Cooler Weather Forecast
March 24, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Tuesday Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
- Tuesday Night Areas of frost after 4am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph
- Wednesday Areas of frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Friday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night A slight chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Ernest Ward Dive Team Places At County; Jerni Crabtree Takes Championship
March 24, 2014
The Ernest Ward Middle School Dive team received first and eighth places during the recent Escambia County Diving Championship at Washington High School.
The Ernest Ward Dive Team consisted of two divers – Jerni Crabtree and Jayda Crabtree. Jayda placed 8th, with a total score of 118.25. Jerni remained undefeated all season, placing 1st with a score of 168.25 and earning her the title of 2014 Escambia County Middle School Girls Diving Champion.
Pictured: Jerni and Jayda Crabtree, the Ernest Ward Middle School Dive Team. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Surveying, Mapping Crews Rejected From Expansion Of ‘Move Over’ Law
March 24, 2014
House members expressed concern Friday that too many professions could end up attached to a law that requires motorists to slow down and shift lanes to avoid law-enforcement and emergency crews working along roads.
Members of the Economic Affairs Committee rejected an amendment that would have added surveying and mapping crews to a measure (HB 469) that would add sanitation vehicles and utility-service vehicles to the state’s 11-year-old “Move Over” law.
“There’s some talk of including prison work crews. We are loving this bill to death,” said Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. “The average motorist is going to have a long checklist over their sun visor of what they are required to move over for.”
The bill, as it stands, requires motorists to move over a lane, or slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit, when a clearly identified work-crew vehicle is parked and crews are working on sanitation, electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, cable, telephone or other communications services. Sanitation crews were added to the bill March 3. The Economic Affairs Committee voted 14-1 on Friday to approve the bill, with Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, opposed.
Bill sponsor Holly Merrill Raschein, R-Key Largo, said the addition of the survey and mapping crews could jeopardize the bill. Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, requested the amendment, noting that surveyors and mappers risk their lives while working in the middle of roads or on road shoulders.
“As they are involved in their duties, they tend not to observe the traffic,” Watson said. “Many times they have their backs to the oncoming traffic.”
The Senate version of the bill (SB 478) by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, has yet to make a committee appearance. Evers represents the North Escambia area.
by The New Service of Florida
Escambia Sheriff’s K-9’s Compete To Be Top Dog
March 24, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Pensacola Police Department played host to 49 K-9 units from throughout the south last week during the USPCA Region 1 K9 Trials.
Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit and their awards are as follows:
- Kelly Hall (Drago)
- John Zabelle (Ivan)
- Kevin Biggs (Argo)
- Chris Collier (Baro)
- Jason Land (Edo, 18th overall)
- Patrick Crossley (Dasty, Top Dual Dog, Top Over-All Narcotics, 3rd in 4 Man Team)
- Mike Carr (Iwan, 3rd in 4 Man Team)
- Mark Smith (Jeck, 17th overall, 3rd in 4 Man Team)
- Wayne Gulsby (Caleb, 1st in Overall Search)
- Mike Milstead (Mink, 3rd in 4 Man Team)
- Jason Potts (Askon, 4th Overall Search, 14th overall)
Pictured top: K-9 Edo. Pictured below. Deputy Wayne Gulsby (left) and K-9 Caleb, and Deputy Jason Land with Edo. Pictured bottom: Escambia County K-9 officers. Reader submitted and courtesy photos by Kim Carr, Dellaina Jordan and Jason Bondurant for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Board Set To Name Northview Stadium For Tommy Weaver
March 24, 2014
The Escambia County School Board is set to consider a resolution to name the stadium at Northview High School as the “Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium”.
The board will hold a public hearing on the proposal 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday during the board’s regular meeting the Hall Center on Texar Drive. The name change will be official after being approved at the meeting.
Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Five Injured In Highway 29, I-10 Crash
March 24, 2014
Five people were seriously injured in a Sunday morning crash that tied up traffic from Highway 29 to I-10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 37-year old Ashley E. Sticken of Cantonment was eastbound on the entrance ram to I-10 from southbound Highway 29 when he failed to negotiate the curve in his 1988 Toyota Tacoma. His vehicle began to spin, striking a 2014 Mazda driven by 58-year old Donald E. White of Bay Minette.
White and his passengers, 20-year old Tyler E. White, 25-year old Amy Jernigan, and 19-year old Whitney Roberts, all of Bay Minette, were transported to West Florida Hospital in serious condition.
Sticken was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving for failure to maintain proper control.
Pictured: Traffic was tied up at on the southbound Highway 29 entrance ramp to I-10 Sunday morning after crash the FHP said was caused by a Cantonment woman. NorthEscambia.com reader photo by April Pawless, click to enlarge.
Preschoolers Celebrate 104 Years Of Camp Fire USA
March 24, 2014
The preschoolers at the Camp Fire USA Child Development Center in Century recently held a celebration of the 104th birthday of the Camp Fire program. They formed the number “104″ (pictured below) and celebrated with birthday cupcakes). They also learned to count all the way to 100. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Wayne Enfinger
March 24, 2014
Wayne Enfinger, age 63 of Jay, passed away on March 22, 2014. Wayne resided in Jay most of his life. He was very passionate about his occupation as a house painter, painting many homes and businesses in Jay and the surrounding areas. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping until his health declined, not allowing him to enjoy those activities. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Wayne never met a stranger and was always happy to see old friends.
He is preceded in death by his father, Odell Enfinger; mother, Nina Enfinger; brother, David Enfinger and an infant daughter.
He is survived by his son, Phillip (Dara) Enfinger; daughter, Stacie (Ryan) McKinley; grandchildren, Hannah McKinley, Devin Enfinger, Jackson McKinley, Brittany Lewis, and Alyssa McKinley and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Services will begin at 6 p.m. with Brother Earle Greene officiating services.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ilene Margaret Dukes Cook
March 24, 2014
Mrs. Ilene Margaret Dukes Cook, 60, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2014, in Century.
Mrs. Cook was a native of Georgiana, Alabama and a resident of Century since 1992. Mrs. Ilene spent four years serving her country for the U.S. Navy, 15 years as a legal secretary, and owned and operated the local Century Tobacco Shop for 6 years. Mrs. Ilene was a kind and generous woman. She made friends easily and touched many people’s lives. She was a nurturing mother, who always put her children first. Her husband, Michael T. Cook; mother, Margaret Levin Jones; and her father, Marvie Lee Dukes precede her in death.
Survivors include her two daughters, Niki Cook and Robin Cook both of Century and one grandchild, Thomas Henry Clark of Century.
Graveside services will be Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 26, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Lonnie Travis Roberson, Gary Paul, Jimmy Dubose, Austin Wiggins, William Covan and Jason Covan.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Ellen Sims Ard
March 24, 2014
Mrs. Ellen “Sims” Ard, 92, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2014, in Pensacola.
Mrs. Ard was a native of Huxford and a resident of McDavid since 1944. Mrs. Ard was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother. She loved to sew and quilt and attended the Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church. Husband of 52 years, Luther Ard and all her siblings precedes her in death.
She is survived by his two sons, Albert Ard of McDavid and Melvin Ard of McDavid; one daughter, Janet Walker of McDavid; seven grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Nathan Brown officiating.
Burial will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 26, 2014, from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Aaron Chancery, Wes Chancery, Tyler Walker, Ryan Walker, A.J. Walker and Michael Floyd.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Steadham, Danny Steadham, Jeff Steadham, Dalton Steadham, Lee Jernigan and Alfred Jernigan.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Covenant Hospice Inpatient Residence.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.