Camp Fire Kids Offer Memorial Day Appreciation
May 25, 2015
The children at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center in Century gathered recently for this photo to show their appreciation for Memorial Day. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Martha Kirkland Brown
May 25, 2015
Martha Kirkland Brown passed away on May 22, 2015 in Madisonville, LA. She was born on August 1, 1951, in Carriere, MS, to the late Houston Thomas Kirkland and Golda Pearson Kirkland.
Martha was married to her beloved husband, Dennis Ray Brown, for 40 years and together they had two sons, Jeremy Brown (Kelli), of Petal, MS, and Josh Brown (Jessika), of Pensacola. She was the loving grandmother of Logan, Lukas, Lexington and Brett Brown. She was the sister of Mary Burchfield (Mack), Margaret Wedgeworth (Robert), Patricia Miles (Terry), Janice Martin (Oliver), Richard Kirkland (Karen), Terry Kirkland (Suzanne), Pam Aultman (Mike), the late Charles Kirkland and Tommy Kirkland. She was the life of every family gathering and the best story teller of the group. Her husband and sons treasured her, her grandsons adored her, and her siblings, and multiple nieces and nephews will miss her greatly.
Martha resided in Century, where her husband is the pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church. She has faithfully served the Lord alongside her husband in churches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. In addition to supporting her husband’s ministry, she led countless Sunday school classes, directed Vacation Bible Schools, led Bible study groups for women, and organized and led numerous women’s retreats. Her relationship with Jesus Christ was demonstrated through her devotion to her family and her friends and her desire for others to know him. All who met her recognized the joy she carried by the contagious smile, constant encouragement, and her positive attitude. She loved people wholeheartedly and spoke unashamedly about her desire to love Christ more.
Martha Kirkland Brown was a Godly example of wife, mother, MawMaw, sister, aunt, and friend. She lived and loved well. Those who care for her will “honor her for all that her hands have done” (Proverbs 31:31).
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Service to celebrate this beautiful life at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at Bedico Baptist Church,, Ponchatoula, LA . A wake will be held on Monday, May 25, 2015, at the church from 6-9 p.m.. Visitation on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, will be from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at the West Union Baptist Church Cemetery, Carriere, MS.
Road Construction Suspended For Memorial Day
May 25, 2015
Road construction in the state of Florida remains suspended through today to promote safety and reduce congestion for Memorial Day, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Motorists are reminded by FDOT to use caution while traveling through work zones around barricades and equipment on current projects. Travelers can access Florida’s 511 service from cell phones, landlines, and at www.FL511.com to receive updates on travel in the area. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jackson Beats Pensacola Again
May 25, 2015
One of the reasons the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are two-games above .500 in May is that they never stop trying to score more runs.
It’s what first year manager Pat Kelly said he likes about his team that’s 19-25 and in fourth place in the Southern League South Division. The Blue Wahoos are now 13-11 in May, after starting April 6-14.
“The thing I really like about this team is the way we keep coming back,” Kelly said. “That’s something you didn’t see the first month.”
The Blue Wahoos fell a run short Sunday, 6-5, to the Jackson Generals in front of 4,502 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
However, Pensacola came right back in the seventh to tie the game, 5-5, when catcher Kyle Skipworth hit a deep fly ball to right field to score first baseman Marquez Smith from third. Jackson scored its winning run in the eighth when center fielder Gabby Guerrero knocked a single to score third baseman Jody Lara.
One of the stars for Pensacola has been Seth Mejias-Brean, who is hitting .333 (16-48) the past 13 games after going 3-5 with an RBI and stolen base. He also turned a great double play flagging down a bad hop, stepping on third and whipping it to first.
“The toughest thing is keeping steady,” said Mejias-Brean, who’s now hitting .244 on the year. “You could be hitting the ball really well and still not get any hits. You could be hitting like crap and still go 3-for-3.”
Ryan Wright ended the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 0-22 hitless streak with the bases loaded when he singled sharply to center and scored both first baseman Ray Chang and shortstop Zach Vincej to put Pensacola up, 4-0, in the second inning. Although Pensacola had failed to produce a hit until Wright’s, it did have 10 RBIs before adding two more.
