Featured Recipe: Sweet And Savory CalRio Cuban Pie
July 11, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a CalRio Cuban Pie. Pulled pork, deli ham, Roma tomatoes, Swiss cheese are more combine to create this flavorful ethnic dish.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
LIVE VIDEO: BP Removes Cap From Gushing Oil Well In The Gulf
July 11, 2010
The containment cap was removed from the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico Saturday afternoon as BP works to stop the flow.
As a result, the oil well will freely gush millions more gallons of oil in the Gulf for at least two days. BP’s plans are to have a new, tighter cap in place by Monday. A permanent fix is planned by the middle of August.
NorthEscambia.com is bringing you live video from the BP oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico.
This is a live feed from about mile below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico. The live video stream may freeze at times, or be completely unavailable from time to time. If you see a broken image with a red “X” in Internet Explorer, you will need to click the “Allow Active X” near the top of your screen. Also, be aware that the video may not appear if your employer, school or home firewall blocks videos.
NorthEscambia.com Live Oil Spill Video From BP
Shelly Womack Named Escambia County Junior Miss
July 11, 2010
Shelly Womack was named Escambia County (Ala.) Junior Miss Saturday night at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. Womack, the daughter of David and Janet Womack, is a student at Excel High School.
First alternate was Cierra White of Flomaton. She is the daughter of Earnie White of Flomaton and the late Angie White. She is a student at the Alabama School of Math and Science.
Walton Nichols of Atmore was named second alternate. She is the daughter of Randy and Melissa Nichols of Atmore.
Six young ladies took part in the program Saturday night. They were: Megan Andrews, Dallas Brown, Walton Nichols, Kelsey Templeton, Cierra White and Shelly Womack.
Pictured: Shelly Womack (center) was named Escambia County Junior Miss Saturday. Cierra White (left) was named first alternate, and Walton Nichols (right) was named first alternate. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Man Accused Of Indecent Exposure In North Escambia, Atmore
July 10, 2010
A Flomaton man is facing indecent exposure charges after allegedly exposing himself on two different occasions in the parking lot of a North Escambia business. And, authorities believe he committed a similar crime in Atmore.
Desjhaun Demetris Walker, 24, of 311 Dixon Road, Flomaton, was charged with two counts of indecent exposure. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail late Thursday night and released Friday on a $2,000 bond.
His arrest stemmed from two incidents reported in the parking lot of the CVS Pharmacy in Century on June 2 and June 4 in which he allegedly exposed his genitals and performed a sexual act in front of adult female victims.
In the June 4 incident, an adult female victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she saw a black male in the CVS parking lot about noon, sitting in a light blue Oldsmobile with no tag. She said he had his windows rolled up and the engine was not running. When she approached her vehicle which was parked next to the suspect’s, he allegedly exited his vehicle with his shirt pulled, his pants pulled down, and he proceeded to commit an illegal act.
The victim jumped into her car, locked the doors and called 911 for help. When the suspect saw the victim on the phone, he reportedly fled northbound on North Century Boulevard. Responding deputies were unable to locate the vehicle.
A similar incident was reported by another adult female in the same parking lot two days prior, on June 2.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Atmore Police Department that a similar incident had occurred in the parking lot of a business in that city on June 2. The victim and the suspect information matched, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
When questions by deputies, Walker admitted that he was the person that committed the illegal acts in front of two different victims at the CVS in Century on
June 2 and June 4, according to his arrest report.
Judge: State Attorney Can Prosecute Commissioner Valentino
July 10, 2010
State Attorney Bill Eddins will be able to prosecute Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino, according to a ruling issued Friday by Okaloosa County Judge Mike Ward.
Valentino had petitioned the judge to remove Eddins and his office from the case, with his attorney, Barry Beroset, arguing that since the State Attorney’s office used Valentino to make secret audio recordings in 2007, it would be a conflict of interest. Valentino assisted the State Attorney’s office in an investigation of former county administrator George Touart.
A criminal case against Valentino involving campaign related charges was moved in May to Okaloosa County by Escambia Chief Judge Terry Terrell. Valentino has entered a not guilty plea on charges of the solicitation of a political contribution in a building owned by a governmental agency. The charge is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine.
Valentino is accused of accepting a campaign donation at his county office from Pensacola developer Dan Gilmore on November 5, 2009.
Pictured: Commissioner Gene Valentino’s Escambia County Jail booking photo, click to enlarge.
A Rainy Sunday Afternoon?
July 10, 2010
Some of the area had scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon, and it looks like a repeat Sunday afternoon with a 70 percent chance of rain.
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 95.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Weekend Trip: 50th Birthday Party For To Kill A Mockingbird
July 10, 2010
If you are looking for a short weekend trip, Monroeville, Alabama, would love to have you this weekend as they throw a birthday bash for the literary classic “To Kill a Mockingird”.
Published July 11, 1960, “To Kill a Mockingbird” was an instant success, and would go on to sell over 30 million copies in 40 languages. The plot and characters by Harper Lee were loosely based on the people and places she saw growing up in Monroeville.
This summer, Monroeville has turned into the fictional Maycomb of the novel, with events culminating this weekend.
