Weekend Gardening: Hit A Home Run With Knock Out Roses
March 28, 2015
by UF/IFAS Extension
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.
Santa Rosa Death Investigated As Homicide
March 28, 2015
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death has a homicide.
Stephen Richmond Rice, Jr., 43, was found deceased in his Persimmon Hollow Road home after deputies responded for a welfare check. Deputies said it was evident that Rice had been dead in the home for an undetermined period of time.
The Sheriff’s said foul play is suspected.
The cause of death is not yet known as investigators await the outcome of an autopsy by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
Area Unemployment Rate Falls
March 28, 2015
The latest job numbers released Friday show the unemployment level decreasing in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.1 percent in January to 5.9 percent in December. There were 8,125 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 6.8 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased, from 5.1 to 4.8 percent from January to February. Santa Rosa County had a total of 3,530 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 5.3 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment decreased from 7.6 percent in January to 7.0 percent in February. That represented 974 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 9.4 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate dipped slightly from January to February, with Gov. Rick Scott continuing his focus on private-sector job creation. The state’s jobless rate for February stood at 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent a month earlier, the state Department of Economic Opportunity announced Friday. Out of a workforce of 9.7 million, the monthly mark represented an estimated 548,000 jobless Floridians, a decrease of 6,000 from January, according to the state agency. The largest month-to-month gains were found in the fields of education, health care, food and drink services, administrative and support services, and state and local government. Increases were also recorded in construction, real estate, and transportation.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 5.8 percent in February, was down from January’s rate of 6.0 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 7.2 percent
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Northview Tops Central; NHS Over Neal; Tate Beats Monroe; Tate Over Pines
March 28, 2015
Northview 13, Central 6
Northview 6, W.S. Neal 1 (JV)
The Northview Chiefs beat Central Friday night 13-6. Thomas Moore had a home run for the Chiefs, along with three RBI’s as he went 2-5 at the plate for the Chiefs.Quentin Sampson was 2-5 with a RBI; Brian Cantrell 2-5; Brett Weeks 2-5 with a RBI; Roman Manning was 2-4 with two RBIs; and Aaron McDonals was 1-5 with a RBI. McDonald pitched the win for the Chiefs allowing five hits and five runs, two errors and three strike outs. The varsity Chiefs will travel to PCA on March 31; the JV will travel to Tate on April 2.
Tate 7, Monroe 0
Trace Penton pitched the win as the Tate Aggies beat Monroe 7-0. Sawyer Smith was 2-2 with a run and RBI; Mark Miller was 2-4; Stephen Harris was 1-2 with two runs; Hunter Worley was 1-3 with a run and double; and Josh Kea was 1-1 wih two runs, two RBIs and two SB.
Kississimee Klassic
Tate 2, Pembroke Pines 1
Pictured: Northview versus Central. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Deputies Name Suspect In Century Double Shooting
March 27, 2015
Two people are recovering after being shot Thursday night in Century, and the Escambia Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help in locating a suspect
Deputies are searching for 28-year old Brian Keith Sanders (pictured, but deputies said his head is now shaved). He is wanted on charges of aggravated battery, deadly missiles, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and criminal mischief. Deputies said he should be considered armed and dangerous and not approached.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Jay Hospital emergency room Thursday night alerting them that two gunshot victims had arrived in a private vehicle seeking treatment. The gunshot victims advised that they were shot on Jefferson Avenue in Century.
Both victims were shot in the shoulder or upper-arm area, and they were treated and released .
They were apparently shot while in a vehicle that was discovered on Mayes Street at Jefferson Avenue. It appeared that the driver’s window of the Chevrolet Impala had been shot out.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of Sanders is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or CrimeStoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Further details were not released.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day’ Planned For Saturday
March 27, 2015
Saturday is “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” in the city of Atmore, and organizers are encouraging Vietnam veterans from across the area and the public to attend a special ceremony.
