Escambia County Offers Cold Weather Safety Tips
December 27, 2010
With our winter weather, Escambia County urges residents to take safety precautions while trying to stay warm, specifically when using space heaters. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the winter months, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.
According to the National Fire Protection Association annual fire department survey, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported home structure fires in the United States in 2006. These fires accounted for 16% of all home fires and were responsible for an estimated 540 deaths, roughly 1,400 injuries and $943 million in direct property damage. With this in mind, Escambia County would like to offer a few safety tips involving heating equipment:
- Properly inspect all heating equipment for frayed cords or exposed elements before use.
- Space heaters need space. Keep heaters at least three feet away from all furniture, drapes, clothing and other combustibles.
- Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances, such as ovens, or any heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
- Only use heaters with safety features such as cut-off switches that turn them off if they accidentally tip over and those units with heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
- Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
- When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
- Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
- If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips
- Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
- Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel as both explode easily.
- Keep the fire in the fireplace with a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
- Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
- Remember it’s always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
- Electric blankets can be a serious fire hazard if defected or used improperly. Check your electric blanket for any damage from fraying, creasing or general wear and tear. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old should be replaced, and never use a wet blanket.
- In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.
Actions should be taken to prepare for this and future cold weather events. Remember the “5 Ps” of cold weather preparedness:
- Protect People
- Protect Plants
- Protect Pets
- Protect Exposed Pipes
- Practice Fire Safety
Photo: Beam Of Light
December 27, 2010
Sunday evening’s sunset provided an interesting display across the North Escambia area with a fiery red beam shooting straight up. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Helpful Hints To Prevent Frozen Pipes
December 26, 2010
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is offering helpful tips to prevent the expense of frozen pipes — especially external, exposed pipes that are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing.
Short Term:
Run a Trickle of Water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run thin trickles of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water, but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to that of repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
Long Term:
The Backflow Preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water lines are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
Disconnect And Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This will prevent the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
For more information visit the ECUA web site @ www.ecua.org, or call Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2010: January, February
December 26, 2010
NorthEscambia.com is looking back at 2010 with our “Year in Review” series. Each day this week, we will review the biggest stories of 2010. Today, we take a look at the biggest stories of January and February.
JANUARY
A fire along the Alabama-Florida line claimed the life of Verda Mae Gandy Abrams, 91. Abrams was unable to escape the blaze at her home on Tulip Street.
Two campers cut off by a rising Escambia River near Molino were rescued at the end of the month — a week after they were stranded.
North Escambia resident Elmira Gandy Crapps turned 103, with congratulations pouring in from friends, family and political leaders.
Thoughts of Spring were in the air as ball registration ended for Century Little League, the Molino Recreation Association and Northwest Escambia Little League.
The battle over consolidation for Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the City of Century continued, with Pensacola voicing opposition in late January and words flying between opposing groups. The plan was presented to the public — a 45-page, 14,426 word document.
Two Jay High School teachers entered no contest pleas to charges that they had inappropriate sexual relationships with underage students at the school.
History came alive through the eyes of students at Ernest Ward Middle School as they displayed weeks of work on projects for National History Day.
A rabies alert that had been in effect for North Escambia for five months expired in January. The alert was issued after several people came into contact with rabid animals.
Angel Mitchell was crowned Miss Northview High School for 2010 in front of a sellout crowd in the school’s theater. First Runner-Up was junior Caitlyn Brown, and Second Runner-Up was Sarah Killam, a junior.
The director of the West Florida Library asked the public to push our local legislative delegation to work to fund a new library in Molino.
January brought good new for Alabama Power customers — rates were headed down. But not for Gulf Power customers — rates were headed up.
Hail, flooding and a few power outages were reported as strong storms moved across the North Escambia area.
The State Attorney’s Office launched a review into the county commission’s rebid process and a meeting between a contractor and Commissioner Gene Valentino. It stemmed from a rebid of a Maplewoods drainage project and meetings around Roads, Inc, the second place bidder.
About 200 health kits were on their way from Molino to Haiti, thanks to the hard work of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and generosity of the North Escambia community.
North Escambia residents were applying in January for Census jobs that paid up to $15 per hour.
Many of Escambia County’s 128 bridges are wooden or have wooden supports, and many are 50 to 70 years old. Eleven are classified as “structurally deficient” and seven are classified as “functionally obsolete”. In January, Escambia County began to look for $96.6 million to replace 103 of those bridges — including 50 bridges in North Escambia — within the next 10 years.
