Retired Firefighter Kimberl Celebrates 90th Birthday
August 19, 2013
One of the oldest living retired firefighters in Escambia County celebrated his 90th birthday over the weekend with a trip by a fire station.
Charles Kimberl retired as a battalion chief for the Pensacola Fire Department on the last day of 1982. Kimberl and Mabel, his wife of 66 years, have seven children, 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren — many of whom live in the Molino area.
Pictured: Charles Kimberl (third from left) along with (L-R) Lieutenant Nathan Edler, Firefighter Josh Szeliga, Interim Chief Matt Schmitt, Captain Rick Simmons, Firefighter Ben Gilmore, and Firefighter Neil Jones. Elder and Jones are Kimberl’s grandson-in-laws. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Snap Losing Skid, Open Series With 4-1 Win Over Stars
August 19, 2013
Ryan LaMarre broke up a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the top of the third which proved to be all Pensacola needed in their series-opening 4-1 win over the Huntsville Stars at Joe Davis Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The win snapped a six game losing streak for the Blue Wahoos.
Following LaMarre’s blast, Pensacola added another run later in the inning when three straight batters walked following a Devin Lohman single. Mike Costanzo provided an insurance run in the fifth with a solo home run to right field.
Wahoo starter Carlos Contreras pitched well through five innings before running into problems in the sixth when the Stars collected four hits against the right-hander, including an RBI single by Jason Rogers. Contreras was done after six and allowed just the one run on six hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
Offensively, Costanzo and Lohman along with Corey Wimberly each had multi-hit games for the Wahoos. Contreras earned the win for Pensacola with Trevor Bell picking up his 14th save of the year with a scoreless ninth. Drew Gagnon took the loss for Huntsville after getting charged with all four Wahoos runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings.
The two teams will continue the six game series with a doubleheader on Monday. Pensacola will send RHP Jon Moscot (1-1, 6.60) and RHP Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.67) to the mound in games one and two respectively against RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-3, 5.06) and RHP Andy Moye (5-13, 4.20). First pitch is slated for 4:03 p.m. in Huntsville.
Hero Lost: War Takes Husband From Her Life, Anniversary Photos
August 18, 2013
In a photograph from their November 2011 wedding in Pensacola, Marine Corps Sgt. Bradley Atwell smiles while gingerly wiping away the tears of his new wife, Danielle, as she looks deeply into his eyes.
Almost two years later, Danielle was back in Pensacola, but the resulting photographs are far different.
The 23-year-old is dressed in black, and the youthful innocence and joy have been replaced with loss and pain. Brad is absent, replaced by a picture in a frame, his wedding ring, dog tags and a folded American flag.
Both collections of photographs were taken by Florida-based photographer Melissa Thurber, a former Army combat medic and Iraq veteran, and shared with Stars and Stripes as a tribute to Brad. Atwell was killed in September as he heroically confronted 15 heavily armed Taliban fighters who breached the wire at Camp Bastion in southwestern Afghanistan and destroyed more than $200 million worth of aircraft.
The images are a moving reminder of the price paid by service members and their families during more than a decade of war.
“I think they’re beautiful,” Danielle Atwell said of the new photographs. “I would prefer anniversary photos but I don’t really have that choice, so I’m glad to have had the pictures done to honor Brad there.”
Pictured top: This summer, Danielle Atwell returned to the pavilion in Pensacola where she and her Marine husband were married in 2011. Pictured inset and below: The 2011 wedding day for Sgt. Bradley Atwell and his wife Danielle in 2011. Pictured bottom: Danielle Atwell hugs the flag from her husband’s casket at his grave at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola recently. Photos by Melissa J. Thurber for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Used with permission from Stars and Stripes. © 2013 Stars and Stripes.
Flash Flood Watch, Rainy Weekend Continues
August 18, 2013
There is a Flash Flood Watch in effect until 7 p.m Sunday Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Century Looking To Enhance Sports Complex
August 18, 2013
Century is looking to the state for a possible grant to make improvements at the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex.
