LIVE VIDEO: Auburn Oaks At Toomer’s Corner Cut Down Today
April 23, 2013
The iconic oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn were cut down today, after being poisoned by a rival fan in 2010.
The twin, century-old oak trees have celebrated Auburn’s spirit with countless thousands of revelers who have engaged in the long-standing tradition of “rolling Toomer’s Corner,” a celebration occurring after every significant Auburn sports victory.
The university unveiled plans on Saturday for the redevelopment of the corner (pictured left, click to enlarge).
An arcing path design, set to be implemented in 2014 with the planting of two oak trees, was selected after a series of public workshops and an online survey in which more than 10,000 alumni, students, fans and friends provided opinions and ideas.
“We are unveiling the results of your ideas today,” said Bill Stone, Auburn Alumni Association president, who helped unveil an artist’s rendering. “I can tell one thing for certain: Live trees will be planted on the corner and the great tradition of rolling the corner will continue.”
Officials said the new design will place trees farther back from the intersection; maintain the existing and historic character of the corner; retain the 1917 gates in their current positions; add more seating and shaded areas; and include the planting of additional trees along a curved walkway through Samford Park.
Pictured below: The Auburn oaks at Toomer’s Corner were rolled one last time this past Saturday. Image courtesy Auburn University for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clouds Today, Rain By Mid-Week
April 22, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Increasing Clouds, Rain By Wednesday
April 21, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunny, Cooler Saturday
April 20, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Pictured: A colorful North Escambia sunset Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Free Family Wellness Community Block Party Today
April 20, 2013
A free Family Wellness Community Block Party is going on today in Flomaton.
From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the event will take place in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Flomaton. The event will include car seat inspections, child fingerprinting, drug awareness information, medical screenings and much more.
The First Baptist Church of Flomaton is located at 648 Houston Street, just off Highway 29 in Flomaton.
Saturday Volunteers Needed For Barrineau Park Cleanup
April 19, 2013
Volunteers are needed for an Earth Day cleanup this Saturday in Barrineau Park. The Honeysuckle Garden Club, the Barrineau Park Historical Society, Barrineau Park 4-H and Clean and Green are sponsoring their annual trash pick-up day.
Volunteers are asked to arrive at the Barrineau Park Community Center by 8:30 a.m. to receive their assignments. Lunch will be served back at the community center for all participants beginning at 11 a.m.
Jay Relay For Life Begins Tonight
April 19, 2013
The 2013 Jay Relay for Life will begin at 6:00 tonight at Jay High School. The all-night event will continue until closing ceremonies at 9 a.m. Saturday.
A Luminaria ceremony begins at 9 p.m. as participants remember friends and loved ones that have lost the battle against cancer and to honor those fighting cancer presently. Luminaria bags will be for sale prior to the ceremony.
There will also be plenty of entertainment, food, fun and fellowship all night long, according to organizers.
Pictured: The 2013 Jay Relay for Life at Jay High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Some Walnut Hill Water Works Customers Without Water
April 17, 2013
Walnut Hill Water Works/EREC said the Escambia County Road Department broke off a flush valve with a road grader about 3:30 p.m. near Pineville Road and Ryals Lane. Repairs are estimated to be complete before 6 p.m.
District Softball Round Two: Jay, Northview In Action Today
April 16, 2013
The District 1 Class 1A softball tournament is under way this week at Chipley.
In day one of the tourney, the Jay Lady Royals defeated the Baker Bulldogs 10-0. Jay will face Baker at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The No. 1 seed Northview Lady Chiefs, who sat out Monday with a bye, will face Chipley at 6 p.m. in the second round of the district tournament.
The district championship will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Locals Reported Safe At Boston Marathon (With List)
April 15, 2013
Reports are coming in from numerous North Escambia runners that were at the Boston Marathon this afternoon, and all are reported to be safe.
The local runners included several people with Paul Epstein, owner of Running Wild in Pensacola. Rusty Branch, pastor of the Dogwood Baptist Church on Highway 97, was in that group. At last report, he and his family were safe at the airport trying to get back home.
“We are fine, and the rest of the Running Wild group is fine,” Branch told NorthEscambia.com from the airport in Boston Monday afternoon.
Mark Rice, administrator of the Atmore Vision Center, also ran today’s Boston Marathon and has checked in with friends and family.
Matt Dobson of Jay, who frequently runs the Boston Marathon, did not participate this year. He qualified and was registered, but chose not to participate due to schedule conflicts and a lack of long runs. In 2004, Dobson finished the Boston Marathon 49th overall as the 16th fastest American.
Pensacola city councilman Brian Spencer did run the marathon and has been reported safe.
The following North Escambia/Pensacola area runners were reportedly at the Boston Marathon and have been reported safe:
- Heather Asmar, Pensacola Beach
- Russell “Rusty” Branch, Cantonment
- Nicholas Challen, Milton
- Kristen Corderman, Niceville
- Cherie Epstein, Pensacola
- Paul Epstein, Pensacola
- Steve Harris, Pensacola
- Evan Malone, Gulf Breeze
- Sarah Pritchard, Pensacola
- Stephanie Rafferty, Pensacola
- Mark Rice, Atmore
- Brian Spencer, Pensacola
Do you know anyone from the North Escambia or Pensacola area in Boston today for the marathon? Email news@northescambia.com
Pictured top: The “Running Wild” group from Pensacola running the Boston Marathon today are reportedly safe, according to the business. Rusty Branch, pastor of the Dogwood Baptist Church, is on the far right in the photo. They are shown in a photo this morning prior to the race.