Calling All Cooks: Share Your Recipes
December 15, 2009
Beginning Wednesday, NorthEscambia will share Christmas recipes with our readers.
We would like you to send us your favorites Christmas recipes. We are looking for a variety — main courses, side dishes, desserts and more. To submit your recipe, send it in an email to news@northescambia.com or use our contact form. Please include the name of your recipe, ingredients, cooking instructions, your name and your city.
Major Flooding In Atmore
December 14, 2009
A flash flood warning is in effect for Escambia and North Baldwin counties in Alabama. Atmore’s entire downtown area has been blocked off due to flooding.
There is major flooding in Atmore tonight and most of Atmore is impassable. Highway 21 and Highway 31 are both shutdown.
People have been rescued from homes and cars as a result of the flooding.
All Atmore firemen and volunteers have been called onto duty to stand by due to the flooding condition.
The National Weather Service says very heavy rain is falling across the area from a series of thunderstorms training across the area. An additional two to three inches of rain may fall across the warned area during the warning period.
The line of showers is also causing heavy rains to fall in the northwest corner of Escambia County, Florida, near Nokomis.
Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road. When encountering flooded roads, make the smart choice…turn around, don’t drown.
Occie Phillips Road Closed
December 14, 2009
Occie Phillips Road is closed between Highway 97A and South Pineville Road due to flooding.
Water is covering the dirt road at the bridge over Brushy Creek.
Grady L. Malone, Sr.
December 14, 2009
Mr. Grady L. Malone, Sr., 82, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2009 in Pensacola, FL.
Mr. Malone was a native of Bratt, FL, and a resident of Pensacola, FL, since 1953. He was a Veteran of the Korean War, a retired employee from Armstrong Cork Company, an avid hunter and fisherman and attended the Baptist Church. Preceded in death by his Daughter, Linda Jean Coate, a Brother, Gene Malone, and a Grandson, Kenneth Brian Malone.
Survivors Include: three Sons, Gary Steven Malone of Century, FL, Kenneth James Malone of McDavid, FL, and Grady Lee Malone, Jr. of Robertsdale, AL; a Stepdaughter, Joanie Stavinoha of TX; 8 Grandchildren; 12 Great-Grandchildren; four Brothers, Benny Malone of Cantonment, FL, L.B. “Lon” Malone of Poplar Dell, FL, John Henry Malone of McDavid, FL, and Jimmy Malone of McDavid, FL; and a Sister, Betty Jo Childress of Cantonment, FL.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Patrick Salter officiating.
Burial will follow at Sardis Baptist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2009 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Jay, Atmore Hospitals Receive National Satisfaction Awards
December 14, 2009
Three Baptist Health Care facilities have earned awards for patient satisfaction, including the hospitals in Jay and Atmore.
Atmore Community Hospital, Jay Hospital and Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile Surgery Center – were recently presented with Summit Awards for sustaining the highest level of customer satisfaction by Press Ganey Associates.
Overall admissions at Atmore Community Hospital have increased by six percent. That increase has been attributed to the hospital’s focus on patient, physician and employee satisfaction. Hospital administration implemented a communications program between hospital staff and patients and their families.
Jay Hospital’s administration attributed their satisfaction award to their “small-town touch” and dedication to serving the local community. The hospital started a new program in which department heads completed rounds, visiting with each newly admitted patient.
The Press Ganey Summit Award is the health care industry’s most coveted symbol of achievement bestowed annually, and Baptist Health Care is one of the nation’s 74 organizations to receive this honor in 2009. Press Ganey Summit Awards honor health care facilities that have consistently placed in the top five percent of the firm’s customer satisfaction database for three or more consecutive years.
Press Ganey currently partners with more than 10,000 health care facilities – including over 40 percent of U.S. hospitals – to measure and improve the quality of care. The company’s databases are the largest in the industry, and allow facilities nationwide to benchmark their results against peer organizations.
