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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.)
  5. Serve in large bowls, garnished with parsley.

Serves
Serves 4

Sunny Sunday

April 17, 2011

After a cool night, we will warm into the upper 70’s on this Sunday. By Monday, the winds will shift to the south, bringing back more humidity.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Tonight: Clear. Lows 45 to 50. South winds around 5 mph.
  • Monday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
  • Monday Night: Warmer. Partly cloudy. Lows 61 to 66. South winds around 5 mph.
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny in the morning becoming mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
  • Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
  • Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s.
  • Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
  • Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 86.
  • Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Escambia Teachers To Get A Raise

April 17, 2011

Escambia County School District teachers and staff will see an increase in their paychecks.

The district and teacher and staff unions came to an agreement that will amount to a one percent raise for 2010-2011 and a supplement that will equate to a two percent raise for 2011-2012.

The supplement for next year will go toward the employee’s retire; it will not be a cash bonus like has been given in past years.

Complete Results: 18th Annual Livestock Show (With Photos)

April 17, 2011

The 18th annual  Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Association annual Spring Livestock Show was held last weekend at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on 9 Mile Road in Beulah.

4-H and FFA members in Escambia, Baldwin, and Mobile counties in Alabama, and Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties in Florida showed their breeding heifers, preview steers, goats, sheep, rabbits, and poultry during the event.

For a photo gallery from the event, click here.

Complete results were as follows:

