Congressmen Ask FCC To Make Sure Viewers Can Watch Alabama Football Game
December 26, 2009
Three Alabama Congressmen are a petitioning the FCC to make sure some WEAR 3 viewers will be able to watch the BCS National Championship game.
Unless WEAR and Mediacom strike a deal by the end of the year, Mediacom cable TV customers will be unable to watch the January 7 national title game between Alabama and Texas. The contract between Mediacom and WEAR expires on December 31. At issue is the amount of money WEAR is paid by Mediacom for the right to retransmit the ABC affiliate’s programming. Mediacom does not want to pay an increase proposed by Sinclair Broadcasting, the parent company of WEAR.
In their letter to the FCC, the three lawmakers — Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile; Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile — asked the FCC to take “appropriate action to ensure that major sporting events such as the BCS National Championship are not held hostage during failed retransmission consent negotiations” as they point out that “thousands of Alabamians will lose the opportunity to watch the Crimson Tide”.
If Mediacom and WEAR can’t reach an agreement, Mediacom customers will also miss LSU and Penn State in the New Year’s Day Capital One Bowl, in addition to all of the regular ABC programming on the Pensacola station.
The last time the two media companies were unable to reach a contract agreement, Mediacom customers were unable to watch WEAR for about a month.
In the North Escambia area, Mediacom is the cable company in Atmore.
FHP Still Out In Force As Long Holiday Weekend Continues
December 26, 2009
The Florida Highway Patrol remains out in force today on this long Christmas weekend.
The FHP announced that they will use zero tolerance enforcement strategies to target aggressive and hazardous violators throughout the state. Troopers will place special emphasis on aggressive driving, Driving Under the Influence, speeding and safety restraint violations. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who comply with Florida’s traffic laws and use sound judgment can help make this holiday period safer and less stressful.
“Our goal this holiday period is to make our roads safer for our residents and visitors,” said Colonel Czernis. “We will be out enforcing Florida traffic laws, placing emphasis on motorists who place others in danger. We will have zero tolerance for violators who have a disregard for the safety of others.”
All sworn personnel on the patrol normally assigned to administrative duties will be reassigned to patrol duties on high volume roadways. In addition, auxiliary and reserve troopers will volunteer to assist regular troopers during the heightened holiday enforcement period.
Motorists are urged to contact FHP or local law enforcement officials to report an impaired, aggressive or dangerous driver by dialing *FHP (*347) from a cell phone. Callers may remain anonymous. Motorists who experience car trouble on the highway or otherwise need assistance from the FHP are also encouraged to use *FHP.
The Florida Highway Patrol reminds motorists of Florida’s Move Over law. The law requires motorists to move over when a patrol car, emergency vehicle or tow truck/wrecker is stopped on the side of the road with lights flashing. Motorists are required to change lanes away from authorized emergency vehicles if able to move over safely or slow down while maintaining a safe speed. Violators of the Move Over law will be issued a citation.
Pictured above: Trooper Rafael Streeter issues a traffic citation at the corner of Highway 29 and Hecker Road in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
It’s Easy To Recycle Your Wrapping Paper, Boxes In North Escambia
December 25, 2009
You can “go green” with those piles of Christmas wrapping paper and boxes by recycling them at one of several drop-off locations around North Escambia or in your weekly ECUA pickup.
Christmas wrapping paper, along with other household paper, plastics, steel and aluminum can be recycled at the drop-off collection containers or can be placed in your recycling container on your normal ECUA pickup day.
In North Escambia, those containers are located at the Century Courthouse, the Oak Grove Citizen’s Convenience Center on North Highway 99, and behind the Molino Volunteer Fire Department.
To learn more about recycling in Escambia County visit www.escambiarecycles.com.
Merry Christmas! The Story Of The Greatest Gift Of All
December 25, 2009
It’s the greatest story we have ever reported here on NorthEscambia.com, and it is the greatest story that we will ever report. It’s a story that happened over 2,000 years ago today, but it is also a story that impacts each of our lives each and every day here in North Escambia.
Our lead story today is one that was first delivered by an angelic choir. It was the news that changed the world…a Savior had been born in a little town called Bethlehem. It was a humble scene. A little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
It was the world’s first ever Christmas gift on that very first Christmas morning, the gift of a Savior so that we might all have eternal life.
It’s good news for all of us on this Christmas. Good news that Emmanuel, the Lord Jesus, was born. It’s story that was reported by Luke in the New Testament. It’s reprinted below for you to read, and for you to share the Good News with someone you care about this Christmas.
From our NorthEscambia.com family to you and yours, Merry Christmas!
