Visit Gulf Islands, Other National Parks Free
August 14, 2010
Gulf Islands National Seashore will join with other National Park Service sites around the country and offer fee-free entry into the park this weekend.
At Gulf Islands National Seashore, all entrance fees will be waived for visitors to the park on Saturday and Sunday. At this time of the year, entrance fees are collected at two of the park’s units: Fort Pickens and Perdido Key.
Acting Park Superintendent Nina Kelson states, “This is such a good opportunity to reconnect with all the natural and historic features of the national seashore as well as its ranger led programs.” Park entrance stations will have Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them. Kelson points out that faster moving lines makes this an excellent time to acquire annual passes for those visitors wanting to take advantage of what the park offers year-round. For a full description of the facilities and programs currently available, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/guis or contact the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center at (80) 934-2600.
Pictured: Fort Pickens in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Republicans Postpone Campaign Headquarters Opening
August 14, 2010
The Escambia County (Ala.) Republican Party has postponed Saturday’s planned opening of the group’s headquarters in Brewton due to a fatal accident resulting from a high-speed police chase.
“Due to the tragic accident that occurred Wednesday night in Brewton and the profound impact it has had on all of us in Escambia County, the Escambia County Republican Party has decided to postpone the grand opening of its campaign headquarters until a later date,” said Jeff Peacock, party chairman. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of everyone involved.”
Fall Veggies Are Cool To Grow In North Escambia Area
August 14, 2010
In Northwest Florida, vegetable lovers can enjoy harvests from their backyard gardens throughout the year. However, to ensure a productive and enjoyable vegetable garden, you must understand and abide by planting times.
In general, vegetable crops can be grouped into warm-season and cool-season varieties. Warm-season crops do not grow well at temperatures below 50 degrees F and are killed by frost. Cool-season crops are those that grow at lower temperatures, are not injured by light frost, but can’t take the heat.
In late summer and early fall, North Florida gardeners experience a unique opportunity. You can still plant another round of warm-season crops and/or start your cool-season vegetables.
Planting of warm-season vegetables gets to be more critical with the fall garden because we have an end point—frost and freezes. When planted too late, plants will grow, but may not provide enough of a harvest to make the effort worthwhile. Examples are peppers, eggplants and tomatoes. These vegetables can easily take up to two months from transplanting to producing the first fruit. All the time, the fall is getting shorter in day length and cooler in temperatures. That’s really tough on “warm-loving,” full-sun plants.
Since timing is so important with the fall crop, choose warm-season crops that will produce well within a short time. Look for fast-maturing and determinant or bush-type cultivars to ensure a good yield before frost.
Crops to plant outdoors in August include bush and lima beans, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, onions, southern peas, peppers, squash, tomato and turnips.
In September, you can set out beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, endive, kale, kohlrabi, mustard and radish.
The cooler temperatures of October are better for planting Chinese cabbage, lettuce and spinach.
To find specific recommendations on when to plant vegetables in Florida, read the UF/IFAS “Vegetable Gardening Guide”. It’s online at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021
The leafy crops excel in the fall. Some of the more popular leafy crops are Swiss chard, collards, spinach, mustard, turnip greens and lettuce. Endive, escarole, kale, arugula and the greens of mesclun mix also do very well during the cooler months.
Garden lettuces can be divided into three classes based on habit of growth – leaf or loose-leaf types, semi-heading types (such as butterhead and romaine) and heading or crisp-head types.
Crisp-head lettuces, such as the iceberg types available in supermarkets, are more of a challenge to grow here, so its recommend you stay with the leaf and semi-heading varieties. Other than generally avoiding the heading types, feel free to try just about any variety that strikes your fancy.
Leaf lettuces are the most decorative and least-demanding. They also are among the most heat-tolerant lettuces. This type of lettuce grows in a loose rosette of foliage, and the leaves can be smooth or crinkled, pointed, lobed, curled or ruffled. Foliage color runs from deep ruby red to dark green to pale greenish yellow, with just about every combination in between.
Collards will withstand wide ranges of temperatures if properly conditioned. They may be direct seeded and or plants can be transplanted. Collards may be harvested by cutting the whole plant or by “cropping” individual leaves.
