Jay Man Involved In Train, Vehicle Crash In Okaloosa County
July 21, 2012
A train driven by a Jay man hit a vehicle on the tracks late Friday night in Okaloosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol says John C. French of Holt was traveling east on Highway 90 when he attempted to turn north onto Galliver Cutoff. He was traveling too fast for the wet roadway and slid past the intersection and onto nearby train tracks. He was unable to move the vehicle off the tracks and exited the car.
A short time later, French’s 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier was struck by an eastbound train driven by Jack A. Gavin, 44, of Jay. The impact pushed the car 66 feet.
Neither man was injured in the crash.
French was charged with speed too fast for conditions and failure to register the vehicle.
Man Accused Of Indecent Exposure, Leading Police On Chase
July 21, 2012
A Cantonment man is accused of exposing himself to women in Pensacola Friday night before leading police on a chase that ended with a police dog finding him under a house.
Jim Beam Collins, 36, alleged exposed himself from his pickup to pedestrians attending the Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola. Pensacola Police Department officers spotted him a short time later. When he saw the police officers, Collins allegedly almost hit an officer as he sped away. He was chased by Pensacola Police before he ran from his pickup at Belmont and Tarragona streets.
He ran under a house that was quickly surrounded. A police dog was sent under the house, and Collins was reportedly bit. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the Escambia Count Jail on charges that included indecent exposure, fleeing and eluding, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He remained in jail Saturday morning with bond set at $20,500.
According to Escambia County Clerk of the Court records, Collins was convicted of indecent exposure once in 2008 and twice in 2010.
Local Unemployment Numbers Rise; Florida Holds Steady
July 21, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed a jump in unemployment in the three-county North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate increased from 8.4 percent in May to 8.7 percent in June. There were 653 more reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 12,226 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.3 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment increased from 7.6 percent in May to 8.3 percent in June. Santa Rosa County had a total of 6,063 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 9.7 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment jumped from 9.1 percent in May to 10.6 percent in June. That represented 1,589 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 11.6 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s June jobless rate remained unchanged from May at 8.6 percent but 2.1 percentage points lower than June 2011, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 7.8 percent in June, was up from May’s rate of 7.4 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 9.3 percent.
Local Students Attend 69th Boys State
July 21, 2012
Two upcoming seniors at Northview High School attended the week-long 69th Annual Boys State event at Florida State University recently.
Corry Baggett and Trey Johnson were selected by their counselors, principal, and the Oversight Committee of the American Legion Post 90. Jason Knight of Jay also represented the North Escambia area.
Local Alabama students Blake Clark, Michael Glick and Andrew Sasser from Escambia Academy, and Domineque Hubert from Escambia County High School attended their sessions in Tuscaloosa.
Students learned about city, county and state government throughout their week-long sessions and have the opportunity to earn dual enrollment credit for their efforts.
From Santa Rosa County, Stewart Campbell of Gulf Breeze was awarded a two-year scholarship to Tallahassee Community College followed by a two-year scholarship to Florida State. The Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Aviles scholarship was named for Andrew Aviles who delayed attending FSU in order to join the military and whose life tragically ended as a result at just 18.
Pictured top: Attendees at the 69th Annual Boys State at Florida State University. Pictured inset: Corry Baggett and Trey Johnson represented Northview High School at the event. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
WEAR 3 Parent Company To Buy TV Stations WPMI, WJTC
July 21, 2012
Sinclair Broadcast Group, the owner of WEAR 3 in Pensacola, has announced an agreement to purchase two Mobile stations owned by Newport Television.
Pending FCC approval, Sinclair will purchase NBC affiliate WPMI 15 and independent station WJTC 44.
Over all, Sinclair will purchase six stations in five markets for $412.5 million.
“We are excited to add the stations to our portfolio and look forward to welcoming the Newport employees to the Sinclair family,” Sinclair president and CEO, said Friday.
Sinclair anticipates the closing and funding of the acquisition to occur no earlier than December 2012. Sinclair has entered into an agreement giving Deerfield Media, Inc. the right to buy the license assets of WPMI and WJTC in Mobile/Pensacola after which Sinclair will provide sales and other non-programming services under a shared services and joint sales agreement.
SBA Disaster Loans Available in Escambia, Santa Rosa Due To Drought
July 21, 2012
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Fridayday that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa and Walton counties in Florida as a result of drought that began January 1, 2012.
“These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Alabama. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” Skaggs added.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
Loan amounts can be up to $2 million, with interest rates of 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for small businesses. Terms can be up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. The agency sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.
Construction To Begin At ‘Five Points’ Intersection
July 21, 2012
Construction on a “Five Points” intersection improvement project will begin next week in Pace.
