Cat Country Wins Radio Station, Personality Of The Year Awards
February 26, 2009
Popular area radio station Cat Country 98.7 has won the Academy of Country Music Association (ACM) Radio Station of the Year and Radio On-Air Personality of the Year.
In each category, the station and The Cat Pak Morning Show with Brent Lane and Dana Cervantes were one of five nationwide nominees in the small market division, which includes all markets other than the Top100.
Kevin King, operations manager for Cat Country 98.7 (WYCT-FM) said, “We are all very excited and honored to win this prestigious award for the second time in three years.” CatCountry 98.7 also won this honor in 2007.
“It’s truly an honor to be able to represent Pensacola at the ACM’s in Las Vegas and to be recognized for doing what we love to do in Pensacola,” Dana Cervantes said.
Winners including Brent Lane will be featured during the live telecast as an announcer for “bumpers” leading into commercials for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Brent Lane and Dana Cervantes, the Cat Pak, care about Pensacola. From MC duties at charity events, toy drives, reading to elementary kids, and dressing in a turkey costume…there is nothing the Cat Pak won’t do. The Cat Pak helped raise $985,564 for various charities, aired more than 3000 minutes of PSAs, and donated more than 700 hours of community service.
The Cat Pak supports their military. Florida Congressman Jeff Miller asked Brent and Dana to help when he started the Emerald Coast Honor Flight to fly World War II Veterans to Washington, DC free of charge to visit the WWII Memorial. Brent and Dana helped raise $300,000 for 3 trips and Brent served as a Guardian on the first flight. The Cat Pak also supports local troops on the ground in Iraq and Kuwait. At Thanksgiving, morning show co-host, Dana Cervantes embedded with the local 146th Army National Guard and traveled to Iraq for the second year. Dana delivered 21,000 Letters from Home and broadcast live around the clock and fed video reports to the local ABC TV affiliate via satellite.
Christmas Wishes is an award-winning station-originated campaign that helps those less fortunate during the holidays. Country star, Craig Morgan joined the Cat Pak Morning Show live in early December to grant a down-on-their-luck couple a fly away to Nashville. Brent and Dana partnered with Toys for Tots to fulfill thousands of dollars of “wishes for toys” this year. The Cat Pak helped raise over $70,000 for home make over wish of a family in need.
Manna Food Bank of Pensacola counts on Brent and Dana to help raise awareness. This is the third year for the “Manna Hat,” a cowboy hat signed by every Country Star to visit Cat Country this year. This year Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and more helped the Cat Pak raise $850 for Manna. Brent dressed up in a turkey costume to help “Fill the Mayflower for Manna” raising more than 14,000 pounds of food!
Pictured top: Cat Pak morning show hosts Brent Lane and Dana Cervantes from Cat Country 98.7. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Fire In The Sky
February 26, 2009
Several large control burns around the area have led to lots of smoke in North Escambia the past few days, creating a unique sunset Wednesday evening.
Winds will be light from the southeast today, allowing the smoke to settle in some areas. It will be warm through Saturday, with afternoon high expected to top out around 75.
Rain creeps in to the forecast by Friday night at 30 percent. The rain chance jumps to 60 percent for Saturday and continues at 40 percent for Saturday night.
By Sunday, the rain will clear and it will be cooler with a high of just 58 degrees.
Pictured above: Drifting smoke led to an interesting sunset Wednesday afternoon. The sun can be seen through a drifting cloud of smoke. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Lloyd Barrow And Scott Hammond Named Chamber Citizens Of The Year
February 25, 2009
The Flomaton and Century Joint Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet was held Tuesday night in Flomaton with the chambers naming their respective Citizens of the Year.
Flomaton High School Principal Scott Hammond was named the Flomaton Citizen of the Year. Ernest Lloyd Barrow was name the Century Citizen of the Year.
Ernest Lloyd Barrow
“Rain or shine, he is always ready and willing to help in any activity and never meets a stranger,” is how Benny Barnes of the Century Chamber of Commerce described Century Citizen of the Year Ernest Lloyd Barrow Tuesday night.