Pictured top: Atmore Community Hospital (left) and Jay Hospital (right) were recent recipients of a national health care satisfaction award. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Rain Forecast: Flash Flood Watch; River Flood Warnings
December 14, 2009
Flooding could a problem as more rain moves into North Escambia on Monday and into Tuesday. With four inches to eight inches of rain across the area over the weekend, the ground is already well saturated. For that reason, a flash flood watch is in effect for the entire area.
By Wednesday, a cold front will move across the area, ending our wet weather and dropping temperatures closer to seasonal levels.
- Today: A chance of showers, then periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Areas of fog. High near 73. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tonight: Periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Areas of fog. Low around 64. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 66. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 57.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 56.
A flood warning has been issued for the the Escambia River near Century from Monday evening until further notice.
At 11 a.m. Monday, the river stage was 17.6 feet. Minor flooding is forecast. Flood stage is 17 feet, and the river is forecast to continue to rise to near 18.9 feet by Wednesday afternoon. At 17.0 feet, considerable flooding of lowlands occurs and will continue until the river level drops below 13 feet.
Escambia Students To Receive Health Report Cards This Week
December 14, 2009
Children in Escambia County Schools will receive a student health report card this week.
The health report cards contain the results of in-school health screenings for students in the first, third, sixth and ninth grades. The students in those grades were screened for Body Mass Index (BMI), vision and hearing; and six graders were also screened for scoliosis. In the case of vision and hearing results, parents were notified earlier this year if their child’s results needed further physician evaluation.
Among the 41 schools that will send home school health report cards this week are the North Escambia area schools Bratt Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Tate High. The remaining schools are expected to send home their student health report cards in January.
The BMI on the student health report card is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight and is used to screen for health problems associated with an unhealthy body weight. The measurement of students’ BMI in first, third and sixth grades is required by the State of Florida.
Pictured: A sample school health report card, click to enlarge.
Three North Escambia Students Win Rotary Essay Contest
December 14, 2009
Three students from Northview and Tate high schools were winners in a recent essay contest by the SubWest Rotary Club of Pensacola.
Each year the Rotary Club conducts an essay contest that enables students the power to express themselves and communicate . Contestants write a short essay on “Why is the Rotary Four-Way Test Relevant Today?”. The Rotary contest committee reads and chooses three finalists, with one being chosen as the grand prize winner for a cash reward.
The grand prize winner in this year’s contest was Lauren McCall (pictured right), a sophomore at Northview. The second place winner was Erin Freeman (pictured left), junior at Northview. Third place winner was Shawna Murphy, a junior at Tate.
The Rotary Four-Way Test states:
Of the things we think, say or do
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
For Erin Freeman’s essay, click here (pdf).
The winning essay, “An Unexpected Gift” by Lauren McCall is reprinted below.
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs located all over the world.
The Rotary Clubs have a four way test that is used to evaluate how I conduct my daily
life. I believe “the four way test of the things we think, say, and do” is an honorable
and ethical guide to the way I live my life.
My brother and I have always been raised in a Christian home. From an early age
we have been taught right from wrong. It has always been clear to my brother and me
how my parents feel about certain issues. One such issue that they often spoke to us
about was saving yourself for the man or woman you would one day marry. We both
knew that this was the right thing to do, but also the expected thing to do
Last November, my family’s lives, attitudes, and emotions were changed dramatically
when my brother, at the age of nineteen, announced that his seventeen year old girlfriend
was expecting a baby. My parents and I were crushed and disappointed by this news. At
the time, we felt that having a baby would change their lives in a huge way and we were
right. What we didn’t realize is how much it would change all of our lives. We now
have a precious baby girl named Kaylie Madison McCall, and she has turned us into
her servants.
Before Kaylie was born my brother and I used to argue non stop. Now when an issue
comes up that I would usually fuss with him over, I think about how much I love Kaylie
and how I would not want to hurt her and I choose not to argue with him. Another
change for me is sharing my mom and dad. I was used to being the youngest and the
center of attention after my brother graduated and got a job. Now, mom and dad like to
spend a lot of their time playing with or holding their grandbaby. I also am called on
to hold Kaylie, fetch bottles, blankets, and pacifiers, and to entertain Kaylie when
needed. Has my life changed along with my brother’s? DEFINITELY!
