Snow Tonight???
February 28, 2009
There’s a good chance of more rain and storms for your North Escambia Saturday, and there might be a few thunderstorms too. And tonight’s forecast mentions the four letter word SNOW.
Today’s rain chance is at 90 percent. The National Weather Service says to expect numerous showers and thunderstorms today, some possibly severe with gusty winds before noon. The high will be about 73, and the winds will be at 10 to 15 mph from the west.
Winds will turn to the north tonight, and temperatures will plummet to about 39 degrees. The rain chance will be 40 percent. Coupled with some colder air in the upper levels of the skies, that might mean a few snowflakes for North Escambia. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
That slight chance of rain mixed with a little snow continues for Sunday morning at 20 percent. Sunday’s high will struggle to hit 52.
Here’s the complete North Escambia forecast from the National Weather Service:
This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 71. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: A slight chance of rain between midnight and 3am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 9am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 52. Windy, with a north wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. Blustery, with a north wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Northview Grad Involved In Accident That Killed Two Pedestrians
February 28, 2009
More details have emerged about an accident involving a Northview graduate that killed two pedestrians in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol says a vehicle driven by Matthew Thomas Zisa, 18, of McDavid, was traveling northbound on County Road 95A near Countri Lane and was passing northbound traffic when he failed to notice six pedestrians walking northbound in the southbound lane of the road. Zisa’s 2003 Chevrolet struck three of the pedestrians, killing two of them.
The FHP says Rachel L. Welford, 16 and Jeremy Lee Shipley, 24, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. Johnathan M. Kane, 20, was seriously injured and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight. He has since been released from the hospital
Grief counselors were on campus Friday at Tate to help the students deal with the loss of Welford.
Welford; Shipley; Kane; Jeremy Davidson, 19; Rachel’s sister Jennifer Welford, 15; and Micah Orr, 18, were walking from a home on El Camino Drive to the nearby Tom Thumb that sits between Highway 95A and Highway 29 when they were struck from behind.
“These people behind me were driving crazy,” witness John Middleton told WEAR-TV. “I was going about the speed limit. They tried to pass me, so I sped up a little bit. They fell back behind me. Then they come around me one more time, and that’s when the accident happened.”
Members of the group said Friday that they never saw Zisa’s headlights, never heard a horn, and never heard tires squealing. They said they were just walking toward the store, and, the next thing they knew, three members of the group were hit by Zisa’s Chevrolet Blazer.
Troopers say charges are pending against Zisa, a 2008 graduate of Northview High School. He was not injured in the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured top: Matthew Zisa’s Chevrolet Blazer is seen is this photo. (Courtesy WEAR-TV) Pictured inset: Rachel Welford was killed in a Thursday night crash in Cantonment. Her boyfriend, Jonathan Kane (left) was seriously injured. Submitted photo.
Northview Wins Baseball And Softball Games Friday Night
February 28, 2009
Friday night was a good one for both the varsity and junior varsity boy’s baseball, and the girl’s softball teams from Northview High School.
Northview’s varisty boy’s baseball team allowed just three hits as they beat South Walton on the road Friday night.
Northview beat the South Walton Seahawks 2-0 in the District 1-3A game.
Coming off a 7-5 win over West Florida Thursday, the JV Chiefs beat South Walton Friday afternoon 10-7 to improve to 2-1 on the season..
Friday evening was also a good one for the Lady Chiefs softball team.
Northview’s softball team shut out the Pine Forest Eagles 14-0.
Pictured top: Northview freshman Cole Commander at bat for the Chiefs Friday afternoon at South Walton. Pictured middle: The NHS JV team at South Walton Friday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Ernest Ward Principal
February 28, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry received what was, without a doubt, the most unique award of her entire educational career Friday afternoon.
She was presented with the “Golden Cow Dung Award” by members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field.)
Perry received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA.
Friday wrapped up National FFA Week at Ernest Ward. “Step Up, Stand Out” was the theme of National FFA Week this year as more than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels.
EWMS FFA sponsor Cynthia Wilson said the group wanted to thank Perry for her continued support of the organization. She also said she wanted to thank the area farmers and other member of the agricultural community that support the FFA.
Pictured top are(L-R) Clarissa Ross, Shelby Lewis, Codie Calloway, Dustin Parker, Devin Bell, Nancy Gindl-Perry, Cynthia Wilson, Lauryn Walker, Sandy Rainwater and Harley Caraway. All were dressed for “Farm Day” at EWMS. Pictured left: Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry and her Golden Cow Dung Award. Pictured below: The Golden Cow Dung Award. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Album: Flomaton Beats Escambia County High
February 28, 2009
The Flomaton Hurricanes pickup up another win in the Escambia County Tournament Friday afternoon beating Escambia County High School.
It took 10 innings, but the ‘Canes beat the Blue Devils. Tyler Coleman and Keegan Lambeth each had a home run for Flomaton.
In Thursday night action, the Hurricanes beat the T.R. Miller Tigers 9-7.
Click here for more photos from Mike Newton Photography.
Pictured above: Action as Flomaton beat Atmore Friday afternoon. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teaspoon Heritage Festival Today
February 28, 2009
Organizers say the annual Teaspoon Festival will go on rain or shine today in Century.
The annual event includes artists, bands, musicians, dancers, entertainers and vendors from across the area. The day’s events will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the New Life Baptist Church, 700 Hecker Road.
