Chloe Channell Headlines FFA Blue Jacket Jamboree (With Photo Galleries)

March 9, 2014

The annual Blue Jacket Jamboree was held Saturday at Northview High School to benefit the school’s FFA program.

The day’s entertainment included 12-year old Chloe Channell of America’s Got Talent fame, The Dusty Sanderson Band and more.

The Blue Jacket Jamboree also included arts and crafts, plenty of food, a car show, activities and games for the kids and other family-friendly activities.

America fell in love with Chloe Channell last fall on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” when she sang the Carrie Underwood cover song “All American Girl” and made it all the way to quarterfinals at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. She performed with the Sawmill Band at the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla, since she was seven and has opened for country stars like Tracy Bird, Rodney Adkins, Little Big Town and Craig Morgan. This past Christmas, she was on stage with Billy Dean in the Kenny Rogers Production of “The Toy Shoppe” in Branson, Missouri.

Pensacola native Dusty Sanderson has been playing guitar since he was 10-years old and singing on stage since he turned 14. He has written over 75 songs and recently recorded his first four song album at Quad Studios in Nashville with Grammy nominated producer Dave Moody on the Lamon Records label. His first music video for the title track “Chuggin’ Along” was shot in January in McDavid.

The Blue Jacket Jamboree was sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com. All proceeds from the event benefited the Northview High School FFA and FFA Scholarship Fund.

Pictured top and inset: Chloe Channell performs Saturday afternoon at Northview High School in Bratt at the Blue Jacket Jamboree. Pictured below: The Dusty Sanderson Band. Pictured below middle: A young man intently plans his baseball swing during a kid’s game. Pictured bottom. The event also included arts and crafts vendors. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Atmore Motorcyclist Killed In Cantonment Crash

March 9, 2014

A 19-year old Atmore motorcyclist was killed Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Jacob Dale Lisenby was northbound about 1:08 p.m.  on Highway 29 on a 1999 Honda motorcycle at a high rate of speed when he noticed 69-year old Mary O. Simpkins of Cantonment pulling out of the Grocery Advantage parking lot in a 1987 Chevrolet van.

Lisenby attempted to stop his motorcycle by laying it down on the pavement, but was unable to stop before colliding with the van in the northbound lanes of Highway 29, according to the FHP.

Lisenby, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.

Charges against Simpkins are pending the results of a traffic homicide investigation, the FHP said.

Pictured: A young Atmore man was killed in this accident Saturday afternoon in Cantonment. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Escambia Murder Suspect Arrested In Mississippi

March 9, 2014

An Escambia County man is behind bars in Mississippi, charged in the Friday murder of his wife in the Mayfair community.

Antoine Tyshawn Banks, 34, is being held without bond in the Harrison County (MS) Jail. He was booked into the jail at 7:24 Saturday morning by the Biloxi (MS) Police Department. Banks was held on a homicide charge from Escambia County for the shooting death of his wife, 29-year old Alexis Monique Banks, according to Mississippi jail records.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called to McKinley Drive, just off Mobile Highway near the Osceola Golf Course, Friday night.  That’s where they discovered Alexis Banks dead with apparent gunshot wound.

Antoine Banks as waived extradition and is now in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

Aviation Company To Hold Job Recruitment And Info Session

March 9, 2014

An aviation company that may expand to Escambia County will hold a job recruitment and information session later this month.

ST Aerospace maintains, overhauls and repairs aircraft. They currently employ over 1,300 people in Mobile. The company plans to construct a satellite operation inside the Pensacola International Airport Commerce Park that may produce as many as 300 jobs for the area.

A recruitment and information session for ST Aerospace will be held on Thursday, March 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the National Naval Aviation Museum located at 1750 Radford Boulevard aboard NAS Pensacola.

ST Aerospace Representatives will be on-site to discuss available employment opportunities and answer related questions. Multiple openings are currently available for aircraft maintenance inspectors, avionics mechanics, APG mechanics, structure/sheet metal mechanics and interior mechanics. Area training providers will also be on-site to discuss available aeronautical training programs.

Detailed job descriptions and requirements for each position are available on the EmployFlorida Marketplace at www.employflorida.com.

Escambia SO Neighborhood Watch Academy Accepting Applications

March 9, 2014

Applications are now being accepted for the 19th Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Neighborhood Watch Academy which will be held Tuesday, March 18 in the ECSO Administration Building at 1700 West Leonard Street in Pensacola.

The free training is being provided to neighborhood volunteers for new and existing neighborhood watch programs, or anyone interested in preventing crime.

