Photos: Dancing At The Movies
May 26, 2013
Dozens of performers delighted hundreds of people Saturday night during the 18th annual Heather Leonard Danceworks recital at Northview High School.
“Dancing at the Movies” featured dance performances with favorite movie songs, like the “Beauty and the Beast” theme song, “Woody’s Roundup” from Toy Story, the Footloose theme song, “Glory Days” from The Incredibles, “Touch the Sky” from Brave and “Footloose”.
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NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices: Memorial Day Travel Not Too Hard On The Wallet
May 26, 2013
Memorial Day weekend travel is about the same on the wallet this year as compared to 2012.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $3.40 Saturday, up four cents over a month ago. Last year, a gallon of unleaded gas averaged $3.39 per gallon on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
In Molino, the gallon of gas was $3.39 at Highway 29 and Highway 97, while a gallon of gas was $3.35 at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Gas was at about $3.36 a gallon Saturday in Atmore.
AAA Travel projects 34.8 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 0.9 percent decrease from the 35.1 million people who traveled last year. The anticipated decline in holiday travel is predominately due to a decline in air travel of eight percent, fee fatigue among travelers and a waffling economy. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27.
“AAA is forecasting Memorial Day travel to be slightly lower this year due to an to an up and down economy, the impact of the end of the payroll tax holiday on working families and a 30-year low in the percentage of working age people in the workforce,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “Additionally, economic growth in the first quarter was strong, but the impact of the sequester is now beginning to be felt resulting in reduced economic growth expectations. These and other variables are expected to result in few travelers this holiday. ”
Approximately 31.2 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 0.25 percent from the 31.1 million who drove last year. Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (89 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend, keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominant mode of holiday travel transportation.
A survey of intended travelers found that gasoline prices would have no impact on plans for 62 percent of travelers. Of the remaining 38 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, 27 percent plan to economize in other areas. Eight percent are planning to take a shorter trip and three percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation.
Since national gas prices peaked at the end of February, motorists nationwide have felt welcome relief at the pump. However, current gas prices are in line with this time last year and not expected to have an effect on travel plans.
Woman Injured In Highway 4 Bratt Crash
May 26, 2013
One person received minor injuries in a single vehicle wreck Saturday morning in Bratt.
The accident happened on West Highway 4 just east of North Highway 99 about 11 a.m. The elderly female driver of an eastbound Geo Prizm apparently lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a couple of culverts before sliding across the roadway.
The driver was transported by private vehicle to an area hospital. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including the woman’s name and condition, have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wildfire Prompts Road Closures, Evacuations
May 26, 2013
The second major wildire in as many days shut down a portion of southwestern Escambia County Saturday, forcing the temporary evacuation of several homes.
The brush fire consumed about 80 acres in all in the area of Blue Angel Parkway and Highway 98. Homes along Aleron Avenue, Rudder Lane, Foster Mills Lane and Rustic Road were evacuated for several hours. Residents were able to return to their homes by nightfall.
An emergency shelter was set up at the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, but no one needing shelter showed.
There was no structure damage from the fire reported.
Pictured top: A Florida Forest Service helicopter dropped 300 gallons of water at a time on a wildfire in southwestern Escambia County Saturday afternoon. Pictured below: The fire consumed about 80 acres and forced evacuations of several homes. Reader photos by Kim Spring for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Is Your Church Having VBS?
May 26, 2013
Now is the time to submit your Vacation Bible School announcements to NorthEscambia.com so that we can include them on our events page and let everyone know.
Email your VBS event details to: news@northescambia.com
Please try to submit your information as far in advance as possible.
Featured Recipe: Bold Burger Stars During Grilling Season
May 26, 2013
Today’s featured recipe from food writer Janet Tharpe is a bold burger with kicked up toppings.
Northview Baccalaureate Service Scheduled For Sunday
May 26, 2013
The Northview High School Class of 2013 will hold their Baccalaureate program at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bratt First Baptist Church in the Family Life Center. Everyone is invited to attend.
The student-led and organized program will include scripture, prayer and original instrumental and vocal music provided by the Northview Senior Class Ensemble and students. Guest Speaker will be Bro. Glenn Webber, with music led by senior Ashton Gibbs.
Bratt First Baptist Church is located on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
Pictured: The Northview High School Class of 2012 Baccalaureate Program. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Sunny Weekend Continues
May 26, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. East winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph in the evening becoming light.
- Memorial Day: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 90.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
- Friday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Pictured top: Saturday evening’s sunset as seen from the intersection of Highway 99 and Highway 164 in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Come Up Short Again, Fall To Lookouts 3-1
May 26, 2013
Once again, the Blue Wahoos could not find the offense to support another strong starting performance, this time by Daniel Renken. The Chattanooga Lookouts scored a pair of runs late to down the Wahoos 3-1 at AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday night.
Renken allowed just one run over six strong innings, surrendered only three hits and struck out five, but did not record a decision. The lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Yasiel Puig drove home the tying run from third with a shallow sacrifice fly to centerfield. Renken walked the leadoff man in the inning, and he eventually came around to score to even the game at 1-1.
In the top of the sixth, Pensacola broke a scoreless tie when Theo Bowe belted a solo home run over the right-field wall for his first homer of the season. That was one of only four hits the Blue Wahoos would get on the night.
Chattanooga broke through with the winning runs in the eighth. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases after a leadoff double, setting the stage for Puig. Brian Pearl was summoned from the bullpen, inheriting the bases loaded mess, and Puig delivered a single up the middle to score two runs which proved to be the difference in the game. Both runs were charged to Wilkin De La Rosa (L, 1-2), who was saddled with the loss. Pensacola was retied quietly in the bottom of the ninth by Jose Dominguez who earned his second consecutive save.
Scott Elbert (W, 1-0) picked up the win for the Lookouts out of their bullpen. He worked a scoreless inning before the Lookouts did the damage in the eighth. Andres Santiago started for the Lookouts and allowed just the one run over 5.2 innings. He fanned a season-high seven batters.
The series continues from AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Sunday. The Blue Wahoos will start RHP Josh Smith (3-4, 3.66) against Lookouts RHP Steve Smith who will make his AA debut. He had pitched his first 11 games of the year with AAA Albuquerque. First pitch is set for 5:15 p.m. CT.
Charity Cabaret Benefits Tate Senior Fighting Cancer
May 26, 2013
A packed house at the Pensacola Little Theatre enjoyed some great entertainment Saturday night, all while helping Halee Boyd — a Tate High School senior who is fighting a rare form of cancer.
The “Hope 4 Halee Charity Cabaret” was hosted by Tori Patton, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Pensacola High School as her community service project. Patton and Boyd have been friends for years, both members of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus at one time.
Performances included several talented students and a set from the Broadening Education Thru Arts program.
Pictured top: A performance during the Hope 4 Halee Charity Cabaret Saturday night at the Pensacola Little Theatre. Pictured: Halee Boyd and her mom Mardi at the benefit event. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.