Poarch Creek Tribal Council Elections Today
June 5, 2010
The 2010 Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Council Election will be held from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. today at the Community Services (SAIL) Building on the Poarch Creek Reservation.
Tribal members will elect a treasurer, secretary and a single at-large member.
The following are candidates for the seats:
Treasurer
Amy Bryan
Edie Jackson
Robbie McGhee
William Vickery
Secretary
William Bailey
Dewitt Carter
David Gehman (incumbent)
Kelli Ramer
Sandra Smith
Carolyn White
At-Large
Gil Caudle
Helen Hallman (incumbent)
Douglas Kelley
Carrie Martin
Debra Strickland
Valerie Barnhill Taylor
Robert Thrower
Eddie Tullis
WV Williams
Gulf Winds Commits $50,000 For Wildlife Sanctuary Oil Fund
June 5, 2010
Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union has committed $50,000 in a matching donation fund to assist the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.
According to Chris Rutledge, Gulf Winds president and CEO, “We wanted to create an opportunity for the community to double the amount they give to the Wildlife Sanctuary. When they give through our website, we will match the gift dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of$50,000.”
“In short,” Rutledge said, “we want to turn our $50,000 into a $100,000 donation with help from the Gulf Coast residents.” Rutledge said that the Wildlife Sanctuary will be doing rehabilitation during and after the oil spill cleanup, and Gulf Winds wants to help them with the funds they need for the work ahead.
Rutledge and several Gulf Winds staff members took a tour of the Wildlife Sanctuary recently.
“We were very impressed with the facility and the work they are doing,” he said. “The Wildlife Sanctuary has been a part of this community for over 28 years and will be here long after the BP cleanup operation has left the area.”
Rutledge said that Gulf Winds has a strong history of supporting our community and they cannot sit idly by and wait for others to solve this crisis. “We know that the Wildlife Sanctuary will be assisting and doing all they can do to protect, restore and rehabilitate wildlife that will be affected by this disaster. Our wildlife cannot wait while lawsuits are settled. They will need our help now and long term.”
Although reports indicate that British Petroleum (BP) has committed to covering the costs associated with the oil spill incident, including the wildlife cleanup, the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida is preparing for a potentially overwhelming amount of work. Dorothy Kaufmann, Wildlife Sanctuary Director, said her staff and volunteers are working closely with many collaborating organizations in these recovery efforts.
Kaufmann said that the Wildlife Sanctuary is already involved and has received injured birds from Tri-State Rescue and Research (the organization contracted by BP to rehabilitate wildlife in this incident). “The birds and other animals can’t be released to the wild immediately,” said Kaufmann. “The oil is still out there. We will be ready to nurse the animals back to health and if needed, hold them until it is safe to release them.”
The Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida is a non-profit organization that has been serving Northwest Florida since 1982. They do not charge for their services, so they rely on contributions to stay open. The money is used to build facilities, grounds upkeep, medical supplies and lots of food. During a normal year, they take in 3,000-4,000 injured or sick animals, and they expect to see a big increase this year.
If you would like to support the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, you can make a donation at www.GoGulfWinds.com. By using the Gulf Winds website, your donation will be doubled and 100 percent of the donation will go directly to the local Sanctuary.
Northview Honor Graduates Named
June 5, 2010
It is graduation day for the Northview High School Class of 2010. Valedictorian for the NHS Class of 2010 is Kaitlyn Nicole Caraway. Salutatorian is Clinton Eugene Davis. The following students will graduate with honors:
Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA and above)
