Jay Christmas Parade Is Saturday
November 23, 2012
The first area Christmas parade of the season is this Saturday in Jay.
The parade will lineup at the Bray-Hendricks Park behind city hall at 9 a.m. The parade will roll through downtown Jay at 10 a.m.
The Jay Historical Society will also sponsor the first annual Cotton Festival Saturday with over 40 vendors, children’s activities, entertainment and an antique car show. The Jay Historical Society’s museum will also be open, featuring crafts made from cotton.
Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving
November 22, 2012
The holiday is engrained in American life as a day for family gatherings with sumptuous turkey feasts, accompanied by a wide array of side dishes and pies. By one estimate, more than 43 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more to attend holiday gatherings between now and Sunday.
But other Thanksgiving traditions are prominent in the U.S. as well, including religious services and key youth and professional football games. The Macy’s department store chain, stages a its annual parade in New York City, with large inflated cartoon balloons and marching bands.
Tradition says the first American Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, with early North American settlers commemorating a harvest after a harsh winter.
More than a century later, the nation’s first president, George Washington, declared it a national holiday in 1789. President Barack Obama, followed tradition Wednesday and “pardoned” two turkeys, nicknamed Cobbler and Gobbler. He said the birds would then get to live out their days at George Washington’s nearby Mount Vernon estate.
Obama called on Americans, even as they celebrate the holiday, to do all they can to help less fortunate people, including those who lost homes along the country’s Eastern seaboard because of the recent superstorm Sandy .
“I’d like to ask every American to do what they can to help families who are in need of a real Thanksgiving this year.”
Thanksgiving, by law on the fourth Thursday of November, also serves as somewhat of a respite from the commerce of the approaching holiday shopping season, leading to Christmas on December 25.
But that no-shopping-on-Thanksgiving tradition is fading in the U.S., with some chain stores planning to open their doors for early holiday gift-buying on Thursday night. That is just hours ahead of what is called Black Friday in the U.S., traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the entire year.
In part, the day has been called Black Friday because of the millions of shoppers and traffic congestion throughout the country, from its largest cities to small towns. But the term is also said to describe the day in which retailers have enough sales to be profitable, to put them in the black, in accounting terms.
Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the U.S. economy and some retailers say end-of-year holiday spending accounts for about a quarter of their annual sales. But sales this year could increase just 2.5 percent compared to 2011, according to one estimate.
Holiday sales could be hurt by the sluggish pace of the U.S. economy, with more than 12 million workers still unemployed in the aftermath of the recession in 2008 and 2009.
One other complication is that the White House and Congress also are facing contentious government spending and tax issues that could further hurt the economy if left unresolved in the waning weeks of 2012. Almost all American workers face tax increases January 1 if the dispute is not resolved by the end of the year.
No Injuries In Highway 97 Crash
November 22, 2012
There were no injuries in a single vehicle wreck early Thursday morning in Walnut Hill.
A 43-year old man apparently lost control of his car while southbound on Highway 97 just south of North Highway 99. He ran off the road into a ditch, crossed over the highway and struck a fence. The driver refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident was reported about 5 a.m. The driver stated the accident occurred about an hour prior.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded.
Pictured: There were no injuries in this single vehicle accident early Thursday morning in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Shooting, Pursuit Leads To Traffic Crash And Arrest
November 22, 2012
A police pursuit following a shooting ended with a driver trapped in his wrecked SUV early Thursday morning and later landed him in jail.
The incident began when Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 2500 block of Eliasberg Street about 1:10 a.m. for a shots fired call. Deputies discovered there had been an argument over missing money. As deputies were speaking to the victim, the suspect drove by again. Deputies pursued the suspect, later identified as 49-year Ricky Davis, for a short distance before David crashed his Dodge Durango on Fairfield Drive near Ester Road, according Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Davis failed to stop for deputies and veered off the roadway into several trees. The vehicle overturned, trapping Davis inside. First responders were forced to use the Jaws of Life to extract Davis from the SUV. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries and then released to law enforcement.
Davis was booked into the Escambia County Jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly intoxication and a firing a weapon recklessly. He is being held on a $12,000 bond.
The FHP said additional charges are pending against Davis for fleeing and eluding law enforcement, failure to maintain a single lane, DUI fourth offense, DUI property damage, refusal to submit to a DUI test with priors.