Lows dipped into the teens in January, with local utilities like Escambia River Electric Cooperative setting all-time records for energy demands. Hundreds of families were left in the dark when the high demand caused electric failures.
The No. 1 ranked Alabama football team beat No. 2 Texas in the BCS National Championship game, played in the Rose Bowl, 37-21, winning the 13th national title in school history and first since 1992. With the win, head coach Nick Saban became the fifth coach to bring a national championship to the Capstone.
The Town of Century decided that roads in the town were in terrible shape, and they started worked to develop a priority list for resurfacing some of those streets.
FEBRUARY
Snow! From just a dusting to several inches, February brought record snowfall to the area. NorthEscambia.com published hundreds of reader submitted snow pictures, including this snowman family.
Robert Franklin Floyd, 21, of Jay, was charged with an open count of murder and three counts of attempted murder for the shooting and killing Getyron Lopez Benjamin, 18, of Brewton at a home outside Jay.
Work began in February on a project to resurface 22 miles of Highway 97 between Molino and the Alabama state line, while construction continued on Highway 29 in Century.
Governmental consolidation in Escambia County was pronounced dead. The local legislative delegation failed to send the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission plan toward a referendum or delay action until 2012. That effectively killed consolidation.
The Minority Culture Club at Northview High School celebrated Black History Month during the program “Striving to Help Those In Need”. The students reflected upon the devastation from the earthquake in Haiti, and encouraged Northview students to donate toward the relief effort.
Hundreds of people attended the annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment auction. The auction included not only farm equipment, but household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items and more
Two volunteer firefighters from Cantonment were called heroes after jumping into the cold waters of Jacks Branch to save a woman from a submerged vehicle.
Liberty Counsel announced that it planned to sue the Santa Rosa County School District to allow prayer in the county’s schools. The announcement came a day after a federal judge barred the Christian organization from seeking to overturn a consent decree requiring school officials in Santa Rosa County to stop promoting their personal religious beliefs in public schools.
One Century council member said that faulty equipment was to blame for citizens receiving high gas bills in February, while the town’s mayor says the problem was simple — two weeks of sub-freezing overnight lows in January.
The Town of Century’s dreams of resurfacing every street in town were brought back down to an expensive reality in February with a cost estimate from the town’s engineer — $4.5 million.
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders were named the third best in the nation in their division in the Universal Cheerleaders Association national championships in Orlando in February.The Northview High School Competition Cheerleaders placed eighth in their division.
An elderly Cantonment man was found safe, about 21 hours after he was reported missing following a funeral in Alabama. Clyde Rufus Carroll, 78, was located at about north of Butler Street in Escambia County, Alabama, about 20 miles from Wallace where he was last seen.
Dylan Barnhill, 4, died as the result of a house fire in Atmore.
Jody Posey of Bratt was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing a five-year old North Escambia girl.
A Cantonment church spearheaded a countywide project to provide hope to the families of Haiti, one white 5-gallon bucket of food at a time. It was called “Buckets of Hope”, a program of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Florida Disaster Relief program. The concept was simple — fill a clean 5-gallon bucket with beans, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and other essentials to help earthquake victims.
Over 5,000 pieces of 80-foot long steel pipe were unloaded from railroad cars in Walnut Hill and transported through Atmore and surrounding communities by truck, part of a $2.46 billion Florida Gas Transmission Company project to expand its natural gas pipe system to meet the growing energy needs of the Gulf Coast and Florida.
Local 4-H Member Receives State’s Top Honor
December 26, 2010
Northview sophomore Devin Bell achieved the highest state honor attainable by a 4-H member in recognition of significant accomplishments in the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program when he was named a delegate to the 89th National 4-H Conference in Atlanta.
Bell, a member of the Northview 4-H Club, recently received the honor after a preliminary application process that highlights the achievements, leadership, and involvement of the applicant in the 4-H Youth Development Program and community, followed by an interview with a 4-H State Interview Committee.
“To be accepted as a 4-H National Congress Delegate is an honor, and the Northview 4-H Club is extremely proud to have another 4-H member to add to this prestigious list. Northveiw 4-H Club now has a total of four 4-H youth that have been selected as National 4-H Congress delegates over the past four years,” said Kay Brown, Escambia County 4-H leader.
