Dense Fog Advisory, Warm Night
February 29, 2012
There is a dense fog advisory in effect for tonight and Thursday morning.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Areas of dense fog after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: A slight chance of showers between 9am and noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Wash Your Hands: Health Dept. Records Increase In Stomach Bugs
February 29, 2012
Wash your hands — that’s the word from the Escambia County Health Department. They are seeing an increase in the number of contagious gastrointestinal infections in the county.
The health department says gastrointestinal infections can be highly contagious and are usually spread through contaminated food or drinking water, person to person contact with an infected person, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, low to high grade fever and headache.
Frequent handwashing and proper food preparation safety are the key to preventing infections.
1 Dead, 3 Missing After Coast Guard Helicopter Crash
February 29, 2012
One crewmember is dead and three others are missing after a Coast Guard helicopter crash in Mobile Bay Tuesday night.
A massive search is underway after the three Coast Guard members went missing after the crash, which occurred while they were conducting a training flight in the vicinity of Point Clear, Ala.
One crewmember was found unresponsive by a boat crew and was later declared deceased.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crewmembers during this difficult time,” said Capt. Don Rose, commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile. “We are working through the night to continue to conduct a robust search for the three crewmembers who are still missing and we appreciate the assistance of all of the agencies and personnel who are volunteering their time and resources to assist with the search and rescue efforts.”
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Pictured: A Coast Guard MH-65C based out of New Orleans on public relations visit to Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill in November 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
End Of A Era: The Last Day For WABB 97.5
February 29, 2012
Today marks the end of an era as the last day as a Top 40 station for WABB 97.5 FM.
(This is an archive story from Feb. 29, 2012)
WABB 97.5 — one of the oldest Top 40 radio stations in the country — was sold to not-for-profit EMF (Educational Media Foundation) of Rocklin, CA. EMF will take over all programming and the format for the station on Thursday, switching to the Christian K-Love format.
We asked our Facebook fans what they thought of the end of WABB 97.5, and here’s what some had to say:
- “I grew up listening to WABB and my kids have grown up listening. It’s just the end of an era!” — Chandra Rigby, Molino
- “That was the first cool station I listened to and now my kids listen to it. Sad. — Jennifer Beck, Cantonment
- “I love Qtip and have always listened to WABB! I don’t live there anymore but I have always loved them since the 70’s.” — Debbie Lewis, Stafford, VA
- “I loved the five o’clock whistle on Fridays! The official start of the weekend on the Gulf Coast.” – Tina Nabors, Montgomery
- “QTip has always been my favorite part of the show– he needs to go country since that is where his heart is.” – Wendy Ward, Molino
- “So said….grew up with them and got my kids listening to it.” — Teresa Andress, Molino
- “I will miss the history…I spent many a day blaring The Beastie Boys, with my dad yelling “Turn it DOWN!!!” over the noise, great times! LOVED WABB!!” — Janice Parham, Molino
WABB has been a family owned station for 52 years. Bernie Dittman bought WABB-AM in 1959 and put WABB-FM on the air in 1973 with a Top 40 format. A legendary icon in the broadcasting industry, Dittman was devoted throughout his career to maintaining WABB as an independent, family owned station. The family continued to operate the station after his death in 2006.
Despite the station’s success, the next generation of the family no longer resides in the Mobile area and, as a result, the family viewed the sale as a logical transition.
“This was a very difficult and emotional decision for our family,” said Judith Dittman, Bernie’s wife. “WABB-FM has enjoyed decades of success and being an integral part of the Mobile-Pensacola communities. But the time has come for us to move into another phase of life and spend more time together as a family.”
Molino Park Students Collect Over 200,000 Pop Tabs
February 29, 2012
Molino Park Elementary School students collected tens of thousands of pop tabs — those little pull tabs off the tops of aluminum drink cans — to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
So far this year, students collected 149 pounds of the pop tabs that have been delivered to the Ronald McDonald House. The money from recycling the tabs are used by the facility to help pay their water bill.
According to the Ronald McDonald House, there are 1,430 tabs per pound — meaning Molino Park’s 149 pound donation would contain an estimated 213,000 tabs. Placed end to end, they would stretch nearly 3.5 miles.
Rachel Veneble’s first grade class collected the most pop tabs — 21 pounds.
Escambia (Ala.) GOP Holds Candidate Forum
February 29, 2012
Supporters turned out in force Monday night for a candidate forum in Flomaton hosted by the Escambia County (Ala.) Republican Party.