The improvements include realigning Berryhill Road from Ashmore Lane to Chumuckla Highway. The realignment will move the current intersection approximately 500 feet to the north and create a two lane rural roadway section north of Berryhill Road connecting to Chumuckla Highway. Other project features include creation of a new retention pond and widening of the right turn and merge lanes on both Quintette Road and Chumuckla Highway.
Once complete, the project will greatly improve safety and traffic flow to the area, officials said.
The following areas will be construction zones and motorist, bicyclist, and pedestrians should anticipate changing traffic patterns and minor delays:
- Berryhill Road from Ashmore Lane to Chumuckla Highway
- Quintette Road from Pigeon Forge Drive to Chumuckla Highway
- Chumuckla Highway from Ashmore Lane to Quintette Road
- Woodbine Road from Vinewood Lane to Chumuckla Highway
- Vinewood Road from Southgate Drive to Woodbine Road
No lane closures are anticipated and residents and businesses will have full access to their property. Construction is anticipated to be ongoing for approximately nine months.
The Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners approved the project in January 2011. The project is estimated to cost $1.9 million and will be funded 50 percent, not to exceed $1 million, by the Florida Department of Transportation for construction, engineering and inspection. The county will match 50 percent of project costs.
Weekend Gardening: Some Veggies Can’t Take The Heat, But Others Thrive
July 21, 2012
When it comes to vegetable gardening in Northern Florida, gardeners should take advantage of our year-round growing season. Yes, even in the torrid depths of summer there are delicious, heat-tolerant vegetables you can plant now to keep your garden productive.
Popular vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and squash generally need warm-but-mild daytime temperatures – in the 70s and 80s – to produce well. The scorching heat we experience in midsummer seriously reduces the numbers of flowers these plants produce, and always remember that it is the flowers that ultimately become the fruit (vegetable). In addition, high populations of many pests, such as spider mites, leaf miners, beetles and caterpillars, are present now and will cause increasing amounts of damage through the summer.
Once they are past their prime and production dwindles, remove early summer vegetables and replant your garden with a wonderful selection of vegetables that thrive in midsummer heat.
The University of Florida – IFAS recommends a wide variety of vegetables that can be planted now. Most of these vegetables are near and dear to Southerners and form an important part of our regional cuisine. Among them are okra, eggplant, Southern peas, hot peppers, sweet peppers and more. It’s also a good time to start growing your own transplants for fall tomato production.
I’ve pulled out a few gardening vegetables that do well here but this is just the tip of the iceburg:
Okra
Native to tropical Africa, it never gets too hot for okra to thrive here. Direct-seeded into the garden now, okra will come into production in late August or early September (even sooner if you plant transplants) and produce until the weather cools down in late October or early November.
Reliable okra varieties include Clemson Spineless, Cajun Delight, Emerald and Burgundy.
A common mistake gardeners make is growing okra plants too close together. Once the okra seedlings are a few inches tall they should be thinned to provide 12 inches of space between plants.
When the plants are about knee high to waist high they begin to produce their pale yellow, hibiscus-like flowers. Harvest okra pods frequently when they reach a length of about 3 inches for best quality, although some varieties stay tender if harvested when the pods are larger.
Eggplant
Unlike their relatives, the tomatoes, eggplants thrive in the heat of mid- to late summer, and you can purchase transplants to plant into the garden now.
I generally have found the oriental types, such as Ichiban or Tycoon with long, narrow fruit are especially productive during stressful summer weather. Large-fruited cultivars such as Blackbell, Classic, Midnight and Florida Hi Bush, as well as green, white, lavender and pink cultivars also are recommended.
Plant eggplant transplants 18 inches to 24 inches apart in well-prepared beds. Production should begin in early September and increase through late October or early November.
Do not go by the size of the fruit when harvesting eggplants. Eggplants are eaten immature and should not be allowed to become old and bitter before harvest. The skin should be shiny and tender. Once the skin starts to dull you should harvest the eggplant immediately – no matter what the size – because that indicates it is getting past its prime.
Legumes
Although it is too hot for reliable production from legumes like snap beans and lima beans, Southern peas such as purple hulls, crowders, cream peas and blackeye peas produce abundant crops during the summer.
Direct-seed these peas in rows about 18 inches apart, and thin young seedlings to stand 4 inches to 6 inches apart. Most cultivars produce short, somewhat bushy vines and do not require a trellis to grow on. Other legumes that could be planted now include yard-long beans, winged peas (these need trellises to grow on) and edible soybeans.
Peppers
Bell peppers often produce poorly during high temperatures, but hot peppers and sweet peppers such as Sweet Banana, Gypsy and Pimento produce very well despite the heat.
