No Injuries As Early Morning Fire Prompts Evacuation At Century Care Center
November 28, 2010
An early Sunday morning fire prompted an evacuation at Century Care Center, but caused little damage.
The nursing facility reported smoke and flames from a clothes dryer just after 1 a.m. The fire was extinguished a short time later.
The fire was limited to the gas clothes dryer in the laundry room, while smoke from the fire was contained to the center wing of the building.
Residents of the facility were evacuated to the parking lot as temperatures hovered in the upper 30’s. The patients were moved back indoors to the smoke-free north and south wings of the building by 1:40 a.m.
There were no injuries; all residents were reported to be in good condition.
The Century, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Flomaton Fire Department responded to the blaze.
Cut Your Own: Local Christmas Tree Farm
November 28, 2010
Many area residents will enjoy Christmas tradition again this year with a fresh, locally grown Christmas tree. The Country Pine Christmas Tree Farm near Bratt is now open daily until Christmas.
“You come here for the old time experience,” said farm owner Andy Bogdan. “This is so much more than just a plastic tree.”
Visitors to the Christmas tree farm stroll around the trees, which are located in an “L” shape field around a scenic pond with a fountain and ducks. Once the perfect tree is found, visitors can cut their own tree with a supplied saw, or have Bogdan cut it down.
The tree is then shaken to remove any loose needles (and bugs), then it’s ready to head home or it can be bagged for easier transport.
During the “experience”, visitors can also enjoy free cookies, apple juice, candy canes for the kids and lots of Christmas music. “The kids can run and play, and have the time of their lives looking for just the right tree,” Bogdan said.
Tree varieties include Virginia Pines, Leylend Cypress and Carolina Sapphires. If you have allergies, he said the Leylend Cypress is the perfect tree. It will not drop needles and has virtually no smell. The Carolina Sapphire has an intriguing aroma that is a mix of lemon, lime and mint. The Virginia Pine has that classic pine Christmas tree smell.
True fresh cut trees cut on the farm will last from before Thanksgiving until well after Christmas, Bogdan said.
Country Pine Christmas Tree Farm is one of the few remaining Christmas tree farms in Northwest Florida or South Alabama, and is the only one in the immediate area. There were a few more prior to hurricane Ivan and Dennis, Bogdan said, but most did not survive.
“You had the direct damage from the wind,” he said. “Then you have the delayed die back from damage to the trees. Exotic bugs and fungus that were not here before were blown in, and trees around here had no resistance.”
“”The trees have had good growth since the hurricane. An average seven or eight foot tall Christmas tree will grow from a seedling in about four years. “They grow much faster here in the South than they do up north,” he said.
With a little straightening and tender loving care, Bogdan’s trees post-hurricane are ready for a living room and a visit from Santa. Prices vary depending on the variety of tree and height, ranging from $18 to $50.
Bogdan and his wife moved to the Davisville area from Miami after he retired from Eastern Airlines. He was looking for a little something to do in his retirement and settled on Christmas tree farmer over 10 years ago.
“I’d never farmed before, but ended up with a Christmas tree farm,” he said. “But it’s a nice business. It’s not like being a doctor or a lawyer where people you deal with are not happy. At a Christmas tree farm, everybody is happy when they come here.”
For more photos from the Christmas tree farm, click here.
The Country Pine Christmas Tree Farm is located at 5001 Still Road, just south of Highway 4. A map is at the bottom of this page. The farm is open 9 a.m. until dark daily. Trees range is size from table-top to 12 feet. (850) 327-4600.
Pictured top: A few of the trees at the Country Pine Christmas Tree Farm near Bratt. Pictured middle: At the Christmas tree farm, you can use one of their saws to cut your own tree. Pictured below: The Country Pine Christmas Tree Farm stand with tree accessories plus goodies like free apple juice, cookies and candy canes for the kids. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Video Highlights: Northview Beats Freeport For Regional Title
November 28, 2010
Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s win Friday night over Freeport.
For game details, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story.
(If you don’t see the video, it is because a setting at your home, work or school firewall or computer is blocking YouTube videos.)
Escambia K-9 Cops Certified
November 28, 2010
Three members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit recently participated in the United States Police Canine Association National Field Trials in Louisiana. Over 100 handlers from across the country participated in the trials.
Deputy Wayne Gulsby, Deputy Patrick Crossley and Lt. Jason Potts all received their certification from the United States Police Canine Association. In the agility section of the competition, Deputy Gulsby and K9 Miso finished in fourth place and Lt. Jason Potts and K9 Askan finished fifth. Lt. Jason Potts also finished in fourth place overall in search work and fourth place overall in the entire certification.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wayne Gulsby and Miso perform a drug search at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Jay Celebrates With Christmas Parade, Festival
November 28, 2010
The annual Jay Historical Society Christmas Festival and the Jay Christmas Parade were held Saturday.
