Local Cheerleader To March In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 21, 2012
A local cheerleader will march in Thursday morning’s 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Ashley Cunningham of Molino, a senior at Northview High School, will march with The Spirit of America Varsity Cheerleaders at the beginning and end of the parade with Santa Claus.
“The best part is meeting new girls from around the nation,” Ashley said Tuesday night, on her way from the Statue of Liberty to a tour at the Empire State Building. “It is definitely an honor to represent Northview.”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be nationally televised Thursday morning on NBC and seen locally on WPMI TV 15.
Pictured top: Ashley Cunningham (left) at the Statue of Liberty Monday in New York City. Pictured inset: Ashley at the Empire State Building Tuesday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Health Department Offers Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips
November 21, 2012
The Escambia County Health Department is emphasizing the importance of safe food preparation and storage to prevent possible foodborne illnesses.
“While family celebrations are being prepared, everyone should practice proper food hygiene,” said Dr. John Lanza, health department director. “Floridians should wash their hands and counter tops thoroughly before and after preparing foods to help eliminate bacteria. Foods should be cooked at the appropriate temperature and leftovers should be stored properly.”
Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses include:
- Improper food storage (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding temperature). Safe refrigeration temperature is less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and safe hot holding temperature is greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Improper washing of hands and fingernails
- Improper cooling of foods. Safe cooling of foods is getting the foods to less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a four-hour time period.
- Cross contamination (such as from uncooked meat to salad ingredients)
- Improper cleaning and sanitizing of eating and cooking utensils, work areas and equipment
- Contamination of food, utensils and equipment from flies, roaches and other pests
Tips to prepare turkeys safely:
- A whole turkey should be cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- An 8-12 pound unstuffed turkey should be cooked for 2-3 hours.
- Preparers should use a meat thermometer. Every part of the turkey should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Frozen turkeys should be kept frozen until ready to thaw prior to cooking.
Individuals with liver disease or diabetes or who have had gastric surgery or are immune-compromised should avoid eating raw oysters or other raw animal protein during the holidays. Oysters that are thoroughly cooked or have been post-harvest treated can be consumed by people with these conditions to minimize the risk of infection from Vibrio vulnificus.
For more information about food safety, click here.
Thanksgiving Recipe: Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake
November 21, 2012
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are featuring recipes on NorthEscambia.com this week. Today’s featured recipe, from columnist Janet Tharpe is a Sweet Potato Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake.
One Arrested In Escambia Shooting
November 20, 2012
One person was arrested after a shooting Tuesday afternoon at the Sunrise Apartment complex on Fairfield Drive in Escambia County.
Deputies responded to a shots fired disturbance at 12:07 p.m. in the apartment complex. Deputies discovered an adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported by EMS to a local hospital.
A witness was able to follow the two male suspects for a short distance before the suspects were involved in a car wreck and fled on foot. Deputies responded to the area with a K-9 unit in an attempt to track two suspects. A firearm was recovered in the area, deputies said.
Tevin Watson, 20, was arrested during the search and charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, deadly missiles and criminal mischief. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $31,000.
Deputies are still looking for a second suspect, who is described as a black male in his early 20’s. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at a (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Bridge On Sunshine Hill Road Closed For Three Weeks
November 20, 2012
The bridge on Sunshine Hill Road in Molino was closed this morning for repairs and is expected to remain closed for about three weeks. The bridge, located just south of Cedar Springs Road, is expected to reopen by December 10.
The Sunshine Hill Road bridge is currently scheduled to be replaced with a new structure with construction beginning in February 2013.
Fire Departments Respond To Smoke At Molino Park Elementary
November 20, 2012
Area fire departments were dispatched to Molino Park Elementary School this morning for a report of smoke filling the gym.
The fire firefighters on scene moments after the call determined that the smoke was from a faulty air handling unit, and there was no fire. Some students were evacuated as a precaution.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid and Ferry Pass stations were dispatched to the call. Most were canceled before arriving on scene.
Small Electrical Fire Reported At Fountain Prison
November 20, 2012
A small electrical fire was reported at Fountain Prison north of Atmore this morning.
The first firefighters from Atmore and Poarch to arrive on scene reported no smoke showing from the medium security prison facility.
Fountain has a total population of 1,265 as of the latest report from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Tate Fires Head Coach
November 20, 2012
Tate High School head football coach Brad Naggatz has reportedly been fired after his first season at the 6A school.
Naggatz was 1-8 with the Aggies, winning only the last game of the season against Washington. The win snapped a 20-game losing streak; the last previous win for the Aggies was in October 2010.
Naggatz had been at Tate since 2006 where he has served as both offensive and defensive coordinator. He previously worked as offensive coordinator for Pensacola High School, and head coach at Catholic High School for about a decade.
Naggatz replaced Ed Rigby who had been at Tate for six seasons before leaving in January.
Century Upset About Gas Tax Hike, ‘Not Fair’ To North Escambia
November 20, 2012
The Town of Century says a four-cent gas tax increase approved Monday by Escambia County for mass transit is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the closure of some Century businesses. And, for now, Century won’t sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County and the City of Pensacola to allocate the tax proceeds to ECAT.
“All of us are upset about it (the gas tax),” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night. “They were not considering Century.”
“I am not prepared to sign an interlocal agreement at this time,” he said.
There are three service stations in Century, according to council member Gary Riley, and “the increase will really hurt their business mainly because of how close we are to the Alabama line”.
“Who wouldn’t drive across the bridge,” McCall said of Century’s proximity to normally cheaper gas — with lower taxes — in Flomaton, Ala. “We stand a chance of losing three service stations, businesses, on account of everybody going across the bridge to get their gas.”
Council member Gary Riley attended the lengthy Escambia County Commission special meeting Monday morning, pleading with commissioners to not overlook how the tax will harm Century, and how North Escambia residents have little or no access to use ECAT’s services. 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. Residents in community such as Walnut Hill and Bratt have no direct transit service from ECAT..
County Attorney Alison Robinson said that, according to state statute, the gas tax must be implemented across the entire county with no way to exclude Century stations, or the lone gas station on Highway 97 south of Atmore.
Commissioner Wilson Robertson suggested that Century, or the local gas station owners, could seek an exemption from the Legislature prior to the tax implementation date in 2014.
Commissioner-elect Steven Barry (pictured), who will be sworn into office Tuesday, attended Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting.
“This is not fair for District 5,” he said of the gas tax hike to fund ECAT, “at our current level of service.
“A dedicated source of funding for ECAT is something that is necessary,” Barry told the council. “But it does not have to come on the backs of taxpayers as an additional burden.
McCall said he would meet with the Interim County Administrator Larry Newsome next week to discuss the interlocal agreement on the gas tax increase.
For an earlier story about the gas tax increase passage, click here.
Pictured top: Council member Gary Riley addresses the Century Town Council Monday night as council president Ann Brooks listens. Pictured inset: Newly elected District 5 Commission Steven Barry talks to the council. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Powell Campaign Charges To Be Dismissed
November 20, 2012
ARCHIVED STORY — Nov. 20, 2012
John Powell, a former candidate for Escambia County Sheriff, has entered into a pretrial diversion program in a criminal case pending against him.
Powell was charged with nine counts of election law violations for accepting cash contributions in excess of the $50 legal limit. According to the State Attorney’s Office, the conditions of the diversion agreement require Powell to pay all costs of the program and provide proof that all improper contributions have been repaid.
“It was determined that this was the appropriate disposition based on Powell’s lack of any criminal history as well as his willingness to return all improper funds,” the State Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the case against Powell will be dismissed.