Barrow spent four years in the U.S. Army and worked at St. Regis Paper Company for 44 years. During his free time, he was always busy will activities to benefit the community.
For years, he managed the Century Little League Park, a park that now bears his name. He coached, cleaned up the park…anything that needed to be done so that the children could play ball.
He has been active in the Century Lions Club since 1962, and he was recognized for 40 years of perfect attendance.
Barrow is active in the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society and the Century First Baptist Church.
He loves cooking for family and friends, and even cooks for special events like class reunions and church activities. He also enjoys spending time with his wife Deanie, their four children and three great-grandchildren. There is a fourth grandchild on the way.
Scott Hammond
Scott Hammond has lived in Flomaton all of his life, except for one year when he taught in Montgomery. He graduated from Flomaton High School as salutatorian in 1988. He lettered in football, baseball and basketball. He was on the 1988 state championship baseball team.
He attended Jefferson Davis Junior College where he played baseball for two years. He played baseball two more years for Faulkner University in Montgomery where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree. He obtained his master’s degree while teaching, taking night classes. He taught math for one year at a Montgomery school.
He returned home to Flomaton High as a math teacher and coach. He has coached football, baseball and softball, including a state championship girls softball team.
When named principal at Floamton High School, Hammond’s goals were to restore school pride, reduce drugs in school, raise academic levels to exceed state levels and prepare students for the next level of education or work force.
Hammond’s wife Jacqui teaches and coaches girls softball and volleyball at Flomaton High.
“Scott has dedicated his life to making Flomaton a better place to live both today and training our children to be our future leaders,” Bo Brantley of the Flomaton Chamber of Commerce said when presenting the Citizen of the Year award to Hammond.
“Scott was asked recently when he would have children,” Brantley said. “His reply was that he didn’t need them because he’s already got 300 to tend to. And believe me he is as concerned about every one as he would be his own.”
Pictured above: Flomaton Citizen of the Year Scott Hammond (left) and Century Citizen of the Year Ernest Lloyd Barrow. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Businesses, Students Of The Year Named
February 25, 2009
Awards for outstanding students and outstanding businesses were handed out Tuesday night at the Flomaton and Century Joint Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet.
Scroll down for award winners and photos.
Bud’s Refrigeration Service was named the Flomaton Business of the Year, and Whataburger was named as the Century Business of the Year. Pictured are (L-R) Buddy and Maxine Smith from Bud’s Refrigeration Service and Jeff Jennings, manager of the Century Whataburger.
Flomaton High School student Kaitlyn Hambrick was named the Flomaton Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Student. Northview High School senior Luke Killam was named as the Century Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Student.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Beat Pcola High 5-0; Updated Story With Stats
February 25, 2009
The Northview High School varsity baseball team shut out Pensacola High School Tuesday night in Bratt. The Chiefs beat PHS 5-0. Pictured above: Scooter Hamilton at bat. Pictured below: Brad Lowery hits for the Chiefs. Pictured bottom: Patrick McPherson scores. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hitters for Northview- Reid 1-3 1 R, Stuckey 1-3, 2b (double), 1R, A. Lowery 1-3, 1R, Hamilton 1-3, 1 RBI, Langhorne 0-3, 1R, 1RBI, Mcphearson 0-3, 1R, B. Lowery 0-4, 1RBI, Foster 0-3, 1RBI, Sheets 0-2, 1RBI, Burkett 0-1. Pitchers- B. Lowery 6 IP, 2-H, 0-R, O-ER, 3-BB, 8-K’s, 1-HB/ Hanks 1-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 2-BB, 0-K, Northview 1-W, 2-L, 0-T.
All the runs came in the fourth, started by a Langhorne hit to second which scored two runs, after an throwing error to first base on a play on Langhorne, then A. Lowery got on base by a fielders choice which put Langhorne on second, Mcphearson was put on base with a hit by pitch, which loaded the bases, Sheets got on with a error and moved in 1run and keeping bases loaded again, Hamilton got on base with an error and moved in one run, B. Lowery had a sacrifice to score the final run. Chiefs were able to hold off PHS with solid pitching and error free defense to win the game.
Stats submitted by Rodney Burkett.
