Birth: Noah Kyle Rabon
May 29, 2011
Justin and Courtney (McCall) Rabon of Longview, Texas, are proud to announce the birth of Noah Kyle Rabon on March 1, 2011, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas. He weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long.
His grandparents are Earnest and Deborah Rabon of Castleberry, Alabama, Sheri McCall of McKenzie, Alabama, and Freddie Jr and Darlene McCall of East Brewton, Alabama.
His great-grandparents are Mayor Freddie and Margie McCall of Century and Bo and Dot Brantley of Flomaton.
Gas Prices Falling, Memorial Day Travel Still Expensive
May 28, 2011
Traveling this Memorial Day weekend was harder on the wallet this year, with gas up about $1 a gallon.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.74, up from $2.71 a year ago. In North Escambia, that gallon of gas was at about $3.69, up from $2.69 last year.
Two years ago, the average price was $2.39 a gallon.
AAA projected 34.9 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2 percent – or 100,000 travelers – from the 34.8 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 26 to Monday, May 30.
Pictured: Regular unleaded gas was at $3.69 per gallon Friday as the Memorial Day weekend travel period moved into full swing. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century’s Abundant Life Outreach Receives Fox 10 ‘Extra Mile’ Award
May 28, 2011
A Century church was recognized by a Mobile TV station Friday night for their efforts to feed the hungry in Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida. The Abundant Life Outreach, part of the Abundant Life Assembly of God, was presented with the Chris Myers Nissan Extra Mile Award by WALA Fox 10. The award was received on behalf of the ministry by (L-R) Betty Thomas, Scott Thomas and Robin Sutton. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Portion Of Alger Road Remains Closed
May 28, 2011
A portion of Alger Road in Century scheduled to reopen Friday will now remain closed until next week.
Alger Road about 300 feet northwest of North Century Boulevard is closed for a culvert replacement. The road is now scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m next Tuesday afternoon.
Weekend Gardening: Outwit and Outlast Those Troublesome Armadillos
May 28, 2011
Have you ever discovered your once beautiful green lawn looking like the surface of the moon, full of craters? If so, then you may have been visited by an alien-looking creature known as the armadillo.
Armadillos originated in South America. They are mammals. They are neither rodents nor marsupials and are not related to the opossum. Their closest living relative is the anteater and sloth.
The most easily recognized feature of an armadillo is its shell. Their common name, armadillo, is derived from a Spanish term meaning “little armored one”. All armadillos have shells, made of true bone, that cover their backs. Most armadillos also have bony rings or plates that protect their tails.
Digging machines
Armadillos are built to dig. They rely on this ability to escape danger and survive. They prefer sandy or loam soils that are relatively easy to excavate. Therefore, they are well adapted to Northwest Florida soils.
Armadillos typically rest in deep burrows during the day and become more active during the late evening, night, or early morning. These burrows are usually located under brushpiles, stumps, dense brush, or concrete patios, and are about 7 to 8 inches in diameter and can be up to 15 feet long. They often have several burrows throughout their territory.
Food sources
Armadillos feed primarily on insects. They also eat earthworms, scorpions, spiders, snails, and small vertebrates and their eggs. They consume large amounts of armyworms, cockroaches, ants, wasps, flies, beetles, and grasshoppers. They have been known to dig up entire yellow-jacket nests.
Some consider the armadillo a beneficial creature because they eat potential pests. Many consider the armadillo a pest because of their destructive ways. Armadillo can burrow under driveways and patios causing structural damage. Burrows in pastures can pose a potential hazard to livestock. And because armadillos usually search for food by rooting or digging in the ground, they can damage large areas of the lawn or garden.
Control measures
If you find that you cannot live with these creatures, the University of Florida recommends four ways to deal with armadillos.
- reducing the amount of water and fertilizer you apply to your lawn
- creating barriers (e.g., fences),
- live-trapping
- shooting offending individuals (check local ordinances)
The best solution (and the most expensive) is a stout fence to keep the armadillos out. If you take this route, make sure the fence is buried at least 18 inches into the ground, or they might just burrow under it.
Reducing the water and fertilizer applications to your lawn may help reduce armadillo damage. A moist lush landscape is perfect for earthworms and insect larvae. Armadillos love earthworms. Sometimes watering adjacent areas may attract armadillos away from a site.
Trapping can be frustrating and may require some ingenious thinking. Some tried and true trapping techniques are discussed at length in an online University of Florida publication by Dr. Russ Mizell at http://ufinsect.ifas.ufl.edu/armadillo.htm.
Remember that poison baits are illegal and ineffective. No chemical repellents or fumigants are registered for use in Florida.
Armadillos are very happy in Northwest Florida and are here to stay. If they have become unwelcomed house guests, put your thinking cap on and be committed to outwitting and outlasting this prehistoric-looking creature.
For more information, contact Theresa Friday at 850-623-3868 or email tlfriday@ufl.edu. Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Out In Force For Long Holiday Weekend
May 28, 2011
The Florida Highway Patrol will be out in full force during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which began Friday afternoon and extends through midnight Monday.
“All too often innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences due to the careless disregard for human life by dangerous drivers,” said FHP Director, Colonel David Brierton. “We are intensifying enforcement during the holiday weekend. No one wants their weekend, much less their life, ruined by a crash.”
Florida’s safety belt law requires all front seat passengers to buckle up. Occupants under the age of 18 must fasten their safety belts regardless of where they sit in a vehicle. Troopers who stop motorists for noncompliance will not issue warnings.
