Is It A Cold Or Fall Allergies? Tips To Help Florida Kids
November 12, 2013
Runny, stuffy or itchy noses, sneezing, coughing, fatigue and headaches: all can be symptoms of both allergies and colds. And when it’s a small child suffering, it can be hard to figure out the difference.
According to Dr. Michelle Lierl, a pediatric allergist, parents should look closely for the minor details. She said children with allergies to such things as leaf mold or outdoor fungal spores are more likely to have itchy noses, throats and eyes than those with a cold, who will generally just not feel well.
“They may run a low-grade fever, they may feel just kind of sick and achy, and they have more sore throats,” the doctor said. “And they’ll have nasal drainage and nasal congestion, but not so much itching of the nose and eyes.”
For seasonal allergies, Lierl said a daily antihistamine, such as Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec, or a prescribed nasal steroid spray are the best options. If it’s a cold, Tylenol or ibuprofen can help a child feel better. She also recommends talking to a pediatrician about having children screened for environmental allergens.
Lierl said taking allergy medicine throughout the season is important to prevent allergy symptoms, such as swelling and mucus build-up, from turning into something worse.
“That can stop up the sinuses and develop into a sinus infection, or it can stop up the middle ear and evolve into an episode of ear infection,” she warned. “So, keeping the nose open and less congested does help to prevent those secondary infections.”
When it comes to fall allergies, prevention is also important. She noted that allergy season is tough for asthma sufferers, and November is one of the worst months.
“We have higher rates of admission to Children’s Hospital for asthma attacks than at any other time of the year,” Lierl recalled. “So, it’s important for the parents of children with asthma to be especially careful that their children do not miss any doses of their regular asthma medication.”
She recommends keeping windows closed, changing air filters, and having children wash their hands and faces after being outside. And while it is fun, jumping into piles of leaves is off limits, because it can trigger an allergy attack.
by Stephanie Carroll Carson, Florida News Connection
Century Care Honors Veterans
November 12, 2013
Century Care Center honored their veteran residents on Monday.
Billy Bray, Ed Clemmens, Glen Dunaway, Larry Irwin, Paul Louvierre, John Rutherford, Johnny Tobert, Winford Johnson and Elbie Pugh. Each received a pin and certificate from Commander Ericl Steib of Jay.
Residents also held memorial for Eunice Ward, and honored the service of volunteer James Sexton who retired from the U.S. Air Force with 21 years of service.
Pictured top are veterans (L-R) Billy Bray, Ed Clemmens, Glen Dunaway and Larry Irwin. Pictured inset: The Northview High School NJROTC. Pictured below: Veterans Paul Louvierre, John Rutherford, Johnny Tobert and Winford Johnson. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four-Wheeler Accident Claims Life Of Flomaton Man
November 11, 2013
A four-wheeler accident has claimed the life of a Flomaton man.
Jimmie Elicah Dixon, 62, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County (FL) EMS. He was discovered early Monday morning under his wrecked four-wheeler in a secluded location near Beasley-Dixon Road, just north of Highway 31.
Officials said Dixon was last seen leaving on his four-wheeler late Sunday afternoon. After he did not return, the family began looking for Dixon early Monday morning. It was not known exactly when the accident occurred.
Congressman Tasked With Looking Out For Veterans
November 11, 2013
It’s not just Veterans Day that Congressman Jeff Miller thinks about those who have served. Veterans are always on his mind, one of his top priorities.
The Chumuckla Republican represents the 1st Congressional District which is home to more veterans than any other district in the entire United States. He’s also chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which is responsible for authorization and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA is the second largest department in the federal government with over 300,000 employees and a budget of over $150 billion.
And right now, he’s not pleased with the answers his committee is getting — or, more importantly, not getting – from the VA.
“It’s unbelievable. In an agency and an administration that touts their transparency, there is very little transparency. It’s unbelievable,” Miller told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview. “We have been trying since I became the chairman to get information out of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and they have stonewalled us at every turn.”
The VA has not provided answered over 100 separate requests for information made by the Veterans Affairs Committee, with four of those requests dating back to 2012. Due to the unanswered requests, the committee created the Trials and Transparency website to highlight the problem.
Miller said he does believe the problem is partisan; many of the requests have been made by the committee’s ranking Democratic member Rep. Michael H. Michaud of Maine.
