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.
Globs Of Oil,Tarballs Found On Pensacola Beach; Cap Over Well
June 4, 2010
The first small balls of oil were found on Pensacola Beach Friday morning.
Sam Champion made the early morning tarball discovery on ABC’s Good Morning America. Scooping up a handful of sand, removed an oil ball that he described as “a red-like, tar oil substance right on the beaches of Pensacola this morning”. He compared the balls of oil to what he had seen what scuba diving in the Gulf Tuesday.
“It wasn’t here last night,” he said. “I’m really, really upset about this.”
Thursday night, BP managed to place cap over the Deepwater Horizon oil leak deep in the Gulf. From video, it was impossible to tell if the funnel-shaped lid was working — oil could bee seen gushing rapidly from around the cap.
BP said Friday morning that some oil was flowing through a pipe from the cap to the surface, but it was too early to tell exactly how much of the oil was being captured.
Pictured top: ABC’s Sam Champion holds one of many oily tarballs found Friday morning on Pensacola Beach. To watch the video, click the photo. Photo courtesy ABC’s Good Morning America.o Pictured inset: A cap placed over the leaking oil well Thursday night did not appear to impede the flow of oil. BP photo.
Charles Hayden Abbott
June 4, 2010
Charles Hayden Abbott, 99, of Lynn Haven, Fla., passed away on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. He was born in Century, Florida in 1910 and was devoted to Northwest Florida all his life, working to enhance the quality of life for all citizens through his civic work and devotion to educational programs.
He was an outstanding athlete who lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track in high school before becoming a professional baseball player with the Southeastern League. He played baseball against Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey, among others. He went to spring training with the Boston Red Sox in 1930, before a knee injury ended his major league aspirations.
He served his country with distinction and honor in World War II as a Chief Electricians Mate in the United States Navy, where he was stationed in San Diego, San Francisco, and Pearl Harbor. Except for his years in service, he has lived in Panama City since 1937, working as district manager of Gulf Power Company and owner of Abbott Refrigeration.
He was the great great grandson of the man who served as sheriff of Northwest Florida in 1825 when it was a territory. He was appointed sheriff of Bay County by the governor in 1961, where he served for two years. He was director of the Law Enforcement Assistance Center for sixteen years, where he promoted law enforcement training throughout Northwest Florida.
He served his community through the First Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder Emeritus, also through the Boy’s Club and Rotary Club of Lynn Haven, where he was named the club’s first Paul Harris Fellow. He had been involved in every aspect of the law enforcement program at Gulf Coast Community College since it began, including service as a founding and sustaining member of the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee and as a valuable guide during a period between program directors. He attended every law enforcement graduation ceremony since the program began, until 1998 when his health prohibited him from attending.
The College recognized his extraordinary service through the Charles H. Abbott Award for Academic Excellence, which is given to the student in each law enforcement class with the highest academic achievement. He was a member emeritus of the Gulf Coast Community College Foundation for many years and a four-term director and two-term treasurer. He and his beloved late wife, Mary, were benefactors of the Foundation for many years and continued the support for many years, donating to the Honors Plaza Endowment Campaign.
The members of the District Board of Trustees named the college’s law enforcement training facility the Charles H. Abbott Criminal Justice Training Academy. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rigell Abbott and brother, Bryan Abbott.
He is survived by a niece, Lenore Hilbert; 3 nephews, Frank Abbott, Jim Gaunt, Richard Gaunt; great nieces, Leigh H. Webb; great nephews, W. Guy Hilbert, Dr. Frank Abbott, Terry Abbott; great great nieces, Hayden Hilbert, Dabney Abbott; great great nephews, Kyle Hilbert and Christopher Abbott.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Panama City with Dr. Richard Watson officiating. Interment will be in the Bayview Cemetery, Pensacola, FL at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Charles & Mary Abbott Scholarship Fund c/o Gulf Coast Community College Foundation, 5230 W. Hwy 98, Panama City, FL 32405 or to the First Presbyterian Church of Panama City, 100 E. 7th St., Panama City, FL 32401 in memory of Charlie Abbott.