Rain Chance Continues Into The Weekend
June 10, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Atmore PD, Atmore Fire Battle Of The Badges Softball Game Is Saturday
June 10, 2022
The Atmore Police Department and the Atmore Fire Department is face off in a charity softball game Saturday.
The second annual Battle of the Badges charity softball game beings at 6 p.m. at Tom Byrne Park. The first pitch will be thrown by Betty Warren, longtime local educator and city pool director.
Proceeds from the game between the Atmore FD Plug Uglies and the Atmore PD Road Runners will benefit the Forgotten Initiative, a nonprofit that helps foster children and families.
Admission is free for kids 12 and under, $5 for everyone else.
Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Birmingham
June 10, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their modified doubleheader against the Birmingham Barons on Thursday, falling in the completion of Wednesday’s suspended game 5-1 but salvaging the nightcap 8-5.
Troy Johnston, the reigning Southern League Player of the Week, came through with a go-ahead, two-out, three-run homer in the seventh and final frame of game two.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their lead in the South Division by 3.5 games with 15 to play in the first half, pending other games throughout the league.
Game one was picked up in a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth, and Lenyn Sosa hit a solo homer for the Barons in the fourth against Anthony Maldonado (L, 2-3) to set the tone. Birmingham added a run in the fifth on a Raudy Read double, and a pair of runs in the seventh on a Sosa RBI single and passed ball. Sam Peralta (W, 2-3) kept the Blue Wahoos off the board in long relief, and only a ninth-inning homer for Paul McIntosh against Felix Paulino (S, 1) prevented a shutout.
In game two, the Blue Wahoos jumped ahead early against starter Kaleb Roper. José Devers whistled the first pitch of the game for a triple, and Ray-Patrick Didder followed with a two-run homer. After the Barons came back to tie the game against Pensacola starter Zach McCambley, Norel González blasted the Blue Wahoos ahead once more in the third with a three-run homer.
McCambley allowed a two-run homer to Ian Dawkins in the fifth, drawing the game to 5-4, and Eli Villalobos (W, 3-1) allowed an RBI single to Read in the sixth to blow a save and tie the game.
In the top of the seventh and final inning, Devers and Didder reached with two outs against Declan Cronin (L, 1-2) before Johnston drove a 1-2 pitch over the right-center wall for a go-ahead three-run homer. Villalobos worked a quiet bottom of the inning to lock down the win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Multiple Bear Sightings Reported In Molino Area; Here’s Why And What You Should Know From FWC
June 9, 2022
Multiple bear sightings have been reported in part of North Escambia over the past 10 days.
A young bear was reported crossing Highway 97 in Molino, also miles away near the intersection of Highway 196 and Jacks Branch Road, and most recently on Nicholson Drive in Molino.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says that’s not a cause for serious alarm, but there are some things Escambia County residents should know.
“Right now, the young bears, generally males a year or so old, are being pushed out by their mothers and are on their own for the first time in their lives,” Melissa Smith, Northwest Region public information director for FWC told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday. “Generally, this is why there are more sightings at this time of the year, as these youngsters try to establish a place of their own while staying out of the way of older male bears.”
Smith said there are simple steps residents can take to avoid bear encounters.
“The number one thing people can do to keep bears away from their property is to keep food sources where bears can’t get to them. Keep your trash secured either inside until the day of trash pickup or stow it in a bear-resistant can,” she said. “Don’t leave pet food out except during feeding time and keep birdfeeders out of a bear’s reach. Pick up fallen fruit and secure hives and livestock pens with electric fencing.”
Here is more information from FWC:
Human/Bear Encounters
When wildlife feels threatened by people, they typically try to tell us to back off in their own way. For example, a rattlesnake rattles its tail and an alligator opens its mouth and hisses.
If a bear feels threatened, they may clack their teeth together, moan, blow, huff, or stomp the ground. They may bluff charge (run toward you and then stop before reaching you). These are all ways the bear is showing you it is as uncomfortable with the situation and it wants you to give it some space. These are NOT indications of aggressive intent or an imminent attack. Truly predatory or aggressive black bears are rare and eerily silent.