Pictured top: A wrecked SUV driven by Ricky Davis of Pensacola crashed Thursday morning on Fairfield Drive. Photo courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Much Colder Temps Coming
November 22, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 71.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Trip To Grandma’s Just A Little Cheaper This Year
November 22, 2012
That Thanksgiving trip to grandma’s house was just a few pennies cheaper this year, with gas prices down slightly.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $3.25 headed into the Thanksgiving weekend, down four cents from $3.29 a year ago and on a downward trend from $3.52 a month ago.
Around the North Escambia area, that gallon of gas averaged $3.21 in an informal survey. The lowest Escambia County price on Wednesday afternoon was $3.14 at a station on Airport Boulevard. The Florida state average was $3.37.
AAA projects 43.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, small increase over the 43.3 million people who traveled last year. This increase marks the fourth consecutive year of growing holiday travelers since 2008 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 21 to Sunday, November 25.
“Thanksgiving travel hit a decade low in 2008 when only 37.8 million Americans traveled,” said AAA President and CEO Robert Darbelnet. “Since that year we have seen a steady increase in the number of travelers taking to the roads and skies for the holiday. Americans continue to find ways to economize their budgets so they can gather around the holiday table to carve the turkey.”
“While we do not yet know the full impact that Hurricane Sandy will have on travel from the Mid-Atlantic region, we do know that the impact for many Americans in that region is substantial,” continued Darbelnet.
Approximately 90 percent of travelers or 39.1 million people plan to travel by automobile this Thanksgiving. This is a 0.6 percent increase over the 38.9 million people who traveled by auto last year. Air travel is expected to decrease 1.7 percent as 3.14 million holiday travelers will take to the skies.
Those traveling by air will find lower airfares according to AAA’s Leisure travel Index. For the Thanksgiving holiday the average lowest round-trip rate is $188 for the top 40 U.S. air routes, an 11 percent decrease from last year. Approximately 1.3 million travelers will choose other modes of transportation, including rail, bus and cruise ship.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Thanksgiving With Feast
November 22, 2012
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.
Holiday Closings For Thanksgiving
November 22, 2012
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 residential routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday. Thursday’s commercial routes were picked up on Wednesday; Friday commercial routes will be picked up as usual.
Deer Gun Season Open
November 22, 2012
Deer gun season opened Thursday in Northwest Florida — for a few days.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Antlered deer may be taken Thursday to Sunday, November 22-25, by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows. Deer gun season reopens December 8 to February 17. Antlerless deer may be taken only December 26 to January 1.
Antlered deer my be taken only by crossbow or bow November 26-30, and only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow December 1-7 and February 18-24.
A hunting license is required in Florida. A license for a resident is $17.50 per year. A non- resident can choose between a 10-day license for $46.50 or a one year license for $151.50. Everyone deer hunting must also have a $5 deer permit.
A hunting safety course is required for those born on or after June 1, 1975.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 22, 2012
Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest retail shopping day of the year, although numerous stores will open on Thanksgiving Thursday this year.
Whether in the store or online, the Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida offers advice to help you with your holiday shopping:
- Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.
- Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.
- Advertising can be tricky; don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you expected.
- Credit card offers from a store will offer a discount on your purchase but may also carry high interest rates.
- Keep all receipts and warranty information for each item purchased.
- Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card than a debit card.
- Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges, including whether restocking fees are charged.
- If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.
- Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.
- Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.
- Yelling at store employees and other customers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.
- Credit cards provide the most protection if someone steals the credit card number or if you don’t receive an ordered item.
- You, the customer, are responsible for knowing and understanding each online retailer’s return/exchange policy.
- Beware of deals that sound too good to be true, especially extremely low priced on hard-to-get items.
- Ensure you have the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls installed.
- Read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmation web pages and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
- Only shop on trustworthy sites; look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks.”
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction and when on sites like Craigslist, only shop locally.
- Delete phishing emails such as those claiming a problem with an order or account in an attempt to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.
- Actively keep an eye on your credit card statements to detect suspicious or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
- You are your best protection! Make sure your online purchase is secure by looking for the “s” (https://) in the URL and the “lock” symbol in the lower-right corner before paying.