Bell, who is from Century, is very active in public speaking, livestock, swine, mechanical science, leadership and citizenship projects. He presented speeches at County, District, and State 4-H contests. Devin was very active at the Pensacola Fair with the Steer Show and club and individual exhibits. He serves as the Vice President for the County 4-H Council and District 4-H Council, and he has been active at State 4-H Legislature and State 4-H Congress. Bell recently received the Escambia County 4-H top two most prestigious awards, the Langley Bell 4-H Award and the Senior 4-H’er of the Year Award.
The National 4-H Congress provided an opportunity for 4-H delegates from all across the country to gather and learn about community involvement, culture diversity, and service to others. During the 4-H Congress experience, Devin Bell, along with Extension educators, 4-H adult volunteers, and 4-H youth explored current youth issues and determined the most effective ways to address them. These 4-H youth participated in educational, recreational, and networking opportunities and learned from the nation’s most outstanding community leaders, speakers, and educators who presented or facilitated plenary sessions, seminars, discussions groups, and service learning opportunities.
“Accept the Challenge,” this year’s conference theme, brought together more than 1,000 outstanding 4-H members, adult 4-H volunteer leaders and 4-H Youth Development Educators from throughout the country and territories. These teens were challenged by motivational speakers from across the nation, including Miss America 2009, Katie Stam of Indiana. Through workshops, hands-on seminars, cultural programs, team building and field trips, 4-H members had an opportunity to expand their horizons and further develop their leadership skills.
Florida’s Budget Hole Now At Least $3.5 Billion
December 26, 2010
Florida’s budget shortfall hit at least $3.5 billion last week as analysts dialed-back the state’s revenue forecast, saying sluggish tax collections and a still-faltering economy are complicating the balancing act facing Gov.-elect Rick Scott and legislators.
This year’s collections shrunk by $585.7 million, while next year’s forecast was trimmed by $612.2 million, with sales-tax and corporate income tax declines leading the retreat. Reserves are available to patch this year’s reduction, although once they do, the state’s rainy day fund will dwindle to a meager $249 million at mid-budget year.
Amy Baker, executive director of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, and part of the four-member panel that made Tuesday’s forecast, blamed the scale-back on a slower-than-expected economic recovery for Florida.
“Long-term I don’t think our view has changed, I think we’re all optimistic, but over the next 18 months, things are quite a bit slower…than we anticipated,” Baker said.
In its summer meeting, the same Revenue Estimating Conference warned state lawmakers that tax dollars were pointing to a likely $2.5 billion budget shortfall. But the latest findings deepen that hole by at least another $1 billion, Baker said.
Sales taxes – which amount to almost three-quarters of Florida’s tax collections – have been falling short of expectations, forcing economists to reduce forecasts by more than $800 million this year and next. Corporate income tax, which Scott wants to eliminate over the next seven years – also has failed to meet expectations – resulting in a combined $234 million forecast reduction this year and in 2011.
Compounding the budget woes: Costs are going up.
“Today’s revenue numbers didn’t make legislators’ jobs any easier,” said David Bishop, a spokesman for Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island. “But everything, with the exception of raising taxes, is on the table.”
Medicaid expenses – already in line to climb by $2 billion over this year – will likely tick upwards another $300 million as more Floridians lose jobs and health benefits because of the state’s faltering economy, analysts said earlier this month. Declining property values have prompted a $150 million drop in anticipated school tax collections even as forecasters reported this week that enrollment is on track to hit a six-year high in 2011-12.
Reaction from those faced with crafting a budget next year was swift – but sketchy.
House budget chief Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, said, “we will take a close look at Florida’s budget to determine how to best allocate our limited resources. Each year we face difficult choices as we move through the appropriations process.”
A spokesman for Scott also said that the drop in available dollars also didn’t shake the incoming governor’s push to cut $1.4 billion in property taxes and eliminating the corporate income tax.
“He’s looking at all options,” said Trey Stapleton of Scott’s transition office. “But if you make a commitment in the campaign, you stand by it.”
Analysts late last month signaled the bad news when they revamped their forecast for the state’s overall economy. But their generally tepid evaluation of such state drivers as housing and unemployment did include some glimmers of hope.
