Reader Photos: Black Friday Sales
November 25, 2011
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, and they have shared their photos with us.
If you have shopping photos to share, email them to news@northescambia.com or share them on this Facebook page.
Pictured top: Charla Starkk, Savannah Singleton and Brandy Gifford wait in line to buy an item Thursday night at Walmart in Ensley. Pictured below: The line stretched past Publix Thursday night for the Black Friday deals at Toys R Us in Pensacola (from Amy Lambeth). Pictured inset: Crowds wait for $19.95 sheets at the Pace Walmart Thursday night. Pictured bottom: Shopping 10pm specials at the Tanger Outlet in Foley Thursday night. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Parades: Jay Saturday, Many More To Come
November 25, 2011
The Jay Christmas Parade on Saturday will kick off about a dozen parades in the North Escambia area this Christmas season. Here is a complete look at area parades:
Nov. 26 – Jay Christmas Parade
The annual Jay Christmas parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 26. Lineup is at Bray-Hendricks Park at 9 a.m. Parade will travel from the park, along Highway 4 and through the business district.
Dec. 3 — Flomaton Christmas Parade
The Flomaton Christmas Parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 3.
Dec. 3 — Milton Christmas Parade
The Milton Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 3 at 6 p.m.
Dec. 3 — Pace Christmas Parade
The Pace Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 3 at 1 p.m.
Dec. 9 — Poarch Creek Parade
The Poarch Creek Indian Christmas Parade will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, December 9 on the reservation north of Atmore. Departs from the gym and ends at the health department.
Dec. 10 — Molino Christmas Parade
The annual Molino Christmas Parade on Crabtree Church Road will be Saturday, December 10 at 1 p.m. Ends with Santa Claus at the Molino Ballpark. To enter the parade, stop by Fran’s Diner on Highway 29 for information and to sign up.
Dec. 10 — Pensacola Christmas Parade
The Pensacola Christmas Parade will be held at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 10 in downtown Pensacola. Featuring local bands and the Blue Angels.
Dec. 10 — Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade
This year’s Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade, with the theme “A Christmas Gift”, will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 10.
Dec. 10 — Chumuckla Redneck Parade
The Chumuckla Redneck Parade through “downtown” Chumuckla will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 10. Bonfire Jam concert to follow.
Dec. 10 — Brewton Christmas Parade
The Brewton Christmas Parade will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 10.
Dec. 10 — Milton Riverwalk Boat Parade
The Milton Riverwalk Boat Parade will be Saturday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at the Riverwalk.
FDOT, ALDOT Road Construction Projects Suspended Until Monday
November 25, 2011
Both the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) have directed construction contractors working on state roads to cease operations through the weekend according to both departments.
There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions in Alabama or Florida through Sunday. All major roads in Northwest Florida and South Alabama will be open to normal traffic.
Riding With A Mission: Help Kids With Cerebral Palsy
November 25, 2011
Skeet Davis and his big Paint horse, Boomer, are on a mission — thanks in part to a North Escambia area veterinarian and farrier. Although they are a competitive National Barrel Horse Association team, their hearts are devoted to helping kids with cerebral palsy. And now, they are working to raise funds for another saddle for kids with cerebral palsy.
Since 2004, Davis has been organizing benefit barrel races for United Cerebral Palsy, and every summer finds Skeet and Boomer at “Camp Smile” in Mobile, Alabama. There they brighten children’s lives by giving every child a ride on gentle Boomer. Equipped with a special custom-made saddle that provides increased support and security, these children — even those in wheelchairs — are able to experience the thrill of riding Boomer.
With the help of Camp Smile counselors, each child is gently secured into the saddle. Then Skeet leads Boomer around the campground, the horse stepping softly to provide smooth rides for his precious cargo. For Skeet, the father of three, this work has special significance; his youngest daughter has cerebral palsy.
Two freak accidents nearly destroyed the Davis and Boomer goodwill efforts. In October 2008, Skeet came home one day to find that Boomer wasn’t waiting for him at his usual spot. Something was wrong. Skeet found Boomer standing in the lane to the barn, and there was blood everywhere. Boomer had been playing with deer outside his fence line and caught his foot in the one strand of barbed wire that Skeet kept strung along the bottom of the fence to keep the coyotes from catching ducks in his pond. Boomer’s hoof was almost completely severed. Skeet immediately hauled his horse to Boomer’s vet in Grand Bay. Dr. McCoy x-rayed the foot, cleaned it and surgically removed two barbs that had become imbedded deep in the foot.
Boomer’s accident destroyed Skeet’s hopes to ride him in the 2008 National Barrel Horse Association World Championships in Augusta, Georgia. However, through the generosity of a friend, Skeet was able to compete on a borrowed horse. But, Skeet’s problems had only begun. On his second run in the show, a miscue between horse and rider sent Skeet crashing into the ground. He had sustained what is called an “open-book” hip fracture, one that kills more than 50% of it’s victims. Fortunately, the horse show was only minutes from a major teaching hospital with a world-renowned specialist in pelvic fractures. Skeet was in the right place at the right time. Working quickly, the medical team was able to save Skeet’s life and repair his hip. But, the severity of the injury was going to keep Skeet off horses for quite a while.
