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Tropical Storm Hermine Forms In Gulf Of Mexico

Tropical Storm Hermine formed in the Gulf of Mexico Monday morning.

The eighth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was located off the Mexican coast, and tropical storm warning were issued for the Texas coast. The latest information on Hermine is located in the graphic above, click to enlarge.

Labor Day Closings

The following will be closed for today’s Labor Day holiday:

• All county offices in Escambia and Santa Rosa
• All city offices, including Century and Jay
• Schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa
• All public libraries, including Jay and Century
• Florida state offices
• All federal offices
• All post offices
• No bus service from ECAT, except for Pensacola Beach trolleys
• Pensacola State  College
• University of West Florida
• The USPS retail windows. No carrier delivery. No mail collected from boxes. Express Mail will be delivered.

Trash Service

There will be no change in ECUA trash or recycling service. Most ECUA customers in North Escambia will have their usual Tuesday trash and recycling service.

Flomaton Wreck Claims Fourth Life

The fourth person involved in a wreck last Monday in Flomaton has died.

Edward Bradford, 80, of Pensacola, passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital as a result of injuries he received in the August 30 wreck, according to family friends. His wife, Alice Bradford, 79, was pronounced dead shortly after being flown to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola last Monday.

Bay Minette residents Stephen Carl Thompson, 33, and his son, Nathan, 9, died in the accident about 2:30 p.m. August 30 at the intersection of Highway 113 and Highway 31. Funeral services for the father and son were held Saturday in Bay Minette.

Thompson and his son were  traveling north on Highway 31 when they were broadsided at a high rate of speed by a vehicle driven by Alice Bradford.

The impact of the  crash pushed both vehicles off the highway into  a service bay at Rowland’s Tires. Witnesses said they never heard the screech of tires as either car braked. They said all they heard was what sounded like an explosion.

Pictured above: All four victims in this accident have died. Edward Bradford and his wife Alice were in the silver car to the left and were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital. Stephen Carl Thompson and his nine-year old son Nathan were pronounced dead in the maroon car to the right. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Labor Day: 25,000 In The Area Out Of Work

On  Labor Day, the latest unemployment data showed that 25,159 people are out of work in our three county area — an increase of over 2,000 since last year.

In Escambia County (Fla.), the latest employment data for July shows 11 percent of the workforce unemployed, a slight increase from the month before at 10.8 percent. That translates to 15,715 unemployed in the county.

In Santa Rosa County, the unemployment rate was at 10.8 percent, up from 9.7 percent the month prior. That equals 7,880 unemployed persons.

In Escambia County (Ala.), 10.9 percent of workers were out of a job, down from 12 the month before. There were 1,564 unemployed in the county.

Pictured: This graphic shows the unemployment rate over the last 10 years in the three county North Escambia area. Click to enlarge.

Century Council Meeting Postponed

Tonight’s regular first Monday meeting of the Century Town Council has been postponed due to the Labor Day holiday.

The council will meet next Monday night, September 13, at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall.

FHP Continues Labor Day Holiday Drunk Driving Crackdown

The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing the national “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” campaign through the Labor Day holiday. The Patrol is joining thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation to reduce the number of impaired drivers on Florida’s roadways in an effort to save lives.

“Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but also the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant,” said FHP Director, Colonel John Czernis. “Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work and dozens of other expenses. Do not take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you can expect to be under arrest.”

The Labor Day holiday caps off the summer season for many, and historically travel increases with people driving to celebrate with friends and family. In addition to the national enforcement campaign, the Patrol has participated in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during the four-day holiday weekend. The operation involves all 50 state police and highway patrol organizations across the United States.

All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, patroled interstates and other major state roads during the four-day holiday period. FHP Auxiliary and Reserve troopers also will volunteer to augment the Patrol this weekend. The Patrol aims to increase its presence throughout Florida in an effort to deter traffic violations and to enhance services to motorists who break down while traveling or who need other assistance. Please remember to dial *FHP (*347) from your cell phone to contact FHP to report an aggressive or impaired driver or to request roadside assistance.