While Scott during his campaign promised to add 700,000 jobs to Florida’s economy, forecasters actually said that should be relatively easy to achieve – predicting an additional 1 million jobs likely over the next seven years, partially fueled by the draw of rising state population.
Unemployment, though, now close to 12 percent, is expected to remain in double digits until the second quarter of 2012, analysts said.
Analysts Tuesday said the downsized tax collections also will endure. Revenue levels are not anticipated to exceed those of 2005 – the height of the state’s housing boom – until 2013.
By John Kennedy, The News Service Florida
Featured Recipe: Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pork
December 26, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a “Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pork”, a simple toss it all into the Crock-pot and forget it for five hours perfect pork.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
2010’s Best Photos: January And February
December 26, 2010
All this week, we are looking back at some of our favorite and most interesting photos of 2010. Today, we are featuring photos from January and February.
Our favorite snow picture from February, 2010: Bethel UMC on Highway 21 near I-65.
It was COLD in January. The photo above shows a cup of hot coffee sitting on a frozen pool.
First Runner-Up Caitlyn Brown, Miss Northview High School Angel Mitchell, Second Runner-Up Sarah Killam.
A Pinewood Derby at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
Second Runner-Up Morgan Ward, First Runner-up Kaitlyn Abbot, Junior Miss EWMS Allison Woodfin and Third Runner-up Mariah Albritton.
Residents gathered in Century to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rachel, Zachary, Austin and Cody in front of an icy scene in Cantonment.
FEBRUARY
The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA presented the second annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” to Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis.
A Cantonment driver crashed through the guardrail on this bridge over Jacks Branch, crashing about 25 feet into the water below. She was evaluated on scene by EMS but not transported to the hospital.
February snow in Atmore.
February snow at Little River State Park.
This group, including some North Escambia residents, built “FROSTYKONGZILLA” in Uriah, Alabama.
The driver of this truck was not seriously injured in a collision with a train in Flomaton, Alabama.
Bratt native Candi Pearson-Shelton was among friends, family and fans with a concert and book tour stop in Atmore.
Our photo of a mystery object glowing in the woods of Bluff Springs gained a little national attention. Deputies and firemen unable to identify the object from outside the woods and followed protocol. The object was not an alien probe as some news organizations theorized, but rather a mosquito trap.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Christmas Wishes Really Do Come True
December 25, 2010
Christmas wishes do come true. The Bush family’s Christmas wish last year was simple — a cure for Olivia.
We first introduced you to Olivia Bush, 7, in December 2009 in a story titled “A Christmas Wish: A Cure For Olivia”.
Olivia Bush’s story started July 22, 2003, almost four months before there should have been a first chapter in her life. Born at just 22 weeks, she weighed only one pound six ounces. She stayed in the NICU three and half months, defying doctors and coming home two weeks before her due date. Olivia is the second youngest baby to ever survive at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Now, she is blind, able to see just a little light with her left eye. And she suffered frequent seizures — until a portion of her brain was removed in February of this year at Miami Children’s Hospital. During the surgery, doctors removed a seven centimeter portion of her brain — basically taking out the bad, non-functioning portion and leaving behind the good, healthy tissue.
This Christmas, Olivia has been seizure free for a year.
“What better of a Christmas present could we ask for? It has been such a wonderful year! We have been able to just enjoy Olivia and not worry,” mom Amber Bush said on Olivia’s CaringBridge page. “I am so thankful that God put in our hearts to try Miami and just see if they could offer anything else to us. I am also thankful that God saw fit to take the seizures away!”
To read some of our previous stories about Olivia, click below.
- Miracle Girl, Miracle League (Oct. 18, 2010)
- Olivia’s Story: The Littlest Girl’s Biggest Birthday (July 25, 2010)
- Olivia Heading Home To North Escambia After Brain Surgery (Feb. 13, 2010)
- Olivia’s Super Sunday In Miami (Feb. 7, 2010)
- A Christmas Wish: A Cure for Olivia (Dec. 4, 2009)
Pictured: Olivia Bush’s 2010 Christmas photo.
Merry Christmas! The Story Of The Greatest Gift Of All
December 25, 2010
It’s the greatest story we have ever reported here on NorthEscambia.com, and it is the greatest story that we will ever report. It’s a story that happened over 2,000 years ago today, but it is also a story that impacts each of our lives each and every day here in North Escambia.
Our lead story today is one 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 so that we might all have 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. 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.