McMullen Named Escambia County Employee Of The Year
December 26, 2016
Rebecca McMullen has been selected as the 2016 Employee of the Year for the standards of excellence she displays in her job duties for the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
She was chosen by County Administrator Jack Brown from a pool that included all of the year’s Employee of the Month winners. McMullen, who works as a senior budget analyst in the office of management and budget, was recognized at a recent county commission meeting.
Within OMB, McMullen prepares annual revenue forecasts, evaluates the status of various county funds, and manages the county Municipal Services Benefit Unit, or MSBU program.
Often thought of as the county’s “MSBU expert,” she is always ready to answer residents’ questions relating to street lighting, construction, holding ponds, nuisance abatement and Fire MSBUs.
McMullen has been an employee with Escambia County since 1998. She first worked as an accountant, then as a budget analyst before being promoted to senior budget analyst.
Tate Grad Long Named To FCS All-American Team
December 26, 2016
Tate High School 2013 graduate Lorenzo Long was named third team FCS All-America by the Associated Press. Long currently plays for the Wofford Terriers.
Long, a senior, started all 14 games at fullback. He led the Terrers and the Southern Conference with 1,424 rushing yards, while also leading the league in rushing touchdowns with 18. He ended his career with 3,479 rushing yards to rank fifth in school history and his 43 career rushing touchdowns are third in school history.
Long was named second team All-America by STATS and third team All-America by both the Associated Press and College Sports Madness. He also earned first team All-Southern Conference honors.
Merry Christmas! The Story Of The Greatest Gift Of All
December 25, 2016
Today’s lead story on NorthEscambia.com is a story that happened over 2,000 years ago today — the birth of a boy child.
It is story that was first delivered by an angelic choir. It was the news that changed the world…a Savior had been born in a little town called Bethlehem. It was a humble scene. A little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
It was the world’s first ever Christmas gift on that very first Christmas morning, the gift of a Savior with the promise of eternal life.
It’s good news for all of us on this Christmas. Good news that Emmanuel, the Lord Jesus, was born. It’s story that was reported by Luke in the New Testament in the Bible, the widest circulated publication in history. It’s reprinted below for you to read, and for you to share the Good News with someone you care about this Christmas.
From our NorthEscambia.com family to you and yours, Merry Christmas!
- And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
- (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
- And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
- To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
- And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
- And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
- And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
- And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
- For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
- And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
- And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
- And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
- And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
- And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
- But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
- And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Camp 5 Officers Give A Very Special Gift To Coworker With Cancer
December 25, 2016
A group of corrections officers from the Escambia County Road Prison gave a very special gift to to a coworker..
Delton “Boz” Boswell was an employee of Escambia County for 31 years – about 10 of those years as a sergeant at the Escambia County Road Prison.
A little over a year and a half ago he was diagnosed with colon cancer. After having surgery to remove the cancer, six months of chemotherapy treatments and seven months of good health – he is now on round two of his cancer fight. At the end of June, he received the news that the cancer is back. While undergoing his second surgery in 16 months, the officers at the road prison’s Camp 5 came together to support their supervisor and friend.
A few months ago, they decided to finish the restoration work he had started on his 1956 Ford Crown Victoria Sunliner.
Days after one of Boswell’s surgeries, two of the officers loaded up the car to have the exhaust re-done at George’s Muffler Shop. Later, 18 officers and friends gathered at a garage to give the car an overhaul. In 10 hours, the car had a new gas tank, new Edelbrock carburetor, new seats, radiator repair (special thanks to Danny Cain) and other fix-ups before the big reveal.
As Boswell turned into the driveway, the garage door was raised and the car pulled out while friends and family followed behind. Lots of smile and lots of tears were shed along with a prayer for healing and friendship.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Recipes: Rice Krispie Treats, Oatmeal Cookies, Hot Chocolate
December 25, 2016
Here are some family time favorites for this Christmas Day.
Today’s recipes include Traditional Oatmeal Cookies, Crockpot Candy and Rice Krispie Treats — perfect recipes for the family to make together. And what would Christmas be without Hot Chocolate? Our quick and easy recipe can easily be increased to make enough for everyone, plus it’s easy to include some extra cocoa powder for a deeper, darker treat.
Crock Pot Candy
- 16 oz Salted Peanuts
- 16 oz UnSalted Peanuts
- 4 oz German Chocolate Bark
- 1 pkg Almond Chocolate Bark
- 1 pkg Butterscotch Morsels
Put all ingredients into crock pot. Cook on low for 2 hours. Do not stir or open lid. After 2 hours, turn off crock pot, stir candy and drop in clusters onto wax paper. Let cool and enjoy. This recipe will make 70-90 pieces of candy, depending on the size.
