Beryl Makes Landfall In Florida
May 28, 2012
Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall near Jacksonville Beach this morning with winds of 70 mph. About 24,000 customers were without power, and trees were downed across the Jacksonville area.
Beryl, the second named storm of the 2012 hurricane season marked the first time since the 1908 hurricane season that two Atlantic named storms have formed this early in the year. The only other year with two storms this early was 1887. Records of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic extend back to 1851.
The latest information on Beryl is in the graphic below, click to enlarge for details.
Pictured top: Palm trees blow in the wind as clouds from Tropical Storm Beryl roll in to Jacksonville Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
![[Image of 5-day forecast and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT02/refresh/AL0212W5_NL+gif/025049W5_NL_sm.gif)
Wahoos Get Comeback Victory Over the Mississippi Braves
May 28, 2012
Pensacola center fielder Andrew Means launched a three-run home run in the eighth inning to lead the Blue Wahoos to a 7-5 comeback victory over the Mississippi Braves, as the Fish sold out all five games of their homestand, including their 18th capacity crowd of the year on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Braves won the series 3-2, having clinched on Saturday evening, though they fell to 22-27 with the loss Sunday. The Blue Wahoos improved their season mark to 24-26 with the win. The sellout crowd was the 18th of the year in 24 home openings this year.
After entering the eighth down 5-3, RF Josh Fellhauer led off the frame with a double and subsequently scored on 1B Joel Guzman’s RBI single to narrow the deficit to one. 3B David Vidal would then single to set the stage for Means, who rocketed an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to complete the comeback.
Mississippi got off to an early 3-0 lead after three frames thanks to a two-run double from RF Cory Harrilchack in the second, while the third tally came across when C Matt Kennelly was hit by a pitch in the next inning. The Braves added single tallies in the seventh, courtesy of Kennelly’s RBI base knock, while SS Andrelton Simmons belted his third longball of the season and the series in the eighth.
Pensacola got their first two runs in the fifth, when C Mark Fleury drew a bases-loaded walk and 2B Brodie Greene was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Blue Wahoos also got a run in the seventh when SS Didi Gregorius tripled to bring home Means, who singled earlier in the frame.
Means (3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) was the lone Blue Wahoos batter to record a multi-hit effort in the contest with his three base knocks, while Simmons (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and 3B Joe Leonard (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB) each collected a pair of hits for the Braves.
Pensacola reliever Mark Serrano (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) earned his fourth victory of the year after yielding a run on a hit in one frame, while closer Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) notched his Southern League leading 12th save with a hitless ninth, fanning two. Blue Wahoos RHP Drew Hayes (2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) had a strong outing, firing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. Mississippi RHP Cory Rasmus (1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-1 after allowing four runs on four hits in the eighth.
The Blue Wahoos will now travel to Jackson, Tennessee for a five-game series with the Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, with the series opener on Monday with first pitch set for 7:05 pm. The Fish are scheduled to send RHP Tim Gustafson to the mound, while Jackson is expected to give the ball to LHP Danny Hultzen.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Closer Donnie Joseph notched his Southern League leading 12th save Sunday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Video: Northview 2012 Senior Ensemble Performs “White Flag” At Baccalaureate
May 27, 2012
Video: Northview 2012 Senior Ensemble Performs “White Flag” At Baccalaureate
Coming Monday: Northview Class Of 2012 Holds Baccalaureate
May 27, 2012
The Northview High School Class of 2012 held their Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Coming up Monday morning, NorthEscambia.com will have a photo gallery and coverage from the event.
Pictured: The Northview High School Class of 2012 Senior Ensemble performs Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Memorial Day Travel A Bit Cheaper This Year
May 27, 2012
Memorial Day weekend travel was a little easier on the wallet this year, with gas prices creeping downward.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $3.37 headed into the long weekend, down from $3.76 a year ago. In North Escambia Saturday night, that gallon of gas was as low as $3.27 at the RaceWay on Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment, the Tom Thumb in Cantonment and few other stations.
AAA projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28.
Approximately 30.7 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 1.2 percent from the 30.3 million who drove last year. Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominate mode of holiday travel transportation.
