Chance Of Showers And Storms Tonight
June 5, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
June 5, 2023
Inmate Ramesh Higgins recently assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Higgins is serving a 10 year sentence for a 2016 Saint Lucie County conviction for robbery with a gun, grand theft with firearm, grand theft of a firearm and armed burglary.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Florida Gas Prices Declined Again Last Week, AAA Says
June 5, 2023
Florida gas prices declined a nickel last week. The state average on Sunday was $3.36 per gallon, the lowest daily average price since late April.
In Escambia County, the average per gallon was $3.24 Sunday. A low of $3.15 in North Escambia was at a Highway 29 station in Cantonment, while Pensacola area prices bottomed out at $2.95 at the warehouse clubs.
“Pump prices have been under pressure during the past month, due to falling oil prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, oil prices could strengthen this week. Over the weekend, OPEC agreed on another round of oil production cuts. It’s unclear how much of an effect this will have on fuel prices, but if oil prices rise significantly, drivers would likely see higher prices at the pump.”
This is the latest in several rounds of production cuts. Last year, OPEC agreed to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day. In April, the cartel surprised the market by cutting an additional 1.16 million barrels per day. This caused a brief jump in oil prices, which cooled through May. OPEC hopes this additional 1 million b/d cut will send oil prices higher again.
Overnight, the U.S. price of oil traded at above $72 per barrel. That’s only about a dollar more than Friday’s closing price, and within the same range that oil prices have been in during the past month.
Blue Wahoos Fall to Shuckers In Road Trip Finale
June 5, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came up just shy in the final game of their 12-game road trip on Sunday evening, falling 6-5 to the Biloxi Shuckers.
A five-run seventh, capped by a Jackson Chourio three-run homer, proved to be the difference for the Shuckers as the Blue Wahoos were forced to settle for a series split and a 6-6 record in their two weeks away from Pensacola.
After a pregame rain delay of an hour and 16 minutes, the first five innings moved quickly. Pensacola managed only an infield single from J.D. Orr against Justin Jarvis (W, 6-2), and Jonathan Bermudez held the Shuckers hitless thanks to a pair of leaping catches from Griffin Conine – including a home run robbery of Jeferson Quero in the fourth inning.
Pensacola scratched a run across in the sixth thanks to a Nasim Nuñez walk and stolen base, followed by a Dane Myers RBI single, but the Shuckers answered back in their half of the inning. Wes Clarke ended the no-hit bid with a leadoff single and scored on a bases-loaded walk to tie the game 1-1.
Austin Roberts (L, 2-1), who coaxed an inning-ending double play to leave the bases full in the sixth, ran into trouble in the seventh. Felix Valerio hit a go-ahead two-run double before Chourio launched his three-run homer against Cristian Charle to give the Shuckers a 6-1 lead.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away with three runs in the eighth and another in the ninth against Abner Uribe (S, 5), but saw their comeback bid fall just short.
The Blue Wahoos lost a game in the South Division standings, and are now 5.0 games ahead of second-place Biloxi and Montgomery with 18 games to play in the first half.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos welcome the Montgomery Biscuits to Pensacola for a six-game series on Tuesday.
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Cantonment Crash
June 4, 2023
One person was airlifted to the hospital following a motorcycle crash Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
The motorcyclist lost control as they attempted to avoid debris in the roadway on Jacks Branch Road just off Muscogee Road about 3:40 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The rider was ejected from the motorcycle and went over the guardrail.
The rider was flown by helicopter to a Pensacola hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
The Cantonment, Beulah and Ensley Stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Here’s A Big List Of VBS Events Across The North Escambia Area This Summer
June 4, 2023
Vacation Bible School is a summertime tradition across the North Escambia area. A list of VBS events is below.
To submit your North Escambia area VBS, email news@northescambia.com, or click here for our contact form.
First Baptist Bratt VBS
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host Twists & Turns VBS through June 8 from 6-8:30 nightly for ages four through sixth grade. The church is located at 4570 Highway 4 in Bratt.
Cottage Hill Baptist Church Summer Jam
Cottage Hill Baptist Church Summer Jam is 9 a.m. until noon June 5-8. Open to all upcoming students grades K-4 with a separate Summer Jam for preteens.
First Baptist Church of Cantonment VBS
“Keepers of the Kingdom” Vacation Bible School will be held June 5-9 from 6:30 until 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment. Classes for all ages, including adults. Dinner will be served nightly. Register online.
Dogwood Park Baptist Church VBS
Dogwood Park Baptist Church “VBS Operation Arctic: Exploring the Coolest Book on the Planet” June 5-9 from 6:30 until 8 p.m. for ages K5-5th grade. Stories, crafts, games and more. The church is located at 3301 Highway 97, Molino.
Walnut Hill Baptist Church VBS
Walnut Hill Baptist Church “Stellar” VBS will be June 11-15 from 6-8:30 p.m. Ages 4 through 5th grade. Snacks served nightly.
Poplar Dell Baptist VBS
Popular Dell Baptist Church will host Vacation Bible School June 12-16 from 5:30 until 8 p.m. Classes for age 2 through adult. The theme will be “Keepers of the Kingdom, Standing Strong in Today’s Battle for Truth”.