1. Kaitlyn Nicole Caraway
2. Clinton Eugene Davis
3. Mark Allen Shipps, Jr.
4. Jessica Nichole Bloodsworth
5. Bradley James Lowery
6. Felicia Michelle Settle
7. Jackson Helton Smith
8. Eric Matthew Ickeringill
9. Candice Louise Greenwell
10. Kolbi Shae Cobb
Magna Cum Laude (3.85 GPA and above)
11. Caitlin Allie Hall
12. Matthew Cody Parker
13. Austin Hunter Lowery
Cum Laude (3.50 GPA and above)
14. Micah Perrygreen Byars
15. Seth Madison Leonard
16. Heather Danielle Ward
17. Tiffany Michelle Barrows
18. Victoria Ashton Rigby
19. Dakota Wayne Stuckey
20. Jacob Lee Garrison
21. Lauren Ashely Lowe
22. Amber Nicole McMillan
23. Lennie Nannett Caum
24. Brittany Michele Burt
25. Christopher James Sheets
26. Jennifer Megan Lowe
Work Continues On Habitat House
June 5, 2010
Work will continue today on a Escambia County Habitat for Humanity home under construction in Nokomis.
The home is being constructed by a small army of volunteers and contractors alike for Jennifer Dorriety and her 13-year old daughter.
Volunteers are needed today and next Saturday, June 12 to complete the home. It is located at 118 Johnson Road in Nokomis, Ala. Construction experience is not necessary to help.
For a previous NorthEscambia.com story about the build and photos, click here.
Pictured: Future Escambia County Habitat for Humanity home resident Jennifer Dorriety. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Health Advisory: Oil Odor
June 5, 2010
The Escambia County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has received reports of possible petroleum-like odors in parts of Escambia County. It is possible that these odors are related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to statement released by the Escambia County Health Department.
There is currently no measurement data of petroleum-like substances in the air.
As a result, the Escambia County Health Department is advising residents that exposure to petroleum-like odors may cause temporary respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, such as eye, nose, and throat irritation. People experiencing respiratory symptoms, including those with pre-existing severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease, should stay inside and consult their physician for treatment if symptoms persist.
While inside, residents should close windows and run their cooling system. If symptoms persist while inside an air-conditioned home, residents may choose to leave the area until their symptoms are tolerable. The health department will continue to monitor this situation in cooperation with the Emergency Operations Center.
Pensacola Pelicans Offense Lights Up in 11-4 Win Over Cats
June 5, 2010
John Alonso and Francisco Leandro both homered and combined for five RBI’s to lead the way for a Pelicans (8-13) win over the Cats (8-12) Friday night in Pensacola.
Antoin Gray picked up where he left off last night in the first inning when he doubled into left center which scored Joey Side from second base to give the Pels an early 1-0 lead.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, John Alonso led if off with hitting a ball to deep centerfield and over the fence for his second homerun of the year. The homer gave the Pels a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning with Adolfo Gonzalez on second with two outs, Francisco Leandro ripped an RBI single right back up the middle to give Pensacola a 3-1 advantage.
Pensacola added two more runs in the fourth inning with back to back two out RBI singles from Lou Palmisano and John Alonso to open the Pels lead to 6-1.
The Pels were up 7-1 when John Allen ripped a two- run double into left centerfield to drive in two runs for Fort Worth and make it 7-3.
The Pels led 8-4 in the eighth inning when Francisco Leandro belted a two run shot to right for his first homer of the year which gave Pensacola a 10-4 lead. Gray added an RBI single in the inning to make it 11-4.
Newest Pelican Randy Keisler (1-1) gets the win as he pitches six innings and gives up one run off eight hits while striking out six batters.
Joel Kirsten (1-2) takes the loss as he gives up six runs off eight hits in just four innings of work.
Outwit and Outlast the Troublesome Armadillo
June 5, 2010
Have you ever discovered your once beautiful green lawn looking like the surface of the moon, full of craters? If so, then you may have been visited by an alien-looking creature known as the armadillo.
Armadillos originated in South America. They are mammals. They are neither rodents nor marsupials and are not related to the opossum. Their closest living relative is the anteater and sloth.
The most easily recognized feature of an armadillo is its shell. Their common name, armadillo, is derived from a Spanish term meaning “little armored one”. All armadillos have shells, made of true bone, that cover their backs. Most armadillos also have bony rings or plates that protect their tails.
