Great Weekend: Highs Around 70
February 7, 2009
It will continue to be warm and early spring-like in North Escambia today. Highs both Saturday and Sunday are expected to reach into the low 70’s under sunny skies.
The overnight lows during the weekend will be in the mid to upper 40’s.
Monday’s weather will continue warm and sunny with a high in the low 70’s. A slight 20 percent chance of rain creeps into the forecast for Monday night and Tuesday. That rain chance increases to 40 percent by Wednesday night.
Controlled Burn Producing Lots Of Smoke
February 6, 2009
A controlled burn in northwestern Escambia County is producing a lot of smoke this afternoon.
The controlled burn is on land owned by La Floresta Perdida, Inc. in the area of Highway 97A and South Pineville Road near the Enon community.
A large plum of smoke was visible in the western sky from Walnut Hill Friday afternoon.
Popular Barrineau Park Music Night Is Tonight
February 6, 2009
The free Barrineau Park Music night will be held tonight, featuring Sawgrass Revival and The Chapel Strings.
The groups will perform at 7:00 tonight at the Barrineau Park Community Center, three miles west of Molino on Barrineau Park School Road.
Food and refreshments will be available before the show from 5:00 until 7:00. The free music begins at 7:00.
The Barrineau Park Music night is a wholesome, family friendly environment. No alcohol is permitted on the property, and there is no smoking in or near the building.
For more information, call (850) 587-5575.
Pictured above (L-R): Chapel Strings during a July performance. Pictured are Bob Commings, Lynn Fillingim, Clint Fillingim, Tommy Fillingim, Al Frank, Emily Frank, Kathy Commings (hidden), Uncle Bill. File photo.
Hundreds To Lose Power In Planned Outage This Afternoon
February 5, 2009
A few hundred Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers will loose power this afternoon for up to two hours.
Power to about 200 customers will be cut from 2:00 until 4:00, according to Sabrina Owens, EREC spokesperson. Customers from the Oak Grove Substation on North Highway to Highway 97 to Arthur Brown Road to the Enon community will be without power. EREC on neighboring highways may be impacted by the outage depending on the direction from which their electric service originates.
The customers that are expected to have their power cut should have received an automated phone call from EREC Wednesday afternoon.
Owens said EREC crews will be working to replace an aging piece of equipment in the Oak Grove Substation. She said the piece of equipment is being replaced now to prevent an eventual outage that might be lengthier and impact a much larger number of customers.
The outage will not likely last the full two hours, Owens added.
Word Of The Morning: Brrr!
February 5, 2009
It was warmer this morning in Juneau, Alaska, than here in North Escambia, FLORIDA.
The morning low here in North Escambia bottomed out in the teens, while Juneau hit a low around 27.
And it’s going to be cold again tonight with a low around 18. Here’s our complete North Escambia forecast for the next several days:
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 18. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
And, just for the record, it might have been warmer in Juneau, Alaska, this morning, but our Florida weather was better. They were expecting up to eight inches of snow last night and today in Juneau.
Hard Freeze Warning: Low Tonight Of 18
February 4, 2009
A hard freeze warning has been issued for tonight as temperatures will fall below freezing just after sunset and continue to fall to the upper teens by morning.
Our official National Weather Service forecast for NorthEscambia says:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 18. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind around 5 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 21. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
A hard freeze warning means temperatures will drop below freezing and remain below 26 degrees for five or more hours. Relief agencies should prepare for additional demand of those needing shelter from the cold. Consider extra insulation or dripping faucets for exposed pipes.
Check on the elderly… impoverished… and shut-ins to ensure they have heat and that no attempt is made to run a space heater or other fuel burning device without ventilation. Residents with gas heat ensure Carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.
These conditions will damage crops and other sensitive outdoor vegetation. Action should be taken to ensure shelter for pets. Ensure liquid cooled engines have proper coolant.
Escambia Comprehensive Plan Public Workshop To Be Held Tonight
February 3, 2009
A public input workshop will be held tonight to on Escambia County’s Comprehensive Plan.
The workshop will be held at 6:00 tonight at Ransom Middle School at 1000 West Kingsfield Road.
The workshop will begin with an overview of the process and proposed revisions to the Comprehensive Plan, followed by small group sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. Each group will have staff members to facilitate the discussion and record all public input.
The final public workshop will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Februrary 11, at the Escambia County Governmental Complex, 221 Palafox Place. A summary of the public input received will be posted on the Development Services Bureau web site.
The Comprehensive Plan, a long-range master plan that directs our future growth and development, is a guide for making local land use decisions. It provides goals, objectives and policies to help the county prioritize capital projects and plan for efficient, cost-effective services through the year 2030. Every seven years the county has the opportunity to review the Comprehensive Plan through the evaluation and appraisal report process.
The Comprehensive Plan deals with issues related to the appropriate uses of land, and was prepared to address compatibility issues between various uses of land, management and preservation of natural resources, identification and preservation of historically significant lands and structures, and adequate planning for infrastructure needs. Comprehensive plans are also utilized to address issues related to schools, recreation, and housing. The Comprehensive Plan consists of a study of existing conditions and a discussion of future trends, goals, and objectives. Land-use patterns, housing conditions, population, roadways, and other infrastructure are usually the principle elements that are studied.
The purpose of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) is to provide a summary analysis of the County’s major planning issues and identify any actions that are required to address these issues. The results of the EAR are then used to update the goals, objectives, and policies contained within the Comprehensive Plan.
Hard Freeze Warning; Red Flag Warning Issued
February 3, 2009
The National Weather Service has issued a hard freeze warning for tonight as a second cold front will move through our area and send temperatures falling.
Today will sunny and cool with a high near 57.
Tonight, the passage of the next front will send temperatures down to 26 overnight. Wedneday will rebound to just 47 degrees.
Wednesday night will be even colder, down to 21 under clear skies.
Thursday’s forecast calls for sunny and 55, and Thursday night will see the mercury hit 23.
By Friday, it will warm to 62, and Friday night will be warmer at 41.
There is also a fire weather warning in effect through Thursday. Outdoor burning is discouraged as low humidities and gusty winds will lead to explosive fire growth potential.
Wet Groundhog? Rain Forecast Today In North Escambia
February 2, 2009
If a groundhog were to pop out on this Groundhog Day in North Escambia, he would not be seeing his shadow.
There is an 80 percent chance of shower and thunderstorms today with a high in the upper 50’s. A cold front moves through late this afternoon, blowing away the clouds and rain. Winds will shift to the northwest, bringing cool lows near 35 tonight.
Sunshine returns for Tuesday, and temperatures will struggle to pass 55. Winter will be back in full force Tuesday night as the low falls to 24 in North Escambia.
It will continue on the cold side for Wednesday, with a high of just 51. The temp will fall into the middle 20’s again for Wednesday night before rebounding to 55 on Thursday under sunny skies.
Simple Grace At Ray’s Chapel
February 1, 2009
The diverse group Simple Grace will perform this evening at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia.
Simple Grace offers a variety of Christian music, artistically blending acoustic bluegrass, gospel, traditional hymns, folk, and fresh original pieces. Their concerts shine with strong vocals and personal testimony to affirm their message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The group is made up of the Jim and Kathy Hitch family from rural Martell, Nebraska. The family has eight children, with five of them traveling full time with the family ministry.
The Hitch family’s performances include guitars, fiddles, banjo, mandolin, piano, harmonicas, cello, and percussion in an inspirational and uplifting program, which ministers across denominational lines.
Simple Grace will perform at 5 p.m. today at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church at 170 West Bogia Road. The public is invited to this free event. More info: www.simplegrace.org