Bill Would Tighten Florida Texting While Driving Ban
October 28, 2013
Just months after state lawmakers approved a ban on texting while driving, a South Florida senator filed a bill Friday to try to strengthen enforcement. The measure, filed by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, would allow police to stop motorists for texting while driving and give them citations.
The law passed earlier this year only allows enforcement as what is known as a “secondary offense.” That means motorists can only be cited for texting while driving if they are pulled over for other reasons.
The new law took effect October 1, and Sachs indicated at the time she would file a bill for the 2014 session to try to strengthen enforcement.
High School Football District Standings, Schedules
October 28, 2013
Here is a look at local high school football district standings, scores from last week, and Friday night’s schedule for Florida schools:
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Hitting Deer Near Molino
October 27, 2013
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a deer early Sunday morning near Molino.
The accident was reported by a passerby just before 2 a.m. on Sunshine Hill Road just north of Crabtree Church Road. The 58-year old male victim was thrown from his motorcycle after a direct collision with the deer. He told first responders that he had been down in the roadway about an hour before he was found.
He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance as a “trauma alert” with back and leg injuries. The deer did not survive the crash.
The victim’s name has not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also reponded to the crash.
The Power Of Pink: Thousands Take Part In Breast Cancer Walk
October 27, 2013
About 15,000 people took part in the 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday morning in Pensacola.
“My sister and I walked with our mom who is a breast cancer survivor,” Tiffany White of Flomaton said after the walk along with her mother Brenda Peterson of Century.
Like Tiffany, most walked for a reason. For a mom, a grandmother, a friend or their own personal battle against breast cancer. For many, it’s a party-style event, with a variety of festive outfits. The walk begins at the former University Mall and ends at Cordova Mall.
“I try and walk every year in the Breast Cancer Walk, my grandma had it 15 years ago,” said Ashley Suggs of Cantonment. “She’s a survivor!”
There were hundreds of survivors honored during the walk that raises nearly a half million dollars each year for breast cancer research and the American Cancer Society.
Pictured top: Valerie Craft of Century, survivor Brenda Peterson of Century and Tiffany White of Flomaton. Pictured below: The view from Chris Jordan of Cantonment as an estimated 15,000 took part in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday morning in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Ashley Suggs of Cantonment and family walk for her grandmother. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Williams Station Day
October 27, 2013
Hundreds attended the 22nd annual Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday.
Williams Station Day takes its name from Atmore’s early history when in 1866 the community was a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern railroad.
Festival-goers were entertained by a wide variety of musical acts, and a wide variety of arts and crafts were also available. The Alabama Blues Brothers provided the feature entertainment as part of their farewell tour.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: The Alabama Blues Brothers perform during Saturday’s Williams Station Day in Atmore. Pictured inset and bottom: Scenes from Williams Station Day. NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
Master Deputy Gulsby, K-9 Caleb Place In National Competition
October 27, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Wayne Gulsby of Molino and his K-9 partner Caleb recently won third place in the Police K9 Agility Competition during the United States Police Canine Association National Certification Course in Washington, D.C.
Gulsby has been employed by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for about 27 years, and K-9 Caleb has served since February of 2013. Caleb is a German bred and imported German Shepherd and is a certified patrol/bomb dog.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE, Jay, Flomaton Advance Teams To Escambia River Finals
October 27, 2013
The Northwest Escambia Eagles swept three games Saturday with teams advancing to next Saturday’s Escambia River Conference’s league championships in Jay.
Saturday’s championship matchups, times to be announced, are as follows:
- NWE Sophomores vs. Poarch
- NWE Juniors vs. Jay
- NWE Seniors vs. Flomaton
Here are select playoff results from Saturday:
- Flomaton Seniors 27, Poarch 20
- NWE Seniors 33, Jay 0
- NWE Juniors 49, Neal 0
- NWE Sophomores 40, Baker 6
- Jay Juniors over Excel
Results of other games were not submitted for publication.
