Regional Waste Roundup Saturday At Tate High School
December 6, 2013
A Regional Roundup will be held Saturday at Tate High School from 8 a.m. until noon.
Regional Roundup events provide an opportunity to properly dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste (HHW), shoes and up to four tires per vehicle, free of charge.
Businesses and residents can dispose of all types of clean, dry, recyclable electronics including computers, monitors and terminals, keyboards, mice, printers, TVs, copiers, gaming systems, remotes, fax machines, VCRs, stereo systems, cell phones and telephones. Electronics that have been partially recycled will not be accepted. Businesses, with large amounts of electronics, should call the Department of Solid Waste Management to make an appointment to dispose of these items at the Perdido Landfill. Appliances, including fans and air conditioners, are not accepted.
HHW items can cause injury if handled improperly. These items will usually have a warning or cautionary statement on their labels, such as flammable, corrosive, poison or toxic and include items such as swimming pool chemicals, cleaners, drain openers, paint and paint products, fuels, gases, lawn and garden chemicals, aerosol cans and automotive repair and maintenance products.
Shoes are also collected for the Soles4Souls program. Donated shoes should be bound together with a rubber band.
For more information about Regional Roundup events, proper disposal of waste or to make an appointment for a business electronics drop-off, contact the Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management, 937-2160.
Tonight: An Evening In Bethlehem; Byrneville Elementary Carnival; Barrineau Park Music Night
December 6, 2013
Here are some events taking place tonight in the North Escambia area:
Barrineau Park Music Night
The monthly Barrineau Park Music Night will be held at the Barrineau Park Community Center on Friday, December 6. The singing starts at 6:30 p.m. Food and refreshments will be available beginning at 5 p.m. The featured bands will be the Rowell Family Bluegrass Band at 6:30 followed by the Southern Sound Bluegrass Band at 7:30. The event is a family-friendly — no alcohol is permitted on the property, and no smoking is allowed in or near the building. For more information, call (850) 572-4433. The Barrineau Park Community Center is located on Barrineau Park School road, about three miles west of Molino.
Byrneville Elementary Christmas Carnival
The Byrneville Elementary School Christmas Carnival is tonight from 5:00-7:00. The basket auction begins at 7:00. Tickets for games, food, pictures with Santa, and the country store are five for $1 until 3:00 p.m. Friday. After 3:00 p.m. tickets are 25 cents each..
An Evening In Bethlehem
Gonzalez United Methodist Church will present “An Evening in Bethlehem” Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7, from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m each evening. Come experience the people, places and circumstances that surrounded the birth of Jesus Christ. Live animals and actors will round out the setting of Bethlehem on that night. The event is free and everyone is invited to attend. Tour and refreshments included. Handicap accessible. The church is located at 2026 Pauline Street in Cantonment. (850) 968-6006 or visit www.gonzalezmethodist.org.
Yes Virginia, It Really Is December (And About 80 Degrees)
December 5, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 9am. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 59. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 64.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Touart, Reynolds On County Administrator Candidate List
December 4, 2013
Escambia County Commissioners are expected to move ahead during a Thursday meeting to cut list of 16 candidates for county administrator down to a short list of five.
There are two very familiar names on the list of 16 recommended by the Waters Consulting Group, a search firm that was hired to find a permanent replacement. The previous administrator, Randy Oliver, was fired about a year ago.
Touart (pictured) and former Pensacola City Administrator Bill Reynolds applied for the job. Back in July, the commission voted to prohibit Touart from applying for the job as he told them he had no intention of seeking the permanent administrator’s job. County legal staff later said that it would be illegal to prohibit Touart from applying for the job.
Once the commission creates a shortlist of five candidates, interviews will begin in January with the selection of a finalist by February.
Northview Band To Present Christmas Concert Thursday Night
December 4, 2013
The Northview High School band will hold their annual Christmas Concert Thursday night in the school theatre. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $2 at the door.
Pictured: The 2012 Northview band’s Christmas Concert. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Chamber Schedules Christmas Open House
December 3, 2013
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Christmas Open House on Thursday.
Chamber members, prospective members and area residents are invited to attend the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and learn more about what the Century Chamber offers while enjoying light refreshments from 3-6 p.m. at 7811 North Century Boulevard. For more information, call (850) 256-3155.
Pictured above: Oakland Ard and Lina Showalter enjoy refreshments during the 2012 Christmas Open House at the Century Chamber of Commerce. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Still Time To Enter This Saturday’s Molino Christmas Parade
December 3, 2013
There is still time to enter the Molino Christmas Parade which will roll down Crabtree Church Road at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The parade route starts at the west end of Crabtree Church Road and ends at the Molino Ballpark were Santa Will be waiting to visit with all the good little boys and girls.
To participate in the parade, preregister at Fran’s Diner or the day of the parade. Registration fees are $30 for floats; $20 for vehicles, motorcycles, tractors or golf carts; and $15 each for horses. No 4-wheelers or go-carts. All proceeds go directly back to the community to help children in need.
For more information, contact Charity at (850) 324-4463 or Fran’s Diner at (850) 587-2803.
Donations such as toys and non-perishable food can be dropped off at Fran’s Diner. T he parade rain date will be Sunday, December 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Pictured: The 2012 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Warmer Temps, Slight Rain Chance
December 2, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- This Afternoon: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 9am. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 60.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 69.
Weather Gets Warmer Each Day
December 1, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 59.
Gulf Power Rate Increase Could Be Approved Tuesday
November 30, 2013
The Florida Public Service Commission next week could approve a proposed settlement that would lead to increased base electric rates for customers of Gulf Power Company.
Commission Chairman Ronald Brise has approved adding the issue to a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, and Commissioner Lisa Edgar — who has been overseeing the rate case — said that was the PSC’s plan for considering the settlement.
The Pensacola-based utility and representatives of consumers and business groups finalized the proposed settlement last week.
Gulf Powerwould be able to increase base electric rates by $35 million in January and an additional $20 million in 2015. Originally, the utility had sought to increase base rates by $74.4 million, along with another potential $16.4 million 2015.
Several parties opposed the full rate hike amount, including the state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility issues; the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, which represents major electricity users; federal government agencies that are Gulf customers; and retailers Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, and Sam’s East, Inc.
Gulf Power said over the next three years the company is building and replacing power lines and infrastructure — some more than 70 years old — to keep electricity flowing to its 430,000 customers. In addition, new lines and equipment are needed to comply with new mandatory federal environmental regulations.
Part of the new transmission line construction is to help the company comply with new federal environmental regulations that will change the way the company operates its plants and will require plants to be shut down at regular intervals. The new lines and equipment will be used to ensure voltage stability and reliable power flow while the plants are offline.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured inset: Gulf Power crews making upgrades to a distribution line. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.