Kinnard Celebrates 101st Birthday In Barrineau Park
May 20, 2012
Mary Lou White Kinnard recently celebrated her 101st birthday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. Mary Lou’s brother, Burley White, ran the White Grocery Store in Barrineau Park from the 1940’s through the 1980’s. The Barrineau Park Historical Society provided the cake for the celebration.
Pictured are Mary Lou White Kinnard, her niece Faye White Conett and Craig Exner, BPHS president. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
200 Year Old Shipwreck Discovered In Northern Gulf Of Mexico
May 20, 2012
During a recent northern Gulf of Mexico expedition, NOAA, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and partners discovered an historic wooden-hulled vessel which is believed to have sunk as long as 200 years ago. Scientists on board the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer used underwater robots with lights and high definition cameras to view remnants of the ship laden with anchors, navigational instruments, glass bottles, ceramic plates, cannons, and boxes of muskets.
The NOAA-funded 56-day expedition that ended April 29 was exploring poorly known regions of the Gulf, mapping and imaging unknown or little-known features and habitats, developing and testing a method to measure the rate that gas rises from naturally-occurring seeps on the seafloor, and investigating potential shipwreck sites.
The shipwreck site was originally identified as an unknown sonar contact during a 2011 oil and gas survey for Shell Oil Company. The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requested this and other potential shipwreck sites be investigated during NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico expedition. Surveys and archaeological assessments are required by BOEM to aid in its decision-making prior to issuing permits for bottom-disturbing activities related to oil and gas exploration and development.
“Artifacts in and around the wreck and the hull’s copper sheathing may date the vessel to the early to mid-19th century,” said Jack Irion, Ph.D., a maritime archaeologist with BOEM. “Some of the more datable objects include what appears to be a type of ceramic plate that was popular between 1800 and 1830, and a wide variety of glass bottles. A rare ship’s stove on the site is one of only a handful of surviving examples in the world and the second one found on a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Significant historical events occurring in the regions around the Gulf of Mexico during this time include the War of 1812, events leading to the Texas Revolution, and the Mexican-American War, he said.
“Shipwrecks help to fill in some of the unwritten pages of history,” said Frank Cantelas, a maritime archaeologist with NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. “We explored four shipwrecks during this expedition and I believe this wreck was by far the most interesting and historic. The site is nearly 200 miles off the Gulf coast in over 4,000 feet of water in a relatively unexplored area.”
The expedition also discovered areas exhibiting rich biodiversity. At the base of the West Florida Escarpment, a steep undersea cliff, explorers found a “forest” of deep corals, several of which were new to scientists on the ship and ashore. For several days the expedition team also imaged deep-coral communities in the vicinity of the Macondo oil spill site. On another part of the expedition, team members designed and installed a device on the ship’s undersea robot system, or ROV (remotely-operated vehicle), to measure the rate that gas rises in the water column.
Pictured top: While most of the ship’s wood has long since disintegrated, copper that sheathed the hull beneath the waterline as a protection against marine-boring organisms remains, leaving a copper shell retaining the form of the ship. The copper has turned green. Pictured inset: An anemone lives on top of a musket that lies across a whole group of muskets at the site of the shipwreck. A variety of artifacts inside the ship’s hull relates either to daily life on board or to the ship’s cargo. Artifacts include ceramic plates, platters, and bowls; and glass liquor, wine, medicine, and food storage bottles of many shapes and colors (some with the contents still sealed inside). Photos courtesy NOAA/Okeanos Explorer program for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Birth – Russell John LeMesurier
May 20, 2012
Desmond and Sarah LeMesurier of Byrneville are blessed to announce the birth of their son Russell John LeMesurier.
He was born March 22, 2012, at 2:12 p.m. at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 18 and three-quarters inches long. His proud grandparents are J.B. and Trudie Johnson of Byrneville and Desmond and Violet LeMesurier of Woodsboro, Texas.
“Russ” has one great grandmother, Laura Johnson of Century, and an uncle, Jeff Johnson of Flomaton, and one great uncle, Bill and Aunt Angie Weaver of Byrneville.