Escaped Prisoner Recaptured
February 25, 2009
A prisoner that escaped from a work detail from the Atmore Community Work Center has been recaptured.
Jody Gregory Clarke, 23, was reported missing from a work detail at the Magnolia Springs Landfill in Baldwin County Monday night. Clark was serving a 15 year sentence for a Mobile County robbery. He was recaptured Wednesday at a Summerdale mobile home. He was returned back to prison in Atmore.
Back in September, two work release inmates that escaped from an Atmore work detail were spotted in Walnut Hill and later arrested in Pensacola. Read that story by clicking here.
Submitted photo. Click to enlarge.
Let The Good Times Roll! Century Care Celebrates Mardi Gras
February 25, 2009
Residents at the Century Care Center celebrated Mardi Gras Tuesday in grand style with both a parade and a party.
The parade, held Tuesday morning, featured lots of throws, including Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets. Residents in Mardi Gras costumes paraded and rolled through the hallways in their wheelchairs to the delight of other residents watching the parade.
Ms. Katie Clark was named Century Care Center’s Mardi Gras Queen, and Mr. Grady Sims was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King at a Tuesday afternoon Mardi Gras party.
Click here for a complete photo gallery.
Pictured above: A Mardi Gras parade will held Tuesday at the Century Care Center. Pictured below: Mrs. Katie Clark (left) was named Century Care Center’s Mardi Gras Queen and Mr. Grady Sims was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week With Faculty/Staff Breakfast
February 25, 2009
FFA members at Northview High School celebrated National FFA Week Tuesday morning by cooking breakfast for the faculty and staff.
“Step Up, Stand Out” is the theme of National FFA Week this year as more than half a million members around the nation are participating in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. Stepping up and standing out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it’s also a call to action for others. FFA members set a positive example with their leadership, work ethic and community service activities
Students cooked a breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, grits, biscuits and sausage for the NHS faculty and staff and local agricultural and community leaders.
The FFA began in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America.
For more pictures from the National FFA Week breakfast at Northview High School, click here.
Northview High School has had an active FFA membership since it opened. Ernest Ward Middle School started a FFA chapter in 2005. Both schools work together, volunteer in the community and help each other throughout the school year.
Pictured above: Northview FFA students serve a National FFA Week breakfast Tuesday morning at the school. Pictured left: Northview FFA Vice President Allie Vidak serves eggs to the school faculty. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Crary Road Fire Call
February 24, 2009
Escambia Fire-Rescue responded to a reported house fire near Bluff Springs Tuesday afternoon.
The residents of a mobile home near the corner of Crary Road and Thompson Road reported smelling smoke inside the home about 4:45 Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters were unable to immediately locate a fire.
The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia-Fire Rescue and the Flomaton Fire Department were all dispatched to the call.
Bond Set For Man Involved In Monday Night Manhunt Near Walnut Hill
February 24, 2009
(Updated 2:00 p.m.) An Escambia County Circuit Court Judge set bond this afternoon in the case of a Walnut Hill man involved in a manhunt Monday night.
The incident began just before 7 p.m. Monday at a home in 3000 block of Sandy Hollow Road with a domestic dispute that sent a female to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Everette Berry, 55, of Walnut Hill was arrested after Escambia County deputies spent over an hour searching for him.
Berry fled the residence on foot, according to reports. Deputies called for a K-9 unit from the Century Correctional Institute and the Sheriff’s Department helicopter to assist in the search.
Berry was located and taken into custody near the residence at 8:20 p.m. without incident.
Berry was charged with two counts felony counts battery and one felony count of aggravated battery in connection with the domestic dispute. Tuesday afternoon, Circuit Judge Linda Nobles set bond for Berry at $30,000. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday afternoon.
Sandy Hollow Road is about one mile east of Highway 97. It runs between Highway 4 and Gobbler Road.
The manhunt might be the last with a helicopter in North Escambia. Sheriff David Morgan will ground the department’s helicopter program as of March 1. Morgan has said that closing the department’s air unit will save his department about $800,000 per year. That includes salaries and costs like maintenance and fuel.