Man Convicted Of Child Molestation
November 20, 2012
A Milton man has been convicted of molesting a child in Escambia County.
Ryan Scott Debord was found guilty of an Escambia County jury of sexual battery while in a position of custodial or familial authority and lewd or lascivious molestation upon a child over 12 but less than 16 by an offender over 18 year of age.
Between July 2011 and February 2012, Ryan Scott Debord molested a 13 year-old female child, according to evidence presented in court.
Judge Jan Shackelford scheduled Ryan Scott Debord to be sentenced on December 18. Debord faces punishment of up to 30 years state prison for the sexual battery charge and 15 years on the lewd or lascivious charge and designation as a sexual offender.
Century Honors Town’s Newest Citizen
November 20, 2012
The Town of Century presented a proclamation Monday night to resident César González, who recently became a U.S. citizen and almost immediately registered to vote. González is a native of Colombia, South America, and has been in the United States for nine years. He and his wife, Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez, moved to Century in 2010. His path to citizenship took seven years. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Approves Gas Tax Hike For ECAT
November 19, 2012
The Escambia County Commission approved a four-cent gas take hike this afternoon in order to fund the ECAT bus system.
The increased gas tax is expected to net the county about $4 million when it takes effect no earlier than January 2014. It currently costs the county about $3.2 million to fund the Escambia County Area Transit System, plus about $3.7 million from grants from the state and federal governments.
The tax increase passed on a 4-1 vote, with Commission Kevin White casting the vote against.
Escambia County currently collects 10-cents in tax per gallon — a direct seven-cent levy plus a three-cent levy collected by the state and returned to the county.
Commissioners previously recognized that they were purposefully considering the gas tax increase just hours before two new commissioners — Steven Barry in District 5 and Lumon May in District 3 — are sworn into office on November 20.
Search Warrant Leads To Arrest On Drug, Weapons Charges
November 19, 2012
A Cantonment man was arrested on felony charges after a search warrant revealed drugs and firearms in his bedroom.
Reginald DeNeal McHenry, age 32 of Quintette Road, was charged with three counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $40,500 bond.
When the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic’s Unit executed a search warrant at McHenry’s Cantonment residence, they reported finding a plastic baggie containing powdered cocaine, items with cocaine residue, items with marijuana residue, a Smith & Wesson revolver in a flower-patterned bag, a .22 caliber revolver and a loaded Beretta .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
According to an arrest report, McHenry admitted to knowing about the crack cocaine in his room and that “he does not sell crack very often”. He said the firearms were already in the residence when he inherited the house, and he had not had a chance to dispose of them.
McHenry is due back in court in early December.
Flomaton Man Charged With Century Thefts
November 19, 2012
A Flomaton man was jailed for burglary and theft after allegedly stealing and recycling several items from a vacant home.
Michael Dannell Pleasant was charged with felony burglary and felony grand theft.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator observed the vehicle on Elsie Davis Road and spoke to Pleasant, the driver. The vehicle was observed to contain a gas stove, vehicle transmission and a double iron sink that were later identified as coming from inside and outside a vacant property in the 600 block of Elsie Davis Road.
When stopped later by an Escambia County deputy, Pleasant had tickets from a Flomaton recycling company for $178.65 for the sale of scrap metal.
Pleasant was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Thanksgiving Week Forecast
November 19, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Calm wind.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Get Your Turkey Fried For A Donation To The Miracle League
November 19, 2012
Want a fried turkey but afraid to try it yourself? Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you on Wednesday, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection.
While walk-ups are welcome, appointments are encouraged. Call (850) 476-1650 to schedule your time.
New Beginning: Church Purchases Chumuckla Farmer’s Opry
November 19, 2012
A church has purchased the Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry and Campground just weeks after the country music landmark closed due to the owner’s retirement.
The Living Truth Church purchased the facility for a permanent home after meeting in various temporary school locations in Santa Rosa County for the past 12 years.
