Dump Your Kids At The Perdido Landfill For A Day Camp
June 30, 2013
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste invites kids to participate in “Dump your Kids at the Perdido Landfill for a Day!” camp this summer.
This one-day excursion to the Perdido Landfill allows kids, ages 5-11, to participate in fun-filled activities designed to teach the importance of the reduction of generated waste through source reduction, recycling, reuse or composting. Activities include a tour of the Perdido Landfill, recycling education, household chemical waste education, hands-on recycling projects, arts and crafts with recycled materials, games that focus on recycling and reuse as well as an eco-walk on the Perdido Riverwalk Nature Trail.
The cost of the camp is the donation of one pair of new or gently used shoes to be donated to Soles4Souls. Campers will need to bring clothes that are appropriate to play in and be worn outside, a brown bag lunch, snacks, a reusable water bottle and drinks. (Campers should try to pack a zero waste lunch which means reusable containers.) One snack will be provided at the beginning of the day.
Remaining camp dates are Thursday, July 11, Tuesday, July 16, Thursday, July 18, Tuesday, July 23, Thursday, July 25, Thursday, August 1, Tuesday, August 6 and Thursday, August 8 — each camp from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
For more information or to pre-register please contact Recycling Operations at 937-2160. Space is limited. The camp is sponsored by Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management Waste Services.
Century Sets Council Agenda
June 30, 2013
The Town of Century has set their agenda for Monday night’s meeting, and it’s a business-as-usual plan.
The town will conduct ordinary business — approve previous meeting minutes, approve bills and hear from the mayor and council — and hear a request from the Northview High School Yearbook.
The Century Town Council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.
County Association Presents Robinson With Presidential Advocacy Award
June 30, 2013
The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) presented Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson with the Presidential Advocacy Award during the 2013 FAC Annual Conference & Exposition in Hillsborough County last week.
“I am proud to be part of an organization like FAC that has the Florida citizen’s best interest in mind,” said Robinson, IV. “It is a great honor to be recognized for making a positive impact in Escambia County and I look forward to collaborating with other county commissioners to do the best work for the people.”
Commissioner Robinson was an invaluable asset to FAC during the Legislative Session and showed exceptional commitment to advancing public policy. Robinson took time to educate legislators on FAC’s priority issues, specifically the State-County Cost Share of Medicaid.
“It is public servants like Commissioner Robinson that ensure our local communities have the authority to respond to the demands of their citizens,” said FAC Executive Director Chris Holley, “Commissioner Robinson’s support in our efforts to create an equitable and fair solution to Medicaid cost share was essential in getting rid of the cumbersome and erroneous billing system that has been in place for years.”
The Presidential Advocacy Award is given annually to those county commissioners from around the state who have shown exceptional leadership in partnering with FAC to advance the counties’ legislative agenda.
Bratt Basketball Camp Planned With Former NBA Coach
June 30, 2013
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp this month with a former NBA, college and high school coach.
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 22-26 from 9 a.m. until noon at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost is $35 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. For more information, contact Tim Hawsey at (850) 327-6529.
Pictured: Students that participated in last year’s basketball camp at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA Golf Tourney Nets $9K For Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital
June 30, 2013
ECUA Employee’s Golf Tournament organizers recently presented a $9,000 check to the Sacred Heart Foundation. The donation was made possible through proceeds from the 2013 golf tournament held in April. Over the last 15 years, the golf tournament has contributed over $142,000 to the children’s hospital. Pictured: ECUA’s Bobby Rogers, Ron Doolittle, Carol Carlin from the Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation and Bill Ellis. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suns Outshine Wahoos 3-2
June 30, 2013
Noah Perio blasted his first homer of the year in the last of the seventh, snapping a 2-2 tie and sending the Jacksonville Suns to a 3-2 triumph over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Perio’s first round-tripper since April 22, 2012 came out of the blue against Wahoo reliever Josh Ravin who had retired all five hitters he had faced out of the Pensacola bullpen. Ravin took the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year, giving up the run on one hit in two innings with a strikeout and a walk.