If you see a bear from a distance:
- Enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear, if your presence changes the bear’s behavior you are too close
If you encounter a bear at close range:
- Remain standing upright
- Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice
- Back up slowly toward a secure area, be sure you are leaving the bear a clear escape route
- Avoid direct eye contact – bears and other animals may view this as aggressive behavior
- Stop and hold your ground if your movement away seems to irritate instead of calm the bear
DO NOT:
- Make any sudden or abrupt movements
- Run – running can trigger a chase instinct and bears can sprint up to 35 mph
- Play dead – black bears eat things that play dead or are dead
- Climb a tree – black bears can climb 100 feet up a tree in 30 seconds
- Approach or surprise a bear, especially one that may be injured
If a black bear attacks you:
- Fight back aggressively. People have successfully fended off black bear attacks using rocks, sticks, or even their bare hands!
If a bear is threatening the safety of humans, pets or livestock, or causing property damage, contact FWC.
Bears are wild animals and must be respected. Even though they are typically quiet and shy animals, they have the potential to seriously harm or kill people. Do not take unnecessary risks! While bear attacks on people are extremely rare in Florida, people have been bitten and scratched by bears defending themselves, cubs, or food sources.
Ways to Secure Attractants From Bears
- Here are some ways to properly secure your trash and help reducing frequent bear visits to residential areas.
- Put trashcans curbside on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
- Add hardware to your existing, sturdy trashcan to make it more bear-resistant.
- Protect gardens, apiaries, compost and livestock with electric fencing.
- Encourage your homeowners association or local government to institute ordinances on keeping foods that attract wildlife secure.
- Feed pets indoors or bring in dishes after feeding.
- Clean grills and store them in a locked, secure place (e.g. sturdy shed, closed garage).
- Remove wildlife feeders or make them bear-resistant.
- Pick ripe fruit from trees and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
- Screened enclosures ARE NOT SECURE and WILL NOT keep bears out.
- Inquire whether local waste service providers offer bear-resistant trash cans or dumpsters.
- If your waste service provider does not offer bear-resistant trash cans, you could purchase your own wildlife-resistant container or dumpster. Before purchasing a bear-resistant container, be sure to check with your waste service provider to ensure they will service it.
- Build a bear-resistant shed to store your trash can until it is ready for pickup
- It is illegal to intentionally place food or garbage out that attracts bears and causes conflicts
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Clerk Wants To Be Town Manager; Questions Why She’s Paid Less Than ‘White-Haired Man’ For Same Job
June 9, 2022
Century’s town clerk is questioning why she, as a female, is being paid less and has a lessor title and position than a man that was doing the essentially the same job before her.
“Here’s where I’m torn, what I don’t understand,” Town Clerk Leslie Howington said. “It’s why the white-haired man was given the title and the position and the pay, the compensation, and the recognition and an expense account. And homegirl comes in, does all the work except look at a water meter and tell you what’s wrong with it, and is no longer eligible to be town manager.”
After nearly two years on the job, interim town manager Vernon Prather’s last day was November 30, 2021, when he opted not to seek a contract renewal. He is the “white-haired man” referenced by Howington. Century also had a town clerk that resigned to attend nursing school.
The town advertised for a town clerk and a town manager — as two different positions. Former town clerk Howington applied for both, and made an unsolicited proposal to combine the two positions. The town council approved Mayor Ben Boutwell’s recommendation to hire Howington as town clerk, and followed his recommendation not to hire a town manager.
“We need a public works director; we don’t need a town manager,” Boutwell told the council in December 2021.
This week, Howington presented a memo to the town council proposing several staffing changes, including the hiring of a utilities director and combining her position of town clerk with town manager. Both positions would report directly to the mayor.
Due to complications from an accidental injury last week, Boutwell was forced to leave Tuesday night’s council meeting early, prior to discussion on the personnel proposals.
Council members expressed negative opinions about creating the combo town manager-clerk position and hiring a utilities director, especially if the individuals would not report to the council. Officially, they tabled the requests due to the mayor’s absence.
(article continues below photo)
“I’m sorry,” Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. told Howington in reference to her inequitably statements.
“We did not hire him (Prather) to do what he did because we hired him to be a city manager to actually be out in the field,” Gomez said. “He went over there and roughed up all of the employees at the shop and made them mad. So he came and sat in the office, and people griped that he did nothing for 30 hours a week.”
