Sunny, Middle 80’s Today
May 1, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Wednesday: Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Four Years Since Escambia Jail Explosion Killed 2, Injured 184
May 1, 2018
Four years ago today, Escambia County residents woke to the news that there has been an explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility on West Leonard Street.
Two people — Robert Earl Simmons, age 54 of Railroad Street in McDavid and David Paul Weinstein, age 45 — were killed in the explosion. Both men were found dead surrounded by debris in the same part of the jail.
There were 184 reported injuries, including correctional officers and inmates. About 600 inmates were inside when the explosion that was caused by a gas leak during the historic floods in April 2014.
Now, plans are moving forward for a new jail at the corner of Pace Boulevard and Fairfield Drive; it is expected to take about 18 months to complete. The facility damaged in the explosion will be demolished as early as October.
Pictured; The first media published photos from scene of the April 30, 2014, explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility on West Leonard Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Students Take Part In Bratt DNow Weekend
May 1, 2018
The First Baptist Church of Bratt held a Dnow weekend for dozens of students.
DNow is a weekend retreat for youth who participated in a weekend of Bible study, praise and worship and recreation. Over 60 youth and college and career students took part in the event.
Divided into five teams, the students also performed mission projects as a community service.
Have news from your church? Email news@NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Molino Park Students Win DEP Earth Day Poster Contest
May 1, 2018
Three Molino Park Elementary School students were Escambia County winners of the 2018 Earth Day Poster Contest sponsored by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Winners were:
- First Place – Mikenna Mattheiss
- Second Place – Austin Jackson
- Third Place – Aryanna Smith
“These artists did a fantastic job of capturing so many ways we can protect our environment. It is reassuring to see that Florida’s students are learning so much about protecting our environment. We were excited to see over 100 poster submissions come in for the contest,” said DEP’s Northwest District Director Shawn Hamilton.
The posters were judged on how well they portrayed an Earth Day message, artistic merit, originality and neatness.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Arrested In Hit And Run Crash That Injured Teen Bicyclist
May 1, 2018
UPDATE: Sabrina Lynell Slater was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol Tuesday in connection with this hit and run crash. She was charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident involving seriously bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and failure to maintain a lane.
Slater turned herself in after news reports about the accident.
PREVIOUS STORY:
A teen bicyclist was struck by a hit and run driver Monday afternoon near West Florida and Pine Forest high schools.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a vehicle ran off Longleaf Drive and struck the rear of a bicycle in a bike lane.The bicycle and rider were thrown about 50 feet into a ditch. The bicyclist, 15-year old Joseph Mack Dewise, Jr., was transported Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The hit and run driver was last seen heading west on Longleaf Drive toward Pine Forest Road. The vehicle was described as a white, older models sedan – possibly a Pontiac. The vehicle should have damage to the front bumper; bumper parts were found in the ditch near the bicycle (pictured bottom).
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Troopers Knowles at constanceknowles@flhsmv.gov or (850) 484-5000.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview To Present ‘How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying’
May 1, 2018
The Northview High School Theater Department will present “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” this Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00.
Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
Flomaton High’s Sager Signs With Faulkner University
May 1, 2018
Danielle Sager of Flomaton High School has signed to play forward with the Faulkner University Eagles. The four-varsity player maintained a 3.285 GPA while playing volleyball, basketball and participating in other school activities. She is the daughter of Larry and Terrie Sager. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nelson, Gaetz Qualify As Federal Office Qualifying Begins
May 1, 2018
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida’s lone statewide elected Democrat, formally qualified to run for a fourth term Monday as he faces a challenge from Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Nelson made his candidacy official as the qualifying period for federal offices opened at noon Monday.
Meanwhile, 17 of the state’s 27 incumbent U.S. House members also qualified when the period opened, with three — Republicans Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach and Brian Mast of Palm City, and Democrat Val Demings of Orlando — facing primary challenges.
Scott did not qualify Monday. Instead, his campaign team touted raising $3.2 million since Scott announced three weeks ago that he was entering the Senate race.
But it’s still early in the week. Federal candidates, along with candidates for judgeships and state-attorney and public-defender posts, have until noon Friday to qualify.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz meets with the Cantonment Improvement Committee on April 20. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To The Jumbo Shrimp
May 1, 2018
Eric Jagielo took matters into his own hands against his former club as the Jumbo Shrimp won Monday’s matinee by a 5-3 final.
In the third inning with the game tied at two, Jagielo doubled off Wahoos starter Wyatt Strahan (L, 3-2) to score Monte Harrison, which gave the Shrimp a 3-2 lead. He would later score in the inning on a wild pitch by Strahan, giving the Shrimp a two-run advantage.
Those two runs neutralized a two-run rally the Wahoos strung together in the top of the inning. Luis Gonzalez hit his first Double-A home run to get the visitors on the board and Shed Long scored on a sacrifice fly by Gabriel Guerrero to temporarily tie the game at 2-2. Strahan struggled for the first time on the road this season and was removed from the game after just three innings of work.
Max Duval (W, 1-2) did enough to secure his first win of the season. Outside of the third inning, Duval avoided danger and held the Wahoos to three hits and two runs (one earned) over his five innings. Jumbo Shrimp manager Randy Ready used four different relievers to secure the win for Jacksonville.
In the top of the eighth, Pensacola tried to mount a late-game comeback when C.J. McElroy delivered a pinch-hit single to score Josh VanMeter. With the score 5-3, Gavin LaValley came to the plate—representing the go-ahead run—and stuck out to end the inning.
Pensacola had another chance in the ninth off Jumbo Shrimp closer Jose Quijada (S, 2). After Brian O’Grady was hit by a pitch and Guerrero singled, VanMeter came to the dish as the go-ahead run. However, VanMeter popped out to third to end the series.
The Blue Wahoos open another homestand this Wednesday when the Mississippi Braves come to town. Pensacola’s only series victory this season came against the M-Braves two weeks ago. RHP Daniel Wright (2-1, 6.46) will get the nod for the Wahoos against M-Braves RHP Kyle Wright (1-3, 4.66). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.