Local Man Recalls Flying On September 11, Not Knowing Attacks Had Occurred
September 11, 2010
Nine years ago, Freddie McCall of Century and his son were preparing their small plane to fly to Texas. It was a major business decision for the McCalls…should they bid on a contract for the Texas company, or should they not? They knew that landing the contract for their company, Brewton Aviation, would mean hiring a new pilot or perhaps one of them moving to Texas. It would be a day that would change their lives. But little did they know how much the lives of all Americans were about to change that morning…September 11, 2001.
McCall flew out of the Brewton airport early that morning, headed for brief stops in Mobile and Baton Rouge before heading to Texas. Plans quickly changed, as the weather became too foggy to fly. The McCalls set their small plane down on a grassy strip near Jay to wait for the fog to burn off. They had no communications… no cellular phone and their radio was not turned on.
We all know the sequence of events that most people saw unfold on live television before our eyes. At 7:45 our time, a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. Television anchors were talking about the terrible accident, speculating how a pilot could make such a grave mistake. As millions watched the TV, a second plane hit the second Twin Tower at 8:03. We all knew…we were under attack.
But McCall and his son still had no idea of the horror unfolding in New York. A world away, the fog had lifted in Jay. They took off, flying under the level of airport radar, toward Mobile. Their biggest concern was still the trip to Texas and the business deal.
At 8:40 local time, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights in the United States, for the first time in American history. Brewton Avation’s plane continued toward Mobile. They had no idea that they were flying in increasingly empty skies .
“Our big concern that day was the contract for our company in Texas,” McCall said. “I had thought long and hard about it, and we had prayed about it.”
As they approached Mobile, McCall contacted the Mobile Regional Airport to let them know they were approaching at about 500 feet, still below the level of the airport’s radar.
“A voice came back real prompt like and asked where we were,” he said. “They told us to fly directly to the airport and get that plane down as fast as we could.”
McCall and his son knew something was going on, but they had no idea what.
Upon landing in Mobile, the Brewton Aviation plane was met by authorities who told them to get anything out of the plane they ever wanted to see again. McCall said that he still did not know what was going on in New York, and by that point, at the Pentagon in Washington.
McCall and his son were escorted to a room that had a TV. They watched the replays of the towers being hit again and again.
They called their wives to get rides back home. Their plane was held by federal authorities for a week before it was released.
Post-9/11 business has changed in many ways for Brewton Aviation and McCall. Insurance is up 20 times what it was before the terrorist attacks. Flight plans are required by Homeland Security and the FAA.
“The Lord was good to us, increasing our contracts in other ways,” McCall said of his business, post-9/11. “We have kept our head above water, and we have survived.”
“And our country has survived; the Lord took care of all of us,” he said.
McCall now serves as mayor of Century.
Gardening: September’s Need To Know
September 11, 2010
September marks the beginning of the fall gardening season. Usually by the second week of the month the weather begins to cool. It’s time to break out of
the summer doldrums and head into the garden and landscape because there are many projects that are best done this month.
September is the prime time to plant many of the cool season vegetables. You can sow seeds of beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, collards, endive, escarole, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley and radishes. If plants of these are available they can also be set out.
If you plant early in the month, you can still plant some of the warm season vegetables including beans, cucumbers and summer squash.
Fall is also a great time to divide clumping perennials such as daylilies, mondo grass and liriope. Division is the quickest and easiest method of multiplying most herbaceous perennials. Simply dig the plants and shake off the soil. It will be apparent where to separate the plants into smaller units having roots and leaves.
Division simply involves separating the clump into pieces with adequate roots and shoots for reestablishment. A small clump with one to two shoots and adequate roots for transplanting is called a bib. Some plants may be real woody and require an ax or saw to separate them while others may be soft and succulent and can be separated by hand. Divided pieces should be replanted at the same depth as they grew originally.
September is also a good time to start your preparation for planting trees and shrubs. Planting during fall and early winter allows the plants to establish their root systems during our relatively mild winters. When hot weather arrives next summer, fall planted trees and shrubs are already well established and better able to cope with the heat stress. Choose your trees and shrubs carefully. Learn about the plant before you buy it. Know its mature height and its sun or shade requirements. Even a well-chosen tree or shrub can become a problem if planted in the wrong location.
