Fireworks Sales Brisk At Stand Near State Line
July 3, 2022
Business has been brisk this year at an Alabama roadside fireworks store on Highway 31 west of Atmore, less than a mile north of Florida line.
Just three years ago, it was illegal to set off many types of fireworks in Florida. But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law that allows consumer fireworks of most any kind to be used on July 4, December 31 and January 1. Not just the sparklers, noisemakers and the like Floridians had been restricted to for years, but real fireworks that explode or shoot into the sky.
“Class ‘C’ consumer fireworks are legal for the Fourth,” Fireworks Distributors owner Greg Odom said. “That means anything in the store is legal in Florida for the Fourth of July.”
The law signed by DeSantis does not supersede any local regulations governing fireworks.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Food Safety Tips For A Happier Fourth Of July
July 3, 2022
Due to a variety of factors, including warmer temperatures, foodborne illness increases in summer. Stay healthy and safe during warmer months by following these food safety recommendations from the USDA:
When bringing food to a picnic or cookout:
- Use an insulated cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs. Frozen food can also be used as a cold source.
- Foods that need to be kept cold include raw meat, poultry, and seafood; deli and luncheon meats or sandwiches; summer salads (tuna, chicken, egg, pasta, or seafood); cut up fruit and vegetables; and perishable dairy products.
- A full cooler will maintain its cold temperature longer than a partially filled one. When using a cooler, keep it out of the direct sun by placing it in the shade or shelter.
- Avoid opening the cooler repeatedly so that your food stays colder longer.
When cooking on the grill:
- Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat items like vegetables or bread.
- Keep perishable food cold until it is ready to cook.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure meat and poultry are cooked thoroughly to their safe minimum internal temperatures
- Beef, Pork, Lamb, & Veal (steaks, roasts, and chops): 145 °F with a 3 minute rest time
- Ground meats: 160 °F
- Whole poultry, poultry breasts, & ground poultry: 165 °F
- Always use a fresh, clean plate and tongs for serving cooked food. Never reuse items that touched raw meat or poultry to serve the food once it is cooked.
When serving food outdoors:
- Perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours. In hot weather (above 90 °F), food should NEVER sit out for more than one hour.
- Serve cold food in small portions, and keep the rest in the cooler. After cooking meat and poultry on the grill, keep it hot until served – at 140 °F or warmer.
- Keep hot food hot by setting it to the side of the grill rack, not directly over the coals where they could overcook.
ECSO Seeks Missing, Endangers Girl, Age 7, Who May Be With Her Father
July 3, 2022
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said late Saturday night that Tonisha Knight has been safely located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered child last seen on Wednesday, June 29.
Tonisha Knight, 7, was last seen in the 6900 block of Pensacola Boulevard, the ECSO said in information released Saturday night. There was no known clothing description.
Deputies said Tonisha may be in the company of her father, 56-year old Leslie Toney Knight.
Those Daily Scattered Showers And Storms Continue
July 3, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms i nth evening. Patchy fog after 4am. Low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Independence Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wahoos Split Twin Bill With Montgomery
July 3, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their doubleheader against the Montgomery Biscuits on Saturday night, winning the first game 2-0 but falling in the nightcap 5-4.
In game one, Jeff Lindgren (W, 3-1) pitched a complete game seven-inning shutout while allowing only four hits. It was the first complete game of Lindgren’s professional career, and the first solo shutout for a Pensacola pitcher since 2017.
Pensacola’s offense didn’t do much against John Doxakis (L, 0-2), but got back-to-back RBI singles with two outs in the third from Troy Johnston and J.D. Osborne to provide all the offense Lindgren would need.
Game one was played in a brisk 1 hour and 36 minutes, the fastest game for the Blue Wahoos of any length since a 1:32 seven-inning game in Mississippi on August 19, 2019 and their fastest at Blue Wahoos Stadium since a rain-shortened six-inning game in 1:34 on April 14, 2014.
In game two, Zach King (L, 0-1) was greeted rudely in his Double-A debut by former Blue Wahoos outfielder Kameron Misner, who blasted a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Biscuits ahead 2-0. The Blue Wahoos answered back in the bottom of the first with four runs, highlighted by RBI singles from Johnston and Paul McIntosh, but the 4-2 lead did not last long.
