Tate High AJROTC Places In State Drill Meet
April 18, 2011
The Tate High School AJROTC competed in the State Drill Meet recently in Lakeland. The regulation unarmed platoon placed 13th out of 29 teams, regulation armed platoon placed 10th out of 28 teams, and regulation armed squad placed 18th out of 34 teams.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pain At The Pump: $4 A Gallon Soon?
April 18, 2011
Gas is already over $4 a gallon in five states, while locally the pain at the pump continues to worsen.
Pump prices in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii and Illinois are already over the four buck mark, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge, with Hawaii at $4.47 per gallon. The highest-ever average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $4.05 in July of 2008. Nationally, gas topped out a $4.11 per gallon before the economy went south.
The average price of a gallon of standard-grade gasoline in Escambia County was $3.78 on Sunday — slightly better than the statewide average of $3.83. That’s an increase of a quarter per a gallon from the month-ago price of $3.53, according to the daily price survey published by AAA. The same gallon of gas was $2.88 last year.
We asked our NorthEscambia.com Facebook friends what higher gas prices mean for them. Here are some of the responses:
“It means we are out of business,” said Donna Morris Bell of Flomaton of her logging pulpwood operation. “The profit margin was so thin that we were barely hanging on. When fuel prices started rising again, it pushed us over the edge. We shut the operation down and are now unemployed, as are all the people who worked for us.”
“High gas prices mean staying at home a lot more,” said Teresa Andress of Molino.
“That means we stay broke; no more putting the pocket change…on your dresser each night after a hard days work,” said Jessica Griffis of Flomaton.
For others, like Nicole Davis of Century, the high price at the pump means cutting expenses and luxuries just to afford gas to get to work.
But higher gas prices are a bit good news for Kim Salter of Brewton. “It means job security for my husband who is a production foreman offshore,” she said. “It also means more in our retirement plan because we have stock in the oil company.”
To join in this and other future discussion on our Facebook page, click here to become a NorthEscambia.com Facebook friend.
Century Council To Hold Special Meeting, Regular Session Today
April 18, 2011
The Century Town Council will meet twice today.
The council will hold a special meeting at 2:45 with town attorney Matt Dannheisser to consider two resolutions that would approve up to $33 million in bond issues for Sheltering Palms Foundation and Global Ministries Fellowship. The bond would be issued by the Capital Trust Agency, of which Century serves as a “second signature” for the City of Gulf Breeze.
The special meeting will also include discussion on adopting a local business tax ordinance and a report from the town’s mayor on a computer virus.
The Century Town Council’s regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Agenda items include regular discussion, an update to four Community Development Block Grant policies and a budget amendment for the 2010-2011 budget year.
For the special meeting agenda, click here. For the regular meeting agenda, click here.
Survey: Many Voters Support Code Cops With Guns
April 18, 2011
After a recent tentative decision by the Escambia County County Commission to allow Environmental Code Enforcement Officers to carry a firearm if they have a concealed weapons permit, a telephone polls shows Escambia citizens have mixed feelings about the idea.
Local polling company Open Market Research asked 400 likely voters their opinion on deputizing and arming code enforcement officers. Only 38 percent said yes, while just over 22.5 percent said no. That left about 40 percent of respondents undecided.
But when asked their opinion of code enforcement officers with concealed weapons permits being able to take their gun with them on the job, nearly 50 percent said yes, 22 percent said no and those left were undecided or needing more information.
“I think this shows the public understanding of the dangers facing even code enforcement officers in Escambia County” OMR Principal Greg Fink said.
NHS Varsity Vs. Junior Varsity Game Tuesday
April 18, 2011
The Northview High School baseball team will play an 14 inning game beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday between the school’s varsity and junior varsity teams.
The game will serve as a fundraiser for the baseball program. Admission will be $5 per person, with all proceeds going to support the Northview Chiefs baseball program.
Ascend Performance Materials Wins Safety Award
April 18, 2011
Ascend Performance Materials LLC received the 2010 CSX Chemical Safety Excellence Award for the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail through safe loading and maintenance of rail cars.
Ascend was one of 59 recipients of the award nationwide. To qualify for the award, each winner shipped 600 or more railcars on CSX safely through 2010 with no releases attributed to loading or unloading processes. Improper loading/unloading or failure to fully secure rail cars during those processes can result in what are referred to as non-accidental releases. Shippers include companies from the chemicals, fertilizer, agriculture and metals merchandise commodity markets as well as from emerging markets.
Ascend Performance Materials operates a manufacturing facility, formerly known as Solutia Inc., in Cantonment.
Two Guilty In Escambia Robbery
April 18, 2011
Co-defendants Tiderius Terrel Warren and Jazz Vonshay Dewindt have been found guilty by an Escambia County jury of robbery with a firearm, shooting at an occupied vehicle and two counts each of aggravated assault.
On August 8, 2010, siblings Ashley and Travis Benjamin were at the corner of Tarragona and Hernandez streets when Warren flagged their vehicle down and told them to pull over, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Dewindt came to the passenger window. Warren, Dewindt and a third unidentified male pulled out handguns and began demanding money. Dewindt grabbed Ashley’s purse. As Ashley and Travis quickly pulled away, all three pointed guns at the vehicle and fired multiple times into it.
Warren and Dewindt will be sentenced by Judge Linda L. Nobles once a pre-sentence investigation is concluded. They are each facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years state prison with a possible maximum of life in prison.
