Rain Becoming Likely
November 26, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. High near 68. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 67. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Traffic Reminder: Sunshine Hill Road Bridge Remains Closed
November 26, 2012
The bridge on Sunshine Hill Road in Molino was closed for repairs last week and is expected to remain closed for about three weeks. The bridge, located just south of Cedar Springs Road, is expected to reopen by December 10.
The Sunshine Hill Road bridge is currently scheduled to be replaced with a new structure with construction beginning in February 2013.
Supreme OK’s Consideration Of Eyewitness Race
November 26, 2012
Jurors could be told they can consider racial differences between an eyewitness and a defendant in considering the witness’ testimony, according to a new set of jury instructions published this week by the Florida Supreme Court.
“Whether the eyewitness and the offender are of different races or ethnic groups, and whether this may have affected the accuracy of the identification” is among a list of factors that a judge can now tell jurors they are allowed to consider if a witness’ identification of a defendant is disputed and a judge is asked to give the instructions.
In all, jurors would be told they can consider nine factors in weighing an eyewitness identification, many of which deal with the context of the identification or whether a witness was somehow influenced to point to a suspect.
Eyewitness testimony has come under increasing fire in recent years from advocates for wrongfully convicted inmates, who say the identifications are often inaccurate but are very persuasive to jurors.
By The News Service of Florida
FFA Fruit Sale Ends Tuesday
November 26, 2012
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Tuesday, November 27. The delivery date is Tuesday, December 18.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
Photos: Behind The Regional Champs
November 26, 2012
For a photo gallery of the Northview High band, cheerleaders, dance team, NJROTC and fans standing behind their regional champion Chiefs, click here.
For a game action summary, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Class 1A Playoff Pairings
November 26, 2012
Here are last Friday night’s scores and this week’s pairings for the Class 1A state semifinal playoffs.
CLASS 1A
REGION FINALS
Friday, November 23
- Northview 34, Freeport 28 (OT)
- Liberty County 14, Blountstown 7
- Trenton 42, Lafayette 26
- Newberry 18, Union County 13
STATE SEMIFINALS
Friday, November 30
- Northview at Liberty County, 7:30 p.m.
- Trenton at Newberry, 7:30 p.m.
Local Residents Guests Of Kansas City Coach As Denver Beats The Chiefs
November 26, 2012
When the Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday in Kansas City, several North Escambia area residents were on hand to cheer on the Chiefs. And they were cheering for defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant, a Century native.
Mikey Burkett, Kenny Fehl, Anthony Pleasant, Jonathan Bondurant, Steve Stanton and Eddie Hammond started with a pheasant hunting trip in Kansas on Saturday. On Sunday morning, they were guests at Pleasant’s home before heading to Arrow Head Stadium in Kansas City for the game.
After an early lead a strong defense, the KC Chiefs were unable to outlast the AFC-West leading Denver Brocos, who defeated the Chiefs 17-9.
Kansas City, now 1-10, will play for that elusive home win next week against the Carolina Panthers, who are in Philadelphia on Monday night to face off against the Eagles.
Pleasant, a 1986 graduate of Century High School, earned two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots.
Pleasant was selected in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. During his 14 year NFL career, Pleasant played for the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. He played a total of 202 NFL games and racked up 58 sacks.
The 22-acre Anthony Pleasant Park on East Highway 4 in Century is named after the two-time Super Bowl champ and includes a full-size football field with bleachers, press box and a playground.
Pictured top: A group of North Escambia area residents were the guests of Kansas City Chiefs defensive coach Anthony Pleasant Sunday in Kansas City as the Chiefs lost to the Broncos. Pictured below: Pleasant speaks in July 2011 at the dedication of the park named in his honor in Century. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Retired Florida Fire Truck To Benefit Small Alabama VFD
November 26, 2012
An Alabama volunteer fire department’s need for a tanker truck has been met by an Escambia County, Fla., department in a deal sealed with a handshake.
The McCall Volunteer Fire Department in Escambia County, Ala., needed more water available to fight fires; the largest tank they had could only hold 750 gallons. The department had been saving up for 12 years looking to buy a new-to-them truck.
The Bellview Volunteer Fire Department in Florida was retiring a 1,500 gallon tanker purchased by then Chief Al Davie 27 years ago. Davie was on hand as current Bellview VFD members gave McCall VFD members a quick run through of the tanker and any needed special instructions.
With a handshake between Bellview Chief Troy Johnson and McCall Chief Charles Jackson, the old tanker was on its way to its new home in Alabama.
Pictured: An retiring tanker truck was transferred from the Bellview Volunteer Fire Department in Florida to the McCall VFD in Alabama recently. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Bright Future: New Power Substation Signals Growth In Walnut Hill
November 25, 2012
Growth — including the construction of a new industrial facility — is leading to an increase in the electrical capacity and service to the entire Walnut Hill area.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative and it power supplier, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, are currently constructing a new Oak Grove Graham electric substation on Highway 99A near North Highway 99. The new facility will have a total power capacity of 20 MVA (megavolt ampere), over twice the capacity of the aging Oak Grove Substation with a total capacity of 9.375 MVA.
“The new substation has been in the works for a while; however, we have moved that plan to the forefront in order to meet the needs of the Genesis Rail Services Walnut Hill Station,” said Clay Campbell, EREC general manager.
The new Genesis transfer station that fronts Corley Road near Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill is the largest such facility in the United States. Crude oil is transferred from the oil fields of North Dakota to Walnut Hill by train and offloaded.
A crude oil pipeline from Jay rises to the surface at the facility. The flow from oilfields in the Jay area is cut, and the crude from the Walnut Hill train is injected into the pipeline. Up to 118 tanker cars per day can be transferred directly into an existing crude oil pipeline, flowing primarily to a Shell facility near Saraland, Ala., and potentially to other refineries along the Gulf Coast.
The first train, with 104 tanker cars filled with 69,000 barrels of oil worth $6.5 million, rolled into the Walnut Hill facility back in mid-August. Presently, the facility can inject 2,500 barrels per hour into the pipeline. That capacity will increase to about 5,000 barrels — almost a half million dollars worth — of crude oil per hour by January 2013 once a 100,000 barrel storage tank is completed.
As construction of the new EREC electric substation continues, contract crews also also building out a new electrical distribution system from the power substation to the oil transfer facility. The end result, according to EREC, will be more electrical capacity and an increased quality of service for the entire Walnut Hill area.
“The entire community will benefit from this power upgrade,” Campbell said.
For an earlier story about the first train rolling into the oil transfer station, click here.
Pictured top: Construction is underway on a new power substation in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset and below: The new Genesis Rail Services Walnut Hill Station on its first day of operation back in August. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured When Truck Slams Into Concrete Pole
November 25, 2012
Two people were injured in a single vehicle accident late Saturday night in Beulah.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old David Jordan was northbound on Mobile Highway near Nine Mile Road when he failed to properly negotiate a curve and struck a concrete utility pole with his 1995 Dodge pickup about 11:50 Saturday night.
Jordan and his passenger, 27-year old James R. Nunnelley were both transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The crash sent the utility pole and power lines to the ground, temporarily blocking a portion of the roadway.
Charges against Jordan are pending further investigation, according to the FHP. The Beulah and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured top: Two people were injured when the driver of a Dodge pickup hit a concrete utility pole late Saturday night in Beulah. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