A survey of intended travelers found that 53 percent said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their Memorial Day holiday travel plans. Of the remaining 47 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, nine percent are planning to take a shorter trip, four percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation and 34 percent will economize in other areas. Those who intend to economize in other areas plan to reduce spending on entertainment (65 percent), stay at a lower priced hotel (34 percent), stay with friends and relatives instead of reserving a hotel room (31 percent) or stay in a hotel that includes value-added amenities like free breakfast and internet (27 percent).
National gasoline prices may have peaked in April despite seasonal highs in early spring when motorists experienced average price increases for all but four days in February and March. April experienced a full reversal as prices fell for 23 of 30 days during the month, helping to break a streak of 911 days since the national average price was lower than the previous year. The current national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is approximately 25 cents lower than this time last year.
Memorial Day Forecast
May 27, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 5 mph.
- Memorial Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Road Construction Break For Holiday
May 27, 2012
Drivers are getting a temporary reprieve from road construction and lane closures over the Memorial Day weekend.
To ease traffic congestion and insure safety along the roadways in northwest Florida, construction contractors working on state roads will cease operations during the Memorial Day weekend, according to Tanya Sanders Branton, public information specialist for the Florida Department of Transportation.
There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions through Monday, she said. All major roads in northwest Florida will be open to normal traffic.
Ernest Ward Holds Spring Band And Chorus Concert
May 27, 2012
The annual Ernest Ward Middle School Band and Chorus Spring Concert was held last week at the Walnut Hill Community Center. Attendees enjoyed musical selections from each group along with a spaghetti supper. Submitted photos by Matt Brook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Is Your Church Having VBS?
May 27, 2012
Now is the time to submit your Vacation Bible School announcements to NorthEscambia.com so that we can include them on our events page and let everyone know.
Email your VBS event details to: news@northescambia.com
Please try to submit your information as far in advance as possible.
Escambia Marine’s Latest Mission: Selling Baby Gates
May 27, 2012
An Escambia County Marine knew he wanted an online business but did not know what product he would sell until his wife became pregnant. Venturing into the business of selling baby gates was the last thing on his mind until 30-year old Staff Sergeant Larry Griffin discovered that he was going to become a father.
Baby gates is quite an unusual business for someone who is considered the “The Few, The Proud”.
“It’s amazing how soft even the toughest men can get when you bring a child in this world,” SSgt Griffin said.
Griffin, a Texas native now stationed in Pensacola, enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 2000 as an F/A-18 avionics technician. He’s been all over the world to include a tour in Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror, and several trips to the Western Pacific. Griffin said he dedicated and very loyal to the Marine Corps but realized that he won’t be in the Corp forever. His settled on the ultimate goal after the Corps to work for himself and become a business owner.
“I’ve always wanted to own my own business,” he said. “I don’t want to work hard for earned income. I would rather work hard for passive income.”
After marrying his wife in 2009, Griffin began educating himself on business and entrepreneurship in preparation for life outside of the Corps. He read books and watched videos until one day he came across an opportunity to put his plan into action. He suddenly became a student for a company that was going to teach him everything he needed to know about internet marketing. This is when he decided he was going to build a website around a product and run an online store. He had no idea what he was going to sell, nor was he prepared for the news he was about to receive.
After learning that his wife was pregnant with their first child, SSgt Griffin felt a sense of urgency to find something to sell on his future online store. It had to be something in demand, yet something easy to market.
“I was spending a ton of time trying to figure out the perfect product to sell. Finally, after my wife got pregnant, it just hit me… baby gates,” SSgt Griffin said. “I was looking for something in relatively high demand. People are always going to have children and be concerned about their safety, so I figured my focus would be providing baby gates to parents.”
With no prior experience with building a website, SSgt Griffin began to put the training to work. Ultimately, after hard work and dedication, he created the BabyGatesGalore website.
“My website offers a much larger variety than the average department store, at equally competitive prices. It carries only the highest quality, trusted names in baby gates,” he said.
A limited time discount is currently being offered on his BabyGatesGalore.com website by entering the text “family discount” at checkout, he said.