It’s Raining, It’s Pouring…
February 14, 2009
Don’t count on any outdoor plans this weekend; there is a good chance of rain for both your Saturday and Sunday.
There is a 70 percent chance of numerous showers and a few scattered thunderstorms today. Highs will warm into the low 70’s.
It will fall to an overnight low of 55 tonight, and the rain will continue with a 70 percent chance.
More rain is exepcted Sunday morning, possibly with a scattered thunderstorm associated with a passing cold front. The chance of rain in 80 percent in the morning. Rain is forecast to end by afternoon, and the high will be about 62.
It will be clear and colder at 40 Monday night, and Monday’s sunny sky high will struggle to reach 62.
‘High-Rise’ Fire At Escambia Grain In Walnut Hill
February 14, 2009
(With Photo Gallery) Firefighters spent about an hour early Friday evening working to extinguish a fire at Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill.
The fire was reported about 5:00 in a large metal grain dryer unit that towers about 60 feet into the air in front of the 100-foot high grain silos. Flames were visible from near the top of the dryer when the first emergency responders arrived.
Firemen first used a high pressure nozzle located on a truck to knock down the flames, shooting water 60 plus feet into the air to hit the fire. They then positioned the nozzle at several locations along the ground, spraying the high pressure stream of water into the dryer from different angles.
Firemen used a thermal imaging camera from ground level to determine if the fire inside the metal structure had been extinguished.
The fire was reported to be out about 6:00. There were no injuries.
Click here for an exclusive photo gallery from the scene.
The Walnut Hill, Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, along with the Atmore Fire Department.
The grain dryer is uses heat to dry the moisture from grain prior to storing it in a silo for transport.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Time To Register To Third Annual Molino Softball Clinic
February 14, 2009
The third annual Molino Softball Clinic will be held at Don Sutton Park on March 28.
The clinic will be directed by Charity Butler, former pro softball player with the Michigan Ice.
It will include defensive and hitting drills from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a pitching clinic from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m..
Sign up will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. $25 for one session, $35 for both. Checks are payable to Molino Ballpark. The click is for ages 14 and under.
If you need more information, contact Donnie Nicholson at (850) 207-0663 or visit charitynbutler.com.
Need A Little Extra Cash This Weekend?
February 14, 2009
If you need a little extra cash this weekend, NorthEscambia.com might just have a rainy Saturday answer to you.
Take a few minutes and look around your house for unwanted items, then use the free NorthEscambia.com classifieds to turn a little profit.
To submit your classified ad, email classifieds@northescambia.com, or click here for our contact form.
Ads for individuals in are FREE, up to 60 words. Ads must include a phone number or email address. All ads subject to approval. Business ads are available for a small charge.
And when you are looking for an item, don’t forget to check our classifieds page to see if the item might be listed.
To visit our classified page, click here or just look for the “Free Classifieds” link in the menu bar of every page.
Free Seminar To Address Transport Of Hazardous Materials
February 14, 2009
A seminar will be held next week to discuss the transportation of hazardous materials, HAZMAT safety goals and regulations, and the impact of transporting materials across state borders.
The seminar, hosted by U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL), is important for farmers, agribusinesses, or anyone that transports diesel fuel, gasoline, pesticides or ammonium nitrate fertilizer across state lines.
The free seminar will take place Thursday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to noon EST at the North Florida Research and Eduction Center in Quincy, Fla. You can also attend remotely from the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road in Cantonment.
For more information, or to sign up, contact the Escambia County Extension Office at 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu by Monday.
The seminar will include representatives from
- the Hazardous Materials Safety Administration – U.S. Department of Transportation
- the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- FL, GA, and AL law enforcement
Bluff Springs Accident Leaves Some In The Dark, No Injuries
February 13, 2009
An unknown number of people were without power Friday afternoon in the Bluff Springs area following an accident that sent a power pole crashing down.
The accident happened about 3:10 Friday afternoon on Highway 29 near Byrneville Road. A truck reportedly hit a power pole in the area. There were no injuries in the accident.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was called to the scene, along with the Florida Highway Patrol.
Gulf Power dispatched a service truck from the Milton area to restore power.
Another Molino Area Motorcycle Vs. Deer Accident Injures One
February 13, 2009
The second collision between a motorcycle and a deer in the Molino area in less than a week has left another person with serious injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Michael Edward Johansen, 53, of Pensacola was southbound on Highway 99 near Luth Road about 9:20 Friday morning when he struck a deer. Johansen was ejected from his 2007 Yamaha motorcycle. He was taken to Baptist Hospital in serious condition.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Another motorcycle versus deer accident Monday claimed the life of a Walnut Hill man. Tad Fredrick Cann, 46, struck a deer while riding his motorcycle just after 6 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Molino Road and Sunshine Hill Road. He died early Monday afternoon at a Pensacola hospital. That accident happened on Molino Road near Sunshine Hill Road.
Field Of Dreams: Bratt Residents Get Look At Their New Park
February 13, 2009
Clark Caraway begin work on his dream of a community park in Bratt 10 years ago. For the first time, he saw that dream in black and white Thursday night.
Caraway and several other Bratt residents even formed Bratt Community Park, Inc. back in 2001 to work toward the park.
Fast forward to Thursday night…Caraway sat in a public meeting at the Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church as Joy Jones from Escambia County’s parks and recreation department presented preliminary plan drawings for the Bratt Regional Park on Highway 4.
About 30 area residents learned that preliminary plans for the park include a paved, 8-foot wide walking/biking track around the perimeter of the park. There will also be exercise and rest stations positioned along the track.
Plans also call for one or two fenced softball fields, a half-court basketball court, a covered pavilion and playground equipment for children of various ages. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The money is already in the bank, so to speak, to fund the park’s amentities. District 5 Escambia Commissioner Kevin White has $200,000 in LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) funds set aside to fund the park’s development.
“We are trying to use the money we have to accomodate everybody on this park,” White said.
Some members of the audience Thursday night questioned if a recreation building, perhaps one large enough for an indoor basketball court, could be built on the propery. Jones said she did not believe that was possible with current funding. Other residents questioned lighting the park to keep it open until a reasonable time at night, running drinking water and other items not included in the concept.
Jones will work on finalizing park plans and options. She will have those plans posted on the county’s web site within 30 days, and the county will hold another public meeting within six weeks for public review.
Also at Thursday night’s meeting, White praised Kale and Donna Schneider who traded 57 acres of mostly wetlands that county owned on Hanks Road for their 13.19 acres at the corner of West Highway 4 and Bratt Road for the park.
“He stepped up to the plate to better his community,” White said of Mr. Schneider.
The new park will be located along Highway 4 between Bratt First Baptist Church and Northview High School
Pictured above: Clark Caraway discusses the new Bratt Regional Park at a Thursday night public meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church. Pictured below: Joy Jones (left) from Escambia Parks and Recreation discusses preliminary Bratt Regional Park plans with a local resident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Molino Home
February 13, 2009
Fire destroyed a Molino home Thursday afternoon, leaving two people homeless.
The fire was reported about 1:45 at the end Warhop Lane in Molino. Firefighters had some difficulty reaching the isolated mobile home; they were forced to use smaller brush trucks — trucks that are pickup size — in order to reach the fire. They were unable to reach the structure using regular fire engines.
There were no reported injuries in the blaze.
Firefighters were on scene for hours, battling a brush fire at the same location.
The Molino, Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
This was the second home in less than 24 hours to be destroyed by fire in the northern half of Escambia County. An early Thursday morning blaze gutted a home on Neal Road in Cantonment.
Family Fun Day At Showalter Park
February 13, 2009
Century Little League will hold a Family Fun Day and Baseball Registration Saturday at Showalter Park.
The event will be held from noon until 4 p.m.
All ages are invited to enjoy free hotdogs, pony rides, speed pitch, home run derby, base race, basketball shoot, moonwalk, dunking booth and more. Children ages 8-12 will have the opportunity to win a free baseball registration.