The one evening seminar begins with a complementary meal at 5:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm.Should you wish to start a Neighborhood Watch group or simply make yourself less likely to be a victim of crime, this class is for you. Much of the curriculum covers basic safety and security tips for the home, anonymous reporting and crime prevention through environmental design. The classes fill quickly so if you’d like to attend the Academy, please contact David Craig in Community Services Unit at (850) 436-9281 or at gcraig@escambiaso.com.

Chiefs Fall To Chipley

March 9, 2014

The Northview Chiefs lost two to the Chipley Tigers Friday night.  Chipley’s junior varsity topped Northview 9-4, and Chipley beat Northview’s varsity 7-2. Northview will be in action Monday as they host Jay in make up games from last week. The JV plays at 4:00, the varsity at 6:00. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.

Featured Recipe: Homemade Egg Rolls

March 9, 2014

This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a Homemade Egg Roll. Have fun and fill them with any of a variety of fillings to satisfy everyone in your house.

To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.

Commissioner Barry To Hold Town Hall Meeting Monday

March 8, 2014

District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town hall meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 10, at the Barrineau Park Community Center at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road.

For more information, contact Barry’s office at (850) 595-4950.

Ethics Commission Dismisses Complaint Against Sheriff

March 8, 2014

ARCHIVED STORY — Mar. 8, 2014

The Florida Commission on Ethics has unanimously dismissed an ethics complaint against Sheriff David Morgan.

John Powell, who was defeated by Morgan in the 2012 Republican primary, raised allegations that Morgan used his position as sheriff of obtain a document that was not otherwise public record, and subsequently use the document in a political advertisement.

Meeting Friday morning, the Commission considered Powell’s complaint and Morgan’s response and found that there was no probable cause to support any ethics violation by Morgan, according to a press release issued by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Weekend Gardening: Caring For Camellias

March 8, 2014

One of Northwest Florida’s most reliable and rewarding shrubs is the camellia. Providing dark green leaves throughout the year, gardeners are rewarded in late winter or early spring with a variety of beautifully colored and shaped flowers. Camellias tend to thrive in our acidic soil but they do require some routine maintenance.

Pick up the fallen flowers. A fungal disease known as petal blight will rapidly turn entire flowers brown. If a camellia has petal blight, remove and dispose of all blighted flowers both on the plant and on the ground. You may also consider discarding the old mulch around the shrub and apply a layer of fresh mulch. This practice sometimes helps prevent fungal spores from blowing back onto new flowers.  One of the best ways to prevent this disease is to pick up and destroy fallen blooms. Flowers will continue to drop for several weeks, so it’s important to pick up blooms several times a week.

Scout for tea scale. One of the most common insect pests of camellia is a scale insect known as tea scale. Check the underside of leaves regularly for this annoying pest. These small, sessile, white, thin, sap-sucking insects can build up large numbers if you do not regularly inspect your plants and take corrective measures when scale is first found. Often your first clue will be spotty yellowing on the upper surface of the leaves.  Horticultural oil can be used in the winter time if used before blooming or in spring after blooming. Do not apply horticultural oil when near-freezing temperatures may be expected. Always carefully read and follow pesticide label directions before use.

Expect some leaves to fall in the spring. Camellias are “evergreen” meaning that they have leaves on the shrub year round. However, as individual leaves age, they will fall from the shrub and are replaced with new leaves in the spring. It is not unusual for camellia to drop up to 30 percent of their leaves. As long as new leaves are developing, there is no need for concern.

Camellia can be pruned after they flower. The most important reason for pruning camellias is to improve the overall health of the plant. Many times, camellias that have not been pruned in a few years will develop dead or deteriorating twigs. Removing the dead and dying limbs will minimize the possibility of diseases such as “dieback” and will also allow the plant to re-concentrate its energies. In many instances, camellias that have been neglected for a number of years will become infested with scale insects. Pruning is an effective way to provide for better coverage of chemical sprays and increase air circulation.

Lichens are warning signs. Lichens are gray-green to green mossy growths on the stems of old, neglected camellias. The lichen is a combination of a fungus and an alga that grows symbiotically. They are not parasitic to the camellia. Affected plants usually need fertilizing, watering, and mulching for better growing conditions.

Fertilizer applications help to achieve maximum performance. Apply fertilizer in the spring after blooming but before new growth starts. With many fertilizers, small amounts at frequent intervals are better than heavy applications. Special camellia fertilizers are available at your local stores. One application in early spring after blooming should be followed by a second application in mid June to early July. Scatter the fertilizer evenly on top of the mulch and away from the main stem of the plant. Water the fertilizer into the soil. Do not fertilize after July, so the plants will have a longer time to harden off and avoid freeze damage.

by Santa Rosa Extension Service

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