A public hearing will be held at 7:10 p.m. Monday, during a regular Century Town Council meeting, to consider input from the Century Recreation Advisory Committee to submit a grant application for Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program funds.
If the town receives grant money from the program, will be used to further develop a portion of the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex to enhance local recreation opportunities.
Monday night’s meeting is open to the public.
Pictured top: Showalter Park (to the left with softball/baseball fields) and the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex (right) in Century. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Critical, Passenger Serious After ATV Crash
August 18, 2013
Two people are recovering after a serious ATV accident early Saturday morning near McDavid.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the ATV was northbound on Cox Road near Bratt Road about 1:20 a.m. when the driver, 30-year old Daniel Scott Nelson of Century, lost control of the 2012 Polaris. The ATV overturned several times, ejecting Nelson and his passenger, 28-year old Meggan Layne Percey of Cantonment.
Nelson was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert” and was listed in critical condition. Percey was transported byAtmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital in serious condition.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
From Ramps To Reefs – Program Set For Main, Molino Libraries
August 18, 2013
The free program “From Ramps to Reefs” , will be held at the Main and Molino libraries.
The first program will take place Thursday, August 22, at 6 p.m. at the Main Library branch, 239 North Spring Street, Pensacola. Hosted by Escambia County Marine Biologist Robert Turpin, the presentation will include the relationship between waterways in and around Escambia County.
A repeat presentation will occur Monday, August 26, at 4 p.m. at the Molino Branch, 6450 Highway 95A.
This free program is offered by the West Florida Public Library in connection with the Discover Earth: A Century of Change traveling exhibition, focusing on local earth science topics such as weather, water cycle and ecosystem changes, as well as a global view of our changing planet. The traveling exhibition will allow library patrons to understand how Earth’s global environment is effected by the local environment of all exhibition host communities.
The traveling exhibit, which will visit 10 libraries throughout the U.S., is part of the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net) led by the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute. Exhibit partners include the American Library Association, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the National Girls Collaborative Project. Discover Earth is supported through a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Pictured: The Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Has New Student Drop Off Area And Time
August 18, 2013
The Ernest Ward Middle School student drop off area and times have changed due to construction on the campus.
The earliest student drop off time will be 8:45 a.m. only for students that eat breakfast and 8:55 a.m. for all other students.
Persons dropping off students will enter from the first gate on the corner of the campus on Highway 99A. Students may not exit their vehicle until the 8:45 a.m. time if eating breakfast, or 8:55 a.m. otherwise. Vehicles will then exit through the front parking lot to Highway 97. Students will be picked up in the same manner each afternoon.
No one is allowed behind the green construction fence for any reason.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
School Bus Routes; Traffic Laws
August 18, 2013
School begins Monday in Escambia County, with over 300 yellow buses back on the road.
To locate your child’s bus stop and pick up/drop off times, click here.
A reminder about Florida traffic laws when you approach a bus:
Weekend Gardening: August To Do List
August 18, 2013
Here are gardening tips for the month of August from the UF/IFAS Extension program:
What to Plant
- Bedding Plants: The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat tolerant vinca, gaillardia, bulbine, and coleus.
- Bulbs:Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
- Herbs: Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger,Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
- Vegetables: This month starts the fall planting season. Many cool season crops can be planted now, including a final crop of warm-season vegetables such as pepper. Tomato can be planted for the fall garden.
- Lawn problems: Damaged areas can be the result of insects, disease, or irrigation problems. Be sure to determine the cause so the proper remedy is used. Use a sharp mower blade and only remove 1/3 of grass blade to reduce stress on the lawn.
- Palms: If older fronds are yellowing, you may have a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
- Poinsettias: Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
- Ornamental Plants: Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants. Fertilize those plants that show signs of deficiencies.
- Bedding Plants: Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.
- Adjust irrigation based on rainfall.
- Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.
- Monitor the garden for insects and disease.
- Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established.