YOUTH SWINE SHOW

Lightweight Swine

  • 1st Megan Gibbs
  • 2nd Thomas Aliff
  • 3rd Brant Worley

Middleweight Swine

  • 1st Seth Comeau
  • 2nd Donnie Dixon
  • 3rd Forrest Gibbs

Light Heavyweight Swine

  • 1st Wesley Hardin
  • 2nd Dylan Livingston
  • 3rd Matthew Smith

Heavyweight Swine

  • 1st Zachary Comeau
  • 2nd Emily Higdon
  • 3rd Emily Boutwell

Grand Champion Market Swine

  • Wesley Hardin

Reserve Champion Market Swine

  • Zachary Comeau

Junior Showmanship

  • 1st Emily Boutwell
  • 2nd Adam Aliff
  • 3rd Davis Warren

Intermediate Showmanship

  • 1st Patra Miller
  • 2nd Jared Aliff
  • 3rd Mattthew Smith

Senior Showmanship

  • 1st Megan Gibbs
  • 2nd Emily Higdon
  • 3rd Forrest Gibbs

YOUTH GOAT SHOW

Dairy Goat, Class I

  • 1st Madison Fendley

Dairy Goat, Class II

  • 1st Madison Fendley

Grand Champion Dairy Goat

  • Madison Fendley

Reserve Champion Dairy Goat

  • Madison Fendley

Meat Breeding Goat

  • 1st Allie Vidak
  • 2nd Jayme Smith

Grand Champion Meat Breeding Goat

  • Allie Vidak

Reserve Champion Meat Breeding Goat

  • Jayme Smith

LAMB SHOW

Breeding Lamb

  • 1st Jessica Baldwin

Grand Champion Breeding Lamb

  • Jessica Baldwin

GOAT AND LAMB SHOWMANSHIP

Junior Showmanship

  • 1st Madison Fendley
  • 2nd Jayme Smith

Senior Showmanship

  • 1st Allie Vidak
  • 2nd Jessica Baldwin

YOUTH MARKET STEER SHOW

Lightweight Steers

  • 1st Kyle Livingston
  • 2nd Brant Worley
  • 3rd Ethan Cunningham

Middleweight Steers

  • 1st Tyler Vines
  • 2nd Austin Cunningham
  • 3rd Parker Cunningham

Heavyweight Steers

  • 1st Ashley Cunningham
  • 2nd Donald Cunningham
  • 3rd Blake Worley

Grand Champion Market Steer

  • Ashley Cunningham

Reserve Champion Market Steer

  • Tyler Vines

STEER SHOWMANSHIP

Junior Showmanship

  • 1st Brant Worley
  • 2nd Ethan Cunningham

Intermediate Showmanship

  • 1st Donald Cunningham
  • 2nd Austin Cunningham
  • 3rd Blake Worley

Senior Showmanship

  • 1st Kyle Livingston
  • 2nd Ashley Cunningham
  • 3rd Tyler Vines

YOUTH MARKET PROSPECT STEER

  • 1st Allie Vidak

POULTRY SHOW

Dual Purpose, Silver Laced Wyandotte

  • 1st Brandon Davis
  • 2nd Rebekah Potter
  • Best Dual: BrandonDavis

Production

  • 1st Jonathan Rodgers
  • 2nd Ami Rodgers
  • Best Production: Jonathan Rodgers

Standard

Austrolorps

  • 1st Patrick Comley

Buttercups

  • 1st Adam Whitfield

Production Reds

  • 1st Justin Parker

Golden Polish

  • 1st Kelvin Willimas

Peking Duck

  • 1st Sara Herrington
  • Best Standard: Patrick Comley

Overall Grand Champion

  • Britanie Comley

Reserve Grand Champion

  • Patrick Comley

Silkie

  • 1st Hen: Kelvin Williamson
  • 1st Cock Adam Whitfield
  • 1st Splash Hen Klaire Ann Ellard
  • 2nd Splash Hen Klaire Ann Ellard
  • 1st Black Klaire Ann Ellard
  • Best Silkie: Adam Whitfield

D’Uccle

  • Porcelin Hen 1st: Adam Whitfield
  • Porcelin Cock 1st: Adam Whitfield
  • Millie Fleur 1st: Klarissa Williamson
  • Best D’Uccle: Klarissa Williamson

O.E.

  • Quail Hen 1st Adam Whitfield
  • Quail Cock 1st Adam Whitfield
  • Black 1st Elizabeth Ellard
  • Best O.E. Adam Whitfield

Cochins

  • Black 1st Britnie Comley
  • Blue 1st Britnie COmley
  • Splash 1st Britnie Comley
  • Red 1st Emily Valentine
  • Best Cohias Britnie Comley

Overall Grand Champion Poultry

  • Britnie Comley

Reserve Grand Champion Poultry

  • Patrick Comley

RABBIT SHOW

Cloverbuds

  • 1st James Gruenwald
  • 2nd Andrew Fendley
  • 3rd Keenan Williams

Juniors

  • 1st Klarissa Williamson
  • 2nd Madison Fendley
  • 3rd Ami Rodgers

Intermediate Product

  • 1st Donnie Dixon
  • 2nd Jonathan Rodgers
  • 3rd Donnie Dixon

Intermediate Ornamental

  • 1st Donnie Dixon
  • 2nd Hanna Garrett
  • 3rd Virginia Montgomery

Senior

  • 1st Kaitlin Ward

YOUTH BEEF BREEDING SHOW

Registered Angus Cow/Calf Pair, Class I

  • 1st Donald Cunningham
  • 2nd Austin Cunningham

Registered Angus Cow/Calf Pair, Class II

  • 1st Tyler Simmons

Commercial Cow/Calf Pair

  • 1st Ashley Cunningham

Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair

  • Donald Cunningham

Reserve Champion Cow/Calf Pair

  • Tyler Simmons

Registered Angus Heifer

  • 1st Ashley Cunningham

Grand Champion Registered

  • Ashley Cunningham

Commercial Heifer, Class IX

  • 1st Allie Vidak

Commercial Heifer, Class X

  • 1st Allie Vidak

Grand Champion Commercial

  • Allie Vidak

Reserve Grand Champion

  • Allie Vidak

Overall Supreme Champion

  • Ashley Cunningham

Overall Reserve Champion

  • Allie Vidak

BEEF BREEDING SHOWMANSHIP
Junior Showmanship

  • 1st Tyler Simmons

Intermediate Showmanship

  • 1st Donald Cunningham
  • 2nd Austin Cunningham

Senior Showmanship

  • 1st Allie Vidak
  • 2nd Ashley Cunningham

Photos courtesy Charles Crumpton, Brian Miller, Aimee Hardin, Allie Vidak and Jerry Marbut for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.

Caregiver Support Meeting Scheduled

April 17, 2011

The Council on Aging of West Florida will host a Century Caregiver Support Group Meeting at on April 21.

There is no cost and the public is invited. Reservations are not required. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Century Care Center at 6020 Industrial Blvd. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month at the same time and location. County residency is not required to attend.

The support group is part of Council on Aging of West Florida programs designed to reduce stress, increase coping skills, provide strategies for effective management of care giving tasks and enable caregivers to provide high quality care in the home. The programs are sponsored by Council on Aging of West Florida, the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging. For more information, call (850) 432-1475.

Florida Virtual School Expansion Poised For House Vote

April 17, 2011

A major expansion of Florida’s virtual school programs is poised for a House floor vote after swift approval from a House committee on Friday.

But a similar measure in the Senate has stalled after questions were raised about its costs to the state.

The House measure (HB 7197) was approved with a substantial amendment after little debate or questions in the House Appropriations Committee on Friday. Only Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, voted “no” after saying the committee was not given enough time to digest the 38-page amendment to the bill.

The bill allows taxpayer-funded charter schools to open full-time K-12 “virtual” charter schools in which classes can be taught on a computer by an instructor located elsewhere.

It also requires students to take an online class before graduating from high school, beginning as soon as 2011.

School districts would also have to offer full-time and part-time virtual instruction to students, through their own programs or by contracting with a third-party provider approved by the Department of Education.

But critics of the increased use of K-12 virtual schools say that quality suffers without frequent face-to-face engagement with teachers and that schools play an important watchdog role in child welfare.

Rep. Kelli Stargel defended virtual classes as the way younger generations are programmed to learn.

“Kids are comfortable online, they Google everything,” said Stargel, R-Lakeland. “They are used to getting information from an online provider.” Stargel acknowledged that online classes have the added benefit of being cheaper than traditional classrooms, thereby saving the state money. “Yes, it will be less expensive,” she said.

A similar Senate bill (SB 1620) allows for a much bigger expansion of state-funded virtual schools, permitting a virtual school company from outside of Florida to offer K-12 instruction to any student in the state, even private school and home-schooled students, with the state picking up the tab.

The bill was set to be heard Friday in the Senate Budget Committee but is stalled after Sen. J.D. Alexander, the chairman of the committee, expressed concerns about the cost to the state.

Because the measure allows home school and private school students to enroll in a state-funded virtual school, enrollment and costs to the state could dramatically increase.

There are over 62,000 home school students and over 313,000 private school students in Florida. If only one percent of those students enrolled in virtual programs and received state funding it could cost the state $19 million.

“I need to know a little bit more about what our budget allocations are going to look like before I take a $20 million impact bill forward,” said Alexander, R-Lake Wales.

But his concerns may be soothed by an amendment to the bill that puts it in line with the House version. Under that version, the doors to virtual schools would not be thrown open to private school and home-schooled students.

This Senate proposal may only have one more shot to become law. Next week the Senate is taking time off and then returns for its last week of committee meetings on April 25.

Schools say the push for more virtual classes comes with some drawbacks.

“It’s a mixed bag,” said Vernon Pickup-Crawford, a lobbyist for school districts, calling the House version “at least more reasonable.” Pickup-Crawford said many schools like the increased flexibility of being allowed to offer part-time or full-time virtual classes. But the House bill still doesn’t allow schools to offer classes outside the regular school day and does not pay extra for “credit recovery” classes students take virtually after failing the first time.

The bill also requires schools to provide facilities and equipment for testing, which costs schools money, he said.

