Veterans Day Forecast Calls For A Partchy Fog
November 11, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecas:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 66. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: Showers. High near 63. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday Night: Showers. Low around 55. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Sheriff Confirms Gun Discharged During Atmore High School Basketball Game
November 11, 2023
An investigation is continuing after a gun was discharged Thursday night during a high school basketball game in Atmore.
“On November 9, 2023, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Deputies along with Atmore Police officers responded to a report of a weapon being discharged at Escambia County High School inside the gym during a basketball game,” Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “A preliminary investigation led to the determination that a small group of individuals entered the gym area and that one of the young men was concealing a handgun in his waistband. The firearm fell from the suspects pants and hit the ground causing the gun to discharge. Two people in the group later showed up at area hospitals for treatment for what appeared to be wounds from bullet fragments. This is still an ongoing investigation and will be updated in the future as arrests are made.”
“This is an isolated incident and there doesn’t appear to be any intent to shoot or harm anyone that we have discovered,” Jackson continued.
No further details have been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
High School Playoff Scoreboard
November 10, 2023
Here are Friday night playoff scores from around the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
Region 1-1R
Region 1-3S
- Escambia – 15, Pine Forest – 7
Region 1-2S
- Penacola Chatolic 41, Suwannee 6
ALABAMA
Drive-By Shooting Reported On North Highway 99 In Bratt
November 10, 2023
A reported drive-by shooting in Bratt Friday afternoon is under investigation.
The victims were on North Highway 99 near Bradberry Road, just south of the state line, when someone in a black vehicle with a spoiler allegedly fired at them, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
There were no injuries reported, and the suspect vehicle fled the area headed in the direction of Old Bratt Road at the state line.
The incident happened about 2:36 p.m.
Additional details were not immediately available.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Moving Forward With Gomez’s Recommendation To Hire Town Manager
November 10, 2023
The Town of Century is moving forward with negotiations to hire a town manager.
Howard Brown, Jr., principal of the Local Government Consulting Group of West Palm Beach was one of four that responded to the town’s request for proposals for a town manager months ago.
The town accepted the proposals after newly appointed Century interim Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. told the council that he would need help to properly run the town.
“I know that I am in over my head, but I don’t want the town of Century to suffer due to my lack of experience in this position,” Gomez told his town council a few minutes after he was sworn in in late August.
Howard’s proposal states that he “has served as a City Manager with a national perspective, having successfully managed municipalities across the country.” and “My municipal government experience spans a diverse range of communities, including urban, rural, and suburban areas,”. His experience included village manager in Indiantown, Florida, city manager in Bell, CA, Muscokogee, OK, and of Opa-Locka, FL.
Brown told the council that he is a native of Escambia County, Florida.
Months ago, Gomez asked the town council to consider contracting with consultant Robert Thompson of DeFuniak Springs, who he said was recommended by the Florida League of Cities. However, Thompson later accepted a job in Arkansas.
Gomez introduced Brown during a council meeting Tuesday night, telling the council that it was critical that quick action be taken to bring a town manager on board. He then pushed for Thursday night’s fast special meeting, less than 48 hours later, in order to hire Brown.
Florida’s Sunshine Law states “special meetings should have no less than 24 and preferably at least 72 hours reasonable notice to the public”. Otherwise, “except in the case of emergency or special meetings, notice should be provided at least 7 days prior to the meeting”.
The town was set to post the notice at town hall and on the town’s website.
The Sunshine Law also states, “The use of press releases, faxes, e-mails, and/or phone calls to the local news media is highly effective in providing notice of upcoming meetings.” The town on Wednesday provided NorthEscambia.com with a notice concerning a street closure upcoming on Saturday, but did not provide any notice of the special council meeting.
During Thursday’s special meeting, the council gave no consideration to any of the other applicants.
The council voted to allow Gomez and the town attorney to enter into negotiations with Brown.
Volunteers Needed For Escambia County Extension Council
November 9, 2023
Escambia County is seeking residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Extension Council for zones 4, 5, 7 and 8.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Extension Council, who meet the requirements noted in the job description below, are asked to submit an information sheet and letter indicating their desire to serve by 5 p.m., Friday, November 26. Info sheets and letters should be submitted via email to shendrix@ufl.edu or by mail to:
Susan Hendrix
3740 Stefani Road
Cantonment, FL. 32533
The zones are as follows:
Zone 4 — South side of Gibson Road at Highway 97 to north side of Molino Road
Zone 5 — North side of Quintette Road to south side of Molino Road
Zone 7 — Nine Mile Road to Kingsfield Road
Zone 8 — At Large
Ransom Middle School Placed On Lockdown Due to ‘Rumored Social Media Threats’
November 9, 2023
Ransom Middle School was placed on a precautionary lockdown Thursday morning.
“We are aware of the “rumored social media” threats made to area middle schools. These rumored threats were determined not to be credible,” the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
The ECSO confirmed that no guns were found at any school.
Building Chance Of Rain Friday Afternooon Into Friday Evening
November 9, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast
Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Veterans Day: Showers likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Local Unemployment Rate Up Slightly
November 9, 2023
Gov. Ron DeSantis said recently that Pensacola area’s labor force increased by 7,336 in September 2023, a 3.1 percent increase over the year. The Pensacola area’s private sector employment increased by 2,800 jobs, an increase of 1.7 percent over the year in September 2023.
The Escambia County unemployment rate increased slightly from 3.1% to 3.2%, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
TThe Pensacola area unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in September 2023, up 0.4 percentage point from 2.7 percent from one year ago in September 2022. The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were education and health services, increasing by 2,500 jobs; and leisure and hospitality, increasing by 1,400 jobs.
The Pensacola area unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in September 2023, up 0.4 percentage point from 2.7 percent from one year ago in September 2022. The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were education and health services, increasing by 2,500 jobs; and leisure and hospitality, increasing by 1,400 jobs.
County Seeks Volunteers for Contractor Competency Board
November 8, 2023
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to serve on the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board (CCB). Two applicants will be appointed for service beginning in January 2024.
The duties of the CCB include accepting contractor applications, administering contractor examinations, and issuing and recording Certificates of Competency and renewals; making an annual report; investigating complaints against contractors; and presiding over contractor disciplinary proceedings. CCB members serve a three-year term and meet the first Wednesday morning of every month for approximately two hours. Members receive $50 per meeting as compensation for their services.
CCB members are appointed from certain representative segments of citizens and professions, including contractors, design professionals, business persons, and lay persons. The Board of County Commissioners is currently seeking a lay consumer member.
A lay consumer member shall not at the time of appointment be, and shall have never previously been, a member or practitioner of a profession regulated by the board or a member of any closely related profession. The term “member of any closely related profession” includes but is not limited to carpenters, painters, certified building inspectors, commercial construction supervisors, interior designers/decorators, fencers, landscapers, building material suppliers, and construction quality managers.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the CCB are asked to submit a resume and cover letter to Jennifer Hampton, Director’s Aide, Building Services Department, 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola, Florida, 32505 or jahampton@myescambia.com by the close of business on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.