Escambia Legislative Delegation Meets On Thursday
January 6, 2013
The Escambia County Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 10.
The delegation — consisting of Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Clay Ford – will hear public comments on local proposals for the 2013 regular Legislative session.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6-8 p.m. meeting on Thursday, January 10 at the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio on the Pensacola State College campus at 1000 College Boulevard.
For 10th Year, Weight Watchers To Meet At Aldersgate UMC
January 6, 2013
Now in its 10th year, the Molino Weight Watchers class will meet again this year at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. Weight Watchers is a program which provides a healthy method to loose and maintain your goal weight.
The first class is Monday, January 7. Classes are held on Mondays, with weigh-in from 6 until 6:30 p.m. and the class is from 6:30 until 7 p.m.
For more information, contact class leader Sandra Greenwell at (850) 587-2489.
Tate Baseball Booster Club To Meet
January 6, 2013
The Tate High School Aggie Baseball Booster Club will meet this week.
The meeting will be held Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Fryman Gym on campus. Everyone interested in Aggie baseball is welcome to attend.
Featured Recipe: The Ultimate Game Day Chili Warm Up
January 6, 2013
Bold, flavorful chili is the ultimate game day grub, offering hearty portions to feed a hungry crowd and personalized toppings to suit every palate. For a delicious twist to your go-to, wow guests with a hearty, versatile pork-based chili with layers of savory flavor.
Smoky ingredients are all the rage, with fire-roasted tomatoes, bacon and chipotle peppers on the rise in restaurant menus across the country. Give this delicious trend the home-cooked treatment with Smoky Pork, Bacon and White Bean Chili, a simple recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and can be conveniently made in the slow cooker.
With this versatile recipe, it’s easy to add a personal touch. Make your hearty chili even more smolderingly smoky by adding finely chopped chipotle chiles (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce) along with the onion. Or, to amp up the heat, add a dash of cayenne pepper powder along with the chili powder.
To round out the meal on game day – or any day – serve with warm corn tortillas or corn bread and a refreshing side salad with radishes and cilantro. Prepare a topping bar with sour cream, roasted tomato salsa, sliced avocadoes, scallions and shredded Jack cheese.
Smoky Pork, Bacon and White Bean Chili
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Makes: 6 servings
8 ounces bacon, thick-cut, (5 or 6 slices), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 1/2 pounds pork loin roast, cut into 3/4-inch dice
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 14 1/2-ounce cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, (white kidney) or other white beans, drained
Salt
1/2 cup sour cream, (optional)
2 scallions, thinly sliced (optional)
In large saucepan or small stockpot over medium heat, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
Add onion to bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, add pork, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder and paprika. Stir in tomatoes (with juices) and water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until pork is tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
Stir in beans and about 2/3 of bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Add salt to taste.
Showers Possible Tonight
January 5, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Free Trees: Seedlings To Be Given Away In Walnut Hill
January 5, 2013
In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Forestry Service (FFS) will be giving away 4,000 seedling trees at two locations, including Walnut Hill.
Species include crabapple, mayhaw, cherrybark Oak, river birch, wax myrtle and bald cypress. Participants will receive two tree seedlings of their choice.
The first event will be held on Monday, January 14, at the Walnut Hill Community Center (Ruritan Building) at 7850 Highway 97 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The second event will be held on Friday, January 18, in conjunction with the grand opening of the Southwest Greenway at the Jones Swamp Preserve Trail entrance at 198 Patton Drive, near the intersection of Brigadier and Patton Drive, in Warrington, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Extension agents and master gardeners will be available at both locations to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug Charges
January 5, 2013
A Cantonment man is facing multiple drug charges.
Billy David Clakley, 24, was charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a scheduled narcotic without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,500 bond.
An Escambia County deputy reported being on patrol in the 400 block of Lakeview Avenue where a small party was being held. The deputy reported that as he approached, Clakley jumped into a Toyota parked close to the road and began to yell obscenities.
Inside the vehicle with Clakley, the deputies found a bag of marijuana and Clonazepam pills, a scheduled narcotic. In Clakley’s pockets, deputies found a bag of marijuana, digital scales with heavy marijuana residue and bags like those used commonly used to package the drug, according to an arrest report.
When Clakley was placed under arrest by deputies, he pulled in an effort to get away. “Clakley continued to be uncooperative and had to be assisted to my patrol vehicle,” an arresting deputy wrote in his report.
Escaped Escambia Prisoner Back Behind Bars
January 5, 2013
A prisoner that escaped from Escambia County’s work release program in December is back behind bars.
Charles Bernard Debose, 48, escaped on foot December 28 as authorities were attempting to handcuff him and escort him in the Escambia County Work Release Facility at 1211 West Fairfield Drive. Deputies were unable to locate him after a lengthy manhunt.
Debose had been arrested for larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail records. He is now facing an additional charge of escape and is being held without bond.
Billy Ray Spence
January 5, 2013
Billy Ray Spence, 63 of Walnut Hill, passed away January 4, 2013, in Bay Minette after a 15 month battle with cancer. He was born March 4, 1949, in Atmore to J.D. “Dink” and Lois Spence. He served in the United States Army during Vietnam. He retired after 33 years of service from the United States Postal Service as a plant manager. He was a graduate of Ernest Ward High School. He is preceded in death by his mother Lois Heathcock Spence.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Brenda Spence; father, J.D. “Dink” (Jean) Spence; daughters, Shannon Spence Hughes of Walnut Hill, and Kristie Richard of Georgia; brother, John C. (Diane) Spence of Walnut Hill; sister, Susan (John) Welch of Bay Minette; grandchildren Cody Ward, Kane Freeman and Beverly Hughes and one great-grandchild, Mason Ward.
Funeral services will be held Monday, January 7, 2013, at 1 p.m. from Cross Point Baptist Church with Rev. J.T. Guyton and Sister Helen Stewart officiating. Burial will follow in Pineville Cemetery with Miltary Honors.
Visitation will be held Monday, January 7, 2013, from 11 a.m. until service time at Cross Point Baptist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
2012 Was Warmest On Record Locally
January 5, 2013
Last year was the warmest on record in Pensacola, according to data released Friday by the National Weather Service.
The average temperature for 2012 in Pensacola was 70.7 degrees, which broke the record for the warmest year on record previously set in 1974 of 70.0 degrees. 2012 was 2.8 degrees above the normal temperature of 67.9 degrees.
The total rainfall in Pensacola for 2012 was 66.63 inches, which was just the 47th wettest on record. This was 1.36 inches above the normal annual rainfall of 65.27 inches. The wettest year on record occurred in 1953 when 92.37 inches was record.
Records date back to 1850 and normals are based upon the 1981 to 2010 period, according to the National Weather Service.