The event will be held this Saturday, March 28 at 4 p.m. at Heritage Park at the corner of Main and West Craig streets in Atmore. It is hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7016. Vietnam veterans from the entire area, both from Alabama and Florida, are encouraged to attend.
For more information, call (251) 294-2356, (251) 363-0000, or (251) 359-1768.
Pictured: The 2014 “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Student Struck And Killed By Train In Cantonment
March 27, 2015
A Tate High School student was struck and killed by a train Thursday afternoon in Cantonment. She has been identified as 15-year old Katelyn White.
The accident happened about 4:15 p.m. on the CSX tracks north of 10 Mile Road, roughly between Tara Dawn Circle and the end of Gateway Lane. White was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was a “tragic accident”.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Jay Lindsey Named Tate Interim Head Football Coach
March 27, 2015
Jay Lindsey has been named the interim football coach at Tate High School.
He will hold the position through the spring as Tate follows school district policies in advertising the job, according to Tate Principal Rick Shackle.
Lindsey was offensive coordinator for the Aggies last season. He has nine years coaching experience, including his time at Tate and years at Pace High school.
Lindsey’s appointment follows the resignation of Ronnie Douglas, who stepped down to spend more time on his car wash business ventures.
Florida House, Senate Differ On Gambling Tracks
March 27, 2015
House and Senate leaders are taking divergent approaches to the perennially thorny issue of gambling, with the House vetting a soup-to-nuts gaming measure Thursday even as the Senate pursues negotiations with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
House Regulatory Affairs Chairman Jose Felix Diaz’s comments at the introduction of a four-hour workshop on gambling might have foreshadowed the future of a sweeping proposal released by House Majority Leader Dana Young the day before the legislative session began earlier this month.
“Welcome to the most anticipated non-event of the year,” Diaz, R-Miami, quipped to a packed meeting room.
Young’s plan (HB 1233) would allow a maximum of two Las Vegas-style casinos to open in Miami-Dade or Broward counties and would effectively do away with a 20-year revenue-sharing agreement, called a compact, with the tribe. A portion of the deal with the Seminoles giving the tribe exclusive rights to operate banked card games such as blackjack is set to expire on July 31 unless the Legislature reauthorizes it or signs a new agreement.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Young — who previously characterized a gambling deal as “an enormous, gargantuan lift” — conceded it is uncertain whether the measure would come up for a vote at all.
“I don’t know yet,” Young, R-Tampa, said.
Meanwhile, Senate Regulated Industries Rob Bradley told The News Service of Florida that his talks with the Seminoles have intensified over the past week.
“We are negotiating right now with the Seminole Tribe. Those are ongoing negotiations. Whether they will be fruitful or not remains to be seen,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said.
The Senate is watching the progress of Young’s bill but has no plans to offer a similar package, according to Republican leaders in the Senate.
“The House has taken a very comprehensive approach. We understand that that’s the position of House leadership. If they are able to pass that bill in some form out of the House, then we will workshop it and take a very serious look at it. Meanwhile, we’re pursuing negotiations with the tribe,” Bradley said.
Echoing Young’s comments earlier this session, Senate GOP leaders this week indicated that passage of the House proposal in its current form would be a difficult task as the 60-day session nears the midway point.
“Trying to put a gaming bill up in committee was like throwing a side of beef into a shark tank,” Senate budget chief Tom Lee, a former Senate president who spent a decade in the Legislature before returning to the upper chamber in 2012, said of his experience with similar measures. “So good luck in the last three weeks of session trying to bring something in for a landing.”
Senate President Andy Gardiner was equally cryptic.
“Given the size of the gaming expansion that the House put out there, and it being the majority leader and everything…we sort of paused,” Gardiner, R-Orlando, told reporters on Tuesday. “If they really are going to push for extensive expansion, then the Senate will have to figure out what to do. Never say never.”
