Wildfire Danger Remains High
December 17, 2014
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center – serving Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties – are warning residents of the local wildfire danger level.
Dry weather has led to an increase in local wildfires, with the Florida Forest Service responding to at least a dozen fires in the past week. Until substantial precipitation is received, officials said the potential for fire ignition and spread will remain high.
With the increase in wildfires comes an increase in the likelihood drivers could encounter smoke on the road. Here are some tips:
DRIVE WITH LIGHTS on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. Your lights help other drivers see your vehicle, so be sure they all work. Keep your windshield and headlights clean, to reduce the glare and increase visibility.
SLOW DOWN – and watch your speedometer – before you enter a patch of fog. Be sure that you can stop within the distance that you can see. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Speed is a major factor in fog-related crashes.
WATCH OUT for slow-moving and parked vehicles. Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better.
REDUCE THE DISTRACTIONS in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and cell phone. Your full attention is required.
USE WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS liberally for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield.
USE THE RIGHT EDGE of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
BE PATIENT. Avoid passing and/or changing lanes.
SIGNAL TURNS well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.
DO NOT STOP on a freeway or heavily traveled road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision. If you must pull off the road, signal (people tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog), then carefully pull off as far as possible. After pulling off the road, turn on your hazard flashers (hazard lights should only be used when you pull over to show that you are parked on the side of the road). Move away from the vehicle.
Byrneville Students In Grades 3-5 Present Christmas Musical (With Gallery)
December 17, 2014
Byrneville Elementary School students in grades 3-5 presented their Christmas program – “Twinkle & Shine! A Musical That Celebrates the Light at the Top of the Tree” – Tuesday night at Northview High School.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For story and photos from Monday night’s grade K-2 performance, click here.
Photo by Raja Atallah for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Health Department Lifts Mosquito Borne Illness Alert
December 17, 2014
A mosquito-borne illness alert that was issued back in August for Escambia County has been lifted, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County announced Tuesday.
Although mosquito-borne illnesses are less common in the winter months, the health department still urges local residents to “Drain and Cover” to protect against being bitten by mosquitoes:
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected. Water held in open containers in your house is also a potential breeding location for mosquitoes.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- When protecting boats and vehicles from rain, ensure that tarps don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and keep them adequately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Clothing – Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Use repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Using too much repellent doesn’t make it work better or last longer.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Instead of repellent, use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.
For more information contact the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County at (850) 595-6700 or visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.
HS Basketball: Northview Beats Jay
December 17, 2014
Northview 62, Jay 42
The Northview Chiefs beat jay 62-42 in a district game Tuesday night in Jay.
Eric Williams led the Chiefs with 29, while the Royals were led by Eric Travino with 15.
Northview 65, Jay 21 – JV
In junior varsity action, Northview beat Jay 65-21 Tuesday.
Northview will head north to Atmore Friday to take on Escambia County High School. The junior varsity games tips off at 4:30, followed by the varsity at 6:00. The Royals will host the Jay High School Christmas tournament starting on Thursday.
Jeb Bush To ‘Actively Explore’ Presidential Bid
December 16, 2014
After weeks of increasing speculation about his plans, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he will “actively explore” a possible bid for president in 2016.
Bush made the announcement on Twitter and Facebook. He wrote on Facebook about spending time with his wife, Columba, children and grandchildren at Thanksgiving.
“We also talked about the future of our nation,” Bush wrote. “As a result of these conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States.”
Bush, who was elected governor in 1998 and served two terms, also wrote that he will establish what is known as a “Leadership PAC” in January “that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.”
Bush, 61, made the announcement a day after giving a commencement address at the University of South Carolina — a state that plays a major role in Republican primaries. If he ultimately decides to run, Bush would seek to follow his father and brother into the White House.
But Bush also would face fierce opposition from Democrats and likely from some Republicans who disagree with him on issues such as immigration reform and education policy. The Florida Democratic Party website Tuesday, for example, featured a prominent picture of Bush and touted what it said was his “awful week” that included “damning articles” in national media outlets.
Bush’s Facebook post did not say when he will make a final decision about entering the race.
“In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America,” he wrote.
