July Gardening Tips
July 15, 2017
The heat, humidity and frequent rains of July are great for tropical plants. Gardeners, however, take a bit of a beating. Remember to keep the sunscreen, insect repellant and iced tea handy as you venture out into your garden to perform some needed summer maintenance.
A midsummer application of fertilizer is usually required, especially on annual flowers, lawns, shrub beds and vegetable gardens. This is a supplemental application, so don’t overdo it. A 15-0-15 slow-release fertilizer is a good general purpose landscape fertilizer for most plants.
Major pruning jobs should have been done earlier, but there is still some maintenance pruning that should be done. Deadhead, or clip old flowers, from summer flowering shrubs as soon as they fade to help insure an extended season of bloom. Crape myrtles, hibiscus, hydrangeas and althea are examples of shrubs that will bloom repeatedly if light, selective pruning is done.
Flowering annuals also respond well to deadheading. Snip off old flowers and flower spikes before they have an opportunity to form seed. Allowing annual flowers to set seed can shorten their blooming season considerably.
Inspect your lawn and shrub plantings frequently in order to identify pest problems as early as possible. The most severe damage from pest insects normally begins in July. Be on the lookout for chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass; spittlebugs in centipede grass; sod webworm in all lawns-especially new ones; lacebug and caterpillars on azaleas; whiteflies on gardenia and spider mites on lots of different types of shrubs.
Sod webworms often attack lawns in the summer. They eat the grass blades producing areas that look as if they have been mowed too short. Close inspection will reveal that the blades have not been cleanly cut as with a mower blade but have been chewed along their edges and tips. These caterpillars feed at night and rest during the day down among the runners and in the thatch.
Once an insect pest is found, evaluate the damage and determine if control is necessary. If it is, choose the least toxic option. If only a few caterpillars are found, hand picking might be the choice. Aphids and spider mites can often be controlled by spraying with an insecticidal soap solution. Chemical insecticides are sometimes required. Before choosing one be sure that the insect pest has been properly identified and that the insecticide is labeled for that purpose For vegetable gardeners that have problems with nematodes, soil borne diseases and extensive weed problems, July is a great time to try soil solarization.
Prepare the soil as you normally would for a vegetable garden including adding organic matter. Moisten the area and cover with clear plastic, not black plastic. Clear plastic will produce the highest temperatures. Be sure to weigh down the edges of the plastic so that it doesn’t blow up. Allow the soil to bake in the sun for four to six weeks. The sun will raise the soil temperature high enough to kill many soil borne problems.
Tip of the Week: The nice thing about tomatoes is that you have the option of harvesting when the fruit is green if needed. Tomatoes will ripen indoors at room temperature. To ensure even ripening, place the tomato with the stem up. The ideal time to harvest tomatoes is when they are fully colored but still firm.
In general, it is best to harvest vegetables early in the mornings while the moisture content is higher. The overall quality will quickly diminish as vegetables are exposed to hotter temperatures later in the day.
Wahoos Top Braves
July 15, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos left fielder Tyler Goeddel smacked a double into the left field corner to score shortstop Blake Trahan for the first walk-off hit in his six-year professional career.
The run gave Pensacola a 2-1 victory Friday over the Mississippi Braves in front of 4,221 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The five-game series is tied, 1-1.
“That was nice,” Goeddel admitted, as his teammates mobbed him at second base. ”My previous at bat, he attacked me with a lot of fastballs. I wanted to be aggressive early in the count.”
Goeddel ripped the ball into the left field corner where Mississippi’s Tyler Neslony picked it up and rocketed it to the cutoff man who dropped the ball allowing Trahan to score from first base. It was the Blue Wahoos fourth walk-off this season.
Goeddel has been the batter Pensacola wants at the plate with the game on the line. He drilled a double to center field Tuesday against the Chattanooga Lookouts that propelled the Blue Wahoos to victory. The next day the 24-year-old smoked a line drive over the left field wall to tie the score, 3-3, to lead off the seventh inning. It was his fifth homer of the season.
