Rain Returning
December 22, 2009
Rain is forecast to return to North Escambia by Wednesday night and continue through Christmas Eve.
Here is your official forecast:
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Thursday: Periods of showers and thunderstorms. High near 67. Breezy, with a east wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 61.
Good Gift: Local History Book With 2,000 Photos
December 22, 2009
If you are looking for the perfect last minute Christmas gift, consider a new book that tells the history of North Escambia and surrounding areas with about 2,000 photographs.
The book is called “A Pictorial History Volume II”, and it includes Century and northeastern Escambia County, Florida; Flomaton Alabama; and Jay and northern Santa Rosa County; and surrounding areas.
The photos were compiled by Jerry Fischer and Jerry Simmons and published by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society.
“One lady that looked at the book got tears in her eyes because it brought back so many memories,” said Fischer.
People — from dozens of old school photos — make up a portion of the book.
“There are a lot of people in the book,” Fischer said. “Probably half of them are already passed away. It’s just a lot of memories.”
The book is available from Alger-Sullivan Historical Society members and at the Leach House Museum at 610 4th Street in the Century Historical District from 9 until 1 Monday-Friday. The book can also be ordered by mail (but not for Christmas delivery). Send a check for $30.00 plus $5.00 postage and packaging (padded envelope) to the ASHS, P.O. Box 1002, Century 32535.
For more information, contact Jerry Simmons at (251) 765-2629 or Jerry Fischer at (850) 256-3980.
Pictured above: The Jackson Theater in 1951. Pictured below: Jay High School undefeated team from 1943-1944. The photographs are two of about two thousand in a new book released by the Escambia County Historical Society. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Recipes: Sweet Potato Casserole, Cameo Cake
December 22, 2009
The holidays are a time when a lot of people head into the kitchen to cook for family and friends. Over the next few days, NorthEscambia.com will share some submitted holiday favorite recipes.
You can save your marshmallows for S’mores. Today, we are featuring a scrumptious sweet potato casserole with a traditional crunchy pecan topping.
We are also featuring a Cameo cake. With white chocolate and plenty of cream cheese, this one is sure to be a family favorite this Christmas.
To submit your recipes to share with our readers, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Today’s recipes are from the Molino Homemakers Club.
Sweet Potato Casserole
by Terri Brown
- 3 cups sweet potatoes
- 1 heaping cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ stick Parkay margarine
- 1 cup milk
Mash potatoes, add remaining ingredients mixing well. Pour into a greased 9 inch square pan.
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup granulated brown sugar
- ½ cup plain flour
- ½ stick melted margarine
Mix ingredients. Sprinkle over potatoes. Bake 30-40 minutes at 325 degrees.
Cameo Cake With White Chocolate Frosting
by Mary Elizabeth Corley
CAKE
- 3-1/2 cups plain flour divided
- 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1-1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (cut up, no substitutions)
- 3/4 cup water
- 4 ounces white chocolate squares, coarsely chopped
- 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour three 9-inch round cake pans: tap out excess flour. Line bottoms with wax paper. Combine 1/2 cup flour and pecans in small bowl. Combine remaining 3 cups flour, granulated sugar, soda and salt in large bowl. Set both aside. Bring butter and water to a boil in medium saucepan, stirring occasionally until butter melts. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate until melted. Stir in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla until blended. Gradually whisk chocolate mixture into dry ingredients until smooth: Fold in pecan mixture. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Unmold cakes onto racks and cool completely.
WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
- 4 ounces white chocolate squares, coarsely chopped
- 8 ounce pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 3 ounce pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, cut up
- 3 cups confections sugar, sifted
- 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans or
- Chopped toasted pecans for garnish
Microwave chocolate in small bowl on high 1-1/2 minutes until almost melted: Stir until smooth. Cool slightly 10 minutes. Beat cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl on medium/high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate. Gradually add confectioner’s sugar and vanilla: beat scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula, until frosting is completely smooth: add pecans, refrigerate 1 hour until frosting is firm and spreadable.
