Elvena Brannon
July 5, 2014
Elvena Brannon, age 61 of Santa Rosa County, passed away on Friday, July 4, 2014.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, July 5, 2014. from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Funeral services will begin at 3 p.m. with Bro. Copeland officiating.
Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery.
Barbara Evelyn Pettis
July 5, 2014
Barbara Evelyn Pettis, 94, of Cantonment, passed away July 3, 2014.
A visitation will be held Monday July 7, 2014, from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m.
American Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Pensacola
July 4, 2014
An American Airlines plane made an emergency landing at Pensacola International Airport Thursday night due to a “strong odor” in the cabin.
Flight 386 was en route from Jacksonville International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when the incident was reported. As a precaution, the MD-80 was diverted to Pensacola.
A spokesman for American Airlines said all 115 passengers and five crew members aboard the plan were unharmed. The passengers boarded a different plane and were shortly back en route to Dallas.
Century, Flomaton Celebrate The Fourth With A Bang (With Photo Gallery)
July 4, 2014
Fireworks lit up the night Thursday with an early celebration at Century’s Showalter Park.
The fireworks show was a joint effort of both the Town of Flomaton and the Town of Century. The towns alternate hosting the festivities each year.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a schedule of other area fireworks shows tonight, click here.
Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Perfect 4th: Low 60’s For Tonight
July 4, 2014
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight.
- Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight.
- Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Schedule: Area Fireworks Shows
July 4, 2014
Here’s a guide to public, non-profit Fourth of July Fireworks shows across the North Escambia area:
Friday, July 4
Sertoma — Downtown Pensacola
For the 25th year, area Sertoma organizations are once again coordinating and hosting the largest Fireworks display on the Gulf Coast over Pensacola Bay on Friday, July 4th at 9:00 pm.
There will be activities throughout the day, from 11:00 am until 6:30 pm, in Seville Square to include a free Children’s Area with inflatables and pony rides, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and live entertainment on the gazebo stage beginning at 11:00 a.m. There is also a hot dog eating contest at noon.
Starting at 4 p.m., there will be live music on the Bayfront Stage. The festivities will culminate with the fireworks show over Pensacola Bay at about 9 p.m. synchronized with music broadcast on Cat Country 98.7.
Jay
15th Annual Celebrate Freedom 5K at 8 a.m. Friday at Bray-Hendricks City Park. 5K entry fee is $25; One mile fun run is $10. Awards to be presented.
All-day celebration at Bray-Hendricks Park including a softball tournament, tennis tournament, plenty of food, arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, inflatables for the kids, entertainment and fireworks at dark.
Pensacola Beach
Red, White and Blues week begins with the Pensacola Beach Fourth of July firework show and celebration at 8:30 pm on the Portofino Boardwalk. Fireworks will be launched from the Santa Rosa Sound, providing views along the beach and boardwalk.
Riverfest, Milton
Riverfest will be held Friday, July 4 in Milton. Festivities include the 13th annual Firecracker Bike Show at 9 a.m., a Freedom Car Show at 9 a.m., a Children’s Activity Area, annual Great MillT own Duck Race at 5 p.m., live entertainment at 5:30 p.m., a Veteran’s Salute at 6:30 p.m. and karaoke at 7 p.m. The day will end with a fireworks display over the Blackwater River at dark.
East Brewton
The Fort Crawford Commission will celebrate Friday, July 4, with a fun-filled day beginning at 9 a.m. at Fort Crawford Park and ending with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
Bay Minette
The Rotary Club of Bay Minette will host a fireworks show on Friday, July 4, beginning around 9 p.m. at Bay Minette Elementary School’s old tennis courts.
Three In A Row: Northview’s Food For America Program Wins Florida’s Top Honor
July 4, 2014
Thursday, the Northview High School FFA Chapter was awarded the first place 2014 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award during the Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando. It was the chapter’s third consecutive first place award, which is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Formerly known the Food for America program, the program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level.
The local Food for America Program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave hundreds of elementary students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more at the Northview campus. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
Earlier in the year, members of the Northview High School FFA officer team visited several area elementary schools to read ag-related books to students.
The Northview FFA program began implementing plans for their Fresh From Florida program in the early fall of the 2013-2014 school year. They sent letters to schools and potential vendors letting them know to save the date for the 2014 activity.