“We are not doing it from a partisan standpoint; we are doing it because our veterans deserve answers and, unfortunately, they are not getting them,” Miller said.
Regardless of problems getting answers from the VA, Miller’s office still works to get action for local veterans. One of his staff members in Pensacola is devoted solely to working for veterans.
“We will help them in any way that we can worth through the bureaucracy, and our success rate is usually pretty good,” the congressman said.
Politics and VA oversight problems aside, Miller said Veterans Day is an extremely important holiday.
“Veterans Day is important to all of us to say thank you and remembering those that have served and worn the uniform of this country,” he said. “It’s a day where Americans can stop and pay tribute to those who have answered the call and have run to the sound of the guns…We are the country we are today because there have been men and women throughout our history that have never wavered in their patriotic duty to this country.”
Pictured top: Congress Jeff Miller poses with veterans in Century. With Miller are (L-R) Herbert Boutwell III, a two-tour Vietnam veteran; his father, World War II veteran Herbert Boutwell, Jr.; and Benjamin Boutwell, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism and U.S. Air Force Retiree. Pictured inset: Rep. Jeff Miller addresses a Veterans Day event in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Possible Freeze Coming Mid Week
November 11, 2013
There is a freeze watch in effect from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 31. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 31. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Century Employees Get Veterans Day Off For The First Time
November 11, 2013
Monday marked the first Veterans Day that Town of Century employees had the day off.
While virtually every other governmental agency in the area has always been closed on the Veterans Day holiday, the Town of Century was always open. Back in August, the Century Town Council voted to close up shop on Veterans Day and grant town employees the day off.
At that August meeting, the town council also voted to hold a Veterans Day celebration which took place last Friday.
Pictured top: The Town of Century’s Veterans Day Celebration held last Friday. Pictured inset: Century council member Jacke Johnston was spearheaded the Veterans Day event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview High Honors Veterans
November 11, 2013
Northview High School held their annual Veterans Day program, honoring veterans in the North Escambia area.
The guest speaker for the program was Gary Welch, an Army Veteran who served in Vietnam and a retired Northview teacher. The program also included a special “Old Glory” presentation by the Northview High School NJROTC, and a White Table Ceremony that represents the never-ending hope for the return of MIA soldiers.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Veterans Day Closures
November 11, 2013
The following will be closed Monday for the Veterans Day holiday:
- Escambia (Fla. & Ala.) and Santa Rosa county schools
- Escambia (Fla. & Ala.) and Santa Rosa county offices
- Jay, Milton, Pensacola, Atmore, Flomaton city offices
- U.S. Post Office — retail windows closed, no mail delivery or collection, except for Express Mail
- Florida state offices
- Federal offices
- No bus service from ECAT
- West Florida Public Libraries, including Century Branch
- Santa Rosa County libraries
- Pensacola State College
- University of West Florida
The Perdido Landfill will be open regular hours. There will be no change in the ECUA trash pickup.
State Senate Gaming Committee Meets This Week In Escambia County
November 11, 2013
The Florida Senate Gaming Committee will meet this week in Escambia County.
During the 2014 Legislative Session, the Senate will seek to replace Florida’s current makeshift gaming structure with an overall comprehensive approach to gambling related policy. The face of gambling has dramatically transformed over the last 25 years with casinos, the state lottery and “Internet cafes” emerging. However, officials say Florida’s approach to taxation and regulation of the industry has not kept up.
In preparation, the Gaming Committee will conduct its next workshop in Pensacola on November 14 to listen to the views of citizens in the Panhandle. In particular, the committee is interested in the public’s reaction to the “Florida Gambling Impact Study,” which was commissioned by the legislature earlier in the year. Understanding the local views and perspective is paramount to making sound public policy decisions that will impact our communities for generations. [Download study copy here.]
The Florida Senate Gaming Committee, chaired by Senator Garrett Richter (R-Naples), will meet in Pensacola on Thursday, November 14, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the WSRE-TV Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, 1000 College Boulevard.
Camp Fire Kids Honor Veterans
November 11, 2013
Children from the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center took part in a special Veterans Day Ceremony at the Century Care Center. The children took part in the Pledge of Allegiance, made the veterans a big card, sang patriotic songs and made individual cards for each veteran.
