Weekend Gardening: These Caterpillars Could Be Devouring Your Azaleas Right Now
July 27, 2019
by Beth Bolles, Escambia County Extension, for NorthEscambia.com
Azalea caterpillars have made their presence known this summer and are devouring the foliage of one of our favorite evergreen plants.
The brown moths will lay large numbers of eggs on azaleas throughout the spring and then young emerging caterpillars feed in groups, eating entire leaves. As the caterpillars grow in size, they become more brightly colored with yellow bodies and black stripes. They also have bright red legs and a head. If you touch a mature caterpillar, it will often raise it’s head and ‘tail’ in response. These are not stinging caterpillars so that is only a defensive response.
The feeding damage of the caterpillars results in a very unattractive azalea. Some leaves with damage will also turn brown making the damage more noticeable. The good news is that even through plants look terrible, a relatively heathy azalea will grow new leaves during the season.
If you do have an infestation of azalea caterpillars, you may want to consider a treatment. Remember that it is easier to manage young caterpillar so if you have caterpillars that are already two inches in length, your chemical treatment may not be as successful.
One option for management is to physically remove the caterpillars if you only have a small number on your plants. If you choose to use an insecticide, choose an organic product like B.t (Bacillus thuringiensis) or spinosad. These are safe for many beneficial insects that are also helping in the management of the caterpillars. Both products will be available at our local nurseries.
Pictured: An azalea caterpillar on a bush in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Waterfront Rescue Mission Celebrates 70 Years
July 27, 2019
The Waterfront Rescue Mission held a party for clients and guests Friday to celebrate their 70th anniversary.
Community leaders served lunch to the guests. Attendees enjoyed free haircuts, live music, face painting, lunch and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In McDavid Rollover Crash
July 26, 2019
A driver escaped serious injury in a single vehicle rollover crash Friday morning in McDavid.
The female lost control and overturned off Pine Barren Road near Bogia Road about 7:20 a.m. A fire hydrant was broken off and a telephone company pedestal was damaged in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Escambia County EMS and the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Allegedly Shooting Cat, Dumping Body
July 26, 2019
A Century man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after allegedly shooting a cat in Walnut Hill before dumping the body.
Austin Everett Berry, 27, was charge with aggravated animal cruelty and unlawful disposal of the a dead animal.
Berry allegedly shot a cat on Green Village Road with a 12-gauge shotgun and then threw the body into an area of overgrown bushes, according to an arrest report.
A woman told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she had exited a house in the area and heard a loud boom like a shotgun. She said she observed a male later identified as Berry place either two kittens on one large cat in a bag, and she said she asked Berry if he had shot the cat. She told deputies he answered, “[Expletive] year I did”, the ECSO report states.
Deputies and Escambia County Animal Control located the deceased black and white domestic cat in large overgrown area about 20 yards off the road by a fence. The remains were removed by animal control for proper disposal.
The Sheriff’s Office seized Berry’s loaded pump action 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition to be placed into evidence.
Berry made statements to the sheriff’s deputy, but those statements were redacted from the arrest report. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,750 bond.
The Chess Challenge: Youth Can Learn To Play Chess For Free Sunday In Century
July 26, 2019
Rafael Lopez of Cantonment loves the game of chess, and he will share that love with children and teens during free classes the next two Sundays in Century.
“I learned to play chess as a younger man. I was taught by a man who was incredible to watch on the board. As he taught me, he would give me reasons as to why he would move certain places. Also, he played handicapped without his queen on the board until I was able to beat him. Once I was able to beat him, he never took his queen off the playing board ever again,” he said.
Lopez calls his learn to play methodology the “chess challenge”.
“The chess challenge is my dream. It’s purpose it’s make chess fun again in a world full of technology. In the extremely beginning stages of turning this dream into a nonprofit,” Lopez said. “Long term, I would love to have a place to call home. There’s some commercial real estate in Cantonment near my house that is vacant. I pass by it every day and wonder how many sad lonely, lost and even bored kids pass by that location that could be served. A safe place after school that is conducive to higher learning with an emphasis on chess and the study of chess. We have so many basketball camps yet very few brain games.”
The chess challenge is targeted to youth ages 6-17 and will be held Sunday, July 28 from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday, August 4 from 2-5 p.m. at 7321 North Century Boulevard (the building with the large “Florida” mural, just south of the library). There is no cost and refreshments will be served.
Youth can attend either of the Sunday sessions, but the second session will recap and expand on the skills learned in the first session. Lopez starts by teaching the basics, and says this is for youth of any skill level.
“I love chess because we all start out equal, but have the potential to be great depending on how much time and effort we put into the study and application of the game. As a game, it’s almost as old as hide and seek,” he said. To teach one brilliant mind would be one of my simplest goals.”
