Final Day To Submit Name Ideas For Northview Stadium
October 7, 2013
Northview High School is considering naming their football stadium, possibly in memory of late teacher and coach Tommy Weaver. And today is the final day for the public to offer their input.
The school received an official request to name the stadium for Weaver, which set the naming process in motion. For a 30 day period, the school has accepted suggestions from the community for potential stadium names. Any name change would then be considered by the Escambia County School Board.
Suggestions must be submitted by the end of the school day today by email to bjohnson3@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters To Present Program Today At Molino Library
October 7, 2013
Firetrucks and firemen will be at the Molino Branch Library this afternoon at 4:00.
Children of all ages are invited to meet their local firefighters and climb aboard a fire engine. They will also learn about fire safety and what it takes to become a real firefighter. Special treats will be provided by Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Molino Fire Station 18.
For more information, contact the Molino Branch Library at (850) 435-1761.
Karen Dissapates; Cold Front Coming
October 6, 2013
Karen is gone, and a cold front is set to bring northerly winds and cooler temperatures.
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Monday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Rain Or Shine: Jay Peanut Festival To Go On This Weekend
October 5, 2013
The annual Jay Peanut Festival will go one this weekend, rain or shine.
For more than 20 years, The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm has been a fall tradition on the Gulf Coast, showcasing the history, agriculture, food and fun of Santa Rosa County. What started as a chance for local kids and farmers to show off their best of the season has become an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people to the Gabbert farm over two days.
The event includes the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. The Jay Peanut Festival is also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
Admission is free, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Gabbert farm is located at 3604 Pine Level Road.
Karen Fizzles Out; Expected Impact Now ‘Minimal’
October 5, 2013
Karen has all but fizzled out today downgraded to a tropical depression with winds down to 40 mph. The tropical storm watch that was in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has been dropped.
After a beautiful sunny Saturday, Sunday is expected to bring a few clouds from the remnants of Karen — expected to approach Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as just a tropical depression. Most areas will receive only up to an inch or two of rain, and the chance of severe weather is extremely small. Winds will gust to tropical storm strength only along the immediate coast, with 10-15 mph winds and gusts up to 20 mph forecast in the North Escambia area.
Complete details are in the graphics above and below, click to enlarge.
Blackwater River State Forest, Including Campgrounds, Closing
October 4, 2013
All campgrounds and recreation areas on Blackwater River State Forest will be closed today at 5 p.m. due to possible impacts from Tropical Storm Karen and will remain closed until further notice.
Campers and visitors in the campgrounds and recreation areas are being asked to leave by 4:00 p.m.
Areas will be reopened as soon as possible after impacts from Tropical Storm Karen have been assessed and mitigated. No road closures are anticipated at this time; however visitors should use extreme caution when traveling though Blackwater River State Forest due the possibility of downed trees and power lines. Flooding may also occur in low lying areas.
National Guard’s Storm Preparations Affected By Government Shutdown
October 4, 2013
As the Panhandle prepares for Karen, the Florida National Guard says preparations have been affected by the partial shutdown of the federal government. The National Guard has about 2,000 full-time federal employees, and half of them are furloughed.
“We will be affected,” National Guard Capt. Melissa DeLeon said Thursday. “Our maintenance guys have been furloughed, so they are currently not here. In normal operations we would be maintaining equipment right now, and we can’t do that, since those soldiers have been furloughed.”
State emergency managers are working with the National Guard to fund the positions in the short-term with state money, and later apply for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Parts of the Panhandle — including Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties — were placed under a hurricane watch after Tropical Storm Karen formed Thursday morning off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. The storm is expected to become a hurricane, before making landfall as a tropical storm this weekend, possibly in Alabama, Mississippi or Northwest Florida.
Tate Begins District Play
October 4, 2013
The Tate Aggies are riding high on a four-game winning streak, but this week the start district 7A team will play against powerhouse Niceville. At 5-0, the Niceville Eagles have scored 154 points this season while allowing their opponents 58 points.
The Aggies defense has prevented their opponents from scoring a single point in the last two games. Tate’s coach, Ronnie Douglas said after last week’s game that shutting out Pine Forest High School 35-0 was “big”. Tate’s defense held Pine Forest to just 160 yards rushing and only 37 yards passing.
Tate’s workhorse running back Tay Samuel, who has put up big numbers this year, needs another big game to help the Aggies continue their winning streak. Tate’s defense also has to continue limiting their opponent to minimum yards on the ground and in the air in order to win. Tate knows Niceville will be a very different challenge than what the Aggies have faced over the past couple of weeks.
The Aggies will honor their seniors for Senior Night tonight as they play their last regular season home game against Niceville at 7:30 pm at Tate’s Pete Gindl Stadium.
File photo.
Gulf Power, EREC Gear Up For Karen
October 4, 2013
Gulf Power and Escambia River Electric are monitoring Tropical Storm Karen and making preparations should the storm affect our area.
“If we have a direct hit from a Category 1 or strong tropical storm, outages could last two to three days,” said Jeff Rogers, corporate communications manager. “We are making plans to account for all scenarios.”
Line crews are fueling their trucks and warehouses are stocking materials. In addition to Gulf Power crews, about 60 contract line crews and tree trimmer crews are on standby to assist in restoration efforts.
“Our employees are well trained and have the resources to repair our system as soon as the storm has safely passed. We have additional crews and equipment from other electric cooperatives ready to assist if needed,” Said EREC spokesperson Sabrina Owens.
“We are looking at our crew schedules to ensure we have maximum coverage should the storm affect our area,” Rogers said. “We will continue to monitor the storm’s track…and will make preparations based on the landfall of the storm.”
Pictured top: Clint Floyd checks equipment on Gulf Power trucks. Pictured inset: Stewart Cornelius loads equipment on a Gulf Power truck. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Football Schedule
October 4, 2013
Here’s a look at the football schedule for tonight in the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- *Northview at Jay, 7 p.m.
- *Bay at West Florida, 7 p.m.
- *Niceville at Tate, 7:30 p.m.
- *Pace at Pine Forest, 7:30 p.m.
- *Mosley at Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
- *PHS at Escambia, 7:30 p.m.
- *Washington at Milton, 7:30 p.m.
- *Navarre at Fort Walton Beach, 7 p.m.
- *Rutherford at Gulf Breeze, 7 p.m.
* denotes district games
ALABAMA
- Flomaton at Sweet Water
- Thomasville at Escambia Co. (Atmore)
- Escambia Academy at Pike Liberal
- T.R. Miller at Cottage Hill Christian
- Excel at W.S. Neal