Reel In Florida Fun On License-Free Fishing Weekends In June
June 2, 2023
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites Florida residents and visitors to go fishing during two license-free weekends: June 3-4 for saltwater and June 10-11 for freshwater.
License-free fishing weekends offer a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and experience the many fishing opportunities the Fishing Capital of the World has to offer. The FWC encourages everyone to take advantage of these weekends to spend time enjoying the beautiful Florida waters.
“Fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and experience Florida’s abundant fishing opportunities,” said Roger Young, FWC’s executive director. “License-free fishing weekends allow Floridians and visitors to get outdoors, connect with nature and create lasting memories with family and friends.”
During the license-free weekends, all bag limits, size limits and fishing regulations still apply. Anglers must also follow all other fishing rules, such as gear restrictions, seasons and closures. To help ensure a fun and safe fishing experience, the FWC encourages all anglers to review the regulations before heading out on the water.
Mostly Sunny Into The Weekend
June 2, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Escambia Man Gets 10 Life Sentences For Sexually Abusing Child
June 2, 2023
An Escambia County man received 10 consecutive life sentences for sexually abusing a child over a period of several years.
Larry Steve Snipes was arrested in August 2020 for sexually abusing a child between July 2017 and April 2020. Prosecutors said he would drug the child before the assaults.
Snipes was sentenced on four counts of sexual battery of victim under 12, four counts of sexual battery of a victim under 18, one count of cruelty toward a child, one count of obscene material distribution to a minor and four counts of lewd or lascivious battery.
Be ‘One Week Ready’ During Hurricane Season
June 2, 2023
Are you ready to be self-sufficient for a week following a hurricane?
Escambia County is urging residents to remain prepared before, during and after a storm during hurricane season by stocking up on seven days worth of supplies, otherwise known as being, “One Week Ready”.
Hurricane season began Thursday and continues until November 30.
Residents are encouraged to follow these steps in preparation for this hurricane season:
- Know Your Zone. Familiarize yourself with evacuation zones and routes. In 2018, Emergency Management released a “Know Your Zone“ website for residents to look up their evacuation zone. You can look up your address to see if your home is in evacuation zone A, B, C, D, E or none as well as view the impacts of storm surge in your neighborhood. Knowing your evacuation zone is one of the most important hurricane preparation steps you can take. It is very important that you look up your evacuation zone each year to find out if and when you should evacuate, even if you have looked it up in the past, as zones can change. Most importantly, don’t rely on previous storm experience.
- Know Your Home. Is your home prepared for a hurricane? Your safest place may be at home instead of a shelter. Pack an emergency supply kit. It should contain one week of clothes, nonperishable food, pet food, water and a battery operated radio and flashlight with extra batteries. Also include a first-aid kit with items such as gloves, adhesive bandages and prescription medications. Find a printable disaster shopping list here. Please remember “Get One Week Ready.” Citizens should be equipped to provide for themselves, their families and their pets for at least one week following a major hurricane. During the 2023 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, stock up on qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax.
- Know Your Plan. Plan how you will assemble your family and loved ones, and anticipate where you will go for different situations. Get together with your family and agree on the best ways to contact one another in an emergency. Inform out-of-town family and friends of your emergency plans and stay in contact. Plan your evacuation route and destination before an evacuation order is issued. Anticipate where you and your family will go for different situations. Be sure to make preparations for pets and family members who made need special accommodations, such as a wheelchair ramp, oxygen tank or specific medications.
- Stay Informed. Know where to go for trusted sources of information during a hurricane event. Sign up for alerts from your local emergency management office so notifications, including evacuation orders, go directly to your phone and email. Monitor local news for hurricane watches and warnings in your area and follow directions of local officials. Make sure you have a battery-operated or hand-crank radio available should the power go out. Review and sign up for the different types of information/notifications available directly from Escambia County. Also, ensure your iPhone or Android device has critical alert notifications enabled. Find out how to enable critical alerts on your phone here.
Joseph Adam ‘Joe’ Richards
June 2, 2023
Joseph Adam “Joe” Richards passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023, in Pensacola, FL. He was born September 30, 1938, in New Orleans, LA. Joe worked in Retail Management and retired from Sears. Joe was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church. He loved his family, hunting and fishing.
Joe is preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Margaret Mary Constantine Richards; parents, Herman and Gertrude Richards; brother, Herman Richard, Jr.; and sister, Ruby Richards Watson.
Joe is survived by his sons, Joseph Richards, Jr., Mike Richards (Rochelle), Steve Richards (Tonya) and Scott Richards (Leslie); grandchildren, whom were his pride and joy, Hannah, Emily, and Sophie; sister, Mary Ann
Richards Guidry; many nieces and nephews.