September is also the last month to fertilize our lawns and many of our landscape plants. Do not fertilizer too late, no later than the last week of September. A late season application of high nitrogen fertilizer can cause a flush of new growth too late in the year. It “wakes” the plant up at a time when it should be getting ready to “go to sleep” or enter dormancy. A late season growth flush decreases the plant’s winter hardiness and increases the possibility of cold damage.
Carefully select your fertilizer. For your lawn, consider an application of low nitrogen, high potassium fertilizer such as a 5-0-15, 5-0-20 or a 5-5-30. And don’t be misled by the term “winterizer” fertilizer. Many fertilizers advertised as winterizers are very high in nitrogen and are not good choices for a late season application.
Pine needles fall during September and October. Rake and use them in your flower and shrub beds. Pine needles make excellent mulch.
Apply generously to obtain a depth of two to three inches after they have settled.
Angel Food: Get About $60 Worth Of Groceries For $30
September 10, 2010
As the cost of food continues to rise, there is a program available locally that can save more than half of the cost of groceries. And, perhaps best of all, everyone qualifies, no strings attached. It’s called Angel Food Ministries, a program that provides food relief to more than a half million families a month across the nation.
It’s a simple concept…pay $31 for a box of food worth about $60. There are no applications; everyone qualifies regardless of family status or income. The process is simple too…just stop by one of the designated local locations, pay the $30 and return on the designated pickup day to receive the box of food. They even accept food stamps. Or, the food can be ordered online at angelfoodministries.com.
This months “Signature Box” contains a variety of items — including split chicken breasts, been and cheese burritos, hamburger patties, boneless pork chops and more more. (See the complete items at the bottom of this page.)
In the North Escambia area, orders can be placed online or through Allen Memorial United Methodist Church or Pine Forest Assembly of God in Cantonment, New Life Baptist Church in Century or the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Click here for a complete list of locations in the North Escambia area.
At Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment, orders can be placed in person on Saturday, September 11 from 10:30-11:30 or September 13-14 from 3-4 p.m. Click here for the complete Angel Food menu and ordering information from Allen Memorial or call (850) 968-6213. Allen Memorial even serves a complimentary breakfast to all guests on distribution day.
To order online for pickup at any of the North Escambia area sites, visit www.angelfoodministries.com. When ordering online, enter the code “Just4me5″ to save five percent on the Just 4 Me After School Box or enter the code “Blessed5″ to save five percent off the Bountiful Blessing Box.
Pictured: The graphic below shows the items in the “Signature Box” from Angel Food Ministries available from several local churches and organizations. Courtesy graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
This Place Matters: Flomaton Historical Group In The Running For $25K
September 9, 2010
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum is the running for a $25,000 “This Place Matters” grant — and they want your help.
The This Place Matters Challenge from the National Trust for Historic Preservation will award the $25,000 to one entrant to protect places in their community. The goal of the This Place Matters Community Challenge is to rally as many people around the grassroots issues of preservation in communities as possible, according to the group’s website.
“I am terribly happy that we were chosen to be on there,” Betty Jones of the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum said.
To see Flomaton’s entry and vote, click here. Voes are due by September 15.
Pictured: Levi Wagner, son of Tip Wagner and April Eicher, in photo used by the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum in their “This Place Matters” entry. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Extension Urges Smart Grilling For Food Safety
September 6, 2010
The end of summer means grilling — and a good cookout means proper food safety.
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.
Pastors Take Mission Trip To Iraq
September 5, 2010
Recently, two Cantonment residents, Brian Barlow and Jim Locke, joined Ken Bell of Pensacola in traveling to the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.
Locke and Barlow, pastors at Hillcrest Baptist Church, and Bell, a local attorney, were invited by Dr. Nabeeh Abbassi, past president of the Baptist Convention of Jordan, and Pastor Nabil Sara, Pastor of the National Evangelical Baptist Church of Baghdad, to participate in the first ever Baptist sponsored Iraqi Pastor and Wives conference.
