Excessive Heat Warning For Monday; Heat Index Up To 115 Degrees
August 7, 2023
An excessive heat warning is in effect for Monday.
Dangerously hot conditions are likely with heat index values (the “feels like” temperature) up to 115 expected.
Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 114. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 113. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Introduces “High Noon Lawman’s Blend” Coffee
August 7, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with DeLuna Coffee to introduce High Noon Lawman’s Blend.
“This blend pays tribute to the past and present members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The High Noon blend is a representation of determination and spirit with its own distinct flavor,” the ECSO said.
Every bag sold benefits the Escambia County Sheriff’s Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports the deputies and community engagement efforts of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
For now, the coffee is available at Joe Patti’s Seafood, the Palafox Market and online. More retailers are expected to be added soon.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was on hand last week as the coffee was introduced.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Seniors Celebrate Senior Sunrise; Brave Heat, Humidity To Paint Their Parking Spaces
August 7, 2023
Members of the Northview High School Class of 2024 braved the heat and humidity Friday to paint their senior parking spaces. They also marked their upcoming year with a senior sunrise event on Pensacola Beach Saturday morning.
Many will finish their painting job on Monday. The parking space painting event was a fundraiser for the senior class.
For more photos, click to tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Reach A New 2023 High, AAA Says
August 7, 2023
Florida gas prices are inching lower again after surging an average of 18 cents per gallon, last week. On Friday, the state average reached a new 2023 high of $3.84 per gallon – topping the previous high of $3.72, set back in April, AAA said.
This is the fourth consecutive weekly jump at the pump. Sunday’s state average of $3.83 per gallon is 57 cents per gallon more than what Florida drivers paid on Independence Day.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon Sunday was $3.59. A low of $3.39 was available Sunday night on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices were as low as $3.29 at a station on Nine Mile Road
“Florida gas prices are now the highest since August of last year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “These surging prices have been driven by a couple of factors. Extreme temperatures along the gulf coast has kept refineries from operating at full capacity. Globally, oil prices are significantly higher than a month ago, as OPEC production cuts cause global oil supplies to tighten.”
Bratt Elementary Students Will Return To New ‘Teacher Tested’ Playground
August 7, 2023
Bratt Elementary students will return to school this year to find a new playground, including a drum and music station made possible by the PTA.
Several teachers recently “tested” out the playground and were all smiles.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Joshua Aidan Parr
August 7, 2023
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Joshua Aidan Parr of Molino, Florida. Joshua unexpectedly passed away from an unknown cause on August 3, 2023 at the young age of 21 years.
Josh was born in Pensacola, Florida on September 25, 2001 to his mother, Jaime Parr and father. Josh was lovingly raised and cared for by his grandparents, Harlan and Debbie Parr.
Josh was a graduate of Tate High School in 2020 and attended the District Extended Program for 3 years where he learned and experienced various job skills. Those job skills afforded him the opportunity to work for Baptist Hospital, Longleaf Elementary, and Goodwill.
Josh was employed by The Blue Wahoos Organization where he joyously welcomed fans as a stadium greeter, a job he dearly loved.
Josh is preceded in death by his mother, Jaime Lyn Parr. Josh is survived by his loving grandparents Harlan and Debbie (Perry) Parr, his big brother Jack Parr, and Aunt and Uncle, Amanda and Tony Ward and his adoring cousins Kadence and Zola Grace. He is also survived by his biological father, Jeffrey Osley.
To know Josh, was to love him. He brought light and love to everyone he met. His heart was so pure and filled with joy. His greatest pleasure was worshiping, singing, and sharing the word of the Lord.
Josh loved music, specifically Christian praise music. Some of his most favorites were Chris Tomlin, Anne Wilson and the bands Elevation and 10th Avenue North. Many were graced by his love of music through song. He loved Spongebob, Despicable Me, Jeff Dunham, Veggie Tales, Gordon Ramsey, a trip to Wind Creek Casino and really enjoyed a good meal or two.
Though Josh’s time on earth was short, the family takes comfort knowing he was welcomed into the Kingdom with open arms by our Lord and Savior. We also take comfort knowing he has been reunited with his mother, whom he loved very much.
We know Josh is singing one of his favorite songs “I will Rise” in heaven now. Through blessed assurance, we know Josh’s body is fully restored and healed and he is indeed walking the streets of Gold sharing and spreading the word of God.
Visitation services for Joshua Aidan Parr will begin at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at First Baptist Church Cantonment
(118 Morris Avenue, Cantonment, Florida 32533).
A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 2:30 pm with Doctor Will Stone officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family graciously ask you to consider making a donation in Josh’s honor to the Special Needs Ministry at the place he loved most, his Church, First Baptist Church Cantonment.
Oh, I want to see Him, look upon his face,
there to sing forever of His saving grace;
on the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Big Shift For Highway 29 Traffic In Century During $4.7 Million Project
August 7, 2023
There has been a big shift in a Highway 29 construction zone in Century.
North and southbound traffic on North Century Boulevard has been shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street.
The shift will be in place through August as crews perform drainage improvements, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The complete $4.7 million project has an anticipated completion target date in January 2024. FDOT will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Pictured: Lane closures on Highway 29 in Century as seen on Saturday, August 5. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Beat Biloxi in Finale
August 7, 2023
The bases were loaded, the lead was halved and dangerous hitters were up as the Blue Wahoos faced seventh-inning trouble on Sunday.
Pitching coach Dave Eiland went to the mound. In less than 60 seconds, his message to reliever Zach McCambley was heeded.
McCambley struck out the next Biloxi Shuckers batter with a well-placed fastball, ended the inning on a ground out and the Blue Wahoos responded with more runs to balloon a 6-4 lead into an 11-6 victory against the Shuckers to claim the series, thus ending the homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium in the best way.
“Dave is such a good guy to have on your staff. He’s been around baseball a long time,” said catcher Bennett Hostetler, who went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in a big run in the bottom of the seventh to extend the lead.
“He just told Zach to trust your stuff and to make pitches, throw one at a time and that’s what Zach did,” Hostetler said. “He did a good job of limiting damage in the inning and got us out of it. And we were able to score some runs after that.”
That seventh-inning sequence could have gone the wrong way. Instead, it led to the Blue Wahoos’ (61-40) fourth win in six games against the Shuckers, who entered Sunday having won 14 of their last 19 games, including two of the first three games this week in Pensacola.
We always have tough games with those guys,” Hostetler said. “They are always back and forth. We did a good job this week of putting together good innings when we needed them. When they scored, it seemed like we would always had an answer, Just a good job by everybody, really.”
In the ninth inning Sunday, the Shuckers (53-48), the Milwaukee Brewers affiliate, had three of their four batters reach base against closer Jefry Yan. A run was scored. Eiland again went to the mound, this time to calm Yan.
Result? Two strikeouts against the next three batters to end the game.
“He has a great relationship with pretty much all of his pitchers,” Hostetler said of Eiland, a former major league pitcher, who has been pitching coach for the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals. “He knows what to say in the moment and he gets the best out of who we have on the mound.”
The Blue Wahoos used five pitchers Sunday. It started with Collin Lowe making his Double-A level debut. The 24-year-old righthander was summoned from the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Miami Marlins’ Low-A affiliate.
A free agent signee in 2022, Lowe impressed with five innings pitched, two runs allowed, no walks and three strikeouts to get the mound win. Four relievers followed.
Run support was quickly provided. In the first inning, Jacob Berry blasted a two-run homer into the right field berm. He then followed with a two-run triple in the second inning.
Berry, the Marlins’ No. 1 draft pick last year out of LSU, reached based four times Sunday, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI in his biggest game since joining the team last week from the Beloit (Wisconsin) Sky Carp, the Marlins’ High-A affiliate.
José Devers had a two-run single in the fourth inning for a 6-2 lead. Will Banfield, used as designated hitter Sunday, blasted a two-run homer in the eighth to further pad the lead.
All nine Blue Wahoos batters reached base. Eight scored runs.
The Blue Wahoos’ next home series begins on Aug. 15 against the Montgomery Biscuits.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Woman Struck And Killed By Vehicle In Atmore; Driver Assaulted By Bystanders
August 6, 2023
A woman was struck and killed by a vehicle late Saturday night in Atmore, and the driver was severely injured when he was assaulted by bystanders from a bar parking lot.
The Atmore Police Department said 24-year old Hannah Annette Martin was fatally injured when she was struck by a vehicle on Highway 31 just west of Industrial Drive near The Tavern of Atmore. Atmore Police said they arrived to find Martin with severe injuries. She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Alabama State Troopers said the vehicle that struck Martin was a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 45-year old Kenneth Elbert Harrison of Silverhill, Alabama.
“Harrison was assaulted by an unknown number of people in the parking lot and was found severely injured. Harrison was transported by helicopter to a trauma center,” according to Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann. An update his condition was not available Sunday.
Alabama troopers are continuing to investigate the crash, and the Atmore Police Department is investigating the assault.
File photo.
Florida’s Two-Week Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Ends Sunday
August 6, 2023
Florida’s two-week back to school sales tax holiday ends at midnight Sunday.
Items exempt from sales tax include:
- Most school supplies selling for $50 or less
- Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less
- Computers and related accessories selling for $1,500 or less (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use)
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less
“Getting ready for the new school year can be an expensive time for Floridians, and that is why I’m encouraging Florida families to take full advantage of the back-to-school sales tax holiday. This tax break will help families ensure their children have all the supplies they need to reach their full academic potential this school year,” said Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis.
For the complete, detailed list, click here.