Election Watch: 7,300 Absentee Ballots Returned So Far
August 11, 2014
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office will begin counting absentee ballots today for the August 26 primary election. As of the weekend, 7,300 absentee ballots had been submitted in Escambia County; that’s about 22 percent returned of those issued.
All absentee ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on August 26.
Brickyard Bridge Replacement To Begin This Week In Molino
August 11, 2014
The Florida Department of Transportation will replace the existing two-lane bridge on Brickyard Road over an unnamed branch in Molino beginning this week.
Brickyard Road will be closed to traffic during the construction process. Motorists should use Molino Road, Highway 95A and Brickton Road as a detour route, according to FDOT, while the new bridge is under construction.
The $746,853 project is anticipated to be complete in late 2014. The wooden support bridge, which is considered structurally deficient, was constructed in 1960.
No Injuries In Molino Pickup Crash
August 11, 2014
The driver of a pickup that overturned south of Molino Sunday night received only minor injuries.
The 23-year male lost control about 11 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 196 and Highway 95A, left the roadway and overturned the truck into the edge of a wooded area. The driver was briefly trapped in the vehicle before being freed by first responders.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: First responders work to free the driver of a pickup that overturned near Molino Sunday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
FHP Child Safety Awareness Month: Be Aware While Backing
August 11, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol has designated August as Child Safety Awareness Month. The FHP is offering tips for safety around vehicles and preventing children from being hit when a vehicle is backing:
Blind Zones
- All vehicles have blind zones/blind spots.
- Get to know a vehicle’s blind spots.
- Typically, the larger the vehicle, the larger the blind zone; blind zones are often larger for shorter drivers.
- Blind zones can be affected by the size and shape of vehicle mirrors and windows, elevation of driver’s seat, and slope of driveway.
- Keep your windows and mirrors clean. Never back a vehicle when the rear windows or any mirrors are covered with dirt or any other substances.
Backing Out
- When backing in and out of a driveway, make sure all children are safe and accounted for.
- Walk around and check behind your vehicle before you get in.
- Whenever possible use a person outside the vehicle to help you back up.
- Check your rearview and side mirrors. Roll down your windows to listen for children/pedestrians.
- Keep your foot on the brake until after you put the vehicle into reverse.
- Place your right arm on the back of the seat and turn around so that you can look directly through the rear window.
- Back slowly and check the path repeatedly.
- Bicyclists often ride on sidewalks so look both ways before backing over a sidewalk.
- Children on bicycles can be unpredictable and can make sudden changes in direction. Be especially careful when children are present (school zones and residential areas).
- Florida Law states (f.s. 316.1985): The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same unless such movement can be made with safety and without interfering with other traffic.
- Prevention of backing crashes is what it’s about, so TAKE A SECOND LOOK, if you have any doubt!
Driveway Safety
- Discourage children from playing in driveways and designate safe play areas away from vehicles.
- If children play in the driveway, have an adult supervise at all times.
- Teach children to never play inside, on, around, or under vehicles.
- Keep vehicles in driveways/garages locked and store keys out of child’s reach.
- Keep toys, bicycles, etc. off the driveway.
Wahoos Win Slugfest 9-8
August 11, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (20-30, 51-69) defeated the Jackson Generals (22-27, 53-65) 9-8 in the series finale at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. With the victory, the Wahoos won their second series since the All-Star break.
For the second straight game, the Generals took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Pat Kivlehan rocked a two-run home run to deep left field to get the Generals started. Pensacola responded with a big first inning of their own; Travis Mattair had a three-run home run and Juan Duran followed him with a two-run homer.
It didn’t take long for the Generals to respond, scoring four runs in the top of the third. The runs came off the bat of Kivlehan again as his three-RBI double cleared the bases. Pensacola and Jackson traded runs in the fourth and fifth innings and the Generals led 7-6 after the top of the sixth.
The Wahoos exploded for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. They loaded the bases for Brodie Greene, who hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Duran. Ray Chang and Yorman Rodriguez both made the heads up play and moved up to second and third respectively on the sac fly. Chris Berset brought them home with a two-run two-RBI single to give the Wahoos a 9-7 lead after six innings.
Neither starting pitcher would account for a decision. RHP Michael Lorenzen allowed six runs on four hits over 3.0 innings while Jackson’s Tyler Pike lasted just 0.2 innings while allowing five runs. LHP Fabian Williamson earned the win and pitched extremely well in relief for Pensacola. The lefty tied his season high with four strikeouts and didn’t allow a hit over 2.2 innings of work.
Jackson’s Moises Hernandez took the loss; he allowed three runs on four hits over 1.2 innings pitched. RHP Shane Dyer set down the Generals in order in the ninth and earned his 16th save of the season.
The Wahoos scored at least five runs, so use promo code WAHOOS on PapaJohns.com Monday for 50% off pizza.
The Wahoos are off Monday and begin a five-game home set against the Mobile BayBears on Tuesday night. Gulf Breeze native Ben Lively (1-6, 3.96) will make the start for Pensacola.
by Tommy Thrall
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.