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.
Brothers Sentenced To 20 Years For Shooting
November 2, 2013
Two Escambia County brothers will spend the next 20 years in prison for a shooting last year.
Circuit Judge Michael Allen sentenced Tevin Watson and Carderrial Watson to serve 20 years state prison, day for day, under Florida’s 10-20-Life Law. Both defendants were convicted on October 2 by an Escambia County jury of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.
The charges stemmed from the shooting of Cordarrell Prim in the Sunrise Apartment Complex around noon on November 20, 2012. After an argument between Prim and Carderrial Watson, both Watson brothers pulled guns and fired at Prim. Prim was struck one time in the leg. Several eyewitnesses identified both Watson brothers as the shooters.
Jay Beats Freeport
November 2, 2013
Jay sent Freeport’s Bulldogs running back home with their tails tucked Friday night as the Royals poured it on for a 47-14 win at Merle North Stadium.
Jay improved to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in District 1-1A, while Freeport remained winless at 0-9 overall, 0-3 in the district. The Jay Royals will wrap up their season next Friday night as they host 3A Maclay High School (3-6) of Tallahassee.
Braden Cross had a couple of TD’s for the Royals in the first, and A.J. Nash Nash added another touchdown.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Dies In Wreck
November 1, 2013
An Escambia County man died in a single vehicle accident late Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 69-year old William Clyde White of Pensacola lost control of his 2002 Toyota Tundra while negotiating a curve on New Warrington Road at Mobile Highway about 11:36 p.m.
His vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned multiple times. White, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected. He was pronounced deceased a short time later at Baptist Hospital.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol Homicide Unit.
Northview’s FFA Honored As One Of America’s Best Chapters
November 1, 2013
The Northview High School FFA chapter was awarded one of the highest national honors presented by the National FFA Thursday afternoon.
Northview’s FFA received the Three Star Chapter award on live national television during the National FFA Convention & Expo going on this week at Louisville, KY. About 53,000 FFA members and advisors are attending the convention through Saturday.
The program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters from throughout the county that successfully complete an annual set of required activities that encourage members to grow individually, work as a team and serve others in their community.
In addition to the national honors presented Thursday, the Northview High FFA chapter was recently honored for having the top Fresh From Florida Food Advocacy Program, formerly known as the Food for America Program, in the entire state.
The Fresh From Florida Advocacy Program is an educational program focusing on agricultural literacy in elementary schools and communities. It is a program developed to assist FFA members and all agricultural education students in leadership skill development as they reach out to youth, peers and their entire communities by sharing the world of agriculture.
Planning began in the fall of 2012 with FFA members setting goals and establishing working committees for the spring 2013 event. Through the efforts of 100 FFA members and community support, approximately 1,000 mostly elementary level students participated in agriculture awareness through hands-on exhibits and activities.
In addition, members of the Northview High School FFA officer team visited several area elementary schools to read agriculture-related books to students.
The Florida FFA Organization has honored Northview High School FFA Food for America program at the state level multiple years.
Pictured top: On behalf of the Northview FFA, President Courtney Solari (left) and Secretary Bethany Reynolds (middle) receive the Three Star Chapter award on live national television during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY, Thursday afternoon. Pictured below. Representing the Northview FFA during the National Convention in Louisville, KY, are chapter advisor Perry Byars, President Courtney Solari, Vice President Courtney Weekley, Secretary Bethany Reynolds, 2nd Vice President Haylee Weaver and NHS graduate Lydia Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Injured In Highway 29 Crash
November 1, 2013
Four people were injured in a two vehicle accident Thursday night on Highway 29 north of Cantonment.
The accident happened about 9:15 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Highway 29 near Hazzard Lane, just south of Quintette Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 1997 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 68-year old Easter Mae East of Cantonment had slowed to turn onto Hazzard Lane. The driver of a 2006 Ford Windstar, 61-year old James Otis Conway, hit the pickup when he failed to notice it slowing down.
Conway was not injured. East received minor injuries and was transported West Florida Hospital. Passengers in the Ford Ranger — 53-year old Ruth Hammon Hazzard, 48-year old Aldme Toler and 16-year old LeeMicheal East — were transported to West Florida Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. Two other pickup passengers — 5-year old Jaquez Carter and 6-year old Robert Dukes III — were not injured.
Conway was cited for careless driving, and East was cited for a seat belt violation for unrestrained passengers under 18.
Pictured: Four people were injured in this accident Thursday night on Highway 29 in the Cantonment area. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Make-A-Wish Providing Paris Trip For Halee Boyd
November 1, 2013
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is making a dream come true for local cancer patient Halee Boyd — with a trip next week to Paris, France.
A year and a half ago Halee was a Tate High School junior on top of the world, looking forward to her senior year and graduation. In April 2012, Halee started having severe headaches, followed by blurry and double vision. Within 10 days her right eye was swollen, and the Boyds headed to a hospital emergency room. By the end of the month, they learned she had a tumor.
The diagnosis — Alevola Rhabdomyosarcoma , ARMS for short, a rare cancer of the muscles that are attached to the bones.
Her treatment for alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma ended in May of this year, but she has continued to suffer with more problems and side effects. A week ago she underwent surgery for another bone marrow biopsy to see if a medical condition is keeping her platelets from recovering since treatment ended.
Halee learned during a dinner at Ollie’s Neighborhood Grill on Nine Mile Road that she and her mother, Mardi Boyd, will fly out Monday for a week in Paris.
“This is the best time for Halee to be going and getting away from all the medical things she has been dealing with,” Mardi Boyd said.
Pictured top and inset: Halee Boyd reacts when she learns she will be leaving on a Make-A-Wish trip to Paris next week. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Man For Questioning In Homicide Investigation
November 1, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking to talk to a man in connection to a homicide investigation.
Eugene Edwards Roberson is wanted for questioning only, the Sheriff’s Office said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Investigations division at (850) 436-9643 or (850) 436-9620.
DEP Closes Deal On Eglin Conservation Buffer
November 1, 2013
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has closed on a deal that will conserve nearly 21,000 acres in Northwest Florida and help provide a buffer to Eglin Air Force Base.
The deal, which was approved by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet in August, has the DEP paying $10.2 million for land known as the Seven Runs Creek project in Walton County.
The purchase, which also involved The Trust for Public Land, is designed to provide environmental benefits such as protecting rare species. But it also will help prevent development from encroaching on Eglin.
The U.S. Department of Defense and Eglin will contribute a combined $2.3 million. Landowner M.C. Davis discounted the cost of the property by $7 million.
by The News Service of Florida