Onions are generally grown from sets or plants. Sets and plants will require about six to eight weeks to reach eating size. Bulbing onions will not be ready to harvest until spring.
Radishes are fast growers and fun for the kids. Many are ready to harvest 25 to 30 days after planting.
So take the leap and “fall” into vegetable gardening.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County
Traffic Accidents On Highway 29 Slow Traffic In Century, Cantonment
August 13, 2010
Two separate accidents this afternoon are slowing traffic on Highway 29.
One accident, reported just after 4:00, reportedly involved a tanker truck and another vehicle at Highway 29 and Archer Road in Cantonment. At least one person was reported to be trapped in their vehicle following the crash.
The second, reported about 4:20, was on Highway 29 at Highway 4 in Century. There were no injuries reported.
Drivers are advised to expect delays in both locations. Both accidents are under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Robert Eugene Hawthorne
August 13, 2010
Mr. Robert Eugene Hawthorne, 62, passed away on Friday, August 13, 2010, in Flomaton.
Mr. Hawthorne was a native of Pensacola, a former resident of Jay, a resident of Flomaton for the past 28 years, and a U.S. Army Veteran of Vietnam. Preceded in death by his father, Horace Hawthorne, a son, Ladon Raines Hawthorne, a grandson, Logan Cade Hawthorne, a brother, Roy Hawthorne and a sister, Frances Lail.
Survivors include; his wife, Loretta Hawthorne of Flomaton; three sons, Chance and Kim Hawthorne, Camaron and Amanda Hawthorne, and Chris and Kim Griffin, all of Flomaton; his daughter, Amanda and Wesley Patterson of Flomaton; his mother, Louise Allen of Jay; six grandchildren; two brothers, Kenny Wayne and Pam Hawthorne of Flomaton, and Larry and Treasa Hawthorne of Evergreen; and three Sisters, Mary Carden of Pace, Linda and Martin Kealer of Pensacola, and Sandra and Doyal Moore of Jay; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Hawthorne of Daphne.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 15, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby Carnley officiating.
Burial will follow at Flomaton Cemetery with military honors.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 14, 2010, between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m.. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Robbins, Karl Eilenstein, Michael Lail, Timothy Lail, Chase Murphy, Wayne Hawthorne, Damon Poole and Travis Poole.
Funeral Services Set For Principal Killed In Police Chase
August 13, 2010
Funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday for Donald Wayne “Coach Rotch” Rotch, 60, of Brewton.
Rotch, principal at T.R. Miller High School, was killed when his vehicle was hit head-on by a car involved a high-speed chase with Brewton Police. He was assistant principal for nine years and principal for 10 years at T.R. Miller High School.
Visitation for Rotch will be held Saturday, August 14, from 2 until 4 p.m. at Brewton First United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 14, at 4 p.m. at Brewton First United Methodist Church with Dr. Ed Glaize officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donation by made in memory of Donnie Rotch to the Donald W. Rotch Scholarship Fund, Greater Brewton Foundation, P.O. Box 469,Brewton, AL 36427.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Donald Wayne Rotch
August 13, 2010
Mr. Donald Wayne “Coach Rotch” Rotch, 60, of Brewton, died Wednesday night, Augist 11, 2010. He was a native of Lake Charles, La., and a former resident of Jackson before moving to Brewton in 1974. He was a member of Brewton First United Methodist Church and was assistant principal for nine years and principal for 10 years at T.R. Miller High School.
He is survived by his mother, Jean Rotch Bonneau of Jackson; his wife, Jane Bagby Rotch of Brewton; a son, Richard Rotch of Birmingham; a daughter, Jayme Rotch of Birmingham; three brothers, Greg (Donna) Rotch and Ray (Judy) Rotch Jr., both of Jackson, and David Rotch of Mandeville, La.; two sisters, Kathy Coleman of Jackson and Connie (Felix) Turner of Manderville; a sister-in-law, Lynne (Ken) Noah of Monroeville; and a brother-in-law, Lamar (Elaine) Bagby of Birmingham.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 14, from 2 until 4 p.m. at Brewton First United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 14, at 4 p.m. at Brewton First United Methodist Church with Dr. Ed Glaize officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Pallbearers will be Rigby McMillan, Matt Davidson, Stephen Thomas, Luke O’Neil, Carl McInnish, Monte McGougin, Bart Till and Josh Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Lee McDaniel, Danny Powell, Jerry Carpenter, Barney Bain, Kyle Ferguson, Frank Nalty, Bobby Farrish, Bill Henderson, Randall Huff, Don Ward, David Stokes, Jim Ryan, Jim Hart and Frank Cotten.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Donnie Rotch to Donald W. Rotch Scholarship Fund, Greater Brewton Foundation, P.O. Box 469,Brewton, AL 36427.
