Slight Rain Chance Tonight
May 22, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight:
Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 60. Northwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
-
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 92. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Memorial Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Man Sticks Up Gas Station With Tree Branch
May 22, 2012
An Escambia County Man has been charged with robbing a gas station with a tree branch as a weapon.
Deputies were on patrol when they were flagged down at Trisha’s One Stop on Mobile Highway by an employee that said she had just been robbed, and the suspect was still inside the store.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 42-year old Christopher Ray Faulkner at gunpoint as he exited the store. He was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, criminal mischief and robbery with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $25,000.
Deputies said Faulkner entered the store carrying a large tree branch and struck the clerk in the head and ordered her to the counter where he purchased a cigar, according to an arrest report.
The female clerk, according to an arrest report, then punched the robber in the chin with her fist and ran out of the store, screaming for help. Faulkner then grabbed the cash register and slammed it to the ground, according to the report.
The incident was captured on the store’s surveillance video.
‘Vicious and Delicious’ And ‘Ross’s Gang’ Win NHS Scalpball Tourney
May 22, 2012
Winners in the recent Scalpball volleyball tournament at Northview High School were “Vicious and Delicious” in the teen division and “Ross’s Gang” in the adult division.
The tournament last Saturday in Bratt benefited the Northview High School volleyball program.
“We want to thank all the teams for coming out and supporting our volleyball team,” Coach Betty Heaton said.
Pictured: Vicious and Delicious (above) and Ross’s Gang (below). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bear Wandering Around Apartment Complex Next To Elementary School
May 22, 2012
A young bear has been spotted several times at a Cantonment apartment complex, right next to a school.
The young black bear was first seen on Sunday, walking about the Wild Oak Farms Apartments, just north of the Grocery Advantage on Highway 29. The apartment complex property is directly adjacent to Jim Allen Elementary School.
“That’s a lot of people in danger as long as this bear is still around,” said resident Nicki McLaughlin. “People in the area should know about this.”
An officer from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission responded to the apartment complex on Sunday. He described the bear as a young male, probably less than 125 pounds and about two years old.
The FWC says it’s actually a bit rare for bears to be spotted as far west as Cantonment. While the FWC said the bear does not seem dangerous, the public should not approach or provoke the animal.
The management of the Wild Oak Farms Apartments distributed a letter to tenants on Monday, asking them to leave the bear alone.
During his Sunday visit, the bear reportedly tore into trash and rummaged through a dumpster, but many apartment residents described him as otherwise seeming “friendly”.
FWC officers were back at the apartment complex on Tuesday with plans to capture the bear, but they were unable to locate him.
Pictured: A young black bear is roaming around a Cantonment apartment complex. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Gets First Look At Five-Year Marketing Plan
May 22, 2012
A draft of Century’s new “Five-Year Marketing Plan” was presented to the Century Town Council Monday night with the slogan “Century. Traditional Values. Today’s Technology”.
One of the plans goals is to “create a unique brand for Century and reach out to those who are looking for what Century has to offer”. The central focus of the marketing efforts will focus attention to the town’s new website.
The plan was part of an $11,450 package purchased late last year from Pensacola marketing firm Ideawörks that included $4,200 for a “basic website design”, $1,750 for a content management system (CMS) to allow town employees to update the website, and $5,500 for the marketing plan.
“Revitalization isn’t an easy process. Change is never easy. Opening new economic opportunities for Century will take time, strategic vision and a commitment from the residents in order to succeed,” the draft plan states.
“You will have a plan,” Caron Sjöberg, president of Ideawörks, told the council Monday night, “that will help Century rise above some of the others in the business market.”
The draft plans calls for Century to target three broad industries initially — agricultural, manufacturing and small businesses. The efforts to target those industries would include the town’s website, media coverage and paid advertising in trade publications, and direct mail.
Century can compete by marketing available business and industrial sites, providing success stories, positive media attention and with “Residents dedicated to economic development. Community pride”, the plan states. The plan also calls for Century to be submitted for various lists and articles in publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc.
Once the plan is finalized, it will be made available online at the town’s website.
Pictured: A screenshot of Century’s website.
Citizens Insurance Looking At Wind Incentives, Higher Rates
May 22, 2012
Following up on calls to raise premiums to match risk, Florida’s state-backed property insurer is taking a second look at wind mitigation incentives put in place a decade ago.
For many of its customers, that means higher rates.
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. plans to take a look at 209,000 residential policies by the end of the year to see if granted wind mitigation credits are warranted.
The incentives, which include such things as tie downs, shutters and other upgrades, were offered beginning in 2002 in an attempt to lower risk for the state-backed pool, which now handles nearly 1.5 million policies.
As of April 30, the last date for which detailed information is available, Citizens inspectors have completed 180,503 residential inspections, finding that in some cases hurricane hardening measures weren’t in place, resulting in premium increases totaling $107 million. Nearly 71 percent of homes inspected have seen premiums rise.
The program has also resulted in premium decreases on 7.5 percent of policies, for a total reduction of $4.4 million.
For those homeowners seeing higher rates, premiums have jumped an average of $600 a year, or 23 percent.
The wind mitigation program has increasingly come under fire from industry groups and Office of Insurance Regulation officials, who have said the program has eroded the company’s premium base while not significantly reducing its exposure, especially after credits were dramatically increased in 2007.
Private insurers have also given mitigation credits. A 2010 study by the Department of Financial Services found that despite good intentions, the programs were costing companies in terms of lost premiums while having only a modest decrease in potential losses.
“At present, the wind mitigation credits not operating as intended, and according to (Risk Management Solutions) analysis, are a significant contributing factor to the reported premium degradation,” the study said.
