Time Change: Fall Back, Replace Smoke Alarm Batteries
November 1, 2014
Don’t forget to “fall back” and set your clocks back one hour night before heading off to bed Saturday night as daylight savings time comes to an end.
Escambia Fire Rescue is also reminding residents that it’s time to make another potentially lifesaving change — replace the batteries in your smoke alarm.
“Most home fire fatalities occur overnight when most families are sleeping,” according to Escambia Fire Rescue. “Changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and performing other maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk and a working smoke alarm can give the extra seconds needed to get out safely.”
In addition to checking smoke alarms, residents should plan “two ways out” and practice escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Each year more than 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. The majority of these deaths are a result of unattended cooking. It is strongly recommended that someone always be present when cooking on top of the stove and that smoke alarms be located properly and in working order. Test the smoke alarm monthly and change the batteries at least every six months.
For more information about fire safety, Escambia County Fire Rescue at 475-5530 or visit www.myescambia.com. For information about obtaining a home smoke alarm call 850-595-HERO (4376).
Freeze Warning, Wind Advisory In Effect
November 1, 2014
There is a freeze warning in effect for the North Escambia area for tonight, and there is also a wind advisory in effect today. Temperatures are expected to fall to, or just below, the freezing mark tonight in the inland areas. Precautions should be taken to protect pets and tender vegetation.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 58. Windy, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Monday Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Thousands Attend Fall Festivals, Trunk Or Treats, Other Events
November 1, 2014
Thousands of North Escambia area residents braved the spooky Molino Museum, hit the streets trick or treating, took part in a trunk or treat, or visited a fall festival Friday night.
“We had an awesome time at the Pine Forest Assembly Fall Festival,” the church’s High Voltage Kids director Heather Murphy said. “Thanks to Escambia Fire and Rescue for the spending the evening with us.”
Pictured: The Fall Festival Friday night at Pine Forest Assembly of God in Cantonment. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Final Night For Tate Fall Comedy ‘Saturday The 14th’
November 1, 2014
Tonight is the final presentation of “Saturday the 14th” — a parody of the “Friday the 13th” movies — at Tate High School.
It made all the headlines 30 years ago. Only one camp counselor was found alive the next morning, and she hasn’t spoken a word since. They closed Camp Slippery Floors. Everybody wanted to forget what happened that night… except Mason. Mason never forgets! Now Camp Slippery Floors in going to open again and Mason is waiting in “Saturday the 14th”.
The comedy will be presented at 7:00 Saturday evening in the Tate High Cafeteria. Tickets are $7 at the door.
Pictured: The Tate High School production of “Saturday the 14th”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Beats Northview For 1-1A Championship (With Gallery)
November 1, 2014
The Baker Gators beat the Northview Chiefs 35-27 for the District 1-1A championship Friday night in Baker. As district runner-ups, the Chiefs will still advance to the state playoffs.
It was a disappointment for the Chiefs as they looked to avenge a loss to Baker last year, and a game that left Head Coach Sid Wheatley disappointed.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“We didn’t play well enough to win a football game tonight. We have a good football team, but we didn’t play like we had a good football team tonight. We didn’t play well enough on offense, we didn’t play well enough on defense, special teams we turned the ball over a couple of times, and they capitalized on it,” Wheatley said. “That’s basically the story.”
The loss means the Chiefs (6-2) will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs against the Vernon Yellowjackets (8-1) on November 14, while Baker will host Graceville.
“We are going to have to be tough and win a game on the road and try to advance that way as opposed to getting a runner-up and home, now we’ve got to go play a district champ on the road,” Wheatley said.
Baker took an early lead in the first quarter, with the Chiefs tying it up 7-7 with a Tydre Bradley touchdown with 2:19 to go in the first. The Chiefs next score came from Austin Whitehead from one yard out
Before the playoffs begin, the Chiefs still have one regular season game, their Senior Night, at home next Friday night against Blountstown.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott, Crist Push Turnout
November 1, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist spent Friday scrambling to persuade voters besieged by negative ads to head to the polls as the final full week of campaigning came to a close.