Place cake layer on serving plate and spread with about 3/4 cup frosting: top with second adding frosting then third layer and sides of cake using all frosting. (Optional: Garnish with pecans around edge if desired.) Cover cake loosely and refrigerate overnight. (Can be made ahead. Wrap well and freeze up to 1 month. )
Nominate North Escambia Persons Of The Year
December 22, 2009
NorthEscambia.com will honor several North Escambia residents as North Escambia Persons of the Year as 2009 comes to a close, and we need your help.
We are asking our readers to nominate people that they believe made a difference in North Escambia during 2009. We will choose several of them to be named as a 2009 North Escambia. Person of the Year. The awards are our way of saying thanks to those that have worked to improve our lives in the North Escambia area during the past year.
We are not necessarily looking for a person with a long list of accomplishments. We are looking for people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2009.
To nominate someone, please email their name, contact information (if known), and the reason why you believe they should be a Person of the Year. The person must either be a resident of North Escambia, work in North Escambia or otherwise have significantly impacted North Escambia in some way. For the purposes of this award, we define North Escambia as being Quintette Road south of Molino, north to the Alabama line.
Entries should be emailed to news@northescambia.com by Monday, December 28. We need your email and phone number just in case we have questions, but your name and contact information will not be published.
The 2009 North Escambia Persons of the Year will be named after Christmas.
Three Children, Adult Injured In Crash With Semi On Highway 29
December 21, 2009
Four people, including three children, were injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway 29 south of Bogia Road Monday morning.
The accident, reported just after 11:30, involved Chevrolet Camaro and an 18-wheel truck. The Camaro and the flatbed trailer of the semi apparently collided, sending the car into the median.
Three children in the Camaro, reported to be ages 5, 10 and 13, and the adult driver were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The driver of the semi was not injured.
The McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP. Further details were not immediately available.
Pictured above: Four people were injured in this crash Monday morning on Highway 29 near Bogia. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jerry Mack Kimmons
December 21, 2009
Mr. Jerry Mack Kimmons, 55, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2009 in Flomaton, AL.
Mr. Kimmons was a native of Byrneville, FL, a resident of Flomaton, AL for the past 20 years and attended the Pentacostal Church. He was a former employee of CPC and Service Welding, and an avid hunter and fisherman.
Survivors Include: his Wife, Laura Kimmons of Flomaton, AL; four Sons, James Leon Emmons, Marvin Earl Emmons, Jr., and Tony Dewayne Emmons, all of Flomaton, AL, and Clifton Eugene Emmons of East Brewton, AL; three Daughters, Tonya Renee Braswell of Ellenwood, GA, Tammy Lynn Gibson of Brewton, AL and Tonia Emmons of Robertsdale, AL; 19 Grandchildren; 6 Great-Grandchildren; and three Sisters, Faye Wilson of Flomaton, AL, Betty Wilson of Canoe, AL, and Estelle Buckhault of Bratt, FL.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. James Gay officiating.
Burial will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 19, 2009 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home
Pallbearers will be Adam Young, Jaime Young, Dale Levins, Tom Presley, Chris Fowler, and Buddy Kimmons.
Honorary pallbearers will be Donnie Joe Victor and Buck Kimmons.
Monday Morning Fire Was The Seventh Of The Month In Escambia
December 21, 2009
A Monday morning fire added the seventh red bulb in the Escambia County Fire-Rescue “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday fire safety campaign after a fire.
Just after 9:00 Monday morning, a residential fire was reported on Vivian Drive. The kitchen fire caused moderate damage to the kitchen and smoke and heat damage throughout the house. A pan of grease left unattended on the stove is believed to have been the cause. There were no injuries reported.
The Vivian Drive fire was the second in under 48 hours in Escambia County.
Just after noon Sunday, a fire was reported in the 8100 block of Eight Mile Creek Road. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a fire in the living room of the home. The fire, declared out at 12:27 p.m., caused moderate damage to the living room. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is believed to have been from a lit candle that was left unattended. Firefighters from Bellview, Ensley, Beulah, Osceola, and the Navy responded to the fire.
