Atmore’s Blue Devils Keep The Faith
September 25, 2010
First-year Blue Devils coach Mark Heaton added another one to the win column Friday night as Escambia County beat Faith Academy 28-17.
Demetric Henderson returned a 75-yard interception for a first quarter touchdown. Rico Stallworth found Neiko Williams with a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second. Stallworth also had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Salter, and Christopher Smith added a five-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the Blue Devils.
Escambia County will be on the road next Friday night against Thomasville.
Time To Plant Those Fall Vegetables
September 25, 2010
The slightest hint of fall is in the air. But this doesn’t mean that the vegetable gardening season is over. Fall is an excellent time to grow cool-season vegetables.
Florida is unique in that we have multiple growing seasons. There is something that can be grown in the vegetable garden all year round. Knowing which vegetables to grow during which season is the key to having a successful harvest.
In the summer, gardeners are somewhat limited in the different types of warm-season vegetables that can be grown and will survive the heat. Now with cooler days approaching, we have a much wider selection of cool-season vegetables to plant.
In September many vegetables can be planted in the garden including beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions and radish. In October, you can plant Chinese cabbage, spinach and strawberries.
These vegetables are best started from transplants but many can be direct-seeded. If you seed them directly into the soil, keep the ground moist while it’s still warm to give them a good start. Keep them well watered if you transplant, too. The later you start, the smarter it becomes to transplant to cut the time to maturity. Preparing the garden properly is as important as selecting the right plants.
Choose a sunny location. Most vegetables perform poorly in shade. An area that receives at least eight hours of sunlight per day is best. Some vegetables such as broccoli, collards and spinach will tolerate partial shade. Avoid locating your garden near hedges or trees. They not only create too much shade but also compete with the garden for moisture and nutrients.
Locating the garden near the house will make it easier to periodically check the garden for insect pests and disease. And, it is easier to keep an eye on the garden for larger pests such as birds, squirrels and rabbits. Closeness to the house will make it convenient in tending to the garden chores.
Locate the garden near a water supply so it can be watered as needed. You’ll get only moderate results if you try to grow a garden without supplemental irrigation.
Of course, it’s important to prepare beds properly before planting. To do that, clear the site of all weeds or finished vegetable plants. Turn the soil with a shovel, fork or tiller to a depth of at least 8 inches, and spread a 2-inch to 4-inch layer of organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, aged manure or compost) over the tilled soil. This helps to maintain a high level of organic matter in the soil, which encourages a strong, healthy root system, improves drainage, retains moisture, provides nutrients and promotes vigorous plant growth.
Mix the organic matter thoroughly into the soil. Turn the soil by digging with a shovel, garden fork or a tiller until the materials you’ve added are evenly distributed in the soil. When using fresh organic amendments, it’s best to wait a couple of weeks before planting your transplants or seeds.
By this time of year, insects and diseases have had all summer to build up their populations. Insects such as whiteflies, stink bugs, aphids and caterpillars are commonly seen. Since insect and disease pressure often is greater in the late summer/early fall than in the spring, watch plants carefully for problems and use appropriate control measures promptly when needed. Contact your local Extension Office for control recommendations.
Library Book Sale Underway
September 25, 2010
It’s time to stock up on reading material, and the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library Book Sale is the place to do it at a reasonable price this weekend.
The book sale will continue through Sunday at First United Methodist Church Wright Place, 80 E. Wright Street in Pensacola, and will offer thousands of gently used hardcover and paperback books, CDs and DVDs. Most range in price from 25 cents to $3. It also will feature a “Collectors’ Corner” and silent auction to showcase the more valuable books, Chairwoman Meredith McCarthy said.
On Sunday, hours are noon to 3 p.m. No admission is charged, and a bag of books can be purchased for $5.
All proceeds from the sale go to support the West Florida Public Library system — including the library in Century.
Lawmakers Raise Stink Over New Septic Tank Inspection Requirements
September 24, 2010
Several lawmakers are raising a stink over a new law that requires septic tank inspections every five years in Florida.
Florida Senate Bill 550 requiring all septic tanks in the state to be evaluated by the Florida Department of Health every five years at the property owner’s expense will go into effect on January 1 unless action is taken to amend or repeal the bill. Passed into law on June 7, the environmental protection bill requires an evaluation of the septic tank and drainfields, along with an assessment of the system’s overall condition. Residents will be required to pay the cost of the evaluation and an inspection fee. Some tanks will also require a tank pump out, repairs or replacement.
Two Panhandle lawmakers, Sen. Durrell Peaden, R-Crestview, and Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, wrote Gov. Charlie Crist Thursday to say septic tank inspection requirement is too expensive in a tight economy and should be pushed back from January to July 2011 to allow lawmakers to revisit the matter next year. Earlier this summer, outgoing Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said the bill should be repealed altogether and has promised to keep hammering the state on the issue.
But Crist, who signed the measure in June, will not heed either suggestion.
