More Rain For Thursday, Friday

June 3, 2010

Thursday will bring more showers and thunderstorms, as will Friday. The rain chance decreases a bit for Saturday, but storms are still likely.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Today: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
  • Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
  • Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 94. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 96. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
  • Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wildcats Have Tri-County Little League’s Only Undefeated Season

June 3, 2010

The Fidelis Lady Wildcats Minor League Softball team  finished the Tri-County Little League season undefeated — the only Tri-County Little League team in either baseball or softball  to go undefeated this season.

The Wildcats are managed by Jimbo Lewis and coached by Ricky Tagert.  The team was sponsored by Siwicki Plumbing.

Pictured: Members of the undefeated Tri-County Little League Fidelis Lady Wildcats (front, L-R) Jorja Agrait, Jocelyn Wells, (middle row) Kennedy Cato, Hannah Vaughn, Olivia Cook, Cotton Malone, (back r0w) Manager JimboLewis, Kameryn Lewis, Carissa Mulford, Megan Mulford, Harley Tagert and Coach Ricky Tagert. Photo courtesy Distinctively De Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Latest Escambia Oil Spill Info; Sheen 7 Miles Offshore

June 3, 2010

While the primary oil plume is located 35 miles from Pensacola, an oil sheen has closed within seven miles of Escambia County. Here is the latest Deepwater Horizon oil spill information specific to Escambia County.

  • According to the NOAA oil plume model, the primary oil plume is 35 miles from Pensacola.
  • No large oil impacts are expected across any portion of the state within the next 72 hours. NOAA forecast trajectories place Escambia County within the uncertainty area by Friday.
  • A concentration of tarballs has been confirmed approximately 10 miles from the Escambia County shoreline.
  • A forecast of increased winds and seas this week across the northern-central Gulf of Mexico and a 50 to 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms through Friday may hamper surface oil recovery operations. A light to moderate south to southwest wind flow will continue through Thursday and increase Friday through the weekend.
  • The oil sheen is approximately seven miles off Escambia County coastlines, is smaller than yesterday and beginning to evaporate. This is an isolated patch of sheen and not connected to the larger plume.
  • The tar mats observed Tuesday, June 1, appeared smaller in size today.
  • With the spill’s closer proximity and winds from the south, an odor may be detected by residents.
  • Senator Bill Nelson will be at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 1:30 p.m. and CFO Alex Sink will be at the EOC at 2 p.m. Both will be available to the media immediately following briefings.
  • The Local Area Plan (LAP) booming continued today in the Old River and Innerarity Intracoastal areas.
  • Reconnaissance flights are being conducted daily, weather permitting, to monitor Florida’s shoreline for impact.
  • Unified command continues to check, verify the condition and make repairs as needed to currently placed booms. The county will work with Unified Command on any placement of boom within navigable waterways.
  • Nineteen teams of 10 crew members have been prepared for beach cleanup. Some teams have been activated for pre-cleanup. The remaining are on standby for activation by Unified Command.
  • A daily beach report will begin Thursday, June 3 with updates on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.
  • Communications/Monitoring Centers will be set up on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key within the next week. More information to follow.

British Petroleum (BP)
  • BP claims in Florida: 5,000, with approximately $3,519,815 paid.
  • 65 of 1,151 Florida contracts have been activated for the Vessels of Opportunity program.
  • Response vessels in use in Florida: more than 1,900.
  • There are reports of a scam involving individuals falsely representing themselves as BP employees and offering applicants training and promising job placement for a fee.  BP does not charge to train and hire applicants.  If you or someone you know has been charged for training, please contact law enforcement.
  • BP is providing a $100,000 grant through a Memorandum of Understanding with Volunteer Florida to maintain a database for the regulation of volunteers. BP’s Florida Gulf Response web site: www.floridagulfresponse.com.
  • File claims with BP online: http://www.bp.com/claims.
  • BP’s claims office is located at 3960 W. Navy Boulevard, Suite 16. The office is currently open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. BP claims categories
  • BP recommends anyone with a claim call 1-800-440-0858 to help expedite the process. By calling the claims number, adjusters at the claims office will have the information prior to your visit.
  • If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, call the Coast Guard at 1-800-280-7118.
  • The BP community outreach office is open for citizens at 435 East Government Street. Representatives are available to answer any questions on volunteering, vessels of opportunity program, or any other oil spill related questions. Phone: (850) 912-8640, fax: (850) 912-8755.
  • To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor or submit information on alternative response technology, services products or suggestions, call BP at 281-366-5511.
  • BP Vessels of Opportunity – see the master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
  • To pick up or deliver completed Vessels of Opportunity packets, visit BP’s Community Outreach office at 435 East Government Street. For information, call 281-366-5511.
  • Do not sign any documents in return from money from BP or anyone else until you know the extent of your loss. BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
  • BP does not use contractors to contact or solicit volunteers for cleanup. All training offered by BP is free. There are no fees for classes or registration.
  • The Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, contracted by BP to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. All rehabilitation efforts must be coordinated through the service and Tri-State. Specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you have wildlife training, call 1-866-557-1401.
  • Boaters are requested to report sightings of broken, disconnected or adrift boom and are asked to keep their distance from boom especially at night or in conditions of restricted visibility. Please report damaged, vandalized, adrift or stolen boom to: 1-866-448-5816. See details.