The men were warmly welcomed by the Iraqis in the Kurdish area. They were surprised by the modern facilities at the airport in Erbil, the beauty of the northern countryside, and the helpfulness of the people. Remarking on the general friendliness of the Kurds towards Americans, Bell stated, “For a people who have suffered so much and have every reason to be suspicious of strangers, no matter where we went the Kurds were surprisingly gracious and welcoming.”
The conference was held in Duhok and featured notable speakers from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Brazil, and the United States. Pastor Locke, senior pastor of Hillcrest, was the keynote evening worship speaker and spoke on the importance of the unity of the church.
Under Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq suffered considerable internal turmoil in all regions of the country. In the northern area alone, several thousand villages were destroyed displacing more than 600,000 people. Several of the pastors at the conference told of the sufferings and victories in their lives under Saddam. One Baptist pastor told Bell (pictured), “I live with my wife in our heavily damaged church. My co-pastor was murdered and another protestant pastor in our city was shot in the neck and rendered a quadriplegic. I was told that if I opened the doors to my church, I and my family would be killed.” Commenting on his story Bell said, “at the risk of torture and death, they stay to minister to the small underground church that remains in the city.”
Another pastor that impressed Bell was Mahmoud. “Mahmoud, a former Muslim and Communist, and his young, pregnant wife are to minister in al-Sadr City, one of the darkest, most violent, sectarian areas in all of Iraq. I cannot imagine a more dangerous area to openly profess Christ. Even Muslims of other sects are at grave risk here. The danger to a professing Christian is obvious. They are “dying to self and living for Christ” in a way few would emulate” said Bell.
Barlow (pictured left) and Bell led seminars on the topics of “Vision – Shaping the Future,” and “Developing a Shared Vision for your Church.” When asked by Barlow to write out his vision for his church in central Iraq, one of the Iraqi pastors replied, “for you, I will first write my vision for my church in ink on paper then, I know, at some time in the future, I will follow Christ’s example and write it again for my fellow Iraqis in blood on the ground.”
Sporadic violence against Christians and Christian churches is common in Iraq though most Iraqi Muslims are against violence and disavow the extremists and criminals that perpetrate such acts.
One of the Iraqi pastors from Mosul told Locke about his experience with extremists and how he dealt with the destruction of his church, “When they (Islamists) destroyed my small church it was a terrible shock, I cried for many days. But then I realized that I must forgive them and love them. Before I became a believer in Christ I was like them, now that Jesus is in control of my life, I am a new man. They are not new men, therefore I have to love them and show them how to become new men with new hearts that love others not hate them.”
Pastor Charlie Costa of Lebanon was also a featured conference speaker, speaking on the topic “the Kingdom of God,” as were several Iraqi-American pastors from the US. For two Iraqi-American pastors, it was the first time since Saddam Hussein came to power that they had returned to their home country. “These men had fled their homeland decades earlier as young Muslims fearful for their lives. They returned as Americans and Christians to encourage their brothers and sisters. What an emotional experience for us to witness. Their love and compassion was palpable. And, the chance to break bread, share stories, encourage and worship as one was an opportunity long desired. And, I am sure one that will be repeated again soon,” said Bell.
The conference also covered a variety of women’s issues that pastors wives face. The women’s conference was led by the training staff of Arab Woman Today Ministries. The women shared many stories about their lives as pastor’s wives and the common bond of friendship and fellowship they share. One of the women told Barlow that, “each day I am grateful that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and that I can work beside my husband in the ministry. We are teaching our children that Jesus gave everything for us and that we should devote our lives to serving Him by serving others.”
The conference concluded with a public baptism service in which five new Iraqi believers were baptized (pictured top of page). The baptismal service took place in a highly visible public lake next to the main road entering the city. Pastor Costa officiated at the service assisted by Pastor Locke. Though the water was cold and deep, everyone’s spirits were warm and high.
Pictured top: Hillcrest Baptist Church Pastor Jim Locke baptizing a man while on a mission trip to Iraq. Pictured below: Goods for sale at an Iraqi market. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawson And Nita Berry Celebrate 50 Years
September 5, 2010
Nita and Lawson Berry of Barrineau Park celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday.
