Warming Trend, Rain By Sunday
November 14, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Bratt, Byrneville Students Take Virtual Trip To Italy
November 14, 2013
During the past few weeks, hundreds of students from Byrneville and Bratt elementary schools have taken a virtual trip to Italy, thanks to the Global Corner Learning Center.
The students spent time learning about the language, arts, culture, geography and more of a unique land half a world away. Each year, The Global Corner teachers take students from their classroom virtually to another country. Through The Global Corner, local students have “visited” Japan, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Russian, and now Italy.
The non-profit Global Corner was conceived by its director, Lee Hansen, as part of her vision for the Pensacola area to become a player in the global economy and to have Northwest
Florida become an international business hub and the Center of Excellence for International Learning by 2025.
he Global Corner program is scheduled to be at Molino Park Elementary School November 18-22.
Pictured top: Students at Bratt Elementary School learn to dance the Tarantella with Maestra Bridgette from the Global Corner Learning Center. Pictured below: Byrneville Elementary School students take a virtual visit to Italy through the Global Corner Learning Center. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspected Pipe Bomb Destroyed By Bomb Squad (With Photos)
November 14, 2013
An item suspected to be a possible pipe bomb found alongside Highway 29 in Cantonment Wednesday morning turned out to be harmless.
“It looked like pipe with caps at both ends and a wick or something coming out of it,” George Guntner of Guntner Custom Pools in the 800 block of South Highway 29 said. He said he saw the device laying alongside Highway 29 and became suspicious because it looked like a pipe bomb.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Bomb Squad responded just after 10 a.m., and Highway 29 was closed as a precaution from about Chemstrand Road to Muscogee Road.
A member of the bomb squad could been seen carrying the device attached a to a tripod-like stand (pictured left) to an open area of a parking lot. At 11:43 a.m. cries of “Fire in the hole” could be heard from the scene followed by the sound of a controlled explosion by the bomb squad to neutralize the object.
“The possible device was destroyed by the Fire Marshal’s bomb tech,” Sgt Andrew Hobbs, a spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said at the scene. “It was determined that it was not an explosive device.”
After the object was neutralized, Highway 29 was reopened after being closed for about two hours.
Multiple units from Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the incident.
To watch the sequence of events, scroll down and read the description below each NorthEscambia.com photo.
Pictured above: A member of the Florida State Fire Marshal Bomb Squad, in protective gear, carries the suspected pipe bomb.
Pictured above: The bomb squad member sets up the device for destruction.
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Pictured above: Authorities examine the remnants of the device after it was purposefully exploded.
Pictured above: The bomb squad device used in the destruction of the suspicious item.
Pictured above: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Unit arrives on scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Drive Ends Friday
November 14, 2013
Friday is the final day to contribute to a peanut butter food drive that has been underway for the past month by the Escambia County Extension office, the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Florida Peanut Producer Association.
The groups are accepting donations of unopened jars of peanut butter to be donated to local food pantries during Farm-City Week.
“Let’s keep children eating locally grown peanuts in healthy, nutritious, and yummy peanut butter,” is a slogan being promoted for the drive. The extension service said the average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before graduating high school.
Unopened jars of peanut butter of any brand can be dropped off through Friday, November 15 at any of the following locations:
- Escambia County Extension office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street, Pensacola
- Escambia County Community & Environment Dept. 223 Palafox Place, 3rd Floor, Pensacola
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive, Pensacola
For more information contact Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230.
Pictured top: The Barrineau Park 4-H Club collected peanut butter for the drive. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Prohibit Smoking On Playgrounds
November 14, 2013
Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, on Wednesday filed the House version of a measure that would give local governments the ability to prohibit smoking on playgrounds. The proposal would allow municipalities and counties to restrict smoking in local government-owned playground areas as an expansion of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act.
The act, approved by voters in 2002, prohibits smoking in most enclosed indoor workplaces.
The Senate version (SB 342) was filed last week by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. Bradley tried to pass a broader bill (SB 258) during the 2013 legislative session that would have allowed restrictions on smoking on municipal or county properties, but it died in the Community Affairs Committee.
Pictured: The playground at the Molino Community Complex. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice For Some Cottage Hill Water Works Customers
November 14, 2013
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for some customers of the Cottage Hill Water Works System.
The following streets are included in the notice: 1459-1999 Hwy 95A, East Quintette Rd., Williams Ditch Rd, Clymil Dr., Gainey Ln, Glenna Ln, Elna Rd, McKenzie Rd, Chavers Rd, Parker Rd, Hollow Point , Cottage Park Rd., Handy Rd., Smyers Rd, Stacey Rd, Buckhead Trace, Eastman Ln, Danielle Lane, Heathrow Dr. Grenelefe Dr , and Wendy Drive.
The notice was issued following a water main break. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use six drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water drinking or cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
A crew has repaired the main and is flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the break and flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If you have questions, contact the Cottage Hill Water Works, office at (850) 968-5485.
