Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 3, 2013
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their 44th annual fish fry.
Jeffrey Huber was named Firefighter of the Year, an award chosen by her fellow firefighters. Kevin Mininger as name Officer of the Year and recognized for his years of service to the department.
Genesis Rail Systems received the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s Community Service Award for outstanding and dedicated service to the community.
Hundreds of people enjoyed fried catfish or grilled chicken plates during the event, with proceeds to be used to provide assistance to displaced fire victims in the area. The Northwest Florida Blood Center Bloodmobile was also on hand for a blood drive.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top Representative of Genesis Rail System receive the Walnut Hill Fire Department Community Service Award Saturday. Pictured bottom: Walnut Hill Fire Department Officer of the Kevin Mininger, District Chief Christ Brown, Firefighter of the Year Jeffrey Huber, Brown. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Robotics Competition Brings Out The Best In Young Scientists
November 3, 2013
Young scientists from 11 area middle and high schools — including Tate and West Florida — tested robots they built in the pressure-cooker of real competition at the sixth annual Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition Saturday at the University of West Florida.
Each student team had six weeks to design and build a remote-controlled robot to solve a problem or perform a specific function. The year’s theme, Gatekeeper 2013, tasked robots to build a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to upgrade the BEST robot, Squeaky, to Squeaky 2.0. The students designed a prototype robot to build the mock CPU through three fabrication stages.
Each team was judged on its robot performance, marketing presentation, team exhibit, technical notebook and spirit and sportsmanship. The top two overall teams and the team with the top robot advance to regional competition Dec 7-8 at Auburn University.
Seaside Neighborhood School took the overall competition, and will be joined by Woodlawn and Woodham middle schools to represent the Emerald Coast BEST hub at Auburn.
Gulf Power Company has sponsored the BEST Robotics competition for the past six years. The event teaches teamwork, problem-solving, project management and pride in task completion.
BEST Robotics Inc. — Boosting Engineering Science and Technology — is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition.
“Gulf Power supports the annual competition because it provides local students the opportunity to learn practical engineering, science and math skills, which are critical for their future,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesman. “Events like the BEST Robotics competition also help promote interest in high-quality technology careers down the line for these students.”
Gulf Power has recently ramped up efforts to increase the availability of skilled technicians in Northwest Florida by helping form the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council earlier this year. The council will help local manufacturing companies work together to compete in a global marketplace with a special emphasis on having a skilled workforce.
Area schools have been competing in BEST since 2004, when Gulf Power sponsored eight local teams to compete in the BEST hub in Mobile, Ala. The funding of hub operations depends entirely on corporate and individual sponsorships. Materials kits to build the robots are provided to the teams by the hub. No fees are paid by students or schools participating in BEST robotics.
AWARD CATEGORIES
Advancing to Regionals at South’s BEST – Auburn University on Dec. 7-8
1: Seaside Neighborhood
2: Woodlawn Middle School
3: Woodham Middle School
Robotics Award – Awarded to the teams whose machines finish first, second and third in the tournament bracket.
1: Seaside Neighborhood
2: Woodlawn Beach Middle School
3: Tate High School
BEST Robotics Finalist – Awarded to the team whose machine finished 4th
Pine Forest High School
Founders Award for Creative Design – awarded to the team that makes best use of the engineering process in consideration of offensive and defensive capabilities in machine design; awarded in recognition of BEST founders Steve Marum and Ted Mahler.
Seaside Neighborhood
Most Robust Machine – Awarded to the team whose machine requires the least maintenance during and between matches and is generally the sturdiest machine in the competition.
Pine Forest High School
Most Photogenic Machine
Woodlawn Beach Middle School
Gulf Power Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape Award
Bethlehem School
Best T-Shirt Design
1: Woodlawn Beach Middle School
2: Sims Middle School
3: Seaside Neighborhood
Web Page Design Award – Awarded for the best team website; based on page functionality, creative use of the game theme, information about team members and community efforts.
Sims Middle School
Best Spirit and Sportsmanship – Recognizes the vigor and enthusiasm displayed by team representatives and the outward display of sportsmanship (e.g., helping other teams in need), grace in winning and losing, and conduct and attitude considered befitting participation in sports.
1: Sims Middle School
2: Woodham Middle School
3: Seaside Neighborhood
Best Team Exhibit and Interview – The purpose of this category is to communicate through a display, and through discussion with judges, information about the team’s efforts to promote BEST in the community and schools; Foster BEST spirit, camaraderie, and participation and give evidence of sportsmanship.
