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25th Annual Sawmill Pageant Held (With Photo Gallery)

The 25th Annual Miss Sawmill Pageant sponsored by the Century Lions Club was held Saturday.

Overall winners were Khloe Hamilton and Skylar Crawford. NorthEscambia.com will publish a complete winner’s list and photos after the information is made available to us.

In the meantime, click here for a photo gallery from Saturday afternoon’s events.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

UF/IFAS To Lead $1 Million Study To Increase Global Wheat Production

A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher will lead a nearly $1 million project to increase worldwide wheat yield potential to help feed an anticipated 9.5 billion people globally by the year 2050.

To do this, Md Ali Babar, a UF/IFAS agronomy assistant professor and his team of researchers, hope to increase the harvest index from 45 to 60 percent, which translates to much more wheat. The harvest index quantifies a crop’s yield versus the amount of biomass – shoots and roots – that it produces.

“This will increase wheat yield and improve food security for a growing population,” Babar said.

Wheat, grown on more than 538 million acres globally, is one of the three most important cereal crops in the world, according to Babar. The other two are rice and corn. But wheat yield must be doubled in the next 30 years “to avert a major food crisis,” he said. To achieve food security in the next 30-plus years, wheat yields need to increase by 1.8 percent per year. Currently, yields are only increasing 0.9 percent annually.

In Escambia County, the latest USDA Ag Census shows 4,409 aces planted in wheat, the second highest of  any county in Florida.

Babar cites the so-called “Green Revolution” of the 1970s in explaining how and why his research group hopes to increase wheat production. In the 1970s, scientists increased the harvest index. That resulted in a huge yield increase and saved millions of people’s lives. However, research shows the wheat harvest index didn’t increase much in recent history.

That’s why Babar and his collaborators are adopting an integrated research approach involving varieties developed by U.S. and Mexican wheat breeders. In those varieties, Babar and his colleagues will evaluate traits related to the harvest index, hoping to eventually produce more wheat.

Babar will work with scientists from the International Corn and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico, the University of Nottingham in England and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The researchers are expected to develop a specific structure of wheat plants so they can separate more biomass genes, which they hope will add up to much more wheat globally.

They have received $250,000 for the first year of a three-year grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NIFA officials have told Babar that he and his team will receive $920,000 based upon continued progress in the research and funding.

Pictured: Wheat harvest in Escambia County. NorthEscambia.com

‘Armed And Dangerous’ 19-Year Old Now Behind Bars

UPDATE 3/19: A 19-year old that was considered “armed and dangerous” by authorities is now in the Santa Rosa County Jail.   Tristan Junus Turner, 19, is being held on a $107,000 bond.

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The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 19-year wanted on multiple felony charges.

Tristan Junus Turner, 19, is wanted for assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, armed trespassing, resisting officer with violence and possession of a controlled substance.

Turner is 6′4″ and 184 pounds. He has blond hair and blue eyes. Authorities say Turner is considered armed and dangerous and ask the public to not make contact with him.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact 911 or the Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.

4-H County Event Youth Winners Named

The UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension Office  recently hosted 4-H County Events, consisting of competitions in public speaking, demonstrations and illustrated talks, fashion, photography, graphic design, and share-the-fun (talent) activities.

The event featured 14 youth, submitting 25 different entries. Blue ribbon winners will advance to district competition.

Escambia County 4-H Event winners were:

Poster Art: Elizabeth Atkins, Levi Nelson, Trista Wolk, and Taylor Nelson.

Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks: Jasmine Guillory, Brayton Workman, Von Littlejohn, Taylor Nelson, Danielle Tinker, and Michelle Tinker.

Photography: Lacie Kittrell, Tucker Padgett (3), Dillon Conti, and Taylor Nelson (3).

For more information on Escambia County 4-H, call (850) 475-5230.

Century Man Convicted Of Two Counts Of Attempted Murder; Faces Life Sentence

A Century man is facing life in prison for opening fire on two people inside a vehicle in Century during October 2015.

Late Friday afternoon, an Escambia County jury found Akino Jama Jackson guilty of attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. According to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille, Jackson faces a minimum mandatory of life in prison when he is sentenced in May because he is a prison releasee reoffender. He will not be eligible for  parole and will actually spend his entire life in prison.

On October 5, 2015, Jackson armed himself with a firearm and fired eight times into a Dodge Charger, shooting Roosevelt Dixon in the back four times causing serious injuries. Dixon’s girlfriend, Amanda Conner, was in the front passenger seat at the time the shots were fired. She suffered injuries from broken glass but did not seek medical treatment.

