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.
Baseball, Softball Registrations Begin At Area Ballparks
January 11, 2013
Baseball and softball registrations across the area are underway. Here’s a look at registration information for Northwest Escambia, Molino Ballpark, Cantonment Ballpark, the First Baptist Church of Cantonment, Northeast Pensacola and the Pensacola Miracle League:
Northwest Escambia
Northwest Escambia will hold open baseball and softball registration for ages 3-18.
Registration will be held at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill as follows:
- Friday, January 18 — 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday, January 19 — 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Saturday, January 26 — 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The cost is $100 per child, including a $45 registration fee, $30 for a uniform shirt and hat, and a $25 concession stand fee. A payment option of $60 at registration and $40 at tryouts is available. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted. A copy of the child’s birth certificate is needed at the time of registration.
NWE is also looking for people willing to volunteer on the board of directors, and as managers, coaches and umpires.
Molino Ballpark
Registration at the Molino Ballpark will be held on Saturdays, February 2, 9 and 16, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the ballpark on Crabbtree Church Road. Wee Ball, T-ball, baseball and softball for ages 3-16. $55 registration fee for the first child. Birth certificate needed at registration. For more information, call (850) 712-6267.
Cantonment Spring Registration
Registration will be held every Saturday until February 16 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Cantonment Ballpark. The cost is $80 per child.
For more information email TheCantonmentBaseballClub@gmail.com or visit this Facebook page.
First Baptist Cantonment
The First Baptist Church of Cantonment will hold registration this Saturday, January 169 from ages 4-12 for T-ball through coach pitch. Registration will be at the Grocery Advantage on Highway 29 beginning at 10 a.m., or register at the church office during the week.
The cost is $35 per child. Games begin March 16. There will be no intense practices and no traveling is required. All games are Saturdays only.
Northeast Pensacola
Northeast Pensacola Ballpark on Nine Mile Road will hold registration every Saturday through January 26 from 9 a.m. until noon and Friday, February 1 from 6- 8 p.m. at Academy Sports and Outdoors on Davis Highway. Online
Online registration for NEP is also available by clicking here.
Miracle League of Pensacola
Registration for the Miracle League of Pensacola will be held Saturday, February 2 and Saturday, February 9 from 9 a.m. until noon at the ballpark on Nine Mile Road. The season begins Friday, March 15.
Winning $213,192 Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold Near Jay
January 11, 2013
A winning ticket worth $213,192.27 in Thursday night’s Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 drawing was sold near Jay.
The Quick Pick ticket, with numbers 6-7-8-27-30 was sold at McDonald’s State Line Lotto at 15405 Highway 87 North, just south of the Alabama state line.
There was only one winning ticket sold for Thursday night’s drawing. There were also 297 tickets with four correct numbers worth $115.50 each, and 9,608 with three of five numbers worth $10 each.
Fire Destroys Travel Trailer, Damages Home
January 10, 2013
A travel trailer was destroyed and a home damaged late this afternoon on West Nine Mile Road.
Neighbors reported hearing an explosion and then seeing flames in the 1500 block of Croquet Drive east of Stefani Road shortly before 5 p.m. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
No Serious Injuries In Officer Involved Shooting At Dairy Queen
January 10, 2013
There were no serious injuries during an officer involved shooting Thursday afternoon near the Dairy Queen on Scenic Highway at I-10.
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 a suspect, the deputies were forced to discharge there weapons, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office. No one was hit by the gunfire.
One deputy and a suspect were treated for minor injuries received due to breaking vehicle class.
Two people were taken into custody at the scene, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said they are not searching for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Two deputies have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The investigation was continuing Thursday afternoon. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Pictured: An investigation is underway after a shots fired incident came to an end at the Dairy Queen on Scenic Highway. Photo by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged After Early Morning Quintette Road Wreck
January 10, 2013
A Cantonment man was charged after an early morning single vehicle wreck on Quintette Road.
The accident happened at 12 a.m. Thursday on Quintette Road near Rocky Branch Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said 52-year old Gordon Wallis, Jr., was eastbound on Quintette Road when he lost control of 1994 Dodge van and struck a guardrail. He was not injured.
Wallis was charged with careless driving, driving with license suspended and no proof of insurance, according to FHP.
Century Man Dies In Santa Rosa Wreck
January 10, 2013
A Century man was killed in single vehicle accident in Santa Rosa County Wednesday night.
Charles Terry Griffis, 50, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 9:20 p.m. crash on Highway 87 about seven miles north of Milton. Griffis was a passenger in a car driven by 47-year old William Samuel Stapleton, Jr., of Milton.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Stapleton was northbound on Highway 87 when he lost control and struck a tree. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in serious condition.
The FHP said neither man was wearing their seatbelt.
Charges against Stapleton are pending blood alcohol results, according to FHP.