Arrest Made: Auburn Toomer’s Corner Oaks Poisoned, Unlikely To Survive (With Radio Show Caller Audio)
February 16, 2011
Auburn University confirmed Wednesday that an herbicide commonly used to kill trees was deliberately applied in lethal amounts to the soil around the Toomer’s Corner live oaks on campus, and there is little chance to save the trees.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Department arrested Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr., 62, Thursday morning and charged him with a felony count of criminal mischief in the first degree. Updyke, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, is a unemployed resident of Dadeville, Ala. Updyke, who attended Milton High School, was being held on $50,000 bond.
The university learned that a caller to The Paul Finebaum Show, a nationally syndicated radio show based in Birmingham, on Jan. 27, claimed he had applied the herbicide. (Click at bottom of page to listen to audio.) As a precaution, soil samples were taken the next day and sent to the Alabama State Pesticide Residue Laboratory on campus for analysis. Due to a small fire that occurred in the Alabama lab in December, the tests were sent to the lab at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., to expedite results.
The City of Auburn Police Division is investigating the situation, and the application of this herbicide, known as Spike 80DF, or tebuthiuron, is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university does not use Spike herbicide.
The lowest amount detected was 0.78 parts per million, described by horticulture experts as a “very lethal dose.” The highest amount detected was 51 parts per million, or 65 times the lowest dose. Experts believe a normal application by itself would have been enough to kill the trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.
“We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees,” said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn’s Tree Preservation Committee. “We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area.” Additional tests are being completed to determine the movement and extent of the area affected, Keever said.
The removal process involves digging trenches and applying activated charcoal to absorb the herbicide from the soil and block its progress. A representative from Dow Chemical, which manufactures the herbicide, is advising the university on removal procedures, and expert horticulturalists are also being consulted.
“We will take every step we can to save the Toomer’s oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community,” said University President Jay Gogue.
Gogue asked members of the Auburn Family to “continue to be ‘All In’ in upholding its reputation for class” and not allow anger to be expressed inappropriately or undeservedly.
“It is understandable to feel outrage in reaction to a malicious act of vandalism,” Gogue said. “However, we should live up to the example we set in becoming national champions and the beliefs expressed in our Auburn Creed. Individuals act alone, not on behalf of anyone or any place, and all universities are vulnerable to and condemn such reprehensible acts.”
Pictured top: Toomer’s oaks rolled after the BCS Championship Game. Pictured inset: The Toomer’s oaks today. Pictured bottom inset: Toomer’s corner in the 1890’s. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NHS Opens Varsity Softball Season With Loss; Win For JV
February 16, 2011
The varsity Northview Lady Chiefs dropped their regular season opener Tuesday, while the junior varsity picked up a big win.
The Pine Forest Eagles defeated Northview in varsity softball action, 5-2. In the season opener for the junior varsity chiefs, Northview beat Pine Forest 20-4.
The varsity team will be in action Friday at 5:00 as they host Pensacola Catholic. The JV and varsity will travel to Jay on February 22.
Escambia County And Flomaton Win Area Championships
February 15, 2011
Good news Monday for two Escambia County, Alabama, teams as they won their area championships in high school basketball play off action.
The Flomaton Hurricanes got past Cottage Hill 60-58 for the 2A Area 1 championship.
And, in Atmore, the Escambia County High School Blue Devils defeated B.C. Rain 75-53 for the 4A Area 1 championship.
Portion Of Ernest Ward Campus Leased To Northwest Escambia For Ball Field Expansion
February 14, 2011
A portion of the Ernest Ward Middle School property in Walnut Hill is being leased to Northwest Escambia Little League to expand with new practice fields.
The Escambia County School District has leased about 4.5 additional acres to NWE for four new ball practice fields for $1 per year on a 20 year lease. According to NWE officials, the ball fields will be constructed and maintained by volunteers or at NWE’s expense.
The school district owns 90 acres around Ernest Ward, including the current school campus, the NWE’s current Bradberry Park, about 20 acres of farmland and several acres of wooded land (see map above). A portion of the property was already leased to NWE for Bradberry Park, a portion to a communications company for a cellular tower and 19.25 acres to Bama Bottom Farms, LLC.
Brett Ward of Bama Bottom Farms property agreed to forgo 2.75 acres of his parcel, which he leases at $65 per acre, for the ball fields. An additional 1.73 acres for the ball fields is located to the west of the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club community center, behind the district’s bus garage. The 1.73 acres currently includes the old “hog barn” that was used by Ernest Ward High School. (The areas being leased to NWE are shown in yellow in the map.)
NWE’s lease on the Ernest Ward property will be for 20 years, with the option to extend for two additional 10 year terms.
Pictured below and inset: This area around the old Ernest Ward High School “hog barn” and part of the field below are on the current Ernest Ward Middle School property and have been leased to Northwest Escambia Little League for four ball practice fields. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Lose In Semi’s, Plus Other Florida And Alabama Playoff Scores
February 12, 2011
It was a heartbreaking, season-ending loss for the Northview Chiefs Friday night as they lost in the District 1-2A Basketball Semifinals.
