Temps Hit 103 Over The Weekend; More Of The Same For Monday
June 22, 2009
After weekend temperatures hitting as high as 103 in the North Escambia area, there is more of the same miserable weather forecast for today.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory again for Monday, with temperatures expected to reach 99-103 with a heat index as high as 112.
On Sunday, Bratt hit 99; Century went to 101; Cantonment had a high of 97; Molino topped out at 99; Walnut Hill hit 100; and Jay had a high of 103.
On Saturday, Century hit 103; Cantonment reached 100; Molino topped out at 101; Jay hit 103; Walnut Hill hit 101 and Bratt reached 99 on Saturday.
A heat advisory will be in effect until 7:00 Monday night. Daytime highs will once again by 99-103, when combined with high humidity and dewpoints in the lower to mid 70’s, will result in heat indexes ranging from 108 to 112 degrees. These conditions can increase the risk of heat related illness.
More of the same is forecast for Tuesday, with a high once again expected around 101. A slight chance of rain at 20 percent is back in the forecast for Wednesday with highs around 98.
The National Weather Service said it is advisable to stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. Outdoor work should also be avoided during the late afternoon and early evening hours.
If you must be outdoors wear lightweight, light colored clothing, drink plenty of water, slow down and take frequent breaks and not drink alcoholic beverages.
Give Blood Today In Walnut Hill
June 22, 2009
You have the chance to give the gift of life at a blood drive this morning in Walnut Hill.The blood drive will take place at the Walnut Hill Farm Supply at the corner of Highway 97 and South Highway 99 from 7:30 until 12:30.
There is a significant need for several blood types, including an urgent need for O+ and O- blood types.
Requirements for giving blood are below.
- Donors must be in generally good health
- At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds are now allowed to donate with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
Seniors Can Enjoy Low Cost Meals Daily
June 22, 2009
Seniors can enjoy a low-cost, nutritious meal and a little social time each weekday from the Council on Aging at one of several locations in the North Escambia area.
Council on Aging of West Florida operates 17 congregate meal sites throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, including Century, Cantonment and Jay. Congregate meals is a neighborhood-based program that offer those 60 and older the opportunity to share a hot, nutritious, balanced noon meal and socialize with others their age.
Though a $2 donation is suggested, there is no cost for the meals. However, reservations must be made in advance by calling the senior center.
Council on Aging of West Florida provides regularly scheduled recreation and activities at their centers each weekday. There is no cost to participate.
North Escambia area sites are listed below, along with the phone number to call for meal reservations, meal serving times and activity hours:
- Century Senior Center, 6025 Industrial Boulevard, 256-1012. Serving time: 11:00 a.m. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Cantonment Senior Center 132 Mintz Lane, 968-6259. Serving time: 11:30 a.m. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Jay Community Center, 5259 Booker Lane, 675-0810. Serving time: 11:00 a.m. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
For a complete list of sites, visit www.coawfla.org or call 432-1475.
Molino Mom Pleads Not Guilty Of Child Abuse, Battery On Husband
June 22, 2009
A Molino woman accused of hitting her child in the head with a plate and slapping her husband has entered a plea of not guilty in Escambia County Circuit Court.
Tina Louise Ferrell, 46, was charged May 21 with one count of aggravated child abuse and one count of aggravated battery in connection with an incident at a mobile home on Duxbury Avenue off Highway 29 in Molino.
She is due back in court for a jury trial on August 19. She remains in the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond. If she makes bond, she was also ordered to submit to monitoring through the pre-trial release program, submit to random urine and breath testing and consume no alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
Ferrell was also ordered to have no contact with the children at the Duxbury Avenue address where the incident occurred. The court ordered a public defender be appointed for Ferrell.
Ferrell and her husband were asleep about 7 p.m. on May 21 when her 10-year old child tried to wake her to get help with a one-year old child in the home, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. When Ferrell refused to help with the infant and went back to sleep, the 10-year old tried to wake her again with drops of water sprinkled in her face. That’s when Ferrell slapped her husband and threw a plate a him, deputies said. The plate missed the husband and struck a three-year old in the head.
The three-year old was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with injuries that were not serious. The 10 and one-year old were not injured.
Elton Gilmore Retires After 32 Years With Forestry
June 21, 2009
After 32 years of service in the Florida Division of Forestry, Elton Gilmore of McDavid is retiring.
Gilmore was honored at a dinner in Pensacola Saturday night. Ben Wolcott, operations administrator for the Blackwater District for the Florida Division of Forestry, provided a little insight into “Gray Bear’s” service.
In June of 1977, Gilmore was hired as a forest ranger at the Molino Tower at the same rate of pay he had made as the assistant manager of an IGA grocery store — $5.50 an hour. He was promoted to Senior Forest Ranger in January 1986 and was promoted to Forest Area Supervisor in February 1997. He spent a total of 32 years in Forestry fire control.