1: Seaside Neighborhood
2: Woodham Middle School
3: Sims Middle School
Best Project Engineering Notebook – The purpose of the notebook is to document the process the team used to design, build, and test their robot.
1: Newpoint Pensacola High
2: Seaside Neighborhood
3: Woodham Middle School
Best Marketing Presentation – Teams should view themselves as employees of a “company” that is marketing their “product” (robot) to a potential buyer (judges). This marketing team is an integral part of the engineering team that has designed a specialized robot.
1: Seaside Neighborhood
2: Woodham Middle School
3: Newpoint Pensacola High
BEST Award – The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the attributes associated with “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology” in its development which include teamwork, diversity of participation, sportsmanship, creativity, ethics, positive attitude/enthusiasm, school/community involvement and exposure to and use of the engineering process.
1: Seaside Neighborhood
2: Woodlawn Middle School
3: Woodham Middle School
Pictured top: The Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition Saturday at the University of West Florida. Pictured inset: The West Florida High School Robot. Pictured below: Seaside Neighborhood School took the overall competition. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Government Shutdown, Debt Ceiling Debate Harm Consumer Confidence
November 3, 2013
The state’s consumer confidence fell sharply in October, exacerbated by the federal shutdown and talks of another debt ceiling debate in Congress, according to a University of Florida report.
On a scale that ranges from 2 to 150, confidence among Floridians went down seven points from September to a 71, the lowest reading since Dec. 2011.The 2011 marks were heavily impacted by a debt ceiling showdown that summer.
“Confidence among Floridians was already declining prior to any indication of a shutdown and debt ceiling debate,” Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, said in a release. “However, there is no doubt that confidence in September took a hit as we replayed the events of August 2011, the last time the U.S. was precariously close to a default.”
Because of the federal shutdown, the release of the state’s jobless figures for September has been delayed until Nov. 22. The university had to rely on national unemployment figures for its consumer confidence calculations. The U.S. unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in September, down from 7.3 percent in August.
“While a decline is good it appears that job creation was tepid, particularly in leisure and hospitality, an important employment category for Florida,” the report noted.
Weekend Gardening: Fill Voids In Landscape With Shrubs
November 3, 2013
Occasionally gardeners will lose a shrub in their landscapes. This typically results in an unsightly void. Or perhaps you chose a beautiful shrub but put it in a location which it quickly outgrew. Fall is the best time of the year to plant new shrubs and transplant those that may need a new home.
When planting new shrubs, take the time to choose plants that will meet your design requirement and will be the right size for your location. Trying to artificially manipulate a plant’s size or height by pruning should be avoided in the landscape, unless you are an expert at topiaries.
Another consideration when choosing shrubs is their leaf-retaining characteristics. Evergreen plants always have green leaves on the plant; however, they do drop foliage throughout the year. Deciduous plants drop all of their leaves at one time of the year, usually late fall.
Deciduous plants typically add beautiful floral displays to the landscape. Evergreen plants will provide the backbone of the design. The well-designed landscape will contain both deciduous and evergreen shrubs.
Northwest Florida gardeners can choose from a wide variety of beautiful shrubs. Some popular choices include azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, cleyera, holly and gardenias. For more options and information, refer to a University of Florida publication titled “Selected Shrubs for North Florida.” It’s available online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg344 or by calling your local Extension Office.
The best time to add new shrubs to the landscape is when we experience cooler weather, fall through early spring. To ensure success, be sure to follow proper procedures when planting the shrub. Correct planting and proper aftercare will prevent problems in the future.
Begin by digging a hole at least twice as wide as and no deeper than the root ball. After digging, ensure that about one to two inches of the root ball is raised above the level of the surrounding soil. Remember the old saying, “Plant it high, it won’t die. Plant it low, it won’t grow.”
Probably one of the most overlooked steps is correcting root problems prior to planting. Shrubs that are planted with circling roots will always have circling roots and can abruptly fall over in high winds. Use your hands or a knife to loosen any roots that have been matted while growing in the container. Also, cut through any circling roots.
After you backfill the hole with the soil you removed, water-in the plant to release any air pockets. Mulch with three inches of organic mulch such as pine straw after planting is completed, but never on top of the root ball.