He has seen his batting average plummet from a high of .292 to a low of .247 in the opener of the five-game series Thursday against Mississippi. Despite going 9-45 in July and 5-33 in his last 10 games, Goeddel said he feels comfortable at the plate. That would explain his two home runs and seven RBIs this month.
“This is the first slump in my life where I still feel good at the plate,” Goeddel said. “I’m just missing pitches. I hope to get a nice streak to finish (the season) off.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said Goeddel was one of the best hitters in the Southern League two years ago when he played for the Montgomery Biscuits, hitting 12 homers, driving in 72 RBIs and batting .279. Last year, Goeddel played 92 games with the Philadelphia Phillies and hit .192 in 213 at bats.
“Tyler is a good hitter,” Kelly said. “He’s been going through a tough stretch…but got that big hit tonight.”
Pensacola right-hander Jesus Reyes also came through for the Blue Wahoos Friday in his first Double-A start. The 24-year-old Dominican worked five scoreless innings, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out five.
In 15 starts this season for the High-A Daytona Tortugas, he compiled a 6-5 record and 3.78 ERA. This month, Reyes was 0-2 for the Tortugas but posted a 2.13 ERA.
“I was really impressed,” Kelly said. “His first time out in Double-A, I thought he would be a little anxious and nervous. But he had a good three-pitch mix.”
Mississippi threatened to blow the game wide open in the eighth inning when it loaded the bases with no outs against Pensacola middle reliever Robert Stock. However, Stock got Braves third baseman Austin Riley to ground out into a double play. Mississippi center fielder Steven Gaylor, who lead off the inning with a ground ball past the second baseman into center field, scored to knot the game, 1-1. Stock then struck out first baseman Joey Meneses, who entered the game hitting .298, to end the inning.
“To get out with one run, that was super,” Kelly said.
Pensacola went ahead, 1-0, in the fifth inning when catcher Joe Hudson scored on third baseman Nick Senzel’s chopper to third base that didn’t draw a throw and was ruled a single. Senzel, that MLBPipeline.com ranks as the Cincinnati Reds top prospect, extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
Although Mississippi left-handed starter Tyler Pike walked seven batters, he had not allowed a base hit until Trahan laced a single to left field in the fifth inning. Pike walked a career-high eight in 2.1 innings against the Chattanooga Lookouts in his June 28 start.
Trahan went 3-4 in the game and scored the winning run. Kelly said Trahan has worked hard on his hitting with Cincinnati Reds roving instructors Hall of Famer Barry Larkin and Eric Davis. The 23-year-old is batting a career-low .218.
“Blake did a really good job,” Kelly said. “I’m pleased he took what he learned into the game.”
Pensacola evened its record at 11-11 in the second half. The South Division first half champions are 51-41 overall. Mississippi is 5-16 in the second half and 39-52 overall.
Found: Woman Mysteriously Disappears Near Century
July 14, 2017
UPDATE: A woman missing in the woods near Century was found Friday morning in “good” physical condition.
Tiffaney Brooke Daugherty suffered cuts and scrapes. She was found by searchers very near where she was last seen entering the wooded area, according to the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office. She was being transported to an Alabama hospital for evaluation.
There was no word on why she exited her vehicle and entered the heavily wooded area Thursday night;
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Authorities in two states are searching for a woman they say left her vehicle and ran into a wooded area and disappeared Thursday night near Century.
Tiffaney Brooke Daugherty, age 33 of Flomaton, jumped out of her vehicle, leaving behind her two small children, near the intersection of Fannie Road and Carnley Road Thursday night. That’s just northeast of Century in Florida, less than a half mile south of the Alabama/Florida State line.
She had pulled up at a pipeline construction site. A construction worker watched as she entered the wooded area and alerted authorities about 30 minutes later when he realized she had not returned.
