Topping Out The New Ernest Ward Middle School (With Photo Gallery)
August 10, 2014
A “topping out’ ceremony was held Friday afternoon at Ernest Ward Middle School to celebrate the building reaching its highest point.
Click here for a photo tour inside the $20 million facility. If construction continues on its current pace, students will be moved into the new building when they return from Christmas break in January 2015.
A pine tree placed Friday on the building’s highest point marked the symbolic “topping out” of the project, following a construction tradition.
Pictured: Construction progress on the new Ernest Ward Middle School NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Back To School Shopping? Print A Supply List
August 10, 2014
School starts Monday, August 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
CLICK HERE for printable school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in Escambia County, plus the North Escambia area schools in Santa Rosa County and Escambia County, AL.
CLICK HERE for weekend school supply sales tax information for both Florida and Alabama.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 10, 2014
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the week ending August 7.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Pettey, Livesay, and Manning conducted offshore vessel patrols this week. They inspected 32 vessels. A total of 26 red snapper, three grey triggerfish, one greater amberjack, triggerfish fillets and amberjack fillets were seized during the detail. Citations were issued for possession of red snapper, grey triggerfish, and greater amberjack during the closed season. Citations were also issued for failure to land grey triggerfish and greater amberjack in whole condition. Several other warnings were issued for additional fisheries, boating safety and license violations.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Lewis and Ramos were on patrol in Blackwater River State Forest at a primitive site when they observed one adult male, one adult female, four male juveniles, and one female juvenile on a sandbar across river. The officers observed the adult male smoke a cannabis cigarette and give the cannabis cigarette to two juvenile males who also smoked it. The officers observed a female juvenile and a male juvenile casually consume alcoholic beverages amongst the adults. The adults made no attempt to prevent the juveniles from consuming the alcoholic beverages. The officers identified themselves to the group and during a consensual search, Officer Lewis found cannabis, a cannabis roach, and a glass pipe containing cannabis residue. The female adult stated that all five children were hers and the adult male was her fiancé. The adult female’s children who were on scene ranged from 7 to 16 years of age. Officer Lewis arrested the adult female and charged her with a felony charge of neglect of a child without causing great bodily harm, misdemeanor charges for giving an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 years of age, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Officer Ramos arrested the adult male and charged him with the same charges as well as with possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis. Santa Rosa County deputies assisted and transported the two adults to the Santa Rosa County Jail. The children were released to the adult female’s husband.
Officers Allen, Anderson, Harrison and Jones conducted a shellfish harvest detail during the past week. Their efforts paid off with several arrests. Two different subjects were cited for harvesting shellfish after dark. One of the subjects was also charged with interfering with an FWC Officer after he pushed several pounds of shellfish overboard after being stopped. Two other subjects were cited for possession of undersized sheepshead and spotted sea trout.
Groups Come Together For Cantonment Clean Up
August 10, 2014
Saturday was time for a neighborhood and park clean up in Cantonment.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee was joined by numerous volunteers, including volunteers from Ascend and the Pensacola Young Professionals. The even focused on the clean up of Carver Park.
The CIC will hold a Back To School Bash next Saturday, August 16 at Carver Park with school supplies for those in need.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fall Veggies Are Cool To Grow
August 10, 2014
by Santa Rosa Extension
In Northwest Florida, vegetable lovers can enjoy harvests from their backyard gardens throughout the year. However, to ensure a productive and enjoyable vegetable garden, you must understand and abide by planting times.
In general, vegetable crops can be grouped into warm-season and cool-season varieties. Warm-season crops do not grow well at temperatures below 50 degrees F and are killed by frost. Cool-season crops are those that grow at lower temperatures, are not injured by light frost, but can’t take the heat.
In late summer and early fall, North Florida gardeners experience a unique opportunity. You can still plant another round of warm-season crops and/or start your cool-season vegetables.
Planting of warm-season vegetables gets to be more critical with the fall garden because we have an end point—frost and freezes. When planted too late, plants will grow, but may not provide enough of a harvest to make the effort worthwhile. Examples are peppers, eggplants and tomatoes. These vegetables can easily take up to two months from transplanting to producing the first fruit. All the time, the fall is getting shorter in day length and cooler in temperatures. That’s really tough on “warm-loving,” full-sun plants.
Since timing is so important with the fall crop, choose warm-season crops that will produce well within a short time. Look for fast-maturing and determinant or bush-type cultivars to ensure a good yield before frost.