- And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
- (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
- And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
- To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
- And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
- And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
- And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
- And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
- For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
- And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
- And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
- And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
- And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
- And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
- But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
- And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Rescued From River Flood Waters: Logjam’s New Home For Christmas
December 25, 2009
Rescued from the flood waters of the Escambia River, a little dog dubbed Logjam has a new home, and a new name, for Christmas.
Our Christmas tale of Logjam begins with Carl Godwin, Jr. About a month ago, Carl, Jr. heard his parents, Carl and Sylvia Godwin of Century, talking about the little dog down by the river at Fischer Landing, just up the Escambia River from the Highway 4 Bridge.
“He has such a big heart where animals are concerned,” Sylvia said of her son, explaining that his passion for animals led him to build a small tepee type house for the little dog to have some shelter from the winter’s cold and rain.
“We tried our best to get her so we could make sure she was taken care of, but could never get her to come to us,” Sylvia said. The little dog spent her days down by the river, returning to the handmade tepee house for food that the Godwins and others would leave.
All seemed well for the little dog in our story — until December’s flash floods. Her house was high and dry from the flood waters, up on the roadway that was once the approach to the old Highway 4 bridge. But the story of our little canine took a drastic turn thanks to nature’s fury.
The night of December 14, it rained. And rained, and rained. The river was rising quickly.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission Officers Steve Hoomes and Gary Ridaught were patrolling near the Escambia River at Fisher Landing in Century. The officers heard barking from the river and investigated. They located the source of the barking under the Highway 4 Bridge where a large number of logs had created a log jam. A small dog had somehow become stranded on the logs piled against the bridge pilings.
With the recent rains, the river was extremely swollen and the current was swift. There was no way the dog could swim the distance to shore. The officers sought the assistance of a citizen who arrived at the boat ramp with a small boat. They maneuvered the boat to the log jam and “rescued the very wet, but grateful dog”. The dog was taken to the Escambia County Animal Shelter, where shelter employees named her “Logjam”.
But Logjam was not destined to spend her Christmas in the doggie pound, thanks to the Christmas wish of Heather Hodges of west Pensacola. Heather’s Christmas wish was — you guessed it — a dog.
Gina Hodges said her husband Bob and son Bobby went to the Escambia County Humane Society on Saturday, December 19, looking for that perfect Christmas pooch.
“They immediately fell for Logjam,” Gina said. “The workers told them her story and they were hooked! We picked her up the next day after she had been spayed and she fit so well with our other dog and family.”
“Of course I didn’t like the name ‘Logjam’ – too much of a name for such a tiny creature, so we changed it to Lulu,” Gina said.
The Hodges family knew the story of Logjam — now called Lulu — and they discovered she was a little famous after a December 21 story on NorthEscambia.com. That’s where our tale, already full of coincidences, become a little more, well, coincidental.
“When I shared the story from the website with my husband, he knew both (Fish and Wildlife) officers involved from when he was a Reserve Game Officer many years ago!” Gina said. “Such a small world.”
“My heart breaks to think of the trials she’s endured in her short life (they say she’s about one), but I’m so glad we found each other,” Gina said.
Like all good Christmas stories, this one has a happy ending on this Christmas, as Lulu enjoyed her first Christmas morning with her new family — high and dry, a long way from the unpredictable waters — and the log jams — of the Escambia River.
Pictured top: Lulu — the dog briefly known as Logjam after being rescued from the flooded Escambia River — at her new home with Snickers. Pictured top inset: The tepee like house that Carl Godwin, Jr. built for the Lulu when she lived near Fischer Landing in Century. Pictured middle inset: A log jam against the Highway 4 bridge over the Escambia River. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Merry Christmas! Good Weather Forecast
December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas! It’s forecast to be sunny and cool on this Christmas Day. Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 54. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Christmas Recipes: Rice Krispie Treats, Oatmeal Cookies, Hot Chocolate
December 25, 2009
We are continuing our Christmas recipe series today with some family time favorites.
Today’s recipes include Traditional Oatmeal Cookies and Rice Krispie Treats — perfect recipes for the family to make together. And what would Christmas be without Hot Chocolate? Our quick and easy recipe can easily be increased to make enough for everyone, plus it’s easy to include some extra cocoa powder for a deeper, darker treat.
To submit your recipes to share with our readers, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Traditional Oatmeal Cookies
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 3 cups of Quaker Oats (Quick)
- 1 cup raisins (optional)
Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Slowly stir in oats. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on sheet, remove to wire rack.
Rice Krispie Treats
- 1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal
In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture. Using a buttered or silicone spatula, press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper. Cut into squares when the mixture cools. Makes 24 squares.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
Microwave butter with marshmallows on high setting for 2 minutes in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir together when melted. Microwave again on high for 1 additional minute. Stir in cereal, mixing until well coated. Press into pan as above.
