Several Inches Of Rain Possible For Today
February 21, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Wildfire Burns Seven Acres On Barrineau Park Road
February 21, 2017
A Monday afternoon wildfire burned about seven acres in the Molino area.
Four tractor/plow units from the Florida Forest Service responded to a wildfire in the area of Barrineau Park Road and 95A near Molino.
At 4:20 p.m. the fire was about seven acres with no structures threatened. By nightfall, the fire was 95 percent contained, with smoke and small flames lingering overnight.
The Cantonment, Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were also on scene.
Pictured: Florida Forest Service crews work into the dark on a seven acre fire on Barrineau Park Road.
Good Day! It’s National FFA Week
February 21, 2017
It’s National FFA Week in the Escambia County School District, according to a proclamation issued by the Escambia County School Board.
“Escambia County FFA and the agriscience programs in the Escambia County School District are tremendously successful and extremely valuable in improving the quality of life for Escambia citizens,” the proclamation stated.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Change To Minor Party Voter Registrations
February 21, 2017
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office recently received notice the registration status of the Independent Party of Florida (INT) has been canceled.
As a result, local elections officials were required to change the party affiliation of any voter registered in the Independent Party of Florida (INT) to No Party Affiliation (NPA). New voter information cards reflecting the change are being mailed to all impacted voters.
Voters can choose to remain registered as No Party Affiliation, or may choose to register with one of the ten political parties currently active and recognized by the Division of Elections, a list of which can be accessed at http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/candidates-committees/political-parties/ or at EscambiaVotes.com. A party change can be made using a Florida Voter Registration Application or by submitting a signed, written notice to a voter registration official.
Tate Wrestling Team Places Third At Districts, Heads To Regionals
February 21, 2017
The Tate High School wrestling team placed third in the 2A District 1 competition held in Milton. Eight Aggie wrestlers placed and will advance to the regional competition in Tallahassee February 24-25.
Jacob Cochran — 106 pounds, 1st place
Noah Kryfka — 113 pounds, 4th place
Alex Porter — 120 pounds, 1st place
Matthew Blalock — 126 pounds, 2nd place
Kendall Townley — 138 pounds, 1st place
Juan Alvarez — 152 pounds, 2nd place
Jacob Neales — 195 pounds, 4th place
Jacob Nowling — 220 pounds, 3rd place
Pictured: (front L-R) Coach Reggie Allen, Kendall Townley, Jacob Cochran, Alex Porter, Asst. Coach Gavin McAnally, (back, L-R) Jacob Neales, Jacob Nowling, Noah Kryfka, Matthew Blalock and Juan Alvarez. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Attorney To Seek First Degree Murder Indictment Against Rice
February 21, 2017
State Attorney Bill Eddings said Monday that he intends to move forward on the prosecution of Mary Rice for her part in the shooting death of Kayla Crocker during a robbery home invasion February 6 in Beulah.
The case is expected to go before a grand jury within the next 30 days with the state intends to seek an indictment against Rice for first degree murder.
She also faces two counts of accessory after the fact in the double homicide at a Milton hotel. Alicia Ann Greer and Jacqueline Jeanette Moore were found shot to death in the Emerald Sands Inn.
Rice also faces a capital murder charge from Baldwin County for the murder of Peggy Broz.
“Additional investigation has indicated that there is sufficient evidence to move forward on the Escambia County prosecution at this time. This decision was made after discussing this matter with Robert Wilters, District Attorney for Baldwin County Alabama. Any decision regarding charges that Rice may face in Alabama will be made by that office,” Eddins said.
Rice was arrested after surrendering peacefully at Georgia hotel. She was an accused accomplice of quadruple murder suspect William “Billy” Boyette, who took his own life in Georgia rather than surrendering to authorities.
JV Aggies Top Pace; Monroe Academy Spoils Northview Opener
February 21, 2017
Tate 4 Pace 2 (JV)
The JV Tate Aggies topped Pace 4-2 in their season opener Monday. The JV Aggies will host Milton at 7:30 Tuesday night.
