Escambia To Host Barn Bash
October 23, 2009
Looking for a spooktaular event this weekend?
Escambia County will host the third annual Barn Bash on this Friday night at the Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per car. Haunting begins after dark.
Fall festivities include a haunted barn even scarier than before, ghostly hayrides, bounce houses, children’s games and scarecrow making. Some clothes are available to make a scarecrow; however, to ensure that you get to make one, bring your own old clothes. Concessions will also be available.
Wear your own costume for the costume contest. Costume judging will begin at 7 p.m. Prizes will be given for scariest, prettiest, best group, best couple and most original.
Organizers will also be collecting toys, treats, dry puppy and dog food, dry kitten and cat food, bleach, paper or cloth towels and newspaper for the animals at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.
For more information on Barn Bash 2009, contact the Escambia County Public Information Office at 595-3476, or visit www.myescambia.com.
Application Deadline Next Week For Several Conservation Programs
October 22, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has set a cutoff date of October 30 to submit applications for several voluntary conservation programs that may help eligible participants pay for conservation practices to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, restore wetlands and provide habitat for wildlife.
- The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Through EQIP, NRCS develops contracts with agricultural producers to voluntarily implement conservation practices to address environmental natural resource problems. Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production and owners of non-industrial private forestland are eligible for the program. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands.
- The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance. Through WHIP, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to private and Tribal landowners for the development of upland, wetland, aquatic, and other types of wildlife habitat.
- The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture.
- The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a program for landowners and operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands.
NRCS encourages interested parties to visit with their staff as soon as possible because applicants who apply early have more time to resolve any program or land eligibility issues.
Interested landowners should visit their local USDA – NRCS field office at 151 Highway 97 in Molino or click here for more information on these programs. Landowners can also call Josh McElhaney, district conservationist, at (850) 587-5404 ext. 3.
Updated: Local Veterans On Today’s Emerald Coast Honor Flight
October 21, 2009
(Updated 4:40 p.m.) The Emerald Coast Honor Flight departed Washington’s Reagan National Airport at 4:40 this afternoon and returned to Pensacola a little before 7:00.,
Veterans on today’s Emerald Coast Honor Flight visited the Vietnam and Korean war memorials this afternoon.
The World War II veterans on the Honor Flight arrived in Washington at 9:18 this morning. They headed to the World War II Memorial. At noon our time, Billy G. Ward of Walnut Hill said they enjoyed a nice lunch at the World War II Memorial. Afternoon events include a visit to the Korean and Vietnam war memorials.
This afternoon, the veterans visited with former U.S. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. Dole was severely injured during his World War II service, thanked the veterans for their service to the country.
“It’s real nice,” Ward said from Washington about today’s trip. “They are treating us very well.”
Veteran Billy G. Ward of Walnut Hill has a NorthEscambia.com camera on today’s Emerald Coast Honor Flight to Washington. We will have exclusive photos from the trip to share with our readers Thursday morning. Below is an earlier story about the Honor Flight.
Billy G. Ward thought he would be building bridges across Europe as an engineer during World War II. Uncle Sam had different plans for the young man from Walnut Hill.
Drafted in July 1943, Ward was shipped off to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training. He had hoped to spend time in combat engineer school. Instead, he had a one week crash course on building bridges. Then it was off to Europe and battles at Omaha Beach, Paris and Berlin.
“It was two years, six months, 29 days and 30 seconds,” he said.
He returned with his wife of more than 50 years, Lois, to Europe in 2001. He and Lois have been to Washington, but their trip was prior to the opening of the World War II Memorial.
Today, that will all change for Ward. He is one of about 100 WWII veterans on the Fifth Annual Emerald Coast Honor Flight headed to Washington. The flight will take the veterans from across Northwest Florida to their memorial in Washington and return this evening.
“I’m so excited, I don’t think I will sleep tonight,” Ward said Tuesday afternoon.
Ward, who served as Escambia County’s probate judge from 1973 to 1989, said he is looking forward to the trip and reminiscing with other veterans. And he is looking forward to seeing the War War II Memorial.
Other North Escambia area veterans expected to be on today’s Emerald Coast Honor Flight include Robert Joiner of Molino, John Clarence Smith of Jay, James Ward of Jay, and Morris Clarence Ward of Jay.
Red Flag Warning Today; Cold Tonight Followed By Warming Trend
October 19, 2009
Tonight, we’ll be cold again, and then we will begin warming trend that will lead to lows in the 60’s and highs in the upper 70’s. It will stay dry until Thursday, when a good chance of rain creeps back into our forecast.
There is a red flag warning in effect for tomorrow due to low humidity that will lead to dangerous fire growth potential. Outdoor burning should be avoided.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind around 10 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Earliest Freeze Ever? Not Quite Tonight, But Close; Frost Advisory In Effect
October 18, 2009
The earliest freeze ever recorded in the North Escambia area is October 20. If forecasters are correct, we will barely miss breaking that record tonight.