Wolcott said Gilmore’s personnel file is about two and a half inches thick, “full of letters of thanks, appreciation and commendations for things he’s done, from assigning the resources to helping clear an elderly lady’s driveway after Hurricane Ivan, to leading fire crews from Virginia to Texas to Oregon, to helping organize the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department and serving as captain, assistant chief, and chief.”
“It’s a file that reveals the career of a man who’s been dedicated to his family, to the profession he chose, to the community where he raised his family and very much to his fellow workers,” Wolcott said.
Working as the District Training Officer, Gilmore helped many other firefighters in a three-county area grow in their careers, Wolcott said. Gilmore worked with Beulah Fire Chief Bobby Nigh to start the first Division of Forestry district-level Wildland Fire Training Conference, a concept that has been repeated and will continue to grow, he said.
“Elton, just like an old Colorado grizzly bear, you’ve made your mark on the tree, and it won’t be easy for anyone to reach higher than you have,” Wolcott said. “I’m proud and mean it when I say that you deserve to have great days ahead, and I’m thankful to have played with you on the Blackwater team.”
Gilmore’s official last day with the Division of Forestry is June 30.
Pictured top: Ben Wolcott (right), operations administrator for the Blackwater District for the Florida Division of Forestry, presents a plaque to Elton Gilmore Saturday night honoring him for his 32 years of service. Pictured below: Gilmore and his retirement gift — a new gas grill. Submitted photos by Bill Eubanks for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Niceville-National Wins 8-9 Year Old All-Star Tourney
June 21, 2009
Niceville-National has captured the tournament crown in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All-Stars Tournament.
Niceville-National beat Destin 8-2 Saturday night at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Niceville-National was undefeated in tournament play.
Special thanks to Chris Brown for helping NorthEscambia.com with our coverage of the tournament this week.
In-Depth Look: School Grades For Area Schools
June 21, 2009
Carver/Century K-8 School, which closed at the end of the school year, received an F rating. Carver/Century was the only F-rated school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. There were only 47 F-rated schools in the entire state of Florida.
Pictured: The graphics above and below provide a more detailed look into the school accountability grades released last week by the Florida Department of Education. NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Back Behind Bars: Jail Escapee Captured Saturday In South Alabama
June 20, 2009
An inmate that escaped from a work release program in Pensacola Thursday afternoon was recaptured Saturday in Alabama.
Scott Douglas Hagen, 39, “walked off” from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office garage where he was on fill-in duty.
He was taken into custody in Covington County, Alabama, early Saturday. Hagen had spent time in Covington County and local authorities there acted on a tip and took Hagen into custody, according to Sgt Ted Roy of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. He is awaiting extradition back to Florida where he will face Felony Escape charges.
No further details were available on how or where in Covington County Hagen was captured, Roy said.
He was last seen about 1:15 Thursday afternoon while taking out the trash at the garage. Hagen was being held on violation of probation for possession of a controlled substance.
Funeral Held For Century Man Shot Last Weekend
June 20, 2009
Funeral services for the former Century resident shot in the face last weekend at a Warrington mobile home park were held Saturday in Century.
Jeffrey Carl Kimbrough, 41, was shot about 3:30 Sunday afternoon in the 1500 block of Gulf Beach Highway in the Warrington community in the southwest part of the county in an apparent dispute over a stolen wallet.
Visitation and the funeral were held at New Life Baptist Church in Century. Internment followed at the Century Cemetery.
Kimbrough was a Century native, having attended Century Elementary and Carver Middle school.
During the time he lived in Century, Kimbrough was a member of Century Volunteer Fire Department where he obtained the rank of captain. After moving from Century, he served as a volunteer for the Pensacola Fire Department. He was employed the last five years at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Kimbrough is survived by his wife of 24 years Clara Ann Nettle; children Bridgett, Leroca, Elandarge and Tamara; mother Carrie Kimbrough; four brothers and three sisters.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies said Kimbrough confronted Ellis J. McArthur of Bay Minette about a stolen wallet. That is when, according to deputies, McArthur pulled out a handgun and shot Kimbrough in the face. Kimbrough died Monday evening at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
McArthur, 17, has been charged as an adult with second degree murder in connection with the incident. He is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
Florida Man Killed In Wreck North Of Flomaton
June 20, 2009
A Florida man was killed in a single vehicle accident on I-65 just south of the Flomaton exit Friday afternoon.
Alabama State Troopers said Larry James Foster, 52, of Holt, Fla., was killed in the accident about 4:45 Friday afternoon at the 68 mile marker, about one mile south of the Highway 113 Flomaton exit. He was driving a 2000 Mazda pickup truck.
Further information was not available from the Alabama Highway Patrol.