Chad Rogers and Robert Morey dueled through five innings apiece to a 2-2 stalemate. Morey, starting for the first time since a complete game a week ago, held Pensacola hitless through 2.2 innings before Yorman Rodriguez singled home Brodie Greene, who had walked in the inning, with two outs in the third to give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn’t last long, however, as Jacksonville came back with two runs in the last of the third against Rogers. Morey and Jake Marisnick walked to start the frame and each moved up a base on a sac bunt. Morey scored on a sacrifice fly by J.T. Realmuto while Marisnick came around on an RBI single by Zack Cox to put the Suns on top 2-1 after three innings.
The Wahoos knotted the game up at two in the fifth on a similar formula. Greene walked to lead off the frame, was sacrificed to second and scored easily on Rodriguez’s two-out double.
Both starters received no decisions in the contest. Rogers, in his second start back off the DL, went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Morey matched him pitch-for-pitch, yielding two runs on four hits with three punch-outs and four walks in five frames.
Bryan Evans (1-3) picked up the win for the Suns with two scoreless innings of relief. Michael Brady picked up his 13th save of the year with a perfect ninth inning.
The five-game series continues with game two on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. CT. Tim Crabbe (3-6, 3.38) gets the ball for Pensacola.
by Kevin Burke
Healthy Florida Summer Series: Plant A Summer Garden
June 30, 2013
The following article from our “Healthy Summer Series”, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health, takes a look the healthy benefits of planting your own garden. It’s much easier and more beneficial than you might think. Not only is it a great way to get outside and soak up some vitamin D, it provides you and your family with a wider range of food choices that are just as rich in flavor as they are in health benefits.
Good summer crops in Florida must produce and thrive in muggy, humid and extremely warm weather. When considering a summer garden, it is important to research which fruits and vegetables yield the best results. The following list of fruits and vegetables can be grown during the summer in Florida:
Lima Beans
Recommended varieties: Fordhook 242, Henderson, Jackson Wonder, Dixie (Speckled) Butterpea, Early Thorogreen
When: plant through the summer until September
Eggplant
Recommended varieties: Black Beauty, Dusky, Long, Ichiban, Cloud Nine
When: plant until August
Lima Beans
Recommended varieties: Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Annie Oakley II, Cajun Delight
When: plant until August
Southern Peas (Field Peas, Cow Peas)
Recommended varieties: California Blackeye No. 5, Pinkeye Purple Hull, Texas Cream
When: plant through the summer until September
Peppers
Recommended varieties: Bell: California Wonder, Red Knight; Sweet: Sweet Banana, Mariachi, Cubanelle; Hot: Jalapeño M, Cherry Bomb, Hungarian Hot Wax, Long Cayenne, Habañero
When: Plant starting in July
Sweet Potatoes
Recommended varieties: Centennial, Beauregard, Vardaman
When: plant until July
Watermelon
Recommended varieties: Jubilee (Florida Giant), Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby, Mickey Lee
When: Plant starting in July
Before planting, do some research on how long it will take your vegetables or fruit to actually grow. It’s best to create a garden plan that includes the name, location, and planting date of each plant. Make a list of supplies and order or purchase your seeds early.
Most Florida soils benefit from the addition of organic matter, such as animal manure, rotted leaves, compost or commercial soil mixes. If you choose not to include organic matter in your soil, adding fertilizer is your best alternative. The amount of fertilizer you should use depends on the type of plant, as well as the soil, so be sure to consult an expert first. Be careful not to add too much fertilizer, as this can result in excess salt accumulation and may damage your plants. Pests ruin perfectly beautiful gardens every day, especially as summer welcomes insects not normally be seen in the fall and spring seasons. These pests include weeds, mites, worms, nematodes and even animals such as raccoons and birds. Though pests, aptly named, are pesky, remember that pesticides aren’t always a smart solution. They can be harmful to people, pets and the natural environment. Some organisms are actually beneficial to your garden, so think twice before you pick up a potentially hazardous pesticide.
