Deputies Seek Man On Firearms, Narcotics Charges
November 29, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating 23-year old Kewauntez Antonio Matthews. Matthews is wanted for firearms and narcotics offenses.
The Sheriff’s Office said he is to be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or 911.
Rain! First Real Rain In Three Months Falls, More Expected
November 29, 2016
For the first time in about three months, measurable rain fell across the North Escambia area Tuesday morning, and more rain is expected through Wednesday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms before noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Temperature falling to around 61 by 5pm. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Escambia School Board Installs Members For Coming Year
November 29, 2016
The Escambia County School Board held an Installation Ceremony Monday night for newly re-elected Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (pictured above) and board members Kevin Adams, District 1 (below); Bill Slayton, District 5 (below middle); and Patty Hightower, District 4 (pictured bottom).
The board recently elected Linda Moultrie as chairman for 2016-2017 and Gerald Boone as vice-chairman. Regular board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the J.E. Hall Center, Room 160.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Winners Circle Brush Fire
November 29, 2016
Firefighters were called to battle a brush fire about 10:00 Monday night in the 2000 block of Winners Circle. The fire was contained to a wooded area bounded by Winners Circle, Filly Road and East Kingsfield Road. It took firefighters over an hour to extinguish the fire as they battled against a strong wind that was pushing the flames. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Donnie Marvin Nordstorm
November 29, 2016
Donnie Marvin Nordstrom, 80 of Frisco City, AL, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2016 in Monroeville, AL. He was a forester with the Alabama State Forestry Commission and served in the Army National Guard. He was born in Atmore, AL, on September 30, 1936, to the late J.E. and Elsie Lorenz Nordstrom.
He was a member and deacon of McCullough Christian Center, and enjoyed spending time with his family. He is preceded in death by his wife, Sybil U. Nordstrom; son, Gary Nordstrom; brothers, Bernard Nordstrom and Edwin Nordstrom; and a sister, Ione Young.
He is survived by two daughters, Donna (Ronnie) Jordan of Excel, AL and Amy (Chris) Betsole of Red Oak, AL; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services were held Monday, November 28, 2016, at from McCullough Christian Center with Bro. Cornelius Phillips officiating.
Interment was in McCullough Cemetery.
Local Governments Receive Grants For Disaster Prep and Response
November 28, 2016
Volunteer Florida has awarded over $42,00/0 in federal funding to establish or enhance Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and citizen corp programs in Escambia County.
The Town of Century received a $7,000 grant for their CERT, plus an additional $7,400 for the Town of Century Citizen Corps.
The Escambia County and Pensacola CERT programs received $7,000 each, while The Escambia County and Pensacola Citizen Corps received an additional $7,000 each.
The organizations will match the funding dollar for dollar through cash or in-kind investments. The program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and administered by Volunteer Florida.
“Volunteer Florida’s CERT funding specifically trains Floridians to take action following emergencies or disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes,” said Chester W. Spellman, Volunteer Florida CEO. “This unique training allows citizens to support the critical work of our emergency management officials by deploying CERT volunteers when they are needed, saving taxpayer dollars.”
CERT was created as a grassroots approach to encourage “neighbors helping neighbors” in the event of emergencies or disasters. Grantees conduct emergency management training to enhance the capabilities of local emergency management personnel. Following their training, grantees deploy citizens to impacted areas so that they can assist in response and recovery. Citizens are prepared to assist with light search and rescue, offer immediate help to victims until professional services arrive, provide evacuation assistance, and support damage assessment teams.
“The CERT program allows communities to recruit and train civilians as neighborhood, business and government teams that become auxiliary responders during disasters,” said Bryan Koon, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “We are thrilled that Volunteer Florida is administering this funding for Florida.”
Pictured: Century CERT volunteers during a disaster exercise. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Deadline Today For FFA Citrus Sale Orders
November 28, 2016
Today is the order deadline for in the annual Northview High School FFA’s Fruit Sale.
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5, 1/2 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Monday, November 28. The pickup date is Wednesday, December 14.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to the Northview school office. Fruits available include red apples, pears, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos, and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
FDLE Offers Safe Online Shopping Tips For Cyber Monday
November 28, 2016
It’s Cyber Monday — the Monday following Black Friday. Most online retailers hold a Cyber Monday sale; it is traditionally the busiest day of the year for online retailers. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers the following tips for safe online shopping today, and every day of the year.
Make Sure to Use a Secure Browser.
Make sure your browser meets industry security standards. Features such as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypt your personal information as it is sent over the Internet. Most browsers are capable of SSL encryption and other security features.
There are two ways to determine if a website encrypts data before it is sent over the Internet. The first is that the URL displayed in the address bar will begin with the abbreviation “https.” This stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. Web pages that do not encrypt data only display “http,” without the “s.”
Secure web pages will also display a second indicator, which differs depending on the particular browser being used. In most browsers, a small lock will appear in the bottom-right corner of the browser window.
Shop Only With Companies You Are Comfortable With.
Ask for paper documentation, such as a catalog or a brochure, if you are unfamiliar with an online merchant. This should help you become familiar with the vendor’s services and policies. Never deal with an on-line merchant whose policies are not explicitly clarified.
Keep Your Password(s) Secret.
Never reveal passwords that you use on-line. See the page on SecureFlorida.org for more information about passwords.
Pay by Credit or Charge Card.
Using your credit card online ensures that you will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. This law provides consumers with the right to dispute charges made to their accounts. If unauthorized charges are made to your credit card, by law you are liable only for the first $50, and many companies don’t require you to pay anything.
Keep Records.
Keep a record of confirmation numbers and purchase orders. Print them out and keep personal copies. On-line orders are covered by the Federal Mail/Telephone Order Merchandise Rule. This rule states that merchandise ordered online must be delivered within 30 days unless otherwise noted. Your records will be able to provide proof of the date and time of purchase.
Paying Your Bills Online
Most companies offer you the convenience of paying your bills and checking your account online. Before enrolling in one of these “click-to-pay” programs, make sure you fully understand the company’s privacy policy and security measures. If an appropriate description of a company’s security procedures is not available, ask the company by calling them or e-mailing them.
Showers And Thunderstorms Becoming Likely By Tonight
November 28, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Windy, with a south wind 5 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 64. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms before 3pm, then a chance of showers. High near 71. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 49.
Sunday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Santa To Visit The Century And Molino Branch Libraries
November 28, 2016
Mark your calendar…Santa Claus is coming to the Century and Molino branches of the West Florida Library.
Santa will be at the Century Branch Library this Thursday, December 1 at 6 p.m. Children can enjoy stories, Santa and a little holiday spirit. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera for photos with Santa.
Santa will visit the Molino Branch Library on Tuesday, December 6 at 6 p.m. for a special Pajama Story Time with Santa. Children invited to wear their comfy, cozy pajamas, brink a blanket and join the library staff for a stories, milk and cookies along with a very special visit from Santa Claus. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras.
Pictured: Santa visits the Century Branch Library last year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.