The schedule on Saturday includes a preview screening of Sandy Jaffe’s upcoming documentary Our Mockingbird. The evening concludes with a giant lawn party of food, drink and conversation on the courthouse lawn. There will also be 1930s-era children’s games on the courthouse lawn and walking tours of downtown Monroeville including the sites where Harper Lee and Truman Capote lived as children. Museum volunteers will assist in these tours sharing their love of the famous novel and how it relates to their hometown.
The schedule for Sunday, the actual publication date of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, includes cake and ice cream on the courthouse lawn from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Pastry Shop in Mobile, Alabama, is creating a special cake for the event.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can participate in a silent auction for a signed, mint-condition, as-new 35th Anniversary Edition of “To Kill a Mockingbird” (all proceeds benefit the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s Education Fund.) The auction ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Also, the reading copy of a 50th Anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird signed by all the readers in the marathon reading will be auctioned.
For more information visit www.tokillamockingbird.com or click here for a pdf schedule.
Pictured top: Monroe County’s world famous courtroom. Picture bottom: The Old Courthouse museum on the square in Monroeville. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Today’s Schedule, Photo Gallery: Blue Angels At Pensacola Beach
July 10, 2010
Today is the annual Blue Angel’s Pensacola Beach Air Show.
The event begins at noon, with the Blue Angels scheduled to fly at 2 p.m. On Saturday, NewsRadio 1620 will have live narration during the air show beginning at noon with Paul Stadden and former Blue Angels solo pilot Len Anderson. NewsRadio 1620 and Cat Country 98.7 will have special traffic reports with live updates all day Saturday.
Aircraft scheduled to take part in the show include: a Grumman Widgeon G-44 flown by Julian MacQueen; Prometheus flown by Skip Stewart, Team RV; Red Star and the Dragon–Dragon Aviation; Fat Albert, a C-130 Hercules; and the Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets.
For a photo gallery from Thursday’s Pensacola Beach practice show, click here. Photos courtesy Cheryl Casey Photography
Are you heading to the show? Send us your pictures! Email news@northescambia.com
NWE Football Registration Continues Today
July 10, 2010
Registration will take place today for Northwest Escambia football in Walnut Hill.
Registration will continue each Saturday in July at Ernest Ward Middle School from 10 a.m. until noon.
The cost is $70 for the first child, $35 for the second child and free for additional children in the same family. Teams are available for children 5 to 13 years old. Birth certificates and social security cards are needed for each child for registration.
July Lawn And Garden Tips
July 10, 2010
Timing is the key to success in your lawn and garden. And in this weekly feature, Teresa Friday, the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County, offers an assortment of July lawn and garden tips.
Flowers
- Plant heat-tolerant annuals such as: celosia, coleus, crossandra, impatiens, kalanchoe, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, portulaca, salvia, and vinca.
- Lightly re-fertilize to enhance color and vigor.
- Deadhead, or pinch off, spent flowers to stimulate more flowering.
- Pinch back leggy growth.
- Check roses for black spot fungus and apply a fungicide if necessary.
- Mulch beds to 3-inches deep to help control weeds.
- Monitor weekly for insect or disease problems.
- Increase air circulation between plants. This helps prevent formation of fungal diseases such as leaf and stem blights.
Trees and Shrubs
- Crape myrtles are blooming, so it’s an excellent time to select them for your landscape. Choose cultivars with the appropriate mature size for your site.
- Deadhead crape myrtles to extend bloom time.
- Check azaleas for the large, black azalea defoliator caterpillars. Control by hand picking or use an approved insecticide.
- Watch for spider mites on shrubs and flowers; lacebugs on azaleas and pyracantha; flower thrips on roses, gardenias and other blooming plants; and oleander caterpillars on oleanders.
- Prune hydrangeas and gardenias when flowering stops.
- Do not heavily prune any of the spring flowering shrubs such as azaleas, camellias or spiraea.
- Give trees a pre-hurricane check. Look for limbs that might snap and trunks that could split. Prune immediately.
- Psocids (tree cattle) create the white webbing covering the branches and trunks of some trees. They feed on surface debris and do not injury the trees.
Fruits and Nuts
- Prune blueberry bushes after harvest is completed.
Vegetable Garden
- Plant eggplant, lima beans, okra, southern peas, peppers and watermelon.
- Remove spring-planted tomato plants from the garden once harvesting is complete.
- Burn or remove diseased plants from your property. Don’t place them in the compost pile.
- Set out new tomato plants by late July. Try the “hot set” varieties.
- Control tomato hornworm and fruitworms.
- Establish a compost pile; high temperatures and frequent showers speed the breakdown process.
- Solarize the soil to reduce nematode population in the vegetable garden. Remove old plant debris, till the area thoroughly, moisten well and cover with clear plastic film. Seal the edges with soil. Leave the cover on for 6 weeks.
Lawns
- Monitor for sod webworms, spittlebugs, chinch bugs, caterpillars and mole crickets.
- Use a soap drench to irritate insect pests into moving, making them easier to see. Mix 1 ½ oz of liquid dishwashing soap and 2 gal of water in a sprinkling can, then equally distribute the solution in over a 2 X 2 foot area.
- To reduce stress on the lawn: mow before it is too high, keep mower blades sharp and raise the mowing height by ½ inch when the weather is hot.
Contact your local Extension Office for detailed instructions on these recommendations.