Hazel Bolen Celebrates 90th
February 27, 2011
Byrneville resident Hazel Bolen celebrated her 90th birthday last week.
The Women’s Ministry at Byrneville United Methodist Church gathered friends and family for a celebration last Sunday, with a big surprise. She was able to hold her great-great granddaughter Taylor for the first time as great-grandson Josh Mixon was able to attend the party from out of town — make five generations at the event.
Hazel has two sons, Wilbur and Wayne Levins, as well as many grandchildren.
Pictured top: Family and friends gather to celebrate Hazel Bolen’s 90th birthday at Byrneville United Methodist Church. Pictured inset: Hazel is able to hold Taylor Mixon, a fifth generation family member, for the first time. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two People Seriously Injured In Van Versus Motorcycle Crash
February 26, 2011
Two Century area residents were seriously injured when their motorcycle was hit by a van Saturday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a van driven by Emma Evelyn Page, 55, of Century, pulled from Fields Road onto West Highway 4 into the path of a motorcycle driven by William Joseph Walston, 45, of Century. Walston and his passenger, 34-year old Wendy Lambeth of Century, were thrown from the motorcycle onto the highway, after at least one of the hitting the windshield of the van.
Walston and Lambeth were both transported by ambulance in serious condition to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Emergency officials called a “trauma alert” on one of them and requested the LifeFlight air ambulance, but there were no helicopters available at the time.
Page was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital with minor injuries. Page was cited for violation of right of way, according to the FHP.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Santa Rosa County EMS, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured top: Two Century area residents were seriously injuries when they were thrown from this motorcycle during a crash Saturday night in Century. Pictured below: This van pulled into the path of the motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Brush Fires In Molino, Cantonment
February 26, 2011
Firefighters battled two brush fires in Molino and one in Cantonment on Saturday.
A 20-acre brush fire was reported just after 5 p.m. in the area of East Chipper Road and North Chipper Road. The fire was reported along railroad tracks in the area by a CSX engineer. Firefighters reported a small section of railroad cross ties was on fire; CSX was forced to halt rail traffic to make repairs.
The Cantonment and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
The first Molino brush fire of the day was reported shortly after 11 a.m. at the end of Pilgrim Trail off Highway 97. About five acres were reported to be burning as firefighters arrived, but the fire was continuing to spread. The fire was reported to be contained by 12:20 p.m.
The fire also burned an old boat. There were no structures threatened and no injuries reported.
The Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to the blaze.
The second Molino fire of the day was reported just before 4 p.m. in the 4000 block of Molino Road, near Sunshine Hill Road. The fire was reported to be about an acre and a half but moved into a wooded area that firefighters were unable to reach with their brush trucks. The Florida Division of Forestry was called to the scene to access the fire with a bulldozer. They were able to contain the fire by about 4:15 p.m.
Initial reports indicated the fire was started by someone playing with sparkler.
Picture above: An old boat burns during a brush fire Saturday morning on Pilgrim Trail in Molino. Pictured below: The Pilgrim Trail fire consumed several acres. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Shot During Party At Town Of Century Building
February 26, 2011
Two people were shot during an early Saturday morning party at a Town of Century Building where multiple shots were still being fired as deputies arrived.
The incident happened about 2 a.m. at the town’s Habitat Building, a community center located on East Pond Street. A 20-year old female was reported to be shot in the knee. She was transported to Jay Hospital by ambulance and later airlifted to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight. A 19-year old male was shot in the leg and transported to an area hospital by ambulance. Another unknown age male was transported to the hospital after being hit in head by a bottle. The names of the injured have not yet been released.
Preliminary reports indicate shots were still being fired when the first Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the party attended by 75-100 people. A gun was reported to be recovered, but deputies were unsure if it was the weapon used in the shootings.
The shooter or shooters were still at large at last report.
Further information has not yet been released.
The Habitat Building is one of the community centers the Town of Century frequently rents to the public. For several months, the town has discussed the need to require security at parties and other functions at their community centers. But the council has yet to take any formal action on the discussion.