All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will patrol interstates and other major state roads throughout the four-day holiday period. FHP Auxiliary and Reserve troopers will volunteer to augment the Patrol’s forces during the holiday enforcement period, too. The strategy aims to increase the Patrol’s presence throughout Florida in an effort to deter traffic violations and to enhance services to motorists who break down while traveling or who need other assistance.
Drivers can dial *FHP (*347) from their cell phone to contact FHP to report an aggressive driver or to request roadside assistance.
Pictured above: A Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulls out into Highway 29 at Fran’s Diner in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Two People Injured In Friday Morning Santa Rosa Wreck
May 27, 2011
Two people were injured in a north Santa Rosa County wreck Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Malory S. Collins, 28, of Lithonia, GA, was traveling south on Highway 87 near Oglesby Road in Allentown when he swerved to avoid a disabled vehicle on the side of the roadway. However, the FHP said evidence showed Collins had driven onto the west shoulder prior to swerving around the disabled vehicle.
Collins left the roadway and struck a ditch, cable box and a tree. Collins and a passenger, 27-year old Tirrell R. Coleman of Atlanta received minor injuries in the crash.
Collins was cited for careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
New Florida Budget Includes $7.7 Million To Resurface Highway 29
May 27, 2011
The almost $70 billion budget signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott includes over $7.7 million to resurface Highway 29 in North Escambia from Pine Barren Road north through Century to the Alabama state line.
The budget for the 15.5 mile project is $7,709,279. Bids are expected to be let in the coming months.
At one point earlier this year, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were handing out three or four accident report forms a day to Highway 29 drivers with busted windshields. Some area residents are on windshield number two or three since the pavement began to deteriorate and “the rocks” began to appear over a year ago on the stretch of Highway 29.
Back in February, a Florida Department of Transportation Geotechnical Foundation Investigation crew performed pavement tests on the roadway, and high-powered blowers have been used since in an effort to remove the loose rocks from the crumbling highway.
Pictured above: The new Florida budget signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott includes $7.7 million to resurface a portion of Highway 29. Pictured below: The Florida Department of Transportation has been using this high-power blower to remove rocks from the deteriorating highway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Homeless After Early AM Molino Mobile Home Fire
May 27, 2011
Four people were left homeless after early morning fire near Molino.
All occupants were able to escape without injury when fire broke out in the single wide mobile home on Vantage Road, just off Jacks Branch Road, about 12:10 a.m. Friday. A family dog was rescued, but several pet birds in the mobile home were lost.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
There was no immediate cause known for the fire; the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate.
The American Red Cross will assist the family of two adults and two children with temporary shelter for the next few days.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Ferry Pass and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blazer, along with Escambia County EMS.
Pictured top: Fire destroyed this mobile home near Molino early Friday morning. Pictured inset: Fire rages inside the mobile home as firefighters arrive (Kristi Smith photo). Pictured below: Firefighters sift through the remains of the residence. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power To Seek Rate Increase
May 27, 2011
Gulf Power Co. this summer plans to ask for a $95 million increase in base rates, arguing that the cost of supplying electricity to the Panhandle has jumped during the past decade.
The Pensacola-based utility filed a document this month with the state Public Service Commission that outlines the proposal.
If granted, the proposal would translate to a 21.5 percent increase over Gulf’s 2010 base-rate revenues of $442 million — though it is too early to know how such a hike would affect individual customers’ bills.
Company spokeswoman Sandy Sims said Gulf Power has not sought base-rate change in 10 years. She said the company has “pushed off and pushed off as long as we can” any increases, but it needs higher rates to help protect quality of service.
“We wouldn’t be asking for it at this point if it wasn’t necessary,’’ Sims said Thursday.
Gulf likely will file a detailed proposal with the Public Service Commission in July, starting a months-long review process and hearings. Sims said the company hopes new rates will take effect in April 2012, though it also wants a so-called “interim” rate increase later this year that would involve a smaller amount.
State Public Counsel J.R. Kelly, whose office represents consumers in utility cases, said it is premature to know whether Gulf Power can justify the $95 million increase. But he said his office will closely examine the proposal.
“We will have our experts lined up and ready to contest, I’m sure, many of their issues,’’ Kelly said.
Gulf Power likely will be the first of three electric utilities that will take base-rate cases to the Public Service Commission during the next year. Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida are operating under rate plans that end December. 31, 2012, and Kelly said he expects them to file new proposals late this year or in early 2012.
Base rates pay for many of the day-to-day operations of utilities. But they don’t include costs for such things as power-plant fuel and certain types of environmental upgrades.
Gulf and the other utilities go before the Public Service Commission each year to get approval for passing along those costs to customers. The costs fluctuate, which can lead to customers facing higher bills if, for example, the cost of coal or natural gas increases.
With about 428,000 customers, Gulf Power is the dominant utility in the Panhandle. Rates are set differently for residences and businesses, and it is unclear how any increases would be spread among Gulf’s customers.
The document that outlines the proposed increase was filed with the Public Service Commission on May 9. In the document, Gulf Power said it has faced increased infrastructure costs during the past decade, such as the cost of adding 1,000 miles of new power lines.
“Gulf has avoided a base-rate proceeding for as long as possible,’’ said the document, signed by company President and CEO Mark Crosswhite. “An increase in base-rate revenues is now necessary to maintain a reliable electric system and to preserve our financial integrity, which is in the long-term best interest of our customers.’’
Gulf Power received new revenues during the past decade because of growth in Northwest Florida, but Sims said such growth only partially offsets the higher costs.
Kelly took issue with the idea that the utility should receive approval because it hasn’t filed a base-rate case in so long. He pointed to factors such as customer growth and improved technology, which can reduce expenses.
“That, in and of itself, is never a valid argument,’’ he said.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida