Not Really The Sunshine State?
August 22, 2013
The “Welcome to Florida” signs may say “The Sunshine State” , but daily showers and thunderstorms will continue. Pictured above is the “Welcome to Florida” sign along Highway 97 in Davisville Thursday afternoon as a heavy thunderstorm approached.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Edge Stars In 11 For Fifth Straight Win
August 22, 2013
Pensacola claimed their fifth straight win by sneaking past the Huntsville Stars 1-0 in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
Ryan LaMarre scored on a wild pitch from David Goforth (L, 4-3) with two outs in the top of the 11th for the game winning run. He singled to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved up to third on a groundout allowing him to score when the pitch to Yorman Rodriguez got away.
Both teams had opportunities to score earlier in the game. Corey Wimberly was thrown out at home in the third inning when he tried to score on a throw to first base behind LaMarre who had just singled. That was the second out of the inning, but LaMarre was stranded at second. Huntsville looked like they had a run in the seventh, on what seemed to be a sacrifice fly. With the bases loaded and one out, Hector Gomez flew out to LaMarre in deep left-center field, appearing to score Jason Rogers from third, but the throw to third was in time to get Shawn Zarraga trying to advance from second, and the plate umpire ruled that the out at third was before Rogers crossed home from third base.
Both starting pitchers were outstanding. For Pensacola, Josh Smith fired 6.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts and only one walk in a no decision. Ariel Pena also took a no decision for Huntsville. He worked seven scoreless with eight strikeouts. The Blue Wahoos bullpen preserved the shutout between 2.2 innings from Jaime Walczak, a scoreless 10th inning from Drew Hayes (W, 4-3) and a scoreless 11th from Trevor Bell (S, 16).
Hayes earned the win two strikeouts in the 10th before Bell tied a Blue Wahoos record with his 16th save of the season. The Wahoos closer worked around a two-out single to match Justin Freeman’s record of 16 saves from 2012. The 11th was Goforth’s only inning of work in the losing effort.
The Blue Wahoos will keep an eye on the Jacksonville-Chattanooga game in Chattanooga, Tenn. later Wednesday night. With a Suns loss, Pensacola will only be 3.5 games out of first place.
The Blue Wahoos will go for the series sweep on Thursday night in Huntsville. Pensacola will turn to RHP Robert Stephenson (0-1, 3.00) for his second Double-A start against RHP Books Hall (2-4, 4.53). First pitch is slated for 6:43 p.m. in Huntsville.
Need A Job? One Of The Area’s Largest Jobs Fairs Is Thursday
August 21, 2013
The Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Air Station Whiting Field will host its 24th annual Job Fair on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The annual event will be held in Sikes Hall onboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field.
More than 70 local, regional and national businesses will be seeking prospective employees on site. The job fair is free and open to the public.Job seekers attending this event are encouraged to bring several copies of their resume with them to this event.
Job Fairs provide a unique opportunity for the employer and those seeking employment to actually discuss the job possibilities available. More than 1,000 prospective employees attended the 2012 fair with greater than 600 interviews and 110 hires occurring during the day. The event is regularly lauded by businesses as one of the largest and best organized in Northwest Florida.
Employers who have confirmed for the event include: Florida Highway Patrol, FlightSafety International, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Colonial Life, Gulf Power, Home Depot, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Navy Federal Credit Union, SECORP Industries, Wells Fargo, Ropella Group, Pep Boys Auto, Lowes, UT Aerospace Systems, and many more.
The Thunder Rolls
August 21, 2013
Thunderstorms like the one pictured above near Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon will continue into Wednesday night, but rain chances the rest of the week will be slightly lower. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Pictured: A thunderstorm near Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon created an ominous sky. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Trio Charged With Having Phony Money, Real Drugs
August 21, 2013
A Cantonment man and two Pensacola residents are accused of passing phony money and having real drugs in their vehicle when they were arrested.
Scott Thomas Toto, age 44 of Cantonment, Dexter Jermor Campbell, 27, and Jessica Tera Tipton, 26, were each charged with uttering a counterfeit Federal Reserve note, possession of ten or more counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of crack and powder cocaine.
Deputies were tipped off by the Barnes Dollar Store on Pace Boulevard after Toto allegedly tried to spend a fake $10 bill. When the clerk realized the bill was phony, Toto took it back and fled the store. The store clerk was able to provide a description of the vehicle, along with a partial tag number.
