Heavy Fog A Factor In Highway 29 Crash
May 29, 2011
Heavy fog was believed to have been a factor in a wreck that injured three people on Highway 29 Sunday morning.
The two vehicle accident was reported about 6 a.m. on Highway 29 near Canoe Creek between Roach Road and Crary Road. Three people were transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital with non-life threatening injuries in the crash.
First responders arriving on scene reported visibility to be about 10 yards shortly after the time of the wreck.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Trial Delayed For McDavid Postmaster
May 29, 2011
A new trial date has been set for the McDavid postmaster arrested last month on attempted sexual battery and false imprisonment charges.
James Bruce Lee, 51, was set for trial next week, but his date in court has been postponed until August on the joint request of his attorney and prosecutors. Lee has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
According to Postal Inspector Michael Mulder, the charges stemmed from a January 15 incident that allegedly took place inside the McDavid Post Office. A female mail carrier alleged that Lee attempted to sexually assault her inside the Main Street building.
According to the arrest warrant, the woman alleged Lee approached her from behind while she was sorting mail and began touching her all over her body. She told him to stop, at which time he complied. Later in the day, after the other carriers had left the building, Lee once again approached the carrier holding her by her hands while pulling his pants down, the carrier told investigators, before stopping when he heard a vehicle in the post office parking lot.
Lee provided a sworn written statement and interview to postal investigators; however, his statements were not released by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Lee, who served as McDavid postmaster since January, 2005, was placed on administrative leave, according to Joseph Breckenridge, a postal service spokesman based in Atlanta.
Memorial Day Monday Looks Hot, Dry
May 29, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for the remainder of the holiday weekend and beyond:
- Tonight: Patchy dense fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Memorial Day: Patchy dense fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 96. North wind around 5 mph becoming east.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Pensacola Fair Awards Scholarships To Local Students
May 29, 2011
The Pensacola Interstate Fair, celebrating its 77th year, has awarded $1,000 scholarships to 25 students from Escambia and Santa Rosa high schools.
The John E. Frenkel Sr. Educational Grants program scholarship winners were chosen by the Fair Grant Committee. The program has awarded more than $930,000 in scholarships since 1983.
Recipients, including several from the North Escambia area, were:
Amber E. Estes, Pensacola State College/home school; Heather L. Kite, Pensacola State Collegiate High School; Jaymee L. Dils, Escambia High School; Antonio D. Grace II, Judy Andrews Center; Stephanie L. Solari and Allison A. Vidak, Northview High School; Michael D. Brusoski, Kyra A. Murrell, Haris A. Peteranecz and William K. Searcy, Pensacola High School; Emily G. Higdon, Tate High School; Payton K. Anderson and Jennifer L. Taylor, West Florida High School; Vickie E. Guy and Ian C. Stephens, Central High School; Robin N. Blackman, Mary K. Borders, Courtney P. Penton, Julia D. Skaggs, Kevin W. Stanton, Trenton E. Sweeny and Brandon W. Urnick, Jay High School; Chris J. Stapleton, Navarre High School; Andrew W. McGowin and Deanna M. Manning, Pace High School.
Recipes: Flavorful, Festive and Fun Memorial Day
May 29, 2011
Memorial Day is often synonymous with a backyard barbecue to kick start the summer. As you celebrate this holiday weekend, have a delicious, grill-inspired meal ready in 45 minutes or less with these fun, flavorful recipe ideas.
With mouthwatering grilled beef, high-quality ingredients like canned tomatoes and bold bursts of flavor from lime juice, chimichurri and barbecue sauces, your Memorial Day menu is sure to be a memorable hit.
Get your grill sizzling with recipes like Lime-Marinated Flank Steak with Stuffed Poblano Peppers and Chimichurri Steak Wraps. And don’t forget a refreshing salad to complete your grilling holiday menu. Spicy Barley and Black Bean Salad is a fast option with a flavorful twist – perfect for your Memorial Day table.
(Scroll down to see all three recipes)
Ingredients
- 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Ro*Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
- 3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 beef flank steak (about 1-1/2 pounds)
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 1 can (15 ounces) reduced-sodium or regular black beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 medium poblano chili peppers (about 4 inches long)
Toppings
- Toasted shelled pepitas (pumpkin seeds), crumbled queso frescos and lime wedges (optional)
Preparation
- Drain tomatoes, reserving juice for marinade. Set aside diced tomatoes with green chiles.
- Combine reserved tomato juice, 1/2 cup cilantro, lime juice and olive oil in medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate 1/3 cup marinade for rice. Place beef steak and remaining marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steak to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight, turning occasionally.
- Combine rice, reserved 1/3 cup marinade, diced tomatoes, black beans and remaining 1/4 cup cilantro in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Set aside.