The future of the deal with the Seminole Tribe is a major looming question. Under the current agreement, the Seminoles agreed to pay the state a minimum of $1 billion over five years in exchange for exclusive rights to banked card games at five of its seven facilities throughout the state. The tribe’s payments to the state have thus far exceeded the minimum and are expected to increase under a complicated revenue-sharing formula inked in 2010.
The agreement requires the Seminoles to share with the state 12 percent to 25 percent of what is known as the “net win” on their earnings — essentially the difference between how much money they take in and how much they pay out to gamblers. The tribe shares a higher percentage of the net win if it increases, from a minimum of 12 percent on a net win of up to $2 billion to a maximum of 25 percent on a net win of $4.5 billion.
But Amy Baker, the Legislature’s chief economist, told the House panel on Thursday that analysts do not predict the state during the remaining life of the 20-year compact to ever receive more than the current share, which is a 15 percent share on revenues up to $3 billion.
Baker offered lawmakers a swath of options for a new deal with the tribe, including changing what is included in the net win; imposing new minimum payments for activities such as expansion of facilities; greater exclusivity for the tribe by allowing it to offer games such as roulette or craps; and changing the revenue-sharing formula by increasing minimum dollar thresholds.
“All of these would take renegotiating the compact. None of these could be done in a simple extension,” Baker noted.
Baker also said that lowering the tax rate on slots at pari-mutuel “racinos” in Miami-Dade and Broward counties — now set at 35 percent, and reduced to 25 percent in Young’s bill — would generate a recurring loss for the state.
The talks between the Senate and the Seminoles could allow Miami-Dade and Broward pari-mutuels, which have slots, to add blackjack, increase the tribe’s revenue-sharing amounts and give the Seminoles exclusive rights to roulette and craps, sources close to the negotiations said.
The cash from the Seminoles could be even more alluring in what was initially considered to be a rosy economic year but has since been overshadowed by uncertainty about health care funding.
Florida could lose up to $822 million over the next five years by not renewing the card deal, according to state economists’ projections. Lawmakers have not included card-deal funds in their budget proposals this year.
But that issue did not arise during the four-hour House workshop on Thursday, where the panel received a briefing on gaming law and heard from more than 30 speakers representing in- and out-of-state gambling operators, horse breeders, Las Vegas casinos, business groups, greyhound protection and industry advocates and anti-gambling Christian conservatives.
The Seminoles, whose lobbyists were present at the meeting, were not among those who addressed the panel Thursday. The tribe has taken to the airwaves in three television ads to pitch a renewal of the card portion of the compact, emphasizing that the Seminoles have exceeded their $1 billion commitment in the past five years.
“Leaders of the Seminole Tribe closely followed today’s workshop and felt the state did a fine job of sharing the value of the compact, which is not the subject of the three bills filed by Rep. Young. The Tribe is focused on the important task at hand, which is to work out a way to keep the table games provision of the compact from expiring in July,” Gary Bitner, the Seminoles’ spokesman, said in a statement.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Jay Tops Northview; Tate Wins In Kissimmee Klassic
March 27, 2015
Jay 4, Northview 4
The Jay Lady Royals defeated the Northview Lady Chiefs 7-4 in a game that was called early due to rain. For the Lady Chiefs, it was the final game of the regular season before the district tournament that begins April 13 in Freeport. The Lady Royals (11-5) will host Holmes County Monday at 6 p.m.
Tate 10, Harmony 2
The Tate Lady Aggies topped the Harmony Longhorns 10-2 Thursday night in the first day of the Kissimmee Klassic. The Aggies scored at least one in every inning. Tori Perkins pitched the win, allowing five hits, two runs and striking out nine. Casey McCrackin 1-4, Savannah Rowell 1-4, Tori Perkins 2-4, Elizabeth Werdann 1-2, Lauren Brennan 1-2, Savannah Ullrich 1-3, Rachel Wright 1-4, Samantha Burks 1-3, Kristin Quina 1-1.
Pictured: Jay at Northview Thursday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.