Conner told investigators that she and Dixon were at his mother’s residence on Ivey Street in Century, and they had noticed a car in the area that Dixon was concerned about. She said they left the mother’s trailer, eventually turning onto Old Flomaton Road. She said they traveled a short distance when she heard a loud noise followed by a another loud noise during which glass shattered. Dixon told Conner that he had been shot. At this point, they turned the car around, still not seeing the vehicle from which the shots were fired, and headed back to Ivey Street where Dixon got out of the Dodge Charger.

Conner then  headed toward the Century Sheriff’s Precinct on Highway 29 in the Charger, stopping along the way at the Century Whataburger where she observed a deputy on a traffic stop.

Conner had received threatening text messages from Jackson in the days leading up to  the shooting. Roosevelt Dixon was able to identify Jackson as the shooter.

Pictured top: The scene at Whataburger in Century on October 7, 2015. Pictured below: Numbers and trajectory rods show bullet holes in a Dodge Charger that was occupied by two people. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Century Ribbon Cutting Officially Opens New Splash Pad

Car Wash Fire Believed To Be Arson

A fire that ripped through a storage building at a Cantonment car wash Friday night was believed to be arson.

About 10 p.m., witnesses reported seeing juveniles set the storage building on fire before running away. The building, located at the old Highway 29 car wash across from International Paper, was a total loss.

Anyone with information on the incident can call  the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.

Pictured: Photographs taken before firefighters arrived show a storage building at a Cantonment car wash fully involved. Photos by Terry Kelly for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Tate Tops West Florida, Raises $18K For Cancer Research

Tate 10, West Florida 2

The eighth annual “Strike Out Cancer” softball fundraiser was a big winner Friday night for breast cancer research as the Tate Aggies beat West Florida 10-2.

The event at Tate High School raised over $18,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Tate sophomore Shelby Ulrich had five RBI, including a three-run home run.  Hannah Brown earned the win for Tate pitching a complete game with two runs, one error and striking out three.

For Tate – Hayden Lindsay 1-3, R; Belle Wolfenden 1-2, 2 R, RBI; Shelby Ulrich 2-3, 2R, 5 RBI, HR; Sydni Solliday 3-4, R, RBI; Shelby McLean 2-4, R, RBI.

For West Florida – Amanda Klemm 1-4; Ealon Pyle 1-4, R; Lauren Carnley 2-3, RBI.

Tate 17, West Florida 0 (JV)

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Weekend Gardening: March Tips

Here are gardening tips for the month of March from the University of Florida IFAS Extension office:

Flowers

• Annual flowers that can be planted in March include:  ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, asters, baby’s breath, begonia, calendula, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, dusty miller, gaillardia, geranium, hollyhock, impatiens, marigold, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, pentas, phlox, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet Williams, torenia, verbena, vinca and zinnia.
• Caladium bulbs are extremely sensitive to cold soil.  There is no advantage to planting early.  Purchase caladiums while there is a good selection, but wait until late March or April before planting them in shady beds.

Trees and Shrubs

• Finish pruning summer flowering shrubs such as althea, hibiscus, abelia, oakleaf hydrangea and oleander.
• Delay the pruning of azaleas, camellias, spiraeas, gardenias and other spring flowering shrubs until after flowering is complete.
• Prune any cold weather-damaged plants after new growth appears.
• If needed, fertilize shrubs and small trees  with a slow release fertilizer.  A good general-purpose landscape fertilizer is a 15-0-15.
• Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation.  Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sqft of canopy area or landscape area.
• Last opportunity to spray shrubs with dormant horticultural oil.
• Pick up all fallen camellia blossoms and remove them from your property.  This practice helps to prevent petal blight next season.
• Prune ornamental grasses.
• If you are in the market for specific colors of azaleas, visit the local nurseries and garden centers this month.  Though this is not the most ideal planting time you are assured of the right flower color without having to wait until next blooming season.

Fruits and Nuts

• Time to finish planting bare-root fruit trees.

Vegetable Garden

• This is the month for establishing a spring vegetable garden.  Early March plantings have about an even chance of avoiding a late frost.
• The warm season vegetables that can be planted this month are: bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, cantaloupes, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, southern peas, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and watermelon.
• The cool season vegetables that can be planted this month are: beets, carrots, celery, collards, endive, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radish and turnips.
• More conservative gardeners might wish to wait until the middle to latter part of the month to risk tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers.