Authorities from Alabama and Florida searched the area, described as heavily wooded and swampy, for hours Thursday night. They were still on scene at 1 a.m. Friday, with plans to break for a few hours and return after sunrise. The search included a K-9 Unit from the Century Correctional Institution and a helicopter equipped with a night-vision system. All of the searches were unsuccessful in locating anything but her flip-flops, according to Mike Lambert, chief deputy of the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Daughtery is described as a white female, 5-foot 5-inches tall, about 115 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing black shorts with a pink-flowered shirt and is believed to now be barefoot.
Lambert said there was no indication whey Daughtery would have acted in such a manner. He said she is popular hair stylist with no criminal history and no history of drug or substance abuse.
Anyone with any information on her whereabouts or any tip as why the incident might have occurred is asked to call their law enforcement agency, the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741 or 911.
K-9 Catches Armed Robbery Suspect Red Handed
July 14, 2017
An armed robbery suspect was caught red-handed Wednesday by an Escambia County K-9.
According to investigators, 28-year old Nicholas Anthony Imperial walked into the Smart Fill convenience store about 8:30 p.m. He was wearing a scarf around his face as he pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. When deputies arrived on scene, they used K-9 Django to help track the suspect.
The K-9 found Imperial hiding behind the Maxwell Apartments, they also found the gun he used and the stolen cash. Imperial was arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm or other deadly weapon, use or display of weapon during a felony, and wearing a mask or hood during an armed robbery. He was being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $55,000.
Chiefs End ‘Turbulent Thursday’ With Trip To NAS Museum
July 14, 2017
The Northview Chiefs capped off a great week of workouts with “Turbulent Thursday” with a trip to the Naval Air Museum. The players learned about the history of aviation and the military, the Blue Angels and more. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Airport Shows Record Traffic
July 14, 2017
Pensacola International Airport had an all-time monthly record number of passengers in June, with a total of 162,618 individuals arriving and departing the facility.
“We appreciate the record number of travelers who made Pensacola International Airport their airport of choice last month,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “We continue to elevate the airport experience for our guests, with new routes, and exciting amenities,” Hayward said. “As a gateway that connects our diverse City to the rest of the world, Pensacola International is a powerful economic engine for our City and the region.”
June passenger totals for the past five years are as follows:
2017: 162,618
2016: 151,450
2015: 155,045
2014: 149,402
2013: 145,632
2012: 143,655
Plane Slows Cantonment Traffic
July 14, 2017
Sometimes you never know what will slow traffic in Cantonment. On Thursday, it was this movement of what we are told is the fuselage of a C-130 military transport aircraft seen on Highway 29 and on Muscogee Road. There was no word on the plane’s destination. Reader photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Committee Of The Whole Budget Workshop Rescheduled For Tuesday
July 14, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will continue its review of the 2017-2018 Proposed Fiscal Year Budget on Tuesday, July 18 at 9 a.m. This will take place during the regularly scheduled Agenda Review Meeting held in the Board Chambers at 221 Palafox Place. The agenda for the Committee of the Whole Budget Workshop can be found here.
Tuesday’s meeting replaces the previously scheduled meeting for Friday, July 14 at 9 a.m. It is a continuation of the meetings held July 11-14. Click here to view the agenda.
Triumph Gulf Coast Holds Organizational Meeting
July 14, 2017
Former House Speaker Allan Bense on Thursday kept the position of chairman of the non-profit organization Triumph Gulf Coast as it starts to oversee how BP oil-spill settlement money is spent across the Panhandle.
But in January, the Panama City Republican will be replaced in the chairmanship by former Senate President Don Gaetz, who was chosen Thursday as vice chairman of the board. The unanimous appointments for both were part of the organization’s first meeting since lawmakers approved funding for Triumph Gulf Coast in measures signed into law (HB 7077, HB 7079) by Gov. Rick Scott last month.
