Photos: North Escambia Turkeys
November 25, 2010
These turkeys were spotted by our photographer last year near Barrineau Park. They were alongside South Highway 99 near Crabtree Church Road. There’s no word on how the turkeys spent their Thanksgiving.
Pictured above: A couple of turkeys next to Highway 99 in Barrineau Park. Pictured below: A face only a mother could love. Pictured below middle: Showing off. Pictured bottom of page: Why did the turkey cross the road? NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Health Department Offers Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips
November 25, 2010
The Escambia County Health Department is emphasizing the importance of safe food preparation and storage to prevent possible foodborne illnesses.
“While family celebrations are being prepared, everyone should practice proper food hygiene,” said Dr. John Lanza, health department director. “Floridians should wash their hands and counter tops thoroughly before and after preparing foods to help eliminate bacteria. Foods should be cooked at the appropriate temperature and leftovers should be stored properly.”
Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses include:
- Improper food storage (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding temperature). Safe refrigeration temperature is less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and safe hot holding temperature is greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Improper washing of hands and fingernails
- Improper cooling of foods. Safe cooling of foods is getting the foods to less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a four-hour time period.
- Cross contamination (such as from uncooked meat to salad ingredients)
- Improper cleaning and sanitizing of eating and cooking utensils, work areas and equipment
- Contamination of food, utensils and equipment from flies, roaches and other pests
Tips to prepare turkeys safely:
- A whole turkey should be cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- An 8-12 pound unstuffed turkey should be cooked for 2-3 hours.
- Preparers should use a meat thermometer. Every part of the turkey should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Frozen turkeys should be kept frozen until ready to thaw prior to cooking.
Individuals with liver disease or diabetes or who have had gastric surgery or are immune-compromised should avoid eating raw oysters or other raw animal protein during the holidays. Oysters that are thoroughly cooked or have been post-harvest treated can be consumed by people with these conditions to minimize the risk of infection from Vibrio vulnificus.
For more information about food safety, click here.
FDOT Suspends Road Construction Projects Until Monday
November 25, 2010
To ease traffic congestion and insure safety along the roadways in Northwest Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has directed construction contractors working on state roads to cease operations during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to Tanya Sanders Branton, public information specialist for the Florida Department of Transportation.
There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions from Thursday, November 25, through Sunday, November 28. All major roads in Northwest Florida will be open to normal traffic, Branton said.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 25, 2010
Black Friday has traditionally the biggest retail shopping day of the year, though last year, Cyber Monday – the Monday after Thanksgiving – officially replaced Black Friday as the most popular shopping day.
Whether in the store or online, the Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida offers advice to help you with your holiday shopping:
- Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.
- Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.
- Advertising can be tricky; don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you expected.
- Credit card offers from a store will offer a discount on your purchase but may also carry high interest rates.
- Keep all receipts and warranty information for each item purchased.
- Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card than a debit card.
- Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges, including whether restocking fees are charged.
- If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.
- Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.
- Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.
- Yelling at store employees and other customers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.
- Credit cards provide the most protection if someone steals the credit card number or if you don’t receive an ordered item.
- You, the customer, are responsible for knowing and understanding each online retailer’s return/exchange policy.
- Beware of deals that sound too good to be true, especially extremely low priced on hard-to-get items.
- Ensure you have the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls installed.
- Read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmation web pages and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
- Only shop on trustworthy sites; look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks.”
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction and when on sites like Craigslist, only shop locally.
- Delete phishing emails such as those claiming a problem with an order or account in an attempt to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.
- Actively keep an eye on your credit card statements to detect suspicious or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
- You are your best protection! Make sure your online purchase is secure by looking for the “s” (https://) in the URL and the “lock” symbol in the lower-right corner before paying.
Final BP Claims Protocols Released After Deluge Of Last Minute Filings
November 25, 2010
BP claims administrator Ken Feinberg on Wednesday released the set of protocols for final payment of damages following a deluge of last-minute emergency claims that came in prior to the November 23 deadline.
Saying that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility has already paid $2 billion to 125,000 recipients of emergency claims, Feinberg said the rush of last-minute requests will take until Dec. 15 to process. After that, the facility will turn its attention to making final payments from the $20 billion BP fund over the next three years.
Feinberg said the next round of final payments will compensate individuals and businesses for future losses in exchange for agreements by the claimants to end legal action against the company. Under the voluntary program, claimants must sign a release to waive any rights to sue BP and any other potentially liable parties.
Claimants not ready to make that commitment can still collect interim payments for past losses up until August 2013. Businesses and individuals unsatisfied with the compensation package can also take their claims to court.
Some business groups located inland or in other parts of the state also say the spill hurt their businesses as tourists canceled or cut short businesses to Florida destinations, some of which were hundreds of miles away from the tar balls and sheen the came ashore in Florida’s Panhandle.
Under the Federal Pollution Control Act of 1990, proximity to actual oil exposure is a “major requirement for a valid legal claim, according to a 48-page memorandum of law penned by Harvard Law Professor John Goldman. The memorandum goes on to say that businesses not directly affected by the blobs of oil will likely not fare well if they take their cases to court.
Feinberg has said repeatedly that proximity alone will not be the sole determinant for whether claims are valid, but affected businesses and individuals must provide credible evidence that any loss of business was attributable to the spill.