Man Found Dead By Highway 29 In McDavid Was In Prison 10 Days Prior
August 13, 2010
The man found dead by Highway 29 in McDavid on Tuesday had been released from a Florida prison just 10 before his body was discovered.
The body of Donald Freeman, 49, was found by a road crew near the West Fraser McDavid sawmill.
“We have ruled out any blunt force trauma, and there are no signs of foul play,” said Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Roy also said there were no obvious signs of trauma that would indicate Freeman was struck by a passing vehicle. His death is no longer being treated as a homicide.
Freeman was believed to be walking toward Century were he had friends or relatives, Roy said.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Freeman was released July 31 from the Apalachee Correctional Institution, West Unit in Sneads. He was sentenced to state prison in 2006 for aggravated assault with a weapon without the intent to kill and cocaine possession.
Authorities are still trying to piece together what happened in the hours leading up to Freeman’s death, and Roy said the cause of Freeman’s death is still unknown. He said the department is still waiting for toxicology and additional test results.
Click here for a photo gallery from the scene.
Click here for raw news video from the scene.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
We’ve Got The Beat: Northview Band Summer Practice Photo Gallery
August 13, 2010
The Northview High School Tribal Beat band is wrapping up summer practice this week.
Band director Scott Slay said the band is preparing a Beatles halftime show for this year’s football season plus several rock songs to perform from the stands.
For a photo gallery from Thursday morning’s Northview Tribal Beat practice, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Strict Pursuit Policy In Effect In Escambia County
August 13, 2010
Following Wednesday night’s deadly crash in Brewton following a police pursuit, NorthEscambia.com is taking a look at the pursuit policy in place in North Escambia.
“We are very restrictive in our pursuit policy,” said Commander Eric Haines of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. “We probably have the strictest policy in the area.”
Haines said the department’s policy allows vehicle chases only for forcible felonies and DUI’s but only when the risk of not stopping the driver is greater than if they are not stopped.
“Let’s say your family is in that car that might be hit by the pursuit. Is it worth it for your wife to die because someone threw out a bag of crack?” is a question Haines said he presents to deputies as he explains the pursuit policy.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says about 360 people are killed each year in police chases. That’s an average of one every day.
“Police officers want to catch what they chase. The adrenaline gets pumping, and it’s hard to stop,” he said. That’s where supervisors come in, deciding in real time if any pursuit that might happen in Escambia County is allowed to continue.
When an officer does become involved in a pursuit in Escambia County, it is reviewed as seriously as if he discharged his weapon.
“That patrol car is a several thousand pound weapon flying down the street,” Haines said.
The officer’s immediate supervisor will review the pursuit, along with a patrol captain and perhaps other senior officers. If it is found that the pursuit was not justified, the deputy can receive a letter of reprimand or even be suspended from the force.
The policy also provides for limitations on forcible felonies when the danger to the public is too great. Officers are taught to carefully weigh their options before becoming involved in a chase. Many times, Haines said, officers know the identity of a driver and a warrant can be issued for their arrest at a later date, rather than becoming involved in a pursuit.
Pursuits can’t be based on “if’s”, he said, such as “what if” an unknown driver that runs a stop sight might actually be a wanted felon.
“Perhaps it is valid argument with ‘what if you could have caught them’ when someone goes on to commit a serious crime. But you are responsible for the knowledge you have at the time,” Haines said, not the various “what if” scenarios.
Simply failing to stop for a deputy is not a pursuit, according to Haines. In the event a driver fails to stop but does not pose a danger to the public, deputies are allowed to continue to attempt a traffic stop until the person takes a dangerous evasive action.
“If we had someone that failed to stop — say a drunk or someone having a medical problem — but they otherwise drove within the law, we would follow them as long as it takes.”
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