Weekend Gardening: Hit A Home Run With Knock Out Roses
May 19, 2012
I love roses, I always have. After many years of growing roses, I found myself becoming, dare I say it, a bit of a rose snob. If it wasn’t a hybrid tea, I didn’t want anything to do with it. But as many Southerners know, the hybrid teas do have to be pampered and constantly monitored and treated for fungal diseases.
A couple of years ago, I decided to add some Knock Out roses to my landscape. I was taking a hesitant turn away from the long stems of the hybrid teas to a common shrub rose. I am very glad that I did. This year, the shrub roses are covered with dozens of beautiful blooms. Massed together, they are breathtaking and grab the attention of neighbors.
Landscape shrub roses will not make you great cut flowers, but they will give your landscape an abundance of rose flowers for the majority of the year. They practically bloom non-stop during the growing season, from March to November in Northwest Florida. Also, they are much less prone to blackspot disease than the traditional hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora roses.
The Knock Out family of roses was started by rose breeder Bill Radler when he crossed seedlings of ‘Carefree Beauty’ with ‘Razzle Dazzle’ to create the original Knock Out rose. The family now includes varieties that range from blush to vibrant red and even yellow.
In general, Knock Out roses are drought tolerant, self cleaning, and resistant to black spot and powdery mildew. Since they require little maintenance, they are ideal for gardeners who enjoy roses but who aren’t interested in the upkeep required to grow hybrid tea roses. The only drawback of Knock Out roses is that they don’t have a strong fragrance. According to the Conrad Pyle website, the only true fragrant Knock Out is the yellow ‘Sunny’ cultivar.
Like all roses, Knock Out roses need to be planted where they will receive at least six to eight hours of sun each day. It also helps to have a site with good air movement and well-drained soil that falls between pH 6.0 and pH 6.5.
Knock Out roses generally grow three to five feet tall and equally as wide, but some sources say they can reach eight feet tall if not pruned, so be sure to space them appropriately.
After planting, water them regularly until they get established. Apply a three-inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture in the soil, pulling the mulch back from the stem of the plants. Be sure to avoid overhead watering which can increase the chance of fungal leaf spots. They prefer a deep watering every once in a while rather than frequent light waterings.
Knock Out roses are referred to as self-cleaning meaning that the spent blooms will fall off on their own. They will re-bloom every five to six weeks regardless of your deadheading practices. Deadheading is the removal of faded blooms. Most gardeners have found, however, that occasionally deadheading will create and maintain a tidier, more attractive plant.
For more information on rose pests and diseases, refer to the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep371 or contact your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Camp Fire’s Townson Is Apple Seed Award Winner
May 19, 2012
Pam Townson, director and VPK teacher for the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Leaning Center was recently presented the 2012 Apple Seed Award by the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County.
The annual Apple Seed Banquet recognizes early learning education teachers. Camp Fire USA in Century received a 100 percent grade from the Florida Department of Education for 2010-2011 under Townson’s leadership.
“Pam not only encourages parents to be fully engaged as genuine partners in their children’s development, she advocates that early childhood structure can provide school stability and greater consistency in learning, which leads to better school achievements,” said La-vonne Haven, executive director of Camp Fire USA’s Gulf Wind Council.
Townson credits the curriculum of the Florida VPK Standards and Math Standards along with Creative Curriculum, National Camp Fire USA and the Galileo assessment tools with providing researched approaches to learning about the outdoors, nature, science, and creative arts as well as providing fine and gross motor development, early math skills, language and literacy.
Pictured: Pam Townson, director and VPK teacher for the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Leaning Center. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wright, Prescott Named EREC Scholarship Winners
May 18, 2012
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced two local seniors as winners of the 2012 Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards.
The Escambia County winner was Elizabeth Wright, and the Santa Rosa County winner was Travis Prescott.
Elizabeth Wright is the daughter of Joe and Tammy Wright and is a senior at Northview High School. She is active in many clubs and organizations such as the American Legion Auxiliary, Art Club, Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club, Student Advisory Council, Student Government Association and holds officer positions. She is also active in the Tribal Beat Marching Band. Elizabeth has won various awards through the Future Business Leaders of America for Public Speaking and Business Presentation.