Freeport defeated the Chiefs 73-67 to advance to the finals Saturday night against Baker.
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Here is a look at other area semifinal basketball games from Friday night:
FLORIDA
District 1-5A Semifinals
Escambia 55 Navarre 44
Pine Forest 59 Milton Milton 49
Escambia vs. Pine Forest 7 p.m. Sat. at Tate
District 1-4A Semifinals
Washington 64 West Florida 41
Pensacola 48 Choctaw 45
Washington vs. PHS 7 p.m. Sat.
District 1-2A Semifinals
Freeport 73 Northview 67
Baker 61 Pensacola Christian 39
Freeport vs. Baker, 7 p.m. Sat. at Baker
ALABAMA
4A Area 1 Semifinals
Escambia County (Atmore) 71 Saraland 40
B.C. Rain 57 UMS-Wright 54
B.C. Rain at ECHS, 7 p.m. Monday
2A Area 1 Semifinals
Flomaton 66 Mobile Christian 37
Cottage Hill 72 J.U. Blacksher 35
Flomaton at Cottage Hill, 6 p.m. Monday
Playoff Results: Northview Beats Jay, Tate Falls To Pine Forest
February 9, 2011
Northview 51 Jay 45
Number 4 Northview defeated number 5 Jay 51-45 Tuesday night. The Chiefs will advance in the District 1-2A Tournament to take on number 1 Freeport at 6 p.m. Friday at Baker High School in a semifinal game.
Lance Bushaw led the Chiefs (9-8) with 14 points, while Colton Sims added 12 and Austin Arrington contributed 11. Todd Laney led the Royals (4-15) with 18 points.
Northview — Lance Bushaw 14, Colton Sims 12, Austin Arrington 11, Dabney Langhorne 7, Derrick Portis 6, , Laderius Franklin 3.
Jay — Todd Laney 18, Tyler Prescott 11, Connor Weekes 5, Trent Sweeney 3, Keith Lisonbee 2.
Jay 9 10 11 15—45
Northview 10 16 13 12—51
Pine Forest 67 Tate 52
Pine Forest defeated Tate Tuesday night in the District 1-5A Quarterfinals, 67-52. Pine Forest will advance to play Milton on Friday. Josh Gray led the Aggies with 23.
Tate — Josh Gray 23, Shermone Jones 14, Spencer Taylor 7, Kenny Elliott 2, Tyler Hudson 2, Lawrence Colston 2.
Pine Forest 9 24 12 22—67
Tate 17 2 14 19—52
Tate Aggies Softball Regular Season Begins
February 8, 2011
The Tate Aggies will begin their regular softball season today. Here is the complete schedule for both the varsity and junior varsity programs:
Lady Chiefs Announce Softball Schedule
February 7, 2011
The 2011 Northview Lady Chiefs softball schedule has been announced for both the junior varsity and varsity programs. The Lady Chiefs will open the season on the road against Pine Forest on February 15. The first home game will be February 18 against Pensacola Catholic.
Northview’s varsity team is the defending district champions, with pitcher Misty Doran returning to the mound as a sophomore. She led the area in strikeouts last year with 141 batters sent back to the box.
Locals Run The Double Bridges (With Complete Results)
February 6, 2011
Over 3,100 runners took part in Saturday’s 14th annual Pensacola Double Bridge Run.
In the 15K, top overall North Escambia area finisher was Matt Dobson of Jay at seventh overall with a time of 52:19. Rusty Branch of Cantonment finished 11th with a time of 55:35, and Matthew Nixon of Molino finished 22nd overall with a time of 58:17. Dobson was first in Male Masters division.
For complete results from the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 15K, click here.
In the 5K Run, the top overall North Escambia area finishers were: Jason Scott of Jay at 52nd with a time of 24:16; Richard Tavenner of Cantonment at 57th with a time of 24:24; and Brandon Rogers of Cantonment with a time of 24:50 at 66th.
For complete results from the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 5K, click here.
In the 5K Walk, the top overall North Escambia area finishers were Merrie Fox, 19th, with a time of 39:24; Frank Templeton of Cantonment at 26th with a time of 40:31; and Sandra Russell of Cantonment at 47th with a time of 42:47.
For complete results from the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 5K Walk, click here.
Jay’s Robin Blackman Signs With Troy State
February 4, 2011
Jay High School’s Robin Blackman signed a track/cross country scholarship with Troy University on Wednesday’s National Signing Day. She also received Troy’s Millennium Scholar’s Award, TSU’s top academic scholarship. The award covers tuition, room and board and is valued at approximately $69,000.
Blackman will become a Trojan in the fall of this year.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Coach and father Stan Blackman , Robin Blackman, Coach Sonya Odom, (back row) Assistant Principal Brad Marcilliat, mother Belinda Blackman, Principal Dale Westmoreland and Athletic Director Lance Youngblood. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.