Woman Dies In Christmas Day Wreck On Chumuckla Highway
December 26, 2015
A Pace woman died in a Christmas Day traffic crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 43-year old Jennifer Michel Neal of Pace was traveling south on Chumuckla Highway about 7:39 a.m. when her Dodge Caliber left the roadway and ran into a concrete ditch. The vehicle then struck a concrete culvert before coming to rest in a driveway.
Neal was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.
Escambia Property Tax Discount Ends Soon
December 26, 2015
All four Escambia County Tax Collector offices will be open regular business hours on New Year’s Eve, according to Tax Collector Janet Holley. Persons paying their 2015 real estate and tangible personal property taxes who want to receive the three percent discount must make their payments by December 31.
In order to receive the three percent discount and have your tax payment receipted with a December date, payments must be:
- received in the tax office by close of business December 31 or
- made on the tax collector website by midnight December 31.
Additionally, payments mailed with a December 31 postmark or left in a 24-hour drop boxes after hours on that date will receive the three percent discount but will be dated in January.
Residents are encouraged to pay taxes online; however, other options are available, such as payment by phone, by mail, and in person at any of the four convenient tax collector offices.
Drive thru service and 24-hour drop boxes are available at all locations.
Escambia County Tax Collector Offices will be open regular business hours — 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Offices are located at:
- Downtown – 213 Palafox Place
- Marcus Pointe – 6451 North W Street
- Molino – 6440 Highway 95-A North, Suite A
- Warrington – 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A
All offices will be closed December 24 and December 25 in observance of Christmas, and closed January 1 for New Year’s Day.
For more information, call (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.
No Serious Injuries In Christmas Day Cantonment Crash
December 26, 2015
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Christmas afternoon on Pompano Street, between Tate Road and East Kingsfield Road in Cantonment. Their injuries were not considered life threatening. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released. Escambia County EMS and the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
FEA Files Complaint Against Teacher Bonus Program
December 26, 2015
The state’s largest teachers union filed a complaint over a program that rewards teachers for high scores on college admissions tests, saying the “Best and Brightest” bonuses discriminate on the basis of age and race.
The charges, filed by the Florida Education Association with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations, come weeks before lawmakers are set to consider extending the bonus program, which was added to the state budget during a June special session.
“Too many high-quality teachers in Florida were denied access to this bonus program because of the unfair and discriminatory rules and short timeline set up by lawmakers,” union President Joanne McCall said in a statement announcing the challenge. “This bonus plan wasn’t thought out very well and wasn’t properly vetted in the Legislature and that has resulted in many good teachers unfairly denied access to this bonus.”
The “Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program” gives annual bonuses of up to $10,000 to teachers who are highly rated and have SAT or ACT scores that rank in the top fifth of test results. Lawmakers set aside $44 million for the program this year, but the spending plan only made it temporary.
During its regular session beginning next month, the Legislature is set to consider bills that would extend the program.
Until now, critics have mostly knocked the program for misusing SAT or ACT scores, which are generally used for college applications. But the complaint goes beyond that, saying that the way the award is structured precludes older teachers from getting the bonuses, gives an unfair advantage to younger teachers and discriminates against African-Americans and Latinos.
For example, the union said there is no “percentile data” — used to determine the top fifth of test takers — for SATs or ACTs taken before 1972. The association also claims that “teachers older than 40 years old” had trouble getting the required information about their test scores before an Oct. 1 deadline.
The program also exempts first-year teachers from the requirement that recipients be rated “highly effective,” something the union says is an unfair advantage.
Meanwhile, critics of the SAT and ACT have long complained that the tests are biased against African-Americans and Latinos.
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education, which was targeted in the charges along with the state’s school districts, said in an emailed statement that the agency hasn’t received the complaint the union “alleges it filed” against the program.
“The department has no comment other than to state that, as always, the department will cooperate fully with any required regulatory process or review,” spokeswoman Meghan Collins said.
Rep. Erik Fresen, a Miami Republican who has pushed the Best and Brightest program, blasted the union’s complaint in a text message. Fresen, who chairs the House committee that oversees education funding, said more than 5,000 teachers qualified for the award this year.
“It is unfortunate that the teachers’ unions constantly oppose any payment structure effort that is not based on time served,” Fresen wrote. “It’s akin to the infantile argument of ‘if I can’t have any neither can you.’ ”
by The News Service of Florida
Recipes: Rice Krispie Treats, Oatmeal Cookies, Hot Chocolate
December 26, 2015
Here are some family time favorite recipes for this Christmas weekend.
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.
Christmas Gift For Flomaton — No Major Flooding
December 26, 2015
It was a welcomed Christmas gift for Flomaton residents…forecasted major flooding never happened.
Big Escambia Creek was near the forecast crest of 19 feet by mid-morning. But the level of floodwaters, based upon historic precedents, simply wass not that high according to local officials and photographs. A “human read’ flood scale showed the river crest at below 15 feet.
The National Weather Service is investigating a possible problem with the automated USGS sensors that measure the water levels and inaccurate readings led to a forecast that was too high.
Major flooding of homes and businesses along Highway 31 did not and won’t occur. Both Highway 31 and Highway 29 remained open, with no closures.
Pictured: The Big Escambia Creek at or near high water level Christmas morning, leading to minor flooding in the “usual” areas around Turtle Point and Hurricane Park in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos by Katie Fowler, click to enlarge.
Cost Of Christmas Lighting Still A Bargain
December 25, 2015
Outdoor lighting is as much a part of the holiday season as Santa and gift giving. Have you ever wondered how much it costs to operate those lights on your home or business?
Traditional larger bulbs are the most widely used, but cost the most to operate. One string of these incandescent lights can consume more than $1 of electricity a day. That adds up when you put up a few strings of lights and leave them on for the holiday season, according to Gulf Power.
Miniature holiday lights are a less costly option, and have replaced larger bulbs in many decorations. One string of miniature lights uses less than 3 cents per day.
For even greater savings you can use Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) instead of bulbs. LEDs use 90 percent less energy, can last years longer and, since LED bulbs generate less heat, they make for safer illumination as well. LED lights are more expensive to buy; however, at less than half a cent per day to operate, a string of LED bulbs will pay for itself quickly.
You can also lower your holiday energy use by putting your lights on a timer. Be sure to use a durable timer that is made to withstand the elements, Gulf Power recommends.
Merry Christmas! The Story Of The Greatest Gift Of All
December 25, 2015
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.
FDOT Giving Drivers A Break From Road Construction
December 25, 2015
Christmas may be over, but Florida drivers will continue to get a break from road construction during the next week.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has suspended highway construction projects on major roadways across Northwest Florida. There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions through Monday, January 4, 2016. All major roads will be open to normal traffic.
Although no construction closures are scheduled over the holiday weekend, 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.
Travelers can access Florida’s 511 service from cell phones, landlines, and the Internet at www.FL511.com to receive updates on travel in the area.
Santa Visits Camp Fire USA Century Center
December 25, 2015
Santa Claus recently paid a visit to the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
