Holiday Closings For Thanksgiving
November 24, 2011
The following will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Escambia County Schools (Wed-Fri)
- Santa Rosa County School (Wed-Fri)
- Escambia (Fla. & Ala.) 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 (Thur-Sun)
- Pensacola State College
- University of West Florida
ECUA Garbage:
ECUA’s Thursday routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday. Thursday’s commercial routes were picked up on Wednesday.
Photos: North Escambia Turkeys
November 24, 2011
These turkeys were spotted by our photographer about a year ago near Molino. 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 near Molino. 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.
Turkey Time: Cooking Safety
November 24, 2011
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.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Thanksgiving With Feast
November 24, 2011
Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center held a Thanksgiving feast this week for children and their parents. The daycare’s children, many dressed as Pilgrims or Native Americans, enjoyed a full Thanksgiving meal. Handmade toilet paper roll turkeys proclaimed some of the items that the children are thankful for, including moms, dads, siblings, other family, teachers, toys, God, pets and food.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Children enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center earlier this week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Juvenile Burned In Explosion, Flash Fire
November 23, 2011
A teen was burned in an explosion and flash fire at a Santa Rosa County home Wednesday afternoon.
Initial reports indicate that the 13-year old male was playing with camping fuel on the back porch of a residence on John Hamm Road. It somehow ignited, causing an explosion and flash fire, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The male was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital and later transferred the UAB Burn Center in Birmingham.
Narcotics and Major Crimes investigators from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and determined that the fire was not a result of any narcotic activity. The incident remains under investigation; names and further details have not yet been released.
Two Charged After Allegedly Passing Fake $100 Bills In Flomaton, Century
November 23, 2011
Two Pensacola men were jailed after they allegedly passed three counterfeit $100 bills in Flomaton and Century Tuesday evening.
Lamarcus Dontay Brown, 26, and Melvin Donshea Coley, 29, were both booked into the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail Tuesday night on charges of uttering counterfeit currency, petit theft and fraud.
Brown and Coley reportedly first passed a counterfeit $100 bill at a Dollar General and at an Advance Auto Parts store in Flomaton. At each store, they made small purchases under $10, paying with the allegedly fake bills in order to receive a large amount of change. After leaving Flomaton, the men also reportedly paid for small purchase at a Dollar General store in Century with a forged $100 bill.
A store manager from Flomaton spotted the vehicle occupied by the two men in Century and followed it south on Highway 29 until Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were able to catch up and conduct a traffic stop near Black Road south of Century.
Brown, the driver of the vehicle, was also charged as a habitual traffic offender, driving without a license and with providing a false name to deputies.
Both men are expected to face additional charges in Flomaton.
The case remains under investigation by the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office and the Flomaton Police Department.
Alert: Elderly McDavid Couple Victimized, Deputies Say Beware
November 23, 2011
An elderly couple in McDavid fell victim to a scam Tuesday, and sheriff’s deputies are encouraging the public to be wary.
A white male about 50 years old approached the couple in their 70’s at their McDavid home. Deputies said he told them that he was spokesman for Medicare and that he needed to measure rooms in their house. While they were distracted by the man, someone else stole several items from inside the home.
The man was dressed in business casual clothing and was driving black sports car, possible a Trans Am. No other description was available.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents not to let people into their homes with proper, verifiable identification. If residents have any doubt about someone at their door, they are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Business $103K Behind In Rent To Century, Seeks To Buy Building To Save Jobs
November 23, 2011
A business in the town’s industrial park is about $103,000 behind in rent payments to the Town of Century. And to keep the business afloat, the town wants to sell the building to the company.
Donald Dockens and Century Millworks entered into their current lease for the 10,825 square foot metal building in Century’s industrial park in 2002. His monthly rent was set at $1,500, but he said Tuesday that he missed a small provision in the lease that called for a regular annual increase on the monthly lease rate. Since 2002, he also missed numerous rent payments that now total about $103,000, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
McCall said that his administration only recently discovered the long-forgotten lease provision for annual rent increases, and he has been working with Dockens to recoup the missed rent payments.