If you have decided to transplant a shrub, consider the following. Shrubs have better transplant tolerance than trees, deciduous plants better than evergreens, shallow rooted species better than deep rooted species, and younger plants better than older plants. Plants which are already in advanced stages of decline are likely to succumb to transplantation stress.
Dig as large a rootball as you can handle and follow the normal planting procedures. Aftercare is critical to a transplanted shrub’s survival, with proper watering perhaps the most important practice. Remember that sprinkler systems are not designed to establish trees and shrubs, so hand watering or a slow-drip system is recommended. Talk to your local Extension Agent for specific instructions.
You can have better success with planting or transplanting shrubs when you do it in the fall. Just be sure to follow established procedures and tend to the shrub for several months after planting.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.. Photo credit - David Marshall.
Birth: Ruth Ann Bryan
November 3, 2013
Heath and Shelby Bryan are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Ruth Ann Bryan, born October 10, 2013, at Thomas Medical Center.
Ruth Ann weighed 6-pounds, 11-ounces and was 19.75 inches long. Grandparents are Ricky and Cheryl Golson, and Terry and Sheila Bryan of Bratt. Great-grandparents are Marlene Forester and the late Curtis Forester, the late Walter Lee Golson and Doris Oline Hopkins, Pansy Bryan and the late Preston Bryan, Dillard and Rochelle Bankston, and the late Billy Macks.
Ruth Ann was welcomed home by her big brother, Forest.
Alleged Gang Leader, Former Century Resident, Set For Trial
November 2, 2013
Trial has been set for January for an alleged gang member that claimed to live in Century at the time of his arrest.
Jason Marshall Bullock, 37, gave a home address at the Century Woods Apartments at 20 West Highway 4 when he was arrested in Escambia County. Also known as “Sir J-Mac”, he allegedly was the head of the Simon City Royals street gang in Mississippi, operating out of the Hattiesburg area. Bullock identified himself as the “Prince of Mississippi”.
He was scheduled to plead guilty on October 23, but changed his mind and opted for trial. He is accused of attempted murder, kidnapping, bank robbery, drug distribution and bribery.
According to ATF Special Agent Randy Beach, Bullock moved away from the Century Woods Apartments about a year ago. He was taken into custody without incident at a home on Tennessee Drive in Pensacola on July 9.
Friday Night Finals
November 2, 2013
Here are Friday night football finals from across the area:
FLORIDA
- Baker 24, Northview 20 [Read more...]
- Jay, 47, Freeport 14 [Read more...]
- Catholic 31, West Florida 13
- Pine Forest 21, PHS, 20
- Escambia 63, Washington 10
- Gulf Breeze 42, Arnold 23
- Milton 21-Pace 14
- Davidson 24, Navarre 21
- Vernon 35, Sneads 19
- Crestview 17, Niceville 10
Open: Tate
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 50, Central-Hayneville 16
- Escambia Co. (Atmore) 29, Baldwin County 20
- Escambia Academy 55, Macon East 6
- W.S. Neal, 42, Millry 12
- T.R. Miller 27, Sweet Water 6
Crist Officially Files For Gubernatorial Race
November 2, 2013
Former Gov. Charlie Crist made it official Friday: He will run for his old job again in 2014, setting up a potential battle with Republican Gov. Rick Scott for the state’s highest office.
Crist, who is set to announce his candidacy Monday morning at Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg, quietly filed his paperwork Friday with state election officials. The move allows him to begin raising money immediately. He becomes an instant front-runner in a Democratic primary that also includes former state Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich of Weston.
But Crist, who was governor from 2007 to 2011, will have to prove himself to Democrats after being a Republican for most of his life and, beginning in 2010, becoming an independent. It was only in late 2012 that he joined the Democratic Party.
In an interview this week with The News Service of Florida, Crist said he is running because he genuinely cares about the state.
“I love Florida,” he said. “I love her with all my heart. I’m someone who really cares. That’s my core. I’ve been true to my principles and my core my whole life.”
Running as a Democrat is the latest chapter in a long and sometimes improbable political career for Crist. In 2006, he won election in a cycle hostile to Republicans, with his sunny optimism and ability to win over voters from both parties. By 2008, he was reportedly on the vice-presidential shortlist for the party’s presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
In 2010, Crist decided to forego what was expected to be a relatively easy re-election bid to run for an open U.S. Senate seat. But the emerging tea party movement, scornful of moderates that it considered “Republicans in name only,” rallied behind former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, eventually chasing Crist out of the party. Running as an independent, Crist lost to Rubio in a three-way election.
