Beulah Fest Continues Today
March 19, 2011
Beulah Fest will continue today at the Escambia County Equestrian Center with headliner acts Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw, and John Michael Montgomery.
The festival features not only great music, but plenty of fun, rides, and of course those delicious sausages. The 25th annual Beulahfest attracts thousands each year, with proceeds benefiting the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department and other local charities.
The event takes place at the Escambia County Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway. For more info: 944-3167, or visit www.beulahfest.com. Tickets are $12 each, with free admission for children 8 and under.
Here is today’s schedule:
- 6:00pm – 7:30pm – Sammy Kershaw
- 8:00pm – 9:00pm – Cheyenne
- 9:30pm – 11:00pm – John Michael Montgomery
Volunteer Fireman Sentenced On Child Abuse Charge, Sex Charge Dropped
March 19, 2011
A former Century volunteer fireman entered into a plea agreement Friday on one count of child abuse, with the state dropping a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a victim 12 to 15 years of age.
Dustin Ryan Burkett, 28, was arrested in September, 2010, in connection with a 2009 incident in which a 15-year old girl told deputies she had intercourse with Burkett at Lake Stone Campground in Century. The encounter, the victim told deputies, took place on or about March 28, 2009.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, Burkett was sentenced Friday to five years probation on a felony child abuse charge. He will not be required to register as a sex offender, but he will be required to attend counseling, the State Attorney’s Office said.
An unrelated misdemeanor case against Burkett is still pending for allegedly abandoning three dogs that were reported to be “rescued” by the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue in August, 2010.
Tate High Sexual Assault Suspect, 16, Ordered Held Until Trial
March 19, 2011
The 16-year old accused of the sexual assault of a another student at Tate High School will remain in custody until his trial next month.
Friday, Judge Ross Goodman ordered Raymond Eugene Teamer held by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice until his April 13 trial date. He is charged with felony sexual battery and indecent exposure. Teamer remains suspended from Tate and faces potential expulsion.
According to the arrest report, Teamer exposed his genitals to at least four people while attending a class at Tate High School on March 1. He is also accused of grabbing a 14-year-old female by the neck and forcing her head down into his bare crotch.
Former Molino Resident Dies In Walton County Crash
March 19, 2011
A former Molino resident died Friday in a single vehicle accident near Paxton in Walton County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Edward Floyd Thurston, Jr., 50, was westbound on a county road at 1:21 p.m. when he traveled into the path of an eastbound vehicle. When he swerved to avoid a collision, he struck a wooden trash can holder on the roadside with his 1994 Dodge 1500 and lost control. His truck partially overturned.
Thurston was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the FHP.
Lady Chiefs Beat Freeport; Doran Pitches No Hitter; Freeport Boys Down NHS
March 19, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Freeport Friday at Bratt.
Misty Doran pitched a seven inning no hitter for the Chiefs while allowing two walks and striking out four. She was also 1-2 at bat. Other Northview hitters were Shawna Montgomery 3-3 with a triple, Haley Simpson 1-2 with a triple, Sara Killam 1-3 and Kara Hardin 1-3.
Northview (7-7, 4-2) will host Flomaton on Tuesday, March 22. The JV will play at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00.
BASEBALL
Freeport 2 Northview 0
The varsity boys Northview Chiefs lost a district game to Freeport on the road Friday, 2-0. The Chiefs will be in action again Tuesday on the road against Pensacola Christian.
Photo Gallery: Kids Celebrate Camp Fire’s 101st Birthday
March 19, 2011
The children at Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center celebrated Camp Fire’s 101st birthday Friday. The children made birthday hats and paraded around the center while singing “Happy Birthday”. They wrapped up the celebration with red, white and blue cupcakes.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Officials Urge Public To Burn With Caution And Care
March 19, 2011
Officials with Florida Division of Forestry’s Blackwater District are urging residents in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties to use caution if they decide to burn yard waste in the near future.
While there currently are no burn bans in our area, some cities and municipalities prohibit outdoor burning or require a special permit. If you are not certain about burning in your area, check with the Division of Forestry office by calling (850) 957-6145 and listen to the requirements and restrictions when prompted.
Click the graphic to enlarge and see setback requirements for burning.
