Photos: Crowds Attend Pow Wow
November 23, 2012
Large crowds attended the 42nd annual Pow Wow over the long Thanksgiving weekend at the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation north of Atmore. The event featured tribal dancers from across the country, entertainment, food, arts and crafts and several historical and cultural presentations.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured: The 42nd annual Pow Wow on the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation north of Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
Florida High Court: Either Driver Can Be At Fault In Rear-End Crashes
November 23, 2012
Faced with conflicting lower-court decisions, the Florida Supreme Court issued a pair of rulings Wednesday that could give a legal boost to motorists who crash into other vehicles from behind. The cases center, at least in part, on a longstanding legal presumption that rear drivers are negligent in vehicle collisions.
But the justices ruled that the presumption can be rebutted “by the production of evidence from which a jury could conclude that the front driver was negligent in the operation of his or her vehicle.” The court ruled in cases from Seminole and Palm Beach counties.
The Seminole County case, for example, stemmed from a 2007 accident in which Crystal Charron was a passenger on a motorcycle that flipped when its driver tried to avoid hitting the rear end of a car driven by Warren Birge. A circuit court sided with Birge in a resulting lawsuit, but the 5th District Court of Appeal reversed that decision because it said a jury could have found that Birge was negligent.
The Supreme Court opinion said Birge was driving 35 mph and slammed on his brakes “for no objective reason,” surprising other people on the road. “Significantly, this court has never held that the rear-end presumption bars a claim for damages of a rear driver or others in the rearward zone of danger where there is evidence from which a jury could conclude that the front driver defendant was negligent and comparatively at fault in causing the collision,” said the opinion, which was written by Justice Jorge Labarga. The other justices concurred in the decision, though Justice James E.C. Perry was recused.
By The News Service of Florida
Retailers, Shoppers Get Early Start On Black Friday Bargains
November 23, 2012
Retailers got an early jump on the traditional Black Friday sales, with many stores opening their doors Thursday night. Lots of North Escambia area residents hit the stores Thursday night and Friday morning.
Pictured top: Edie Jackson (left) and Donna Gilman went Black Friday shopping with a plan. Pictured inset: Paula Butler of Molino was number 111 in line to get free gifts when the doors opened at Toys “R” Us in Pensacola. Readers submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Christmas Parade Is Saturday
November 23, 2012
The first area Christmas parade of the season is this Saturday in Jay.
The parade will lineup at the Bray-Hendricks Park behind city hall at 9 a.m. The parade will roll through downtown Jay at 10 a.m.
The Jay Historical Society will also sponsor the first annual Cotton Festival Saturday with over 40 vendors, children’s activities, entertainment and an antique car show. The Jay Historical Society’s museum will also be open, featuring crafts made from cotton.
Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving
November 22, 2012
The holiday is engrained in American life as a day for family gatherings with sumptuous turkey feasts, accompanied by a wide array of side dishes and pies. By one estimate, more than 43 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more to attend holiday gatherings between now and Sunday.
But other Thanksgiving traditions are prominent in the U.S. as well, including religious services and key youth and professional football games. The Macy’s department store chain, stages a its annual parade in New York City, with large inflated cartoon balloons and marching bands.
Tradition says the first American Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, with early North American settlers commemorating a harvest after a harsh winter.
More than a century later, the nation’s first president, George Washington, declared it a national holiday in 1789. President Barack Obama, followed tradition Wednesday and “pardoned” two turkeys, nicknamed Cobbler and Gobbler. He said the birds would then get to live out their days at George Washington’s nearby Mount Vernon estate.
Obama called on Americans, even as they celebrate the holiday, to do all they can to help less fortunate people, including those who lost homes along the country’s Eastern seaboard because of the recent superstorm Sandy .
“I’d like to ask every American to do what they can to help families who are in need of a real Thanksgiving this year.”
Thanksgiving, by law on the fourth Thursday of November, also serves as somewhat of a respite from the commerce of the approaching holiday shopping season, leading to Christmas on December 25.
But that no-shopping-on-Thanksgiving tradition is fading in the U.S., with some chain stores planning to open their doors for early holiday gift-buying on Thursday night. That is just hours ahead of what is called Black Friday in the U.S., traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the entire year.
In part, the day has been called Black Friday because of the millions of shoppers and traffic congestion throughout the country, from its largest cities to small towns. But the term is also said to describe the day in which retailers have enough sales to be profitable, to put them in the black, in accounting terms.
Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the U.S. economy and some retailers say end-of-year holiday spending accounts for about a quarter of their annual sales. But sales this year could increase just 2.5 percent compared to 2011, according to one estimate.
Holiday sales could be hurt by the sluggish pace of the U.S. economy, with more than 12 million workers still unemployed in the aftermath of the recession in 2008 and 2009.
One other complication is that the White House and Congress also are facing contentious government spending and tax issues that could further hurt the economy if left unresolved in the waning weeks of 2012. Almost all American workers face tax increases January 1 if the dispute is not resolved by the end of the year.
No Injuries In Highway 97 Crash
November 22, 2012
There were no injuries in a single vehicle wreck early Thursday morning in Walnut Hill.
A 43-year old man apparently lost control of his car while southbound on Highway 97 just south of North Highway 99. He ran off the road into a ditch, crossed over the highway and struck a fence. The driver refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident was reported about 5 a.m. The driver stated the accident occurred about an hour prior.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded.
Pictured: There were no injuries in this single vehicle accident early Thursday morning in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Shooting, Pursuit Leads To Traffic Crash And Arrest
November 22, 2012
A police pursuit following a shooting ended with a driver trapped in his wrecked SUV early Thursday morning and later landed him in jail.
The incident began when Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 2500 block of Eliasberg Street about 1:10 a.m. for a shots fired call. Deputies discovered there had been an argument over missing money. As deputies were speaking to the victim, the suspect drove by again. Deputies pursued the suspect, later identified as 49-year Ricky Davis, for a short distance before David crashed his Dodge Durango on Fairfield Drive near Ester Road, according Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Davis failed to stop for deputies and veered off the roadway into several trees. The vehicle overturned, trapping Davis inside. First responders were forced to use the Jaws of Life to extract Davis from the SUV. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries and then released to law enforcement.
Davis was booked into the Escambia County Jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly intoxication and a firing a weapon recklessly. He is being held on a $12,000 bond.
The FHP said additional charges are pending against Davis for fleeing and eluding law enforcement, failure to maintain a single lane, DUI fourth offense, DUI property damage, refusal to submit to a DUI test with priors.
Pictured top: A wrecked SUV driven by Ricky Davis of Pensacola crashed Thursday morning on Fairfield Drive. Photo courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Much Colder Temps Coming
November 22, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 71.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Trip To Grandma’s Just A Little Cheaper This Year
November 22, 2012
That Thanksgiving trip to grandma’s house was just a few pennies cheaper this year, with gas prices down slightly.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $3.25 headed into the Thanksgiving weekend, down four cents from $3.29 a year ago and on a downward trend from $3.52 a month ago.
Around the North Escambia area, that gallon of gas averaged $3.21 in an informal survey. The lowest Escambia County price on Wednesday afternoon was $3.14 at a station on Airport Boulevard. The Florida state average was $3.37.
AAA projects 43.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, small increase over the 43.3 million people who traveled last year. This increase marks the fourth consecutive year of growing holiday travelers since 2008 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 21 to Sunday, November 25.
“Thanksgiving travel hit a decade low in 2008 when only 37.8 million Americans traveled,” said AAA President and CEO Robert Darbelnet. “Since that year we have seen a steady increase in the number of travelers taking to the roads and skies for the holiday. Americans continue to find ways to economize their budgets so they can gather around the holiday table to carve the turkey.”
“While we do not yet know the full impact that Hurricane Sandy will have on travel from the Mid-Atlantic region, we do know that the impact for many Americans in that region is substantial,” continued Darbelnet.
Approximately 90 percent of travelers or 39.1 million people plan to travel by automobile this Thanksgiving. This is a 0.6 percent increase over the 38.9 million people who traveled by auto last year. Air travel is expected to decrease 1.7 percent as 3.14 million holiday travelers will take to the skies.
Those traveling by air will find lower airfares according to AAA’s Leisure travel Index. For the Thanksgiving holiday the average lowest round-trip rate is $188 for the top 40 U.S. air routes, an 11 percent decrease from last year. Approximately 1.3 million travelers will choose other modes of transportation, including rail, bus and cruise ship.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Thanksgiving With Feast
November 22, 2012
Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center held a Thanksgiving feast this week for children and their parents. The daycare’s children, many dressed as Pilgrims or Native Americans, enjoyed a full Thanksgiving meal. Handmade toilet paper roll turkeys proclaimed some of the items that the children are thankful for, including moms, dads, siblings, other family, teachers, toys, God, pets and food.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Children enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center earlier this week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
