Water Main Break In Walnut Hill
November 27, 2013
Escambia River Electric Cooperative is reporting a water main break on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill.
Crews are working to make repairs , but the repairs make take a few hours, according to EREC.
Century Tweaks Barnyard Animal Ban, Looks At Tracking Devices
November 27, 2013
The Town of Century is still working toward banning barnyard animals from the town, now planning to force their removal or require variances and microchips for those that remain outside certain zones.
The town council held special workshop meeting Tuesday afternoon to work toward a consensus to an amendment to a barnyard animal ordinance that is pending final approval next month. The ordinance will make it illegal to keep a horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, or cow within the town limits except in areas that are zoned agricultural or rural residential. Hogs are already prohibited in all areas of the town.
Tuesday, the council decided to do away with any individual grandfathering once the law is approved. Instead, all property owners not meeting the required zoning and minimum acreage requirements must get rid of their animals within 18 months or apply for a council-approved variance to keep them. In additional, any barnyard animals approved under a variance must be implanted with a microchip, allowing Escambia County Animal Control officers to track the animals back to their owners.
Mayor Freddie McCall said the “tracking devices”, the microchips, would either be donated or paid for by the town. They would be implanted by a county animal control worker or a volunteer from Panhandle Equine Rescue, he said, at no cost to the citizen.
Also Tuesday, the council decided to change the minimum acreage requirements for animals in the rural residential and agricultural zones. One horse will be allowed for every two acres, one donkey per acre and one goat per one-half acre. The animals and their pens must be 200 feet or greater from a dwelling or property line.
The a public hearing will held on the ordinance during the council’s December 2 meeting at 7 p.m., at which time the council will vote on the new law. Once approved, the law becomes effective immediately with citizens required to register animals outside the agricultural and rural residential zones within 60 days with 18 months allowed to remove the animals or apply for a variance with their animals subject to being microchipped.
Pictured top: Councilman Gary Riley (center) discusses a barnyard animal ban in Century as Mayor Freddie McCall (left) and council President Ann Brooks (right) listen Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Council member Jacke Johnston expresses her thoughts on the ordinance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Georgia Church Providing Thanksgiving Dinner In Century
November 27, 2013
A Georgia church is providing Thanksgiving dinner for Century residents on Thursday.
Rivertown Church of Columbus will provide the turkey and dressing, and they are inviting Century residents to bring a covered dish and join in at noon at the old Carver School on Pond Street.
Church members were in town earlier this year working on the Carver Community Center. Numerous Century residents joined them in the effort, and the Thanksgiving Dinner is the church’s way of saying “thanks” to the community, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
The church is calling the event “Compel Century”.
From The Farm To The City: A Thanksgiving Bounty For The Needy
November 27, 2013
Students from several northern Santa Rosa County schools put in a hard day’s work to help make sure hundreds of families have a good Thanksgiving dinner.
Students from Jay, Central and Milton high schools harvested hundreds of pounds of collards and cabbage from fields at the West Florida Research and Education Center near Jay. And middle schoolers from King Middle School in Milton washed the crops and bagged sweet potatoes. Staff from the Century Correctional Institution also took part in the harvest.
The fresh bounty was paired with turkeys and all the fixings donated by sponsors and distributed to about 400 families in need that had pre-qualified for the program.
“”We get to go out and meet with the families and see and talk with them a lot of families aren’t what you think. They aren’t in despair. These are hard working families that just need help,” said Robin Vickers of the UF West Florida Research and Education Center.
Helpful Hints To Prevent Frozen Pipes
November 27, 2013
Now is the time to prepare you your pipes for freezing cold weather.
The following recommendations, from ECUA, are a few simple measures residents can take to ready their home’s plumbing for this winter’s freezing temperatures.
External, exposed pipes are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing. Homeowners may:
Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
Disconnect And Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This will prevent the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
Run a Trickle of Water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run thin trickles of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water, but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to that of repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
Remember the Backflow Preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water lines are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Hunting And Fishing Licenses Now Available At Century Courthouse
November 27, 2013
Hunting and fishing licenses are now available at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
Citizens are now able to obtain Florida hunting and fishing licenses at the office of Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller Pam Childers in the courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and closed each day from noon – 1:00 p.m. for lunch.
The office is open today, but will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holidays. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, December 2. For more information, contact the Escambia County Clerk of the Court office during the business hours listed above at (850) 256-6161.
Pictured top: Clerk of the Court employee Cindy Courtney works Tuesday afternoon to issue a Florida hunting license in Century. Pictured below: The Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Freeze Warning: Low About 21 Tonight
November 27, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 21. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 53. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 26. Calm wind.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Turkey Time: Extension Service Offers Thawing Tips
November 27, 2013
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.
Featured Recipe: Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake
November 27, 2013
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are featuring recipes on NorthEscambia.com this week. Today’s featured recipe, from columnist Janet Tharpe is a Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake.
Deputies: Drugs Found At Double Homicide Scene
November 27, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s office has released new details in the November 10 double homicide of two men found dead at a home on Boulder Avenue.
According to investigators, 36-year old John Edward Gibbons and 34-year old Christopher Lee Fehl were found deceased of apparent gunshot wounds. Deputies said narcotics were also found at the scene.
The investigation is continuing, and anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: The scene of an apparent double murder November 10 in Bellview. Photos by Christina Leavenworth, WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
