Open House Monday At New Ernest Ward Middle School
February 16, 2015
An open house will be held Monday for parents and community members to tour the new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. The school will be open to the public from noon until 4 p.m. Monday is a teacher workday; students are not in class.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rain By Monday Afternoon
February 15, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight
Cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
Washington’s Birthday
Showers, mainly after noon. High near 67. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night
Showers before midnight, then a chance of rain after midnight. Low around 39. South wind around 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. North wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Friday
A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Saturday
A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.
Sunny Sunday, Then Increasing Clouds
February 14, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East wind around 5 mph.
- Washington’s Birthday Showers. High near 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80
- Monday Night Rain. Low around 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Pictured: Friday’s sunset as seem from Bratt. NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Powder Puff Football Game Tonight
February 13, 2015
A Powder Puff football game will be held tonight at Northview High School’s Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
The event begins at 5:00. Admission is $2 per person, and the concession stand will be open. Proceeds will benefit a planned NHS senior class trip.
Chief Challenge Sweetheart 5K Run/Walk Is Saturday; Still Time To Register
February 13, 2015
The Northview High School Chief Challenge Sweetheart 5K Run/Walk is this Saturday morning – Valentines Day – at 9 a.m.
While open to individual runners and walkers, couples are encouraged to enter the event. There will be special awards given to the fastest couple and the cutest couple in additional to traditional overall and age category awards.
Late registration is Saturday morning at Northview from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. . To download an entry form, click here.
For more information, email Natalie Nall nnelson@escambia.k12.fl.us.
The Chief Challenge 5K is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: A previous Chief Challenge 5K. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Freezing Again Friday Night
February 13, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 65. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 51. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Washington’s Birthday A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 46.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 48.
Century Still Seeking Slogan Suggestions
February 12, 2015
The Town of Century is still looking to the public for a help in finding a new identity, and there’s still just a day left to make suggestions.
The town is accepting new slogan ideas through February 13, with the town council to consider a winner at their regular meeting on February 16. Century Mayor Freddie McCall is personally contributing a $50 prize for the winner.
The town council has previously voted to eventually remove “Welcome to Century” signs that welcome visitors into Century from the north and south on Highway 29. The signs, dedicated two years ago, were built by Century Correctional Institution and feature a giant saw blade with the town’s most recent slogan “The Dawn of a New Century.”
“Our image needs to change,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said recently, noting that the town’s sawmill has been closed for over 50 years. “We are not a sawmill town anymore.” He said the signs would be donated to the local Alger Sullivan Historical Society for use in their museum.
To submit a slogan idea for the Town of Century, click here for an entry form.
The change is coming after a recommendation from Brice Harris of the University of West Florida’s Haas Center, author of the town’s new strategic plan.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Cold Blast: Low To Mid 20’s Tonight
February 12, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 24. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 50. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Washington’s Birthday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
- Monday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Tuesday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.
Escambia County Offers Cold Weather Safety Tips: Pets, Plants, Pipes And More
February 12, 2015
With temperatures expected to drop well below freezing tonight, Escambia County residents should prepare their family, pets and home for the extreme cold. Considerable attention should be provided to people performing outdoor activities to make sure they have the appropriate layered clothing on to protect themselves from the near zero degree wind chill. Parents need to provide special consideration to those children waiting at school bus stop in the morning and making sure that children cover exposed skin and dress in layers.
Escambia County offers the following cold weather safety tips:
Protecting People
- Stay indoors, dress warmly and use safe heating sources.
- Guard against wind chill – One of the gravest dangers of winter weather is wind chill. The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also effected by wind chill.
Pets
- Do not leave pets out in the cold.
- Bring all pets indoors and make sure they have a warm blanket to lie on, as well as plenty of food and water.
- If pets must stay outdoors, provide a pet house or other type of shelter and line the bottom with plenty of blankets or hay along with extra food and water. Try installing a light bulb flood light in the pet house at a safe distance away from the pet to avoid burns. The heat from the bulb will help keep them warm. However, do not use light bulbs when bedding with hay.
Pipes
Water expands when it freezes and can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house if ice forms. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your home by taking a few simple measures to protect your home:
- Use faucet covers, wrap rags, paper, trash bags or plastic foam around faucets and outdoor pipes.
- Cover any vents around your home´s foundation.
- Protect outdoor electrical pumps and bring water hoses indoors.
- Open the cabinets under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around water pipes.
- Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is secure.
- If you have a swimming pool, either drain the circulation system or keep the pump motor running. Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could cause damage.
- Let faucets drip, but do not run a big stream of water.
- If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure the faucets are turned off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.
- If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility for instructions on protecting your water heater.
If Pipes Freeze
- Turn off the water at the shut-off valve and call a plumber for help.
- Do not use lamps or electrical appliances to thaw frozen pipes. Leaking water from thawing pipes could cause a short and you can be electrocuted.
- If you try to thaw your own pipes, apply heat slowly, and move the heat toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot – cracking ice can shatter a pipe.
Practice Fire Safety
- Use extra care with supplemental heating units.
- Make sure that all-combustible materials such as drapes or chairs are at least three feet away from any heating unit.
- Avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces and do not leave a fireplace unattended.
- Most importantly, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.
Plants
- Water your plants thoroughly. The water will act as an insulator. Dry plants are more susceptible to freezing.
- After watering, cover plants with a breathable material, such as fabric not plastic.
- Place mulch at the base of your plants and do not prune prior to a freeze. Pruning encourages soft growth, which is susceptible to freezing. Spraying the leaves of plants with liquid seaweed will also toughen them against cold.
ECSO To Honor Jail Explosion Heroes, Other Deputies
February 12, 2015
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will hold its annual award ceremony today during which several deputies will receive the Medal of Courage for rescues during the flooding and jail explosion last April.
Escambia County Jail employee Kelley Bradford will be recognized with the Civilian Gold Medal of Honor, and Chris Hankinson will be honored with the law enforcement Purple Heart. Hankinson was paralyzed as a result of the natural gas explosion, while Bradford is credited for saving his life.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.