Ball Registration: Molino, Cantonment, Century, Atmore, Miracle League
February 11, 2012
Baseball and softball registrations will continue today for Molino, Century, Cantonment, Atmore and the Pensacola Miracle League. Today is the final day of registration for the Pensacola Miracle League and Atmore. Details for each are below.
Molino Ballpark registration will be held every Saturday until February 18 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Don Sutton Ballpark. Cost is $50 for the first child, $45 for the second and $40 for the third from the same family. A copy of the child’s birth certificate should be brought to registration. Ages 3-16.
Cantonment Baseball and Softball registration will he held every Saturday until February 18 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Cantonment Ballpark, 681 Well Line Road.
Ages 4 and up. Registration is $80 for the first child, $70 for the second, $60 for the third and additional child per family.
Teams include:
- T-ball 4-6
- Coach Pitch 7-8
- Minors 9-10
- Majors 11-12
- Pony 13-14
Girls’ softball is returning for 15-18 year olds. (Those interested would need to attend a board meeting at 6:30 on Tuesday nights at the park). For more information, call Amy Johnson at (850) 982-6676 or email jacccc6@yahoo.com.
Century League registration for baseball, softball, pre-t and t-ball will be held each Saturday in February from 10 a.m. until noon for ages 3-18 at Showalter Park. The cost is $45 for the first child, $40 for the second sibling and $35 for the third. A birth certificate copy should be brought to registration.
Pensacola Miracle League registration will be held from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, February 11 at the ballpark, 500 East Nine Mile Road across from Hillcrest Baptist Church. The season begins Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 and continues for six weeks. Friday night games will be under the lights. “Buddies” are also needed for the kids. More info: miracleleaguepensacola.org
Atmore Babe Ruth Softball — Tryouts will be Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the softball fields at Tom Byrne Park. Players may register on the day of tryouts. The registration fee will be $45 for one child and $40 each for the second and additional children. A copy of the player’s birth certification should be brought to registration.
Saturday Is The Deadline For Public Comment On Molino FSA Office Closure
February 11, 2012
Today is the deadline for the public to comment on the proposed closure of the Molino Farm Services Agency office.
The Molino FSA Office administers farm commodities, crop insurance, credit, environmental conservation and emergency assistance for farmers and ranchers in Escambia County. On January 9, the USDA announced the proposed closure of the office, forcing the farmers to drive to Milton or Brewton for FSA services.
Tim Manning, FSA state executive director, said that offices with two or less employees and offices that were located within 20 miles of another office were targeted for closure. Manning (pictured left) said that on December 23, the day chosen as a “snapshot” of the Molino office, it met both criteria for closure.
But multiple farmers and producers were quick to point out that it is more than 20 miles to drive from Molino, or areas like Walnut Hill or Nokomis, to the FSA office in Milton because of limited routes across the Escambia River. And the criteria for two or fewer employees, many producers said, was met only because a third employee in the office had recently retired.
The major savings from closing the Molino Farm Service Agency will be about $16,000 per year in rent to the Escambia County Farm Bureau for office space along with telephone service. All other utilities are included in the monthly rent.
The Farm Service Agency will continue to accept written comments from the public concerning the Molino office closure through today . Comments can be emailed to mark.cotrell@fl.usda.gov or submitted by mail. To download a comment form, click here.
To read about a recently public meeting on the closure, click here.
Escambia Crime: Walmart Robbery, Teen Surrenders After Burglary, Two Gas Stations Robbed
February 11, 2012
Here is a look at crime across Escambia County on Friday, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office:
Walmart Robbery
Deputies arrested David Calland, 21, for robbery of an individual about 1 p.m. Friday at Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway. The suspects fled the scene as deputies arrived. Sheriff’s deputies gave chase, with the suspects abandoning their vehicle at Leyte Drive and Navy Boulevard and fled on foot. Calland was arrested while a female in the vehicle was questioned.
The victim of the robbery said she was exiting the Wal-Mart with her wallet in hand when Calland jumped on her back and took her wallet. A bystander gave chase and tackled Calland in the parking lot causing him to drop the wallet.
Teen Turns Himself In After Burglary
A Pensacola teenager was arrested on burglary charges after he called the Escambia Sheriff’s Office and turned himself in after being chased by the victim of the burglary.
Jalen Lawrence Foster, 16, was charged with burglarizing a vehicle. The victim told deputies that he heard load noises about 3:00 a.m. Friday in his driveway. As Corbitt walked outside, he observed two black males inside his vehicle and two black males inside his wife’s vehicle. Corbitt yelled at the suspects, at which time all four suspects ran and got into a white Mazda Tribute and fled.