“We will use the Opry location in keeping with the vision of a come-as-you-are to hear God’s word-church. Our church family is truly a family,” said Pastor Norman Sullivan. “This is just a building and campground and we want to use it for God’s glory. It’s going to be exciting to see what God has planned for us here at our new location. Our congregation is made up of folks from East Milton, Pensacola, Cantonment as well as Milton and Pace proper. We look forward to meeting new folks from the nearby Chumuckla community who would like to come check us out.”
In additional to regular services, the church plans to host concerts and various events to stay in touch with the community, such as the “Punches Family” gospel group that performed Saturday night in Opry tradition.
Sullivan said Living Truth Church was excited to purchase the 10.5 acre facility to have plenty of space for future growth.
“We’re excited to see how God continues to use this ministry to love on this community,” said Sullivan. “When the opportunity came to buy the Farmer’s Opry, it was more of a God-thing than anything else. It was just the right time for both us and the Wyatt family. We were looking to build and, they were ready to slow down.”
“The main thrust of Living Truth is to follow Jesus’ mandate to be disciples-making disciples. We connect folks to Christ and His church, help them grow spiritually, get them to love on the community by serving, and then multiply who they are in Christ. And we do a lot of this through small groups that meet throughout the local area during the week, said Living Truth Disciple Pastor Andy DeGuire. “Our modern worship style differs from other churches, but that’s just because we’re trying extra hard to reach the next generation. The cool thing is that the older folks enjoy this worship style (or some of them put up with it because they know we’re trying to reach their kids and grandkids).
Services are held at 10:30 each Sunday at the Living Truth Church at the former Farmer’s Opry location at 8897 Byrom Campbell Road, about five miles north of the Pace soccer fields. For more information about the church, visit www.LivingTruthChurch.com or call (850) 994-7698.
Pictured: The Living Truth Church has purchased the former Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Turkey Time: Extension Service Offers Thawing Tips
November 19, 2012
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 how to make sure your turkey is properly thawed with tips from Dorthy Lee, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Escambia County Extension Office.
Following four simple food-handling practices—clean, separate, cook, chill—will ensure a delicious and safe meal.
Frozen turkeys should be thawed—at a safe temperature— prior to cooking. There are three safe ways to thaw a turkey — in the refrigerator at 40°F or less; in cold water; and in the microwave.
Frozen Turkeys
Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
Keep frozen until you’re ready to thaw it.
Turkeys kept frozen in the freezer should be cooked within one year for best quality.
Thawing Your Turkey
In the Refrigerator (40°F or below)
Keep the turkey in its original wrapper. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen. When thawing in the refrigerator, allow 24 hours thawing time for every 5 pounds of turkey.
4 to 12 pounds = 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pounds = 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pounds = 4 to 5 days
20 to 24 pounds = 5 to 6 days
In Cold Water
When thawing in cold water, allow 30 minutes per pound and change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Wrap your turkey securely, making sure the water is not able to leak through the wrapping. Submerge your wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze. Allow approximately 30 minutes per pound.
4 to 12 pounds = 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds = 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds = 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds = 10 to 12 hours
In the Microwave
When thawing in the microwave, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and plan to cook the turkey immediately after thawing because some areas of the turkey may become warm and begin to cook during microwave thawing.
For more information, call the Escambia County Extension office, (850) 475-5230.
Have Extra Fruit On Your Trees? Donate It To The Needy
November 19, 2012
Have a fruit tree on your property with way too much fruit for you? The volunteer group Yes We Can Pensacola wants your donations as the group prepares to begin its annual fruit picking.
For the past five years, the independent group has harvested nearly 36 thousand of pounds of fruit in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to be donated to area food banks and soup kitchens, including Manna Foods and Favor House in Pensacola.
“We craft our own tools, created by our very own volunteers and one of our founding members. We are just a bunch of folks having fun, but making a difference in our community,” said volunteer Kate Peabody.
The group has picked a wide variety of citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes and tangerines from local residents. Yes We Can Pensacola volunteers will continue to pick fruit into January.
If you are interested in donating fruit or volunteering, contact group coordinator Anna Houghton at (850) 748-0616 or email annabhoughton@gmail.com.
Pictured: Tangerines growing in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.