Pictured top: NWE Senior’s Trent Kite gains yardage as he faces a Jay defender Saturday in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The NWE Seniors shutout Jay 33-0 Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bills Would Give Tax Help To Farmers
October 27, 2013
Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia, filed bills this week that would create new tax exemptions for the agriculture industry.
The bills would provide exemptions for irrigation equipment, replacement parts for farm equipment and repairs to farm equipment. Also, it would allow landowners to keep what are known as “greenbelt” exemptions if they take part in programs with water-management districts that involve flooding land. The greenbelt law is designed to hold down property taxes on agricultural lands.
“This legislation will give much-deserved tax relief to Florida’s family farmers,” Simpson said in a prepared statement. “Florida farmers make our state one of the nation’s most important food producers, and reducing their tax burden will invigorate this crucial sector of the economy.”
The bills will be considered during the 2014 legislative session.
by The News Service of Florida
One Charged With Murder After Escambia Stabbing Death
October 27, 2013
An 19-year old Escambia County man was stabbed to death Saturday morning at a business near Mobile Highway.
Tyquon James Prim was stabbed outside a business on Grandview Avenue about 10:30 a.m.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office charged 26-year old Anthony Paul Peoples, Jr.with second degree murder in the incident. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Other details, including a motive for the murder, have not yet been released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The stabbing was third murder of the weekend in Escambia County. Two people were fatally shot about 10:30 p.m. Friday in an Ensley neighborhood behind the John R. Jones Athletic Complex on Nine Mile Road. Read more…
Weekend Gardening: Colorful Bedding Plants Can Brighten A Winter Day
October 27, 2013
Decreasing day length is a signal to start preparing for winter. Soon, deciduous shrubs will drop their leaves and the landscape will appear stark and less impressive. To keep the gloomy days of winter at bay, add cool season bedding plants to the landscape.
Bedding plants are those that are commonly used in residential and commercial landscapes to provide color and interest. No other group of plants can so quickly and economically create a colorful landscape.
Most bedding plants are annuals. These short-lived plants grow from seed, bloom and die within one growing season. The transient nature of annuals means that at the end of their season when they are no longer attractive, annuals are removed and replaced with new plantings.
Many flowering plants prefer a very specific season; therefore, bedding plants are classified into two groups based on the temperatures they prefer. Cool season bedding plants do best in the cold to mild temperatures of October through early May and generally tolerate typical winter freezes without protection.
According to a University of Florida/IFAS publication, bedding plants that can be added to the North Florida landscape now include alyssum, baby’s breath, calendula, carnation, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, hollyhock, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansy, petunia, snapdragons and violas.
Most annual bedding plants prefer to be in a sunny location. Prepare the planting beds several weeks before planting. First, remove any weeds or other unwanted plants from the bed. Next, turn the soil to a depth of about eight inches. Spread a two- to four-inch layer of compost, rotted leaves, aged manure, composted finely ground pine bark or peat moss over the bed, and then evenly sprinkle a light application of an all purpose fertilizer. Thoroughly blend the organic matter and fertilizer into the bed, rake smooth and you’re ready to plant.
Gardeners are accustomed to (and even demand) that bedding plants be in bloom when they are purchased. Some cool season bedding plants, however, will provide far superior results if they are purchased when young and before the colorful display begins.
Bedding plants are typically planted to make a dramatic statement. To accomplish that, place multiple plants of the same kind in a bed. Bedding plants generally look best and the beds will fill in better when the rows are staggered. Lay out the first row of plants spaced properly. The second row is laid behind the first row at the appropriate spacing from it, but the plants are placed between the plants of the first row so that they form triangles with those plants.
Flower beds of colorful bedding plants add a lot to the landscape but require a fair amount of maintenance to stay looking their best. Keeping beds well weeded is critical. A two-inch layer of mulch will help considerably in keeping weeds from growing, and using preemergence herbicides (weed preventers) may help in some situations. However, always plan on having to do some hand weeding.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.