Showers, Thunderstorm Likely Today
August 3, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Monday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Monday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Back To School Tax Holiday Underway In Florida, Alabama
August 1, 2014
It’s a back to school tax free weekend in Florida and across most of Alabama. Here’s a look at what’s tax free in each state:
Florida’s back to school sales tax holiday is now underway and continues through midnight Sunday. The sales tax holiday allows families to save on items the need to gear up for the school year, including school supplies, clothing and some electronics.
The back to school tax holiday includes clothes, backpacks, shoes and wallets up to $100, specified school supplies under $15 each, and the first $750 of a personal computer or computer-related accessories.
For a complete Florida tax free list, click here.
Alabama’s back to school sales tax holiday is also underway. The holiday offers no tax on certain school supplies, computers and clothing.
However, not every city and town participates. Escambia County (Ala.), Atmore and East Brewton will not participate. Baldwin County and its cities will take part.
For a complete Alabama tax free list, click here.
Free School Supplies Available Saturday In Century
August 1, 2014
Free school supplies will be distributed Saturday in Century.
The supplies will be distributed in memory of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11. Organizers of the “Dedria’s Gift” program said they have enough school supplies for about 300 children from Escambia County in both Florida and Alabama.
The giveaway begins at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Nadine McCaw Park (Roadside Park) on North Century Boulevard and continues until the school supplies are gone.
Seasonal Help Job Fair Today In Jay
July 31, 2014
A job fair for the 2014 peanut season will be held today in Jay.
The job fair will take place at the Jay Community Center from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Positions are available for seasonal help in Jay or Allentown. Attendees should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to stay for an interview.
Great Weather Continues
July 30, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Many Retailers Counting On School Sales Tax Holiday For Bump In Sales
July 30, 2014
The Florida Retail Federation fully supports the upcoming three-day sales tax “holiday” on back-to-school items, with stores expecting to see a 30 percent increase in sales for the weekend.
However, the retail-industry lobbying group would have preferred the holiday period to be, as Gov. Rick Scott requested, at least a week longer. The three-day period begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
“Not everybody gets paid on the same schedule,” said John Fleming, a spokesman for the group. “The people who get paid at the end of the month, they’ll be fine. But there are people on that two-week cycle of paychecks. And we have always thought if you extend it to two weekends in a row you’d get more people to take advantage.”
Still, even at one weekend — the same length lawmakers set the previous four years — retailers should see an increase in shoppers from 2013 because of a couple of changes, according to state economists.
The first change raises the tax-free bar on clothing, bags and backpacks from a maximum of $75 per item to $100.
The second waives the collection of sales taxes on the first $750 of computers and related gear, regardless of the overall price of the electronics. Last year, when computer equipment was first introduced into the discount period, items had to cost less than $750.
“I do think it’s going to allow (electronics retailers) to sell more of their product line,” Fleming said. “This expands the ability for people to buy what they need.”
During the discount period, the collection of sales taxes will also be eliminated on certain school supplies costing less than $15 each, such as notebooks, pens and lunch boxes.
Florida economists have projected the “holiday” period will reduce state revenue by $32.3 million and local revenue to the tune of $7.3 million.
The projections are a jump from 2013, when a similar three-day “holiday” hit state revenue by $28.3 million and local government income by $6.4 million.
The projected increase this year is in part due to a higher demand for electronics.
The changes were included as part of the wide-ranging “patchwork of awesomeness” tax package approved by state lawmakers this spring. When combined with a rollback in vehicle-registration fees, the package gave Scott his election-year request for $500 million in cuts to taxes and fees.
The patchwork (HB 5601), so named by one of its chief architects House Finance & Tax Chairman Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, offered a wide array of tax cuts. They included two other sales-tax holidays: discounts from May 31 to June 8 on hurricane supplies and another tax-free period that will run from Sept. 19 to Sept. 21 on the first $1,500 of the sales price of new Energy Star and WaterSense products.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Registration Event Today For Dancework Classes
July 29, 2014
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held today in Byrneville.
The registration will be from 5:30 until 7 p.m. today at the Byrneville Community Center. Or students can register by mail; click here for a form.
Ballet, tap and jazz classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning the week of August 18 for girls ages 3 and up, including a class for teens and a hip hop class for those 10 and up. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. She is also the coach for the Northview High School Dance Team.
For a printable information sheet, schedule and registration form, click here. For further information, contact Heather Leonard at (850) 529-1358 or email hldanceworks@gmail.com.
Pictured: The Heather Leonard’s Danceworks Spring 2014 recital at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
More Rain Possible Tonight
July 28, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and frequent lightning. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 91. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 91. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90.
Today Last Day To Register To Vote In August Primary
July 28, 2014
Today is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for those who wish to cast a ballot in the August 26 Primary Election, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations and party changes must be completed and received or postmarked no later than July 28 in order for them to be effective for the August 26 election. Address changes can be made after the books close. Voters unsure of their registration status can visit EscambiaVotes.com and click Am I Registered?.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or if you have neither, the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Completed applications must be received or postmarked no later than July 28. Send to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601, or take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. Also, to have a form mailed to you, call (595-3900) or e-mail the Elections Office (soe@escambiavotes.com).
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
For voters who wish to cast a ballot by mail (an absentee ballot), go to EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or e-mail the elections office. Early voting begins August 16 at seven locations throughout Escambia County.
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Hot Monday, Cold Front Bringing Rain
July 27, 2014
A cold front will push into the area on Monday. Expect scattered showers and storms to develop ahead of this front with some strong storms that are capable of producing frequent lightning, gusty winds and torrential downpours. Isolated severe storms with damaging winds are possible, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Mostly sunny in the morning becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of thunderstorms in the morning. Chance of showers through the day. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. West winds around 5 mph with gusts to around 15 mph becoming 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 50 percent. Highest heat index readings 105 to 107 in the afternoon.
- Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall in the evening. Lows around 70. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 91. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.