Traditional Oatmeal Cookies
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 3 cups of Quaker Oats (Quick)
- 1 cup raisins (optional)
Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Slowly stir in oats. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on sheet, remove to wire rack.
Rice Krispie Treats
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 6 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal
In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture. Using a buttered or silicone spatula, press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper. Cut into squares when the mixture cools. Makes 24 squares.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
Microwave butter with marshmallows on high setting for 2 minutes in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir together when melted. Microwave again on high for 1 additional minute. Stir in cereal, mixing until well coated. Press into pan as above.
Hot Chocolate
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. water
- 1 c. milk
- a bit of vanilla, if desired
Combine cocoa, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat it on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan. After about 1 to 2 minutes, add milk and vanilla. Mix it all together until it reaches your preferred temperature.
Santa Claus Visits Cantonment Senior Center (With Gallery)
December 25, 2016
Santa Claus paid a recent visit to the Cantonment Senior Center. He passed out gifts, listened to wishes and took photos with the seniors.
Pictured: Santa Claus visited the Cantonment Senior Center recently Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Our Gift To You: Christmas Concert Video From Ernest Ward Middle School
December 25, 2016
On this Christmas Day, we invite you to enjoy highlights from the 2016 Ernest Ward Middle School Christmas Program.
The half hour video program, available in high definition, is below. Merry Christmas!
NorthEscambia.com photo and video.
Dedria’s Gift Provides Christmas Presents For Nursing Home Residents
December 25, 2016
The Century organization “Dedria’s Gift” recently visited three area nursing homes and assisted living facilities, providing Christmas presents for less fortunate residents. The gifts were provided at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center (pictured top), the Atmore Nursing Care Center (pictured below) and the Westgate Village in Brewton.
Dedria’s Gift honors the memory of Dedria Robinson who was killed 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11. The group annual provides school supplies for hundreds of children the Century area.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Auburn Woman Dies In Crash Outside Brewton
December 24, 2016
An Auburn woman was killed in a single vehicle accident between Brewton and Flomaton Saturday morning.
Jessica Michelle Norwood, 29, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 5:45 a.m. crash near the intersection of Highway 31 and Old Highway 31, about two miles south of Georgia Pacific.
According to Alabama State Troopers, Norwood was driving a 2009 Toyota Camry that left the roadway and overturned into some trees. The vehicle came to rest on its side against several trees.
She was not wearing a seat belt.
The crash remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Band Members Honor Pearl Harbor Veterans On Hawaii Trip
December 24, 2016
The Tate High School Showband of the South joined in a special performance in Hawaii on December 7 to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on Peal Harbor.
There were 115 Tate band members that made the trip, joining the bands of schools from across the country invited to perform at the USS Missouri on December 7.
“It was definitely very somber and an experience that none of us will forget,” said Kim Franklin, who served as one of 31 chaperones and staff for the Tate band. Each band member had to raise $2,400 to make the trip.
The group left in three buses for Atlanta on December 1, then flew to Hawaii and returned on December 10. Their trip included a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial.
Franklin, mother of the trumpet player J.D. Franklin, said as they were touring the memorial, one of the Pearl Harbor survivors arrived, which made it even more memorable.
The Arizona was hit four times by Japanese planes and sunk quickly. The bombs and explosions killed 1,177 of the 1,512 crewmen, which was about half of the total lives lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“To see the wall of names and to think all those men are entombed there and how many families were impacted is very sombering,” Franklin said. “I told J.D. that you could go back to Hawaii but you wouldn’t be able to participate in the 75th anniversary. To be there was special.”
Greg Gomez, had the privilege of diving the USS Arizona on December 7 as part of the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company.
It was part of the Division Dive Training Package for the 4th Marine Division, where they conducted dive operations in accordance with a training manual. Semiannually, Division Dive Packages are offered all over the world to establish Standard Operating Procedures for the Combatant Diver to employ in real world scenarios.
Gomez, who is a sergeant in the Marines, took video while he was on the dive.
“Diving the USS Arizona on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor was a surreal feeling,” he said. “I still can’t wrap my head around the fact I was looking at the graveyard of thousands of men who perished during the attack and their bodies are still trapped inside.”
The Tate band members took tours of different areas in Hawaii. On Dec. 7, they performed several songs at the USS Missouri during the program, including America the Beautiful, the Navy hymn, Fanfare for the Common Man, Summon the Heroes and the Armed Forces salute.
The band had a 3-hour practice on the day before the event and another 3-hour practice on the day of the event. They also had a separate performance on Waikiki Beach.
Tina Stojak traveled as a parent to take in the commemoration.
“It was very impressive, much more than I ever expected,” she said. “Seeing so many Pearl Harbor survivors; it was neat to meet them and hear their stories.
“Evan declared it the greatest week of his life,” Stojak said. “He was so into it and was in awe. He was very somber. It was a huge honor.”