A History of Teaspoon
by Jack Moran
Long before a sawmill was built in what is today called Century, there was a thriving trading community. That trading community was located at the juncture of the Little “Shambia” River and the much larger Conecuh River that flowed south toward Pensacola.
Records and maps in the Library of Congress show a Spanish Fort, trading post, and a corn plantation located just south of present day Century. Those features were there for over 100 years prior to the American Civil War and more than 150 years prior to the building of the famous Alger-Sullivan saw mill that named the town Century.
There was also a trading path that came up from Pensacola. Originally that path was on the border between the Upper and the Lower Muscogee Indian territories. Later the path became known as the Old Indian Path and then it became known as the Panton-Leslie Trading Path. Originally it led to the little trading settlement at the juncture of the little river and the big river, but later it was extended north of what is now Flomaton and called the Old Wolf Path. It led to Burnt Corn and the Three Notch Trail.
There was in those early days a flood-lake along side the big Conecuh River that was curiously shaped – like a teaspoon. This resulted in the settlement being named “Teaspoon”.
The tiny trading settlement was populated by mostly African’s and American Indians, most of whom had escaped slavery in the British Colonies in Virginia, Carolina, and Georgia; Spanish traders up from Pensacola, and French from Mobile, New Orleans, and Natchez. The main trading products were pine sap, pine pitch, tall masts, and various kinds of dried foods that were traded for metal utensils, beads, cloth, and salt.
The present day Teaspoon Heritage Festival celebrates the multi-cultural trading settlement that existed long before the Alger-Sullivan sawmill was built in the early 1900’s.
The Teaspoon Festival consists of artist, bands and musicians, dancers, various entertainers and vendors from all over the region. Each year the festival grows in attendance and participation. It is listed with the Florida Department of Tourism on their Visit Florida Web Pages, and on the internet web pages of the Arts Council of NW Florida. The Teaspoon Heritage Festival is rapidly becoming a major tourist industry attraction in Century bringing notoriety and tourism dollars to the local economy.
Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction Saturday
February 28, 2009
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction will be held Saturday, and auction items are being accepted today.
The auction will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but household items, household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items and more. Sellers can register their items on Thursday or Friday, or prior to the start of the sale on on Saturday morning. Buyers can register prior to 9:30 on Saturday morning.
Concession will be available all day from the Ruritan Club.
Last year, over 200 buyers registered for the annual sale.
For more information, call 327-4479 or 327-4318.
The sale will be located at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97.
Highway 97 Accident Injures Two
February 28, 2009
Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident in front of the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 Friday night.
One southbound pickup rear ended a pickup stopped in the southbound lane to turn into the Davisville shopping center. The pickup that was stopped was spun around in Highway 97.
The other pickup ended up in a buggy corral in the shopping center parking lot. It was not clear at the scene if the driver of the truck drove or just rolled across the parking lot before hitting the buggy corral.
Two people, one from each vehicle, were transported by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident happened just before 6:30.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue responded to the call, along with Atmore Ambulance, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the call.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured top and inset: The driver of this pickup continued into the Piggly Wiggly parking lot in Davisville after rear-ending another pickup on Highway 97 Friday night. Pictured below: The pickup that rear-ended sits along Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Track Loader Goes Up In Flames
February 28, 2009
Fire destroyed a piece of heavy equipment near Greenland Road in Davisville Friday morning.
The compact track loader was a total loss.
The fire was reported about 10:30 Friday morning. The track loader was located in a wooded area off Greenland Road, just east of Highway 97. There were no injuries.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue responded to the call.
Pictured above: Fire destroyed a compact track loader in Davisville Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Dog Fighting
February 28, 2009
A Flomaton man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of dog fighting and one count of cruelty to a dog.
Dale Lynn Carnley of Flomaton received the sentence Thursday.
Carnley’s probation from a previous charge of attempting to possess a controlled substance was also revoked, resulting in the return to prison to serve the remaining 14 years of that 15 year sentence.
On March 18, 2008, Carnley admitted to fighting his dog, Batman, against another dog in Santa Rosa County on March 17th and then placing the dog, severely wounded and bleeding, in a dogbox and returning to Flomaton where he left the dog in the box overnight with no medical treatment.
Carnley then attempted to sell Batman by showing his wounds and relating the details of the fight to undercover police officers. A total of six dogs were seized from the property along with various dog fighting paraphernalia.
Elizabeth Carnley, Dale Carnley’s wife, has also been indicted under charges of dog fighting and cruelty to a dog. She is awaiting trial.
“We will not tolerate the torture and death of innocent animals. The prosecution of these types of crimes against animals is both difficult and costly, nevertheless, we are committed, with the constant and unwavering support of our local law enforcement here in Escambia County, Alabama, to doing all that we can to catch and punish dog fighters.” said Renee Jones, Director of the Humane Society of Escambia County, Ala.
Five people were arrested for dog fighting in Escambia County, Ala., in 2008 with three arrests in Santa Rosa County and four arrests in Autagua County, Ala. as a result of investigations that begain in Escambia County, Ala. Those investigations are continuing.
Pictured top: “Batman”, the dog involved in a dogfight that led to a Flomaton man receiving 15 years in prison. Pictured inset: Dale Lynn Carnley was sentenced to prison Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.