Some tips and requirements to keep in mind before you burn yard waste include:
- Legal burning hours are between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset.
- It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticide, paint and aerosol containers.
- Piles greater than 8 feet in diameter will require an authorization from the Division of Forestry.
- Clear down to bare, mineral soil around your pile to prevent the fire from spreading.
- Don’t burn on windy days.
- Never leave a fire unattended – even for a moment. One gust of wind can cause a fire to escape.
- Grass fires can spread quickly. Be prepared. Keep handy a water hose, shovel or other means to put out the fire.
- Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving it – no smoke and no heat.
- If your fire escapes, call for help quickly. Several minutes may pass before a fire department or the Division of Forestry can arrive on scene.
- If your fire escapes, you might be held liable for the cost of suppression and damages to the property of others.
Minimum required setbacks to legally burn yard waste:
- 25 feet from any forested area (grasslands, brush or other wildlands).
- 25 feet from your home or other combustible structure.
- 50 feet from any paved or public roadway.
- 150 from any occupied dwelling other than your own home.
Fog Again Tonight, Mid 80’s Sunday
March 19, 2011
Fog is possible again tonight and Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon, it will be sunny and warm with highs in the middle 80’s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Interested In Becoming A Northview Cheerleader?
March 19, 2011
Any girl attending Northview High School next year that is interested in trying out for cheerleading should attended an informational meeting next week.
The meeting will be held Monday, March 21 at 5:30 in the Northview High School Cafeteria. If interested but unable to attend, call Mrs. Barry or Mrs. Carroll at the school or call (850) 327-6681.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Turning Brown: How To Help Your Palm Recover From The Cold
March 19, 2011
Many varieties of palms across the North Escambia area are brown and sometimes even dead in appearance following our extremely cold weather earlier this year. Drs. Monica Elliott and Tim Broschat from the University of Florida provide the following tips on how to cope with damaged palms:
Patience is essential with cold-damaged palms! If the palm leaf has any green tissue remaining, the leaf should not be removed until later in the year. Leaving damaged leaves on the palm during the remainder of the winter may actually help the palm survive future cold events. Once the palm has produced substantial new growth (2 to 3 new leaves), damaged leaf tissue can then be removed.
All new leaves of a palm develop from the apical meristem or bud located in the crown of the plant. It is the bud that really needs to be protected. Leaf bases naturally provide insulating protection to the bud. This natural protection is one reason not to over trim palms at any time of the year.
As warmer weather returns, primary or secondary plant pathogens often attack stressed plants through the cold damaged tissue. Copper fungicides are recommended as an attempt (not a guarantee) to protect the bud and developing leaves from diseases that may attack damaged leaf tissue. There is no research to confirm if this is effective or not. The recommendation is based on what has been observed regarding cold damage to palms and knowledge of fungicides. In most situations, it is the base of the spear leaf not yet emerged from the whorl of leaf bases that is damaged first, leading to a spear rot, which may then lead to a bud rot. Thus, the goal of a copper fungicide is to prevent this spear rot from developing into a bud rot that kills the bud, and thus the palm.
Copper fungicides are recommended over all other group of fungicides because they have broad activity against both bacteria and fungi. No other fungicides have this broad spectrum of activity. You must have complete coverage of the target tissue to be effective – in this case, the base of the spear leaf and the bud. This is more difficult to accomplish in some palm species than others, particularly those with crown shafts, because the leaf bases tightly surround the emerging spear leaf, preventing movement of a fungicide into the bud region.
If the spear leaf does rot and can be easily pulled from the bud, it should be removed immediately, followed by a copper fungicide spray or drench of the bud region, which is now exposed.
The normal recommendation is to apply the copper fungicides no more than twice because of the possibility of copper phytotoxicity. If it is believed that more chemical protection of the bud is needed after the copper fungicides have been applied, a broad-spectrum contact fungicide may be beneficial.
You will not know if the palm has survived the cold until new growth emerges, which may be 4 to 7 months later. Hence, the need for patience! The new growth may be severely malformed or damaged, but the emergence of any living leaf tissue is a sign the palm is alive. Subsequent leaves will gradually improve in quality, but it may take as long as a year before normal leaves emerge.