Colder Air Is Coming
December 7, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Santa Visits The Molino Branch Library (With Gallery)
December 7, 2016
Santa Claus paid a special visit to the Molino Branch Library Tuesday night taking those special Christmas wishes.
Top Christmas top requests were hoverboards and tablet computers. There were several other requests, including snow, a sewing machine, scooter, paint set, a drum set, a piano and a real dragon. All good possibilities except for the snow and the real dragon due to limited space in the sleigh.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Robbery Suspects Sentenced
December 7, 2016
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced the sentences imposed by Circuit Court Judge Thomas Dannheisser for two local robberies after a lengthy sentencing hearing held Monday, December 5.
D’Andre Jones, 20 years old on the date of sentencing, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison to be followed by 20 years of probation for carrying out the two robberies.
On October 18, 2015, Jones entered the Circle K located at 3013 E. Cervantes Street at 4:45 a.m. wearing a mask and armed with a sledgehammer. He was accompanied by 18-year-old Ian Garland, also masked. He ordered the clerk, who was working alone that morning, to open the cash registers. He emptied one register of its contents while Ian Garland emptied the other register. Jones also helped himself to some cigarettes. Garland grabbed $250 worth of scratch off lottery tickets.
Then, on January 30th, 2016, Jones again entered the same Circle K at 1:08 a.m. He was masked and he wielded an 18 inch craftsman wrench as a weapon. This time he was accompanied by Ian Garland and 18-year-old Brendan McClendon.
Each robber focused on a separate victim inside the store. Jones attempted to grab the purse of a customer and found himself in a fight as the customer decided to fight back by throwing her recently purchased 44 ounce cup of Diet Mountain Dew from the soda fountain on him and then engaging him through the use of her martial arts training. She kept control of his weapon hand and fought with him while the other two robbers focused on the store clerks.
Brendan McClendon confronted one clerk and grabbed all the money from the first cash register. Ian Garland confronted the other clerk and grabbed all the money from the second cash register. The customer resisting Jones released her grasp and surrendered her purse when the other robbers yelled they were leaving.
Three hours later, Brendan McClendon attempted to rob the Circle K on Quintette Road in Santa Rosa County without success. Shortly thereafter, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office pulled over the black pickup truck the defendants were riding in and placed the three under arrest.
Judge Dannheisser sentenced both Ian Garland and Brendan McClendon to 10 years in state prison to be followed by 20 years of probation each.
Ian Garland and Brendan McClendon face punishment in Santa Rosa County for the attempted robbery of the Circle K on Quintette Road as well as a home burglary. Garland and McClendon will be sentenced in Santa Rosa County on December 16, 2016.
Century Updating 25 Year Old Land Development Code
December 7, 2016
The Town of Century is updated its aging Land Development Code thanks to a state grant.
The town received a $25,000 Division of Community Development’s Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to update their LDC, which was adopted on April 29, 1991. The work is being done by Peggy Fowler and Associates, which submitted the only proposal.
The Land Development Code (LDC) essentially specifies what can be built where and how it can be used within the town limits.
The majority of the LDC has not been revised since it was adopted in 1991. It, according to Fowler, must be updated to ensure compliance with changes in state and federal laws and the goals and objectives of the Town Century Comprehensive Plan 2025.
The updates will also address any inconsistencies or duplications in the document, plus make the LDC more user-friendly and easier to understand with minor reorganization and the addition of tables and simple illustrations.
Most of the changes reviewed at Tuesday’s workshop were simple changes to clarify wording or bring sections into compliance with current state laws. Additional workshops will be held in February and April of 2017, followed by the presentation of a completed draft at public hearing in May 2017.
Molino Park First, Second Grades Present ‘The Littlest Christmas Tree’
December 7, 2016
Molino Park Elementary Schools’ first and second grade classes presented “The Littlest Christmas Tree” Tuesday night at the school.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Savanna Calhoun, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Top 5 Teachers Named
December 7, 2016
The list of finalists for Escambia County’s Teach of the Year has been narrowed to five candidates:
Jay Royals Pull Ahead Of Northview 59-53
December 7, 2016
Jay 59, Northview 53
Tied 40-40 going into the third period, the Jay Royals pulled ahead to beat the Northview Chiefs 59-53 Tuesday night in Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Firing Rifle At Two People
December 6, 2016
A Molino man is facing felony charges after allegedly firing a rifle at two people.
Justin Michael Odom, 22, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Odom and another man, whose name has not been released, were reportedly involved in an altercation at a home in the 400 block of Lakeview Avenue in Cantonment before firing a rifle at the victims and their residence. Odom and the second suspect then fled the area in a Lincoln Town Car, according to an arrest report.
Bond for Odom was set at $25,000.
Cloudy Today, Colder Air On The Way
December 6, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. West wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 53. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Alabama Burn Ban Lifted
December 6, 2016
The state of Alabama has lifted a statewide Drought Emergency ‘No Burn’ Order which has been in effect since early November.
“In recent days we have seen significant rainfall across our state and the Alabama Forestry Commission now believes the worst of the drought has ended,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “I want to thank the Forestry Commission and the dozens of local fire departments that have worked so hard to ensure the thousands of wildfires didn’t get out of hand. These men and women have worked long hours under intense conditions to prevent as much damage as possible. We will continue to work with stake holders across the state to help everyone recover from the drought.”
According to State Forester Gary Cole, “Although all counties in the state will return to having burn permits available, we should bear in mind that Alabama like much of the South is still experiencing extreme drought conditions this fall. The AFC will continue to monitor ground moisture levels throughout the state. If ground fuels become exceptionally dry again, it may be necessary to re-issue a Fire Alert or No Burn Order in affected areas.”
The AFC advises anyone conducting any type of outdoor burning to follow safety precautions such as not leaving a fire unattended until it is completely out, having the necessary equipment and personnel to control the fire, and having a garden hose or other water supply on hand for smaller debris burns. Any fire more than a quarter-acre in size or within 25 feet of a forested area requires a permit from the AFC. Burn permits may be obtained by calling 1-800-392-5679. Burning without a permit is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or up to a $3,000 fine.