Northview, West Florida, Ernest Ward FFA Members Attend Ag On The Hill
March 13, 2013
Students from the FFA chapters at Northview High, West Florida High and Ernest Ward Middle schools attended the annual “Ag On the Hill” event Tuesday in Tallahassee. The local FFA members were able to visit with state leaders, including Sen. Greg Evers (pictured above), Rep. Clay Ingram and Commission of Agriculture Adam Putnam. Ag on the Hill is presented annually by the Florida Association of Agricultural Educators, The University of Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional Receives ‘Community Pride’ Award
March 13, 2013
The Century Chamber of Commerce’s Community Pride Award for March has been presented to the Century Correctional Institution.
CCI, the largest employer in Century, recently installed new “Welcome to Century” alongside Highway 29 at the northern and southern boundaries of the town. The “Welcome to Century” signs were designed by Lt. Tony Nolen of CCI and built with inmate labor. The signs celebrate the town’s sawmill heritage.
Pictured: New “Welcome to Century” signs constructed with inmate labor from Century Correctional Institution were dedicated in late January. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Save Over Half On Groceries? Learn To Be A Coupon Queen (Or King)
March 12, 2013
Area residents can learn to be a coupon queens (or kings) at a class this weekend in McDavid.
“I have been couponing for years,” said Science of Couponing Class teacher Candace Capps. “I am no extreme couponer but have saved normally between 60 and 70 percent on my stuff.”
The class will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday at Rays Chapel Baptist Church. The cost is $10 per person, with childcare available for $5. Proceeds benefit church mission trips.
For more details or to sign up, call Candace Capps at (850) 554-0683 or register on Facebook.
Pictured: Science of Couponing Class teacher Candace Capps saved $159.60 – almost 70 percent — on a recent grocery shopping trip. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pine Forest NJROTC Places First In Area Drill Meet
March 11, 2013
- 1st Place Individual Academic, c/CDR Robert Rudd
- 1st Place Individual Male Sit Ups (193), c/CDR Robert Rudd
- 3rd Place Individual Male Sit Ups, Joseph Kaiser
- 2nd Place Push Up Team
- 1st Place Sit Up Team
- 2nd Place Personnel Inspection
- 3rd Place Academic Team
- 1st Place Armed Basic Drill
- 1st Place Unarmed Basic Drill
- 3rd Place Color Guard
- 1st Place Overall
The team will travel to Ole Miss for the Area8 NJROTC Super Meet on March 23. Finishing in the top will earn the team their fifth appearance in six years at the NJROTC National Drill, PT and Academic meet to be held in April aboard NAS Pensacola.
Photo courtesy Lori Rudd for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: Caring For Camellias
March 10, 2013
One of Northwest Florida’s most reliable and rewarding shrubs is the camellia. Providing dark green leaves throughout the year, gardeners are rewarded in late winter or early spring with a variety of beautifully colored and shaped flowers. Camellias tend to thrive in our acidic soil but they do require some routine maintenance.
Pick up the fallen flowers. A fungal disease known as petal blight will rapidly turn entire flowers brown. If a camellia has petal blight, remove and dispose of all blighted flowers both on the plant and on the ground. You may also consider discarding the old mulch around the shrub and apply a layer of fresh mulch. This practice sometimes helps prevent fungal spores from blowing back onto new flowers. One of the best ways to prevent this disease is to pick up and destroy fallen blooms. Flowers will continue to drop for several weeks, so it’s important to pick up blooms several times a week.
Scout for tea scale. One of the most common insect pests of camellia is a scale insect known as tea scale. Check the underside of leaves regularly for this annoying pest. These small, sessile, white, thin, sap-sucking insects can build up large numbers if you do not regularly inspect your plants and take corrective measures when scale is first found. Often your first clue will be spotty yellowing on the upper surface of the leaves. Horticultural oil can be used in the winter time if used before blooming or in spring after blooming. Do not apply horticultural oil when near-freezing temperatures may be expected. Always carefully read and follow pesticide label directions before use.
