Volunteer Group Soliciting Funds Not Affiliated With Local Fire Departments
August 8, 2010
A search and rescue group using a private company to solicit funds in Santa Rosa county is in no way affiliated with Santa Rosa County.
Santa Rosa Volunteer Search & Rescue, Inc. is not associated with local fire departments or emergency services provided by the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, according to Santa Rosa County Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka.
“While other organizations may be called upon to assist in some instances, this volunteer organization is not affiliated with any Santa Rosa County government office or any of the 16 fire districts,” Tsubooka said.
County search and rescue functions are coordinated through emergency management and are primarily conducted by fire departments and the volunteer organization CERT or Citizen Emergency Response Team. Citizens wishing to make donations in support of their fire department are encouraged to do so in person at their local fire headquarters.
Santa Rosa Volunteer Search & Rescue, Inc. approached the Santa Rosa County Firefighters Association at their June board meeting seeking support for their fundraising plan, Tsubooka said. The association, made up of local fire chiefs and firefighters, declined to support the plan and asked the volunteer organization not to solicit donations door-to-door, as it may be perceived as the fire departments asking for additional money above MSBU or fire taxes paid by residents each year.
Featured Recipe: Cumin Grilled Pork Chops
August 8, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is Cumin Grilled Pork Chops. A cumin-fueled marinade is the star of this fast and easy dish. Not only does it add a distinctive smokiness to the pork, it also does wonders sealing in the chops’ natural moisture.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Four Injured In Flomaton Crash; One In Critical Condition (With Photo Gallery, Raw Video)
August 7, 2010
Four people were injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Flomaton.
An elderly female was airlifted by LifeFlight to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition after being trapped in her vehicle for about 15 minutes. She was the driver of a pickup truck that witnesses said turned in front of an SUV on Highway 31 at Holt Street just after 4 p.m. The adult driver of the SUV and two children were transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
The accident is under investigation by Alabama State Troopers. Further details were not immediately available.
The Flomaton Fire Department, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County EMS also responded to the call.
Pictured above: Four people were injured in this crash Saturday afternoon in Flomaton. Pictured below: One person was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Early Voting Begins Monday
August 7, 2010
Early voting will begin Monday in Escambia County, according to Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
There will be four early voting sites available for August 24 primary election:
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place 2nd Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- West Florida Genealogy Library (former Tryon Branch Library), 5740 North 9th Avenue
Early voting will be offered Monday, August 9th through Friday, August 13th from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 14th from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, August 15th from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; and Monday, August 16th through Saturday, August 21st from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Early voters will cast paper ballots through our digital scanners, and may choose any one of the four sites.
Another option for voters is to cast an absentee ballot, which can be obtained by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-3914), or by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed, and must be received no later than Wednesday, August 18th. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee voters may now follow the status of their ballot by clicking “Track My Ballot” on EscambiaVotes.com.
The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day using digital scanners. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. A touchscreen is also
available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
All eligible voters in Escambia County are being mailed a sample ballot. A sample ballot, along with additional election information, may also be viewed at EscambiaVotes.com. Florida is a “closed primary” state, which means that voting in a party’s primary is limited to those voters registered in that party when registration closed for the election (July 26th). However, all voters may vote in any non-partisan races (circuit judge, school board, Pensacola mayor) appearing on their primary ballot, regardless of party affiliation.
Chemstand, Solutia, Monsanto, Ascend Retirees To Hold Reunion
August 7, 2010
Retirees from Chemstrand, Monsanto, Solutia and Ascend Performance Materials will hold a reunion on August 14.
The reunion will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church at 6205 North W Street.
Hundreds of retirees and their spouses are expected to attend the event. A lunch with fried fish or pulled pork will be available for $6. For a lunch reservation, mail a check to Sherry Smith at PMB 133, 40 West Nine Mile Road No. 2, Pensacola, FL 32534. There will also be door prizes.
For more information, contact Seldon Pierce at (850) 968-9344 or Gerald Eady at (850)968-9551.
Now Is Time To Get Ready For That Fall Garden
August 7, 2010
This year, many gardeners celebrated spring by planting a vegetable garden and were rewarded with a bountiful harvest. Others were disappointed with a smaller than expected harvest and too many problems to count. Both groups of gardeners should rejoice! The hot weather may not indicate it, but it’s time to begin a fall vegetable garden.
