Sunny Today, Chance Of Rain By Monday Afternoon
April 18, 2010
There is a change in store for our Monday, with the first rain in many days expected to fall.
There is now a chance of rain for Monday afternoon into early evening across the area. Currently, it looks more like a few scattered showers, not an all-day rain for everyone.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. North northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Monday Night: A chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78
Area Unemployment Rate Inches Down; 25,240 Still Out Of Work
April 18, 2010
For the first time in many months, the unemployment rate in the counties of the North Escambia area inched downward. New figures released Friday shows 25,240 unemployed in the three county area.
In Escambia County, Florida, the unemployment rate for March held fell to 11.5 percent from 11.9 percent the month prior. That compares to 9.3 percent out of work a year ago. The March nemployment rate represents 16,171 people without a job.
In Santa Rosa County, March’s unemployment rate was 10.2 percent, a decrease from 10.9 percent in February. It was 8.3 percent one year ago. There were 7,286 people out of a job in March in Santa Rosa County.
In Escambia County, Alabama, the unemployment rate decreased 12.6 percent in February. It was 13.1 percent the month prior and 11.8 percent a year ago. There were 1,783 unemployed in Escambia County, Alabama, during March.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2010 was 12.3 percent. This represents 1,138,000 j jobless out of a labor force of 9,269,000.. The unemployment rate is up 0.1 percentage point from the February revised rate of 12.2 percent, and up 2.7 percentage points from the March 2009 rate of 9.6 percent. March’s unemployment rate is the highest in the recorded series going back to 1970. Florida’s unemployment rate remains higher than the national rate, which is 9.7 percent in March.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 11.0 percent in March, declined slightly from the March rate of 11.1 percent but was above the year-ago rate of 9.2 percent.
Tate Multimedia Students Win WEAR Video Contest
April 18, 2010
Students at J.M. Tate High School’s Multimedia Academy participated in the annual WEAR Lewis Bear “Don’t Drink and Drive” video contest. The “Live Responsibly” video (DDD2) produced by Denise Rivers, Breanna Harrison, and Amy Sapp placed first in the competition. The “My Opinion” video produced by Emma Grace Farthing placed third in the competition.
The winning video will air on Channel 3 during prom season and the school will receive $1,000 from Lewis Bear. In addition to placing in the video competition, senior Emma Grace Farthing has been named Escambia County’s Career Academy Student of the Year by the “Northwest Florida Next Generation Learning Community” for her outstanding work as managing editor of the Tate Multimedia Academy. She will be honored at a banquet at the Pensacola Civic Center on April 19th.
Several other Tate Multimedia Academy students will be recognized on April 20th at a Breakfast hosted by the “Escambia County Public Schools Foundation”. Kevin Sapp, Victoria Veith, Breanna Harrison, and Denise Rivers recently produced a video for the foundation. Also, Caleb Schossow, Ethan Barker, John Smoot, Victoria Veith, and Breanna Harrison received “Honorable Mention” for videos submitted to the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s annual contest.
Photos: 30 Rescued From Dangerous Surf At Beach
April 18, 2010
As a yellow flag flew over Pensacola Beach Saturday, lifeguards rescued over 30 swimmers. Rough surf conditions are expected to continue on Sunday. These photos of a rip current rescue near the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier were captured by Alisa Hart of Flomaton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sawmill Day Returns To Century
April 18, 2010
Century’s Sawmill Day will return next Saturday with arts, crafts and plenty of food and musical entertainment.
Any collectors or vendors or who might want free booth space to display or sell their wares or anyone with a musical or entertainment talent and that wishes to perform should contact Jerry Fischer at (850) 256-3980.
Sawmill Day is sponsored by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society.
Century Highway 29 Construction Project Coming To A Close
April 18, 2010
Work continued Saturday to complete a $480,159 drainage project on Highway 29 in Century.
Improvements consisted of installing box culverts, replacing existing sidewalks in the area, and resurfacing a stretch of the highway. Motorists have experienced intermittent lane shifts and restrictions since the start of the project in September, 2009.
Contractor Coastal Materials may complete work the on the project, located on Highway 29 between Jackson and Cottage streets, as early as this week.
Pictured: Work continued Saturday on a Highway 29 drainage project in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Community Blood Drive Today In Molino
April 18, 2010
A community blood drive will take place today at two Molino churches.
Northwest Florida Blood Services will be at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Highway 97 from 8 to 11 a.m. and then at Highland Baptist Church on Highway 95A from 12 until 3 p.m.
When you donate to Northwest Florida Blood Services, you can save the life of a hospital patient in northwest Florida. Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.
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.
Nowlin Retires After 32 Years At Escambia Grain
April 18, 2010
After 32 years, Escambia Grain Corporation Manager Ed Nowlin is retiring. He was honored at a retirement reception Saturday night in Walnut Hill for his service to the community.
Nowlin was the recipient of the 2009 Community Service Award from the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. From the fire department, to the Ernest Ward and Northview ag and FFA programs, to Northwest Escambia Little League ball teams, to many other community organizations, Nowlin was honored for his selfless service to the community.
“He’s the kind of person who would go out of his way to help someone and expect nothing in return,” his biography, as presented Saturday night, stated. “Without his help and influence on the Walnut Hill community, it would most definitely be a different community. His unselfish nature and love for his fellowman has contributed to make this community a better place.”
Pictured top: Walnut Hill farmer Wendell Eicher (left) congratulates Ed Nowlin (center) on his retirement as Nowlin’s wife Marsha looks on. Pictured bottom: Nowlin and his family at his retirement party Saturday night in Walnut Hill. Submitted photos by Bill Eubanks for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: Nowlin (left) is presented the 2009 Community Service Award from the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department by Chief Chris Brown. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Early Morning Brickyard Road Accident Knocks Out Power
April 18, 2010
An early morning accident on Brickyard Road left a small number of Molino area residents in the dark after a driver knocked down a power pole.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Sheldon Flowers was northbound on Brickyard Road in a 2004 Dodge Ram when lost control and hit a power pole, sending it to the ground. The 12:05 a.m. accident Sunday knocked out electricity to an unknown number of Gulf Power customers in the area. The accident caused and estimated $11,000 in damage to the truck, pole and power lines.
Flower was charged with careless driving, and alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash, according to the FHP. He was not injured in the accident.
Pictured above and below: This accident on Brickyard Road took down a power pole and knocked out power to small number of Gulf Power customers. Pictured inset: Gulf Power works to restore electricity. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Are You Headed To A Ballgame Today?
April 17, 2010
Are you headed to a North Escambia little league ballgame today? We want your pictures.
Email pictures to news@northescambia.com for inclusion in a photo gallery. Please send us photos of your child or grandchild, but don’t forget to snap photos of other team players too.