NWS: Molino Tornado Was EF-0 (With Path Map)
April 24, 2018
The National Weather Service has officially determined that it was an EF-0 tornado with winds peaking at 85 mph that caused damage in Molino Sunday afternoon.
The EF-0 tornado traveled in a southerly direction 0.13 miles across Crabtree Church Road over a one minute period — from 1:02 to 1:03 p.m. The tornado’s path was 25 yards wide. (See approximate map below.)
According to the National Weather Service, one home suffered shingle damage and a broken window and a mobile home was shift on its foundation (both pictured below). There were also several uprooted small trees and numerous large branches broken.
The map below shows the starting and end point of the EF-0 tornado in Molino. The highlighted area depicts the maximum width of the tornado path, according to the National Weather Service. Damage was not necessarily confined to the area inside this path.
For earlier stories click here and click here.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For two videos of the tornado, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphic, click to enlarge.
Possible Settlement? Commission To Hold Meetings To Discuss Sheriff’s Budget Appeal
April 24, 2018
The Escambia County Commission will hold another closed-door meeting with its attorneys Thursday morning to discuss the Sheriff David Morgan’s pending budget appeal to Gov. Rick Scott. The meeting is expected to last about an hour.
After the private meeting, a special commission meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m.
Such private meetings to discuss pending litigation are allowable under Florida law, and a court reporter’s record become public upon conclusion of the litigation. A similar closed-door meeting was held about two weeks ago.
The county and the Sheriff’s Office have been battling it out over funding for most of the last year, with the parties signing a mediation agreement on March 9. After the mediation agreement was announced, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan announced a few days later that the agreement was unsuccessful, citing issue over workers compensation, unemployment compensation, retirement and health care issues.
Barrineau Park Community Clean Up On Saturday
April 24, 2018
The 10th Annual Barrineau Park Community Clean Up will be held Saturday.
Volunteers are asked to arrive at the Barrineau Park Community Center by 8:30 for for a briefing and sign in. Trash pickup will be from 9-11 a.m. Bags, gloves and water will be provided. Anyone that can’t make it to the community center is asked to just clean up around their home.
Lunch will be served back at the community center for all participants following the pick up.
The event is sponsored by the Barrineau Park Historical Society and and the Honeysuckle Garden Club.
Pictured: Last year’s Barrineau Park Community Clean Up. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Highway 29 Lane Closures 9 1/2 Mile To Muscogee
April 24, 2018
The Florida Department of Transportation says drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Highway 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 1⁄2 Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 through Thursday as crews pave the roadway.
Safe Exchange Zone Now Available To Protect Online Buyers, Sellers
April 24, 2018
Atmore now has an “E-commerce Safe Spot” for online buyers and sellers to conduction transactions.
The area’s first e-commerce safe spot with two marked parking spaces is located at on Pensacola Boulevard on the west side of the Atmore Fire Department. The area is monitored by video 24/7.
“We believe that having an area designated for this specific purpose and which is recorded and monitored by the police department will deter those wanting to engage in criminal activity,” Brandi Giger, president of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, said.
Reservations are not necessary, and there is no charge to use the safe spot. City employees, including police officers, will not serve as witnesses or take part in any transaction.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Washington Blanks Northview
April 24, 2018
The Washington High School Wildcats beat the Northview Chiefs 6-0 Monday in Pensacola.
The Wildcats victory came with a strong second inning for a 5-0 lead, plus another run in the fourth.
Trevor Singleton took the loos on the mound for the Chiefs, pitching three innings, allowing six hits and five runs, and striking out one. Jackson Moore pitched relief for three innings giving up one run on five hits and striking out three.
At the plate, Tanner Levins had the only hit of the night for the Chiefs.
Monday’s game wrapped up the regular season for Northview (14-8, 2-5). The district tournament begins April 30.
Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Birmingham Barons
April 24, 2018
When Sunday’s suspended game resumed on Monday night, the Wahoos turned in a strong offensive performance to win 9-5. In the second game, the Barons flipped the script and handed the Wahoos a 6-0 loss.
The opening game began in the bottom of the third inning with the Wahoos already ahead 4-0. Eloy Jimenez led off the fourth and launched his first Double-A homerun—and his first hit—to left to make it 4-1. It was the first of two home runs on the day for the Chicago White Sox top prospect.
Josh VanMeter, who already had two hits when play was suspended on Sunday, roped a bases-clearing double off Jorge Rondón, which extended Pensacola’s lead to 7-2. After Danny Mendick’s two-run home run in the bottom of the top of the fifth, Shed Long responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-out double to score Taylor Sparks to make it 8-4. Later in the game, Sparks extended his hitting streak to eight games with a leadoff triple, and eventually scored on Nick Longhi’s second hit of the game.
Seth Varner (W, 1-0) took the mound for the Wahoos in the opener and pitched four innings in relief to earn his first career Double-A win. Spencer Adams (L, 1-1), who started the game for the Barons on Sunday, was handed the loss.
In the second game, home runs generated all of the Barons offense. Trey Michalczewski hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Wahoos starter Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 0-3) to give Birmingham a quick 2-0 lead. Then Seby Zavala doubled the visitor’s advantage with a two-run shot in the fourth with his fourth homer of the season. Mendick finished the scoring with a two-run home run in the seventh, his third of the series, to make it 6-0.
Jordan Stephens (W, 1-3) showed why he is considered to be a top pitching prospect for the White Sox. The right-hander dealt six scoreless innings against the Wahoos and stuck out two. Even when it seemed like the Wahoos had rallies developing, Stephens would induce a double-play to end the threat. Pensacola grounded into three double plays, and only had two runners in scoring position on the night. Long finished the night hitless, and his on-base streak came to an end at 14 games.
Pensacola Blvd. Convenience Store Robbed At Gunpoint
April 23, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect that robbed a convenience store a gunpoint Monday afternoon.
At 2:10 p.m., the Raceway Station at 7271 Pensacola Boulevard was robbed by a man with a handgun.
Further details have not been released.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: An armed robbery afternoon at a Pensacola Boulevard gas station.
Molino Family Forced From Their Home By Tornado Damage
April 23, 2018
A Molino family was forced from their home by damage from an apparent tornado Sunday afternoon.
“We did have to leave home,” Gale Nahkala said. “The trailer was shifted from the foundation.” Windows in the double wide mobile home were also broken as the funnel cloud moved over the Crabtree Church Road area near Sunshine Hill Road.
The family of three — two adults and an 18-year old — will be forced to find some other place to stay until repairs are made.
Escambia County officials said five structures suffered slight to moderate damage, and there were several downed trees and power lines.
For an earlier story, click here.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For two videos of the tornado, click here.
Photos by Gale Nahkala and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Replacing Sidewalk In Such Bad Condition ‘Children Were Wrecking Their Bikes’
April 23, 2018
The Town of Century is replacing a sidewalk on Hecker Road that was so bad “children were wrecking their bikes”, according to town officials.
The sidewalk is being replaced between Mayo and Archie streets.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.