Century Woman Charged With Selling Stolen 18-Wheeler Rims For Scrap
December 16, 2014
A Century woman is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly selling stolen aluminum commercial 18-wheeler truck rims at a Pensacola recycling facility.
Madeline Hope Johnson, age 32 of Old Flomaton Road, was charged with three felony counts of knowingly providing false ownership to a secondhand metals recycler and three felony counts of dealing in stolen property.
She allegedly sold 10 rims during three different trips to Wise Recycling, each worth $200 to $300, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Johnson told deputies that she was requested by Charles Allen Aplin to take him and the rims to the recycling business. Surveillance video shows Johnson unloading the rims and rolling them over to a set of scales to be weighed for scrap.
She told deputies that the Rims belonged to Aplin. According to deputies, Johnson was living adjacent to a trucking company that reported 16 rims stolen, 10 of which were identified as those recycled by Johnson, the report states.
Alpin, 46, was charged last month with grand theft and dealing in stolen property. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to an outstanding failure to appear warrant. Johnson is being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
What’s That Smell? DEP Wants Escambia, Santa Rosa Residents To Report Odors
December 16, 2014
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Northwest District is launching an online reporting tool to gather data regarding ongoing odor complaints received from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The department has been investigating odor complaints since Wednesday, Dec. 10. Information currently available to the department has been inconclusive in establishing the source of the odor.
The department is requesting that residents in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties experiencing any unusually strong odors report them here.
The information provided through this online reporting tool will assist the department with identifying the source of the odor.
Molino’s Gindl Signs With Toronto Blue Jays
December 16, 2014
Caleb Gindl of Molino has signed a minor-league free agent contract that includes a spring training invite with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Gindl, 26, was a Brewers’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2007 out of Pace High School. Most of last season, he played with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, appearing in eight games for the Brewers. During 2013, he played 57 games, hitting .242/.340/.439 with five homers and 14 RBIs.
He made history for the Brewers as the first in franchise history to hit a walk-off for his first MLB homer.
Pictured top: Caleb Gindl hits a homer for the Milwaukee Brewers in July 2013. Courtesy MLB. Pictured inset and below: Gindl bats during a baseball clinic at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos.
FHSAA Proposes New Football Classifications For Next Four Years
December 16, 2014
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released tentative high school football classifications that, if finalized, will be in place for the next four years.
In 1-7A, Tate and Niceville will be joined by Navarre, and three Tallahassee schools – Chiles, Leon and Lincoln. Crestview will move to 2-6A.
1-6A will include Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Washington. Pensacola High slips to 1-5A.
1-5A will include Pensacola, West Florida, Arnold, Bay, Gulf Breeze and Rutherford.
And 1-1A will remain unchanged with Northview, Jay, Freeport and Baker. Former 4A powerhouse Madison County will move down to 5-1A where they could play 1-1A teams in the state semifinals or finals.
Tentative 2015-18 Football Districts (With Enrollment)
District 1-7A (Enrollment 1,939-2,331)
- Tate (2,123)
- Niceville (1,976)
- Navarre (2,028)
- Chiles (2,013)
- Leon (2,055)
- Lincoln (2,076)
District 1-6A (Enrollment 1,593-1,938)
- Escambia (1,749)
- Milton (1,761)
- Pace (1,890)
- Pine Forest (1,712)
- Washington (1,738)
District 1-5A (1,115-1,592)
- West Florida (1,288)
- Pensacola (1,437)
- Arnold (1,467)
- Bay (1,366)
- Gulf Breeze (1,576)
- Pensacola (1,437)
- Rutherford (1,188)
District 1-3A (291-680)
- Catholic (593)
- Taylor County (662)
- Florida High (625)
- Maclay (350)
District 1-1A (1-600 rural)
- Northview (503)
- Jay (296)
- Baker (456)
- Freeport (357)
Byrneville K-2 Students Present Christmas Musical (With Gallery)
December 16, 2014
Students in grades K-2 at Byrneville Elementary School presented their annual Christmas musical “Toys: The Night They Come Alive” Monday night at Northview High School. Students in grades 3-5 will present their Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Northview theater.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Raja Atallah, click to enlarge.