The Patrol reminds motorists that Florida’s primary safety belt law authorizes law enforcement officers to stop and cite motorists solely for failure to buckle up. Also, be sure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights on the side of the road. If you are unable to change lanes safely, slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit, or to five mph if the speed limit is 20 mph or less

Veterans Group To Hold Labor Day Picnic

A local veterans group is inviting everyone in the North Escambia area to a Labor Day picnic today.

Atmore VFW Post 7016 will hold their annual Labor Day Picnic  from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m today. Hotdog plates will be $3, and  5×7 photos will be available for $5. There will also be an information booth to learn more about the VFW.

Atmore VFW Post 7016 is located 206 West Ashley Street in Atmore.

Warm And Dry

The next few days look warm and dry.  Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. East wind around 5 mph becoming south.
• Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
• Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%

Escambia Extension Urges Smart Grilling For Food Safety

The end of summer means grilling — and a good cookout means proper food safety.

Safety is an important consideration when operating a grill. Improper use can cause a fire or explosion. Keep the area around a lighted grill clear of combustible materials, and never use a grill in an enclosed area such as a sheltered patio or a garage. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing that may catch fire. The cooking grids should be cleaned after every cookout. The last thing you want to do is cause someone to become ill due to improper cleaning or unsafe food preparation practices.

Wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds before starting to prepare any foods, and wash your hands again if you do anything else—change a diaper, pet an animal, or blow your nose, for example. Cover any cuts or sores on your hands with a bandage, or use plastic gloves. If you sneeze or cough while preparing foods, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and turn your face away, or cough into your sleeve. Always wash your hands afterwards.

Bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature. Most food-borne illness-causing bacteria cannot grow well at temperatures below 40°F or above 140°F. Thaw foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave. Never leave foods out at room temperature.

Keep everything that touches food clean. Bacteria can hitch rides around your kitchen on all sorts of things—plates and cutting boards, dirty utensils, dish rags and sponges, unwashed hands.

Never chop fresh vegetables or salad ingredients on a cutting board that was used for raw meat without properly cleaning it first. If possible, keep a separate cutting board just for the preparation of raw meat, poultry, and fish.

Wash cutting boards thoroughly with hot soapy water, and then sanitize with a solution of household bleach and water.

Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices from coming into contact with other foods during preparation, especially foods that will not be cooked. Wash all utensils and your hands with hot soapy water after contact with raw meat.

Marinate meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator in a covered, non-metal container. Throw away any leftover marinade.

Grill food to a safe internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to assure correct doneness of the food being grilled.

Safe minimum internal temperatures:

• Poultry (whole, ground, and breasts): 165°F
• Hamburgers, beef: 160°F
• Beef, veal, and lamb (steaks, roasts and chops):
• Medium rare: 145°F
• Medium: 160°F.
• All cuts of pork: 160°F.

Hold meat at 140°F until served. Use a clean platter for transferring cooked meat from grill to serving table.

Summer is the time for getting together with friends and family and cooking outdoors. Make your outdoor grilling experience safe and enjoyable.

For further information regarding food safety and other related topics, go to the University of Florida’s Solutions for Your Life website: http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com.

Dorothy C. Lee, CFCS, is an Extension Agent II, Family & Consumer Sciences with the Escambia County Extension Service. Reference: Safe Food Handling Fact Sheet, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Series.

Pastors Take Mission Trip To Iraq

Recently, two Cantonment residents, Brian Barlow and Jim Locke, joined Ken Bell of Pensacola in traveling to the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.

Locke and Barlow, pastors at Hillcrest Baptist Church, and Bell, a local attorney, were invited by Dr. Nabeeh Abbassi, past president of the Baptist Convention of Jordan, and Pastor Nabil Sara, Pastor of the National Evangelical Baptist Church of Baghdad, to participate in the first ever Baptist sponsored Iraqi Pastor and Wives conference.