Get A Good Deal: 36th Annual Ruritan Auction Today
February 26, 2011
The 36th Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction is going on today.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but also a second simultaneous auction with household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items, antiques and more. Concessions, including lunch, will be available all day from the Ruritan Club.
The sale is taking place at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97 just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
Pictured top: Buyers inspect merchandise this morning at the annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Beat Freeport
February 26, 2011
Both the varsity and junior varsity Northview Lady Chiefs picked up a big wins on the road over Freeport Friday.
The varsity Lady Chiefs downed Freeport 10-1, while the JV Lady Chiefs beat the Bulldogs 18-3.
The JV Lady Chiefs will be in action again next Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 and the varsity Lady Chiefs at 6:00 in Pensacola against Washington High School. Their next home game won’t come until March 10 against the Baker Gators, with the JV at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00.
Exam Finds Bank Robbery Suspect Competent, Lawyer Disagrees
February 26, 2011
A psychiatric examination has found an Atmore bank robbery suspect competent to stand trial, but the attorney for Chad Floyd Jeter, 31, is asking a federal judge for an independent opinion.
Jeter was indicted on charges of bank robbery with a weapon and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime in violence in connection with the May 19, 2009, armed robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in downtown Atmore.
In May, 2010, a psychiatric evaluation determined Jeter was not competent to stand trial. He was admitted to the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina for treatment and evaluation, with the examination determining recently that he was once again competent to stand trial.
This week, Chief Judge William H. Steele issued an order allowing Jeter’s lawyers to make arrangements for an independent psychiatric examination within 30 days.
“Defendant’s counsel continues to have a serious concern regarding whether Mr. Jeter has currently a sufficient present ability to consult with his counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding, as well as a sufficient present ability to have a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him,” Arthur Powell, Jeter’s attorney, wrote in a motion filed in federal court last week.
“Based on the previous psychiatric evaluations there is reasonable cause to believe that the Defendant may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings or to assist in his own defense,” Powell stated.
Jeter allegedly robbed the Atmore bank using a .22 caliber rifle, taking about $6,289. If Jeter were to be convicted on the federal charges, he could face penalties up to life in prison and fines of a half million dollars.
Authorities in Levy County, Florida, dropped an attempted murder of police officer charge against Jeter after a psychological evaluation there found him to be incompetent to stand trial. Jeter was captured in Levy County after a manhunt that followed his escape from a police officer that he struck with a “ninja throwing star”.
Jeter reportedly drove up to the downtown Atmore bank in a white pickup with a camper shell, entered the bank dressed in a dark colored trench coat and the rifle. He ordered bank employees to fill a U.S. Army backpack with cash, while he stood with the rifle pointed at the floor. He reportedly threatened a teller with the rifle during the crime.
Within a few hours of the robbery, investigators identified Jeter as their suspect. Officials searched his trailer on Highway 31 near Canoe. Inside, they found troubling evidence that Jeter might be planning to attack a military base. He said in letters and notes that he was being watched by helicopters that circle his home. Police found maps with the locations of several military bases circled, including Pensacola NAS, Eglin Air Force Base, Whiting Field and Alabama’s Ft. Rucker. The notes indicated that he planned to kill military personnel and police. Military bases were alerted to the possible threat.
Jeter’s burned out camper shell was found in the woods after the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire on a secluded section of Pine Barren Road near Breastworks Road early on the morning after the robbery.
While on routine patrol at 4:15 Eastern time the Thursday morning following the Tuesday robbery, an Inglis (Fla.) Police Department officer, Tim Swigget, located a blue GMC pickup trucked parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown, Florida, neighborhood. Inside the vehicle that is nearly 400 miles from Atmore, he found Jeter sleeping. After the officer determined that Jeter is wanted for the bank robbery, Jeter attacked the officer with a Ninja star.
A manhunt involving several agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard followed after Jeter fled the scene. Jeter was taken into custody in a swampy area and transported to the Levy County Jail.