- Cut slit lengthwise down 1 side of each poblano pepper to create pocket, leaving stem and tip intact. Make another small crosswise cut just below the stem to form T-shaped opening. Remove and discard seeds and membranes, being careful to keep peppers intact. Spoon rice mixture evenly into peppers. Wrap each tightly in aluminum foil to seal.
- Remove steak from marinade; discard marinade. Place steak in center grid over medium, ash-covered coals; arrange peppers around steak. Grill steak, covered, 11 to 16 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill 16 to 21 minutes) for medium rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally. Grill peppers, covered, 25 to 30 minutes (20 to 25 minutes on gas grill) or until peppers are tender and filling is heated through, turning occasionally.
- Carve steak across grain into thin slices. Remove peppers from foil. Serve peppers with steaks and toppings as desired.
Serves
Makes 6 servings
Total Time:
45 to 50 minutes
Marinate Time:
6 hours to overnight
Ingredients
Chimichurri Sauce
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Steak Wraps
- 4 medium whole wheat tortillas (8 to 10-inch diameter)
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 12 ounces grilled beef steak, cut into slices
Preparation
- Place parsley and garlic in food processor or blender container. Cover; process until finely chopped. Add oil, vinegar and salt; process just until blended.
- Spread each tortilla evenly with Chimichurri Sauce, leaving 1/4-inch border around edge. Top with equal amounts spinach, bell pepper slices and beef slices on top two-thirds of tortilla. Fold bottom of tortilla up over filling. Fold right and left sides to center overlapping edges; secure with wooden picks; if desired.
Serves
Makes 4 servings
Total Time:
15 to 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick cook barley, uncooked
- 1 1/2 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 can (15 ounces each) whole black beans, drained, rinsed
- 2 cans (10 ounces each) Ro*Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions, white and green parts
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Preparation
- Cook barley according to package directions; drain if necessary. Place barley in large bowl.
- Add corn, garlic salt and pepper; toss to combine. Add black beans, drained tomatoes and onions.
- Sprinkle with cheese just before serving.
Serves
Makes 4 servings (1-1/2 cups each)
Total Time:
25 minutes
Road Construction Break For Holiday
May 29, 2011
Drivers are getting a temporary reprieve from road construction and lane closures over the Memorial Day weekend.
To ease traffic congestion and insure safety along the roadways in northwest Florida, construction contractors working on state roads will cease operations during the Memorial Day 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 Saturday through Monday, she said. All major roads in northwest Florida will be open to normal traffic.
Northview Baccalaureate Service Today
May 29, 2011
The Northview High School Class of 2011 will hold their Baccalaureate program at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bratt First Baptist Church in the Family Life Center. Everyone is invited to attend.
All NHS seniors (even those that did not attend any practices) are asked to wear their cap and gown and meeting in the sanctuary of the church at 1:30 p.m.
The student-led and organized program will include scripture, prayer and original instrumental and vocal music provided by the Northview Senior Class Ensemble and students. This year’s message will be delivered by Nathan Brown, pastor at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
“Special thanks to Bratt First Baptist Church for providing their facility and to their music and youth minister, Tim Hawsey, for helping with the sound, equipment, typing the program and management of practices. Also thanks to Flomaton First Baptist for printing the programs and to Elaine Holk for her help with music,” said Sarah Killam, Northview Senior Class president.
Bratt First Baptist Church is located on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
Florida Weekly Government Roundup: Budget And Polls Focus On Jobs
May 29, 2011
If the focus of the 2011 budget was supposed to be jobs, the week that included the signing of the spending plan did seem to include a lot of talk about whether certain people would or could keep their positions.
As Gov. Rick Scott signed a budget that will prompt payroll reductions across state government, but he promised would create private-sector employment opportunities, polls assessed the obstacles the governor faces in convincing Floridians to rehire him in a few years. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama seemed more likely to avoid getting a pink slip, at least from Florida’s voters.
At the same time, the Public Service Commission said goodbye to an involuntarily resigning executive director in the latest shake-up to hit the beleaguered agencies that regulates utilities.
SCOTT SIGNS BUDGET, SLASHES AWAY
Perhaps aware that the Legislature’s budget was even more unpopular than he was — it’s approval rating was only at 24 percent, which made Scott’s 29 percent figure look healthy by comparison — Scott signed the spending plan at the Villages but hacked deeply into the blueprint, slicing everything from suspect college construction projects to $12 million in funding for the National Veteran’s Homeless Support Group.
But first, Scott’s administration set off a kerfluffle about who was allowed to witness him wield the budget ax. Familiar with Scott’s rules about who can and can’t be somewhere, reporters on the scene say the governor’s bodyguards asked deputies to remove audience members with anti-Scott signs from the crowd. Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU, promptly put out a statement blasting the move.