Federal (NOAA)
  • Wednesday, June 2 – Local fishing areas remain open, however NOAA has again expanded the closed fishing areas in national waters. See details: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

State of Florida (DEP, FWC)

Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff
  • The Citizens’ Information Line is open, 471-6600, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Secondary and tertiary boom staging began Tuesday, June 1.
  • The board will vote to extend the local state of emergency at the board meeting on June 3.
  • Documents were signed Tuesday to allocate $700,000 in funding for tourism promotion with the Escambia County Tourism Development Council, with another $700,000 to be allocated in 45 days.
  • EOC briefings will be held at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. until further notice.
  • Escambia County’s Emergency Operations Center returned to a Level 2 (partial) activation.
  • Hurricane season began June 1. See the Hurricanes and Oil Spill Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Escambia County is evaluating every viable proposal for coastal protection and recovery, coordinating with Unified Command and will share information as it is approved.
  • Escambia County, in conjunction with the University of West Florida, is collecting gulf water samples from Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key weekly to indicate any changes in water quality.
  • On inland waters (bays, bayous, estuaries, rivers), private property owners may install oil absorbent material, booms or fences on private property above the mean high waterline (MHWL) only. No material may be installed or sprayed below the MHWL.
  • On gulf-front property, the use of silt fences, obstructions, hay bales, peat, surfactants or other material is not approved. DEP is the permitting agency for beaches and coastal systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.
  • Residents and business owners with water access on their property should have pre-assessments prepared (photos, video, etc. documenting the current condition of the property).
  • If citizens see anything unusual on the beaches they feel needs to be reported:
    • Contact the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce at 850-492-4660 on Perdido Key
    • Report to the lifeguards on duty on Pensacola Beach
  • Deflective boom – large floating barriers that help contain floating oil – has been deployed in all locations of the Local Action Plan and Addendum One. See boom deployment progress report and map. Staff continues to evaluate areas and is monitoring all deployed boom.
  • To keep waterways open as long as possible, boom is “wet staged” at some locations. When floating petroleum becomes an imminent threat, boom will be fully deployed. “Fully deployed boom” is described as boom anchored into a functional configuration.
  • The local state of emergency has been extended until June 4.

Local Beaches
  • SRIA lifeguards continue patrolling beaches for oil from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • In the event beaches are impacted by the oil spill, it may be necessary to issue health advisories to protect health and safety.
    • The Florida Department of Health will issue advisories as they become necessary for the area of affected water and shoreline.
    • Beaches above the high tide line should remain open for sunbathing, walking, shopping and dining. The exact area for the advisories will be determined at the time oil is reported.

City of Pensacola
  • The City of Pensacola continues to coordinate with Escambia County officials.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has determined volunteers cannot be used in any situation where they may come in contact with oiled shorelines or oiled wildlife.
  • To volunteer, call BP at 1-866-448-5816.

Safety Information

Wildlife

  • Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife as this may cause additional injuries.
  • If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call the Oiled Wildlife Hotline at 1-866-557-1401. Please provide location of where the wildlife was sighted.

Boats

  • Boats should keep a safe distance from the booms. Do not drive boats over booms.
  • Boat owners are urged to dry-dock boats. Do not drive your boat through slicks or sheens.

Beaches and Waterways

  • Citizens should take precautions around waterways to avoid contact with oil substances.
  • Officials are closely monitoring potential public health and environmental concerns.

Personal Safety

  • Gulf coast residents may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies or pre-existing respiratory conditions, some may experience more severe symptoms. For Air Quality Reports, see http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/air.html.
  • Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.
  • If you see or smell oil, leave immediately. Avoid skin contact with oil or oil-contaminated water.
  • Do not swim or ski in areas affected by oil, and if you travel through the area by boat, take care when hoisting the anchor. Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
  • If you get oil on your skin, wash it off with soap and water.
  • Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters. Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
  • Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
  • Report oiled shorelines to 1-866-448-5816.