Scott, the Republican incumbent, and Crist, a former GOP governor now running as a Democrat, spent the day in strongholds that could determine whether they win the Governor’s Mansion. Scott made two campaign stops Friday morning in Northeast Florida and was expected to make an appearance in the evening at an event hosted by Fox News personalities Sean Hannity and Brian Kilmeade.
Scott has spent the last two weeks on the trail urging supporters to cast their ballots, either in person Tuesday or through early and absentee voting.
“I know what happened in 2012,” Scott said after an event at Sleiman Enterprises in Jacksonville. “Mitt Romney lost because people didn’t get out to vote. And so I’m going to make sure people know the importance of getting out to vote. … As long as people continue to get out and vote, we’re going to have a big win on Tuesday.”
Romney won Republican-leaning Duval County by about 15,000 votes in the 2012 presidential race — roughly the same margin that Scott won by in 2010. But there were 150,000 more votes in the county in the race between Romney and Democratic President Barack Obama than in Scott’s initial campaign.
The governor’s margin of victory in the county in 2010 accounted for about a quarter of his statewide edge over former state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink — and Scott had a higher share of the two-party vote (52.9 percent) than Romney (51.8 percent) or John McCain, the GOP’s 2008 presidential nominee, who carried the county with a shade under 51 percent of the vote.
As he has before on the trail, Scott seemed relaxed Friday, joking with reporters and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who arrived late to the event after a problem getting to the venue.
“Your bus driver ditched our bus driver,” Bondi said. “We were right behind you.”
Scott was expected to continue to tour the state with high-profile Republicans over the weekend and through Monday, with events planned in Southwest Florida, Miami-Dade County, The Villages retirement community and Orlando.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — both considered potential 2016 presidential candidates — will campaign with Scott on Saturday in Southwest Florida. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is slated to help Scott on Sunday in Hialeah. And the Orlando event Monday is expected to include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, both also considered possible presidential contenders.
Crist, meanwhile, started Friday morning at Munch’s Restaurant in south St. Petersburg. More than half of the diners who shook hands and posed for selfies with the former governor said they had already cast their ballots — for him.
“The message is pretty clear. Get out and vote,” Crist told reporters after chatting with the kitchen staff.
Owner Larry Munch said he, too, had already cast his ballot for Crist. In the former governor’s hometown, which Crist affectionately calls “The ‘Burg,” Munch said his customers — who regularly discuss politics over their morning cups of Joe — are fed up with the seemingly relentless attack ads.
“They’re tired of the mud-slinging,” Munch, cooking ribs on a grill outside his restaurant, told The News Service of Florida. “All you hear is the ads instead of talking about what the topics are. That’s what the talk is over the coffee mugs.”
Crist then met up with Pasco County Tax Collector and former longtime state lawmaker Mike Fasano, who is a close friend of Crist and is a political star in the county.
“This is where elections are decided in Florida,” Crist told reporters before knocking on doors with Fasano in Heritage Lakes, a community where Fasano once lived.
Pasco County, where Republicans have a slight lead over Democrats in voter registration, is considered a bellwether. In 2012, Pasco voters gave Romney a six-point edge over Obama. Four years ago, Scott received 52 percent of the vote in the county, compared to Democratic challenger Alex Sink’s 43 percent.
But Democratic state Rep. Amanda Murphy won a hard-fought special election last fall, giving Democrats hope that Crist — with the help of the wildly popular Fasano — can flip the GOP-leaning county. Murphy said recent polling in her Pasco County district showed Crist with a six-point lead over Scott.
“Our district is definitely changing. Mike Fasano standing out trying to make it more about the person will hopefully change things. I’d like to see more people for the person and not worry about what the letter is behind the name,” said Murphy, accompanying Crist and Fasano.
On his way to knock on doors, Crist was called over by a driver who said he was a Republican and who stopped traffic to get a handshake from the Democratic nominee.