Corbitt followed the suspects in his vehicle to the area of the Montclair Subdivision. The driver then stopped the vehicle and all four suspects fled on foot in different directions.
Moments later, Foster, called the Sheriff’s Office wanting to turn himself in. Upon talking with deputies, Foster gave them information that led to his arrest.
Deputies also discovered the vehicle the suspects had fled in was stolen from the 9400 block of Wanda Drive earlier in the night. Foster was subsequently charged
with grand theft auto in that case.
Gunman Robs Circle K
Just before 1 a.m. Friday, a black male wearing a bright orange ski mask, entered the Circle K at 2350 West Michigan Avenue and robbed the clerk at gunpoint.
According to the clerk, the suspect entered the store wearing an orange ski mask, black long sleeve shirt, dark blue board shorts, black and white gloves and black
tennis shoes. The suspect, armed with a silver revolver, pointed the gun at the clerk and demanded money. The clerk gave the gunman an undetermined amount of
money from the register. The gunman then fled the store on foot heading east from the store.
Gunman Robs Murphy Gas Station
An unknown black male robbed the Murphy Gas Station at 690 North Navy Boulevard in the early morning hours Friday. Deputies say the suspect entered the store at about 2 a.m. and asked the clerk for directions to a 24-hour “spice” store. The suspect left after the clerk gave him directions.
“The suspect returned moments later and told the clerk he was with some big guys that were in the car outside and he was with a gang. The suspect then demanded money from the clerk,” according to Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesperson for the Sheriffs’ Office.
The suspect fled the store with an undetermined amount of money from the register in a red, two-toned car. A description of the suspect was not available.
Ernest Ward Holds Valentine’s Dance, Names Court (With Photo Gallery)
February 11, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
Eighth grader Jessica Barrows was named queen, and Gavin Grant was named king. From the seventh grade, McKensie Colvin was named maiden, and Dustin Bethea was named knight. Sixth grade maiden was Raegen Harrell and sixth grade knight was Micheal “MJ” Jones.
For a photo gallery with the complete court, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R) Ernest Ward Middle School Valentine’s Dance sixth grade Maiden Raegen Harrell and Knight Micheal “MJ” Jones, King Gavin Grant, Queen Jessica Barrows, and eighth grade Knight Dustin Bethea and Maiden McKensie Colvin. Pictured below: King Gavin Grant and Queen Jessica Barrows NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: Tackle Existing Weeds And Build A Lawn Defense
February 11, 2012
Just look around and you will probably notice a lot of green lawns. But, its early February, shouldn’t the lawns be brown?
Winter weeds are creating a field of green in many local lawns. Vetch, chickweed, annual bluegrass, henbit and clovers are growing rampantly in many lawns. Unless you do something about these weeds now, your weed problem will only get worse. February is the time to take the offensive against lawn weeds.
Grow a Healthy Lawn
The first and best method of weed control begins with proper management practices that encourage a dense, thriving turf. Healthy turf shades the soil so sunlight can’t reach weed seeds that are ready to germinate. A thick turf also minimizes the physical space available for weeds to become established. Proper mowing, fertilizing and watering will promote a healthy, dense grass.
Control Existing Weeds
Control existing winter weeds by either hand-pulling or treating with post-emergence herbicides. Be sure to choose herbicides that will control the weeds you have and will be safe to use on the type of lawn grass you grow. It’s best to spot treat the weeds, if possible. Since most people have temporarily stored their lawn mowers, the winter weeds have ample leaf area to absorb the herbicide for effective control.
For help choosing the right product, contact your local Extension Office. They may ask for samples of the weeds to ensure that you have identified them properly.
Prevent Future Weeds
Now is also the time to apply pre-emergence herbicides to prevent annual summer weeds, such as crabgrass, spurges, etc., from infesting the lawn through the spring and summer.
Pre-emergence herbicides must be applied prior to weed seed germination. Applications should be between February 15 and March 5 or when day temperatures reach 65° to 70°F for four to five consecutive days. This generally coincides with the blooming of azaleas and dogwoods.
Pre-emergence herbicides work by creating a chemical barrier in the soil/thatch layer. Therefore, uniform coverage is necessary for optimum control. Large gaps in the herbicide-treated zone can result in weeds popping up.
Pre-emergence herbicides are generally effective in controlling weeds from six to twelve weeks following application. Most will begin to degrade when exposed to the environment. Therefore, to obtain season-long control, an additional application should follow six to nine weeks after the initial one.
Some pre-emergence herbicides to look for include dithiopyr (Sta-Green Crab-Ex or Vigoro Crabgrass & Weed Preventer) or pendimethalin (Lesco PRE-M or Scotts Halts).
