Century Council To Hold Workshops, Meetings
September 4, 2012
The Town of Century will hold a series of meetings this afternoon and a special workshop on Thursday.
At 5:30 p.m., a Citizens Advisory Task Force will hold a meeting to discuss submitting an application for a Community Development Block Grant.
At 6 p.m., the council will hold a workshop to discuss a Community Development Block Grant housing assistance plan.
At 7 p.m., the council will hold their regular first meeting of the month, rescheduled from Monday due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday.
On Thursday, the council will hold a Fourth Budget Workshop at 3 p.m. to finalize the town’s fiscal year 2012-2013 budget.
All meetings and workshops are open to the public and will be held at the Century Town Haoo, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Focus Now Turns To Democrats, Obama In Charlotte
September 4, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Democrats gather here this week to officially nominate President Barack Obama for a second term, their national convention is expected to have a strikingly different tone than last week’s Republican celebration.
In Tampa last week, GOP speakers and nominee Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, tried to use their nationally-broadcast platform to remind voters of the struggling economy and give them a reason to reverse course in hopes of turning things around.
By contrast, Democrats are expected to try to make the case that Republican policies were responsible for the financial crisis that sparked the Great Recession to begin with, and that Obama has things headed in the right direction and deserves a chance to see things through.
That case might already have been made more difficult when Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, told CBS’ Bob Schieffer this weekend that Americans weren’t better off than they were four years ago.
The convention is also expected to have less of a Florida feel than its Republican counterpart, in part because the GOP confab was held in Tampa and in part because there are fewer Democratic statewide elected officials than Republicans in Florida.
But Democrats will be keeping an eye on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, whose seat has turned into one of several the party hopes will allow it to hold onto its Senate majority. And former Gov. Charlie Crist, who bolted the Republican Party in 2010 and endorsed Obama in an op-ed piece in the Tampa Bay Times last week, is reportedly scheduled to address the convention.
State delegates are also expected to begin sizing up potential gubernatorial candidates for 2014, when Democrats hope Gov. Rick Scott’s dismal approval ratings will give them a chance to win the Governor’s Mansion for the first time since Lawton Chiles was elected in 1994.
Florida, however, will still be center stage. Republicans have conceded that a win for Romney in the electoral college becomes an almost impossible task if Obama carries Florida, and the president’s path to 270 electoral votes is also far easier with the state than without it.
That helps explain why Florida Republicans were chosen to deliver some of the more pointed criticisms of Obama from the podium in Tampa, criticisms that Obama will have to trump this week.
“Hope and change has become divide and conquer,” said U.S. Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who was chosen to introduce Romney before his acceptance speech.
Perhaps ironically, the Obama campaign could try to focus more attention on the president’s foreign policy, a weak point when he ran against U.S. Sen John McCain, a Vietnam veteran, in 2008.
In his weekly address, Obama gave hints of how he might try to thread the needle between highlighting foreign policy achievements — the killing of Osama bin Laden, the end of the war in Iraq, the NATO operation that toppled Muammar Gaddhafi and the winding down of the war in Afghanistan — while projecting a forward-looking message about the next four years.
“As we turn the page on a decade of war, it’s time to do some nation-building here at home,” Obama said. “ … It’s time to build a nation that lives up to the ideals that so many Americans have fought for — a nation where they can realize the dream they sacrificed to protect.”
Still, the Obama campaign has signaled that it will not necessarily let up on its efforts to paint Romney as a political chameleon focused on helping the wealthy.
“The goal of our convention is to bring the choice in this election into sharp focus,” deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said on a conference call last week.
But the campaign also hopes to make a potentially tricky case: That while even Democrats admit that the pace of the recovery is not as fast as it perhaps should be, Obama’s policies have paid off in helping to save the automobile industry and extend health care to millions of Americans.
“The country’s gone through a difficult period together, but we’ve made a difference,” said David Axelrod, one of the campaign’s chief strategists.
And Cutter noted that the 12 million jobs Romney promised to create in his speech to the convention matched the current Congressional Budget Office projections for job growth anyway.
“That wasn’t exactly bold leadership,” she said.
Labor Day Forecast
September 3, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Southwest winds around 5 mph becoming 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday: Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Century To Cut Allowable Fence Heights To Cut Crime
September 2, 2012
The Town of Century will consider an ordinance Tuesday night to cut back the height allowed for privacy fences in the town — partially in an attempt to cut back on crime.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he wants the town council to consider adopting the same fence ordinance already in place for residents in unincorporated Escambia County. McCall said four Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies have asked him to consider the ordinance because it would be a “great help to them fighting crime”.