Crist received kudos from Republican and Democratic seniors for abandoning the GOP four years ago. Until 2010, Crist was a lifelong Republican, but he became an independent to avoid a GOP primary against Rubio in the race for U.S. Senate. Rubio went on to defeat Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek. Two years ago, Crist registered as a Democrat.
Mae Stallone, 93, told Crist she admired him for having the courage to switch parties, something the Democrat later said she herself had done four decades ago.
“I admire a person who will go with his gut feeling and change when he wants to,” Stallone told Crist.
“You’ve got to use your brain. And your heart,” Crist said, handing Stallone a daily newspaper that had been sitting outside her home.
Dick Boyle, 86, said he is an independent but is casting his ballot for Crist.
“Put some sense back in the governor’s office. It’s been a long four years,” he told Crist.
A relaxed Crist, wearing a plaid, short-sleeved, button-down shirt and a canvas belt decorated with palm trees, appeared cautiously optimistic about his chances for a victory.
“I feel good about it. I’ll tell you that,” he said. “But it’s going to be close.”
by Brandon Larrabee and Dara Kam
Navy’s Fleet Fly-In Concludes
November 1, 2014
When pilots and aircrew from about 20 different helicopters boarded their aircraft and departed NAS Whiting Field Friday morning, it marked the completion of another successful Fleet Fly-In for Training Air Wing FIVE.
The annual event is one of the most anticipated events on the calendar for the installation and 2014 marked another memorable occasion. For about three days, the skies above NAS Whiting Field were peppered with gray and black aircraft amidst the orange and black training aircraft that continually fly above the base and its 13 outlying fields. With flights to outlying fields in Brewton and Evergreen, the different helicopters were sometimes spotted from the North Escambia area.
Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT coordinated the function, and HT-8 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Rob Sinram was pleased with how the Fly-In turned out.
“This year’s Fleet Fly-In was a big success,” he said. “We got the fleet turnout we were hoping for and students got a lot of flight time and interaction with the fleet crews.”
While the Naval Helicopter Association Fleet Fly-In encompasses a variety of panel discussions on large scale aviation issues, detailer presentations on future assignments, and industry displays showcasing helicopter technologies; the thrilling part is for the TRAWING-5 flight students having an opportunity to touch, ride in, and potentially fly Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard fleet helicopters. More than 300 future aviators received such flights during the open flight periods Wednesday and Thursday.
Picture top: Student Naval aviators and pilots of a Navy MH-60R Seahawk brief before a demonstration flight at the Fleet Fly-In. Pictured below: Multiple MH-60R and MH-60S parked on the ramp at South Field shortly after sunrise. Photos by Jay Cope for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Earn 1-7A Runner Up Spot And Playoff Berth
November 1, 2014
The Tate Aggies were off Friday night, but earned the 1-7A runner up spot and a playoff berth as Niceville beat Crestview 34-10.
If Crestview had won, it would have forced a three-way tie in the district and the two playoff spots would have come down to a shootout between the three times.
Earlier in the season Niceville beat Tate 35-7, and Tate defeated Crestview 42-28.
Before the playoffs, the Tate Aggies still have one home remaining as they host the Escambia High Gators next Friday night at 7:30. It will also been senior night for the Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Today Is Final Day Of Early Voting
November 1, 2014
Today is the final day of early voting in Escambia County for the November 4 General Election. Ballots may be cast today any one of seven locations:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Avenue, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Bellview/Saufley Early Vote Site, 4607 Saufley Field Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
High School Football Scores
November 1, 2014
Here’s a look at Friay night’s area high school football scores.
FLORIDA
- Baker 35, Northview 27 [Read more..]
- Jay 44, Freeport 41
- PHS 29, Pine Forest 26
- West Florida 54, Catholic 28
- Escambia 40, Washington 14
- Navarre 49, Dothan (Ala.) 24
- Pace 47, Milton 7
- Arnold 28, Gulf Breeze 14
- Choctaw 45, Fort Walton Beach 3
- Niceville 34, Crestview 10
ALABAMA
- Bessemer Academy 32 Escambia Academy 14
- Flomaton 42, Monroe County 0
- T.R. Miller 18 W.S. Neal 17 OT