Escambia Commissioners To Hold RESTORE Act Workshop
January 2, 2016
A special Escambia County Board of County Commissioners’ workshop will be held on Monday, January 11 to discuss the RESTORE Act. The workshop will be held at 1 p.m. at the Kugelman Center for Telecommunications, in the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, at Pensacola State College, located at 1000 College Boulevard., Building 23.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
January 2, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (9th Avenue), Escambia County- Crews will resume paving operations Monday, Jan. 4 between Bayou Boulevard and Creighton Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Cervantes Street will also encounter intermittent and alternating daytime lane closures as crews adjust manholes and valves.
- I-10 Widening, Escambia County- Alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 to allow crews to perform shoulder repairs. The right lane of I-10 east and westbound, near the Scenic Highway overpass at exit 17, will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 through Friday, Jan. 8. In addition, traffic in the left lane of I-10 east and westbound will be slowed by FHP to escort vehicles during this time. Crews will be setting beams for the new Scenic Highway overpass.
- 9th Avenue (S.R. 289) and Creighton Road (S.R. 742), Escambia County- The southbound outside lane on 9th Avenue and westbound outside lane of Creighton Road will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4 through Wednesday, Jan. 6 as crews perform construction activities.
- I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Monday, Jan. 4 as crews perform bridge work. Closures will continue Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January. Alternating east and westbound lane closures between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/ Exit 22). Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January.
- U.S. 98, Santa Rosa County- Alternating lane closures between Live Oaks Village shopping center and the Gulf Breeze Zoo from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. beginning Monday, Jan. 4 as crews complete work list items. Lane closures will continue Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
A Rainy, Cool Start To The New Year
January 1, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Tips From The IRS On Year-End Gifts To Charity
December 31, 2015
The Internal Revenue Service today reminded individuals and businesses making year-end gifts to charity that several important tax law provisions have taken effect in recent years. Some of the changes taxpayers should keep in mind include:
Rules for Charitable Contributions of Clothing and Household Items
Household items include furniture, furnishings, electronics, appliances and linens. Clothing and household items donated to charity generally must be in good used condition or better to be tax-deductible. A clothing or household item for which a taxpayer claims a deduction of over $500 does not have to meet this standard if the taxpayer includes a qualified appraisal of the item with the return.
Donors must get a written acknowledgement from the charity for all gifts worth $250 or more. It must include, among other things, a description of the items contributed.
Guidelines for Monetary Donations
A taxpayer must have a bank record or a written statement from the charity in order to deduct any donation of money, regardless of amount. The record must show the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution. Bank records include canceled checks, and bank, credit union and credit card statements. Bank or credit union statements should show the name of the charity, the date, and the amount paid. Credit card statements should show the name of the charity, the date, and the transaction posting date.
Donations of money include those made in cash or by check, electronic funds transfer, credit card and payroll deduction. For payroll deductions, the taxpayer should retain a pay stub, a Form W-2 wage statement or other document furnished by the employer showing the total amount withheld for charity, along with the pledge card showing the name of the charity.
These requirements for the deduction of monetary donations do not change the long-standing requirement that a taxpayer obtain an acknowledgment from a charity for each deductible donation (either money or property) of $250 or more. However, one statement containing all of the required information may meet both requirements.
Reminders
The IRS offers the following additional reminders to help taxpayers plan their holiday and year-end gifts to charity:
- Qualified charities. Check that the charity is eligible. Only donations to eligible organizations are tax-deductible. Select Check, a searchable online tool available on IRS.gov, lists most organizations that are eligible to receive deductible contributions. In addition, churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and government agencies are eligible to receive deductible donations. That is true even if they are not listed in the tool’s database.
- Year-end gifts. Contributions are deductible in the year made. Thus, donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2015 count for 2015, even if the credit card bill isn’t paid until 2015. Also, checks count for 2015 as long as they are mailed in 2015.
