Meet The Dogs That Protect Florida Agriculture
August 7, 2015
Protecting Florida’s $120 billion agriculture industry requires a multifaceted approach, including the assistance of several four-legged, furry helpers. During the dog days of summer, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is showcasing its lesser-known staff members—rescue dogs trained to detect invasive pests and disease.
“Dogs’ unparalleled sense of smell makes them indispensable to multiple industries, including law enforcement and health care. Here at the department, our working dogs are an integral part of our early detection efforts to identify invasive pests and disease that threaten Florida’s agriculture industry,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
Florida’s warm climate makes it a hotbed for invasive pests and disease. Among the many tools the department employs to detect, monitor and eradicate pests and disease are five working dogs.
Meet the dogs that defend Florida’s agriculture industry:
Audi (age: 5): Audi is a chocolate Labrador Retriever rescue dog who patrols parcel facilities in Orlando, Tampa and Miami. One career highlight is when Audi detected olive branches from California with fruits that contained larvae of the Olive fruit fly, one of the most damaging pests of olives in southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and California. Olive trees are a relatively new addition to Florida’s agriculture portfolio.
Kojak (age: 6): Kojak is a Labrador Retriever-mix rescue dog who works in Ft. Myers, Tampa and Orlando. Kojak patrols parcel facilities to detect invasive pests and disease, as well as unauthorized plant material that may have been shipped into Florida. One career highlight is when Kojak detected a live whitefly pupa and several crushed adult whiteflies.
Bear (age: 4): Bear is a Labrador Retriever-mix rescue dog who works in Miami. Bear’s sole mission is to detect giant African land snails in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which are considered to be one of the most damaging snails in the world. They consume at least 500 types of plants and pose a threat to health as they carry rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis in humans and animals.
Sierra (age: 3): Sierra is a chocolate Labrador Retriever rescue dog. She joins Bear in the mission to eradicate giant African land snails located in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Verde (age: 7): Verde is a Labrador Retriever who was found abandoned and in ill health. Since her rescue and recovery, she has been trained to patrol parcel facilities to detect invasive pests and disease. She works in Miami, Hollywood, Homestead and Miramar at postal facilities. One career highlight is when Verde detected invasive water lettuce, which is prohibited to import to Florida, contained within an unmarked box at a postal facility.
Pictured top: Larry Bynum and Bear. Pictured inset: Kojak with a find. Pictured below: Sierra locates a giant African land snail. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lottery Game Proposed To Fund Breast Cancer Programs
August 7, 2015
In what would be a change for the Florida Lottery, a state lawmaker Thursday proposed creating a lottery game that would help fund breast-cancer research and services. The state has traditionally used lottery money to bolster spending on education programs.
But Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, filed a bill (SB 102) that calls for creating a special instant-lottery game called “Ticket for the Cure,” with proceeds going to breast-cancer research and services. The services would be provided to people who have breast cancer and are low income and uninsured. Research money would go to public or private universities that have medical-research facilities or are associated with such facilities.
The bill, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session, calls for starting the special game on January 1, 2017, and ending it December 31, 2022.
Free School Supplies Saturday In Atmore
August 7, 2015
An Atmore church will offer free school supplies on Saturday.
A Unity in the Community event sponsored by Grace Fellowship, Concerned Citizens of Atmore and the Brewton District Missionary Department will be held at Grace Fellowship on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be food, a carnival and entertainment. Free uniforms and school supplies will also be available. A shuttle will be available from Houston Avery Park beginning at 10:30 a.m. The entire event is free with some participation required.
Updated Forecast: Below Normal Hurricane Season
August 7, 2015
The NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s updated 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook calls for a 90 percent chance of a below-normal hurricane season. A below-normal season is now even more likely than predicted in May, when the likelihood of a below-normal season was 70 percent.
“Tropical storms and hurricanes can and do strike the United States, even in below-normal seasons and during El Niño events,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “Regardless of our call for below-normal storm activity, people along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts should remain prepared and vigilant, especially now that the peak months of the hurricane season have started.”
Two tropical storms already have struck the United States this year. Ana made landfall in South Carolina in May, and Bill made landfall in Texas in June.
The 90 percent probability of a below-normal season is the highest confidence level given by NOAA since seasonal hurricane outlooks began in 1998.
