Four People Injured In Flomaton Crash; Two Transported By LifeFlight
March 23, 2009
Four people, including three members of the same family, were injured in a collision on Highway 31 east of Flomaton Sunday afternoon.
The accident happened just after 4:00 Sunday afternoon on Highway 31 at Old Fannie Road. Two people were transported to Pensacola by two different LifeFlight helicopters, one to Sacred Heart Hospital and one to Baptist Hospital.
Officials say the car, driven by David Smith of Flomaton collided with a truck driven George Hauer. Smith was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance was non-life threatening injuries. Hauer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight in serious condition.
Leigh Smith, a passenger in car, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in critical condition. Her condition was reportedly upgraded to stable Sunday night. Another passenger in the car, Samantha Bryant, a senior at Flomaton High School, was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with non life threatening injuries. Passenger Curtis Byrant refused treatment the scene.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Atmore Ambluance, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department, Flomaton Police Department and Alabama State Troopers were among those that responded.
The accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Pictured above: Two people were seriously injured in this accident east of Flomaton Sunday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Panhandle Fresh: Group Markets Local Produce
March 23, 2009
The watermelon and the sweet corn you buy at Wal-Mart late this spring or during the summer may just be from North Escambia. Or the peanuts, or the peppers, or one of the many crops that the marketing cooperative Panhandle Fresh helps local farmers market to the world’s largest retailer.
“I never thought I would be selling my sweet corn in Wal-Mart,” Walnut Hill farmer Steve Hiebert told NorthEscambia.com.
Panhandle Fresh handles the marketing, the insurance and logistics of getting produce like Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill to Wal-Mart. Panhandle Fresh secures the orders from Wal-Mart and works with local farmers to get coordinate the produce delivery.
“We really just work between the farmers and Wal-Mart to sell what is on the land,” said Andrea Sutrick, marketing coordinator from Panhandle Fresh. Sutrick recently joined Panhandle Fresh after working for Kraft Foods for 10 years to secure shelf space for Kraft products.
“This year we hope to ramp it up a little bit and experiment with more production,” Sutrick said.
No matter the scale, Panhandle Fresh Executive Director Cindy Anderson said selling to a giant retailer is very different for most farmers than selling on their farms or at curbside markets.
“This isn’t for everbody,” Anderson said. “We encourage farmers to commit just 20 percent of their crops to the Panhandle Fresh program. This gives us and the producers a chance to figure out how to best make the program work. I’d rather walk before we run.”
Panhandle Fresh sits between the farmer and Wal-Mart, providing the $3 million in liability insurance that Wal-Mart requires. The group also provides the marketing, works to secure shelf space for the products, takes care of most paperwork and bills Wal-Mart for the produce. The farmer delivers his goods, bills Panhandle Fresh and receives a check for the fresh goods.
Most farmers are happy with the price that they receive, Anderson said, making it a win-win situation for everyone. Wal-Mart gets the freshest product possible from local farms, and the local farmers that participate get a much needed financial boost.
In addition to Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill, Walnut Hill farmer Jerry Davis’ watermelons and Holland Farms peanuts from Jay are among the top Panhandle Fresh products sold in area Wal-Marts in the Florida Panhandle.
Coming up Tuesday, we’ll take a look at one of the big challenges faced by the farmers that participate in Panhandle Fresh, and how the solution may just mean more jobs in North Escambia.
Pictured top and top middle: Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill is just one of the products that Panhandle Fresh works to get from area fields in into retail giant Wal-Mart. Pictured bottom middle: Panhandle Fresh greens being sold in an area Wal-Mart. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Local Church Member Continues To Serve In Iraq
March 23, 2009
A member of a local church that is serving in Iraq is expected to return home in the next two months.
US Air Force Sgt. John Weaver is currently serving in Iraq. Sgt. Weaver is originally from Jay and currently lives in Pensacola with his wife Lisa and three girls, Krista, Randi, and Starla.
