Christmas Holiday Closures, Trash Pickup Changes
December 24, 2013
Here are holiday closures in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- West Florida Public Library System
Closed December 24, 25 and January 1:
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
- Escambia County Tax Collector
Closed December 25 and January 1:
- The Perdido Landfill
ECUA
- Residential: Tuesday pickups on Tuesday. Wednesday pickups will be on Thursday; Thursday pickups will be on Friday and Friday pickups will be on Saturday. Commercial (dumpsters): No change.
- ECUA offices will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1.
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) Schedule Changes:
- ECAT busses will not run December 25 and January 1
- UWF Trolleys will resume service January 5
CENTURY, JAY AND PENSACOLA
All city offices in Century, Jay and Pensacola will be closed December 24 and 25.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Closed December 24, 25
- Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, including the library system and animal shelter
- The Central Landfill located on 6337 Da Lisa Road will be open from 7 a.m. – noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
- Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Court
- Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
- Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
- Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
FDOT Suspends Construction Work For Christmas, New Years Holidays
December 24, 2013
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Three office is suspending highway construction projects on major roadways across Northwest Florida. There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions through Friday, January 3, 2014. 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.
FDOT Calls For Traffic Light, Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Intersection Redesign
December 23, 2013
The Florida Department of Transportation is recommending multiple change at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino — including a red light and redesign of a portion of the intersection.
According to James Barfield, District 3 secretary for FDOT, a full study of the intersection has concluded that a traffic signal be installed. The study also found that intersection should be redesigned to eliminate the “5-leg intersection configuration” caused by a driveway connection to the Tom Thumb by a combination of strong access control at the driveway connection and a reduction of the existing median opening width.
In October, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay for the red light at the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
The Florida DOT, Barfield said in an email, will begin the process to implement the recommend improvements. There is no timetable for completion.
The move came after residents of the all residential northern stretch of Highway 95A from Highway 29 to Highway 97 unsuccessful pushed commissioners to enforce a truck ban on that portion of Highway 95A. Trucks currently turn south on Highway 95A at Highway 29 to avoid the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection altogether over safety concerns.
“This is great news for the safety of the residents and commuters of Escambia County. It is an example of multiple municipalities and agencies working together for the good of the citizens. Assistant Escambia County Administrator Larry Newsom, and Colby Brown, director of Escambia Traffic and Transportation, worked closely and cooperatively with the professionals in the District 3 Florida Department of Transportation office in Chipley, headed by District Secretary Tommy Barfield,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steve Barry said.
Barry said Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Rep. Doug Broxson, Rep. Mike Hill, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Senate President Don Gaetz also advocated for the DOT to make safety improvements at the intersection.
Pictured: Traffic crashes at the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Adopts A Highway
December 23, 2013
The Northview High School NJROTC Unit has adopted a portion of Highway 29 from Bogia to McDavid, taking part in the state’s Adopt-A-Highway partnership to remove litter. Recently, 19 cadets collected about 110 pounds of trash. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Recipes: Red Velvet Cake, Holiday Dips
December 23, 2013
The holidays are a time when a lot of people head into the kitchen to cook for family and friends. You just can’t go wrong with a red velvet cake. We also have a couple of dip recipes just in time for your Christmas entertaining — a black bean dip and a hot cream cheese dip.
Red Velvet Cake
by Shirley Boone
CAKE
- 1 ½ cups oil
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 ½ cups cake flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. cocoa
- 1 oz bottle red food coloring
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Mix oil and sugar together. Add eggs and beat well. Add food coloring. Add vinegar to buttermilk and pour into oil mixture. Add vanilla. In small bowl combine cake flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix with other ingredients until well blended. Pour into 9 inch greased and floured pans. Bake at 350 degrees. Two pans bake for 30-35 minutes, three pans bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and wrap in plastic wrap until cool.
