Molino Family Forced From Their Home By Tornado Damage
April 23, 2018
A Molino family was forced from their home by damage from an apparent tornado Sunday afternoon.
“We did have to leave home,” Gale Nahkala said. “The trailer was shifted from the foundation.” Windows in the double wide mobile home were also broken as the funnel cloud moved over the Crabtree Church Road area near Sunshine Hill Road.
The family of three — two adults and an 18-year old — will be forced to find some other place to stay until repairs are made.
Escambia County officials said five structures suffered slight to moderate damage, and there were several downed trees and power lines.
For an earlier story, click here.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For two videos of the tornado, click here.
Photos by Gale Nahkala and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Monday Begins Work Week
April 23, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Century Replacing Sidewalk In Such Bad Condition ‘Children Were Wrecking Their Bikes’
April 23, 2018
The Town of Century is replacing a sidewalk on Hecker Road that was so bad “children were wrecking their bikes”, according to town officials.
The sidewalk is being replaced between Mayo and Archie streets.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Weekly Public Meeting Schedule
April 23, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of April 23-April 27:
Monday, April 23
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Pensacola Beach Congestion Management Plan Public Workshop – 5:30 p.m., 920 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Tuesday, April 24
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Escambia County Local Mitigation Strategy Group Board & Planning Committee – 2 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola
District 3 Town Hall with Elected Officials – 6 p.m., Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St.
Wednesday, April 25
District 1 Coffee with the Commissioner – 6:30 a.m., 2500 Wilde Lake Blvd., Pensacola
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place \
Santa Rosa Island Authority Board Meeting – 5 p.m., 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Highway 29 And Nine Mile Closed At Overpass Monday Night, Tuesday Morning
April 23, 2018
Highway 29 and Nine Mile Road will be closed at the Highway 29 overpass in Escambia County from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday as crews pour the center portion of the new bridge deck. Traffic-control officers will be on site to help direct traffic.
- Highway 29 north and southbound will be reduced to one lane and detoured onto the Nine Mile Road off- and on-ramps.
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road traffic will be reduced to one lane, detoured to Highway 29 southbound, and U-turn at West Hood Drive to return to Nine Mile Road. Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
- Highway 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers should use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone, and watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Jay Top Seed, Northview Second In District Softball Playoff
April 23, 2018
The Jay Royals are the number one seed in this week’s 3-1A district softball playoffs, while the Northview Chiefs are second seed.
Games are scheduled as follows in Chipley:
1. Monday- Game 1- #5 Baker vs #4 Chipley- 6 p.m.
2. Tuesday- Game 2- #3 Freeport vs #2 Northview- 5 p.m.
3. Tuesday- Game 3- Winner of game 1 vs #1 Jay – 7 p.m.
4. Thursday- Game 4- Winner of game 2 vs the winner of game 3- 7 p.m.
In the event game 4, the championship game, is Northview vs. Jay, the game will be played at Jay, not Chipley.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino 8U Raptors And Mets Take Tops Spots In Mid Season Tourney
April 23, 2018
A couple of Molino teams finished on top of the the Mid Season Tournament this weekend in Brent. The Molino U8U Raptors coach pitch team, lead by head coach Josh Cook, came in first place, while the Molino Mets with coaches Brandon Brown and Randy Ard came in second place. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Unemployment Rate Slips
April 23, 2018
The Escambia county area added 2,800 new private-sector jobs in the past year, according to Gov.Rick Scott.. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, down 0.4 percentage points from a year ago.
“The Pensacola area’s creation of nearly 3,000 new jobs over the last year demonstrates that Florida is the best state in the nation to live the American Dream. Businesses across Florida are continuing to grow and succeed, bringing new jobs and opportunities for Florida families,” Scott said.
The industry with the highest growth over the year in the Escambia County area was leisure and hospitality with 1,300 new jobs. The area had 4,966 job openings, including 1,319 openings for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations.
As of March, Florida’s unemployment rate is at 3.9 percent, a drop of 6.9 percentage points since December 2010; this drop is faster than the national decline of 5.2 percentage points. In the last year, 132,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 1.3 percent.
Wahoos, Barons Suspended In Third
April 23, 2018
Sunday’s game between the Blue Wahoos and the Barons has been suspended due to rain. Pensacola led the game 4-1 while batting in the bottom of the third when play was halted. The game will be restarted tomorrow evening at 5:00 p.m. and followed by a seven-inning game.
Pensacola scored a pair of runs in the first two innings of the game off Barons starter Spencer Adams. Shed Long extended his hitting streak to 10 games when singled to open the ballgame. Two batters later, Gavin LaValley notched his team-leading 14th RBI with a double to make it 1-0 Wahoos. He would later score on an RBI single from Gabriel Guerrero to double the lead. Pensacola added to two more runs in the second inning behind RBIs from Long and Nick Longhi. Josh VanMeter picked up his second hit of the game to lead off the third inning, but the game was stopped two batters later.
Keury Mella’s third start lasted only three innings due to the weather. He allowed one earned run with three strikeouts.
Following the completion of game one, Vladimir Gutierrez (0-2, 5.74) will take the mound for the Wahoos in game two. The Barons are still expected to go with RHP Jordan Stephens (0-3, 6.19).
Dr. James “Jimmy” Richard Dixon, II
April 23, 2018
Dr. James “Jimmy” Richard Dixon, II age 55 of Travis Road Brewton, AL, passed away Thursday April 19, 2018, at his residence. He was a native and lifelong resident of Brewton, AL.
Dr. Dixon was a member of the Jay First Baptist Church, a1981 graduate of Jay High School, a 1993 graduate of Kirkville’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, and was a family doctor with a practice in Atmore, AL, with 24 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Mitzi Bray Dixon of Brewton; two sons James-Richard Dixon, III of Charleston, SC, and James Henry Dixon of Brewton; daughter Allison Page Dixon of New York, NY; parents Lynn and Ann Burgess Pitts of Brewton; father James R. Dixon of DeFuniak Springs, FL: brother Daniel Pitts of Florida; sister- Naomi Pitts of Gulf Shores, AL; mother-in-law Carol Cecilia Bell Bray; brother- and sister-in-law Derek and Misty Bray; and nieces Jordan and MaKenzie Bray.
He was preceded in death by brother Samuel Pitts; grandparents Dauphin and Annie Laurie Burgess; uncle Ray Burgess and father-in-law Charlie Steve Bray.
Visitation will be held Tuesday April 24, 2018, from 6-8 p.m. at the Jay First Baptist Church in Jay, FL.
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, at 2 pm.. at Jay First Baptist Church with Dr. George Fredrickson and Pastor Bill Thompson officiating. Interment will be held at a later date and time.