Crops to plant outdoors in August include bush and lima beans, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, onions, southern peas, peppers, squash, tomato and turnips.
In September, you can set out beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, endive, kale, kohlrabi, mustard and radish.
The cooler temperatures of October are better for planting Chinese cabbage, lettuce and spinach.
To find specific recommendations on when to plant vegetables in Florida, read the UF/IFAS “Vegetable Gardening Guide”. It’s online at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021
The leafy crops excel in the fall. Some of the more popular leafy crops are Swiss chard, collards, spinach, mustard, turnip greens and lettuce. Endive, escarole, kale, arugula and the greens of mesclun mix also do very well during the cooler months.
Garden lettuces can be divided into three classes based on habit of growth – leaf or loose-leaf types, semi-heading types (such as butterhead and romaine) and heading or crisp-head types.
Crisp-head lettuces, such as the iceberg types available in supermarkets, are more of a challenge to grow here, so its recommend you stay with the leaf and semi-heading varieties. Other than generally avoiding the heading types, feel free to try just about any variety that strikes your fancy.
Leaf lettuces are the most decorative and least-demanding. They also are among the most heat-tolerant lettuces. This type of lettuce grows in a loose rosette of foliage, and the leaves can be smooth or crinkled, pointed, lobed, curled or ruffled. Foliage color runs from deep ruby red to dark green to pale greenish yellow, with just about every combination in between.
Collards will withstand wide ranges of temperatures if properly conditioned. They may be direct seeded and or plants can be transplanted. Collards may be harvested by cutting the whole plant or by “cropping” individual leaves.
Onions are generally grown from sets or plants. Sets and plants will require about six to eight weeks to reach eating size. Bulbing onions will not be ready to harvest until spring.
Radishes are fast growers and fun for the kids. Many are ready to harvest 25 to 30 days after planting.
So take the leap and “fall” into vegetable gardening.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Farewell Summer, We Hardly Knew You
August 10, 2014
.Inter- and intra-party scrapes over elections in the sultry months leading up to November are typical hijinks for those already in office and others hoping to join the in-crowd.
But the latest scuffle over the GOP-dominated Legislature’s congressional map has brought summertime finger-pointing to a halt, at least for members who already have subterranean Capitol parking spaces.
Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis surprised even himself by getting the last say in the dispute over the map approved by lawmakers in 2012. House and Senate leaders decided not to fight his ruling last month that they violated the Florida Constitution’s voter-approved prohibition against favoring incumbents or political parties, apparently fearful that a contest of his decision could give someone other than themselves control over what the districts should look like.
So lawmakers, who are prohibited from taking campaign cash while they are in session, are back in Tallahassee this week and at least part of next week to draw a handful of new districts. The special session gives their opponents, if they have any, the chance to rake in a little extra dough while the incumbents are holed up in the Capitol.
The campaigning in the governor’s race, however, is in overdrive, with both sides slinging mud. Republican Gov. Rick Scott spent the week touting environmental plans, while his likely Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, fleshed out some platform details in the “Fair Shot Florida” plan aimed at middle-class voters.
SUPER-FAST SPECIAL SESSION
House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz quickly ordered lawmakers into a special session this week to revise the congressional map struck down by Lewis.
Proving that the process is on hyper-speed, the chairmen of the committees working on a new map released a joint proposal hours after the session convened Thursday. The plan was approved by committees Friday and could gain approval from the full Legislature by Wednesday, before lawmakers return home for summer vacations, last-minute primary campaigning or helping get the kids ready for school.
The work is focused on correcting the two districts targeted by Lewis: Congressional District 5, represented by Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown, which sprawls across eight counties as it winds its way from Jacksonville to Orlando; and Congressional District 10, represented by Republican Congressman Dan Webster. At least five other districts abutting the problematic seats could be impacted by the changes.
Under the plan revealed by Senate Redistricting Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and his House counterpart, Land O’Lakes Republican Richard Corcoran, Brown’s district would no longer include the city of Sanford — it would instead pick up more of Putnam and Marion counties.
All of Seminole County, which includes Sanford, would be included in Congressional District 7, now held by Republican Congressman John Mica, while the changes would force Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis’ District 6 to pick up more of Volusia County.
The plan released by GOP leaders differs significantly from a proposal by two voting-rights groups that were among those challenging the current map in court. Those groups wanted Brown’s district to instead run from Jacksonville in the east to Gadsden County in the west.
