Unity Baptist To Present Children’s Easter Musical
April 4, 2009
The Children’s Choir at Unity Baptist Church in Atmore will present their Easter Musical on Sunday, April 5 during 10:30 a.m. worship service.
“The children are very exciting about sharing their musical with the congregation,” said Children’s Director Kyle Harris. “They join together to give an original depiction of the timeless story of Jesus’ crucifixion, death and glorious resurrection.”
Harris said that children in the program are from across the area, including Atmore, Flomaton and North Escambia.
Unity Baptist Church is at 10310 Highway 31, just east of Atmore. For more information, call (251) 368-9353.
Pictured above: The Children’s Choir at Unity Baptist Church in Atmore practice for their Easter Musical. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vision Church Service
April 3, 2009
Vision Church Palm Sunday service
10:30 AM
Flomaton High School Auditorium
Youth & children will present a human video; special music; nursery and Kids Church provided; free t-shirt for visitors; free ice cream for kids after service; casual dress; call 296-1435 for more information! Everyone Welcome!
PNJ Cuts 84 Jobs, Moving Paper Printing To Mobile Press-Register
April 3, 2009
The Pensacola News Journal announced today that they are cutting 84 jobs in their printing operation. The PNJ will outsource the print production of the paper to the Mobile Press-Register.
Other paper operations such as their newsroom, prepress, advertising and marketing departments will remain in Pensacola with about 200 jobs. The newspaper says their delivery schedule will remain the same despite the paper being printed in Mobile.
The PNJ says the transition to printing in Mobile will take 60 days to complete.
You May Not Be A Winner: More Scam Letters Arriving In North Escambia
April 3, 2009
More scam letters promising big prize winnings are arriving in North Escambia area mailboxes, but officials say that the enclosed official looking check to cover fees or taxes in order to claim the prize is fake.
Several North Escambia residents have fallen victim to the scam letters, losing thousands of dollars each in the process.
The latest round of letters appears to be from Publishers Clearing House, claiming that the recipient has won a grand prize drawing of $1 million. Although the letters and checks look official, the recipient is the target of a scam making a nationwide appearance.
“Not surprisingly, the revival of this scam comes on the heels of the real Publishers Clearing House awarding a New Jersey woman $5,000 a week for the rest of her life,” said Norman Wright, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida. “Scammers often take advantage of events in the news, such as Publishers Clearing House giving out a prize, knowing it’ll be on top of people’s minds.”
Victims receive a letter supposedly from Publishers Clearing House claiming that they have won $1 million as the second place winner of a drawing sponsored by Reader’s Digest Magazine. The letter is accompanied by a check for as much as $5,900 with instructions to call a Publishers Clearing House representative. Victims are told that they must cash the check and then wire approximately $4,000 to Publishers Clearing House in order to receive their prize. However, the check is fraudulent and money wired to the scammers cannot be recovered.
Since early March, reports of the Publishers Clearing House scam have come in from 20 states including Florida. Some have also reported receiving phone calls from scammers pretending to be with Publishers Clearing House.
Other scam letters received by North Escambia residents have been from Royal Trust Cooperation and Guardian Financial. The Guardian Financial letters cost at least six North Escambia residents over $3,000 each back in February. Read that story here.
Pictured below: A copy of a scam letter that attempts to convince the recipient that they have won $1 million from Publisher’s Clearing House. Pictured above: Checks like this arriving in North Escambia mailboxes are fake and totally worthless. Submitted graphics for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FEMA Announces $7 Million For New Flood Maps
April 3, 2009
As rivers in North Escambia were flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Thursday that they were awarding nearly $7 million in grants to improve flood maps in Northwest Florida.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing $6,954,000 in federal funds toward the total project cost of $9,499,164 million. The resulting maps will be even more reliable, updated and current digital products. These updated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs), track actual risk more closely and assist new development and rebuilding efforts.
The water management district’s Floodplain Mapping Program will update the the maps for Escambia, Bay Gulf, Leon, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.
“With these funds, our partners in Florida can update flood risk maps so that they more accurately reflect recent development and natural changes in the environment,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Phil May. “The new maps make communities safer for years to come by helping home and business owners assess their flood risk and make informed decisions about protecting property from the risk of flood loss.”
For information on flooding, flood maps for your location and information on flood insurance, click here.
New Members In Northview’s Beta Club
April 3, 2009
Northview High School has announced new members for the school’s chapter of The National Beta Club.
Tenth grade inductees are:
- Mallory Bell
- Jansen Bodiford
- Allie Bryan
- Allyson Bullard
- Caitlyn Brown
- Hillary Byrd
- Ashley Digmon
- Laneicia Gomez
- Jocelyn Gould
- Sarah Killam
- A.J. Lambert
- Dixie Picheo
- Joshua Scott
- Christina Sepulveda
- Hayley Simpson
- Colton Sims
- Stephanie Solari
- Emily Vickrey
- Allison Vidak
- Katie Wieborg
Sunshine Finally Returns; Down To 35 Next Week
April 3, 2009
North Escambia will get some much welcomed sunshine beginning today.
The forecast calls for sunny skies for Friday and Saturday, but clouds make a return on Sunday before the sun returns Monday through Wednesday.
It will be warm over the weekend with highs near 80, but by Monday night it will be cold with a low of 35… just in time for Spring Break.
Here is your complete NorthEscambia.com forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Barrineau Park Music Night
April 3, 2009
Sons of the Pines and Whistlestop will take to the stage tonight at the Barrineau Park Community Center for the April installment of the monthly Barrineau Park Music Night.
The “Sons” sing classic western, gospel and a little country. Whistle stop performs a variety of bluegrass, gospel and country tunes will their excellent style of harmony and instrumentals.
The singing starts at 7 p.m. and is free. Food and refreshments will also be available beginning at 5 p.m. This is a family friendly event. No alcohol is permitted on the property and no smoking is allowed in or near the building.
For more information, call 587-5575.
The Barrineau Park Community Center is located three miles west of Molino on Barrineau Park School Road.Everyone is invited to attend.
Pictured above: Southern Sounds. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Help At Financial Friday At Century Library
April 3, 2009
If you need tax help or just some good solid financial advice, there is an event for you this afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
United Way of Escambia County’s Financial Stability Coalition will present Financial Friday today at the Century Branch Library. North Escambia residents interested in learning better financial management, strategies for improving credit and reducing debt, and helping their children become lifelong savers will not want to miss Financial Friday.
The event will offer games and activities for children to help instill a framework for smart money management, and a thorough program for adults on topics ranging from family budgeting and debt reduction, to credit repair and purchasing a home. Children must be accompanied by an adult to attend. All presentations are taught by certified MoneySmart volunteers, and all are free and open to the public.
Additionally, free income tax preparation and filing will be available for those who qualify on a time-available basis. The service is provided by IRS-certified volunteers working with United Way’s Financial Stability Coalition. For more information on the free tax preparation, call United Way’s First Call For Help at (850) 595-5905.
Financial Friday will take place from 1 until 3 this afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
Rain Mostly Gone; Tornado Watch Canceled
April 2, 2009
(Updated 5:55 p.m.) The National Weather Service has canceled the Tornado Watch for North Escambia and the surrounding area. There is a slight chance of a shower for the remainder of your Thursday.
Tonight’s rain chance is at 30 percent, with a low of 54 and breezy conditions.
Friday and Saturday will be sunny and warm with highs in the 70’s.
RiversThe flood warning continues until further notice for the Escambia River near Century. Thursday afternoon, the river was at 18.48 feet Thursday afternoon. Flood stage is 17 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and is forecast to continue. The river will continue to rise to near 18.8 feet by early Saturday morning. At 19 feet, low lying pastures will flood and cattle should be moved to higher ground.
The flood warning continues for the Perdido River near Barrineau Park. Thursday afternoon the river was at 13.6 feet; flood stage is 13 feet. The river is forecast to continue to fall to below flood stage by Thursday afternoon.
Pictured below: The boardwalk at Molino Fairgrounds Park was flooded by the Escambia River Wednesday afternoon. Submitted photo by Deni Deron for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.