He and his family are very active and faithful members of Ray’s Chapel, and the family makes the drive several times a week to the church. Over the past several months, the church has continued to support Sgt. Weaver in prayer and with care packages from home.
Pictured top: Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church member Sgt. John Weaver poses in a chair in a former Saddam Hussein palace in Iraq. Pictured middle: Weaver is big Alabama Crimson Tide fan. Pictured below: Weaver (middle) poses with his troop. Submitted photos from Iraq for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School District To Repair Northview Ceilings, Kitchen Hood At EWMS
March 23, 2009
The school district has awarded bids for ceiling repairs at Northview High School and for a new kitchen exhaust hood at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The Escambia County School District has awarded a $209,104 contract to repair ceilings in the 100 wing at Northview. The contract was awarded to low bidder Acousti Engineering Company of Pensacola.
The district awarded a $49,236 contact to low bidder Comfort Systems USA of Pensacola for a new kitchen hood at Ernest Ward. Two other bids — $53,472 and $67,500 — were received.
Need A Job? Census Bureau Needs North Escambia Employees; Learn More Tonight
March 23, 2009
The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a recruitment meeting at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino at 7 p.m. today.
The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary employees to assist with next year’s census, but work will begin later this year.
Pay generally begins at $11 an hour for up to a 40 hour week.
A valid driver’s license is required for most positions. Additionally, the potential Census Bureau employee must pass a background check, be a U.S. citizen, pass a written test of basic skills and have a valid social security number.
Census Bureau hires locally because local residents are knowledgeable about their neighborhood and familiar with the community, its residents, and its local customs, according to their web site.
Tonight’s meeting will take place in the Aldersgate Café. Attendees should bring their social security card to the meeting.
Baptist Hospital Seeks Volunteers In Atmore And Jay
March 23, 2009
Baptist Health Care is recruiting volunteers at area facilities, including the hospitals in Jay and Atmore.
Community members interested in helping others are encouraged to contact their local Baptist Health Care facility. Baptist Hospital, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Atmore Community Hospital, Jay Hospital, Baptist Medical Park – Navarre, and Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile have open volunteer positions. Opportunities to help improve the quality of life for Baptist Health Care patients and community members vary from administrative needs to information desk and greeters.
Studies show that people who stay active and volunteer tend to live longer and are physically and mentally healthier, according to Baptist.
To learn more about how you can become a volunteer at any of the Baptist Health Care facilities, call Nancy Greathouse at (850) 434-4935 or visit eBaptistHealthCare.org.
Drew’s Field Dedicated
March 22, 2009
A tragedy that touched a community and turned into a dream became a reality Saturday morning with the dedication of Drew’s Field in Walnut Hill.
Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died in a January 2008 accident on Highway 97. Drew’s Field was named is his honor, bringing wee ball to the Northwest Escambia Little League for the first time ever.
“He loved to play ball with his dad,” Jessica Cloud, one of the people instrumental in making the field a reality, said Saturday morning. “He would hit the ball off the palm of Danny’s hand and take off running. Oh how he loved to run!”
The first three attempt at in vitro conception were unsuccessful for Danny and his wife Cyndi. But on the third try, they were successful. The embryo was rated as on a “3″, when typically only those rated as a four or five survive. Drew beat the odds and was born a happy healthy child. For that reason, Danny wanted his little boy to wear jersey number “3″ during his first game.
Saturday morning, Drew’s number 3 jersey was at Bradberry Park, in a glass case on a memorial board surrounded by tiles written by loved ones in his memory. As Drew’s Dream Team prepped to play their first wee ball game on the field, Cyndi Marlow Wendt stood alone behind the field looking quietly at that number 3 jersey in the glass box.
“It is Cyndi’s prayer that that you cherish every moment spent watching your child play on Drew’s Field as it represents her dream of seeing her little boy play ball,” Cloud said at the dedication ceremony.
For a photo gallery form the first-ever wee ball game at Drew’s Field, click here.