“While it may be legal to conduct public business at a private, partisan event, it is inconsistent with the spirit of open and transparent government that Floridians deserve,” Simon said.
Scott’s press secretary later denied to a political website that the governor’s men were involved in having the protestors removed, but a reporter from the St. Petersburg Times stood by his account in a blog post.
Once the crowd was organized to Scott’s — or the sheriff’s office’s — liking, the governor proceeded to compliment lawmakers on their hard work putting the budget together before blasting some of their decisions as examples of “short-sided, frivolous, wasteful spending programs” and using his veto pen to rip a record amount of it to shreds.
Scott called for the money to go to schools instead — a message he repeated Friday on his weekly radio address.
“I am confident that all of us can agree that school funding is far more important than spending those dollars on alligator marketing, or boat racing, or anything else that the Tallahassee insiders seem to think is so important,” Scott said.
Lawmakers, who had spent some of their time taking shots at Scott’s education program before trying to shovel some more money into schools, were shocked.
“The Governor communicated numerous priorities during session, and we did our best to accommodate him,” sniped House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. “It would have been helpful if the Governor had shared this new found emphasis with us before the budget was finalized.”
Meanwhile, state agencies started to outline job cuts as a result of the budget. The Department of Juvenile Justice sliced 1,200 jobs from its payroll — 500 of which are vacant — and the Department of Children and Families said it will shed 500 workers in addition to closing out 280 empty positions.
PSC DIRECTOR OUT
The Public Service Commission will also shave 27 jobs from its workforce, but the most surprising personnel change came at the top, when Executive Director Tim Devlin resigned under pressure for reasons that are known to a few, including PSC Chairman Art Graham, who asked Devlin to step down.
“Out of respect for the executive director, I think that’s a private matter,” Graham said.
Graham did deny an article in The Miami Herald that said Graham had ousted Devlin after talking with Florida Power & Light attorney Ken Hoffman.
Further complicating the issue was Graham’s suggestion that the PSC name General Counsel Curt Kiser as interim executive director, an idea that other commissioners rejected.
They instead decided to divvy up some of the duties previously held by Devlin, a 35-year veteran of the agency who became executive director in January 2010 in the wake of a series of scandals that rocked the commission, between Kiser and Deputy Executive Director Charles Hill.
POLLS: OBAMA UP, SCOTT DOWN, NELSON SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN
The bad news for Rick Scott was that his disapproval rating kept climbing to 57 percent and his approval rating slipped down to 29 percent. The good news is that voters who think they disapprove of him for a given reason might be wrong.
A new poll from Quinnipiac University showed the wrong direction in Scott’s poll numbers, but also showed that only 42 percent of voters were aware that Scott had honored his pledge to not raise taxes in this year’s budget. Still, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute: “There’s no way to spin these numbers that they’re good for the governor.”
President Barack Obama, whose re-election hopes could hinge on winning Florida, got better news: His approval rating is up seven points, at 51 percent. Fellow Democrat and U. S. Senate Bill Nelson holds a lead of at least 20 points over each of his three main Republican rivals in polling for 2012 — but two-third of voters say they don’t know who they’ll vote for.
The poll of 1,196 registered voters had a 2.8 percentage point margin of error.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott signs a 2011-12 budget plan that now weighs in at around $69 billion at The Villages, slicing $615 million from the spending plan using his line-item veto authority.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Where I’m from, rainwater can be caught with a $2 bucket.” — Gov. Rick Scott on his decision to veto a $250,000 line item funding a plan to collect rainwater at state prisons
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Birth: Noah Kyle Rabon
May 29, 2011
Justin and Courtney (McCall) Rabon of Longview, Texas, are proud to announce the birth of Noah Kyle Rabon on March 1, 2011, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas. He weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long.
His grandparents are Earnest and Deborah Rabon of Castleberry, Alabama, Sheri McCall of McKenzie, Alabama, and Freddie Jr and Darlene McCall of East Brewton, Alabama.
His great-grandparents are Mayor Freddie and Margie McCall of Century and Bo and Dot Brantley of Flomaton.
Gas Prices Falling, Memorial Day Travel Still Expensive
May 28, 2011
Traveling this Memorial Day weekend was harder on the wallet this year, with gas up about $1 a gallon.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.74, up from $2.71 a year ago. In North Escambia, that gallon of gas was at about $3.69, up from $2.69 last year.
Two years ago, the average price was $2.39 a gallon.
AAA projected 34.9 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2 percent – or 100,000 travelers – from the 34.8 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 26 to Monday, May 30.
Pictured: Regular unleaded gas was at $3.69 per gallon Friday as the Memorial Day weekend travel period moved into full swing. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.