The Heat Continues, Maybe An Evening Shower
July 1, 2012
A heat advisory continues in effect for Sunday for our readers in Alabama. There’s not a heat advisory in Florida, but it will still be a hot one.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest.
- Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny through mid morning, then becoming cloudy, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Independence Day: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Three Injured In Serious Traffic Crash (With Photo Gallery)
July 1, 2012
For an update to this story, click here. This article is for archive purposes only.
Three Cantonment residents were injured in a serious traffic crash Saturday morning, including a man trapped in his nearly demolished vehicle for about 45 minutes.
The head-on crash happened about 10:30 a.m. on Highway 297A at Eight Mile Creek Road, just northwest of the Nine Mile and Pine Forest Road intersection.
For a photo gallery, click here.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 20-year old Tyler Moore was eastbound on Highway 297A in a 2003 Toyota Tundra when he veered into the lane occupied by a 200 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 31-year old David Karrick of Cantonment.
Karrick’s car came to rest upright in a ditch next to the roadway. It took first responders from multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, including a special operations team, about 45 minutes extricate Karrick from the car. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight as a “trauma alert” in critical condition.
Tyler Moore was seriously injured in the crash, while his passenger, 17-year old Kayla Moore of Cantonment, received minor injuries. The brother and sister were transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital.
Tyler Moore was cited by the FHP for failure to maintain a single lane.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Three people were injured in this two vehicle crash Saturday morning on Highway 297A at Eight Mile Creek Road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Forecast: Heat Advisory
June 30, 2012
The heat is on — and potentially dangerous — in the North Escambia area this weekend. Officials are urging caution as temperatures approach 100 and heat indices climb as high as 111 on Sunday.
There is a heat advisory in effect for Sunday afternoon.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 111. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Independence Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
ECUA Trash Collection Schedules Changed Next Week
June 30, 2012
Trash pickup days will change next week for most North Escambia ECUA customers due to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
ECUA residential sanitation customers scheduled for collection on Tuesday will have their garbage, recycling and yard trash picked up on Monday. Collection for Wednesday customers will be on Tuesday. The collection routes for July 5 and 6 will remain on their regular schedule.
For more information, call ECUA at (850) 476-0480.
Today: Benefit Car Washes, Yard Sale For Molino, NWE Teams
June 30, 2012
Two area teams will be working hard to raise money for playoff trips with car washes today:
The Northwest Escambia 12U boys will hold a car wash today from 8 a.m. until noon at Marvin’s Home Improvement in Atmore to raise money for a trip to the state tournament beginning July 6 in Alexander City, Ala. Donations are accepted.
The Molino Majors will hold a car wash and yard sale today from 8 a.m. until noon at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. The car was is a minimum $5 donation. The team is raising funds for a trip to Brooksville, Fla., on July 13 for the Florida Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament.
Lambeth VFD Yard Sale, Boston Butt Sale Today
June 30, 2012
The annual fundraiser for the Lambeth Community Volunteer Fire Department is going on today.
Boston Butts are $25, Ribs are $20, combos are $5 and sandwiches are $3. Homemade ice cream will also be available.
There is also a yard sale going on from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Items include a table with four chairs, couch, jewelry, curio cabinet, baby items, clothes and other items.
The Lambeth Community Volunteer Fire Department is located at 4888 Upper Creek Road, north of Flomaton. For information or directions, call (850) 254-0079.
It’s Only Getting Hotter
June 28, 2012
It’s going to be downright hot the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. A ridge of high pressure will build over the area, pushing temperatures up near 100 and heat index values as high as 110.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Independence Day: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Latest Update On TS Debby
June 26, 2012
The latest conditions and forecast path for Tropical Strom Debby are in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Images on this page are updated live by the National Hurricane Center. Reload the page to see the latest updates.
Summer Reading Program Today At Library
June 26, 2012
The Summer Reading Series for kids and teens at the Century Branch Library will continue at noon today.
Today’s program will feature cartooning with Mike Artell. The award-winning cartoonist and illustrator will present an exciting time of cool and creepy facts about a variety of subjects that will get kids excited about reading, writing, drawing and creative thinking.
There will not be a program next Tuesday, July 3. The Summer Reading Series will conclude on Tuesday, July 10 with a program featuring drums with Mark Seymour. Children will explore the world of drums, drum styles and sounds.
The Century Branch Library also offers a preschool story time each Tuesday in June at 10:30 a.m. for children birth to five-years old.
For more information, call the library at (850) 256-6217.
Pictured: An earlier Summer Reading Series program at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Prepares For Debby
June 25, 2012
Gulf Power Company is making preparations for Tropical Storm Debbie and is asking customers to plan for power outages as the storm moves slowly towards Northwest Florida.
“With a direct hit by a strong tropical storm or a category one hurricane, some areas could be without power for several days, depending on the damage,” said Jeff Rogers, corporate communications supervisor with Gulf Power. “We have storm-tested crews and a comprehensive response plan that we are prepared to put into action, but it does take time to safely put the electric system back together after a severe tropical storm or hurricane.”
The utility has already made contact with its sister utilities, Mississippi Power, Alabama Power and Georgia Power, should it need to call on their resources for assistance. Gulf Power will also be in contact with other utilities throughout the Southeast to either provide assistance or receive assistance, depending on where Debbie makes landfall.
Rogers said Gulf Power encourages customers to prepare for the storm as well. “The better prepared our customers are, the easier the restoration process will be for everyone,” Rogers said. “We prepare year-round for the unexpected, and we urge everyone to be prepared and have a plan.”
“Fortunately, we have a lot of experience in emergency restoration work,” Rogers said. “We send crews to hurricane stricken areas almost every season to help out. And we know we can count on that same help if we have a hurricane here.”
After Hurricane Ivan in 2004 Gulf Power brought in more than 5,000 outside workers who completed the major restoration process in less than two weeks.
Here are some power line and generator safety tips from the Gulf Power Storm Center site:
- Treat any downed wire as if it is energized. You can’t tell by looking if a downed wire is live or not. Telephone or cable television wires that are touching a power line could become energized and should also be avoided. Notify Gulf Power, your local emergency agency, or call 911 to report the location of any downed lines.
- Don’t attempt to repair the electrical system or pull tree limbs off lines. Let trained work crews perform this potentially dangerous work.
- Stay clear of areas with substantial debris or downed trees because it could conceal an energized power line. Also stay clear of chain link fences which may be energized if touching a downed line.
- Wait a reasonable time before calling Gulf Power if your entire neighborhood is without power.
- If you have an electric generator, please ensure that you have isolated your home or business from the utility electrical service lines by opening main breakers or other devices.
Do not connect portable generators to your household electrical wiring. This can cause serious injury to you and to Gulf Power employees working on the lines in your neighborhood.
- Connect only essential appliances — such as freezers and refrigerators — directly to the generator.
- NEVER use a generator in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly. When you use a portable generator, remember that you cannot smell or see carbon monoxide.
- NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “back-feeding.” This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit-protection devices.
Here are some more storm tips from the Gulf Power Storm Center site:
- Turn your air conditioning down to cool down your house before the storm. If you keep the doors and windows closed you can keep your house relatively cool for about 48 hours after the storm.
- Charge your cell phone before the storm — and anything else that needs to be charged.
- Keep freezer doors closed and sealed. Well-filled freezers keep most foods frozen two to three days if the door is kept closed.
- If your power goes out, turn off your air conditioning unit. Wait a few minutes after the power is restored before turning your system back on. This way every air conditioning system in your neighborhood will not come on at the same time, overloading circuits.
- Leave a porch light switched on so that utility crews will be able to determine immediately the success of specific repairs.