The day of the event, students from surrounding elementary schools were invited for a day on the farm. They traveled to various booths that were manned by FFA members and community partners. Students were able to see animals, discuss the amount of land that is available for farming, as well as seed germination necklaces.
The Northview program was able to impact over 1,800 students, and they are continually looking for ways to improve their agenda in order to impact more students in the future.
Pictured top: Northview FFA members pose with their first place 2014 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award Thursday afternoon in Orlando. Pictured inset and below: Scenes from the March 2014 Northview Fresh from Florida program. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Extension Urges Smart Grilling For Food Safety
July 4, 2014
Safety is an important consideration when operating a grill. Improper use can cause a fire or explosion. Keep the area around a lighted grill clear of combustible materials, and never use a grill in an enclosed area such as a sheltered patio or a garage. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing that may catch fire. The cooking grids should be cleaned after every cookout. The last thing you want to do is cause someone to become ill due to improper cleaning or unsafe food preparation practices.
Wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds before starting to prepare any foods, and wash your hands again if you do anything else—change a diaper, pet an animal, or blow your nose, for example. Cover any cuts or sores on your hands with a bandage, or use plastic gloves. If you sneeze or cough while preparing foods, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and turn your face away, or cough into your sleeve. Always wash your hands afterwards.
Bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature. Most food-borne illness-causing bacteria cannot grow well at temperatures below 40°F or above 140°F. Thaw foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave. Never leave foods out at room temperature.
Keep everything that touches food clean. Bacteria can hitch rides around your kitchen on all sorts of things—plates and cutting boards, dirty utensils, dish rags and sponges, unwashed hands.
Never chop fresh vegetables or salad ingredients on a cutting board that was used for raw meat without properly cleaning it first. If possible, keep a separate cutting board just for the preparation of raw meat, poultry, and fish.
Wash cutting boards thoroughly with hot soapy water, and then sanitize with a solution of household bleach and water.
Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices from coming into contact with other foods during preparation, especially foods that will not be cooked. Wash all utensils and your hands with hot soapy water after contact with raw meat.
Marinate meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator in a covered, non-metal container. Throw away any leftover marinade.
Grill food to a safe internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to assure correct doneness of the food being grilled.
Safe minimum internal temperatures:
- Poultry (whole, ground, and breasts): 165°F
- Hamburgers, beef: 160°F
- Beef, veal, and lamb (steaks, roasts and chops):
- Medium rare: 145°F
- Medium: 160°F.
- All cuts of pork: 160°F.
Hold meat at 140°F until served. Use a clean platter for transferring cooked meat from grill to serving table.
Summer is the time for getting together with friends and family and cooking outdoors. Make your outdoor grilling experience safe and enjoyable.
For further information regarding food safety and other related topics, go to the University of Florida’s Solutions for Your Life website: http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com.
Dorothy C. Lee, CFCS, is an Extension Agent II, Family & Consumer Sciences with the Escambia County Extension Service. Reference: Safe Food Handling Fact Sheet, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Series.
Two Injured In Highway 29, Bluff Springs Road Crash
July 4, 2014
Two people were injured in an accident Thursday afternoon on Highway 29.
The accident happened about 4:50 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road and involved a GMC Denali. The two injured persons were transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital with injuries that were not considered severe.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details, including names, were not released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Road Construction Suspended For 4th Weekend
July 4, 2014
The Florida Department of Transportation is suspending highway construction projects on major major roadways across Northwest Florida for the holiday weekend. There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions Friday, July 4. All major roads will be open to normal traffic.
Although no construction closures are scheduled over the Independence Day holiday, existing state highway work zones will remain in effect. Motorists are reminded to use caution while traveling through work zones around barricades and equipment.
FDOT is encouraging drivers to allow extra travel time and to use extra caution in existing work zones along state highways. Drivers are urged to make sure they buckle up, along with their passengers. FDOT and other safety agencies also ask drivers to obey speed limits, get adequate rest before traveling, avoid distractions and never drink and drive.
Drivers also are urged to be prepared for unscheduled highway closures due to accidents, disabled vehicles or other events. Motorists should be alert to changing weather conditions while traveling.