Less than an hour later, deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Hollywood Boulevard near Hernandez Street. Campbell, the driver, and Toto were detained right away, but Tipton reportedly refused commands from the deputy. She began to fight with the deputy, hitting him at least twice, before fleeing on foot. She was later taken into custody after a manhunt utilizing a K-9 unit.
A K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Inside the car, deputies reported finding crack and powdered cocaine and numerous drug paraphernalia items. Deputies also reported Tipton dropped a cigarette package during the struggle with the deputy; inside the package they found crack cocaine and marijuana.
Also in the vehicle, deputies reported finding a package of paper consistent with the type used to print counterfeit money, a copier-printer and other items used to allegedly make the fake cash. Deputies also found receipts from multiple stores were items were recently purchased.
Campbell was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $16,000 bond, while Toto remained in jail early Wednesday with bond set at $51,000.
Tipton was also charged with resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana and trespassing. She is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to an outstanding warrant for violating her probation in a grand theft auto case.
Molino Woman Claims Self Defense In Shooting Death Of Her Husband
August 21, 2013
A Molino woman accused of shooting her husband Saturday night was in court Tuesday, claiming she shot him in self defense. And her daughter told the court that her father had a history of violence.
“He did shove me . He punched holes in my doors. I’m sure the cops could go now and still see them there,” the daughter testified.
Rebecca A. Rogers, 43, made her first court appearance via video Tuesday afternoon. She is charged with second degree murder for the death of her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers. She allegedly shot him twice in the back and once in the head the couples home in the 3400 block of Highway 29 in Molino about 10:45 p.m. Saturday. He died from his injuries Monday afternoon.
The couple had four daughters together, one of which testified Tuesday that her father had several guns in the home.
“As far as I know, he was going to get them and he was…my mom believed he was going to kill her. So, she was protecting herself,” she said.
Rogers remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $550,000.
For an earlier story, click here.
Pictured top: Rebecca A. Rogers made a court appearance by video Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Rogers’ daughter testified that her father had a history of violence. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Seeking Grants For Splash Pad, New Playground Equipment
August 21, 2013
A splash pad and new playground equipment could be coming soon to Century, if the town is successful in obtaining a couple of state grants.
The town is submitting two grant applications to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. FRDAP is a competitive program which provides grants to local governments for outdoor recreational projects. The grants are administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The first grant application is for $125,000 for the splash pad, which would be Century’s only water-based children’s recreational activity, at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex. If the grant is awarded, Century will be require to provide a $31,500 match in the form of about $10,000 in cash and the balance as in-kind services.
The second grant application will be for $50,000 to replace playground equipment at Showalter Park. The current equipment is in poor repair and is not designed for disabled users. If the grant is awarded for the playground equipment, no matching local funds will be required.
Grant applications are due September 30. The 2014-2015 FRDAP grants are contingent upon approval of an annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature.
Pictured top: A conceptual drawing showing a potential splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex in Century. Courtesy graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
GED, Adult Ed Classes Offered In Molino
August 21, 2013
GED and adult basic education classes will be offered at the Molino Community Center in September.
Registration for the classes and TABE testing (test of basic education) will be held Tuesday, August 27 at 6 p.m. in Room 123. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the same location beginning September 3.
For more information, call (850) 516-4451 or (850) 587-5334.
Escambia Woman Busted For Pot On School Campus
August 21, 2013
A Escambia County woman was busted for having pot on campus at a Santa Rosa County School.
Lisa Ann Anderson, 42, drove a friend to register a child at Central High School on Monday. Anderson was apparently unaware that it was the first day of school, and a school resource officer was on patrol.
The SRO walked past Anderson’s car and could see a large bag of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in plain view. He made contact with Anderson, and she was placed under arrest. She was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Deputies said the bag of marijuana weighed 96 grams, enough for a third degree felony charge.
Mary Willene Tedder Barton
August 21, 2013
Mrs. Mary Willene Tedder Barton, age 83 of Century passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, in Pensacola after an extended illness.
Mrs. Barton was a native of Bratt and a resident of the Century community for 60 years where she attended Mt. Zion Chapel and was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by husbands, Frank W. Tedder and Willard T. Barton.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Jerry) Godwin of Century, Delois (Dave) Hudson of Pensacola and Judy Lister of Flomaton; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Cliff Emmons officiating.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 9 a.m. until service time at 10 a.m.
Interment will be in Godwin Cemetery in Bratt.
Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.