Lawns

• Remove excessive accumulation of leaves from the lawn.  This will increase the effectiveness of fertilizers and pesticides applied to the lawn.
• If a preemergence lawn herbicide is needed to control summer  weeds, it should be applied in early March.  Make certain to choose one that is safe on your kind of grass.
• Keep lawn herbicides away from the root zones of desirable flower, shrubs and other plants.
• Fertilize the lawn only after the danger of frost has passed and when the grass has greened up.  Fertilize using a complete fertilizer applied at 0.5 lbs nitrogen per 1000 sqft containing 50% soluble and 50% slow-release nitrogen.
• Service the lawn mower: include a sharpening of the blade and adjusting of the cutting height for your type of grass.
• Anyone considering establishment of centipedegrass from seed should hold off until the soil warms up and stabilizes above 70°F. Add Item Here…

Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: The Real World Intrudes

Every once in a while, the generally abstract issues discussed during the legislative session intersect with something out of real-life, something more visceral than a bill full of clauses and subsections.

When Aramis Ayala, the new state attorney in Orange and Osceola counties, announced that she would not pursue death sentences in capital cases during her time in office, it brought new life to a debate about state-sanctioned executions that had seemed to die down.

By the end of the day Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott had booted Ayala from a high-profile case and Republicans and law-enforcement officers were howling in outrage over the prosecutor’s decision.

There were also less emotional developments as the Legislature went through its second week. Lawmakers continued to grapple with how to handle a tight budget situation that got little better as the final verdict came down on how much money the state will have to spend in the year beginning July 1.

Meanwhile, some heavily lobbied pieces of legislation continued their trek through the process. But few of them were likely to stir up as much passion as Ayala’s decision.

A FIGHT OVER CLOSURE

The week started out well for supporters of Florida’s death penalty. On Monday, Scott signed a bill aimed at fixing a flaw that the state Supreme Court found in the state’s newest death penalty system.

“Governor Scott’s foremost concern is always for the victims and their loved ones. He hopes this legislation will allow families of these horrific crimes to get the closure they deserve,” Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said in a statement early Monday evening.

The new law — the second death penalty “fix” in a year — came in response to a series of court rulings, set off by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in January 2016 in a case known as Hurst v. Florida.

The Legislature last year hurriedly passed a law to address the federal court ruling, but the Florida Supreme Court struck down the new statute. Florida justices said the law was unconstitutional because it only required 10 of 12 jurors to recommend death, instead of unanimous jury decisions.

Critics of the death penalty still had problems with the new scheme, but it appeared to clear the way for prosecutors to move forward before the seemingly inevitable appeals began.

That’s when Ayala made her announcement, with the most immediate impact being on the case involving accused cop-killer Markeith Loyd.

Scott quickly appointed Brad King, state attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit, to handle the case of Loyd after Ayala refused to recuse herself.

Loyd is accused in the execution-style killing of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton in January. Loyd is also accused of the December shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Norman Lewis died as a result of a traffic crash during the hunt for Loyd.

“I am outraged and sickened by this loss of life and many families’ lives have been forever changed because of these senseless murders. These families deserve a state attorney who will aggressively prosecute Markeith Loyd to the fullest extent of the law and justice must be served,” Scott said in a statement announcing the move.

For her part, Ayala cited numerous problems with the death penalty as the rationale for her decision, which she said she reached after “extensive and painstaking thought and consideration.”

The death penalty has not proven to be a deterrent to crime and the cases drag on for years, adding to victims’ anguish, according to Ayala.

Some Republicans suggested Scott might need to go further.

“I think she ought to be thrown out of office,” said Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican considering a bid for governor in 2018.

Others were less fiery. Even some death-penalty proponents agreed that Ayala enjoys latitude regarding whether to seek death sentences.

“I’m a big supporter of local discretion on filing decisions,” Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who is a former prosecutor, told The News Service of Florida on Thursday.

BUDGET PICTURE: STILL TOUGH

If lawmakers were looking for some relief from their fiscal heartburn when economic forecasters met to estimate the state’s future tax revenues, none was coming. The verdict of a Friday gathering — another $115.2 million by June 30, 2018 — did little to change the overall outlook for the budget.

“In terms of what they’re facing, they pretty much have the same picture,” said Amy Baker, head of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, which helps develop the forecasts.

Lawmakers aren’t expected to face a shortfall in the budget year that begins July 1. But by the following year, lawmakers could be $1.3 billion short of how much they will need to cover expected spending, with a $1.9 billion hole projected the year after that.

Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, indicated Friday that the revised forecast also didn’t do anything to change how leaders will shape their spending plans.