The official North Escambia forecast for tonight calls for a low of 35, with patchy frost possible after 1 a.m. Monday. The weather service has issued a front advisory for the entire area tonight.
According to the National Weather Service, the earliest freeze ever recorded in Atmore was October 27, 1957, and the earliest freeze ever recorded in Jay was October 20, 1989. Jay and Atmore are the closest cities to North Escambia for which the weather service keeps official records.
Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:
- Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 10 mph.
- Tonight: Patchy frost after 2am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Pictured above: Saturday was a cold day for a car wash. Northview Tribal Beat Band members (L-R) Sandy Rainwater, David Ford, Johnny Robbins, and Devin Dries washed cars in a cold north wind as part of band fundraiser in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Red Flag Warning: Avoid Burning
October 18, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a red flag warning from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. A fire weather watch has also been issued for Monday afternoon.
A cold dry airmass will continue to push over the area through Sunday as high pressure builds into the southeast. As temperatures warm into the low 60’s on Sunday, afternoon relative humidities will drop into the 30 to 35 percent range for much of the afternoon. In addition, with the center of the surface high still located to the west, winds increase. Dry, windy conditions will continue through Monday afternoon.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.
Tonight: Leaders To Pray For Century
October 17, 2009
Community leaders will gather in Century tonight to pray for the town.
Abundant Life Assembly of God will host the prayer rally for the town of Century at 6:00 tonight. Mayor Freddie McCall, Joe Miller with Prayer for Pensacola and several local pastors and churches will be in attendance. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Remembering Mt. Calvary: Old Fashioned Worship Service Today
October 17, 2009
Back in 1935, a group of faithful gathered on the shores of Pine Barren Creek to worship. They gathered under tents with sawdust covered floors to sing hymns, pray and listen to the Gospel preached.
This afternoon, the faithful will gather again to remember those meetings at the Mt. Calvary Tabernacle and Camp Meeting Day. This afternoon’s service will be held at 4:00 at Highland Baptist Church in Molino, sponsored by the Molino Mid-County Historical Society in coordination with the Highland Baptist Historical Committee. Just like the services of old, the event will include singing praises, reading from Psalm as well as prayer. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
The following “History of Mt. Calvary and Camp Meetings” was submitted by the Molino Mid-County Historical Society.
The Mt. Calvary camp meetings began in May, 1935 as the result of the visions, prayers, and hard work of a few families. The goal was to provide a “beacon on the hill” to guide people to God. In the summer months a two-week revival was held with this interdenominational group. The revival was followed by dinner on the ground or in the dining hall. Some spread their dishes on a tablecloth on the ground and ate those wonderful meals as they visited with other guests.
Taylor and Florence Crabtree, Reverend Luther Horne, and Reverend Arthur Townley started the groundwork for this endeavor. At the first meeting, Sheriff H. E. “Hamp” Gandy provided a large tent for the first months. The people brought their tents as well before constructing their own cabins.
The Pine Barren site was chosen with other Christian families supporting the beginning of a great spiritual experience. People donated food items like sugar, shortening, peas, beans as well as chickens and pork for the dining hall.
Mr. “Bob” Butler volunteered the construction of the tabernacle and other buildings. Several families built their cabins across the road.
The Lord blessed the efforts of these families though many difficulties. Mrs. Florence Crabtree died a few weeks before the first meeting and Mr. Arthur Townley died a short time later. God continued to provide and sent others to support the work.
Many enthusiastic Christian people worked tirelessly to make the camp meeting years a success.
Cool! Fall Weather On The Way Today
October 16, 2009
After weeks of warm, humid conditions, fall weather is finally on the way. A strong cold front is completing its move across the area this morning, ushering in temperatures that will fall as low as 39 over the next few nights.
Here is your complete North Escambia weather forecast:
- Today: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 10am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 74. North wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. North wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Blackout In Bratt: Wear All Black To Tonight’s Northview Game
October 16, 2009
A blackout will hit Bratt tonight as everyone attending tonight’s Northview High game against Freeport is asked to wear as much black as possible.
“The team, senior class, faculty and staff, and other students are asked to wear black to show their united support for the Chiefs,” said NHS Principal Gayle Weaver. “We encourage everyone to come to the game, wear black, and help the Chiefs to take the bite out of the Bulldogs.”
Tonight’s game is an important district matchup for the Chiefs — a win over the undefeated Bulldogs could put Northview in a tie for the top spot in District 1-1A.
Senior Brad Lowery said the seniors wanted the blackout “to get everyone pumped for the game…since it is a huge game”.
Northview students and staff are also asked to wear as much black as possible to school today.
Tonight’s game against Freeport begins at 7 p.m.
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will also be recognizing future Chiefs before the game.
The Quarterback Club is inviting all Northwest Escambia and Century youth football players and cheerleaders to attend the game. The players should wear their jerseys and cheerleaders should wear their uniforms. The players and cheerleaders are asked to arrive by 6 p.m.; they will be introduced at 6:30 p.m.