“Slight alterations will not correct the constitutional defects Judge Lewis identified,” wrote Deirdre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, and Peter Butzin, chairman of Common Cause Florida, in a letter Thursday to legislative leaders. “The snaking north-south configuration of CD 5 should be abandoned.”
In a marked departure from the norm, the fourth floor of the Capitol appeared abandoned before, during and after discussions regarding the districts. Usually during session, the area between the House and Senate chambers is crowded with lobbyists.
The absence of Capitol insiders may be because Galvano and Corcoran issued a gag order for staffers, an apparent reaction to revelations during the trial about secret meetings, map-swapping and email exchanges between legislative aides and GOP consultants. Lewis decided that the political consultants manipulated the process that led to the tainted maps in what he called a “mockery” of the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts constitutional amendments.
Galvano, in a memo, warned staff “to refrain from discussing their map-drawing efforts with anyone outside of the Legislature except our legal counsel and not to share their work product with any outside interests in advance of the public release of the remedial plan.”
Corcoran was even more pointed in his directive.
“House Redistricting Committee staff have been informed that they are to have no interactions with any member of Congress, Congressional staffer or aide, or with any political consultant,” Corcoran wrote. “If any member of the House suggests to Redistricting Committee staff that a plan be changed with an intent to favor or disfavor any incumbent or political party, staff should disregard the suggestion entirely and report the conversation directly to me.”
One lobbyist offered a simple explanation for why he was avoiding the Capitol this week.
“I don’t want to get subpoenaed,” he said.
GOING GREEN WHILE SLINGING MUD
Campaigning had to take a backseat for a few days this month for incumbent legislators, but there’s been no reprieve for Scott and Crist.
Scott on Monday rolled out a $1 billion environmental blueprint for Florida, the latest piece of his re-election platform.
The governor’s proposal includes investing $50 million a year for alternative water-supply projects and another $50 million a year for natural springs restoration.
Scott’s plan calls for increased penalties on polluters, a new position in the governor’s office focused on efforts to move water south through the Everglades rather than east and west, commitments to protect the Florida Keys and Apalachicola Bay, lobbying Congress to provide matching funds for South Florida water projects and $150 million-a-year for Florida Forever for items including land preservation.
Democrats and Crist quickly blasted Scott — who, within months of taking office in 2011, successfully pushed for the elimination of the Department of Community Affairs, the agency tasked with overseeing growth management — for what they called “an election year gimmick.”
Scott has “always been on the polluters’ side,” Florida Democratic Party spokesman Joshua Karp said. “Rick Scott campaigning on the environment is like the Grinch campaigning for Christmas.”
Crist never misses an opportunity to dis Scott for what he calls a dismal environmental record. But this week Republicans slugged back. The state GOP released a web ad docking Crist for taking a ride to a campaign event — in which he bragged about his green credentials — on a private plane owned by developer James Finch, owner of a construction company fined at least twice for violating environmental regulations.
The fight over who’s the larger land lover comes amid buzz about billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer’s selection of Florida as one of seven states in which he’s planning to spend up to a reported $10 million to back climate-change politicos like Crist. Steyer, founder of San Francisco-based NextGen, dropped $750,000 into a Florida political committee backing Crist, who took a lot of heat from Republicans for holding a climate-change summit during his tenure as Florida’s GOP governor.
In a break from dueling over the green, Crist this week released details of his campaign platform, announcing tuition-loan forgiveness and refinancing programs as part of a “middle class jobs and opportunity plan.”
The proposal features a number of education-related proposals as well as several previously discussed ideas, such as increasing the minimum wage and expanding access to health care.
“To ensure that everyone has a fair shot, Florida needs a governor who will invest in them, not just the big corporations,” Crist, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2010 instead of seeking a second term as Republican governor, said in a prepared statement.
Crist, who’s lambasted Scott over past education-funding cuts and for failing to expand health care, dubbed his plan “Fair Shot Florida.”
Even before it was released, the plan was panned by Sen. John Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican who is Scott’s campaign chairman.
“It’s hard to take Charlie Crist seriously on ‘jobs and opportunity’ — because he hurt Florida’s economy so much as governor, he didn’t even want his own job,” Thrasher said in a statement issued by the Scott campaign more than three hours before Crist’s announcement Tuesday. “Charlie Crist had his shot at being governor — but he failed, then ran away.”