“We don’t want to run him off; we want to keep him and jobs in Century,” McCall said. “The town has been paid well more than it cost to build the building years ago, so we are willing to work with him.”
Tuesday morning at Century Millworks, there was a steady hum of saws and other machinery running as employees worked to craft the parts needed to make cabinet doors. The company, Dockens said, builds new cabinets for contractors, builders and individuals, “anyone with money”.
There were eight employees hard at work Tuesday morning, using high-tech, computer-controlled equipment to craft cabinets.
“They are good folks, hard working folks,” Dockens said, his clothing covered in sawdust where he had been out in the plant working alongside his employees. “I want to keep them working.”
Century Millworks had employed as many as 15 people years ago, but that changed when the economy, and the home building industry, faltered.
“When the economy tanked, our business tanked,” he said. “I won’t tell you that we are not behind on payments. We are, but we are looking for a way to stay afloat and keep these jobs in Century. This town has been good to us.”
With a current monthly rental rate of $2,500, the $103,000 owed to the Town of Century would amount to over 41 months of past due rent. However, it has not been 41 straight months since Century Millworks made a payment, according to McCall. Eight monthly payments were received in each of the years 2011, 2009 and 2008; 10 payments were received in 2010.
“It’s been a payment missed here, a payment missed there,” McCall said.
The Century Town Council has approved a plan that would allow Dockens and Century Millworks to purchase the building with a lower monthly payment and stay in business.
Once a proper appraisal and legal documents are completed, the town will sell the building to Dockens for an estimated $150,000 plus the $103,000 in back rent. The approximate $253,000 purchase price will be financed by the town at 4-percent interest, dropping the monthly payment to just over $1,500. In the event Dockens were to default on the purchase agreement with the town, Century would foreclose on the property.
Council President Ann Brooks, who said, “It’s something that I recommend that we do”, abstained from voting on the plan because Dockens and Century Millworks are clients of her accounting firm.
“I’m looking forward to getting this worked out,” Dockens said, “and keeping these jobs.”
Pictured top: Peggy Nelson uses computerized equipment to cut cabinet doors Tuesday morning at Century Millworks. Pictured top inset: Century Millwork’s building, owned by the Town of Century. Pictured middle inset: Century Millworks owner Donald Dockens at a computerized moulder machine. Pictured bottom inset: Cabinet doors ready for a final sanding. Pictured below: Century Millworks uses a variety of high-tech equipment to craft cabinet doors for a variety of clients. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Holds Pep Rally
November 23, 2011
Northview High School students showed their team pride Tuesday with a pep rally as the Chiefs prepare for the Class 1A regional finals at 7:30 Friday night in Bratt against Freeport.
For a photo gallery, including “special guest” male cheerleaders, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs held a pep rally Tuesday afternoon in advance of the regional finals Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
700 New Jobs Possible For Santa Rosa County
November 23, 2011
About 700 new jobs could be headed to Santa Rosa County by the end of the year.
The unnamed call center company has narrowed their choice to locations in an unknown number of cities, including the former Clearwire building in Milton.
Back in October, the company learned that Clearwire was moving jobs out of Milton, and contacted Team Santa Rosa’s Cindy Anderson at home and setup a visit. TEAM and the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce jointly showed sites in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to the company, which will provide both technical support and technical service.
Now, Santa Rosa County is finalist for the jobs.
“This is a highly competitive process,” said Dave Hoxeng, Team Santa Rosa chairman. “We believe we are the only option still being considered in Florida.”
TEAM is working to line up state and local incentive packages for the company and will make a presentation to the Santa Rosa County Commission next week before presenting a deal to the company.
“Of course, the communities that we are in competition with are also lining up their incentives. This opportunity is for a lot of jobs and it is very competitive,” Hoxeng said.