Hot Chocolate
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 c. milk
a bit of vanilla, if desired
Combine cocoa, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat it on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan. After about 1 to 2 minutes, add milk and vanilla. Mix it all together until it reaches your preferred temperature.
Escambia Robbery Suspect Tased After High Speed Chase Into Alabama
December 25, 2009
A high speed chase from Escambia County ended in Baldwin County, Alabama, with a robbery suspect being tased, damaged sheriff’s office vehicles and flattened tires on several the vehicles of several private citizens.
Jennifer Nicole McCullough, 35, of Country Ostrich Drive, Pensacola is being held in the Baldwin County Jail, charged with resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of reckless endangerment.
The incident began hours before when a woman matching McCullough’s description demanded money from an employee at Repeats Consignment shop on Nine Mile Road near Highway 29. The suspect acted as if she had a gun in her pocket, according to deputies, but the employee refused to give her any money.
A woman matching her description failed to pay for gasoline at a Tom Thumb convenience store at the intersection of Scenic Highway and North Davis Highway Wednesday night. Deputies spotted McCullough near Davis Highway and gave chase on Highway 90 into Santa Rosa County. She turned around near Woodbine Road near Pace and returned to Escambia County where she got onto I-10.
Deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department and a K-9 officer from the Pensacola Police Department chased McCullough west on I-10 through Pensacola and into Baldwin County, Alabama, reportedly reaching speeds over 90 mph. Most Escambia County deputies dropped out of the chase before crossing in Alabama, but several deputies and the PPD K-9 officer continued across the state line. In Alabama, deputies from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Loxley Police Department joined in the efforts to stop McCullough.
Baldwin County authorities deployed spike strips across I-10 near the 48 mile marker, about four miles east of Loxley. The front tires on McCullough’s car were flattened by the spike strips. Authorities said the rope used to remove the spike strips from the highway was damaged, and tires were flattened on vehicles belonging to several other private citizens.
Even with her tires flattened, McCullough continued her attempt to elude authorities, driving on the vehicle’s rims about five miles to the 43 mile marker west of Loxley. According to Baldwin County authorities, deputies were forced to tase McCullough in order to take her into custody just after 11 p.m.
Once she is extradited back to Florida, Escambia authorities are expected to charge McCullough with felony fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault by motor vehicle, robbery and petty theft, according to Baldwin officials.
Court records in Escambia County show that warrants were issued for McCullough earlier Wednesday for failure to appear in court on charges of leaving the scene of accident and resisting arrest with violence.
Christmas Eve Fire Damages Trailer
December 25, 2009
A Christmas Eve fire added the ninth red bulb in the Escambia County Fire-Rescue “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday fire safety campaign.
At 5:50 p.m. Thursday, a fire was reported in the 7700 block of North Palafox Street. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a fire in the kitchen of a mobile home. The fire, declared under control at 6:10 p.m. caused moderate damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the rest of the home.
While there were two smoke alarms in the home, neither was functional. There was no one home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was determined to have been from a pan of grease that was left unattended on the stove. Firefighters from Ensley, Brent, Ferry Pass, Bellview and Osceola responded to the scene.
Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department will continue the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign throughout the holiday season. This year, the fifth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
All nine red bulbs lit so far have been for fires south of Nine Mile Road. No serious residential fires have been reported in North Escambia this December.
Escambia County Fire Rescue offers the following a few safety tips involving cooking:
- The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
- Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won’t be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.
- Keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains – away from your stovetop.
- Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.
- Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.
- Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Escambia and Santa Rosa
December 24, 2009
.A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 700 PM CST
for Santa Rosa and eastern Escambia counties…
At 621 PM CST…National Weather Service radar continued to indicate
a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds
over 60 mph. These storms were along a line extending from century
to Cottage Hill to 7 miles southwest of Pensacola naval base…or
along a line extending from 18 miles southwest of Brewton to 15
miles north of Pensacola to 13 miles southwest of Pensacola…moving
east at 35 mph.
Severe thunderstorms will be near…
century…Pensacola naval base…Goulding and Ferry Pass by 630 PM
CST…
Pensacola regional a/p…Pensacola…pace and Gulf Breeze by 635 PM
CST…
Jay by 640 PM CST…
Oriole Beach by 645 PM CST…
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Move indoors immediately! Lightning is one of natures number one
killers. Remember…if you can hear thunder…you are close enough to
be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect for the warned area. If a tornado
is spotted…act quickly and move to a place of safety on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building…preferably in an interior hallway or a
room such as a closet or bathroom.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 am CST Friday morning for
southwestern Alabama and northwest Florida.