The updated outlook also lowers the overall expected storm activity this season. The outlook now includes a 70 percent chance of 6-10 named storms (from 6-11 in the initial May Outlook), of which 1-4 will become hurricanes (from 3-6 in May), and 0-1 will become major hurricanes (from 0-2 in May). These ranges — which include the three named storms to-date (Ana, Bill, and Claudette) — are centered well below the seasonal averages of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Forecasters attribute the high likelihood of a below-normal season to three primary factors:
- El Niño has strengthened as predicted, and NOAA’s latest El Niño forecast calls for a significant El Niño to continue through the remainder of the hurricane season;
- Atmospheric conditions typically associated with a significant El Niño, such as strong vertical wind shear and enhanced sinking motion across the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, are now present. These conditions make it difficult for storms to develop, and they are predicted to continue through the remaining four months of the hurricane season; and
- Tropical Atlantic sea-surface temperatures are predicted to remain below average and much cooler than the rest of the global tropics.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
Escambia County Back To School Tips
August 7, 2015
Here are the links to information you need for the first day of school on Monday in Escambia County:
For last minute shopping, click here for the elementary supply list; click here for the middle school list.
To find your school zone information, click here.
For school start and dismissal times, click here.
To find school bus routes and schedules, click here.
Meal prices have increased at some schools this year, click here for info. Meals are free for all students at other schools, click here for info.
To pay for school meals, click here. To apply for free and reduced price meals, click here.
For breakfast and lunch menus, click here.
Jacksonville Hangs On To Beat The Wahoos 5-4
August 7, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came within one run of tying the Jacksonville Suns after a two-run homer with no outs by catcher Kyle Skipworth.
However, the Suns got the next three batters out to pull out a, 5-4, victory and end the Blue Wahoos three-game win streak. But Pensacola won the overall series, 12-8, and captured the Golden Skillet trophy, given to the winner of the series between the Florida rivals, for the first time since its inaugural season in 2012.
Skipworth, who hit a franchise record five home runs in five games for Pensacola in July and fell one game short of the Southern League record, hit his team-leading 10th homer of the season to right field that also scored center fielder Beau Amaral. But that was the closest Pensacola would come.
Pensacola jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when third baseman Marquez Smith hit his fourth triple of the season and right fielder Juan Duran knocked him in with a sacrifice fly to right field.
But Jacksonville posted the next five runs to go ahead, 5-1. The Suns second baseman David Adams scored when catcher Sharif Othman grounded out into a double play to knot the game, 1-1, in the second inning.
Then in the fourth, Jacksonville added four more with three coming on first baseman Viosergy Rosa’s three-run home run to right field.
Pensacola added a run in the eighth when right fielder Bryson Smith hit a solo shot to pull within, 5-2, which set up Skipworth in the ninth.
Pensacola’s loss at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville left the Blue Wahoos in second place at 23-17 (48-60) in the Southern League South Division. The Suns are in last place at 14-26 (43-66).
Missing, Endangered Teen Located
August 6, 2015
UPDATE: This missing endangered teen has been located safe and returned to her family, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities are looking for a missing and endangered teen they believe may be somewhere in the North Escambia area.
Chloe Marie Phillips, 14, has been missing since she was reported as a runaway by her grandmother on July 28 after she never returned home from jogging in her neighborhood off Chemstrand Road.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, she is still be believed to be in the northern Florida or lower Alabama area, possibly staying with older friends. She is described as a white female with brown hair, blue eyes, about 5-feet 5-inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Chloe Marie Phillips, contact Crimestoppers at (850) 433-STOP, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, or a local law enforcement agency.
Cantonment Man Charged With Sexual Battery On Minor
August 6, 2015
A Cantonment man has been charged with sexual battery on a minor.
River Austin Sewell, age 20 of Muscogee Road, was charged with sexual battery on a person 12-18 by a person 18 or older.
Sewell had allegedly been talking to the female victim for about six months before a midnight visit to her home on Fowler Avenue. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Sewell tapped on the girl’s window, which she opened to talk to him before he removed the screen and entered the bedroom. The female described a sexual encounter as consensual to deputies.
The incident was reported to deputies by a resident of the home who wanted to press charges for “statutory rape”.
Sewell denied the allegations against him. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
West Nile Case Confirmed in Escamba County: Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Issued
August 6, 2015
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County has issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory. The first case of West Nile virus in Escambia County was confirmed in an adult male. This makes the fourth human case in Florida in 2015.
“Residents and visitors should take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to limit exposure to mosquito-borne illnesses,” says DOH-Escambia Director, Dr. John J. Lanza.
The Escambia County, Florida Mosquito Control Division and DOH-Escambia continue surveillance and prevention efforts. There is heightened concern that other Escambia County residents and visitors may become ill from being bitten by an infected mosquito.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, the health department recommends that practice of “Drain and Cover”:
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items not being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.
Northview Tribal Beat Band Preview Show Friday Night
August 6, 2015
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band will present a special preview of a portion of their 2015 halftime show Friday evening, August 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the NHS Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium. The event is free is open to everyone. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.