Juanita Hill and Lawson Berry were married in the North T Street Church of God in Pensacola, Florida on September 3, 1960. They moved to Barrineau Park in 1964. Their son Lynn Berry and wife Terri, their daughter Audrey Dickson and husband Tom, and granddaughter Holly Dickson all live in Barrineau Park.
The Berrys celebrated their 50th anniversary with family and plan a trip to Orlando soon.The whole family will celebrate with a trip to the mountains in the fall.
Lawson retired from the Florida Division of Forestry as an equipment supervisor. Nita was a school bus operator for 11 years and a homemaker.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: An Impressive Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Torte
September 5, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a dark chocolate torte with a raspberry sauce. It is an ideal dessert for impressing company or that special someone.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
It’s Easy To Attract Hummingbirds
September 4, 2010
Few sights are more thrilling in the garden than rapidly moving hummingbirds darting among colorful flowers. Hummingbirds, also known as hummers, are always a wonder to see, and it’s easy to attract them to your garden.
In Florida, we see three different types of hummingbirds, but the most common is the ruby-throated. This feathered jewel is only about three inches long and weighs as little as a single penny!
For their size, hummingbirds have among the largest appetites in the bird world. They feed every 10 or 15 minutes from dawn until dusk. During this period, they eat more than half their weight in food and 8 times their weight in water.
If you’re fascinated by hummingbirds, as I am, you probably hang out a feeder or two in the summer to provide them with sugar water. Artificial feeders will attract hummingbirds.
However, feeders should not be the sole source of food provided. The sugar solution may appeal to the hummingbirds’ sweet tooth, but it provides little nourishment. Nectar is much more vital to the hummingbird than just water and sugar. By planting certain flowers and shrubs, home gardeners can provide food and habitat for hummingbirds.
Typical hummingbird flowers are red, have a tubular shape and have no strong scent. But there are several notable exceptions to this general rule. Many plants with red flowers don’t contain very much nectar. Roses, petunias, geraniums and zinnias have brilliant colors but little nectar.
Plants that produce an abundance of flowers over an extended period of time and those that require little care are good choices. Native plants can “fill the bill” where nectar-seekers are concerned and should be used whenever possible.
Perennials that are recommended as nectar sources include butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), red basil (Calamintha coccinea), shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), firespike (Odontonema stricta), red star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), and obedient plant (Physostegia spp.).
It’s also important to plant a mixture of nectar producing trees, vines and shrubs that have overlapping blooming seasons. This will insure that a continuous source of nectar will be available to hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Some of the species recommended include red buckeye, bottlebrush, firebush (Hamelia patens), wild azalea, trumpet vine, and coral honeysuckle.
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds are not strictly nectar feeders. Insects and other invertebrates are the primary source of protein for adult hummingbirds and their young. An adult female can consume up to 2,000 insects per day. Small invertebrates including mosquitoes, gnats, small bees, fruit flies, spiders, caterpillars, aphids, and insects eggs make up the hummingbirds diet. So keep your plants free of pesticides. Pesticides destroy the insect food base vital to hummingbirds and their offspring, and may also contaminate the nectar they drink.
And if you do use artificial feeders, remember that the sugar solutions must be kept fresh. Florida’s hot weather can cause rapid bacterial growth in these feeders and birds that drink contaminated water could die. To avoid this, change the solution every 3 to 5 days. Clean the feeders with hot water and white vinegar. Do not use soap or chlorine bleach.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Danceworks Registration Underway
September 1, 2010
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks.
Heather Leonard, a dance teacher for over 20 years, will resume the role of dance director and ballet teacher for Danceworks. She said she is excited that her former student, Chelsea Sims, will be teaching the jazz and tap classes.
“The new Dancework’s dance classes have been scheduled to help dancers achieve excellence in dance. Some of the older students will have the opportunity to dance twice a week without paying the cost of a large dance school,” said Leonard, who has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas.
Classes will be held weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Byrneville Community Center. Registration continues this week by mail, and classes begin September 7.
For a printable information sheet, schedule and registration form, click here. For further information, contact Heather Leonard at (850) 256-0948 or email heather@erec.net.
Pictured: Last year’s Heather Leonard Danceworks recital, courtesy Ramona Fischer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.