Escambia County Fire-Rescue offers the following few safety tips involving candles:
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.
- Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.
- Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
- Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
- Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.
- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
- Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
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 six 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 Coach Removed
December 21, 2009
The head coach of the Escambia County High School Blue Devils has been removed.
The administration at Escambia County High School in Atmore relieved Head Coach Kyle Davis of his head coaching duties Friday afternoon.
Davis, who has coached the Blue Devils for the past five years, led ECHS to two playoff appearances. This season, Escambia County was 3-7, finishing the season with a 21-14 win over Robertsdale.
Escambia County will move down a classification next fall, from 5A to 4A with teams like W.S. Neal, Andalusia, Clerke County and Hillcrest-Evergreen.
The search is now underway for an new head coach at Escambia County High School.
NorthEscambia.com file photo/graphic.
Thomas: $1 Per Year Lease Over, New Life Asked To Vacate Old Century High
December 21, 2009
When their $1 per year lease is up next year, Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says New Life Baptist Church is expected to vacate their current location in the old Century High School.
“We sent them a notice that we expect them to leave in June,” Thomas said. New Life’s current lease expires in June 2010. “I will send them notices to remind them to vacate; we don’t deal with $1 per year leases anymore.”
Over the past five years, New Life has paid just $5 — at $1 per year — to lease the 30,327 square foot building under a lease executed by former Superintendent Jim Paul. Under the lease, the school district has provided maintenance on the building, and the BOE has maintained property insurance.
In May, Thomas sent a letter to New Life Pastor Irvin Stallworth offering to rent the building to New Life for $5 per square foot, far below the $10 to $15 per square foot he said similar buildings would cost in monthly rent. The reduced rate, his letter says, is because of the “location, age and configuration of the facility.” At $5 per square foot, the 30,327 square foot building would have cost the church $12,636.25 per month, or $151,635 per year of a five year lease.
“There are no negotiations going on,” Thomas said, adding that Stallworth “has chosen not to respond to our letters.”
Shawn Dennis, the school district’s assistant superintendent of operations, said the lease was non-renewed on the advice of the district’s legal counsel.
“The lease will not be renewed,” Dennis said. “The tenant will be asked to vacate.”
Leasing the district’s building to the church at $1 per year is not in the best interest of the taxpayers, Thomas said. “We always look at the best options for the community, the school and the taxpayers.”
Attempts to contact Stallworth for comment on this story were unsuccessful. In May, he said the church would explore all of its options in regards to the lease.
Even if New Life no longer occupies the old Century High School, the church will still owe monthly payments to the school district for back utility bills.
For the first four years New Life Baptist Church leased the old Century High School for $1 a year from the Escambia School District while taxpayers footed the bill for nearly $200,000 in utilities.
After NorthEscambia.com uncovered the story on August 7 of last year, the school district went to work to sort out about $73,000 in Gulf Power electric bills and $124,000 in gas, water and sewage bills paid to the Town of Century. In an exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com shortly after the story broke, New Life Pastor Irvin Stallworth acknowledged that the church had never paid any utility bills since moving into the building.
The school district settled on $75,072,19 as the amount New Life Baptist church owed taxpayers. The rest of the approximately $200,000 in utility bills were either owned by the school district, a meter problem, or a billing problem.
At last report, New Life was current on a 10-year payment plan to pay back the $75,072.19. The church is paying the school district 119 interest-free payments of $625.60, with the final 120th payment due in 2019 for $625.79.
New utility meters serving the church’s leased portion of the old high school were been installed so that New Life be paying its fair share of the utilities on the building.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Officers Rescue Stranded Dog From Escambia River Log Jam
December 21, 2009
Two officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission managed to save a small dog that had become stranded on a long jam under the Escambia River Bridge on Highway 4.
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 officers were unable to determine how the dog wound up stranded in the middle of the Escambia River.
The dog was not wearing a collar, so after a quick drying off, the officers took it to the Humane Society for assistance in locating the dog’s owner or finding it a new home.