Have Extra Fruit On Your Trees? Donate It To The Needy
November 14, 2013
Have a fruit tree on your property with way too much fruit for you? The volunteer group Yes We Can Pensacola wants your donations as the group prepares to begin its annual fruit picking.
For the past six years, the independent group has harvested over 36 thousand of pounds of fruit in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to be donated to area food banks and soup kitchens, including Manna Foods and Favor House in Pensacola.
The group has picked a wide variety of citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes and tangerines from local residents. Yes We Can Pensacola volunteers will continue to pick fruit into February.
If you are interested in donating fruit or volunteering, contact group coordinator Anna Houghton at (850) 748-0616 or email annabhoughton@gmail.com.
Pictured: Tangerines growing in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Dr. Woodie Ross Cryar
November 14, 2013
Dr. Woodie Ross Cryar, formerly of Birmingham, died on Monday, November 11,2013, in Atmore. He was born in Albertville, Ala., on June 29, 1924. Dr. Cryar was a graduate of Albertville High School and Sneed State Junior College. He graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute School of Veterinary Medicine in 1950, following service in the United States Army during World War II with the rank of Sergeant.
Dr. Cryar practiced Veterinary Medicine in Birmingham from 1950 until his retirement in 1995. He served as president of both the Jefferson County Veterinary Medical Association and the Alabama State Veterinary Medical Association. He was a life member of both organizations. He was a member and officer of the Birmingham Optimist Club. He was a past member of the Woodlawn and Trinity Presbyterian Churches in Birmingham, where he served as Deacon, and was presently a member of the First United Methodist Church in Atmore.
Dr. Cryar was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Frances Bertram Cryar, his parents and two brothers.
He is survived by his daughters and sons- in-law, Emily and P. D. Pollard and Malia and Gerald Shelton; grandchildren, David Ross Lee, Joseph Duncan Pollard and Anna Frances Lee; one sister, Peggy Cornelius; and four nieces and two nephews.
A memorial service of Dr. Cryar’s life was held on Thursday, November 14, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church and was officiated by the Reverend Debora Bishop. The family will visit with friends and relatives immediately following the memorial service.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home and Johns-Ridouts Valley Chapel are in charge of the arrangements.
Ken McDonald
November 14, 2013
Ken McDonald, 58, beloved husband, brother, son, Pops, step father, uncle, passed away Saturday November 9, 2013, (following a long battle with cancer.) He is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Wesley McDonald from Walsall England.
He is survived by his wife, Terri McDonald of Milton; brother and sister-in-law, Paul & Moira McDonald; nephew, Lee McDonald; mother, Margaret McDonald all from Walsall, England; sister, Lynn McDonald and husband, Paul Phayzee and nephew, Daniel Phayzee of Birmingham, England; step-daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Ben Cauble; grandchildren, Gabriel, Noah, Eliana and Judah of McDonough, GA; step-son, Paul Westmoreland of Lawrenceville, GA; aunts, uncles and cousins from England; sisters and brothers-in-law, from Georgia and many dear friends from England, Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
He started playing football (soccer) in 1965, playing for many clubs in England and continued his career coaching and training to the very end. His accomplishments include many champion cups and league cups as a player. He and his friend Micky Ross started their own football club which achieved two levels below Premier League. His immense knowledge of the game is evident in two Deaflympic gold medals and World Cup semi-finals with the USA Deaf Soccer, numerous tournament and state championships with teams from Georgia, Florida and Alabama, six players that he personally trained and coached who now play in professional clubs in England, feature articles in the Soccer Journal, the largest soccer magazine in the USA, invitations to lecture at the NSCAA conventions, qualified and experienced Coerver Coach and staff coach at Berry College Summer Camps to name only a few.
In the words of his players, “Coach Ken is the definition of true coaching, so much more than soccer. Ken left everyone a better person. His dedication and commitment to players and teams and his deep love for the game and a powerful faith in the potential of his players was immeasurable. So many have benefited from his immense knowledge of the game, more than they even thought was possible.”
Ken was a legend in the eyes of his players, friends and family and is greatly missed.
In celebration of Ken’s life, services will be held at Navarre Beach on Sunday, November 17, 2013, at 2 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Bill Aimed At Gun Regulations on Government Property
November 14, 2013
A South Florida lawmaker filed a bill this week that would give cities and counties more power to regulate guns on property they own. Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, filed the proposal (HB 305) on Tuesday.
It would change a law that has left regulation of firearms and ammunition to the Legislature.
The bill says there are “municipalities and counties that seek to exercise their home rule powers in the field of regulation of firearms and ammunition upon property owned by such municipality or county with the same freedom that they have in other fields to consider and account for local conditions and sensibilities.”
It appears highly unlikely, however, that the bill will pass during the 2014 legislative session. Both chambers of the Republican-controlled Legislature have been staunch supporters of gun rights.
by The News Service of Florida