When Skeet was released from the hospital, he was determined to make sure that both he and Boomer were rehabilitated successfully. By January of 2009, Boomer was still very lame from his injury and Skeet was beginning to fear that he’d never be able to ride his horse again, much less continue their commitments to helping children with cerebral palsy.
But, fellow barrel racers urged Skeet to take Boomer to the Lee Veterinary and Podiatry Clinic in Atmore, Alabama. There, Dr. Hank Lee and certified journeyman farrier Jim LaClaire of Beulah have joined forces to diagnose and treat lame horses, combining astute diagnosis and surgical interventions with innovative horse podiatry. Every Friday, the clinic parking lot is full of stock and horse trailers who travel to see the vet-farrier team from as far away as Tallahassee and upper Alabama. Skeet hoped that something could be done for Boomer.
After examining the horse, the Lee Clinic team had an answer. They constructed a therapeutic shoe for Boomer, filling in the lost hoof wall with epoxy. They had essentially created a partially artificial foot to evenly support Boomer’s weight while his natural hoof wall recovered and regrew. With his new foot and shoe, Boomer was ready to get back into action. It took Skeet a little longer to heal, but now they are both back to barrel racing. Best of all, they have returned to their mission of giving children with cerebral palsy a chance to ride.
Boomer’s recovery from his disastrous injury is testimony to the love of his owner and the cutting-edge experience of the Lee Veterinary and Podiatry Clinic. As for Skeet, he’s doing what he’s always done; he makes plans and continues his mission. Currently, he is working to raise $2,100 to buy another custom saddle, so that more these special needs children can enjoy the thrill of riding a horse. Donations would be welcome; contact Skeet Davis at (251) 401-7978. He and Boomer can be found at 14775 Burnham Road in Grand Bay, Alabama, 36541.
Story and photographs by Janice M. LeCocq, freelance writer and photographer, Century.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 24, 2011
Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest retail shopping day of the year, though last year, Cyber Monday – the Monday after Thanksgiving – officially replaced Black Friday as the most popular shopping day.
Whether in the store or online, the Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida offers advice to help you with your holiday shopping:
- Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.
- Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.
- Advertising can be tricky; don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you expected.
- Credit card offers from a store will offer a discount on your purchase but may also carry high interest rates.
- Keep all receipts and warranty information for each item purchased.
- Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card than a debit card.
- Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges, including whether restocking fees are charged.
- If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.
- Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.
- Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.
- Yelling at store employees and other customers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.
- Credit cards provide the most protection if someone steals the credit card number or if you don’t receive an ordered item.
- You, the customer, are responsible for knowing and understanding each online retailer’s return/exchange policy.
- Beware of deals that sound too good to be true, especially extremely low priced on hard-to-get items.
- Ensure you have the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls installed.
- Read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmation web pages and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
- Only shop on trustworthy sites; look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks.”
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction and when on sites like Craigslist, only shop locally.
- Delete phishing emails such as those claiming a problem with an order or account in an attempt to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.
- Actively keep an eye on your credit card statements to detect suspicious or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
- You are your best protection! Make sure your online purchase is secure by looking for the “s” (https://) in the URL and the “lock” symbol in the lower-right corner before paying.
One Dies In Escambia Apartment Fire
November 24, 2011
An Escambia County man died in Thanksgiving morning apartment fire.
The man was taken to Baptist Hospital after fire in the 200 block of Holmes Drive in the Navy Point area of Gulf Beach Highway. There were two other units in the apartment building that were not damaged by the 7:30 a.m. blaze.
Further details a have not yet been released; the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.
Good Reading: Ernest Ward Eighth Graders Pen Turkey Poems
November 24, 2011
Have you ever thought about Thanksgiving from a turkey’s point of view?
Each year, eighth grade Language Arts students in Somer Bridge’s class at Ernest Ward Middle School are required to write a turkey poem from a turkey’s point of view.
Below are some of the turkey poems from this year.
Viva De La Revolution
By: Brayden Hubbard
Thanksgiving, oh, what a horrendous time.
Turkeys being eaten left and right.
The worst day for the turkey kind,
With no end in sight
As I watch each year in fear.
As they watch their fathers and brothers
Without shedding a tear,
To be cooked and buttered like the others.
But, no more I dare say,
When it is over there will be a jolt.
We have watched too long at bay,
This is the year the turkeys will revolt.
Untitled
By Tamara Barrows
Yo, Yo, my little chick,
The name’s Big Daddy.
Don’t you dare and take a pic,
Cause I’m feeling kinda crabby.
Don’t know what’s gonna happen sooner,
I’m getting sliced up.
Next thing you know I’m dinner,
Look at this tasty lump.
Now I know why,
I’m roasted and cooked.
Any you really can’t lie,
Thanksgiving is always booked!
Proud Turkey
By Zach Glenn
I’m a turkey in a pen.
It’s Thanksgiving time again.
Every year the farmer chooses,
The one who struts is the one that loses!
Still I walk around with pride,
When I should go off and hide.