But before we enjoy a fall harvest, there’s work to be done preparing the fall vegetable garden. Gardeners must take action now–drastic action. Some of those plants that have been nurtured from “babies” in the spring to monsters now must be pulled out. It is recommended that most plants, but especially weeds, be removed. Leave the okra, cherry tomatoes and beans if the foliage is healthy and they are still producing.
Large-fruited tomatoes may have some small ones still hanging on, but, unless you have at least 10-20 good-sized fruit, pull them out. The largest, best tomatoes you had this spring were the first ones produced. The tomato plant has gotten old, diseased, and damaged by insects; it will never produce an abundance again. Pull the old plants up and discard them.
The next step is to decide if your garden is in the right location. The major consideration for garden placement is sunlight. All vegetables require some sunlight; the most popular vegetables require full sun. “Full” sun means at least eight hours of intense, direct exposure. If such exposure is not received by crops such as tomatoes, peppers and squash (vegetables that contain seed), the plants grow spindly, they have weak stems, drop blooms and are generally nonproductive.
Some leafy vegetables such as broccoli, collards, spinach, and lettuce tolerate shadier conditions than other vegetables, but if your garden does not receive at least six hours of sunlight daily, you will not be successful growing vegetables.
Another key to a successful harvest is proper soil preparation. In Northwest Florida, most soils are less than perfect for vegetable production. So we must improve our soil through the addition of organic amendments.
Adding liberal amounts of organic matter to all types of garden soils is a highly recommended practice. Compost, rotten grass clippings, or leaves applied to the garden surface two to four inches deep and tilled or worked into the soil, greatly improve sands or clays.
After adding organic amendments, its best to wait several weeks before planting. Extremely fresh organic material, when introduced to the native soil, causes a rapid increase in the numbers of soil microorganisms. These soil microbes reach tremendous numbers as they help to decompose or break down the organic materials to a more usable form. If young plants or seeds are planted while these microbes are highly active, there is a good chance that they will experience nitrogen deficiency, root rot or seedling blights.
A small amount of fertilizer can also be applied during soil preparation. This may be helpful if the organic amendments are too fresh. A little extra nitrogen will help speed up microbial activity.
Some gardeners will also amend the soil with lime during bed preparation. While lime may be necessary in some situations, don’t add it until you’ve had a pH test run by a reliable lab. Too much lime in the soil may be just as bad as too little. A high pH, caused by excessive lime, can cause many problems such as making some nutrients unavailable to plants. So, keep in mind the old adage, “Don’t guess, soil test!”
So, even though the temperatures are unbearable, it’s time to prepare for the fall garden. Stay tuned for future articles on vegetable gardens in Northwest Florida.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County
Winning Cantonment Lottery Ticket Worth $57,770
August 6, 2010
Someone who purchased a lottery ticket is Cantonment is $57,770.12 richer.
The ticket from Wednesday night’s “Fantasy 5″ drawing was one of four sold with the numbers 6-15-19-24-33. The ticket was purchased at the Bindu Food Mart #1 at 1239 Muscogee Road.
The other three winning tickets, also worth $57,770.12 each, were sold in West Palm Beach, Pinellas Park and Tampa. There were 368 tickets matching four of five numbers worth $101 each. Anther 9,994 tickets matched three numbers for $10 each, and 99,300 matched two numbers for a free Quick Pick ticket.
Prosecutor: No Decision In Political Sign Case Until After Election
August 6, 2010
The State Attorney’s Office won’t decide until after November’s election if charges will be filed against Greg Brown II or Doug Broxson over campaign signs.
Greg Wilson, chief assistant State Attorney with the 14th Judicial State Attorney’s Office, has delayed making a decision in the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office cases, saying that the delay would have no adverse impact on any criminal case. But, he said, filing charges at this point could have an impact on the political process.
“Having carefully considered the nature of the charges alleged in both cases and the extreme likelihood that the immediate filing or dismissal of charges in either case would unduly influence the political process, it is the decision of this Office to defer making the final charging decision on both cases presented for review until after the November General Election has concluded,” Wilson said.
Read the complete letter, click here.