Montgomery began the third inning by reaching five straight times against King, with RBI singles from Roberto Alvarez and Jacson McGowan causing an early exit for the young lefty and putting the Biscuits ahead 5-4. Zack Leban, Eli Villalobos and Colton Hock provided 5.0 scoreless innings of relief, but Chris Gau (W, 3-0) and Justin Sterner (S, 2) were just as effective in relief for the Biscuits as they salvaged the split.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday night.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Century Celebrates The Fourth With Fireworks, Food Trucks (With Photo Gallery)
July 2, 2022
Fireworks lit up the night Friday with an early Fourth of July celebration in Century.
Hundreds of people gathered in Showalter Park, Anthony Pleasant Park and the surrounding neighborhoods Friday night. Several food trucks offered everything from po’boys to loaded fries and ice cream, while vendors offered their wares before fireworks lit up the night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Make ‘Ocean Layer Jars’ This Month At Your Local Library
July 2, 2022
All ages are invited to make “Ocean Layer Jars” with STEAM at West Florida Public Libraries this month.
Participants can explore a summer of oceanography by building their own ocean layer model at the library.
Here is the schedule:
Saturday, July 2, 1 – 3 p.m. – Century Library
Tuesday, July 5, 3 – 4 p.m. – Westside Library
Tuesday, July 12, 3 – 4 p.m. – Tryon Library
Thursday, July 14, 3 – 4 p.m. – Southwest Library
Saturday, July 16, 1 – 3 p.m. – Genealogy Library
Thursday, July 21, 3 – 4 p.m. – Molino Library
Thursday, July 28, 3 – 4 p.m. – Pensacola Library
Stock photo for illustrative purposes only.
Wet Weather Patterns Continues Through The Weekend
July 2, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Independence Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
FWC’s Operation Dry Water Targets Boating Under The Influence This Weekend
July 2, 2022
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement will be promoting awareness and conducting heightened enforcement targeting boating under the influence as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign this weekend.
FWC officers will be enforcing Florida’s boating under the influence laws and educating boaters about safe boating practices, which includes boating sober.
The Fourth of July holiday is one of the busiest boating holidays all over the U.S., including here in Florida. In 2021, the month of July had two fatalities and 53 people injured due to BUI related boating accidents.
Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to serious injuries and consequences. In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or higher — the same as it is to operate a vehicle.
“Boating while impaired endangers not only yourself, but your family, friends and other boaters on the water,” said Maj. Rob Beaton, FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section leader. “FWC officers will be actively patrolling statewide looking for impaired boaters. Our mission is to ensure the safety of all those enjoying the state’s vast and diverse waterways. That is why the FWC is joining other states and agencies across the country to do our part in keeping boaters safe and preventing accidents related to boating under the influence.”
Alcohol is a leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths, and a major contributor to accidents. Last year in Florida, 20% of fatal accidents were related to alcohol or drug use.
If a person decides to have alcohol on their vessel, FWC said it is important to designate an operator who isn’t drinking alcohol and will remain sober to ensure everyone gets home safely. The FWC encourages boaters to enjoy the boating season to its full extent by boating sober, wearing a life jacket and taking a boating education course.
A Batman Backpack, Gun And 752 Grams Of Meth: ECSO Says Man Facing Multiple Charges
July 2, 2022
An Escambia County man is facing multiple felonies after allegedly threatening a woman and fleeing with a Batman backpack with a stolen gun and drugs.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 35-year old Courtney Jamal Johnson became involved in an altercation with a woman at home on Kyle Drive, pulled out a handgun and threatened to hit her. He told her that if he actually had bullets in the gun, he would shoot her, deputies said. The woman fled to a neighbor’s house and called for help.
Johnson fled the scene with two backpacks, discarding them along the way. Deputies recovered both, one of which was a Batman backpack that contained a stolen firearm. Deputies also reported recovering 752 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, scales, plastic bags, and four Mason jars “full” of marijuana.
Johnson was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $91,000.