I’m so big and I’m so fat,
I spread my tail and gobble…what’s that!
I was a turkey in a pen.
I’ll never see Thanksgiving again.
The farmer told me it’s too late…
Now I’m sitting on his plate!
Turkey Day Draws Near
By Bethany Reynolds
The wind is blowing cold
And the leaves are turning brown
I think I am being sold
For about one dollar per pound
I have heard about that dreadful day
With cranberries, stuffing, and pumpkin pie
But I cannot think this way
Because I really don’t want to die!
To live another day, oh my, oh my
I must be brave and face my fear,
I will hold my breath and hope they pass me by
So I can live to see another year!
Trip To Grandma’s More Expensive This Year
November 24, 2011
That Thanksgiving trip to grandma’s house was a little more this expensive year, with gas prices up about 50 cents per gallon over last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $3.27 headed into the Thanksgiving weekend, up from $2.79 last year and just $1.78 three years ago. The increase, for example, would raise the cost of a round trip from North Escambia to Atlanta in an average four-door sedan by about $20.
Around the North Escambia area, that gallon of gas ranged from $3.24 to $3.29 in an informal survey. The lowest Escambia County price on Wednesday afternoon was $3.19 at a station on Blue Angel Parkway.
AAA forecasts 42.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a four percent increase from the 40.9 million people who traveled one year ago. This is the first significant increase in any holiday travel this year. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 23 to Sunday, November 27.
“Driving AAA’s projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years,” said Bill Sutherland, vice president, AAA Travel Services. “As consumers weigh the fear of economic uncertainty and the desire to create lasting family memories this holiday, more Americans are expected to choose family and friends over frugality.”
“This is the first significant increase in any holiday travel this year,” said Sutherland. “Memorial Day travel was statistically flat while Independence Day and Labor Day travel experienced decreases of 2.5 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.”
Approximately 38.2 million people (90 percent of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a four percent increase compared to Thanksgiving 2010 when auto travelers totaled 36.8 million. Automobile travel remains the preferred choice of transportation for holiday travelers as it is often more affordable, convenient and flexible. The current national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is approximately $3.39 per gallon, about 50 cents more than one year ago. However, the national average price is about 60 cents less than this year’s peak price of $3.98 on May 5.
Pictured: A gallon of regular unleaded was $3.29 Wednesday afternoon at this station on Highway 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Congressman Jeff Miller: Thanksgiving Message
November 24, 2011
Throughout a given year, various events take place that remind us at that moment in time how blessed and thankful we are. These moments may be felt during a Sunday morning Church service or in the birth of a grandchild. They may be felt in the laughter of a friend or a hug from a family member. They may be felt at a graduation or a wedding, or even the passing of a loved one or a flag draped over a coffin. No matter how extraordinary or common the event, these moments allow us to take pause and reflect on the things for which we are grateful.
As we gather together with friends and family this Thanksgiving, let us all take time to remember these moments which make America the greatest country on earth, for which we are so very thankful.
We are grateful for a Declaration of Independence that taught us we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights, including “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” We are grateful for a United States Constitution that was created by “We the People” and continues to guide our nation. We are grateful for the freedom to worship in a place of our own choosing and the freedom to speak out and to be heard, no matter the message. We are grateful for the differences among us that make us both unique and American, and for the courage to put aside those differences to rally as a nation when faced with a threat to our livelihood.
We are thankful for a rich history steeped in the traditions of American individualism, intellect, and ingenuity. We are thankful for a culture that rewards hard work with success, risk with reward, and service with gratitude, and for the undying American spirit that drives us to work harder, to achieve more, and to succeed. We are thankful for the countless blessings bestowed by our Creator, forged by our ancestors, and imparted to us to nurture for our children and grandchildren.
We are grateful for the brave men and women who fight for and defend our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the globe as members of our United States Armed Forces. We are grateful for our veterans who served their country, kept us safe, and promoted freedom around the world, and for those who gave their lives in defense of this country, who will never be forgotten.
Finally, we are grateful for a nation that no matter the cost, no matter the struggle, no matter the sacrifice, its people will time and again rise to the occasion and continue to ensure a better world for the next generation of Americans.
In a year full of tribulations and triumph, difficulties at home and victories abroad, we as a country continue to have much for which to be thankful. God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
Schools Donate 21,000 Pounds Of Food To Manna
November 24, 2011
Children and employees across the Escambia County School District recently collected 21,000 pounds of food through the “Help Feed Your Neighbor” program. The initiative helped replenish Manna’s shelves at a time when the pantry is experiencing unprecedented demands in service paired with a decline in donations.
“Once again our employees have gone above and beyond what is asked of them. Their donations, along with the donations of our students and parents, allowed for many of our neighbors to have food on their table during this holiday season,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Manna operates six pantries in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, and distributed 786,092 pounds of food in the last 12 months to 38,825 people. All services are offered free of charge to those in need. In addition, Manna also operates a Gardens Program that is dedicated to helping people learn more about how to be self-sufficient in growing their own food. The Gardens Program supports 18 gardens in schools throughout Escambia County.