McCall said at a recent Century Town Council meeting when a resident has a high, solid privacy fence in front of their home “they are hiding something”.
The mayor said Escambia County’s fence ordinance limits the height of a solid fence in front of a residence to three feet and a chain link to a four foot height. Escambia’s ordinance allows for a fence to be up to six feet high along the side and rear yard of a residence. To view Escambia County’s fence ordinance, click here.
The Century council is set to consider the fence ordinance during their regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Pictured: The Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Holiday Weekend Forecast
September 2, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Labor Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Market Offers Produce And Much More Today
September 1, 2012
The Market at St. Monica’s will be open Saturday in Cantonment — rain or shine — with lots of fresh produce and more.
Visitors to the market on the first and third Saturdays of each month have come to expect a wide variety of produce, but the market also offers baked goods, free range eggs, arts and crafts and items like soap, shampoo, and shampoo bars from goat’s milk.
Saturday, the market t is expected to also have bows from Love Me Knots, sweet treats from The Twisted Spoon, baked good from Polly and Glenda, picture frames and blueberry jam from Sarah Cagle, sweet potatoes, peas and much more.
Concessions are also available, including all-beef hotdogs, sno-cones, popcorn, cold sodas and bottled water.
The Market at Saint Monica’s will be held from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the church, located at 699 South Highway 95A in Cantonment.
The Market at Saint Monica’s is in the running for the title of America’s favorite small farmer’s market. Market shoppers can cast their vote in support of their region’s farmers, community and market. To vote for The Market at St. Monica’s, click here and select the market. After voting, American Farmland Trust will solicit a donation to protect American farmland, but donations are not required to vote. Voting ends Monday.
Pictured: Scenes from a recent Market at St. Monica’s. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tonight’s Prep Football Schedule
August 31, 2012
Here is tonight’s high school football schedule from across the North Escambia area.
Headed to a game? Share your photos — email them to news@northescambia.com tonight!
Florida
- John Paul II Catholic at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Rocky Bayou, 7 p.m. (at Destin Middle)
- Tate at St. Charles (LA), canceled
- West Florida at Escambia, 7:30 p.m.
- Catholic at Choctaw, 7 p.m.
- Washington at Navarre, 7:30 p.m.
- Arnold at Pace, 7:30 p.m.
- Milton at Crestview, 7:30 p.m.
Alabama
- Monroeville at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Escambia County (Atmore), 7 p.m.
- Escambia Academy at Hooper Academy, 7 p.m.
- Holtville at W.S. Neal, 7 p.m.
Football Cancellations At Tate, Northview, Ernest Ward, West Florida, PHS
August 30, 2012
Football games have been canceled at three North Escambia schools due to Hurricane Isaac.
The Tate High School Aggies regular season opener at Louisiana’s St. Charles High School scheduled for Friday night has been canceled.
The Northview High Chiefs junior varsity football game at West Florida High scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. It will be rescheduled to a later date.
At Ernest Ward Middle School, the football jamboree scheduled for Thursday night at Summerdale has been canceled. The first EWMS football game will be next Thursday, September 6 at home versus Perdido at 6 p.m.
Pine Forest High School at Stephenson, Ga., game has been canceled.
Pensacola High at Lincoln has been canceled.
Rain Chances Continue, Windy Tonight
August 29, 2012
There is a wind advisory in effect for the North Escambia area tonight. Here is your official North Escambia area forcast:
- Tonight: Cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Near steady temperature in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Thursday: Cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph becoming 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Near steady temperature in the mid 70s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Near steady temperature in the mid 70s.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Near steady temperature in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Labor Day: Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Near steady temperature in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Temperatures falling in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Near steady temperature in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
Urgent Call For Blood Donations
August 29, 2012
Northwest Florida Blood Services has issued an immediate call for blood donations after Hurricane Issac.
The blood center will resume normal operating hours Wednesday in Pensacola, Crestview, Ft Walton and Panama City.
“All eligible donors are asked to stop by our centers and give the gift of life to help build the local blood supply,” said Betty Roberts, spokesperson for Northwest Florida Blood Services. “All blood types are currently needed especially O negative blood type and platelets. Any person who is eligible to donate is encouraged to do so.”
For a list of blood center locations, click here.