Spring-Like Weekend Weather
January 12, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 8am. Patchy dense fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Tuesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. North wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Suspect Arrested In Dairy Queen Officer Involved Shooting
January 12, 2013
The driver of a vehicle involved in a deputy involved shooting Wednesday at a Scenic Highway Dairy Queen has been arrested.
Derrick Emerson McMillian, 33, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of obstruction of justice.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were working on a narcotics investigation in the Scenic Highway area about 2 p.m. As they tried to apprehend McMillian, two deputies were forced to discharge their weapons, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office. No one was hit by the gunfire, but one deputy was treated for minor injuries received due to breaking glass.
The two deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
Weekend Gardening: Tips for January
January 12, 2013
Here are gardening tips for the month of January from the Santa Rosa Extension Service:
Flowers
- Refrigerated bulbs such as tulip, daffodil and hyacinth should be planted in prepared beds.
- Start seeds of warm season flowers late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- There’s still time to transplant some cool season annuals such as carnations, foxglove, pansies, petunias and snapdragons.
- Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or dry form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
- Finish dividing crowded perennials. Don’t wait until spring for this job.
- Plant bare root roses immediately after they are purchased.
Trees and Shrubs
- Plant trees and shrubs. This is an ideal time of year for transplanting larger specimens.
- Plant bare root plants such as deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees.
- Prune dormant shade trees, if needed.
- Stick hardwood cuttings of fig, grape, honeysuckle, Althea, Catalpa, Forsythia and Wisteria.
Fruits and Nuts
- Apply dormant oil spray to peach, plum, nectarine and other deciduous fruit trees. This practice is necessary when growing the stone fruits in locations along the Gulf Coast. Note: This applies to the flowering peaches and cherries since they are susceptible to the same pests as their fruiting cousins.
- Plant bare root deciduous fruit trees
- Prune dormant fruit trees if needed
Vegetable Garden
- Start seeds of warm season vegetables late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- Lime (if needed), and begin preparing vegetable gardens for the spring planting.
- Cool season vegetables that can still be planted in the garden are: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radishes and turnips.
- Irish potatoes can be started from January through March by planting seed pieces 3 to 4 inches deep in rows. Always purchase certified seed potatoes.
Lawns
- Check soil moisture during winter and water as needed.
No Injuries In School Bus Wreck
January 11, 2013
There were no injuries in a minor school bus wreck Friday morning on East Kingsfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said driver Willie Jame Pryor stopped the Head Start Program bus at a railroad crossing just east of North Palafox Street about 8:09 a.m. Jocelyn Jean Longo, age 31 of Cantonment, turned off North Palafox onto Kingsfield and hit the bus in a “very low-impact collision”.
There were five students on the bus.
Longo was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
One Dead, Two Injured In Shooting; Three Wanted For Questioning
January 11, 2013
One person was killed and two others injured in a shooting Thursday night on Belair Road in the Montclair area of Escambia County. And deputies are looking for still looking for three people wanted for questioning in connection with the crime.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 700 block of Belair Road about 10:10 p.m. where they found 18-year old Aquarius Patrick Devaughn dead and another person with a critical gunshot wound. Durall A. Sumler, 20, was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was listed in critical condition.
Deputies then learned of another gunshot victim in the 900 block of Belair Road. Shawn F. Jordan, 21, was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. Investigators believe all three victims were shot in the 700 block of Belair Road.
Investigators located evidence at the scene that led them to believe the incident was narcotics related, but the type of evidence has not been disclosed.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the following individuals believed to have information on the shootings. They are wanted for questioning only at this time:
- Travaris Jamal Stallworth, 9-23-1989
- Freddie Dayshen Fountain, III, 9-21-1989
- Kwamane Quason Silas, 2-6-1990
Deputies were previously looking for four other people, but they were all located and questioned as a witnesses. None were charged with any crime.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Cantonment Woman Seriously Injured In McDavid Highway 29 Crash
January 11, 2013
A Cantonment woman was seriously injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday night near McDavid.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 24-year old Jessica Nicole Godwin was northbound on Highway 29 near Brown Road about 9:20 p.m. when she lost control, ran off the roadway and hit a culvert. Her 2001 Kia Sephia then became airborne, overturned and landed on its roof in a ditch.
Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to free the Godwin from the vehicle. She was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Godwin was wearing her seat belt in the crash, which was not alcohol related. Charged are pending the in the crash, according to the FHP.
The McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: One Cantonment woman was seriously injured in this single vehicle crash on Highway 29 near Brown Road in McDavid Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Warm Saturday
January 11, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers, mainly before midnight. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 59. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Tuesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 63.
Driver Cited After Log Truck Overturns On Muscogee Road
January 11, 2013
A log truck driver was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol after his vehicle overturned at International Paper in Cantonment Thursday night.
The FHP said 23-year old Travis Davis of Citronelle, Ala., was eastbound on Muscogee Road when he failed to maintain control of his tractor-trailer and ran into a ditch. The log truck overturned, sending logs into the ditch and the administrative parking area of International Paper.
Davis was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries following the 6 p.m. crash. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving, no seat belt and an expired tag.
Pictured: An Alabama man was cited by the FHP after this log truck crash on Muscogee Road at International Paper in Cantonment Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Escambia Tourism Dollars On The Upswing
January 11, 2013
Officials said Thursday that Escambia County tourism is on the upswing.
Visit Pensacola, the tourism arm of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, said record-setting lodging revenues of $24.1 million were generated in October and November of last year, a 12 percent increase over revenues collected in the same period in 2011.
Last fiscal year, lodging revenue collections on hotel and rental stays in Escambia County totaled $178 million, an 11 percent increase over the previous year’s record.
Gulf Power Crews Win Award For Power Restoration Efforts
January 11, 2013
Gulf Power Company crews drove long hours, worked in high winds, rain and snow far away from home and their families in 2012. For their efforts, the company has been selected as a winner of the Edison Electric Institute 2012 Emergency Assistance Award.
The award recognizes the company for its restoration support in the recovery from the June storm in Virginia and Hurricanes Isaac and Sandy.
“Assisting other utilities with getting their customers’ power back on is all about customer value,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications manager. “Plus, it keeps our skills honed should a storm affect our customer area.”
EEI is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. The awards were announced at the January association meeting Thursday morning.
One unusual aspect of this year’s award is that another utility nominated Gulf Power. Dominion Virginia Power submitted a Gulf Power nomination after the storm team assisted that utility following the heavy storms in Virginia.
Paul Koonce, CEO of Dominion Virginia Power, said he made the nomination in honor of Jackie Green, a Line Tech II for Gulf Power, who died in a vehicle accident while working storm duty.
“The Gulf Power team demonstrated courage and professionalism in the face of adversity and left a profound impact on the Dominion Virginia Power organization lasting far beyond the end of the successful restoration effort,” Koonce wrote in the nomination. “Restoration and mutual assistance is about more than poles, wire and cross arms. It is about the extraordinary people who volunteer for restoration efforts and their families, and about helping the people on the other side of the meter regardless of whether they are in Florida, Virginia or points in between.”
In 2012, Gulf Power storm teams assisted on six different events. The company sent 63 personnel to Virginia; 48 to Mississippi following Hurricane Isaac; and 70 to the Northeast following Hurricane Sandy. That team spent 17 days working in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Most recently, a storm team just returned from six days in Arkansas, following a snowstorm on Christmas Day.
“It was a busy year for storm teams,” Rogers said. “Our employees spent a lot of time away from their families to help others. That’s a strong commitment to help communities whether it’s here in Northwest Florida or wherever help is needed.”
Pictured top: Gulf Power crews work to restore power following an Arkansas snowstorm. Pictured inset: A Gulf Power team works in Pennsylvania following Hurricane Sandy. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.