With Isaac Cancel The Republican National Convention?
August 23, 2012
[TALLAHASSEE] Organizers of the Republican National Convention will make the call on whether to cancel their shindig or not as Tropical Storm Isaac bears down on Florida, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday.
Ramping up efforts as Isaac continues its track toward the state – and in some models toward the Tampa Bay area where as many as 50,000 visitors are expected for the convention – Scott said Florida and local officials will work with organizers to keep them apprised of storm conditions.
But the final decision on whether to go forward with the convention that begins Monday will rest with the RNC, though the state will provide input.
“Local teams will make evacuation plans for their areas depending on what happens,” Scott said during the first of two scheduled updates Thursday. “The convention will make its own decision. The goal is that you have everybody together, we’ll have the same information and can coordinate our efforts and work together.”
State emergency managers will hold twice daily briefings with convention organizers and local responders starting today in an effort to ensure that everyone has up-to-date information.
Scott plans to activate the state’s emergency operations center later Thursday and will hold more regular updates in the days leading up to the convention, which runs through next week.
“This is the convention’s decision,” Scott said. “They will work with the city. They will work with the county. They will work with the state. By having these briefings, everybody will all have the same information so I don’t think we will have any confusion.”
On Wednesday, Florida’s director of emergency management, Bryan Koon, said portions of the Tampa Bay area are located in mandatory evacuation zones. Convention visitors would be expected to comply with local evacuation directives if they’re ordered, Koon said.
Scott is scheduled to speak at the convention Monday evening, but said he will decide later in the week if he will be available. Four years ago, then-Gov. Charlie Crist skipped the Republican convention in Minnesota because of Hurricane Gustav in Florida.
“I’m responsible for the 19 million people who live here and the visitors,” Scott said. “That’s what my focus will be.”
Following an inadequate response to Hurricane Andrew 20 years ago this week, Florida officials have spent tens of millions on emergency response and set up a command system that links local, state and federal agencies together.
Earlier this year, emergency managers conducted a hurricane exercise that focused on a category 3 hurricane hitting the Tampa Bay region during the convention.
While national attention has focused on the RNC, Scott said the track of the storm can change dramatically over the next several days. Nearly all of Florida is currently within the storm’s potential path.
“This state is prepared,” Scott said. “We’ve gone through hurricanes.”
By The News Service of Florida
Northview Volleyball Opens Play Tonight (With Printable Schedule)
August 23, 2012
The Northview High School Lady Chiefs have released their volleyball scheduled for 2012.
The varsity will begin play today in a preseason classic at Northview with two-court setup games at 5 and 6 p.m. The varsity and junior varsity teams will begin their 2012 regular season on the road against Flomaton on August 28.
Members of the varsity team are: Misty Doran, Rebecca Grim, Paeton Hadley, Hannah Fiellin, Rebecca Masitias, Shelley Mothershed, Morgan Payne, Tiffani Pritchett, Taylor Roberson, Morgan Smith, Danielle Steadham and Lily Townson.
Members of the junior varsity team are: Penny Banda, E’Layzha Bates, Hope Coggins, Kayla Fears, Leah Fisher, Hanna Ging, Keyth Grice, Kyndall Hall, Hayley Lambert, Mckenzie Nassar, Shelby Nielson and Maddi Webber.
For a complete, printable schedule, click here.
Pictured top: The varsity Northview High School volleyball team. Pictured below: The junior varsity Lady Chiefs. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Meet The Chiefs Tonight
August 23, 2012
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 tonight at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Isaac Possibly Headed To Florida; GOP Convention On Alert
August 22, 2012
Tropical Storm Isaac is churning in the Atlantic, possible headed toward Florida. The latest details on the storm are in the graphic above.
Isaac, the ninth named storm of the season – giving Republican National Convention officials something to think about. While the storm is not terribly well organized, early forecast tracks have the storm moving into the Caribbean, crossing Hispaniola and Cuba, possibly by Sunday evening. But after that, Isaac could become a problem for the GOP convention, which starts Monday in Tampa.
Official forecast tracks don’t project much beyond Sunday, but some early possible paths would include the Gulf coast of Florida early in the week. State emergency officials have said they’ve done exercises contemplating the possibility of a hurricane hitting Tampa during the convention, and have drawn up evacuation plans that account for the huge influx of delegates and media.
Mosquito Spraying Planned Tonight Off Nine Mile, Ten Mile, Hwy 29, University
August 20, 2012
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division plans to spray in an area along and near Nine Mile Road tonight from 6:30 until 10:00.
Spraying will occur in two areas, bounded by:
- Nine Mile Road, Johnson Avenue, Zelda Street, Highway 29
- Nine Mile Road, Johnson Avenue, Scenic Highway, University Parkway
- Ten Mile Road/Greenbrier Blvd, Nine Mile Road, Latham Street/2nd Avenue, Chemstrand Road
The following information was released by the Escambia County Mosquito Control Division:
Mosquito control administration and operations teams have directed surveillance activity, identified target mosquito species and determined that today’s justified actions are warranted. Methods used to determine necessary fogging mission activity include dry ice-baited light traps, landing rate counts and receiving focally located service requests from the public.
Fogging mission hours vary by start and conclusion times, but generally adult mosquito pesticides are applied in the early evening hours. We ask residents to keep travel in these areas to a minimum during spray times.
For additional information or to request service, please contact the Mosquito Control Division during normal business hours at 937-2188.
Send Us Your Back To School Pictures
August 20, 2012
NorthEscambia.com will publish a gallery of back to school photos on Tuesday, and we would love to include your child. Email the photos to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion in a photo gallery. Please include your child’s name and school.
Work, School Week Forecast
August 20, 2012
Here is your back to school week forecast for the North Escambia area:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Rain Chances Remain High For Back To School Monday
August 19, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
School Orientation
August 15, 2012
Escambia County school students return to class Monday, August 20. Students will have the opportunity to attend orientation sessions, pick up schedules and drop off supplies in advance on Thursday or Friday.
(Looking for a school supply list? Click here.)
Orientations have been scheduled at schools across the North Escambia area:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Bratt
- August 16, 9-10:30 a.m., Pre-K and K
- August 17, 9-10:30 a.m., Grades 1-5
- Jim Allen
- August 17, 9-10:30 a.m.,
- Molino Park
- August 16, 9-10:30 a.m., Pre-K and K
- August 17, 9-10 a.m., Grades 1-5
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Ernest Ward
- August 16, 2 p.m., 6th and new students
- Ransom
- August 16, 2 p.m., 6th and new students
HIGH SCHOOLS
- Northview
- August 15, 8:30 a.m., Seniors
- August 15, 10 a.m., Juniors
- August 15, 1:30 p.m., Sophomores
- August 16, 9 a.m., Freshmen
- Tate
- Freshmen — previously held
- August 16, 1-2:30 p.m., Grades 10-12
- West Florida
- Freshmen — previously held
- August 16, 10 a.m., Juniors
- August 16, 1 p.m., Sophomores
- August 16, 6 p.m., Seniors and parents
For schools in Escambia County not listed above, click here.
Rain Chances Lower Today, Increasing By The Weekend
August 15, 2012
Rain chances, and the chance of rainbows, will be a bit lower on Wednesday, but the chance of rain will increase to 50 percent by Friday and Saturday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.