“Chess doesn’t care what color you are or what gender you are. Every player starts out completely equal. But as with anything in life, you get what you put in. Study the previously played games and this study furthers advancement and skill. When a young brain learns the principles that chess teaches, they’re improving and expanding their critical thinking and reasoning skills with each move. Technology isn’t to blame, but relying on technology to think for us is. Chess teaches us how to think— think about future possible outcomes before they may even happen. Predictive.”
For more information on the chess challenge in Century, call Lopez at (850) 723-5362.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kids Enjoy Water Day At Carver Park
July 26, 2019
Kids enjoyed Water Day Thursday during lunchtime at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The Summer Breakspot program at Carver Park provided free meals for kids and teens through Feeding the Gulf Coast during the summer, and other community groups such as Ascend Cares often joined in to help. Earlier this month, the West Florida Library even had real moon rocks at a lunch program.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Reschedules Board Meeting
July 26, 2019
The Byrneville Elementary School board meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 7 at 3:30 p.m.
As a charter school, Byrneville is directly governed by a board of directors. The meetings are open to the public at the school, 1600 Byrneville Road.
Florida State Parks Set New Record For Land Management With Prescribed Fire
July 26, 2019
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is celebrating a record year for prescribed fires burned across Florida State Parks. Prescribed fire plays an important role in protecting Florida’s natural communities and provides a safe way to ensure a healthy ecosystem while reducing wildlife risk and protecting public safety.
“I am proud of the hard work of our fire crews and park staff and their dedication to protecting Florida’s precious natural resources. Prescribed burns are crucial for Florida’s environment and reducing the risk and severity of wildfires”, said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. ”Our expert fire crews consistently ensure that fires are conducted safely and in a manner that is protective of personnel, the public and the burn areas.”
In fiscal year 2018-19, the Florida Park Service applied prescribed fire to more than 96,000 acres across the state.
Prescribed burns are an important land management tool that benefits many of the 800,000 acres entrusted to the Florida State Park system. Prescribed burns are used to maintain healthy ecosystems, manage wildlife habitat, increase biological diversity, reduce hazardous fuel loads and assist in invasive plant control within these natural areas.
“Fire is a natural process in much of Florida and helps maintain wildlife habitat. The Florida Park Service is a national leader in using prescribed burns to prevent wildfire”, said Florida State Parks Director Eric Draper. “We are proud of the staff and partner organizations who use science and skill to put fire on the ground at the right time and in the right place to benefit nature and people.”
Florida Park Service staff often work with partnering land managers including the Nature Conservancy, Florida Forest Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, water management districts, federal and county agencies, and local fire departments. Prescribed fires are planned, set and managed by specialized staff. The training is rigorous for prescribed burners, who are tested annually for physical fitness and trained in wildfire tactics, ecology, safety protocols, fire behavior and related issues.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Poarch Creeks To Swap Land For New Atmore Hospital
July 26, 2019
The Poarch Creek Indians will enter into a land swap for a new hospital in Atmore.
Mayor Jim Staff said PCI will trade 10 acres near the city’s Rivercane development for the 10 acres currently occupied by the hospital on Medical Park Drive. The new hospital will be located on Highway 21 just south of I-65.
Atmore Community Hospital is owned by the Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHA) and currently managed by Infirmary Health. That deal ends next Wednesday, with ECHA assuming management on August 1.
ECHA has approached the Atmore City Council several times seeking a Rivercane land donation, but none of those requests have been approved.
A feasibility study recommended replacement of the aging hospital on Medical Park Drive with new construction including a 10-bed emergency room, 27 patient rooms, ICU, at least one operating room, urgent care and other medical services. One estimate put the cost of the new hospital at $32 million.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
WWE Superstar Wrestler ‘Jimmy Uso’ Arrested On DUI Charge In Cantonment
July 25, 2019
WWE superstar wrestler Jonathan Solofa Fatu of Cantonment, whose ring name is Jimmy Uso, was arrested on a DUI charge on Highway 297A.
An Escambia County deputy parked at Publix and observed a vehicle turn from Pine Forest Road onto Highway 297A, rapidly accelerate, and come very close to another vehicle. The vehicle’s speed was verified by radar at 86 mph in a 45 mph zone.
At 1:53 a.m., the deputy conducted a traffic stop on 33-year old Fatu in the area of Highway 297A and Brockwood Place, just south of Kingsfield Road in Cantonment. Fatu, 33, seemed to be confused, had bloodshot and watery eyes, droopy eyelids, dilated pupils and slow, slurred speech, the deputy noted in his report.
Fatu was booked into the Escambia County Jail and released on a $1,000 bond several hours later.
The WWE issued a short statement saying “Jonathan Fatu is responsible for his own personal actions.”