With any pesticide, you should always READ THE LABEL carefully and completely before applying. The herbicide label will provide a list of where it can safely be applied and the weed species the active ingredient will control and at what rate.
What about Fertilizer?
It is still too early to apply a nitrogen-containing fertilizer on our mostly dormant lawns in Northwest Florida. Adding nitrogen now fertilizes your existing weeds. It may also stimulate the grass which makes it more susceptible to winter kill when/if we get our next cold snap. In general, it’s best to apply your herbicides separately from fertilizers.
Wait until April to fertilize your lawn or until you’ve mowed twice because of grass growth. In the meantime, get a soil test done so that you will have a better idea of the type of fertilizer to use.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Hard Freeze Watch Issued
February 10, 2012
There is a hard freeze watch in effect for Saturday night, with lows forecast to drop to the lower 20’s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers. Patchy fog before midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy, with a north wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values between 10 and 20 early. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday: Scattered showers. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Three Arrested After Narcotics Unit Executes Search Warrant
February 10, 2012
Three Century residents — a mother and her two sons — were arrested Thursday night after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit served a drug-related search warrant in Century.
The search warrant was executed about 7:30 p.m. at a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4 near the Century Care Center nursing home. Investigators reported finding powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana inside the mobile home.
Karen Louise Quinley, 43, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and destruction of evidence. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $26,000. Cortez Rasheen Davison, 18, was charged with cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $10,500. Nakeetric Devonte Davison, 19, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $15,500. All three remained behind bars early Friday morning.
Thursday night was not the first time the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit has targeted alleged drug activity at the trailer. No one was home as officers executed a search warrant at the same mobile home in June 2010, finding a stem of marijuana in a bedroom, crack cocaine on the kitchen table, a razor blade with cocaine residue, a marijuana cigarette and digital scales during their search, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
Quinley was arrested on multiple charges following the 2010 search, but charges against her were later dropped due to insufficient evidence since she was not at home at the time of the raid.
Pictured above: Thursday night, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a drug-related search warrant at a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4 in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Sign No Longer Calling Gov. Scott ‘Bad’ Name
February 10, 2012
The “Welcome to Florida” sign on Highway 29 has been cleaned up — no longer declaring Florida’s governor to be a “prick”.
In mid-December, a little spray paint from a vandal transformed the official greeting to “Governor PRick Scott”. Despite numerous calls reporting the graffiti to the Florida Department of Transportation, the graffiti remained for over a month and a half.
But shortly after NorthEscambia.com published photos of the sign, the graffiti was removed, and the faded and tattered American and Florida flags nearby were also replaced with new flags.
Pictured top: New flags and a “corrected” Governor Rick Scott Welcome to Florida greeting at the Alabama state line in Century. Pictured inset and below: The sign had referred to Gov. Rick Scott as a “PRick Scott” for over a month and a half prior to these photos being published. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cool Pics: In The Moonlight
February 10, 2012
A bright moon lit the skies over North Escambia Thursday night as thin, high clouds streamed by overhead on a cool north wind.
Pictured above is the Walnut Hill water tower next to Ernest Ward Middle School, and pictured below is the intersection of North Highway 99 and Highway 164 near Oak Grove. Both long-exposure photos were taken about 9:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County To Give Property To Shooting Range, Allow Longer Hours
February 10, 2012
The Escambia County Commission has voted to give the Escambia River Muzzle Loaders the 30 acres where they operate and allow the group to extend their shooting hours.
The county decided Thursday morning at a Committee of the Whole meeting to give the land to the non-profit ERML group to release the county of any liability associated with the shooting range and avoid an environmental cleanup.
Neighbors of the range on Rocky Branch Road have spoken out in opposition to the range and its practices for years. They claim ERML committed to spend $250,000 to improve the range’s safety and reduce noise. But neighbors said the upgrades have never happened. Neighbors have also claimed that the Muzzle Loaders want to purchase additional property to expand the range — and shoot in the direction of neighboring homes.
Changes approved in spirit by the commission Thursday include:
- The range will be open extended hours from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. during the April 1 to September 30 period. Previous hours were 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
- A safety officer must be present whenever the shooting range is being used.
- The range will remain closed on Mondays, unless it is a national holiday.
Commissioner Kevin White voted against any changes to the agreement with the Muzzle Loaders, saying that he wanted to keep the agreement the county made in 2009.
The Escambia County Commission must give final approval to the changes at a regular meeting.
The Escambia River Muzzle Loaders is located on Rocky Branch Road, north of Quinette Road near the Escambia River.