“The GCCF will be much more generous than current Federal or State Law,” Feinberg said in a statement. “Proximity is not a bar to a GCCF claim, but damage must still be proven.”
Thanksgiving Travel: Pensacola Airport Expecting 2,700 Travelers Per Day
November 25, 2010
No major problems were reported Wednesday at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, which was expecting about 2,700 people per day to travel through the terminal during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Security delays were reported to be minor at the Pensacola airport, which does not have the new full-body scanners that have been installed at some airports.
Pictured above: The passenger lines at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport were short early Wednesday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm-City Week Recognizes Importance Of Local Agriculture
November 25, 2010
Before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, the Florida Farm Bureau would like everyone to remember that the meal they will enjoy is made possible by Farm-City partnerships.
National Farm-City Week, celebrated annually on the week leading to and ending on Thanksgiving Day, recognizes the importance of this cooperative network to the success of America’s agricultural industry.
The following was submitted by Dorthy Cunningham from the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
This Thanksgiving Day, as we gather with family and friends to count our blessings, let’s give thanks for the bounty we enjoy not just on this holiday, but every day. The safe, plentiful food that is available to us, and the products used to produce the clothing, housing, medicines, fuel and other products we use on a daily basis, didn’t just appear in a store. They got there thanks to a tremendous partnership of farmers and rancher, processors, brokers, truckers, shippers, advertisers, wholesalers and retailers.
In appreciation of this farm-city partnership, the President of the United States annually proclaims the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving Day as National Farm-city Week.
Rural and urban residents are “Partners in Progress” who produce the products, consume the products, and make them readily available through an efficient production and marketing chain. Farmers and ranchers are just the beginning of that chain. Farm workers, researchers, processors, shippers, truck drivers, inspectors, wholesalers, agribusinesses, marketers, advertisers, retailers and consumers all play important roles in the incredible productivity that has made our nation’s food and fiber system the envy of the world.
This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s remember the vital farm-city partnerships that have done so much to improve the quality of our lives. Rural and urban communities working together have made the most of our rich agricultural resources, and have made significant contributions to our health and well-being and to the strength of our nation’s economy. For this, we can give thanks.
Dorothy Cunningham
Chair, Women’s Committee
Escambia County Farm Bureau
Pictured top: Wheat is one of the crops produced in North Escambia. Pictured inset: Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
James Richard “Jim” Carroll
November 24, 2010
James Richard “Jim” Carroll, age 53 of Pensacola, passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at his home after a long and very courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his family. He was a native of Pensacola; graduate of Tate High School, Class of 1975. Jim was an avid drag car racer and fishermahis CB name was Hustler and most recently “The Judge”.
He had a zest for living life.
He was employed at NES in Pensacola; he was often referred to by many as the best welder in town.
He is preceded in death by his brothers, John Carroll III and Johnny Carroll.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Teena E. Carroll; two daughters, Kristyn Carroll and Kaitlyn Carroll; parents, John and Patsy Carroll; two sisters, Linda Kelly and Ann Simmons (Mervyn); three nieces, Ginger, Heather and J.B.; six great nieces and nephews, Brandon, Cody, Bentley, Lola, Bailey and Hunter; one great-great-niece, Bree; and many extended family and loving friends.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jim’s name to Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group, with a special thanks to Dr Thomas Sunnenberg and Dr. John Gage.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 27, 2010 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29S, Cantonment, FL. Interment will follow at Whitmire Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, November 27, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Manhunt For Man After Bail Bondsman Gives Chase
November 24, 2010
A manhunt turned up empty Wednesday evening for a local man wanted on a felony failure to appear warrant.
Deputies searched over two hours for a suspect identified as Tabarin Oneil Wesley, 30, by Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Wesley was described as being a black male, last seen wearing a red shirt and blue shorts with no shoes.
The manhunt was centered around Showalter Park and the old Century Elementary School.
A bail bondsman reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office about 4:50 Wednesday afternoon that he had located Wesley in Showalter Park. The bail bondman gave chase and last reported seeing Wesley as he scaled a fence behind the school.
A K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institution arrived in the area bout 5:30 p.m. to assist in the search. The search was called off about 7:15 p.m.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of Wesley should call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: Tabarin Oneil Wesley in April of 2010. Escambia County Jail photo.
Murder Suspect Now Behind Bars
November 24, 2010
Escambia murder suspect Aaron Cornelius Mitchell is now behind bars.
Mitchell turned himself in Wednesday afternoon to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators, according to Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. . Aaron Mitchell is accused murdering Prentiss Mitchell Friday night. The two were not related.
Escambia Deputies responded to a shooting call at at the Moorings Apartments on Old Spanish Trail about 9:20 p.m. Friday. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Prentiss Mitchell in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased a short time later.
After Aaron Mitchell was named as a “person of interest” in the homicide, a 1998 Honda registered to him was found at an address near West Brainerd St. and North S Street in Pensacola at around 4:00 pm on Monday. Upon locating the vehicle investigators found damage to the exterior which appeared to be bullet holes, Welborn said.
On Tuesday afternoon, investigators officially named Aaron Mitchell as a suspect and a felony murder warrant for his arrest was issued.
Aaron Mitchell is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail with no bond.