The men were warmly welcomed by the Iraqis in the Kurdish area. They were surprised by the modern facilities at the airport in Erbil, the beauty of the northern countryside, and the helpfulness of the people. Remarking on the general friendliness of the Kurds towards Americans, Bell stated, “For a people who have suffered so much and have every reason to be suspicious of strangers, no matter where we went the Kurds were surprisingly gracious and welcoming.”

The conference was held in Duhok and featured notable speakers from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Brazil, and the United States. Pastor Locke, senior pastor of Hillcrest, was the keynote evening worship speaker and spoke on the importance of the unity of the church.

Under Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq suffered considerable internal turmoil in all regions of the country. In the northern area alone, several thousand villages were destroyed displacing more than 600,000 people. Several of the pastors at the conference told of the sufferings and victories in their lives under Saddam. One Baptist pastor told Bell (pictured), “I live with my wife in our heavily damaged church. My co-pastor was murdered and another protestant pastor in our city was shot in the neck and rendered a quadriplegic. I was told that if I opened the doors to my church, I and my family would be killed.” Commenting on his story Bell said, “at the risk of torture and death, they stay to minister to the small underground church that remains in the city.”

Another pastor that impressed Bell was Mahmoud. “Mahmoud, a former Muslim and Communist, and his young, pregnant wife are to minister in al-Sadr City, one of the darkest, most violent, sectarian areas in all of Iraq. I cannot imagine a more dangerous area to openly profess Christ. Even Muslims of other sects are at grave risk here. The danger to a professing Christian is obvious. They are “dying to self and living for Christ” in a way few would emulate” said Bell.

Barlow (pictured left) and Bell led seminars on the topics of “Vision – Shaping the Future,” and “Developing a Shared Vision for your Church.” When asked by Barlow to write out his vision for his church in central Iraq, one of the Iraqi pastors replied, “for you, I will first write my vision for my church in ink on paper then, I know, at some time in the future, I will follow Christ’s example and write it again for my fellow Iraqis in blood on the ground.”

Sporadic violence against Christians and Christian churches is common in Iraq though most Iraqi Muslims are against violence and disavow the extremists and criminals that perpetrate such acts.

One of the Iraqi pastors from Mosul told Locke about his experience with extremists and how he dealt with the destruction of his church, “When they (Islamists) destroyed my small church it was a terrible shock, I cried for many days. But then I realized that I must forgive them and love them. Before I became a believer in Christ I was like them, now that Jesus is in control of my life, I am a new man. They are not new men, therefore I have to love them and show them how to become new men with new hearts that love others not hate them.”

Pastor Charlie Costa of Lebanon was also a featured conference speaker, speaking on the topic “the Kingdom of God,” as were several Iraqi-American pastors from the US. For two Iraqi-American pastors, it was the first time since Saddam Hussein came to power that they had returned to their home country. “These men had fled their homeland decades earlier as young Muslims fearful for their lives. They returned as Americans and Christians to encourage their brothers and sisters. What an emotional experience for us to witness. Their love and compassion was palpable. And, the chance to break bread, share stories, encourage and worship as one was an opportunity long desired. And, I am sure one that will be repeated again soon,” said Bell.

The conference also covered a variety of women’s issues that pastors wives face. The women’s conference was led by the training staff of Arab Woman Today Ministries. The women shared many stories about their lives as pastor’s wives and the common bond of friendship and fellowship they share. One of the women told Barlow that, “each day I am grateful that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and that I can work beside my husband in the ministry. We are teaching our children that Jesus gave everything for us and that we should devote our lives to serving Him by serving others.”

The conference concluded with a public baptism service in which five new Iraqi believers were baptized (pictured top of page). The baptismal service took place in a highly visible public lake next to the main road entering the city. Pastor Costa officiated at the service assisted by Pastor Locke. Though the water was cold and deep, everyone’s spirits were warm and high.

Pictured top: Hillcrest Baptist Church Pastor Jim Locke baptizing a man while on a mission trip to Iraq. Pictured below: Goods for sale at an Iraqi market. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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