Meanwhile, on the local level, the Santa Rosa County Commission passed a resolution in opposition to the state bill, and they are firing off a letter to the governor expressing their concerns.
“The Santa Rosa County Commission is opposed to this bill, as they feel it will impose excessive and unnecessary costs to Santa Rosa County residents with fully functional septic systems, particularly those on fixed incomes,” said Joy Tsubooka, public information officer for Santa Rosa County. There is already a law on the books in Santa Rosa County that requires a septic system to pass inspection whenever a property is sold or conveyed.
Besides monetary costs, Santa Rosa County is concerned that the law does not address the different soil types and geological differences across the state.
“The governor is not delaying implementation,” Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey said. “It was a Senate bill that passed both houses and he signed into law. He didn’t have any reservation about the bill when it reached his desk or he would have vetoed it.”
Backers of the springs protection bill say the requirements will cost much less than possible federal water regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency. The EPA is currently considering limits on the amount of chemical pollution that would be allowed in state bodies of water, but backers argued they may consider letting Florida have more of a say in that – and not eventually try to police Florida septic tanks – if the state showed it was serious about protecting its water resources.
But Peaden and Evers said Thursday that said that less expensive was not good enough in a rocky economic time.
“In recent months…many individuals have contacted our offices regarding the adverse impacts to them both financially and physically as a result of the new septic system evaluation requirements,” they wrote to Crist. “Concerns have continued to grow as estimates from various counties on the cost of implementing the septic tank evaluation provisions have varied widely from a low of $180 to a high of $800. Since the law itself makes no mention of the actual cost of an evaluation, Floridians can be left to deal with unscrupulous individuals that can charge any fee they choose under the authority of the state,” the Evers and Peaden wrote.
The springs bill, SB 550, was backed by environmentalists, but heralded by sponsor Sen. Lee Constantine as a product of negotiations with various competing interests groups.
“When you get the home builders and the Sierra Club to agree” Constantine told the News Service last month, that’s consensus. “This was landmark legislation.”
But Peaden and Evers said that a review of the cost of complying with the bill by the Florida Department of Health as it considers rules for implementing the septic inspections shows that lawmakers should take another look at the requirement.
“This raises serious concerns that in a rush to pass legislation to protect Florida’s water resources, insufficient time was spent on how this law was going to financially affect Floridians,” they said. “Therefore, we request that you use executive authority granted to you under the Florida Constitution to direct the Department of Health to postpone the implementation of this legislation … allowing the Florida Legislature to more thoroughly investigate the financial impact to Floridians.”
The two lawmakers also asked Crist to direct the Department of Health conduct a fiscal analysis on the “full and actual costs of the implementation of such an evaluation program” before the new requirements go into effect January 1.
ECUA Raises Water, Sewer Garbage Rates; Nixes Employee Pay Increases
September 24, 2010
ECUA voted Thursday to increase rates across the board at a lower level that originally proposed while forgoing planned employee pay raises.
Emerald Coast Utility Authority customers will see an eight percent rate increase for each of the next three years, pushing the average bill from $65 per month now to $88 per month in three years. That amounts to a 26 percent rate increase over a three year period.
ECUA garbage customers will see a two percent rate increase each year during the period. Monthly sanitation rates will jump 17 cents for Lifeline customers, 31 cents for seniors and 36 cents for ordinary residential customers.
The rate increases passed 3-2, with board members Larry Walker, Elizabeth Campbell and Elvin McCorvey voting in favor. Lois Benson and Dale Perkins voted against the proposal, citing concerns about rate increases during the current economic times. The rate increases will be effective October 1.
“Periodic rate increases are necessary to reflect the cost of investments in the utility system and to account for rising costs,” said McCorvey.
The additional revenue, according to ECUA, will be used to continue the modernization of pipes, sewer lift stations and other infrastructure requirements. ECUA also said revenue is significantly down due to decrease water usage, foreclosures and a loss in the total number of customers. At the same time, ECUA said the cost of doing business, higher electric and natural gas rates, and rising chemical costs have impacted the utility’s bottom line.
Also Thursday, ECUA’s board turned down proposed pay increases for over 500 employees.
700,000 employee raises not this year
Dramatic Photos: House Burned
September 24, 2010
An unoccupied wood home in Atmore was burned to the ground Thursday afternoon. The controlled burn was conducted to remove the structure while giving area fire departments a chance for training.
The burn on South Presley Street was conducted by the Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Fire Department and the Nokomis Fire Department. The Walnut Hill Fire Department on standby at the scene to assist or answer any emergency calls in the city.
Click here for a dramatic photo gallery that shows the chronological progress of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
October 4 Is Last Day To Register To Vote In General Election
September 24, 2010
Monday, October 4 is the last day to register to vote in the November 2 General Election.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations must be completed on or before October 4th in order for them to be effective for the November 2nd election, said David Staford, Escambia County supervisor of elections.
Address changes can be made after the books close. To check registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Mail the completed application no later than October 4th to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. Or, call (595-3900) or e-mail the Elections Office (soe@escambiavotes.com) to have a form mailed to you.
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
For voters who wish to cast an absentee ballot, go to EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or e-mail the elections office. Early voting begins October 18th at four locations throughout Escambia County. For more information, including sample ballots, visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Northview Beats Freeport
September 24, 2010
The Northview varsity and junior varsity beat Freeport on the volleyball coat Thursday.
Varsity
The varsity Lady Chiefs defeated Freeport three games to two — 25-13, 25-15, 11-25, 24-26, 15-13.
“The varsity came out intense and ready to play. The scores from the first two games show that. We struggled to maintain that intensity in the third game and the beginning of the fourth game. However, towards the middle of the fourth game the girls picked their intensity back up and really played hard. They kept that same intensity in the fifth game and we were able to come away with a win,” Northview Head Coach Betty Heaton said.
Seniors Shawna Montgomery, Ashely Digmon, Sarah Killam and Katie Wieborg led the Lady Chiefs in their first home matches of the season. Montgomery produced 15 kills, six aces, five blocks and three digs, while Digmon added 13 assists, two aces and three digs. Killam had 11 assists, one kill, three digs, five aces and a block; and Wieborg had five kills, three aces and two digs.
The Northview Lady Chiefs are 3-1 in district play and 4-9 overall.
Junior Varsity
The junior varsity Lady Chiefs had swept Freeport — 25-15, 25-19.
“The JV team did a great job communicating and making effort during the game. They really stepped up and played hard,” Heaton said.
Paeton Hadley finished with eight assists, two aces and two digs, while Lana Clayton had five kills and three aces. Madison Arrington added two assists and one ace; and Danielle Steadham had seven kills and one dig.
The JV Lady Chiefs are 2-6 overall.
Pictured: Senior Katie Wieborg prepares to serve for the Northview Lady Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Stuck Truck Blocks Molino Roadway
September 23, 2010
Traffic was blocked on a Barrineau Park Road for a short time Thursday afternoon by a stuck truck. The driver of the 18-wheel flatbed truck attempted to turn around and became stuck just west of Highway 29. Submitted photo by April Mitchell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
When you see news, email news@northescambia.com
Molino Man Charged With Scott’s Pharmacy Robbery
September 23, 2010
A Molino man is now behind bars charged with the Monday robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino.
Joseph Daniel Flowers, 56, of 484 Molino Road, was booked into the Escambia County Jail just before noon Thursday. He is charged with robbery with a firearm, grand theft, possession of a firearm in pharmacy, and wearing a mask while committing a felony. All of the charges are felonies. Flowers bond was initially set at $60,000.
About 1:30 Monday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department believes Flowers robbed the pharmacy at Highway 29 and Molino Road at gunpoint while wearing boxer shorts on his head.
The bandit was described by witnesses as a white male in navy blue bathrobe, blue jeans, black house slippers, yellow kitchen-type gloves, and with boxer shorts on his head. He entered the store and announced that he was robbing the business. Employees said he was armed with a revolver that was wrapped in a plastic bag and pointed at a store employee as he demanded prescription narcotics. Flowers threatened to kill witnesses if the police responded, the report states.
Flowers, “No cops better pull up, because I will kill someone and I will not have a problem doing it either,” a pharmacy employee told deputies.
Flowers fled the store with a large quantity of narcotics worth several thousand dollars in two plastic bags, according to the ECSO report. Deputies recovered an unknown number of pill bottles outside the store following the robbery. Investigators did not say how much of the stolen medication was recovered.
A store employee told deputies that she recognized the suspect as Flowers, a pharmacy customer, by his voice.
For a photo gallery from the pharmacy and the standoff on Molino Road, click here.
A witness told deputies that he saw the armed robber run from the store and enter his getaway vehicle. A vehicle matching the exact description was located in Flower’s yard at 484 Molino Road near the U.S. Post Office.
A short time after the robbery, numerous deputies converged on the home. With weapons drawn, deputies ordered the occupants of the home to exit. Flowers and a female complied and were temporarily detained, questioned and later released.
A third person, identified as a relative of Flowers, refused to exit the home. Deputies could be heard calling the man by name, ordering him step outside and threatening to send a K-9 into the home. After the standoff continued for about a half hour, the man exited the brick home and was detained. He was later released after being questioned by investigators.
Inside the home, deputies recovered a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver matching the description of the one given by store employees, according to the report.
Deputies took Flowers into custody Thursday morning shortly after a judge signed a warrant for his arrest.
Click here for an earlier story about the robbery. For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: Joseph Daniel Flowers was temporarily detained by deputies Monday afternoon at a home at 484 Molino Road. Pictured top inset: Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino was robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon. Picture inset: An Escambia County Sheriffs Deputy stands with her weapon drawn has she orders a man to exit the backdoor of a home on Molino Road. Pictured below: Deputies were involved in a brief standoff at a Molino Road home following the pharmacy robbery. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
