FWC Approves Production, Sale Of Florida Largemouth Bass As Food Product
March 12, 2022
At their March meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rules to allow for the production and sale of Florida largemouth bass as a food product.
Statutory changes made during the 2021 legislative session sanctioned the sale of Florida largemouth bass produced in aquaculture facilities for food. Staff worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to ensure continued genetic conservation of Florida’s iconic freshwater game fish.
Key points from the approved rule language include:
- Allow for the culture and sale of Florida largemouth bass as a food fish.
- Incorporate FWC’s Genetic Authentication Standards for Florida largemouth bass into rule by reference.
- Prohibit the importation into or transportation within the state of any live bass species, except permitted Florida largemouth bass that meet FWC’s largemouth bass Genetic Authentication Standards.
- Require any shipment of live bass in Florida to be accompanied with documentation required by FDACS and FWC.
“We appreciate the ongoing collaboration with FDACS, and we are confident in the established protocols in place to protect Florida’s iconic gamefish,” said Commissioner Gary Lester.
The Florida largemouth bass is the state fish.
Time Change: Spring Forward. And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries.
March 12, 2022
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
And don’t forget to replace the batteries in your smoke alarm, or replace the alarm if it’s getting old.
“If your smoke detector is older than 10 years old, it most likely needs to be replaced,” said Escambia Fire Rescue Fire and Life Safety Specialist Ray Melton. “Having a working smoke detector and plan of escape from your home are two of the most important steps to being safe when a fire occurs.”
Escambia County residents can call (850) 595-HERO for replacement smoke detectors.
Beulah Academy Of Science Wins Escambia County Volleyball Championship
March 12, 2022
The Beulah Academy of Science Bobcats defeated Brown Barge this week to claim the Escambia County Championship. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Tops Northview 5-3
March 12, 2022
The Jay Royals edged the Northview Chiefs 5-3 Friday in Bratt.
Andrew Diamond earned the win for Jay, going one inning, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out one.
Jamarkus Jefferson took the loss for the Chiefs. He gave up three runs on three hits in one inning while striking out two. Josh Landis went for six, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out two.
Luke Bridges went 2-3 at the plate to lead the varsity Chiefs. Jefferson, Kaden Odom, Josh Landis and Ethan Collier had one hit each.
Diamond, Ethan McDonald, Nathan Smarr, Cole Dunsford and Hayden Morris had one hit each for Jay.
Photos: Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97, Kingsfield Crash Claims One Life
March 11, 2022
A traffic crash Friday morning claimed the life of one person in Cantonment.
The crash happened about 10:25 a.m. at the intersection of County Road 97 and Kingsfield Road, a short distance away from Ransom Middle School.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 56-year old female was traveling south in Ford Escort, approaching Kingsfield Road. The 50-year old driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe failed to yield to oncoming traffic as she attempted to cross the intersection.
The driver of the Ford Escort was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Santa Fe and an unidentified passenger were transported to Baptist Hospital
FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour (below) and Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 (above), click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Stealing Tools During Two Burglaries
March 11, 2022
A Cantonment man is accused of stealing tools that were later found in his vehicle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Andrew Paul Driver, 19, was charged with felony burglary and grand theft. Driver remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $45,000.
Driver is accused of stealing numerous tools from two residences on Kathleen Avenue.
He allegedly took tools valued at $1,990 from a home in the 1200 block of Kathleen Avenue during the early morning hours of March 8. The tools included a Rigid chop saw, a table saw, brad nailer, side grinder, batteries and battery charges. The tools were all marked by the owner and were later recovered in Driver’s BMW at his residence on Petty Drive in Cantonment, according to an arrest report.
Also on March 8, Driver allegedly burglarized a shed at home in the 1400 block of Kathleen Avenue. He stole tools worth $850 including Milwaukee saws, drills and a battery charger, the arrest report states. Deputies said the items were also recovered in Driver’s vehicle.
FHSAA Releases New Football Districts, Here’s Where Each Local Team Will Play
March 11, 2022
The Florida High School Athletic Association has announced the new Metro, Suburban and Rural football classification and created nine state championships.
