Holiday Closures For Thanksgiving
November 24, 2010
The following will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Escambia County Schools (Wed-Fri)
- Santa Rosa County School (Wed-Fri)
- Escambia and Santa Rosa county offices (Thur-Fri)
- Century, Jay, Milton, Pensacola, Atmore, Flomaton city offices (Thur-Fri)
- U.S. Post Office — retail windows closed, no mail delivery or collection (Thur)
- Florida state offices (Thur-Fri)
- Federal offices (Thur-Fri)
- No bus service from ECAT on Thursday
- West Florida Public Libraries, including Century Branch (Thur-Fri)
- Santa Rosa libraries (5 p.m. Wed-Sun)
- Pensacola State College (4pm Wed-Sun)
- University of West Florida
ECUA Garbage:
ECUA’s Thursday routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday.
Turkey Time: Cooking Safety
November 24, 2010
It’s Thanksgiving, time for family and friends to gather and give thanks. And time for cooks to ponder the correct way to prepare their turkey.
Today, we are taking a look at the proper way to cook your turkey with tips from Dorthy Lee, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Escambia County Extension Office.
Clean
Begin every meal preparation with clean hands, and wash hands frequently to prevent any cross contamination. As a rule, hands that have come in contact with raw meat or poultry should be washed for twenty seconds in hot, soapy water.
Separate
Raw meat and poultry products may contain harmful bacteria, so make certain that the juices from those products do not come in contact with food that will be eaten without cooking, like the salad. Also, never place cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat or poultry.
Cook
Use of food thermometer should be a standard operating procedure in your kitchen and, when used correctly, will ensure that your turkey is cooked to perfection. To be safe, the
temperature of a whole turkey should reach 180°F between the breast and the innermost part of the thigh.
If you stuff your turkey, the center of the stuffing must reach 165°F. If the stuffing has not reached 165°F, then continue cooking the turkey until it does. Let the turkey stand twenty minutes after removal from the oven before carving.
Chill
This is another important step because food-borne bacteria can grow while food sits unrefrigerated. Refrigerate or freeze perishable leftovers within two hours of cooking. To prepare your leftovers, remove any remaining stuffing from the cavity and cut turkey into small pieces. Slice the breast meat. Wings and legs may be left whole. Refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers.
Use or freeze leftover turkey and stuffing within three to four days, gravy within one to two days. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165°F, or until hot and steaming.
For more information, call the Escambia County Extension office, (850) 475-5230.
Dense Fog Advisory, Rain In Forecast
November 23, 2010
A dense fog advisory has been issued from 8:00 tonight until 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight…Mostly cloudy. Areas of dense fog late in the night. Lows 56 to 61. South winds around 5 mph.
- Wednesday…Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny. Areas of dense fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night…Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
- Thanksgiving Day…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the morning…then chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of showers 40 percent.
- Thursday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers through the night. Slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Near steady temperature in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Friday…Cooler. Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning…then chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
- Friday Night…Much colder. Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the evening. Lows in the upper 30s. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Saturday…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
- Saturday Night…Mostly clear. Lows 35 to 40.
- Sunday…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
- Sunday Night…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers. Lows 47 to 52. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Monday…Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny. Slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of showers 20 percent.
- Monday Night…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Tuesday…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Man Officially Named Murder Suspect
November 23, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named Aaron Cornelius Mitchell, 20, as a suspect in a Friday night homicide of Prentiss Mitchell. A warrant charging Mitchell with felony murder has been issued, according to Deputy Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Mitchell is wanted in connection with the shooting death of Prentiss Mitchell, 20, about 9:20 Friday night at The Moorings apartments in the 8000 block of Old Spanish Trail Road, near East Olive Road and Scenic Highway. The two men are not related.
Prentiss Mitchell was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the apartment complex when deputies arrived at the apartment complex.
A 1998 Honda registered to Aaron Mitchell was found at an address near West Brainerd street and North S Street about 4 p.m. Monday. Investigators said the exterior of the car appeared to have bullet holes, but they did not release any further information.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Aaron Mitchell is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: Aaron Cornelius Mitchell.
Rain Possible Today
November 23, 2010
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind around 5 mph.
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thanksgiving Day: Isolated showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Embattled Flomaton Police Chief Back On The Force — As A Patrolman
November 23, 2010
A week after Flomaton’s mayor called for the town’s police chief to be fired, he has returned to work in a lower position.
“He will back at work as a patrolman,” Mayor Dewey Bondurant said Monday afternoon about former chief Katarius Jenkins, who was scheduled to report to work at 7:00 this morning.
Last Tuesday, Bondurant said Jenkins quit and then asked his town council to fire him, but none of the council members would make such a motion.
Jenkins said Mayor Dewey Bondurant (pictured ) fired him on Friday, November 12, but the mayor said he did not.