Monroe Academy 11 Northview 0
The Northview Chiefs lost 11-0 on the road at Monroe Academy in Monroeville, AL, Monday.
Monroe Academy took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. After scoring two runs in the the second, Monroe Academy added five runs in the third inning and three more in fourth.
John Chivington, Chandler Lowery and Bailey Wilson each one hit for the Northview Chiefs during their season opener. The Chiefs will host Central Tuesday afternoon – JV at 4:00 followed by varsity at 6:30.
NASA Scientist Confirms Fireball, Boom Was Likely Meteorite
February 20, 2017
A NASA scientist has confirmed the source of a bright light and booms across the North Escambia area about 9:15 Saturday night was likely a meteorite dropper at least the size of a basketball.
“Took a look at the eyewitness reports – there is a lot of scatter, but I was able to use a software tool developed by a colleague to derive a ground track. The fireball first appeared to the NE of Mobile and moved westerly at about 56,000 miles per hour. The best reports indicate that it broke apart above U.S. 43 north of Mobile, and the reports of sound indicate it probably penetrated fairly low into the atmosphere before fragmenting, perhaps as low as 14 miles altitude,” Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office located in Huntsville, AL, wrote in a Facebook post.
The object’s average brightness was about that of the full moon, with reports of it being seen as far away as extreme North Alabama and Arkansas.
“A search of the Doppler weather radar in the area may be helpful in determining if there were meteoritic particles falling to the ground,” he said.
NorthEscambia.com received reports of distant “shooting start” sightings from Saturday night Panama City to Pensacola, and more fireball-like descriptions from readers either side of a line from Bay Minette to Atmore to Bratt to Flomaton to Brewton. Many of those residents also reported a boom or explosion that rattle windows and shook their homes.
Pictured: A green glow that was reported along with the meteorite Saturday night as seen from Godwin Lane in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kelly Senft, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Closures For President’s Day
February 20, 2017
Below is a listing of Escambia County offices and departments closed Monday, Feb. 20 for Presidents Day. Normal operations resume Tuesday, Feb. 21.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Area Transit administrative offices
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office (Clerk’s Finance, Official Records and Clerk to the Board offices)
- Escambia County Animal Shelter
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
Exceptions:
- ECAT buses will run on a modified holiday service every two hours. University of West Florida Trolleys will run regular weekday service. Route 59A and 64 Beach Jumper will have no service. Bus route departures will be as follows:
-
- Route 58: Last bus departs downtown at 3:30 p.m.
- Routes 2, 32, 50 and 55: Last bus departs ECAT at 4 p.m.
- Route 59 Express: Last bus departs Naval Air Technical Training Center at 5:15 p.m.
- Route 60 Century: Will run weekday service, departs ECAT at 5 p.m.
- The Perdido Landfill will be open for normal business hours.
- The M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Building – Juvenile, Archives & Records and Century Courthouse will be open for normal business hours.
- Animal Control will be responding to emergency calls only.
Florida House Seeks Online Registry For Animal Abusers
February 20, 2017
Names and mug shots of individuals convicted of animal abuse would have their names published online by the state, under a proposal filed Friday in the Florida House.
The measure, sponsored by Spring Hill Republican Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, would require the Department of Law Enforcement to post in an online registry information about people convicted of felony animal cruelty, animal fighting or sexual activities involving animals.
Each individual’s information would remain on the site for two years, unless they are convicted of another instance of animal abuse. The names would be kept on the site for five years for any secondary conviction of animal abuse.
The proposal would also require the Florida Department of State to send letters to breeders’ associations urging members not to provide animals to people on the list. The measure also includes sanctions for pet dealers that sell to individuals on the registry. Pet dealers would face a second-degree misdemeanor for selling to an individual on the list. The charge would be increased to a first-degree misdemeanor on the second sale, and a third conviction would net the pet dealer three days in jail along with a $2,500 fine.
by The News Service of Florida