The following are several natural alternatives to pesticides:
- Manually pick weeds.
- Monitor each plant carefully twice a week and record observations.
- Plant flowers in your vegetable garden, as they provide nectar and pollen which attracts beneficial insects.
- Learn to identify beneficial insects (praying mantis, spiders, big-eyed bugs/assassin bugs, lady beetles, and all wasps).
- Manually remove larger insects and place them in soapy water to drown.
- Harvest crops such as peppers, squash and beans as soon as they are ripe. Allowing over-ripe fruits to remain on the plants often results in additional insect problems.
In the scorching Florida heat, it is important to always wear sunscreen and stay hydrated while gardening outside for a long period of time.
NorthEscambia.com’s “Healthy Summer Series”, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health, will take a weekly look at issues aimed at keeping your Florida summer safe and healthy. Information from this article also provided by UF/IFAS Extension.
No Serious Injuries In Three Vehicle Crash
June 29, 2013
There were no serious injuries reported in a three vehicle crash Saturday morning on Nine Mile Road near Old Palafox. Two people reportedly received minor injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details were not available. The Ensley and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
Pictured: A three vehicle crash Saturday morning on Nine Mile Road near Old Palafox. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Fire At Hadji Shrine Temple On Nine Mile Causes Minor Damage
June 29, 2013
There was no major damage reported from a fire at the Hadji Shrine Temple on Nine Mile Road early this morning.
The fire was reportedly contained to a transformer unit outside the building, but a portion of the building did fill with smoke. There were no injuries during the fire, which was reported just before 3 a.m.
Fire stations from across the county responded to the two-alarm incident, including Ensley, Beulah, Ferry Pass, Myrtle Grove, Osceola, Cantonment and Molino. Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The Hadji Shrine Temple is home to the Pensacola Shriners. The 54,000 square foot, two-story building was constructed in 1969.
Pictured: A fire burns on the outside of the Hadji Shrine Temple building on Nine Mile Road early Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Scientists Discover New Fish Species In Escambia, Perdido Rivers
June 29, 2013
Scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have uncovered a new species of black bass in area waters, including the Escambia and Perdido rivers.
FWC scientists first noted a DNA profile that did not belong to any recognized species while testing a bass specimen from the Chipola River in 2007, as part of a broader genetic study of bass.
“We didn’t set out to find a new species,” said Mike Tringali, who heads the genetics laboratory at the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “It found us.”
After confirming the initial discovery, scientists searched for the DNA profile in bass caught in nearby rivers to determine the species’ range. They found that the Choctaw bass inhabits coastal river systems in Alabama and along the western Florida panhandle. The Choctaw bass has been confirmed in the Escambia, Perdido, Conecuh, Choctawhatchee, Yellow and Blackwater rivers.
“We chose the name ‘Choctaw bass’ because the species’ range overlaps the historic range of the Choctaw Indians,” said Tringali. “As for our recommended scientific name, Micropterus haiaka, ‘haiaka’ is a Choctaw word that means ‘revealed’.” The American Fisheries Society must approve the suggested scientific name for it to take effect.
The Choctaw bass is very similar in appearance to its relative, the spotted bass. The physical differences between the two species are not easily seen with the naked eye, one reason they had never before been distinguished despite decades of bass studies in the region.
Now that this native bass is known, scientists want to ensure the population remains healthy by implementing the best possible conservation management practices. Ironically, the biggest conservation threat to the Choctaw bass may come from its cousins, spotted bass and Alabama bass.
Typically, Choctaw bass have been found in the upper reaches of rivers and streams where sediment accumulates, avoiding stream headwaters and tidal zones found closer to the coast. As of late 2012, everywhere Choctaw bass had been collected, spotted bass and Alabama bass were absent.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