The parade featured about two dozen units, including bands from Jay and Central high schools. The Christmas Festival included live entertainment, photos with Santa, a pet contest and vendors that displayed their wares all day.
For a photo gallery from both events, click here.
Pictured above and below: Scenes from the annual Jay Christmas Parade Saturday morning. Submitted photos by Angi Baker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County’s Citizen Environmental Committee Seeks Volunteers
November 28, 2010
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking volunteers to serve on its Citizen Environmental Committee. The Committee provides input on environmental issues throughout the County. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the new Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place.
The Committee consists of 11 members, with two members appointed by each county commissioner and one member appointed by the county administrator. The terms of office for members selected by a county commissioner run concurrent with that commissioner’s term of office.
The term of the member selected by the county Administrator runs for one year. Members must be a resident of Escambia County.
Anyone interested in serving on the committee should submit a copy of their resume and a letter of interest to Shirley Gafford, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502. All resumes are subject to a public records request.
Featured Recipe: Those Potatoes
November 28, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a “Those Potatoes”, a recipe with a mild-mannered name that has plenty of mealtime punch with creamy richness and pepper jack punch.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Northview Chiefs Win Regional Championship
November 27, 2010
The Northview Chiefs made school history Friday night as the only team to ever bring home a Regional title. And for the Chiefs, the victory was also sweet revenge over Freeport, the only team to beat the Chiefs this season.
In the Regional 1-A finals, Northview (11-1) defeated Freeport (9-3) 21-12 to advance to the state semi-finals next week in Jacksonville.
“I can’t put into words how proud I am of this group,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said. “They went on the road to a tough place to play and a tough place to win. It was a huge win, a huge win for this football program.”
Less than a minute into the game at Freeport Stadium, Northview’s Taylor Martin picked off a Bulldog pass, returning it 35 yards. With a good kick from Lance Bushaw, the Chiefs held 7-0 lead with 11:12 to go in the first quarter.
“Taylor Martin’s interception was really, really big for us,” Wheatley said. “It was a really big boost for us and a good way to start a game.”
Freeport answered with a four-play, 70 yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs missed the extra point kick, and the Chiefs held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, the Chiefs drove hard on 16 plays for 62 yards, all the way down to fourth and goal from the Freeport four. Roderick Woods, who ended the night with 80 yards on 17 carries, plowed in for the touchdown. Bushaw put the pigskin through the uprights again, and the Chiefs held a 14-6 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, La’Mikal Kyles was in the end zone in the fourth on a 43-yard dash through the Bulldog defense. Bushaw’s kick was once again good, and Northview was up 21-6 with 10:40 in the ballgame.
Freeport managed a two-yard touchdown run with 9:03 to go in the fourth.
Neither team could find the end zone on the following downs, and Northview sealed win with a big interception by Kyles with 1:49 remaining in the game. Kyles finished the game with 86 yards on a dozen carries.
“I thought we played extremely well on both sides of the ball. The defense made stops when we needed to, and the offense was able to produce enough points,” Wheatley said.
Northview will be on the road next week in the state semi-finals in Jacksonville to take on top-ranked Trinity Christian at 6:30 p.m. Central time. The winner of that game will be in the Class 1A state championship game in Orlando on December 10.
“It’s going to get tougher,” Wheatley said. “But we are in a routine, and we will continue to work to stand up to the challenge.”
Trinity Christian earned their trip to the semis with a 42-41 triple overtime win over Providence of Jacksonsville Friday night.
Pictured top: Northview defender Tyler Brooks closes in on the Bulldog’s quarterback Friday night in Freeport. Pictured top inset: La’Mikal Kyles scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter. Pictured bottom inset: Taylor Martin returns an interception 35 years to put Northveiw on the board. Pictured below: The Chiefs score. Submitted photos and courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Young Boy Dies After Molino Horse Riding Accident
November 27, 2010
An 11-year old boy died after a horse riding accident Friday morning in Molino.
The victim was identified by authorities as Ransom Middle School student Hunter Fromm.
Authorities have released few details about the 11:15 a.m. incident in the 1200 block of Warhop Lane, not far from the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 95A. Fromm reportedly suffered a head injury after jumping from a horse at a private residence.
LifeFlight was requested to the scene but was unavailable due to weather. Fromm was transported to a Pensacola hospital by ambulance where he later died.
The incident is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but foul play is not suspected.
Man Killed When Tractor Overturns
November 27, 2010
A man was found dead under a tractor Friday afternoon in the Nine Mile Road area.
Authorities have not released the name of the man that was found dead under a tractor off a cul-de-sac at the end of Brunson Road about 1:30 p.m. He was reportedly last seen about an hour before he was discovered trapped under the tractor. Officials have not released any information about how the accident happened, other than to say the tractor rolled on top of the man.
The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.