Showers Likely For Sunday
November 25, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
‘Armed and Dangerous’ Escambia County Homicide Suspect Arrested
November 25, 2023
An Escambia County homicide suspect described as “armed and dangerous” is no longer on the run.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that 36-year Darryl Jerome Walker has been arrested for homicide.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 12000 block of Meadson Road in reference to a shooting victim. Upon arrival, a 35-year-old female, later identified as Walker’s wife, was located with a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased.
Walker is believed to have shot his wife and then fled the scene.
Football Playoffs: Pensacola Catholic Wins Region 1-2S Over Florida High
November 25, 2023
Pensacola Catholic, the last remaining North Escambia area team in the playoffs defeated the Florida State University High School 17-10 Friday night in the Region 1-2S Championship game.
The No. 4 Crusaders faced No. 3 Florida High School at Mike Hickman Stadium in Tallahassee. Both teams entered the game with a 10-2 records.
Florida High had previously defeated Catholic in regionals four of the last five years.
Catholic travels to to face the Bradford Tornadoes next Friday night in the state semifinals.
After 300 Days, Escambia Animal Shelter’s Longest Resident Now Has A Home For The Holidays
November 25, 2023
Some good news to share this Thanksgiving holiday weekend…the longest resident of the Escambia County animal shelter has a home for the holidays.
Gibson had been in the shelter for 300 days before being adopted by his forever family, the Wingards.
“He’s adjusting very well, has eaten and drank, and is now tuckered out beside me on the couch snoring away. He has had no potty accidents and took a real long walk around our neighborhood. He’s such a sweet boy, and I am forever thankful to y’all for trusting us with him,” Gibson’s mom said of her “angel baby”.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Waterfront Rescue Serves 2,000 Thanksgiving Meals
November 23, 2023
Volunteeers at the Waterfront Rescue Mission served about 2,000 meals on Thanksgiving to those in need.
Over 100 volunteers helped out.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Tate Showband Members March In Macy’s Parade
November 23, 2023
Two Tate High School Showband of the South members marched in Thursday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Leslye Hardnack on the clarinet and Jax Hardnack on the Mellophone marched with the 2023 Macys Great American Marching Band.
Partly Sunny, About 60 For Friday
November 23, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Most Local Government Offices Closed Today Due To Thanksgiving Holiday
November 23, 2023
Most local government offices are closed Friday due to the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Escambia County
The following Escambia County Offices are closed Friday (with exceptions noted below):
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners - all departments
- West Florida Public Libraries – all locations
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Waste Services Administration
- ECAT administrative offices and customer service
Escambia County notes:
- ECAT buses will not run service Thursday, Nov. 23. Regular service will resume Friday, Nov. 24. ECAT customer service will re-open Friday, Nov. 24.
- The UWF campus and express trolleys will not run service Wednesday, Nov. 22, Thursday, Nov. 23 or Friday, Nov. 24. The express trolley will resume regular service Saturday, Nov. 25. The campus trolleys will resume service Monday, Nov. 27.
- The Animal Welfare and Adoption Center will be open Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26.
- The Perdido Landfill will be closed Thursday, Nov. 23. The landfill will reopen Friday, Nov. 24.
- West Florida Public Libraries will be open Saturday, Nov. 25.
Town of Century
- All Town of Century offices and services are closed Friday. There is no change to trash collection.
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority
- EAll residential sanitation, recycling, and yard trash collections, and all commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers that would normally be made on Thursday, Nov. 23, or Friday, Nov. 24 will be made one day later, on Friday, Nov. 24, or Saturday, Nov. 25, respectively. ECUA business offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Offices will reopen on Monday, November 27.
Former Flomaton Cop Arrested In Molino Gets 10 Years For Trafficking Meth
November 23, 2023
A former Flomaton Police Department lieutenant has been convicted of drug trafficking after an investigation involving law enforcement from two states and the DEA that culminated in Molino.
Lopez entered a straight up plea to one count of trafficking in methamphetamine 28 to 200 grams and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Lopez was sentenced by Judge Coleman Robinston to 10 years in state prison, incluing a seven year mandatory minimum on the drug trafficking charge. He will receive credit for 346 days time served while awaiting trial. He will also be responsible for $518 in court costs and a $5,000 fine.
Lopez faced a maximum of 30 years in state prison, plus fines totaling $105,000.
Lopez arranged a narcotics deal for methamphetamine from an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigator by phone and text messages. An arrest report states he arrived on December 7, 2020, at a predetermined location near the ECSO precinct in Molino and accepted the two ounces of methamphetamine from the undercover officer. He was then taken into custody by deputies and the SWAT team.
The cellphone used by Lopez to arrange the meth deal belonged to the Town of Flomaton, according to Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Health Jackson. As a result, Lopez was charged in Alabama for felony use of official position or office for personal gain.
Lopez was terminated from the Flomaton Police Department.
School District, Teachers Union Reach Salary Agreement
November 23, 2023
Escambia County Public Schools, the Escambia Education Association (EEA), and the Union of Escambia Education Staff Professionals have reached an agreement to improve salaries for teachers and Ed. Support employees for the 2023-2024 school year.
The agreement commits to a 3% raise for all teachers plus a performance payment and ESE Self Contained supplement. The Ed. Support employees will receive a 1% COLA and eligible employees will receive a step roll (2%) with the exception of the School Bus Operators. The School Bus Operator hourly rate of $16.14 per hour will be improved to $17.61. Other select employee groups will receive pay grade increases and two supplements were also added. Please visit www.escambiaschools.org/laborrelations for specific details.
Furthermore, the School Board and Superintendent extended a $1,000 Recruitment and Retention bonus to be paid in two $500 installments to the employees of both bargaining units. The first of these payments is scheduled to be deposited on the last day of school prior to the Winter Holiday break.
Darzell Warren, EEA President, and Nicole Lindsey, UESP President provided the following statement: “We are thrilled to announce that after extensive negotiations and dedicated efforts, the Escambia Education Association and the Union of Escambia ESP have reached a favorable settlement with Escambia Public Schools. This collaborative achievement is the result of hours of hard work moving to strike a deal that will benefit our dedicated teachers and support staff. While we celebrate this settlement, we acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. Our commitment to excellence and the well-being of our members drives us to continue this collaborative effort. By doing so, we aspire not only to achieve success within our own school district but also to set a standard that other school districts can look to as a model of excellence. We extend our gratitude to all parties involved in the negotiation process and express our appreciation for their unwavering commitment to the betterment of education in Escambia County. Together, we will continue to strive for success and work towards creating a positive and thriving educational environment that benefits both educators and students alike.”
Over the next few weeks, the unions will be advertising and delivering ratification packets and ballots to each work site. “It is important to make all of our employees aware of the ratification process. Union members and non-members should be informed and vote in order to properly request for School Board approval,” stated Caroline Gray, ECPS Chief Negotiator. “At this time, voting will likely take place the week of December 11, and Board Approval will be the following Monday, December 18. This is something we look forward to having accomplished as we move into 2024.”