“Our police chief quit,” the mayor said during a special council meeting November 16. “He said that I fired him, but I didn’t. But since he didn’t come to work Monday, I assume he’s fired now.”
“For the record, I didn’t quit,” Jenkins told the council last week. “It was an issue about an employee that the mayor wanted me to fire. He said the guy didn’t do anything wrong, but if I couldn’t handle it, he would. So I felt that if the guy didn’t do anything wrong, why fire him.” Jenkins, who was out of the town Friday during his conversation with the mayor about the employee, said he asked the mayor it to “handle it”.
Jenkins (pictured) referred NorthEsambia.com’s request for comment to Andalusia (Ala.) attorney Allen G. Woodward. Woodward represented Jenkins on behalf of the Southern States Police Benevolent Association.
“It’s always good when reasonable people can come to a reasonable solution whether or not they may have a problem,” Woodward said of Jenkins’ agreement with the town of Flomaton. “I don’t think anybody is in disagreement that the primary concern here is the well being of people of Flomaton.”
The Flomaton Town Council was scheduled to hold an employment hearing for Jenkins Monday night, but that hearing was canceled after the agreement was reached between Jenkins and the town.
Bondurant said he has a candidate in mind for police chief that must first be approved by the town council.
Pictured top: Flomaton Police Chief Katarius Jenkins addresses the Flomaton Town Council Tuesday night. Pictured top inset: Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant. Pictured middle inset: Jenkins listens as the council discusses his future with the town. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Talks Trash, Approves New Allied Waste Contract
November 23, 2010
The Century Town Council talked trash Monday — renewing a contract with Allied Waste that will not raise residential garbage rates for the next three years.
Century’s 700 residential customers will continue to pay $15.04 per month for trash collection. Allied will continue to pick up household waste on Wednesday, but Allied will no longer collect yard waste and items like discarded furniture. The Town of Century will collect those items on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
The town will save $3.58 per customer per month by self-collecting yard waste, or about $30,000 per year.
Under the new three year deal, which goes into effect December 1, Century will also receive a $400 per month — $4,800 per year — discount on dumpsters at city facilities, and trash at the town hall will be collected at no charge.
The bottom line for residential customers, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, is that service will remain the same for Century’s residential household waste customers.
In addition, most of Century’s 35 business trash customers will see a five percent decrease in their monthly bills, according to Seren Ainsworth, municipal services manager for Allied Waste.
“Have we seriously thought about having our own (trash pickup) before we go elsewhere?” asked Sandra McMurray Jackson, who will take her seat on the Century council in January.
“We can’t pick it up for what they (Alllied Waste) contract it for,” McCall responded. The mayor said it would be impossible for the town to get into the household waste business for less money that is paid Allied Waste. McCall also said he had spoken to the Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA), which provides residential waste service in most of Escambia County. “They couldn’t touch the rate,” he said.
Century’s three-year renewal of their Allied Waste contract was approved 2-1 at a special meeting Monday. Councilman Henry Hawkins voted against the contract renewal, while council members Ann Brooks and Nadine McCaw were absent.
Walmart Rape Suspect Enters Guilty Plea
November 23, 2010
A Pensacola man pleaded guilty Monday in connection with a New Year’s Day rape of a young Pensacola woman abducted from a Walmart parking lot on Highway 29 in Pensacola.
Willard Ray Crowder, 48, enter a plea of guilty as charged to sexual battery with a deadly weapon or force and kidnapping.
About 10:30 on January 1, 2010, Crowder abducted an 18-year old female from the Walmart parking lot. The woman told deputies that she was having car trouble in the parking lot when the man put a knife to her throat and forced her into the back of a van. She was driven a short distance before her attacker raped her. She was driven back to Walmart and dropped off, told that she would be killed if she reported the attack to authorities.
Crowder’s DNA was obtained from the victim, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Crowder faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Nickolas Geeker on January 26, 2011.
Prison Time For North Escambia Sex Offender With Ice Cream Truck
November 23, 2010
A North Escambia man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday after pleading no contest to 20 counts of possession of child pornography, including images of child molestation.
Martin Lyle Christianson, 58, will also be required to register as a sex offender once he is released from prison, according to the sentence handed down by Circuit Court Judge Terry Terrell.
Christianson was named the most wanted man in Florida back in May after he fled his Crowndale Court home in Cottage Hill in a used ice cream truck later found abandoned in Mobile. He was captured a few days later in Louisiana by U.S. Marshals.
Ernest Ward FFA Sells Over Three Tons Of Sweet Potatoes
November 23, 2010
Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA sold over three tons of sweet potatoes as a fund raiser. The 20-pound bags of Baldwin County sweet potatoes were delivered to the students on Monday to deliver to their supporters.
Funds from the Ernest Ward Middle School’s annual sweet potato sale are used to support group activities during the year.
Pictured above: The top seller sold 46 bags of potatoes, nearly a half ton. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.