Hundreds Honor Fallen Marine With Facebook Profile Picture
August 22, 2011
Hundreds of North Escambia area residents have changed their Facebook profile pictures to honor LCpl Travis Nelson who was killed last week in Afghanistan. NorthEscambia.com has made this correctly sized profile picture available for everyone to use. You can download and save the photo by right clicking on the photo on this page, or by clicking here.
You can also visit one of our two Facebook profiles:
http://www.facebook.com/northescambia
http://www.facebook.com/northescambiaWilliam
(When you visit the two Facebook profiles, make sure to “Like” our NorthEscambia.com page and become William’s friend.)
Registration Event Scheduled For Danceworks
August 22, 2011
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held Tuesday in Byrneville.
The registration will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Byrneville Community Center. Or students can register by mail; click here for a form.
Ballet, tap and jazz classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning September 6 to girls ages 3 and up, including a class for 15 and up. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. She is also the teacher for the Northview High School Dance Team.
For a printable information sheet, schedule and registration form, click here. For further information, contact Heather Leonard at (850) 256-0948 or email hldanceworks@gmail.com.
Pictured: The May2011 Danceworks Recital. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Officials Urge Safe Back To School Driving Habits
August 22, 2011
As students prepare for a new school year, Escambia County Fire Rescue is asking for the public’s help to ensure this school year starts safely. Fire department and EMS crews will be manning school crossing zones during the week of August 22 to remind motorists to abide by traffic safety laws for the sake of children returning to school.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, drivers must follow these rules:
- Adhere to the posted speed limit in designated school zones.
- When approaching an intersection where a crossing guard is present in the crosswalk with the stop sign raised, do not cross – or turn – into the crosswalk until the guard has completely left the crosswalk.
- Never stop a vehicle in a manner that blocks a crosswalk.
- When you approach a stopped school bus (from behind) with lights flashing and the stop arm extended, you must stop.
- When you approach a stopped school bus (from front) with lights flashing and the stop arm extended, you also must stop, unless:
- you are on a divided highway and the roadways are separated by an unpaved space at least five feet in width, or
- you are on a divided highway and the roadways are separated by a physical barrier.
- You are required to stop at least 10 feet away from the school bus.
- You must not resume driving until the school bus turns its lights off and withdraws its stop sign.
- Be certain all exiting children have reached a safe place before proceeding.
Food Drive Underway At Century Town Hall
August 22, 2011
A food drive is currently underway in Century to benefit the Bay Area Food Bank.
A donation box is in the lobby of the Century Town Hall for the 7th Annual Emerald Coast Hospice Food Drive. Lobby hours at the town hall are 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. weekdays.
All nonperishable food items are welcome.
Weather: Hurricane Irene And Lots Of Heat
August 22, 2011
Hurricane Irene and hot weather will dominate the weather news this week. Hurricane Irene continues on a path toward Florida; the latest information is in the graphic above.
Meanwhile on our stretch of the Gulf Coast, we’ll keep a watchful eye on Irene and keep the air conditioners humming. Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
- Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Battle Of The Badges To Benefit ARC Gateway
August 22, 2011
In honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, area first responders are teaming up to help others.
First responders from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and the Pensacola Fire Department will don their baseball caps and cleats for the first annual benefit softball game, the Battle of the Badges, on Saturday, September 10th at Exchange Park in Pensacola, Florida.
The event is an opportunity for members of the community to come out and cheer on the people who protect and serve our community every day and help raise money to benefit ARC Gateway.
Since 1954, ARC Gateway has been providing direct services and support to children and adults who have developmental disabilities. With the help of members, supporters and volunteers, the agency currently serves approximately 900 individuals through a variety of services that begin at birth and continue through the senior years.
The tournament will feature teams from the ECSO, PPD, Escambia Road Prison and Pensacola Fire Department. Games will begin at 10 a.m. on at Exchange Park, 3100 East Lakeview Avenue. There will be activities for kids and Georgio’s first responder pizza eating contest. Attendees are encouraged to bring their stadium seats and chairs and enjoy an afternoon of fun.
Special Section: Back To School Info You Need To Know
August 21, 2011
School starts Monday in Escambia County, and we have the last minute information you need to know, including start times, school supply lists, lunch prices, bus routes, and information on free and reduced price lunches.
Click a link to visit that story.
- School Start Times
- School Lunch Prices
- Free And Reduced Lunch Guidelines
- School Lunch Menus
- School Supply Lists
- School Bus Routes
Tropical Storm Irene Headed Toward Florida
August 21, 2011
Tropical Storm Irene formed Saturday evening, and residents around the Gulf Coast area need to keep a watchful eye on this one into next week. Forecast models take the storm into South Florida by week’s end, but a slight deviation in the forecast could take Irene into the Gulf or out over the Atlantic.
The latest info on Tropical Storm Irene is in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Molino Residents Report Possible Door To Door Fraud
August 21, 2011
Several Molino area residents have reported men going door to door false claiming to be raising money for three area schools.
Residents say the two men say they are from, or raising money for, Northview High, Molino Park Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle, but the schools say that they are not conducting any sort of door to door fundraising.
“There’s nothing like that going on,” said Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. “It is not the school.”
One man, who says his name is “Mikel”, was described as being about 5-foot 11-inches, 180 pounds with blue eyes, thick blond hair and an accent. The other was over 6-feet tall, very thin with dark hair. They were driving a white four door car, possibly a Toyota Camry or Mazda, according to several residents.
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Latest Unemployment Numbers Are Mixed News For Local Area
August 21, 2011
The latest job numbers show mixed news for the three counties in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate held steady in the double digits — at 10.5 percent in June and July. There were just 64 jobs lost during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 14,833 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 11 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment increased— from 9.9 percent in June to 10.2 percent in July. Santa Rosa County lost 299 jobs during the period, with a total of 7,481 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 10.6 percent.
Escambia County, Alabama, had a drop in unemployment — from 12.4 percent in June to 11.9 percent in July. Escambia, Alabama gained 93 jobs during the month-long period, with 1,780 people out of work.
Florida
Florida’s unemployment rate in July remained unchanged at 10.7 percent after state labor market officials revised June’s rate upward, the Agency for Workforce Innovation reported Friday.
The rate, which is still nearly a point lower than the 11.5 percent the state experienced in July 2010, translates into 987,000 jobless out of a workforce of just over 9.2 million.
Included in the monthly announcement was a downward revision in the number of jobs created since the first of the year. Last month, state economists estimated that 85,500 had been created since Jan. 1. The latest update reduces that estimate to 64,300
Alabama
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 10.0 percent in July, was up from June’s rate of 9.9 percent and was above the year-ago rate of 9.2.percent.