Expect some leaves to fall in the spring. Camellias are “evergreen” meaning that they have leaves on the shrub year round. However, as individual leaves age, they will fall from the shrub and are replaced with new leaves in the spring. It is not unusual for camellia to drop up to 30 percent of their leaves. As long as new leaves are developing, there is no need for concern.
Camellia can be pruned after they flower. The most important reason for pruning camellias is to improve the overall health of the plant. Many times, camellias that have not been pruned in a few years will develop dead or deteriorating twigs. Removing the dead and dying limbs will minimize the possibility of diseases such as “dieback” and will also allow the plant to re-concentrate its energies. In many instances, camellias that have been neglected for a number of years will become infested with scale insects. Pruning is an effective way to provide for better coverage of chemical sprays and increase air circulation.
Lichens are warning signs. Lichens are gray-green to green mossy growths on the stems of old, neglected camellias. The lichen is a combination of a fungus and an alga that grows symbiotically. They are not parasitic to the camellia. Affected plants usually need fertilizing, watering, and mulching for better growing conditions.
Fertilizer applications help to achieve maximum performance. Apply fertilizer in the spring after blooming but before new growth starts. With many fertilizers, small amounts at frequent intervals are better than heavy applications. Special camellia fertilizers are available at your local stores. One application in early spring after blooming should be followed by a second application in mid June to early July. Scatter the fertilizer evenly on top of the mulch and away from the main stem of the plant. Water the fertilizer into the soil. Do not fertilize after July, so the plants will have a longer time to harden off and avoid freeze damage.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Photos: Ernest Ward Holds Womanless Beauty Pageant
March 9, 2013
Hunter Edwards was named Junior Mr. Miss Ernest Ward Middle School in a womanless beauty pageant Friday night. First runner-up was Jacob Weaver, and second runner-up was Luke Ward. Edwards also received the audience vote People’s Choice Award.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Proceeds from the even will benefit the school’s cheerleaders.
Pictured top: Luke Ward and and Hunter Edwards (right) compete in a womanless beauty pageant Friday night at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured left inset: Hunter Edwards was crowned Junior Mr. Miss Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS NJROTC Takes Part In Auburn Drill Meet
March 8, 2013
Northview High School’s NJROTC recently competed in a drill meet at Auburn University, finishing fourth overall against 12 schools from Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The unit competed in multiple events which included a personnel inspection, academic test, basic drill and physical fitness.
“The outstanding results by the unit was the culmination of a lot of hard work over the past several weeks by each cadet that competed. The competition is always tough at these meets but the cadets were focused and determined to succeed. As always they were great representatives of Northview and the community,” said Charlie C. Code, Capt USN (ret), Northview instructor.
The unit also toured the Auburn campus and the nearby Tuskegee Airman Museum.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Installs New Sign
March 7, 2013
The Town of Century has installed a new scrolling message sign alongside at the entrance to the Century City Hall and the branch library. The variable message board will be used to display local announcements. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional Takes Part In Read Across America Day
March 7, 2013
Read Across America Day was recently celebrated at Jay Elementary School, with a little help from Century Correctional Institution.
Century Correctional’s Assistant Warden Robert Flores and Officer Tony deGraaf read to Mrs. deGraaf’s kindergarten class at Jay Elementary School as part of the program. They read the popular Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham and gave each student a special treat. They also expressed the importance of learning to read and of a good education.
Read Across America Day, the signature program of the National Education Association, focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships and reading resources. It’s held annual on or near Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution Officer Tony deGraaf (in hat) and Assistant Warden Robert Flores read to a kindergarten class at Jay Elementary School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volunteer Firefighters Undergo Hands On LifeFlight Training
March 5, 2013
Volunteer firefighters from three North Escambia fire stations participated in a LifeFlight training class Monday night at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97. A LifeFlight crew gave the participants from the Walnut Hill, Molino and Cantonment fire stations a tour of the aircraft, plus instruction on how to handle emergencies involving the helicopter, how setup a landing zone and how patients are loaded.
Pictured top and inset: A LifeFlight training class Monday night at the Walnut Hill Fire Station. Picture below: Flight nurse Norman Lacsamana discusses patient care and loading. Pictured bottom: Firefighters from Walnut Hill, Molino and Cantonment took part in the class. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