Plant transplants now spaced about 18 inches apart. Bell pepper transplants also can be planted now through August for production this fall when the weather cools down.
Tomatoes
Spring-planted tomatoes are about finished with their main crop, and if the plants are in poor condition, they should be removed to make way for heat-tolerant crops. On the other hand, cherry and Roma types may still be producing well and could be left in place.
If you want to grow your own transplants for fall tomatoes, seeds should be planted now. Transplants for fall tomatoes will be available at area nurseries in late July and August and should be purchased and planted into the garden then. Good cultivars for fall production include Hawaiian Hybrid, Solar Set, Heatwave, Bingo, Celebrity and Pelican.
Others
Other heat-tolerant vegetables that may planted now include cantaloupe, pumpkin, watermelon (these three are a bit of a challenge in the home garden), peanuts (easy to grow and a great crop for kids) and sweet potatoes (plant rooted cuttings or “slips” as soon as possible for harvest in November).
Mobile Evens Series With 6-2 Win Over Pensacola Wahoos
July 21, 2012
Mobile shortstop Chris Owings collected three base knocks and second baseman David Nick’s two-run double in the fourth proved to be the game-winner, while Pensacola shortstop Billy Hamilton recorded his 112th steal of the year as the BayBears defeated the Blue Wahoos 6-2 on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
The victory for Mobile evens the series at 1-1 and improves the BayBears to a 13-15 record in the second half, while the Fish fell to 16-12 with the loss. A large contingent of Blue Wahoos fans were in attendance, many season-ticket holders who took advantage of a free bus trip and tickets for them from Pensacola.
The BayBears began the scoring in the opening frame, taking an early 2-0 advantage. Nick drew a free pass and Owings doubled before Nick came across on a groundout, while Owings scored on a sacrifice fly to center from 3B Matt Davidson.
The contest would be drawn even in the third, when Pensacola plated two tallies. Hamilton led off with a walk and stole second, ahead of CF Ryan LaMarre reaching on a hit by pitch, which was followed by back-to-back RBI singles from 1B Beau Mills and LF Donald Lutz.
The theft was the 112th of the year for Hamilton, placing him alone in seventh for the highest total in a single-season as the speedster continues to chase Vince Coleman’s Minor League Baseball record of 145. It was also the eighth steal for Hamilton with Pensacola after swiping 104 with High-A Bakersfield before his promotion late last month.
Mobile however, would answer back in the bottom of the frame and by taking advantage of a pair of Blue Wahoos errors. Owings reached on a base hit and RF Marc Krauss’ walked before Davidson reached on an error, with Owings scoring on the play, while Krauss came plateward on a second fielding miscue.
Owings ((3-4, 2 R) and 1B Ryan Strieby (3-4) each collected three base knocks in the contest for the BayBears, while LaMarre (2-3, 1 R) and Mills (2-4, 1 RBI) each tallied multi-hit efforts in the defeat. Mills with his hits has now reached base in all 25 of his games with Pensacola this year since being acquired on June 22 from the Cleveland Indians organization.
BayBears starting pitcher Chase Anderson (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after yielding two earned runs on six hits in his five innings of work. The bullpen trio of Frank Santana (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO), Eury De La Rosa (1.2 IP) and Evan Marshall (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) followed Anderson by combining to allow only one hit in the final four frames.
Blue Wahoos RHP Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 7-5 on the year, while relievers Wilkin De La Rosa (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) and Brian Pearl (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) combined to fire the final three scoreless innings in support of Corcino.
With the series even at 1-1, Mobile and Pensacola will face off again Saturday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at Hank Aaron Stadium. RHP J.C. Sulbaran is scheduled to get the nod for the Fish, while Mobile is expected to send LHP Chase Holmberg to the hill.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Ryan LaMarre tallied two hits in the Blue Wahoos’ 6-2 loss Friday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Viacom Networks Return To DIRECTV
July 20, 2012
DIRECTV has reached a new long-term agreement with Viacom to restore 17 channels that were removed from the satellite service on July 10. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Channels that have now returned include including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Spike, CMT, TV Land and 10 other channels.
In addition to the channels’ return, DIRECTV customers will also gain the ability to see Viacom programming on tablets, laptops, handhelds and other personal devices via the DIRECTV Everywhere platform.
. “We are very pleased to be able to restore the channels to our customers and thank them for their unprecedented patience and support,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. “It’s unfortunate that Viacom took the channels away from customers to try to gain leverage, but in the end, it’s clear our customers recognized that tactic for what it was.”
“Viacom is extremely pleased to bring its programming back to DIRECTV subscribers, and thanks everyone affected by the disruption for their patience and understanding during this challenging period,” Viacom said in a released statement.