Local Girls Place In Miss Majorette Of Alabama Competition
April 18, 2011
Colbi Kendall and Scarlet Carter of Flomaton won first place awards in the Miss Majorette of Alabama Baton Twirling Competition this weekend in Wetumpka.
Carter competed for the first time in the one baton solo division and brought home first place in the one baton 13-15 year old novice division. Kendall competed in the beginner level for the 10-12 year olds and brought home first in one baton solo, first in show twirl and third in two baton.
Last month, Kendall competed in the open division of the Florida State Competition in Winter Haven and won first in two baton, third in show twirl and fifth in one baton solo.
Neighbors, Deputies And IP Join Forces To Clean Sweep Area
April 17, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and International Paper hosted an “Operation Clean Sweep” event Saturday around the Carver Park on Webb Street in Cantonment.
About 100 volunteers, law enforcement officers and county employees that teamed up Saturday morning in the neighborhood behind International Paper to rid the area of crime, criminals and trash.
During the operation, piles of trash was collected — some by volunteers from the Marines and youth from the Greater First Baptist Church, tickets were issued for traffic violations, people were arrested on outstanding warrants and Escambia County Code Enforcement opened several new violation cases..
For a photo gallery from the Clean Sweep event, click here.
The focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of criminal activity through eradication, enforcement and education.
The Operation Task Force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Environmental Law Enforcement, the United States military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
Pictured top: Youth from the Greater First Baptist Church pick up trash from along Booker Street Saturday morning. Pictured inset: Numerous code enforcement cases were opened, including on this dilapidated mobile home on Washington Street. Pictured below: Deputies conducted a traffic checkpoint on Muscogee Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipes: Down Home Chicken Fried, Gumbo And Sweet Tater Orange Dumplings
April 17, 2011
What do you get when the tastes of Africa, France, Spain and the Caribbean meet up with Southern hospitality? You get the big flavors of Lowcountry cooking – and they are something to be savored.
The coastal plain that runs from South Carolina into Georgia is known as the Lowcountry, and it’s home to great Southern charm and great Southern cooking. These recipes match up the big Lowcountry flavors with versatile chicken to make lip-smacking dishes you can bring to your table any day of the week.
(Make sure your scroll all the way down the page to see all of today’s recipes.)
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 whole broiler-fryer chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Preparation
- In large paper bag, combine flour, black pepper, cayenne pepper and salt. Pour buttermilk into bowl or shallow dish. Dip each chicken piece in buttermilk and then place into paper bag. Shake bag to coat chicken evenly with flour. Remove chicken to wire rack and let dry 15 minutes.
- In large, deep frying pan, warm vegetable oil over medium heat. Test oil temperature by placing a drop of water in pan; when it sizzles, pan and oil are hot enough. Place dark meat chicken pieces in the center of the pan and place other pieces around the perimeter. Cook chicken to brown on both sides for a minute or two. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pan and cook chicken for 10 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and cook 10 minutes more.
- Uncover pan, increase heat to high and fry for one additional minute. Remove chicken to paper towels to drain.
Serves
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken parts, breast and thigh, boneless and skinless, cut into chunks
- 8 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 6 ounces Andouille sausage, cut into chunks
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced green pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning mix
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 4 to 6 cups cooked rice
Preparation
- In large shallow pan or Dutch oven, warm 4 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add chicken and cook over medium heat to brown. Add sausage and sauté with chicken. Remove chicken and sausage from pot, place on plate to cool and set aside.
- In same pan, warm remaining 4 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add flour and cook over medium low heat until flour is dark brown. Stir in onions, celery and green pepper. Add garlic, stirring continuously. Cook vegetables until soft, about 8 minutes. Return chicken and sausage to pan, continuing to stir. Gradually stir in broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pan or pot and simmer for one hour. Add Cajun seasoning mix, salt and black pepper. Add green onions and cook additional 10 minutes.
- Serve Chicken Gumbo over rice.
Serves
Serves 4
Ingredients
Soup
- 1 whole chicken, cut into parts
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2/3 cup chopped carrots
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
Dumplings
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 cup flour
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon plus one teaspoon orange zest
Preparation
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on chicken. In heavy stockpot or Dutch oven, warm oil over medium-high heat. Place chicken pieces in oil and cook, turning, until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove to plate and reserve.
- Pour wine into pot and scrape brown bits from bottom of pan. Cook wine over medium heat to reduce by one-half, about 3 minutes. Add chicken broth, bay leaves, onion, carrots, celery and chicken pieces. Cover and bring to low boil. Uncover, turn heat to low and simmer gently until chicken is cooked, about 40 minutes.
- While soup cooks, prepare dumplings by steaming sweet potato pieces until soft, in microwave or by boiling over low heat. Transfer potato pieces to large bowl; mash to puree with whisk or wooden spoon. Cool. Add flour, egg, olive oil and orange zest and mix thoroughly until the dough comes together in a ball. Using a rolling pin, roll dough on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into strips that are 3/4 inches wide and 2 inches long.
- Remove chicken to plate and let cool. Shred cooled chicken to bite-size pieces and return to pot. Reduce heat to low and add dumplings to the soup mixture. Simmer until cooked through, about 5 to 8 minutes. (Freeze any unneeded dumplings between sheets of waxed paper in airtight container.)
- Serve in large bowls, garnished with parsley.
Serves
Serves 4