To read our story about Drew’s Field from last week, click here.
The Drew’s Field organizers offered their thanks to many local people and organizations for making the field a reality:
- NWE Board of Directors - for agreeing to build Drew’s field
- Ruritan Club – for their donation and support of the project
- Buddy Bartlett – clearing, leveling, and erosion control
- William Wendt, Jason Ging, and Larry Cook – layout of field and laying sod
- Saye Erosion Control and Sod – donating sod
- Richard Beck and Andrews Sod – discount on labor to lay sod
- Solutia – monetary donation
- Poarch Creek Indians – donation of fence
- Century Dept. of Corrections – labor for fence installation
- Bondurant Ace Hardware in Century – discount on materials
- Drew’s PaPaw (Richard Marlow) – spreading topsoil and clay
- Drew’s Pa (Danny Wilson) for help with materials during fencing
- Academy Sports – gift card for equipment
- Bratt Elementary PTA — bleachers
- Ronnie Cloud aka BBQ Man - preparing fund raiser sandwiches and those who purchased
- Everyone who contributed to the yard sale, or donations at the bank
- Volunteers that worked a a yard sale
- NorthEscambia.com for their continued coverage
- Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union for bank account
- Pensacola Pelicans for donating auction items
- All family and friends for their love and support.
- Michelle and Alan Purvis for building shadowbox frame
- Preferred Materials for donating concrete for dugouts
- Archer Western for pouring concrete
- Sandy Brown for hours of volunteer work
- Pam Brown for assistance with labor crews
- and “most of all Jessica Cloud for organizing everything”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidated Escambia Government Bill Clears First Florida House Committee
March 22, 2009
The Florida House bill filed by State Rep. Greg Evers that, if approved, would led to the formation of a commission to study the consolidation of the governments of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County has cleared its first House committee
The Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee cleared the bill Friday afternoon, and the bill had its first reading in the Florida House late Friday afternoon. The bill has been referred to two other committees — the Finance and Tax Council and the Economic and Community Affairs Policy Council. It has not yet made the agenda of either group.
If the bill is approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, a consolidation study commission will be formed in Escambia County.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would presented to Escambia County voters.
Century, Pensacola and Escambia County will not be required to pay for the commission, under the house bill, but they will be required to provide clerical, technical and legal assistance to the commission.
The commission, to be appointed by July 1 of this year, would include up to 25 members from various groups in the county.
The commission will include:
- Five members appointed by the Escambia County Commission, with one member being appointed from each district
- One member appointed by the Century Town Council, with that member being a resident of Century
- Two members appointed by the Pensacola City Council, both of them being residents of Pensacola
One member will be appointed by each of the following groups:
- NAACP
- Escambia County Taxpayer’s Association
- League of Women Voters of Pensacola Bay Area
- Pensacola Young Professionals
- Pensacola Ministerial Alliance
- Escambia County Farm Bureau
- Home Builders Association of West Florida
The president of the University of West Florida will appoint one member with expertise in local government matters. The sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of court and supervisor of elections will each appoint one member.
The chief judge of the First Judicial Circuit will appoint two Florida Bar members with legal expertise in local government matters.
One member will be appointed by the Escambia County School Board, and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will appoint a member.
A special advisory committee on public safety will be appointed under the house bill, consisting of the following or their designee:
- Escambia County Sheriff
- Pensacola Police chief
- Escambia County Community Corrections Bureau
- Escambia County Public Safety Bureau Chief
- Pensacola fire chief
- Escambia County Medical Director
- chairperson of the Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board
- Police Benevolent Association of the City of Pensacola
- Police Benevolent Association of Escambia County
- Chapter of of the International Association of Firefighters of the City of Pensacola
A special advisory committee on economic development will be appointed, including members appointed by the following groups:
- Pensacola Junior College
- Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce
- Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board
- Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce
- local chapter of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce
- Florida’s Great Northwest
- Town of Century Chamber of Commerce
- Walnut Hill Ruritan Club
- Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce
An advisory committee on health care will be appointed by:
- Baptist Health Care
- Sacred Heart Health System
- West Florida Hospital
- Escambia County Health Department
- Escambia County Medical Society
Click here to read the entire bill (pdf format).
Spring: March Tips For Your Flowers, Shrubs, Lawn And Garden
March 22, 2009
Now that spring is here and the outdoors are turning green again, it is time to begin thinking about working in your outdoor areas in North Escambia and surrounding areas. From flowers, to tree and shrubs to lawns, the Escambia County Extension Service offers some great tips for the late March through April time period:
Flowers
- Begin planting colorful annual flowers such as ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, asters, baby’s breath, begonia, calendula, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, dusty miller, gaillardia, geranium, hollyhock, impatiens, marigold, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, pentas, phlox, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet Williams, torenia, verbena, vinca and zinnia.
- Caladium bulbs are extremely sensitive to cold soil so there is no advantage to planting early. Purchase caladiums while there is a good selection, but wait until late March or April before planting them in shady beds.
- Begin watching roses for black spot fungus disease (small black spots on the leaves that quickly worsen). Control it by spraying every seven to ten days with a fungicide. Call your local Extension Office for recommended products.
Trees and Shrubs
- Finish pruning summer flowering shrubs such as althea, hibiscus, abelia, oakleaf hydrangea and oleander.
- Delay pruning azaleas, camellias, spiraeas, gardenias and other spring flowering shrubs until after flowering is complete.
- Prune any cold weather-damaged plants only after new growth appears.
- If needed, fertilize shrubs and small trees with a slow release fertilizer. A good general-purpose landscape fertilizer is a 15-0-15.
- Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sq ft of canopy area or landscape area.
- Pick up all fallen camellia blossoms and remove them from your property. This practice helps to prevent petal blight next season.
- Prune ornamental grasses. For more information visit the online publication, “Considerations for Selection and Use of Ornamental Grasses,” at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP233 or call you local Extension Office for a copy.
- Evergreen and semi-evergreen trees such as live oak and laurel oak shed most of their leaves during March and early April. Make plans to recycle these leaves on your
property by composting or using them as mulch in vegetable, flower and shrub beds.
Vegetable Garden
- In mid-March, plant vegetables such as bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, cantaloupes, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, southern peas, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and watermelon.
- Sweet potato plants (slips/draws) can be set out April through June.
Lawns
- Removing excessive accumulation of leaves from the lawn will increase the effectiveness of fertilizer and pesticide applications.
- If a pre-emergence lawn herbicide is needed to control summer weeds, it should be applied in early March or when day temperatures reach 65 to 70 degrees F for 4 to 5 consecutive days. Make certain to choose one that is safe on your type of grass. Call your local Extension Office for a recommendation.
- Wait until early April to fertilize lawns. If fertilized too early, they often respond with yellow spots of iron chlorosis. Use a slow release nitrogen product with a 3-1-3 ratio
(like a 16-2-16) or a 1:0:1 ratio such as a 15-0-15. - Service the lawn mower by sharpening the blade and adjusting the cutting height for your type of grass.
- Anyone considering establishment of centipede grass from seed should hold off until the soil warms up and stabilizes above 70°F.
- Spring dead spots may be present. Before treating these areas, get a diagnosis. Treat, if necessary, and then patch these areas before weeds invade the bare spots. Sodding, plugging or sprigging helps them to fill in quicker.
Photo Galleries: NWE Opening Day, First Day Games, Wee Ball
March 22, 2009
Saturday was opening day for the Northwest Escambia Little League.
For a complete photo gallery from opening ceremonies, click here.
For a complete photo gallery from opening morning games, click here.
For a photo gallery form the first-ever wee ball game at Drew’s Field, click here.
Pictured top: Opening Day ceremonies for the Northwest Escambia Little League. Pictured middle: Pitcher Mallory Ryan winds up for the Northwest Escambia Sandy Sansing team. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.