STORY OF THE WEEK
Lawmakers are meeting in a special session to draft a new congressional map after the 2012 plan was struck down by a Tallahassee judge.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I think senators of both parties are fulfilling their constitutional responsibility — and that’s more important than running for election, it’s more important than me taking out the cat boxes for Vicky (Gaetz), it’s more important than fundraising or anything else that we might do.” Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, on the special session dealing with redistricting.
Generals Top Wahoos
August 10, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (19-30, 50-69) fell 
-5 to the Jackson Generals (22-26, 53-64) in front of the 30th sellout crowd of 2014. With the win, the Generals evened the series at two games apiece.
For the first time in the series, the Generals struck first in the contest. Leon Landry led the game off with a solo home run to right field. It was an inauspicious start for Wahoos’ starter Robert Stephenson, who would eventually be chased from the contest after 2.1 innings pitched. Stephenson allowed five runs on nine hits, five of which went for extra-bases.
The Wahoos answered in the bottom of the second inning with three runs of their own to take the lead, 3-2. Travis Mattair started the inning off with a double and Kyle Waldrop followed it up with an RBI triple. After a sacrifice fly from Seth Mejias-Brean, Juan Duran crushed a solo shot to left field to give the Wahoos the lead.
Jackson re-took the lead with a two-RBI double from Dario Pizzano in the third inning and it was sixth batter of the inning, Steve Baron, whose double ended Stephenson’s night. The seesaw battle continued with the Wahoos tying the score at five in the bottom of the fourth.
Dan Paolini answered in the fifth with a solo home run to left center to give the Generals the lead for good. Paolini was the marquee player for Jackson; he went 4-for-5, with three RBI and two solo home runs.
RHP Kyle McMyne made his first Double-A appearance of his career for Pensacola. McMyne went 2.0 innings and allowed one run on three hits while notching his first strikeout. RHP Tim Adleman came on in relief of Stephenson and took the loss for the Wahoos. Adleman went 2.2 innings and gave up just one run on two hits while striking out three batters. LHP Kyle Hunter earned the win, throwing 2.1 innings of scoreless ball for the Generals.
The Wahoos scored five runs, so use promo code WAHOOS on PapaJohns.com Sunday for 50% off pizza.
The rubber match begins at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The Wahoos will send RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-5, 2.56) to the mound and the Generals have tabbed LHP Tyler Pike (3-2, 6.29) as their starting pitcher.
by Tommy Thrall
Pedestrian Killed On Fairfield Drive
August 9, 2014
A pedestrian was struck and killed Friday night in Escambia County.
Earl Brown, 53, of Ocala, was in the westbound lane of Fairfield Drive near North “S” Street about 10 p.m. when he was hit by 1993 Dodge Ram B250 driven by 57-year old Lonnie Lee Rice of Pensacola. That forced Brown to the ground, directly into the path of a 1987 Nissan Pickup driven by Dustin Brent Faulk of Pensacola. Brown was pronounced deceased at the scene.
No charges were filed, but the investigation into the crash is continuing by the Florida Highway Patrol.
One Injured In Highway 97 Three Vehicle Crash
August 9, 2014
There were no serious injuries in a three-vehicle crash Friday night in Davisville.
The accident happened just before 8 p.m. on Highway 97 just south of the Florida/Alabama state line. A van was apparently rear-ended by a pickup truck, before a passing car hit the wreckage. A juvenile in the van was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered serious.
The accident blocked Highway 97 and caused traffic to be diverted through an adjacent shopping center parking lot for about an hour.
The wreck is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Night Work Planned On I-10, Highway 29 Ramps
August 9, 2014
The eastbound I-10 ramp to southbound Highway 29 in Escambia County will be closed from 10 p.m. Sunday, August 10 to 6 a.m. Monday, August 11 as crews mill and resurface the roadway. Motorists will be directed to use the northbound Highway 29 ramp during the temporary closure.
The outside eastbound lane of I-10 at Highway 29 will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday, August 11 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, August 12 as crews pave the outside shoulder.
The work is part of an I-10 resurfacing project which extends from Highway 29 to east of Palafox Street. The project also includes the milling and resurfacing of all ramps and ramp shoulders associated with the Highway 29/I-10 interchange, shoulder widening, guardrail upgrades, crash cushion replacement, removal of portable traffic monitoring sites (PTMS), installation of new signs, pavement markings, and sodding.
During construction drivers will encounter overnight lane restrictions on both I-10 and the Highway 29/ I-10 interchange. Lane closures on I-10 and intermittent closures or restrictions on the interchange will be limited to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather