New Beginning: Church Purchases Chumuckla Farmer’s Opry
November 19, 2012
A church has purchased the Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry and Campground just weeks after the country music landmark closed due to the owner’s retirement.
The Living Truth Church purchased the facility for a permanent home after meeting in various temporary school locations in Santa Rosa County for the past 12 years.
“We will use the Opry location in keeping with the vision of a come-as-you-are to hear God’s word-church. Our church family is truly a family,” said Pastor Norman Sullivan. “This is just a building and campground and we want to use it for God’s glory. It’s going to be exciting to see what God has planned for us here at our new location. Our congregation is made up of folks from East Milton, Pensacola, Cantonment as well as Milton and Pace proper. We look forward to meeting new folks from the nearby Chumuckla community who would like to come check us out.”
In additional to regular services, the church plans to host concerts and various events to stay in touch with the community, such as the “Punches Family” gospel group that performed Saturday night in Opry tradition.
Sullivan said Living Truth Church was excited to purchase the 10.5 acre facility to have plenty of space for future growth.
“We’re excited to see how God continues to use this ministry to love on this community,” said Sullivan. “When the opportunity came to buy the Farmer’s Opry, it was more of a God-thing than anything else. It was just the right time for both us and the Wyatt family. We were looking to build and, they were ready to slow down.”
“The main thrust of Living Truth is to follow Jesus’ mandate to be disciples-making disciples. We connect folks to Christ and His church, help them grow spiritually, get them to love on the community by serving, and then multiply who they are in Christ. And we do a lot of this through small groups that meet throughout the local area during the week, said Living Truth Disciple Pastor Andy DeGuire. “Our modern worship style differs from other churches, but that’s just because we’re trying extra hard to reach the next generation. The cool thing is that the older folks enjoy this worship style (or some of them put up with it because they know we’re trying to reach their kids and grandkids).
Services are held at 10:30 each Sunday at the Living Truth Church at the former Farmer’s Opry location at 8897 Byrom Campbell Road, about five miles north of the Pace soccer fields. For more information about the church, visit www.LivingTruthChurch.com or call (850) 994-7698.
Pictured: The Living Truth Church has purchased the former Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Turkey Time: Extension Service Offers Thawing Tips
November 19, 2012
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.
Have Extra Fruit On Your Trees? Donate It To The Needy
November 19, 2012
Have a fruit tree on your property with way too much fruit for you? The volunteer group Yes We Can Pensacola wants your donations as the group prepares to begin its annual fruit picking.
For the past five years, the independent group has harvested nearly 36 thousand of pounds of fruit in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to be donated to area food banks and soup kitchens, including Manna Foods and Favor House in Pensacola.
“We craft our own tools, created by our very own volunteers and one of our founding members. We are just a bunch of folks having fun, but making a difference in our community,” said volunteer Kate Peabody.
The group has picked a wide variety of citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes and tangerines from local residents. Yes We Can Pensacola volunteers will continue to pick fruit into January.
If you are interested in donating fruit or volunteering, contact group coordinator Anna Houghton at (850) 748-0616 or email annabhoughton@gmail.com.
Pictured: Tangerines growing in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Quick And Easy Thanksgiving Cranberry Cake
November 19, 2012
As Thanksgiving approaches, we’ll feature several recipes on NorthEscambia.com this week. Today’s featured recipe, from columnist Janet Tharpe, is a Quick and Easy Cranberry cake that packs a punch while using a yellow cake mix.
Donald “Don” Thornton
November 19, 2012
Coach Donald “Don” Thornton, age 65 of Vernon, AL, passed away Saturday, November 17, 2012, in Enterprise. Mr. Thornton was born March 27, 1947, in Amory, MS, to the late Earl Brown and Aleen Thornton. He was a 1965 graduate of Sulligent High School and a 1969 graduate of Livingston University. He coached and taught at Kennedy High School, Carrollton High School, and Millry High School. For the next 18 years, he moved into the insurance business, but his passion for coaching continued on, leading him back to the field in 1992 at T.W. Martin High School. He then moved to Flomaton High School in 1994 and taught and coached there until his retirement in 2007 when he moved back to Vernon. After retirement, he served as a Vernon City Councilman, a member of the Oak Hill Country Club board, and a volunteer football coach for the Lamar County High School Bulldogs from 2008 to present. He was a member of Vernon First United Methodist Church.
Coach Thornton is survived by his wife, Jeanne Thornton of Vernon; three sons, Joey Thornton of Enterprise, Clint (Carrie) Thornton of Tallahassee, snd David (Tonya) Thornton of Ellisville, MS; daughter, Gina (Myles) Hudson of Hattiesburg, MS; eleven grandchildren, Taylor, Karoline, Whitney, Grant, Andrew, Carson, Avery, Alex, Lizzie, Baylinn, and Layson; three aunts, Alice Burns, Janie Waldon, and Bea McClendon; and a host of cousins.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at 11 in the Vernon City Complex Auditorium with Eddie Rogers and Patrick Gunn officiating. Graveside services will follow at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Joey Thornton, Clint Thornton, David Thornton, Myles Hudson, Trent Collins, Frankie Rogers, Ken Prager, and Woodie Knight.
Honorary pallbearers will be Coach Thornton’s football players, past and present.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LCHS Football Fieldhouse Project. Donations can be made payable and sent to the Lamar County Board of Education, P.O. Box 1375, Vernon, AL 35592, with a memo specifying LCHS Football.
Paul Garfield Mauldin
November 19, 2012
Mr. Paul Garfield Mauldin, 82, passed away on Sunday, November 18, 2012, in Pensacola.
Mr. Mauldin was a native of Albermarle, NC and resident of Bratt since 1971. Mr. Mauldin was retired from the U.S. Navy, worked at the Naval Air Station for 17 years, was a Committee Man for the Republican Party, band boosters at Ernest Ward and active in community affairs. He attended the Bratt First Baptist Church.
His wife, Margaret Blanton Mauldin, precedes him in death.
Survivors include his three sons, James Thomas (Jennie) Mauldin of Pensacola; William Allen (Peggy) Mauldin of Atmore, and Gary Michael Mauldin of Pensacola; one daughter, Paula Mauldin (James) Watson of Pensacola; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Ronald Hall officiating.
Burial will follow at the Barrancas National Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 6 to 9 P.M. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Military Body Bearers.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements.
Marathon Runners Raise $10K For Wounded Warrier Project
November 19, 2012
Over six months ago, Brad King and Alan Moses began training for the Pensacola Marathon as an effort to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. They did not run in normal running attire, rather they ran the 26.2 marathon while wearing a 50 lb. ruck sack and military boots. The pair received donations totaling over $9,000 for their effort at the 2012 Pensacola Marathon.
The Pensacola Marathon and Pensacola Sports Association has announced it will donate $1,000 to their effort, pushing them over the $10,000 threshold.
“What these young men did was nothing short of remarkable,” commented Ray Palmer, executive director of the Pensacola Sports Association, the management organization of the Pensacola Marathon. “The event saw record growth this year and this was one aspect of the race, I believe, that contributed to the success. This is our small way of saying thank you and congratulations to these guys for what they did.”
The Pensacola Marathon, a Boston Marathon Qualifier, saw a record field of more than 1,900 entrants for the race.
Additional on-course support for King and Moses came in the form of the Phat Girlz, a local Pensacola women’s running group. Members from the club each “sponsored” a mile in which they ran a similar weighted pack alongside both men.
The pair plans to continue to run various events and challenges to raise the awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. Their goal is to reach $30,000.
People can continue to contribute to the fundraiser by visiting the events website at www.marathonpensacola.com or by e-mailing Brad King at bradwick.king@yahoo.com.
Pictured top: Charlie Sherrill, PSA President Brad King, Alan Moses and Ray Palmer. Pictured inset: Brad King and Alan Moses. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Considers Gas Tax Hike Monday; Century Says It’s Unfair To All North Escambia
November 18, 2012
The Town of Century is calling for the Escambia County Commission to reject a four-cent gas tax increase because it would be unfair to North Escambia residents.
The commission will consider the gas tax hike at a special meeting Monday in order to fund the ECAT bus system.
In a letter to commissioners, Century Town Council President Ann Brooks said “the proposed gasoline tax would adversely affect the Town of Century”. Brooks, who also represents the town on county’s Mass Transit Advisory Committee, said service stations are Century’s largest class of businesses. She said gas is typically cheaper in nearby Alabama, due in part to 27 cents in lower taxes than Florida.
“The gas tax in Florida is 53.4 cents while in Alabama it is only 26.4 cents per gallon. If the taxes on gas are increased by four cents a gallon, these service stations in close proximity to Alabama will likely go out of business,” Brooks wrote.
She said that while the entire county would suffer through a gas tax hike for public transportation, North Escambia residents would not benefit. ECAT provides limited service to Century, Cantonment and Molino — with one bus making stops in the mornings as early as 6:15, midday and nights as late at 7:05.
“The residents of Walnut Hill, Davisville, Bratt, Byrneville, and McDavid have to find transportation to Century or Molino to be able to take advantage of ECAT. The options for public transportation for the north end of Escambia County are few and not good ones,” she said.
If approved, the increased gas tax is expected to net the county about $4 million when it takes effect no earlier than January 2014. It currently costs the county about $3.2 million to fund the Escambia County Area Transit System, plus about $3.7 million from grants from the state and federal governments.
Escambia County currently collects 10-cents in tax per gallon — a direct seven-cent levy plus a three-cent levy collected by the state and returned to the county.
The public hearing on the proposed gas tax increase is set for Monday, November 19 at 10:30 a.m.
A Few Clouds Forecast
November 18, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Two Escambia Shootings Under Investigation, One Arrested
November 18, 2012
Two separate shootings Saturday night in Escambia County are under investigation.
One Shot, One Arrested
An Escambia County man was arrested following a shooting in Escambia County early Saturday night.
The shooting happened about 5:15 p.m. in the 2200 block of North G Street. The victim was shot once and transported by ambulance to an area hospital with a non-life threatening injury, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Walter Lee Bullard, 63, was arrested in connection with the shooting. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond on a charge of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Shooting Victim Arrives At Hospital
Escambia County deputies are investigating a shooting Saturday night.
Deputies responded to Baptist Hospital about 7:50 p.m. for a reported shooting victim. A male victim had arrived at the hospital in a private vehicle and was being treated for a gunshot wound. His condition was not released.
Investigators believed the shooting occurred in the area of Fairfield Drive and Mission Road.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.