Brian Kennedy, with the National Coalition for Public School Options, which is a parent-organized group that supports school choices beyond traditional public schools, has been watching the bills in Florida closely.

Kennedy said what Florida is trying to do isn’t unusual. States like Arizona and Idaho offer statewide virtual K-12 programs, he said, and have far larger enrollment. Though SB 1620 is favored by virtual school proponents, he called the scaled-back House version a “small step forward on an important issue.”

By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida

Rogers Weds Winingar

April 17, 2011

Miss Kelly Brienne Rogers and Mr. Kevin Andrew Winingar were united in marriage on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at half past four o’clock in the afternoon at Beach Community Church on Pensacola Beach. The ceremony was officiated by the Reverend James Hightshoe, the brother-in-law of the groom.

The bride’s parents hosted a seated dinner and reception at Beach Community Church. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at the home of long time friends, Mike and Barbara Brown of Cantonment.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mel Rogers of Pensacola. The groom is the son of Mr. Donald Winingar and Mrs. Teresa Sanders, both of McDavid.

Miss Stefany Townsend of Fort Walton served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Miss Meagan Core of Pensacola, Miss Erin McCrone of Tallahassee, Miss Cara Drye of Pensacola, and Miss Emily Powell of Pensacola. The flower girls were Miss Victoria Mode of Huntsville, AL and Miss Brenna McCrone of Tallahassee.

Brother of the groom, Mr. Brian Winingar of Bonifay, served as best man. Groomsmen included Mr. Joshua Brown of Pensacola, Mr. Steven Shanks of Pensacola, Mr. Trey Johnson of Pensacola, and Mr. Steve Rogers of Atlanta, Georgia. Ring Bearers were Bryson Winingar of Bonifay and Kyler McCormick of Pensacola.

The bride is a graduate of Woodham High School in Pensacola and continued her education at the University of West Florida where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is currently employed at Cardiology Consultants in Pensacola. The groom is a graduate of Northview High School in Bratt and continued his studies in engineering technology and mechanical engineering at the University of West Florida where he lettered in cross country and became a captain of the rugby team. He is currently employed as a predictive services consultant with Reliability Solutions in Walnut Hill and a member of the Pensacola Aviators Rugby Football Club.

Following a honeymoon in Tulum, Mexico, Kelly and Kevin will reside in Pensacola.

Chilly Tonight, Lower 40’s

April 16, 2011

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Tonight: Clear, with a low around 43. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
  • Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
  • Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph.
  • Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
  • Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
  • Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
  • Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind between 10 and 15 mph becoming calm.
  • Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
  • Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
  • Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
  • Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 87.

Tornadoes Kill At Least 7 In Alabama; Few Problems In North Escambia Area

April 16, 2011

At least seven people died in Alabama tornadoes Friday night, while the North Escambia area escaped any reported injuries. But Escambia County, Alabama did suffer damage from an apparent twister.

Washington County (Ala.) Emergency Management reports three fatalities in the Vinegar Bend/Deer Park area. The fatalities were a mother and her two children. The father and two other children in the same family were seriously injured. Vinegar Bend is north of Citronelle, Alabama, about 50 miles from Walnut Hill, Florida.

A man also died in Marengo County, Alabama, when his mobile home was tossed about by another tornado, and three people died in Autagua County, Alabama.

Across the North Escambia area, scattered power outages were reported, but there were no reports of significant damage or injuries.

Tornado sirens sounded in Atmore and Poarch as radar indicated a possible tornado passing near Holman Prison. Atmore Police officers near I-65 and Highway 21 reported seeing a possible funnel cloud just north of the city, but no damage was reported.

As that same storm system moved across Escambia County, a possible tornado was spotted near I-65 and Highway 113 north of Flomaton, and a possible tornado was reported near Appleton.

In Escambia County, Alabama — trees were downed on Wildfork Road in Barnett Crossroads and Appleton; multiple structures were reported damaged on or near Highway 31; and a tree was reported down on a home with occupants trapped inside on Damascus Road. No injuries were reported.

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