Services are pending at this time.
Blue Wahoos Rally Late For Win Over Shuckers
June 2, 2023
For the second night in a row, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame a late deficit to beat the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday. Trailing three different times, the Blue Wahoos scored eight runs in the final four innings on their way to a thrilling 8-6 win.
After tying the game twice on home runs from Dane Myers and Norel González in the sixth and seventh innings, the Blue Wahoos took the lead for good with a three-run eighth. Will Banfield delivered the eventual game-winning hit, a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the inning.
Pensacola starter Evan Fitterer labored through 4.0 innings, allowing nine hits and a walk, but only allowed three runs. Tristen Lutz and Ethan Murray went deep in the second inning to give the Shuckers an early 3-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos managed just a single over their first five innings against Biloxi starter Christian Mejias, but broke through in the sixth when Myers launched a game-tying three-run homer off the batter’s eye in center field.
Biloxi quickly responded to claim the lead back in the bottom of the sixth, as Carlos Rodriguez scored on an Isaac Collins double play grounder. Norel González tied the game back up in the seventh at 4-4 with a solo homer, his second in as many nights, but once again Biloxi pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh on a Lutz RBI single against Cristian Charle (W, 2-1) to claim a 5-4 edge.
The Blue Wahoos got a pair of baserunners in the eighth as Zach Vennaro (L, 1-2) issued walks to Nasim Nuñez and Victor Mesa Jr. José Devers tied the game with a two-out RBI double, and Banfield delivered the big blow with his two-run single.
Troy Johnston added some insurance with an RBI single in the ninth, and Zack Leban (S, 1) struck out the side in order in the ninth to lock down the save.
The Blue Wahoos increased their lead in the South Division to 6.0 games ahead of second-place Biloxi and Montgomery with 21 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday.
written by Erik Bremer
Tropical Depression Forms Over Gulf Of Mexico, Forecast To Become Tropical Storm
June 1, 2023
THIS IS AN OUTDATED STORY. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
A tropical depression has formed over the northern Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola and is forecast to become a short-lived tropical storm in the coming hours.
Recent satellite wind data, along with buoy and ship observations indicate the area of low pressure over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico has a broad but well-defined circulation with maximum sustained winds of about 35 mph. Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with the low is also showing signs of organization.
Environmental conditions remain marginally favorable for additional development.
The system is likely to meander over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico through tonight but begin a slow southward motion on Friday. By this weekend, environmental conditions are forecast to become unfavorable for additional development as the system continues moving southward, likely remaining offshore over the Gulf of Mexico.
Regardless of development, the area is expected to bring a chance of rain to the Escambia County area, along with a high risk of rip currents.
Lane Closures To Last Another Month On $4.7 Million Highway 29 Project In Century
June 1, 2023
Work on a $4.7 million Highway 29 construction in Century remains delayed weeks discovery of an unmapped water pipe that must be relocated.
Early this year, two northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane were closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street with traffic shifted into just two lanes. The Florida Department of Transportation said a normal four-lane traffic pattern would return by the end of April, but that was put on hold until about the end of May. And now, FDOT says the target date has been pushed out to the end of June to reopen all four lanes.
The total project has an anticipated completion target date in January 2024. FDOT will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
What the Florida Department of Transportation termed an “unknown Town of Century water main” was discovered under the roadway during excavation. Century’s engineer said the problem pipe is a 2-inch water main, and there were no service disruptions anticipated during the work.
Pictured: Highway 29 traffic in Century remains at two lanes in a construction zone. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Had Psychedelic Mushrooms During Traffic Stop, ECSO Says
June 1, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a Cantonment man has psychedelic mushrooms in his possession during a traffic stop.
Sheldon Lee Blackburn, 43, was charged with possession of a Schedule I narcotic (psilocybin), possession of drug paraphernalia and knowingly driving with a suspended license.
A deputy stopped Blackburn for an expired tag at a convenience store on Highway 29 at West Roberts Road. K-9 Ray was deployed and positively alerted on the vehicle.
A backpack containing 9.9 grams of mushrooms that field tested positive for psilocybin was found in the vehicle, according to an arrest report. Deputies said a digital scale with presumptively positive cocaine residue was also in the vehicle; the powder was submitted for further testing.
Blackburn told deputies he does not use psychedelic mushrooms “and that he doesn’t even eat mushrooms on his pizza”, the ECSO report states. He said the backpack and mushrooms were not his and that the backpack had been used by his roommate.
Blackburn remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $4,500.
Slight Chance Of Rain Tonight
June 1, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.