The board is in charge of determining how to use 75 percent of the $2 billion Florida will get from the settlement related to the impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The money going through Triumph Gulf Coast is for eight counties: Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton. The legislation set minimum amounts for how much each county will receive and expanded the Triumph Gulf Coast board from five to seven members, with the goal of providing more representation to less-populated counties.
Florida has already received $400 million and is slated to receive the rest in annual payments over the next 13 years. Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who oversaw the Legislature’s initial creation of Triumph Gulf Coast, was added to the board on June 30 by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes.
The organizational meeting Thursday at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition in Pensacola was held a day after Scott advised Bense to use the money in a “transparent” manner that has the best return on investment for Florida. Board members agreed to take public input on economic-development projects on August 16.
by The News Service of Florida
Mississippi Wins Pitching Duel 2-0 Over The Blue Wahoos
July 14, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos fans were treated to a pitching duel between Keury Mella and Mississippi Braves Mike Soroka.
Mississippi and Soroka ended up getting the win, 2-0, over Pensacola to snap a four-game losing streak.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly credited the 23-year-old Mella and the 19-year-old Soroka on their performances Thursday in front of 4,497 in Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Those were two good young pitchers right there,” Kelly said. “Soroka got the best of him but Mella really competed.”
Mella, ranked the No. 19 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, pitched his best game at home, Kelly said, and his best since his last victory June 15 against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He worked seven innings, only the second time he has done that this season, and gave up two earned runs on six hits, had no walks and struck out six, which was one shy of his season-high.
“He was solid,” Kelly said of Mella. “He was very aggressive with his fastball and had good use of his breaking ball.”
Mississippi, which have now won two of its last 15 games, scored its first run in the third inning when center fielder Connor Lien scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by right fielder Keith Curcio. Curcio also hit a two-out homer into the Hill-Kelly Dodge berm in right field for the M-Braves second and final run.
Mella, who has yet to win a start in Blue Wahoos Stadium, retired the last seven batters he faced.
Meanwhile Soroka, who pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed four hits, had no walks and struck out six. He is now 2-0 in three starts this season against Pensacola, allowing just one run in 19.2 innings for a 0.47 ERA.
A Canadian who chose baseball over being a goalie in hockey, now has 10 wins to lead the Southern League and his 2.37 ERA is only behind Pensacola starter Austin Ross, who has a 1.44 ERA.
Soroka is ranked as the No. 33 prospect in Baseball America’s midseason re-ranking lists and the 13th best pitcher.
“For a 19-year-old, he has a great feel for pitching,” said Kelly, who said Canadian baseball players are usually a year behind in development because the weather doesn’t allow them to play year-round.
Pensacola had an opportunity to score in the third inning on Soroka with runners on first and second and two outs but third baseman Nick Senzel struck out. Soroka mowed down the last eight Blue Wahoos batters he faced. Pensacola got just one more hit in the last four innings of the game when second baseman Josh VanMeter hit a bloop single to left field to start the ninth inning.
Senzel increased his hitting streak to 13 games, going 1-4 with a double off of Soroka in the third inning. The Cincinnati Reds top prospect is now 19-50 during the streak for a .380 batting average. The 22-year-old Senzel has hit in 15 of his 19 games with the Double-A team since being called up June 22 from the High-A Daytona Tortugas.
Pensacola is 10-11 in the second half. The South Division champions in the first half are 50-41 overall. Mississippi is 5-15 in the second half and 39-51 overall.
Pensacola is almost done playing 20 games in a row before getting a day off July 18 after the series with Mississippi is finished. Kelly said it isn’t easy.
“Twenty-game stretches are tough in this league with this humidity,” Kelly admitted. “It’s a good challenge for the players. We just have to be smart. This is July and this is in the South.”
Kelly also reported that Nick Longhi, who was playing in his seventh game for Pensacola after being picked up by the Reds in a trade with the Red Sox, complained about soreness in his throwing arm and said it affected his swing. Longhi is hitting .316 with a homer and seven RBIs for the Blue Wahoos.
“It was precautionary to get him out,” Kelly said.