Early Voting Ends Today
March 12, 2016
This afternoon at 5:00 is the deadline for early voting for the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary.
Voters may choose any one of the seven early voting locations Saturday; polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Avenue
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street
- 5 Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
As of the close of early voting on Friday, 11,536 early vote ballots had been cast in Escambia County.
Time Change: Spring Forward (And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries)
March 12, 2016
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
It is also recommended that residents test smoke alarms by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out” and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. Those most at risk include:
- Children — Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die each year in home fires. Children under age five are at twice the risk of dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of fatal home fire victims who were children were killed in homes without working smoke alarms.
- Seniors — Adults over age 75 are three times more likely to die in home fires than the rest of the population; those over 85 are 4.5 times more likely to die in a home fire. Many seniors are unable to escape quickly.
- Low-Income Households — Many low-income families are unable to afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable or area heating equipment — a main cause of fatal home fires.
Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.
For more information about fire safety, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-475-5530 or visit the web site at www.myescambia.com.
For information about obtaining a free home smoke alarm call 850-595-HERO (4376).
Showers, Thunderstorms Likely Today
March 12, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 69.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
March 11, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 69.
United Way Tornado Relief Supplies Head To Century
March 10, 2016
United Way of Escambia County began moving in-kind donated supplies to Century on Wednesday for distribution beginning today in Century.
United Ministries will use funding provided by United Way to assist family and will also distribute supplies to as many impacted by the February 15 Century tornado as possible on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church at 7000 Jefferson Avenue.
Healthy Start will use minimal funding from United Way to help extend hours and distribute supplies at the Healthy Start Century office at 511 Church Street, Monday-Thursday of each week from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. while supplies last.
Items available in Century will include $6,600 worth of toiletries, paper and plastic goods, cleaning supplies, baby items, drinks and more; plus $1,375 in gift cards.
For more local tornado recovery information, click here for a previous story.
Pictured: The first load of United Way items for Century tornado victims leaving Pensacola Wednesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blood Drive Today In Walnut Hill
March 10, 2016
A blood drive will be held today from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Fire Department on Highway 97.
All blood donors also receive a wellness check-up of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count, including a cholesterol screening. Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Available In Century Today
March 10, 2016
Staff from the Escambia County Neighborhood Enterprise Division will be at the Century Town Hall today from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. to take applications for housing rehabilitation programs for citizens in the unincorporated areas, or outside the town limits, affected by the February 15 Century tornado.
Applicants must bring a social security card for all household members and a picture ID for all household members over 18. Additionally, applicants should bring the following current information with them as applicable:
- Three most recent pay stubs
- Social security award letter
- Retirement/pension statement
- Unemployment statement
- Child support/alimony verification
- Current bank statements
- Current mortgage statement
- Current insurance statement
- Utility bill
- Any other documentation related to income being received by any member of a household
Programs available include the county’s HOME, CDBG and SHIP rehabilitation programs. Income limits apply and the property must be owner occupied and current on property taxes to receive assistance. For more information, call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022.
Century Town Hall is located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Lots Of Rain Moving Into Local Area
March 10, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Warm Today, Thursday; Rain Moves Into Forecast
March 9, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Today Is Deadline To Request Absentee Ballot By Mail
March 9, 2016
Today is the final day to request that absentee ballots be mailed.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford is reminding voters who wish to be mailed an absentee ballot for the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary to request their ballot no later than today. Voters can make their request by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, fax (850) 595-3914, or e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address.
Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.com. lections offices were notified by the United States Post Office that their standard for local delivery of First-Class Mail would change from 1.8 days to 2.1 days. Although this change may seem minimal, it could affect voters who cast their ballot by mail. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office (not at a polling location) no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 15.
After Wednesday, a voter may still pick up an absentee ballot in person from the Elections Office through Monday, March 14.
For further information on absentee ballots, early voting, or precincts and polling locations, please contact us at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.