Business Information
  • More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance to seek compensation can be found at www.uscg.mil/npfc.
  • Florida emergency management and economic development staff are gathering information from businesses impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Please complete their survey and help shape Florida’s response to this event. The survey will be updated periodically.
  • Take detailed records of cancelled reservations. When cancellations occur, ask the party if the cancellation is related the oil spill. Keep the person’s name and contact information, and the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
  • Businesses that may be negatively impacted due to the oil spill, are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records should a claim need to be presented.
  • Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and be able to provide records, sales receipts and documentation to support your claim. Compare business to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.
  • Make a detailed list of assets, including non-structural, and include appropriate records to support the list. Example: if your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach and that beach has oil reach its shores, the business’s assets could be damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure. It is important to record this depreciation.

Citizen Information

  • Florida Oil Spill Information Line is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 1-888-337-3569.

Escambia Foreclosure Auctions Moving Online

June 3, 2010

With 2,837 foreclosures filed in 2009, the Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller’s office launched their new online foreclosure sale website, www.escambia.realforeclose.com. Escambia’s online foreclosure sale is designed to ensure fairness and increase the number of potential buyers for each property, thereby benefitting bidders and property owners alike. Florida Statutes changed in July of 2008 to allow electronic foreclosure sales.

Live foreclosure sales that are currently held at the M. C. Blanchard Judicial Center courthouse in Pensacola will immediately switch to the online system on Monday, June 14, 2010. Free Bidder Training sessions will be held on the second floor of the M. C. Blanchard Judicial Center courthouse in Pensacola on Monday June 7th and Tuesday June 8th. Interested parties may register for training with Realauction in advance by calling (877) 361-7325. Also, webinar classes covering the use of the new auction site software are also available.

Providing the software, hosting the website, and providing customer service is Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Realauction.com. The intuitive website will allow a person to make deposits, place bids, monitor auction activity, and pay for their winning bids, all from the convenience of their home, office, or mobile laptop. Also, due to the auction-style format, the Escambia County foreclosure site allows a person to be in more than one place at a time by offering a “proxy bidding” process. Bidders must register in advance for this service.

Lloyd McClendon, whose Realauction.com works with fifteen other Florida Clerks for online foreclosure auctions, including Bay, Okaloosa and Walton, said the software will provide ease-of-use, allowing individuals to register, review property data, and enter bids at any time until the auction ends. Once the auction closes, payment is accepted by electronic wire transfer or Certified Funds directly to the Clerk of the Court.

“The site is very simple to use even to those that have limited computer experience,” said McClendon. “Prospective bidders are provided with tools such as links to the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Official Records which will assist them in their preliminary research. In addition to all of the other benefits of the electronic venue, bids can be placed from the comfort of their homes or offices.”

McClendon said the system also protects bidders from “sniping” or placing last-second bids hoping to beat the clock and win the bid. McClendon said any late bids would add time to the auction, giving bidders more time.

Interested parties are required to register on the website before placing deposits and bids. Registration on the website opened Monday, June 1, 2010. Please review the information regarding auction procedures and be sure to read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before getting started.

For additional information, please visit your Clerk on the internet at escambiaclerk.com or call (850) 595-4130.

Fourth Loss In A Row For The Pensacola Pelicans

June 3, 2010

The Saints (9-9) scored in the first four innings of the game off Pelican starter Kevin Cooper to lead the way for a 9-6 win over the Pensacola Pelicans (6-13) Wednesday night. The loss was the fourth in a row for Pensacola.

The Saints took an early lead in the top of the first inning when Brent Krause hit a sacrifice fly to right centerfield to score Coby Smith from third and give St. Paul a 1-0 lead.

The Pelicans answered back in the bottom half of the first inning when Saints right hander walked the bases loaded to set it up for Javier Brito at the plate. After three straight walks, Brito rifled a single into centerfield to bring home Francisco Leandro and Adolfo Gonzalez and give the Pels a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, the bases would be loaded again with one out where Lou Palmisano would line a two-run single to left field and give Pensacola a 4-1 lead.

With the score 4-3, the Saints would have runners on first and second with one out when Brandon Carter singled to right field to score Cooper and tie the game 4-4. Steve Mays would follow with a single to left to bring in Gerard Haran to give the Saints a 5-4 lead. Steve Butler added a sacrifice fly RBI to left field to score Carter and give St. Paul a 6-4 lead.

It was a 7-5 lead for the Saints in the 8th inning when Ole Sheldon belted his eighth homerun of the year as he turned on an outside fastball thrown by Pelican reliever Jason Franzblau. It was a two run shot and it gave St. Paul a 9-5 lead.

Joey Side would line a RBI double to left centerfield in the bottom half of the eighth to score Lou Palmisano and get a run back to make it 9-6.

The Pelicans put runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off closer Hunter Davis. John Alonso represented the tying run at the plate and Davis got Alonso to hit a chopper to first where Jason Cooper tagged him out on the stomach to end the game.

Jeff Plefka (2-0) gets the win as he pitched three and two thirds and didn’t give up any runs off four hits. Former Pelican closer and current Saints closer Hunter Davis closed out the ninth inning for his sixth save in seven chances this season.