- Itemize deductions. For individuals, only taxpayers who itemize their deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A can claim deductions for charitable contributions. This deduction is not available to individuals who choose the standard deduction. This includes anyone who files a short form (Form 1040A or 1040EZ). A taxpayer will have a tax savings only if the total itemized deductions (mortgage interest, charitable contributions, state and local taxes, etc.) exceed the standard deduction. Use the 2015 Form 1040 Schedule A to determine whether itemizing is better than claiming the standard deduction.
- Record donations. For all donations of property, including clothing and household items, get from the charity, if possible, a receipt that includes the name of the charity, date of the contribution, and a reasonably-detailed description of the donated property. If a donation is left at a charity’s unattended drop site, keep a written record of the donation that includes this information, as well as the fair market value of the property at the time of the donation and the method used to determine that value. Additional rules apply for a contribution of $250 or more.
- Special Rules. The deduction for a car, boat or airplane donated to charity is usually limited to the gross proceeds from its sale. This rule applies if the claimed value is more than $500. Form 1098-C or a similar statement, must be provided to the donor by the organization and attached to the donor’s tax return.
If the amount of a taxpayer’s deduction for all noncash contributions is over $500, a properly-completed Form 8283 must be submitted with the tax return.
A Wet End To 2015
December 31, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
New Year’s Day: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 50. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
Showers, Thunderstorms Today, Tonight
December 30, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 55. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
New Year’s Day: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Flood Warnings For Perdido, Escambia Rivers; Big Escambia Creek Down
December 30, 2015
A flood warning continues for the Escambia River at Century until further notice. Early Wednesday the river was at 19.94 feet. Minor flooding is occurring; flood stage is 17 feet. The river will continue rising to near 21.8 feet by Thursday morning then begin falling. At 19.5 feet, flooding of farm and pasture lands will gradually subside as the river level drops, but some flooding will continue the next several days.
The flood warning continues for the Perdido River at Barrineau Park. Early Wednesday, the stage was 6.9 feet. Flooding was not occurring but is forecast. Flood stage is 13 feet. The river will rise above flood stage on Friday evening and continue rising to a stage of 15.9 feet by Saturday evening then begin falling.
There are no flood warnings for the Big Escambia Creek at Flomaton. The creek was at 7.08 feet Wednesday morning. Flood stage is 14 feet; the creek is forecast to reach 12 feet by early Friday.
Pictured top: The Escambia River out of its banks and blocking access to Fischer’s Landing in Century on Tuesday. Pictured below: Big Escambia Creek was at about 14.5 feet Christmas Day (at the level of the black on the pictured power pole) but
Becoming Wet Again
December 29, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
New Year’s Day: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 52. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Tornado Warning: Escambia, Santa Rosa
December 28, 2015
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
CONECUH COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
NORTHEASTERN MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
SOUTHWESTERN BUTLER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
CENTRAL ESCAMBIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
NORTH CENTRAL ESCAMBIA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN FLORIDA…
NORTHWESTERN SANTA ROSA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN FLORIDA…
* UNTIL 915 AM CST
* AT 815 AM CST…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MOLINO…MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH.
HAZARD…TORNADO.
SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.
IMPACT…FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
DAMAGE TO ROOFS…WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE
DAMAGE IS LIKELY.
* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR…
CENTURY AROUND 825 AM CST.
FLOMATON AND JAY AROUND 830 AM CST.
POLLARD AROUND 835 AM CST.
BREWTON AROUND 840 AM CST.
I65 AND AL 41 AROUND 855 AM CST.
CASTLEBERRY AND I65 AND CR 6 AROUND 900 AM CST.
I65 AND US 84 AROUND 905 AM CST.
EVERGREEN AND I65 AND AL 83 AROUND 910 AM CST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS…IN A
MOBILE HOME…OR IN A VEHICLE…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
Showers And Cooler Tonight
December 28, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming south after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind around 10 mph.
New Year’s Day: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 58.