weeks.
Under their contract with the Florida Department of Transportation, contractor Panhandle Grade and Paving will not close any lanes for construction from March 12 through March 28 for collegiate spring break.
Crews will continue work during the two week period, but without disrupting traffic.
The paving portion of the $5.7 million project is scheduled to being the week of March 29.
During the Highway 97 resurfacing project, NorthEscambia.com will provide the most current Highway 97 lane closure and construction updates to help you avoid delays.
Blueberry Jamboree To Return
March 12, 2010
Mark your calenders — the Blueberry Jamboree is returning again this year.
About 5,000 people attended the first Blueberry Jamboree last year, and it will be back this year bigger and better on June 12 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Artists and craftsmen are invited to showcase and sell their treasures at this family-friendly festival celebrating blueberries and bluegrass. The cost for a 10’ x 10’ space is $48.37. Registration and payment must be received by May 31.
To register or for more information, please contact the Brandi Daigle in Public Information at (850) 595-3476 or email brandy_daigle@myescambia.com.
The community center is located at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road in Molino.
Pictured below: About 60 vendors participated in the first Blueberry Jamboree last year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
1,100 Buckets Of Hope Collected For Haiti, Still Time For You To Help
March 12, 2010
You have through the weekend if you would like to join area churches in helping Haiti with the Buckets of Hope program — an earthquake relief effort that is providing hope to the families of Haiti on 5-gallon bucket of food at a time.
As of Thursday, about 1,100 buckets have been collected, according to Drayton Smith, associate pastor at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment. The buckets contain specific food items, including beans, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and other essentials. It’s enough to feed a family of four for about a week, plus they have the bucket to reuse to haul water, store food items or even move rubble in the earthquake stricken land.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt is serving as a collection point for the north end of Escambia County, according to FBC Bratt Student Pastor Tim Hawsey. In the Cantonment and central portions of Escambia County, the buckets are still be collected by the First Baptist Church of Cantonment.
The deadline to drop off the filled buckets at the First Baptist Church of Bratt is Sunday, March 14. More information is available from through the student ministry of the church.
The deadline to drop off the filled buckets at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment is Monday, March 15.
Helpful Information: High School Registration
March 12, 2010
It’s almost high school course registration time in North Escambia, with Northview students and future students set to register next week for the 2010-2011 school year.
The Escambia County School District Education & Career Planner for High School Students is available on the Internet for viewing and download by clicking here. The Educational & Career Planner is offered to students to assist in their course scheduling selection, and provides guidance to students in their effort to identify required and elective courses needed for their chosen career/educational plan.
The Educational & Career Planner identifies course prerequisites, recommendations to develop personal four-year educational plans, policies, procedures, courses of study, and class scheduling information. The Educational & Career Planner includes information covering a variety of topics from registration to other information on course offerings.
An informational training video on the effective use of the Educational & Career Planner is available here.
Above The Rim: Northview’s Sims And Gomez
March 12, 2010
Two Northview High School basketball players were recently selected to represent the Chiefs as recipients of the “Above The Rim” awards. Juniors Colton Sims and Laneicia Gomez were selected based upon their leadership and integrity. They received the awards at a recent Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Pensacola banquet. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Molino Home
March 11, 2010
A Molino home was destroyed by fire this morning.
The double wide mobile home in the 6700 block of Sunshine Hill Road was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene shortly after 10:15 a.m.
The occupant was not at home at the time of the blaze. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Century and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery.
Pictured above: Fire destroyed this Molino mobile home Thursday morning. Pictured below: Firefighters work inside the mobile home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
More Child Sex Abuse Charges Filed Against Santa Rosa Sheriff Lieutenant
March 11, 2010
Additional child sexual battery charges were filed Thursday against a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant was that was charged Tuesday with 120 counts of sexual battery.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Pensacola Regional Operations Center and the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit Thursday charged John Mitchell Tomlinson, 46, of Navarre, Fla. with five counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, a capital felony. Additional bond has been set at $500,000.
Tomlinson was arrested by FDLE on March 9 and charged with 120 counts of sexual battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 18. Tomlinson is a Lieutenant with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier this week Tomlinson was transferred from the Santa Rosa County Jail to the Walton County Jail.