Republicans drew on that history Friday, continuing their attack on Crist as a political opportunist who cares primarily about himself.
“Charlie Crist has now officially filed to run for the position he once abandoned,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry. “When Florida needed Charlie Crist the most during difficult economic times, he ran away. If he really wants to be Governor now, why did he quit the first time?”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
USDA-NRCS Conservation Assistance And Funding Applications Accepted
November 2, 2013
Now is the time for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers to visit their local USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office to receive more information and apply for conservation technical assistance and possible funding opportunities.
NRCS offices across the country, including those in Florida, are resuming work with farmers and ranchers to implement conservation activities. All offices are open and are working to address the backlog of requests expediently.
“If you are interested in conservation assistance you should visit with our staff as soon as possible,” said Assistant State Conservationist for Financial Programs, Jeffrey Woods. “Our agency is able to proceed with implementation of several conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.”
Florida NRCS has established November 15, 2013, as the application cutoff date for consideration for Federal Fiscal Year 2014 funds for these two programs.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Through EQIP, NRCS develops contracts with agricultural producers to voluntarily implement conservation practices. Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production and owners of non-industrial private forestland are eligible for the program.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land. CSP encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.
Applications received after November 15th will be considered for future funding periods.
Authority to enroll acres in several other programs, including the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), expired on September 30, 2013, due to the expiration of the Farm Bill.
Additional information on NRCS, conservation assistance, and programs is available on its website at www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov or at your local USDA – NRCS office. To find the nearest office go to your telephone directory under “U. S. Government, Department of Agriculture”, or http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Baker Downs Northview For District Championship; Chiefs Still Get Playoff Ticket
November 2, 2013
The Baker Gators won the District 1-1A championship Friday night by beating Northview 24-20, but the defending state champion Chiefs are still headed into the playoffs.
The Gators held the lead throughout most the night, up 17-6 at the half and 24-6 in the third.
“Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes. We dug ourselves a hole,” head coach Sid Wheatley said. “It was 24-6. I thought our kids were resilient they way they come back. The defense came back and got important stops.”
But a comeback to 24-20 just wasn’t enough for the Chiefs as the final seconds ticked away in Bratt.
“Ultimately, it turned out to be the turnovers,” he said. “We moved the ball well…it sounds like last week when we moved the ball between the 20’s but we did not punch it in.”
For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader, band and Senior Night photos will be published Sunday and/or Monday.
The Gators were up first on the board with a 25-yard field goal early in the first. Northview then scored on a 21-yard run from Ladarius Thomas with about six minutes into the game, giving the Chiefs their first, and last, lead for the night.
Northview’s Neino Robinson caught a Daulton Tullis pass in the end zone with no time on the clock in the second. It was first ruled a touchdown, but called back to the 23 on a flag. The Chiefs and the Gators headed to the lockers at 17-6, Baker.
Baker made it 24-6 with 10:10 on the clock in the third. At the 5:06 mark, Brannon Freeman scored for the Chiefs on a 17-yard pass from Tullis. A failed two-point attempt, and Baker was up 24-12.
With 7:01 to go in the game, Keondrae Lett scored on a 3-yard run for the Chiefs. With a good pass from Tullis to Freeman, the Chiefs closed in at 24-20.
“Ours kids fought. I know they are hurting right now. I’m hurting for them,” he said. “Baker has got a good football team. But we are going to bounce back, play Blountstown next week and get going in the playoffs.”
Northview (3-5, 2-1) will be on the road next Friday in a non-district game against Blountstown (9-0, 4-0).
The playoffs get underway on November 15. The Northview Chiefs will travel to play Vernon, while Baker will host Sneeds. That sets up a potential rematch between the Chiefs and Baker in the round two of the playoffs.
Wheatley is looking forward to starting on the road back to Orlando. “Our kids still have a lot of fight in them; we are still excited about the future.”
For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader, band and Senior Night photos will be published Sunday and/or Monday.
Pictured top: The Baker Gators downed the Northview Chiefs 24-20 Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Northview’s Neino Robinson catches a Daulton Tullis pass in the end zone for a touchdown called back on a flag. Pictured bottom inset: Northview assistant Coach Derek Marshman reacts to a play. Pictured below: An official goes down. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
