Breaking News: Sheriff Morgan Press Conference On Billings Murder; Was It A Contract Hit?
July 31, 2009
Sheriff David Morgan held a press conference tonight on the Billings murder. The press conference comes after CNN reported earlier this afternoon that the murders were a $100,000 contract killing.
“Investigations are evidence driven,” Morgan said, saying that all avenues were explored in the Billings investigation. He said that contract hit was a possibility, but it would take evidence and be up to the state attorney’s office to make that determination.
“We have interviewed many persons of interest, but you will never know their names,” Morgan said, saying that persons of interest are often ruled out quickly.
“In response to media reports that the Billings Murders were contract killings, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan is stating that the possibility that these murders were a contract killing is still being investigated as well as other motives. The case remains open and persons of interest are still being interviewed,” a later afternoon press release from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department said earlier this afternoon.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Good Chance Of Rain Today
July 28, 2009
The official National Weather Service forecast today calls for a good chance of rain in North Escambia:
Today: Periods of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 87. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
See The Space Shuttle And Station Over North Escambia
July 28, 2009
There will be three evening opportunities this week to see the International Space Station and the space shuttle across the skies of North Escambia.
Weather permitting, the docked spacecraft can be seen zooming across the sky like a bright star.
Sighting opportunities are as follows:
- 9:16 pm Tuesday from the W to the SSW, two minutes
- 8:07 pm Wednesday from the NNW to the SE, three minutes
- 8:31 pm Thursday from the WSW to the south, three minutes
The spacecrafts will be about 190 miles above North Escambia during each pass, moving at 17,500 mph.
Weather Advisory: Strong Storms
July 26, 2009
Another strong thunderstorm will affect Escambia and Santa Rosa
counties…
At 440 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 2 miles northwest of Jay…moving south at 5 mph.
Dixonville and Jay through 530 PM CDT.
Severe thunderstorm warnings in effect earlier for north and central Escambia County
have been allowed to expire.
bring down dead or diseased trees and large limbs resulting in
serious injury or property damage. Local loss of electrical power may
result from downed power lines. Exercise extreme caution when
outdoors during such strong winds…or seek shelter in a safe home or
building until the storm has passed.
This storm could produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches in a
short period of time…resulting in brief ponding of water around low
lying and poor drainage areas. Remember…do not drive your vehicle
into water covered roadways. The depth may be too great to allow a
safe crossing.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
July 26, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
central Escambia County in northwest Florida…
west central Santa Rosa County in northwest Florida…
* until 445 PM CDT
* at 409 PM CDT… National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing penny size hail… and
damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located near
Chumuckla… or 24 miles southwest of Brewton… and moving southeast
at 5 mph.
* The severe thunderstorm will be near…
6 miles northeast of Molino by 440 PM CDT…
Chumuckla by 445 PM CDT…
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
In addition to large hail and damaging winds… continuous cloud to
ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors
immediately! Lightning is one of natures number one killers.
Remember… if you can hear thunder… you are close enough to be
struck by lightning.
Weather Advisory: Strong Storms
July 26, 2009
A line of strong thunderstorms will affect Baldwin…Escambia and
Santa Rosa counties…
At 356 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
line of strong thunderstorms from 5 miles north of Gateswood to 4
miles east of Chumuckla…moving north at 10 mph.
This line of storms will affect areas in and around…
Walnut Hill…McDavid…Oak Grove…Jay and Bratt through 445 PM CDT.
The primary threats from these storms are small hail…frequent
bring down dead or diseased trees and large limbs resulting in
serious injury or property damage. Local loss of electrical power may
result from downed power lines. Exercise extreme caution when
outdoors during such strong winds…or seek shelter in a safe home or
building until these storms have passed.
These storms could produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches in a
short period of time…resulting in brief ponding of water around
low lying and poor drainage areas. Remember…do not drive your
vehicle into water covered roadways. The depth may be too great to
allow a safe crossing.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
July 26, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
central Escambia County in northwest Florida…
* until 345 PM CDT
* at 316 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing nickel size hail…and
damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located near
Walnut Hill…or 15 miles east of Bay Minette…and moving
southeast at 15 mph.
* The severe thunderstorm will be near…
8 miles southwest of McDavid by 340 PM CDT…
Coming Monday: Exclusive NorthEscambia.com Look At Billings Murder Investigation
July 26, 2009
Monday morning, NorthEscambia.com will have an exclusive look behind the scenes and inside the investigation the Billings murders investigation.
You’ve read the stories on NorthEscambia.com and watched Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan on all the major television networks, but Monday morning we’ll take a closer look at the investigation and stories behind those numerous press conferences. You’ll see a side of the investigation and a side of the “humdinger” sheriff that you have not seen before.
Our exclusive behind the scenes look at the events since July 9 will be Monday morning here on NorthEscambia.com. Tell a friend today, and make sure you don’t miss the story tomorrow.
Decent Rain Chance Each Day This Week
July 26, 2009
A weakening frontal boundary with another reinforcing front from the northeast will result in a gradually wetter pattern the next few days in the North Escambia area.
There is a 50 percent chance of rain today and Monday, a 60 percent chance of rain Tuesday, a 50 percent chance of rain for Wednesday, and a 40 percent chance of rain for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Overnight lows will be around 72 and daytime highs will be around 90 all week.
Update: Tri-County Wins One, Drops One Saturday In State Softball Championship Series
July 25, 2009
UPDATE: The 10-11 year old Tri-County All-Stars won their first game in the state tournament this morning near Orlando, but fell short in their second game this afternoon.
Tri-County’s beat Mt. Dora 10-2 in a Saturday morning game. Saturday afternoon, Tri-County lost to South Tampa 9-4.
They will play Sunday in a semifinal game as second seed in their pool. Tri-County will take on Land-o-Lakes at 10 (EDT) Sunday morning.
The tournament is in Windermere, Florida, just outside Orlando.
Tri-County won the 10-11 Year Old Florida District 1 Softball Championship with a 16-0 shutout over Defuniak Springs back on June 30.
Team members are Dana Blackmon, Samatha Steadham, Kennedy Salter, Michaela Stewart, Morgan Kelley, Cheyanne Merchant, Destiny Herring, Brianna Pearson, Harley Tagert, Kim Gunn and Emily Ashworth. Manager is Kathy Blackmon and the coach is Jeff Gunn.