Travis Prescott is the son of Philip Prescott and is a senior at Jay High School. He is a member of many clubs and organizations such as Tri-M Music Honor Society, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club and holds officer positions. He is a member of the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Indoor Percussion, and the Drum and Bugle Corps at Jay High School. Travis is also an avid volunteer in his community, participating in activities such as delivering Thanksgiving baskets to retired teachers. Travis plans to major in Animation and Digital Arts in college.
Wright and Prescott will receive $1,000.00 for each of four years providing they continue to meet the scholarship criteria. The scholarships will be presented at the respective schools’ awards programs.
To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be high school seniors and their parent or guardian must be a member of EREC.
Tate Senior Awarded Full Alabama Scholarship, Joining Million Dollar Band
May 17, 2012
Tate High School senior Matthew Warren has received a full academic scholarship to the University of Alabama where he will march in the Million Dollar Band.
Warren was a section leader in the Tate Showband of the South where he played the trombone. He will continue to play the trombone for UA’s band.
He is currently attending night classes at Pensacola State College to complete elective courses. He has been accepted into the Honors Program at the University of Alabama where he will work toward a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering.
Summer Camp Offered At Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
May 17, 2012
The Francis M. Weston Audubon Society, in conjunction with the Escambia County School System, will be hosting the “Environmental Encounters Summer Camp 2012” at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center.
Two one-week sessions geared toward incoming third, fourth and fifth grade students will be offered on June 4-8, and June 11-15. Through hands-on scientific investigations and experiments, campers will learn about different environments and the challenges which they face. The cost is $130 per week and includes five days packed full of fun and educational science activities. Participants provide their own transportation and sack lunch each day.
For a camp brochure, click here. For a registration form, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from a previous camp at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Are Winners At State SkillsUSA Competition
May 15, 2012
Several North Escambia area students were winners at the recent SkillsUSA state competition at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Florida SkillsUSA competitors faced off to showcase their technical trade talents and leadership abilities inconjunction with the Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo.
The Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo is showcasing businesses and vendors in technical and vocational career fields by engaging more than 3,000 local seventh- and eighth-grade students, and more than 2,000 high school and college students from throughout the state of Florida.
TECH PREP SHOWCASE EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
Team B – Tate High School Gold Medal Winners
(100% Pensacola State College scholarship awarded for each Gold winner)
Team B (Gold Medal):
- Courtney Graves
- Morgan Fillingim
- Miranda Franklin
Team A – Tate High School Bronze Medal Winners
(25% Pensacola State College scholarship awarded for each Bronze winner)
Team A (Bronze Medal):
- Morgan Bathurst
- Mandi Praytor
- Ainsley Xenos
Preschool Teaching Assistant:
- Elizabeth McMann, Tate High School, Bronze Medal Winner
George Stone Technical Center students and teachers:
Marine Service Technology Winners
- Silver – Drew Resmondo
- Bronze – Jason Pack
Mens Haircutting
- Silver – Hoang Nguyen
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Gold – Daniel Wallace
- Silver – Bryant Horne
Computer Maintenance Technology
- Gold – James Bauder
Pictured top: Students from Ernest Ward Middle School were among those that attended the recent SkillsUSA event at the Pensacola Civic Center. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Inspirational Hero, Student Of Year
May 14, 2012
Byrneville Elementary School has named their 2012 Cox Inspirational Hero and their Student of the Year.
Cox Inspirational Hero — Patton Goetter
Byrneville’s Cox Inspirational Hero is Patton Goetter, a fifth grader with cystic fibrosis that “let’s nothing get in the way of his dreams”, according to the school. “His warm smile, dedication, and hard work makes him a ‘her0′ to us,” his teacher, Jacke Johnston, said.
Student of the Year — Tanner Levins
Byrneville Elementary School’s Student of the Year is fifth grader Tanner Levins.
“Tanner is a dream student. He always gives 100% and is eager to learn new things. He is always wearing a smile and is always there to help another student out. He takes up for the kids who can’t take up for themselves. Tanner definitely is a role model in and out of school,” said Johnson, also Levins’ teacher.
Pictured top: Byrneville Elementary School’s Cox Inspirational Hero Patton Goetter and Student of the Year Tanner Levins. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.