“As we evaluate our budget priorities, it is likely that funding for new initiatives will be offset by reduced spending on projects and programs added to the budget by prior legislatures,” Negron said in a statement issued by a spokeswoman.

The new forecast came a couple of days after the House’s top budget-writing committee heard ideas for potential cuts across state government. Suggestions included cuts in payments to hospitals, reductions in spending on universities and scaling back early-learning and other public-education programs.

House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said how closely lawmakers follow the recommendations, which were couched as an “exercise,” remains to be seen. But he said a reduction in expected spending of about $1.4 billion is a “realistic goal” for the coming budget year.

“I think it’s a roadmap — whether we decide to go down Road A or Road B — but I think it’s a roadmap of how we’re going to craft our budget,” he said. “I don’t think anything’s set on stone as far as specific amounts.”

LOBBYIST IN CHIEF

Using the term loosely, the highest-profile lobbyist of the year so far might be Scott. He’s spent weeks banging away at House Republicans who want to curtail business incentives and tourism marketing money, and he shows no signs of letting up.

On Monday, Scott brought his roadshow through Tallahassee — not coincidentally, where many of the reporters covering the session are located — for a roundtable with business leaders and state officials.

At Danfoss Turbocor Compressors Inc., Scott declined to rule out vetoing the budget for the year that begins July 1 if it doesn’t include funding for business incentives. But he spent most of his time trashing legislation that would abolish business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida and overhaul tourism marketer Visit Florida, approved last week by the House.

As he has done at other stops during a recent media blitz aimed at saving business incentives, Scott singled out a local lawmaker: Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello.

“Why in the world would Halsey Beshears or anybody else vote to eliminate Enterprise Florida and decimate Visit Florida?” Scott told reporters after meeting with business leaders and state economic development officials. “This is about some family getting a job. I’m going to fight for those families all this session.”

More conventional lobbyists had their eyes on other legislation considered this week.

Four years after House and Senate leaders thought they had finally settled a decade-old turf battle between the state’s optometrists and ophthalmologists, the “eyeball wars” have returned.

The old compromise allowed optometrists to prescribe oral medications, but not perform surgery. But now, optometrists are seeking to expand their scope of practice to perform some surgical procedures. Optometrists maintain the proposal is an access-to-care issue, while ophthalmologists argue it would endanger patient safety.

The House Health Quality Subcommittee narrowly approved the proposal Wednesday by a one-vote margin, after two hours of testimony.

The measure (HB 1037) would allow optometrists who receive special training to perform certain kinds of surgery in which “human tissue is injected, cut, burned, frozen, sutured, vaporized, coagulated, or photodisrupted by the use of surgical instrumentation,” including lasers and scalpels, according to a House staff analysis of the bill.

But the chances in the Senate remain dicey.

Another big-ticket item, focused on key changes to the workers’ compensation insurance system, was approved by the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee.

The panel approved a bill that deals with a series of issues, such as the duration of benefits for some injured workers and the amounts of money hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers get paid to provide outpatient care to workers.

But almost all of the debate focused on attorney fees, which business groups blame for driving up costs in the workers’ compensation system. The bill (PCB IBS 17-01) would allow judges of compensation claims to approve fees up to $250 an hour for workers’ attorneys.

And the decades-old prohibition on selling liquor in grocery and large retail stores narrowly continued to advance in the House on Tuesday.

The Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee voted 7-6 to support an amended proposal (HB 81) that would end a Depression-era law requiring liquor stores and bars to be separated from groceries and other retail goods, an issue commonly referred to as the “liquor wall.”

Rep. Bryan Avila, the Hialeah Republican sponsoring the measure, rejected claims by opponents that his legislation, three years in the making, will increase access to liquor by minors and harm existing businesses.

“While shopping at Publix is a pleasure, certainly their argument is not,” Avila said. “The only reason the antiquated law is being opposed is to maintain the status quo.”

The House bill, which appeared to stall a week ago, remains controversial for many.

“The losers are clearly going to be the small businesses,” said Rep. Kathleen Peters, a Treasure Island Republican who voted against the bill.

STORY OF THE WEEK: Aramis Ayala, the new state attorney in Orange and Osceola counties, announced that she would not pursue death sentences in capital cases during her time in office, escalating debate over the state’s death penalty.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It ain’t right to put the apple schnapps next to the apple sauce.”— Pat McClellan, owner of the Flora-Bama lounge and package store in the Panhandle, on legislation knocking down the “liquor wall” for grocery stores.

by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida

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