Over 50 interested voters attended the forum, which featured Republican candidates running for various federal, state and local offices.
Candidates attending included: Judge Charlie Graddick, candidate for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court; Judge Tommy Bryan, candidate for Alabama Supreme Court, Place 1; Pete Riehm, candidate for U.S. Congress; Judge Emilie Mims, incumbent candidate for Escambia County Probate Judge; Becki Breckenridge, candidate for Escambia County Circuit Clerk; Patsy Jacks and Dr. Coleman Wallace, candidates for Escambia County School Board; and Brandon Smith, candidate for Escambia County Commission. In addition, representatives for the presidential campaigns of Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum spoke on behalf of their respective candidates.
“We are very excited to have so many of our Republican candidates with us here in Escambia County tonight. The size of this crowd is a great indicator of the excitement that GOP voters have for our 2012 slate of candidates. The prospects for the Republican Party, at all levels of government, are looking better and better every day,” Jeff Peacock, chairman of the Escambia County (Ala.) Republican Party.
The Escambia County GOP Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, March 13th.
Pictured top: Escambia Count (Ala.) Republicans gathered for a candidate forum Monday night in Flomaton. Pictured inset: Heath Jackson (foreground) takes notes as Judge Charlie Graddick, candidate for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, addresses the group. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Today’s The Deadline To Save On Your Escambia Property Tax Bill
February 29, 2012
Today is the last chance to save one percent on your property tax bill.
A one percent discount when you pay your real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends on Wednesday, February 29, according to Janet Holley, Escambia County tax collector. Over $38 million — about 18 percent — of the tax roll remains unpaid.
In addition, payments will receive the one percent discount if:
- mailed with a postmark of February 28
- left in a 24-hour drop box available at all tax collector offices by midnight February 28
- made on the tax collector web site by midnight February 28
- made on the tax collector after-hours automated telephone (800) 601‑1055 by midnight February 28
Drive thru service and 24-hour drop boxes are available at all tax collector locations.
You may check the status of your taxes and pay online at www.escambiataxcollector.com. If you have any questions, please call the tax collector’s office at (850) 438-6500, ext. 252. TTY users for the hearing impaired call (850) 472-0031.
Escambia County’s Driver License Office Closes
February 29, 2012
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles closed its Driver License Office at 100 Stumpfield Road in Pensacola on Wednesday. The Escambia County Tax Collector will now be the sole provider of driver license services in Escambia County.
Four tax collector offices in Escambia County will continue to issue driver licenses and identification cards:
- 470 South Highway 29, Cantonment
- 6451 North W Street 32505
- 507 N. Navy Boulevard 32507
- 213 Palafox Place 32502
Drivers who receive notices that they must appear in person at a county tax collector’s office to renew a license, must make an appointment in Escambia County by visiting www.escambiataxcollector.com or by calling 850‑438‑6500.
Many customers can skip the trip to an office and renew driver licenses, ID cards, and vehicle tags, as well as conduct other driving-related business online at www.GoRenew.com. Customers who renew online will be required to visit a county tax collector’s office for the next renewal. The Department does not charge a fee for using the Internet service.
Margaret Louise Levins
February 29, 2012
Mrs. Margaret Louise Levins, age 75 of Byrneville, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2012. at her home.
Mrs. Levins was born in Mobile and had been a member of the Byrneville and Century communities for 47 years coming from Pensacola. She was a member of the Brewton American Legion, the Eastern Stars and was retired from Monsanto as a lab technician.
Mrs. Levins is survived by her husband, Wilbur Levins of Byrneville; son, Dennis (Lisa) Medlock of Cantonment; daughters, Karen (Jerry) Hayes of Byrneville and Sybrina Medlock of Orlando; sister, Joyce (James) Byrd of Monroeville; 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday evening, February 27, 2012, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 until 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 28, at 10 a.m. at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Fillingim officiating. Interment will follow in Byrneville United Methodist Cemetery in Byrneville.
Pallbearers will be Chris Medlock, Rico Padilla, Dennis Mathis, Jesse Hayes, Vince Killam, Trevor Mathis.
Joseph “Joey” David Smith
February 29, 2012
Joseph “Joey” David Smith walked into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, February 23, 2012. He was born Jean Claude Mack on June 21, 1979, and became the special son of J.V. and Ethel Smith.
He is survived by his seven brothers and sisters, Sharon, Karen, Donell, Marian, Johnell, James and Trisha.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior to service time at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Brother Chip Barbas officiating. Interment will follow at First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment is in charge of all arrangements.