Wright has an eight game hitting streak, batting .314 (11-35). He has driven in five runs and doubled.
Kelly chafed when about the team’s batting average with the bases loaded, calling it an “overrated stat.”
“A lot of things don’t show up in the average,” he said, lobbying for a new statistic. “If you’re knocking in about 50-60 percent of runs with men on third, then you’re doing pretty good. Batting averages are evil anyway.”
Missing Escambia County Woman Found
May 24, 2015
A Florida Silver Alert has been canceled for 82-year old Mary Bell Williams of Escambia County. She has been found.
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Williams was last seen Saturday, May 23 leaving her home in he 7700 block of Amberidge Road. She was in a greenish-silver 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt with Florida tag Y7LMZ.
Williams is a black female, approximately 5-foot 3-inches tall and 186 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. She was last wearing a black shirt and a blue flowered skirt and may be wearing glasses.
If you know the whereabouts of Mary Bell Williams or her car contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or your local law enforcement agency.
A “Silver Alert” is an alert for missing seniors similar to an “Amber Alert” issued for missing children.
Two Injured In Highway 29, Barrineau Park Road Crash
May 24, 2015
Two people were injured in two vehicle crash Saturday night at the intersection of Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road, south of Molino. They were transported by ambulance to Pensacola area hospitals with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The accident, which occurred about 9 p.m., remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including the names of those injured, have not been released.
The Molino and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
‘Click It Or Ticket’ Campaign Underway
May 24, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies are in the midst of their annual “Click It or Ticket” crackdown designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county. The campaign will run day and night through May 31.
“Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes,” said Sheriff David Morgan. During the “Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want to make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash, buckling up.”
“Florida’s seat belt use rate stands at nearly 89 percent, which represents the highest use rate in Florida history,” said Colonel David Brierton, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “But that means there is still 10 percent of the population that doesn’t buckle up. We must do better if we are going to save lives and teach young people about the importance of using their seat belts.”
In 2013, about 59 percent of those who were killed in crashes because they weren’t wearing their seat belts were killed during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol reminds everyone that Florida law requires the use of seat belts by drivers, passengers in the front seat, and all children under the age of 18 in a motor vehicle.
Memorial Day Travel Much Cheaper Than Last Year
May 24, 2015
Memorial Day weekend travel is much easier on the wallet this year as compared to 2014, with a gas almost $1 per gallon lower. Most drivers will likely pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices in at least five years.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $2.66 Saturday, up about 13 cents over a month ago. Last year, a gallon of unleaded gas averaged $3.59 per gallon on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The current national average is $2.73 per gallon.
AAA Travel projects 37.2 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 4.7 percent increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled last year and the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years. Kicking off the summer driving season, 33 million travelers will be driving to their destinations. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 21 to Monday, May 25.
Florida Forest Service Warns Of Wildfire Danger Time
May 24, 2015
For some it’s beaches, others think of backyard cookouts or baseball games. For wildland firefighters and the personnel of the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center, however, the days and weeks around Memorial Day typically means a big fire or two.
While Florida experiences wildfires year round, spring traditionally is the height of the season across the state. In the three counties within the Blackwater response area (Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa) that window can be narrowed down even more.
“Right around Memorial Day we usually see some pretty significant fire activity,” said David Smith, operations administrator for the district. “We get rain in April and early May that will prompt new growth and add to the fuel on the ground and then we typically get a drying period of a week, maybe two weeks, that usually produces some of our more difficult fire conditions.”
Current forecasts show no rain in the next week or so. In the past few days, moderate winds and low humidity have helped dry out vegetative fuels after the recent rains. That lines up with historical patterns that have helped make the time around Memorial Day busy for the FFS.
During the past 10 years, Blackwater has seen an average of about 16 wildfires from May 20 to June 10 — the 21 days centered on the holiday. During the past four years, each of the season peaks has produced at least one fire larger than 50 acres that has had a significant impact on residents, roads or the public in general.
Pictured: A wildfire in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain For Sunday And Memorial Day Monday
May 24, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Memorial Day
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 86. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Friday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.