Kevin Cooper (1-2) takes the loss as he gave up seven earned runs off ten hits through seven innings pitched.

Yvonne Coffey

June 2, 2010

Yvonne Coffey, 69, of Jay, Fla., died on May 31, 2010. She attended Berrydale Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jeanette and Gordon Jones, and husband, David L. Coffey Sr.

She is survived by son, David Jr. (Donna) Coffey; daughters, Vicki Coffey (Rhonda Blanke) and Mary Voyles and Tine Coffey (Kenny) Flowers; sister, Carolyn (Jerry) Henderson; grandchildren, Stacy (Blake) Thomas, Cara Coffey, Samantha Flowers, Matthew (Samantha) Cooley, Amber Owen, and Andrew Burst; great-grandchildren, Madalyn Thomas, Ciara Owen, and Alexa Owen.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home with the Rev. Billy Thompson and Pastor Donnie Henderson officiating. Burial will follow at Golden Memorial Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday, June 4, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Billy Golden, Richard Thompson, George Gibbs, Poque Thompson, Bernie Wall and Ben Coffey.

Flowers or donations can be made to the American Cancer Society and The American Heart Association.

Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Danny Joyner Wins Republican Senate Nod

June 2, 2010

Danny Joyner of Brewton has won the Alabama State Senate District 22 Republican nomination.

The race was too close to call following Tuesday’s primary, but by noon Wednesday, the Alabama Republican Party declared that Joyner beat Jeff Peacock of Atmore. Joyner will face incumbent Democrat Mark Keahey in November.

Joyner received 4,988 votes (51.16%)  for the Senate seat; Peacock received 4,761 (48.84%) — a difference of just 227 votes.

“I have just been advised by the Republican Party in Birmingham I have won the nomination for the Alabama Senate here in District 22,” Joyner said as he announced his victory on Facebook late Wednesday morning. “I appreciate all the prayers and hard work ya’ll have given me over the past few months and I look forward to working hard to secure this Senate seat for the citizens of District 22.”

Grace R. Weeks

June 2, 2010

Mrs. Grace R. Weeks, 76, died Wednesday, May 26, 2010. She retired from Escambia River Electric Co-op, after many years of service and she was a member of Berrydale Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.T. and Inez Robinson and her husband, Jack Weeks.

She is survived by her sons, Paul (Beverly) Wade of Brewton, and Ronnie (Libby) Wade of Jay; a daughter, Diane (David) McCurdy of Jay; grandchildren, Kimberly Wade Madden, Michael Wade, Stephen Wade, Brian McCurdy and Jason McCurdy; brothers, Tommy, Eugene, Jimmy and O’Neil Robinson; a sister, Jeanette Lowe, four great-grandchildren; and numerous other family and friends.

Funeral services were held Saturday, May 29, at 2 p.m. at Berrydale Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Gandy officiating. Burial followed at Pine Level Cemetery with Jay Funeral Home directing.

Live Video: BP Oil Spill

June 2, 2010

NorthEscambia.com is bringing you live video from the BP oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico.

This is a live feed from about mile below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico. The live video stream may freeze at times, or be completely unavailable from time to time.  If you see a broken image with a red “X” in Internet Explorer, you will need to click the “Allow Active X” near the top of your screen. Also, be aware that the video may not appear if you employer, school or home firewall blocks videos.

NorthEscambia.com Live Oil Spill Video From BP

Saints Beat Pelicans 5-1

June 2, 2010

Saints (8-9) starter Zach Peterson pitched a beauty and extended the Pelicans (6-12) losing streak to three games by winning by a final score of 5-1 Tuesday night.

The Saints would get on the board early as Jason Cooper dropped a double down the left field line to score Josh Alley and Ole Sheldon to give St. Paul an early 2-0 lead after just a half inning played in the contest.

With the score 2-1 in the second inning, the Saints had runners at second and third with one out when Coby Smith hit a chopper to third that Alonso grabbed and airmailed a throw to first which scored both Brandon Carter and Steve Mays to give the the Saints a 4-1 lead. Later in the inning with runners on first and third with two outs, Jason Cooper hit an infield single on the right side of the field to score Smith and make it 5-1.

All the scoring would be done in the first two innings of the game.

Ryan Morse (0-1) gets the win as he only had to throw 70 pitches over six innings only giving up a run off six hits while striking out three on the night. Zach Peterson pitched a scoreless seventh, eighth, and ninth inning to get his first save of the season.

Dane DeValk (0-3) gets the loss as he gives up three runs off six hits while striking out five batters in seven innings pitched.

Be sure to come out to Pelican Park tomorrow night as it’s WOW Wednesday where everyone goes home a winner as you get a prize scratcher at the end of the game. First pitch is at 6:45pm and doors open at 5:45pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling 850-934-8444 or online at pensacolapelicans.com.

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