ICING
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 box confectioners sugar
- 1 stick Parkay margarine, softened
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Mix all together until creamed. Spread on cooled cake.
Black Bean Dip
by Mona Brown
- 2 cans black beans, drained
- 2 cans shoe peg corn, drained
- ½ bunch green onions, chopped
- Sprinkle of garlic powder
- Mix ½ cup olive oil, ½ cup apple cider vinegar and ½ cup sugar.
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Marinate for 24 hours. Drain and add 8 ounces of feta cheese. Serve with Scoops.
Hot Cream Cheese Dip
from the Molino Homemakers Club
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 8 oz sour cream
- 1 cup cooked crumbled bacon
- 3 stalks green onion diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Mix all ingredients and pour into a 9×9 glass pan or pie plate. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with Chicken in a Biscuit crackers.
How Much Do Those Christmas Lights Cost On Your Power Bill?
December 23, 2013
Have you ever wondered just how much it costs to light up your house and tree for the holidays? Probably less than you think, according to Gulf Power. The utility says it costs about $1.40 to run a string of 200 miniature holiday lights for about five hours a day for 30 days.
To save money, the company recommends the purchase of LED Christmas lights — the cost to power 200 LED bulbs five hours a day is only about 19 cents for a month. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, each LED bulb uses only about one-tenth of the energy used by traditional mini-lights. And, LED lights last a long time and don’t produce heat, which helps eliminate fire hazards.
Saturday Night Highway 29 Crash Claims One Life
December 22, 2013
A traffic crash Saturday night in McDavid claimed the life of a Pensacola man.
The accident happened about 8:30 p.m. on Highway 29 near Highway 164. The Florida Highway Patrol said 61-year old Kim Jon Lagamba of Pensacola was southbound on Highway 29 when he failed to negotiate a curve. His 1995 Nissan Frontier entered the median and traveled about 450 feet before reentering Highway 29. The vehicle rotate several times before it traveled onto the shoulder, hit a culvert, become airborne and struck a tree. The vehicle then came to rest in a culvert.
Lagamba was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced deceased on the scene; there were no passengers in the vehicle. Lagamba was not wearing a seat belt, according to the FHP.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriffs Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: First responders on the scene of a fatal traffic crash Saturday night on Highway 29 in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beulahfest Announces Headliners
December 22, 2013
Beulahfest has announced their headliners for the annual two-day event in March — The Charlie Daniels Band and country star Rodney Atkins.
Rodney Atkins will perform on Friday, March 21, and The Charlies Daniels band will perform on Saturday, March 22.
The 28th Annual Beulahfest will have a new home this year. The event has been held for the past few years at the Escambia County Equestrian Center, but the March 21-22, 2014, festival will be held at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds.
Pictured top: Country star Randy Houser performs at the 2012 Beulahfest. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Woman Seriously Injured In Hwy 29 Crash With Molino Teen
December 22, 2013
A Brewton woman was seriously injured in a vehicle crash involving a Molino teen Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 16-year old Tyler J. Ray was eastbound on Molino Road about 4:05 p.m. when he pulled his 2006 Chevrolet Silverado away from a stop sign into the path of a Buick Lucerne that was northbound on Highway 29. The driver of the Buick, 71-year old Sarah B. Fraizer, swerved unsuccessfully to miss the pickup. Both vehicles came to rest on Molino Road following the collision.
Fraizer was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance in serious condition. Ray and his passengers — 15 year old Trace Oswald and 16-year old Josie Smith, both of Molino — were not injured in the crash.
Ray was cited by the FHP for no valid license, failure to provide insurance in a crash and violation of right of way at a stop intersection.
In Hot Pursuit 5K Nets $9,535 For Youth Ranches
December 22, 2013
Over 300 runners and walkers took part in the annual “In Hot Pursuit 5K” last month on Pensacola Beach. The event raised $9,535.07 for the Florida Sheriff’’s Youth Ranches. The In Hot Pursuit 5K was sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.