Escambia Calls For Full Audit Of Pensacola Chamber Use Of County Funds
March 7, 2013
The finances of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce are coming under scrutiny over a BP gift card program.
An independent audit found possible “irregularities” in a $2.4 million gift card program paid for by BP over the last couple of years.
Now, Escambia County wants a full audit of all county funds sent to the chamber.
“Escambia County was made aware of a situation at the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce from Chamber President and CEO Jim Hizer. The County has turned this matter over to the office of Pam Childers, Escambia County Clerk of Court, and has requested a full audit review of Chamber funds received from Escambia County,” Escambia County said in a prepared statement issued Wednesday evening.
The gift cards have been given out by the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Perdido Key Chamber and Visit Pensacola since 2011 as part of the BP program.
The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will hold a special meeting on Friday to look at the independent audit results.
Rain Chance Returns
March 5, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Tuesday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
911, Phone Outages In North Escambia Area
March 4, 2013
A phone service outage in the North Escambia area has caused disruption to the 911 system. In the event of an emergency, residents are advised to call a local fire station at one of the following numbers:
- Molino: 587-2661
- Walnut Hill: 327-4431
- Cantonment: 937-2210
- Century/Bratt: 256-4592
Emergency services staff will be standing by at the fire stations to answer calls for service and provide assistance. The cause of the outage is unknown at this time.
In portions of the area, residents an businesses are unable to call outside their own exchanges, including calls to Pensacola. AT&T cellphone customers in the Molino area are also reporting no cellular services.
South Hightway 99 Now Open
March 4, 2013
South Highway 99 near Bay Springs has reopened. The roadway was closed earlier Tuesday at the railroad crossing, according to the Escambia County Public Works Department.
Crews from the Escambia County Road Department and Alabama Southern Railroad made repairs to the crossing, which was damaged over the weekend.
Sunny And Warmer Monday
March 4, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
Forecast: Winter Holds On
March 3, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
Freezing Saturday Night
March 2, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Light southeast wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Northview To Hold Baseball Camp Today
March 2, 2013
The Northview Chiefs will hold a Baseball Camp today.
The camp is open to all machine pitch through senior league players wanting to sharpen their baseball skills. Players can get valuable, specialized training from the Northview
Chief’s Varsity Baseball Team.
Under the supervision and direction of Northview’s Head Coach Marty Lister, players will be taught the necessary skills to become a better player. All aspects of the games will be covered such as, base running, stealing bases, pick-off moves for both pitchers and catchers, batting and throwing.
All camp participants will get one-on-one instruction from the Northview players.
The camp, sponsored by the Northview Diamond Club, will be held Saturday, March 2 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Registration time is 8:30; registration is $20 per player.
Pictured: Last year’s Diamond Club Baseball Camp at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flood Warning Continues: Escambia River Begins To Fall
March 1, 2013
The flood warning continues for the Escambia River, but the waters have started to slowly recede. The river will continue to fall below flood stage by Tuesday.
Pictured: The Escambia River out of its banks in Molino on Thursday. Reader submitted photos by Robert Harris, click to enlarge.
Today Is Property Tax Discount Deadline
February 28, 2013
Today is the final day to pay real estate and personal property taxes and receive a one percent discount, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley.
In order to receive the one percent discount, the payment must be:
- mailed with a postmark by February 28;
- left in a 24-hour drop box available at all offices by midnight February 28; or
- made on the tax collector website by midnight February 28.
Offices are located at:
- Downtown – 213 Palafox Place
- Marcus Pointe – 6451 North W Street
- Molino – 6440 Highway 95-A North, Suite A
- Warrington – 507 N. Navy Boulevard
Taxes can be paid online at www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information, call (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.