“Let me tell you that I have 118 hours today of unpaid compensation,” said Howington, who was hired at $24.55 per hour.
“I told you this, and I’m not ashamed to tell you again. Stop doing what you are not getting paid for,” Gomez replied. “I appreciate your heart and all…If you stop doing it, we are going to have to hire somebody to do it.”
“You are not going to go into the field,” he continued. “I want a city manager that is going to be in the field and be able to show me how to fix, because what Vernon (Prather) did was sit on his butt in there (the town hall offices)”.
“You’re holding this up. I’ve been here seven months, it was never a secret to anyone that I came home to be the town manager,” Howington said. She said when the town advertised for a town manager three years ago, she was leasing apartments in Pensacola. She said she read the job description and went back to school to obtain a required public administration degree so she could be town manager when the position opened again.
“I love being here,” she said of Century. “This is what I want to do when I grow up; I want to be here. I don’t understand the hesitancy.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Boat Registration Fees Increasing By 50%, But You Can Renew Now And Save
June 9, 2022
Boat registration fees in Escambia County will increase by half in a few weeks, but there’s time to renew now and save a little money.
In March, the Escambia County Commission approved an additional registration fee equal to 50% of what is currently charged by the state. The increase won’t be significant. For example, the fee will increase by $2.75 for vessels under 12 feet, $8.13 for a boat 12-16 feet, and $14.38 for 16-26 feet.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said boaters can renew their registration now for up to years and avoid the increase that goes into effect July 1.
Escambia County will use the increased revenue for its Marine Resources division for derelict vessel and debris renewal, cleanup of waterways and other projects that affect the health and accessibility of local marine, freshwater and coastal resources.
File photo.
CareerSource Escarosa Has Summer Jobs At $15 An Hour At Century Area Businesses For Youth 15-18
June 9, 2022
CareerSource Escarosa is currently accepting applications for a Summer Youth Employment Program for youth ages 15-18.
CareerSource Business Development Manager Darnell Sims said jobs are still available in the Century area, paying $15 per hour for up to 30 hours per week for the seven week program. The jobs are available with local private businesses and nonprofits in a variety of fields. Job readiness training with a job coach is provided prior to placement.
Applicants must been family income qualifications to participate in the program. Families that are below 200% of the federal poverty level qualify, as do those currently enrolled in certain public assistance programs, Sims said.
To download an eligibility form, click or tap here. The application can be delivered to any CareerSource Escarosa location, including 7995 North Century Boulevard (inside the Century Town Hall) Monday-Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. or 6913 North 9th Avenue in Pensacola from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
For more information, call (850) 607-8700.
Potential employers include drug stores and other retailers in Century, Century Town Hall and NorthEscambia.com.
Editor’s note: For more information on potential youth employment program needs at NorthEscambia.com, email news@NorthEscambia.com. Do not email eligibility forms to this address.
Dozens Receive Driver’s License Services In Century, Mobile Unit Returning Quarterly
June 9, 2022
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford was pleased with the turnout for the Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office in Century on Wednesday.
There were 46 people that took advantage of the available mobile services at an event that was a partnership between Lunsford and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse on North Century Boulevard.
There were 18 driver’s license or identification transactions and 22 registrations processed.
Lunsford said he hopes to have the FLOW mobile office back in Century on a quarterly basis.
FLOW is a stand-alone mobile office with technology to provide most motorists’ needs. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver’s license, obtain a replacement driver’s license, conversion or reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver’s license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration and apply, renew or replace disabled parking placards. Written and driving tests are not available from the FLOW unit.
Pictured: The Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office at the courthouse in Century on Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rain Becomes Likely By This Afternoon
June 9, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Rain Halts Scoreless Game Between Wahoos And Barons In Birmingham
June 9, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Birmingham Barons played to a scoreless tie through three innings on Wednesday before rain forced the suspension of play.
Wednesday’s game will pick up on Thursday at 4:30 in the top of the fourth inning, with a 7-inning game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended game.
Eury Pérez and Emilio Vargas traded zeroes through three innings, with only one hit for each team. Pérez struck out two batters and did not walk a batter, needing only 34 pitches to work 3.0 frames.
The Blue Wahoos lead the South Division by 3.5 games with 17 to play in the first half, pending other games throughout the league.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Thursday with a modified doubleheader.