Digging machines
Armadillos are built to dig. They rely on this ability to escape danger and survive. They prefer sandy or loam soils that are relatively easy to excavate. Therefore, they are well adapted to Northwest Florida soils.
Armadillos typically rest in deep burrows during the day and become more active during the late evening, night, or early morning. These burrows are usually located under brushpiles, stumps, dense brush, or concrete patios, and are about 7 to 8 inches in diameter and can be up to 15 feet long. They often have several burrows throughout their territory.
Food sources
Armadillos feed primarily on insects. They also eat earthworms, scorpions, spiders, snails, and small vertebrates and their eggs. They consume large amounts of armyworms, cockroaches, ants, wasps, flies, beetles, and grasshoppers. They have been known to dig up entire yellow-jacket nests.
Some consider the armadillo a beneficial creature because they eat potential pests. Many consider the armadillo a pest because of their destructive ways. Armadillo can burrow under driveways and patios causing structural damage. Burrows in pastures can pose a potential hazard to livestock. And because armadillos usually search for food by rooting or digging in the ground, they can damage large areas of the lawn or garden.
Control measures
If you find that you cannot live with these creatures, the University of Florida recommends four ways to deal with armadillos.
- reducing the amount of water and fertilizer you apply to your lawn
- creating barriers (e.g., fences),
- live-trapping
- shooting offending individuals (check local ordinances)
The best solution (and the most expensive) is a stout fence to keep the armadillos out. If you take this route, make sure the fence is buried at least 18 inches into the ground, or they might just burrow under it.
Reducing the water and fertilizer applications to your lawn may help reduce armadillo damage. A moist lush landscape is perfect for earthworms and insect larvae. Armadillos love earthworms. Sometimes watering adjacent areas may attract armadillos away from a site.
Trapping can be frustrating and may require some ingenious thinking. Some tried and true trapping techniques are discussed at length in an online University of Florida publication by Dr. Russ Mizell at http://ufinsect.ifas.ufl.edu/armadillo.htm.
Remember that poison baits are illegal and ineffective. No chemical repellents or fumigants are registered for use in Florida.
Armadillos are very happy in Northwest Florida and are here to stay. If they have become unwelcomed house guests, put your thinking cap on and be committed to outwitting and outlasting this prehistoric-looking creature.
For more information, contact Theresa Friday at 850-623-3868 or email tlfriday@ufl.edu. Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Molino Park 5th Graders Say Goodbye
June 5, 2010
There were lots of tears, smiles and hugs Friday morning at Molino Park Elementary School as fifth graders took their final walk to the buses on the last day of school.
Teachers, parents and other students cheered on the Molino Park graduates as they said goodbye to their elementary years.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and below: Fifth grade students take their final walk to the buses Friday morning at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Latest Escambia Oil Info
June 5, 2010
Here is the latest oil spill information specific to Escambia County. The most recently updated information is in yellow.
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British Petroleum (BP) |
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Federal (NOAA) |
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State of Florida (DEP, FWC) |
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Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff |
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Local Beaches |
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City of Pensacola |
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Volunteer Opportunities |
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Safety Information |
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Wildlife
Boats
Beaches and Waterways
Personal Safety
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Business Information |
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Citizen Information
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Manhunt In Molino For Burglary Suspect
June 4, 2010
A manhunt in Molino Friday morning turned up empty for a burglary suspect in the area of Sunshine Hill and Suncrest Lane.
The suspect is identified as Brandon Davis Edmondson, 30, of Molino. Deputies believe he was involved in a morning burglary in the 100 block of Molino Road and that he may have later fled his residence in the 6000 block of Sunshine Hill Road.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies suspect Edmondson burglarized a shed on Molino Road, taking tools.
The suspect was last seen wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured top: A K-9 team searches for a burglary suspect in Molino Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.