Weekend In Photos
October 18, 2010
There was plenty going on in the North Escambia area this weekend, and NorthEscambia.com had lots of photos. Click any of the items below to see a photo gallery.
Pictured top: This little cowboy is getting ready for the toilet paper toss at Molino Park Elementary School’s Fall Carnival Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Set For Teen Killed By SUV
October 17, 2010
Funeral services have been set for Shawn Youngstrom, the 15-year Tate High student that died after being struck by a vehicle Tuesday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Youngstrom, 15 was walking in the dark in the turn lane from Nine Mile Road to Allegheny Avenue near Beulah when he was struck by a SUV driven by Jeremy Gravette, 33, of Pensacola about 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Youngstrom was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later died. Gravette and a six year old passenger in his vehicle were not injured.
Funeral services for Shawn Youngstrom will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 23 at the Pine Forest Assembly of God at 3125 North Pine Forest Road in Cantonment. Visitation will be held Friday, October 22 from 6-8 p.m. at the church.
The church is also collecting funds to assist the family with expenses. Checks should be made out to the Pine Forest Assembly of God, noting “Shawn Youngstrom Fund” in the check’s memo field.
What Are The Odds That You’ll Hit A Deer? Probably Higher Than You Think
October 17, 2010
Odds are, you or someone you know in North Escambia has hit a deer. If not, odds are you won’t have to wait long for that to change — maybe even on your next trip out to the store. In fact, a vehicle-deer collision happens every 26 seconds in the U.S.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. cause more than 200 fatalities each year. In June, the driver of a Ford Crown Victoria told state troopers that he swerved to miss a deer on Atmore Road. The vehicle overturned, killing Emmanuel Markay Rivers, 19, of Atmore and injuring two other people.
Last year, one North Escambia resident died after he hit a deer while on his motorcycle. Tad Fredrick Cann, 46, of Walnut Hill struck the deer about daybreak on February 9, 2009, near the intersection of Molino Road and Sunshine Hill Road.
Last Friday morning, one member of a family vacationing from Tennesee was injured on Highway 29 near Bogia Road in McDavid when a deer jumped into the side of their vehicle. Glass shards from a broken side window (pictured) sent one person to the hospital with lacerations.
In addition to actual collisions with deer, many North Escambia area accidents are attributed to drivers attempting to avoid deer.
While the number of miles driven by U.S. motorists over the past five years has increased just two percent, the number of deer-vehicle collisions in this country during that time has grown by 10 times that amount.
Using its claims data, auto insurer State Farm estimates 2.3 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. during the two-year period between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2010. That’s 21.1 percent more than five years earlier. Most crash occur in the months of October, November and December.
The most likely state in which to hit a deer? West Virginia with a 1 in 429 chance. The least likely? Still Hawaii at 1 in 13,011. The odds of a Hawaiian driver hitting a deer between now and 12 months from now are roughly equivalent to the odds of finding a pearl in an oyster shell.
The likelihood of colliding with a deer in Florida during the next year is 1 in 971 across the state. But in the North Escambia area, our chances are much more like those in Alabama — about 1 in 150. The odds of deer-vehicle collision are up 33 percent over last year in the local area.
The average property damage cost of these incidents was $3,103, up 1.7 percent from a year ago, according to State Farm.
Pictured: Emmanuel Markay Rivers, 19, of Atmore, was pronounced dead at the scene of this single vehicle accident on Old Atmore Road in June, 2010. The driver of the vehicle said he swerved to avoid a deer. Pictured top inset: A passenger of this vehicle was injured October 15, 2010, when a deer shattered the side window. Pictured bottom inset: An Escambia County deputy was uninjured when he hit a deer on Highway 29 near Champion Drive in April, 2010. Pictured below: Four people were injured in this Miller Road accident when the driver of this SUV tried to avoid a deer in August, 2009. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Tribal Beat Performs At Troy State Band Day
October 17, 2010
The Northview High School Tribal Beat band was among more than 2,300 high school band members from 32 schools from three states performing with Troy University’s Sound of the South marching band during halftime Saturday as TSU celebrated its annual Band Day.
The event, which began in 1998, provides an opportunity for high school band students to experience performing at the collegiate level.
“Band Day provides high school band members a chance to come to Troy to be a part of a Division I football game and perform at halftime with the Sound of the South,” said Dr. Mark Walker, Troys’s associate director of bands. “It is a great recruiting tool for the band and the entire University.”
Participating bands such as Northview’s arrived on campus Saturday morning and took part in a rehearsal with the Sound of the South. The bands then lined up for the Trojan Victory Parade up University Avenue and took part in the football team’s Trojan Walk.
Photo Gallery: North Escambia Outlaws
October 17, 2010
The North Escambia Outlaws 12U baseball team traveled to Orange Beach last weekend for their first tournament — the USSSA Gulf Coast Championship.
Members of the team include Joshua Barnes, Trey Holder, Mark Lee, Zach Payne, Jacob Dunsford, Thomas Boothe, Ben Preston, Jason Fischer, Devin Stabler and Daniel Mascaro.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake That ‘Wows’
October 17, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake. A real show-stopper, this cheesecake is delicious and simple to make.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Plan Now For Winter Landscape Color
October 17, 2010
Even though our landscape may be full of rich colors now, it’s time to start thinking about what it will look like in late winter and early spring. Many of our summer flowering annuals are at the end of their life and will be gone with the first frost. Unless you plan now, you may find your winter landscape as dull as a cold winter day.