Oak Grove Baptist Church VBS
Oak Grove Baptist Church “Twists & Turns” Vacation Bible School will be held June 12-16 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Dinner provided each night, petting zoo, games, Bible study and more.
Highland Baptist Church VBS
Highland Baptist Church “Stellar” Vacation Bible School will be June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m.
Charity Baptist Church
Charity Baptist Church will hold VBS June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m. for grades K-5 though 5th at 1675 West West Roberts Road in Cantonment.
Shiloh Free Will Baptist VBS
“Stellar” Vacation Bible School will be held June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m. at Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church. For grades pre-K through 5th grade. More info: Call (850) 860-4856.
Walnut Hill Mennonite Church VBS
Walnut Hill Mennonite Church will hold VBS for children 5 years old through ninth grade June 25 – 30 from 6-8:30 p.m. The church is located at 6840 Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church VBS
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church on Bogia Road will hold Keepers of the Kingdom Vacation Bible School July 9-14 from 4-7 p.m. Click here for online registration.
Our View: Dire Failures In Century’s Charter Review Process, But It Can Be Salvaged
June 4, 2023
There have been dire failures in the process to rewrite Century’s charter, but the process can be salvaged moving forward.
A recent charter review committee meeting was held “to review the final draft of the Proposed Charter”, according to a public notice. The town clerk said the notice was posted outside town hall and “shared around town” on May 1, and we have photographic proof that it was posted at least at town hall by May 2. But the media was notified until after our questions, two days prior to the meeting.
“To review the final draft of the Proposed Charter”, the advertised purpose of the meeting, was not the focus of the meeting. Most of the meeting centered around discussion of, an approval of, a July 29, 2022, “Final Report” from the charter review committee memorandum – not the draft charter. The public had no way of knowing that a nearly 10-month old document would be discussed, certainly not keeping with the spirit of Florida’s Sunshine Law. The draft of the charter was discussed only briefly and approved only at the insistence of the town clerk.
NorthEscambia.com has made numerous public records requests in reference to charter documents over the years. We’ve attended essentially every minute of every charter review meeting in person on or the phone over the past several years.
We were blindsided by this recent poor notice, not because we were left in dark, but because the citizens of Century were left in the dark as to what the charter committee was doing. Citizens deserve to know, and the town has a legal responsibility to make that happen.
Our records requests have been answered with various versions of the draft charter, while other versions were being read aloud from at council and charter review meetings. Less than a week before the meeting, we were provided yet again with the wrong version, but received a new version less than three days prior.
The “Final Report”, ultimately the focus of last week’s meeting, was never provided to us or the public. During the meeting, it was referred to as the “memorandum”, but the contents were never spoken aloud.
We questioned why during the meeting and were told it was the clerk’s fault for not providing the requested material.
In an unusual move just before the end of the meeting, NorthEscambia.com made a verbal public records request of each member of the charter review committee in possession of this ‘memorandum” and draft charter to provide us with a copy, citing Florida Statutes Chapter 119 “Public Records”. At that point, charter review committee chair Mary Bourgeois provided her physical copy, and we advised the other members that our request had been fulfilled.
The committee was meeting to approve the draft charter because last summer they finished what was their last meeting to date without ever formally approving their work product. The draft and the memo were forwarded to the town council by their consultant. The council sent it off to their attorney who returned a version that dropped a strong mayor and instead opted for a town manager without any power for a mayor.
The council rejected the attorney’s version, deciding to start over with a review. Somewhere along the way, someone decided to call the charter review committee back in to bless the final draft from last year.
To put it frankly, in our opinion, parts of the process have failed, but the end result is going to be the important part.
Let’s be super clear. Century’s current charter is a relic of days gone by, some 40 plus years of days gone by, and must be updated if the town is to survive.
The charter is the incorporation document for the town that outlines its powers and duties. After state law, the charter is the rule of the land in Century. The charter review committee was tasked with a rewrite, or updates, beginning meetings in 2019 with hopes of potentially making the ballot in 2020. The pandemic dashed those hopes.
After the pandemic, the charter review committee went back to regular meetings, but the town council was forced to cut the number of members due to lack of participation from 11 to six so they could have a quorum (majority) of members.
The town council’s work to review the charter section by section has made remarkable progress, thanks to their hard work and the groundwork of the charter review committee. Charter review members put countless hours into their draft not only in meetings but also in research.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to follow the progress. We expect the process henceforth to remain fully in the sunshine and abundantly clear to citizens.
The future of Century hangs in the balance.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny, Scattered Sunday Showers
June 4, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Otherwise, sSunny, with a high near 91. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming north in the evening.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 89.
New Look For International Paper With Rebrand, Updated Logo
June 4, 2023
International Paper recently announced as new logo as part of a company rebrand.
As IP celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, the company said the rebrand “highlights the resilience of International Paper, the sustainability of its mission and its commitment to creating what’s next”.
Pictured: International Paper Pensacola Mill employees wearing t-shirts with the new company brand. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Utilities Lifts Boil Water Notice Along Jacks Branch Road
June 4, 2023
Molino Utilities has lifted a boil water notice that was issued Thursday along Jacks Branch Road.
The advisory was in effect for the 2000 block of Jacks Branch Road south of Lavanda Lane.
The water in the area was turned off during a scheduled outage Thursday morning for a leak repair.