In the first case, House District 1 candidate Greg Brown and his wife Jennifer allegedly stole seven or eight small political signs belonging to Broxson from the public right of way at the corner of Highway 87 and Highway 89 near Milton.
The second case concerns the unlawful placement of political signs on the public right of way in violation of both county and state ordinances. The report alleges Broxson had the campaign signs place unlawfully placed on the right of way, and also alleges that Jason Broxson unlawfully recorded and disclosed the conversations between the Browns as they removed the campaign signs.
State Attorney Bill Eddins requested that Gov. Charlie Crist appoint the special prosecutor from Panama City to investigate the sign theft allegations.
Using a night-vision camera, Jason Broxson videotaped Brown and his wife Jennifer removing campaign signs belonging to Doug Broxson. Brown has not denied that he and his wife removed Broxson’s signs, but he calls the entire situation a “masterminded set up”.
The video has sound, with Brown and his wife caught speaking. The volume of the conversation is very low; however, text superimposed on the video suggest what is being said.
“Is that good?” the video alleges that Jennifer Brown said after removing signs.
“Wait…your fingerprints are still on the ones laying down,” the video claims Brown responded.
Brown said he had permission from the property owner to remove the signs, but Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser records appear to show the signs were nearly 200 feet from private property. Brown said he “was totally under the impression” that the signs removed from the intersection were on private property.
Brown and Broxson are two of the four Republican candidates seeking the District 1 House seat. Ricky Perritt and Ferd Salomon are also seeking the post. Florida House District 1 includes the northern two-thirds of Escambia County, most of Santa Rosa County and a portion of Okaloosa County. The seat is being vacated by Greg Evers who is running for Florida Senate District 2.
Looking For A School Supply List? (Updated With EWMS, Ransom)
August 6, 2010
School starts Monday, August 23 in Escambia County. Here are the school supply lists from each elementary school in the county, plus Ernest Ward and Ransom middle schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Molino Park (Molino Park Wish List)
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Bellview Elementary
- Beulah Elementary
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Cook Elementary
- Cordova Park Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Hallmark Elementary
- Hellen Caro Elementary
- Holm Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary (Lipscomb Wish List)
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- McMillan Pre-K
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Spencer Bibbs Elementary
- Suter Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- Weis Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
- Yniestra Elementary
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend in Alabama, Florida Next
August 6, 2010
Back to school shoppers can tax advantage of tax free savings beginning today in Alabama and next weekend in Florida.
Alabama — August 6-8
Alabama’s sales tax holiday will be August 6-8. However, Escambia County, Atmore and Brewton will not be participating. In Atmore and Brewton, shoppers will save the state’s four percent tax, but still pay the county and city tax rate. Flomaton will participate, with back to school purchases in Flomaton exempt from the state and city tax, but not the one percent county tax.
For complete details on exempt items in Alabama,click here (pdf).
Florida — August 13-15
In Florida, the school sales tax holiday will be the following weekend, August 13-15. It will be the first school sales tax holiday in the Sunshine State since 2007.
In general, Florida’s sales tax holiday will apply to “the sale of books, clothing, wallets, or bags, including handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, and diaper bags, but excluding briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags, having a sales price of $50 or less, or on sales of certain school supplies having a sales price of $10 or less for the period beginning 12:01 a.m., August 13, 2010, and ending at midnight, August 15, 2010,” according to the Florida Department of Revenue.
For complete details on exempt items in Florida, click here (pdf).
Florida defines books as “a set of printed sheets bound together and published in a volume.” Newspapers, magazines, other periodicals and audio books are not books and will be taxable during the holiday.
Clothing is defined as any article of wearing apparel, including all footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades and skates) intended to be worn on or about the body. Clothing does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, handkerchiefs or sporting equipment.
School supplies include pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunch boxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rulers, computer disks, protractors, compasses and calculators.
The state also has a rule about where purchases can be made or, more importantly, where they can’t be made.
For example, eligible items are not exempt from sales tax if purchased at a theme park or entertainment complex. So, a T-shirt with a cartoon character on the front purchased at Disney World would be taxable, although a similar T-shirt purchased at a department store would be exempt.
Eligible items also lose their tax-exempt status if purchased at a public lodging establishment, aka a hotel, motel, resort, beach cottage, or airport.