Trees and shrubs are somewhat permanent members of our yards. An annual is defined as a plant that produces flowers and seeds within one growing season and then dies. Their purpose is to provide much desired landscape color.
Most cool-season annuals are planted October through November, but we can continue planting into December, January and even February. Most plants will last until April or May if they’re cared for properly.
Bed preparation
Most flowering annual plants will need a well-drained fertile soil. Adding abundant organic matter will help enrich our typically sandy soils in Northwest Florida.
If drainage is a problem, raise the bed. Commercial landscapers plant flowering annuals on beds raised 6 to 12 inches above the surrounding soil. This assures good drainage and improves visibility. When re-planting old beds, remove old mulch to avoid plant diseases. Top new beds with 4 inches of organic matter (such as compost), and work it into the bed about a foot deep.
Annuals differ in sun and shade requirements. Generally, they thrive best in areas that receive sunlight during much of the day. Locate the bed in areas that meet the light requirements of the plants. Remember that soil pH is important for bedding plants. The recommended pH for most bedding plants is 5.4-6.8. Modify soil pH according to soil test recommendations.
Pansies
No other cool-season bedding plant comes close to pansies in popularity. Don’t plant pansies too early in the fall; it’s probably best to wait until we have our first cold snap.
Numerous flower colors and patterns are available. Plant solid colors in masses for the best visual effect.
Pansies are heavy feeders and will not perform as well without sufficient fertilizer. Apply a small amount of fertilizer at planting and then again in January. If you’d rather, you may mix a teaspoon of slow-release fertilizer into the soil in each hole as you plant them, and you shouldn’t need to apply more fertilizer later. Alternately, you can fertilize once or twice a month with a soluble fertilizer using a hose-end sprayer.
The pansies you plant now should last until April or early May of next year. To encourage continued flowering over a longer period, pinch off faded flowers if you can.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons are cool season bedding plants that have good flowering performance in late winter and early spring. Plant in full sun, although snapdragons can tolerate some limited afternoon shade.
Tall, medium and short cultivars are available. The tall types are two to three feet tall, the intermediates are one to two feet tall, the bedding types are six to fifteen inches tall, and the rock garden hybrids are about six inches tall
Dianthus
Dianthus have become one of the most reliable cool season bedding plants. They require a slightly higher pH than some other bedding plants. Plant dianthus in full sun. Flower color will be good through the late fall and winter, but the spring flower performance is excellent.
For more information on annual bedding plants, read the University of Florida online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg319 or call your local Extension Agent.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.. Photo credit - David Marshall.
Every North Escambia Area Football Teams Loses Friday Night (With Regional Scores)
October 16, 2010
Every high school football team in the immediate North Escambia area lost Friday night.
Here’s a look at scores from across the region:
Florida
- Freeport 27, Northview 13 [Read more/photo gallery]
- Bro. Martin (New Orleans) 42, Tate 31
- South Walton 35, Jay 0
- Choctawhatchee 45, West Florida 7
- Catholic 27, Escambia 13
- Gulf Breeze 24,Washington 20
- Pensacola 30, Panama City Arnold 6
- Pine Forest 42, Baton Rouge Catholic 30
- Pace 20, Tallahassee Rickards 12
- Crestview 27, Milton 21
Alabama
- Millry 32, Flomaton 14 [Read more]
- Jackson 28, Escambia County 14 [Read more]
- Thomasville 56, W.S. Neal 7
- Trinity Christian 34, T.R. Miller 27
- Wilcox Academy 26 Escambia Academy 24
Northview Falls To Freeport In Battle Of Distict 1-A Powers (With Photo Gallery)
October 16, 2010
The Northview Chiefs slipped to the number two spot in the District 1-A race with a 27-13 loss to Freeport Friday night.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Chiefs jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with 6:35 to go in the first quarter on a 66-yard pass from quarterback Brandon Sheets to Dustin Yuhasz and a good point after kick from Lance Bushaw.
About two minutes later, the Bulldogs answered with a 49-yard touchdown pass, but the kick missed the uprights. Northview held a 7-6 advantage headed into the second.
The second quarter would see only the Bulldogs scoring, including an 11-yard pass and a 25-yard run. The third quarter was a scoreless defensive battle.
In the fourth quarter, Freeport struck again with a 15-yard run and good kick. The Chiefs’ LaMikal Kyles scored on the final play of the game with a 6-yard pass from Sheets with no time on the clock.
With the win, Freeport took the top spot in District 1-A with a 5-0 district record. The Northview Chiefs are now 4-1 in the district, 5-1 overall. Vernon is also 4-1 in the district.
The Northview Chiefs will be at home against the 0-6 Jay Royals next Friday night.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs take on Freeport Friday night on the road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Heather Leonard, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino Park Elementary’s Annual Fall Carnival
October 16, 2010
Hundreds attended the annual Molino Park Elementary School Fall Carnival Friday evening at the school. The event featured games, food, entertainment and lots of great family fun.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
