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.
Northwest Escambia Football Registration Ends Today
July 25, 2009
Today is the final day of registration for the 2009 season of Northwest Escambia Football.
Football registration will be held at the Ernest Ward football field from 10 a.m. until noon today.
Charles Williams, NWE president, said that it is important for all age groups to register before August.
“With all the preparation involved for the upcoming season, we must know how many kids to provide equipment and uniforms for prior to August 6th,” Williams said. “NWE will being playing games earlier this year.”
The first NWE Football practice will be August 3. The Jamboree is August 22, and the first game is August 29.
For more information about NWE Football, call Charles Williams at 327-4603.
Two North Escambia Softball Teams Playing For State Titles This Weekend
July 24, 2009
Two North Escambia softball teams are playing for state championships this weekend. The 10-11 year old Tri County All Stars will be playing near Orlando, and the 11-12 year old Northwest Escambia All-Stars will be playing near Fort Lauderdale.
We will have complete coverage of the games during the weekend here on NorthEscambia.com.
Tri-County All-Stars
The 10-11 year old Tri-County All-Stars will be in Orlando this weekend, hoping to return with a state championship.
Tri-County’s first game will be at 9:00 Saturday morning against Mt. Dora, and they will face South Tampa at 1:00 Saturday afternoon. Semi-final games are on Sunday, and the state championship game will be played Monday 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.
NWE All-Stars
Northwest Escambia will travel about 650 miles to the state championship tournament in Coconut Creek, Fla., which is just north of Fort Lauderdale.
NWE’s first game in the 11-12 Year Old State Tournament will be Friday night at 7:00 (EDT). They will play again Saturday morning at 10:00 (EDT).
Northwest Escambia earned their trip to the state tournament last weekend in Destin by claiming the Section 1 title.
NWE beat Chairs-Capitola 3-2 in the first game of the tourney. Mallory Ryan pitched six, striking out two and giving up just two walks. Reagan Bell scored one for Northwest Escambia, and Madison Arrington added a couple. Arrington had an impressive in-park home run for NWE. Northwest Escambia took game two of the series for the championship, 10-0.
Pictured above: The 10-11 Year Old Tri-County All-Stars won the District 1 Championship in Defuniak Springs back in June. They are in the state championships this weekend near Orlando . Photos by Ricky Tagert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The NWE 10-11 Year Old All-Stars with their championship banner last Saturday afternoon in Destin. Pictured middle: (L-R)Danielle Steadham, Addy Lee, Kyndall Hall, Kendal Cobb, Courtney Peebles, Darby Randolph, Reagan Bell, Cheyanne Schoonover. Pictured front: Mallory Ryan and Madison Arrington. Pictured back row: Manager Jerry Mason and Coach David Arrington. Pictured below: Mason and Arrington accept the team’s championship plaque. Submitted photos by Kim Ryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County To Hire Edwards As New Fire Chief Tonight
July 23, 2009
Escambia County’s new fire chief and public safety bureau chief is expected to be officially hired by the county commission tonight.
The Escambia County Commission agenda for tonight includes hiring Pensacola Fire Chief Frank Edwards who will take over both positions at a salary of $100,000 per year.
Edwards was named Pensacola’s fire chief in 2007 after retiring as one of three deputy chiefs of the Chesterfield County (Virginia) Fire Department. He will take over the fire chief position of Interim Fire Chief Jim Sanders. Sanders was hired on an interim basis in February after former Fire Chief Ken Perkins was asked to resign by County Administrator Bob McLaughlin.
Edwards will also take over the job of Public Safety Bureau Chief Mike Hardin who is leaving that position to return to the supervisor of elections office.
If the commission approves his hiring as expected, Edwards’ first day on the job will be August 18.
In Virginia, Edwards spent 28 years with the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Management Service Department and held the rank of Second Deputy Chief with the department since 1999.
Edwards received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland and his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has received the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer from the International Association of Fire Chiefs and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program from the National Fire Academy. Edwards had been Pensacola’s fire chief since December 3, 2007.
Perkins was asked to resign after McLaughlin said he wanted a new administration to finally unify the department, eliminating problems between paid staff and volunteers. The county’s paid firefighters and 15 volunteer departments were all brought together with one unified leadership back in September. But McLaughlin said the department’s leaders did not have the skills needed to move the unified department forward with paid and volunteer firefighters working together. Then Assistant Chief Robbie Whitfield was also asked to resign.
Pictured: Escambia County’s new fire chief, Frank Edwards. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.