The new classifications will be in place for at least the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Another big change will come in playoff rankings. Football will move away from the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) rankings that were implemented in 2019. The FHSAA Power Rankings, handled by MaxPreps, will instead decide playoffs.
The metro classification includes the eight Florida counties with the highest population — Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Duval, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Seminole.
The Tate Aggies are the only Escambia County team in the largest 4S class, joining Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze and Navarre in District 1. The 4S classification is for schools with 1,896-3,226 students.
Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Choctaw and Fort Walton Beach are District 1 in 3S, while West Florida, Pensacola High, Pensacola Catholic and Walton are District 1-2S.
In the Metro and Suburban classes, for 4A-2A there are four regions and 16 districts across the state with district play required. District champs will advance, along with the next four at-large in the region.
Northview, Jay, Baker, Bozeman, Chipley, Freeport, Graceville, Holmes County and Vernon make up Rural Region 1-1R. That is the same as last year, except Cottondale moves to Region 2.
In the Rural classification, there are four regions and no districts. The Rural classification does not have a required regular season district or region schedule. The top six in each district will advance to the playoffs.
Suburban District 1-4S
- Tate, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Navarre
Suburban District 1-3S
- Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Choctaw, Fort Walton Beach
Suburban District 1-2S
- West Florida, Pensacola High, Pensacola Catholic, Walton
Rural Region 1-1R
- Northview, Jay, Baker, Bozeman, Chipley, Freeport, Graceville, Holmes County, Vernon
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
School Superintendent Tours Tate High Classrooms
March 11, 2022
Escambia County School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith and Director of High Schools Lesa Morgan visited Tate High School Thursday.
With Principal Lara Touchstone, they toured several classrooms around the campus from algebra and forensic science to English and world history.
Smith said he was impressed and excited to see the great things going on in the classrooms.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: United Way’s Day Of Caring Benefits Local Community
March 11, 2022
Hundreds of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and completed service projects at nonprofit agencies and schools across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties during United Way of West Florida’s Day of Caring last month.
The final numbers are in. Here is the impact Day of Caring made on the community, according to United Way:
- More than 500 volunteers from 35 companies and organizations spent the day cleaning, painting, building, and more.
- Those volunteers put in 1,625 hours of work on their projects.
- The value of donated time for those volunteers is $46,370.
“We are so thankful to live in such a caring community,” said Laura Gilliam, United Way of West Florida president and CEO. “The heart and sweat these volunteers put into Day of Caring make a huge difference for local nonprofits and our neighbors they serve.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
These were just a few of the North Escambia area related projects:
- International Paper team members volunteering with United Way Day of Caring at Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center. Volunteers spread and raked new sand on the playground and pressure washed the building and signs.
- Navy Federal volunteers help sort books for Goodwill (with help from Florida Blue), worked in the warehouse at Feeding the Gulf Coast, and worked on playground preparation and landscaping at the therapy center at Santa Rosa Kids’ House. They also participated in other volunteer service across the area.
- There were 16 volunteers Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Town of Jay, and United Way that worked on several projects at Jay Elementary School, including weeding, painting, pressure washing, picking up trash and putting up granite benches that had been donated by the classes of 1958 and 1959.
The next Day of Caring is only a few months away. It will return to its traditional fall date in October of 2022. An exact date will be announced soon.
Pictured top and bottom: Volunteers from International Paper worked Friday morning at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center. Pictured below: Navy Federal volunteers worked in the warehouse at Feeding the Gulf Coast. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECFR Lt. Kyle Rogers Honored For His Promotion At Beulah Fire Station
March 11, 2022
Escambia County Fire Rescue Lt. Kyle Rogers was recognized Thursday for his promotion.
Rogers was officially promoted from firefighter to lieutenant back on October 1, 2021, and was honored Thursday at the Beulah Fire Station where he is currently assigned as the company officer on Beulah’s Engine 219.
Rogers received his red fire helmet surrounded by family and fellow firefighters. His wife and son pinned his fire bugle, a symbol of rank in the fire service.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