The first question of the four way test is “Is it the truth?” It is the truth that
pregnancy out of wedlock changes lives and relationships. I have heard it said that
unplanned pregnancy ruins lives. I personally don’t believe that it ruins lives, but it
definitely changes them. For example, I used to rush home from school to watch
my favorite show on television. Now, I rush home to help tend to Kaylie.
The second question of the four way test is “Is it fair to all concerned?” In my
opinion, teen pregnancy is something that schools and service organizations should
work hard to prevent, because of the hardships it puts on many teens and their babies. In
our case, we have a big supportive family that lends help when needed. For many teens
this is not the case. I do believe it is fair because of the choices teenagers make. I wish
we could educate teenagers to make better choices and to realize the consequences of
their actions.
The third question is “ Will it build good will and better friendships?” When a baby
is born, kindness and compassion-both elements of good will blossom. My family and
I care about the kind of environment that Kaylie grows up in and therefore we are careful
in how we talk to and treat one another. We have definitely become closer to each other,
closer to members of our extended family, and closer to friends and acquaintances who
have shared similar experiences with us. For example, a sweet lady from our church
shared a story with us about how her granddaughter had a baby out of wedlock and how
the father of the baby had left her. But the point that she made very clear to us was what
a joy the baby was to their family. I feel the same way about Kaylie. She is truly a joy
to our family.
The fourth question of the four way test is “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
The subject of this essay is in essence spotlighting one of the greatest moral debates
of the twentieth century – Abortion. My brother and his girlfriend had to make a
decision very early concerning what they felt like would be best for all those people
involved. I am very thankful that they chose to have the baby, accept responsibility, and
face the challenges that would lie ahead of them. There are so may bad things that go
with abortion. Among them are death of an innocent child, emotional illnesses such as
depression and nightmares, possible physical damage to the woman, and long term
memory of what was done. On the other hand, there are so many good things that
come from choosing life. In the case of Kaylie, she has brought joy to our lives. She
has the opportunity to grow up and do great things. She will be able to play little
league, be a cheerleader, go to college, and hopefully do something great for her
community and country. It is my belief that of the two choices my brother and his
girlfriend had, they chose the one that would be most beneficial to all those concerned.
Ernest Ward Takes Tri-County Basketball Championship, Sets School Record
December 14, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles are the Tri-County basketball champions.
The EWMS Eagles finished their basketball season with a record of 7-1, the best record in school history.
Team members were Tristan Montgomery, Jaron Myles, William Andreoli, Cameron Newsome, Dalton Tullis, Jeffrey Taylor, Azeen Grissett, Izeyic Phifer, Brett Helton, Grady Floyd and Jaylen Parker. They were coached by Keith Griffin.
Barrineau Park Bridge Partially Open, Second Molino Bridge Closed
December 14, 2009
Two months after it first closed, a Barrineau Park Road bridge was scheduled to partially reopen on Monday, while another Molino bridge will was scheduledto be shut down for about a month.
Barrineau Park Road from Jacks Branch Road to Barrineau Park School Road was closed October 16 so that repairs could be made to the Penasula Creek Bridge which is located north of the intersection of Barrineau Park Road and Jacks Branch Road.
On Monday, one lane wast to be reopened. The road closed and detour signs will remain up on Barrineau Park Road westbound, and traffic will be routed to Jack’s Branch Road at St. Elizabeth’s Church, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County spokesperson. She said traffic will be able to make the right turn onto Jack’s Branch northbound at that intersection. The contractor, DKE Marine Services, will provide flagmen at both sides.
The bridge over Jack’s Branch on Bet Raines Road was set to close on Monday for about four weeks while bridge repairs are made. The road, which runs between Highway 29 and Highway 95A, primarily serves local traffic.