Among its chief criticisms, the report noted that some homeowners were receiving double credits for fixtures that were already incorporated into the underlying premium. Insurers were also restricted from adjusting base rates to reflect structural issues, which the report said hobbled the industry.
“If the (credit) system continues in the absence of a base rate offset, the average premium reductions could ultimately reach 35 percent, which would clearly have an impact on insurance revenues,” the report concluded.
Lawmakers responded months later by passing SB 2044, which was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Last year, lawmakers passed and Gov. Rick Scott signed SB 408, which struck some language relating to mitigation credits and gave insurers more flexibility in establishing rates and applying discounts.
Citizens officials have ordered re-inspections of homes that have claimed more than $650 in credits.
Robin Westcott, Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate, said she understands Citizens’ objective to get accurate information on proper wind mitigation credits, but is worried homeowners may not always be ready with proper documentation on their mitigation efforts and may unnecessarily lose out on benefits.
She said Citizens could do a better job of letting homeowners know what inspectors are looking for.
“In some cases, you are looking at pretty hefty increases,” Westcott said. “That is really a big part of our concern.”
By The News Service of Florida
Frances Juanita Watford
May 22, 2012
Frances Juanita Watford (Miss Juanita), 86 of Atmore, departed this life Monday on May 21, 2012, in Atmore. She was employed with Graham Oil Co., the Wildlife Federation, and many years with Masland Carpets. She was born in Lottie, AL, on October 14, 1925, to the late Ben Davis and Ellen Whitney Watford.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, Ben Davis Watford, Jr. and Grady Watford.
She is survived by four nieces, Brenda Yeatman of Gastonia, NC, Tina Mirkheshti of Canton, GA, Debbie Patridge of Castle Rock, CO, and Tammy Watford of Littleton, CO; and many friends.
Services will be Thursday May 24, 2012, at 2 p.m. from hte Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jim Thorpe officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers are Michael Phillips, Terry Jones, Theotis Williams, Johnny Gibbs, Ray Coon and Bill Staff.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Wahoos Top Suns 4-1 To Win Series
May 22, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tim Crabbe gave up just two hits in six scoreless innings, while left fielder Yordanys Perez blasted a three-run home run in the eighth to give Pensacola a 4-1 victory over the Jacksonville Suns to win the series on Monday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The win gives the Blue Wahoos their first road series victory of the season and improves their record to 22-23, while the loss dropped the Suns’ mark to 21-24 on the year.
Crabbe (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 SO) turned in his third solid outing in a row, yielding just two hits and two walks while fanning six in six scoreless frames to earn his second win of the year. In his past three outings, Crabbe has given up only a lone earned run on ten hits in his 18.0 innings pitched in that span.
Four Blue Wahoos relievers, including Curtis Partch (1.0 IP), Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) and Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO), combined to hold the Suns to just one score in the final three frames, with Joseph notching his Southern League leading tenth save of the year. Jacksonville starter Omar Poveda (6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) suffered the tough loss despite allowing only one earned run on just three hits in six frames.
Both offenses were quiet until the sixth, when Pensacola broke the scoreless draw to take a 1-0 lead. CF Ryan LaMarre drew a lead-off free pass and advance to second on a throwing error, before his was sent home on SS Didi Gregorius’ RBI single up the middle.
Pensacola however, extend the margin to four in the eighth thanks to Perez’s second roundtripper of the season. 2B Brodie Greene and 1B Joel Guzman each reached with base knocks, before they crossed home on Perez’s blast to right. The Blue Wahoos have now hit 15 homers in 20 games in the month of May after mashing 11 in 25 games in April.
The Suns would narrow their deficit to three in their half of the eighth with a longball of their own. 2B Jeff Dominguez led off the frame with a homer to right for his second roundtripper of the year, but that would be all the Jacksonville offense could muster on the scoreboard.
Perez (3-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) was the lone hitter for either team to record a multi-hit effort and tied single-game highs in his professional career for hits and RBI in the contest.
Pensacola has an off-day Tuesday before returning home to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Wednesday for a five-game series with the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The first pitch of the series is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening, with RHP Zeke Spruill expected to take the hill for the Braves, while the Blue Wahoos have yet to announce their starter.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: The Wahoo’s Tim Crabbe allowed just two hits in six scoreless frames to earn the win Monday in Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
James Vinson Nix
May 22, 2012
Mr. James Vinson Nix, age 43, passed away Friday, May 18, 2012, in Mobile. Mr. Nix was born in Evergreen and had lived in Flomaton for a number of years. He worked in the lawn care maintenance field. He was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his father, Mr. James A. Nix of Flomaton; one son, Allen Nix of Century; three daughters, Ashley Nix, Lindsey Nix, and Britney Nix, all of Century; one sister, Sunji Hunter of Century.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. William Stuckey officiating. Interment will follow in Beulah Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Tuesday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Maggie Case Myers
May 22, 2012
Mrs. Maggie Case Myers, age 95 of Pensacola, passed away on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at a Milton health care facility.
Mrs. Myers was a native of Franklin County, MS, and had been a member of the Century community since 1957 and a resident of Pensacola for the last eight years. She was a member of the Flomaton Senior Citizens Group and the Century First Baptist Church. Mrs. Myers was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Thomas Leroy Myers and their son, Richard William Myers, and grandson, Kenneth Myers, Jr.
She is survived by her sons, Fred (Judith) Myers, and Ken (Priscilla) Myers, both of Pensacola; brother, Prentiss William Case, Jr. of Ridgeland, MS; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday morning, May 23, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. until service time at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Jesse Woods officiating. Interment will be in Flomaton Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Edsel Smith, Lloyd Barrow, Joe Gunter, Delmar Tew, Lee Gunter and Steve Drain.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Century First Baptist Church or to the Hospice of Santa Rosa County in Milton.