Pictured top: Chad Floyd Jeter’s booking photo taken mid-January at the Baldwin County Corrections Center. Pictured middle inset: Jeter’s truck at the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore. Pictured lower inset: Surveillance video of the bank robbery in progress. Pictured bottom: Jeter after being taken into custody last year in Levy County, Florida. NorthEscambia.com files photos, click to enlarge.
Deputy Pleads Not Guilty In Alleged Video Beating
February 26, 2011
An Escambia County deputy has pleaded not guilty to felony battery charges for allegedly throwing a detainee into the jail floor and leaving there bleeding without medical attention.
Attorneys for Zachary McArthur entered the not guilty plea on his behalf Friday. His trial by jury has been set for May 31.
According to State Attorney Bill Eddins, McArthur is alleged to have battered Justin Johnson while he was being detained at the jail. As a result of the incident Johnson received 11 stitches for an injury to his face. The entire incident was captured on video.
To see the video and read more, click here.
Antique Show And Sale Today
February 26, 2011
Have an antique and want to know what it is worth?
The Jay Historical Society is holding an Antique Show and Tell at the Jay High School Auditorium, Saturday from 10 a.m. until. Tickets are $5 per item to be appraised by expert appraisers with over 20 years experience. There will also be an Amateur Auction at 2:00, with a 10 percent commission fee.
Proceeds will benefit the renovation of the old Cannon Building (formerly known as the “5&10″) into a new, larger Jay Historical Museum.
Weekend Gardening: Early Flowering Trees Usher In Spring
February 26, 2011
Warmer temperatures have raised the spirits of gardeners in Northwest Florida. Although we know from experience that we still have a good chance of another cold snap or two, nicer weather is always a welcomed foray into spring.
Warmer weather also means that some trees and shrubs burst into bloom producing flowers that brighten otherwise drab winter landscapes. Several members of the rose family are currently in bloom in Northwest Florida and sure to grab your attention.
Flowering Quince
During Colonial times a quince tree was a rarity in the gardens of wealthy Americans, but was found in nearly every middle class garden. The fruit—always cooked—was an important source of pectin for food preservation, and a fragrant addition to jams, juices, pies, and candies. However, by the early twentieth century quince production declined as the value of apples and pears increased. Its popularity has plummeted and it is now a rarity in contemporary landscapes.
Quince has been cultivated in the Middle East for centuries, and may have even been the fruit of temptation in the story of the Garden of Eden. The ancient Biblical name for quince translates as “Golden Apple.” In ancient Mesopotamia, now Iraq, cultivation of quince predates the cultivation of apples.
This small, thorny, deciduous tree is one of the first to bloom in late winter. It is a member of the rose family and explodes with typical rose-type flowers in February each year. The single, white flowers are 1½ to 2 inches across and grow on current season growth.
The fruit is a fragrant, many-seeded pome about three inches in diameter. The fruit’s shape ranges from round to pear-like and the flesh is yellow. Several references refer to it as “hard and rather unpalatable.”
If you would rather not deal with the fruit, non-fruiting cultivars exist. Since most quince cultivars are not well-adapted to Florida because of their high chilling requirement, choose your cultivar carefully.
Apples
Another pome-type fruit that embellishes our landscapes in late winter is the apple tree. Along with the quince, it too is a member of the rose family. It is older in cultivation than the rose and is sometimes referred to as the prince of the rose family.
Relatively few cultivars of apples (Malus domestica L.) can be grown successfully in Florida.
Most apples have a high chilling requirement. Chilling requirement is defined as the number of hours less than or equal to 45 degrees F during the winter. Apple cultivars suitable for North Florida have a chilling requirement of less than 600 hours.
Only a few cultivars meet Florida’s low-chill requirement. Recommended cultivars include ‘Anna’, ‘Dorsett Golden’ and ‘TropicSweet’. ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorsett Golden’ originated in Israel and the Bahamas, respectively. ‘TropicSweet’ is a patented cultivar from the University of Florida. These cultivars each have a chilling requirement of 250 to 300 hours.
For more information on low-chill apples, review the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg368.
Flowering Cherry
While we may not be able to produce beautiful, delicious cherries in Northwest Florida, we can enjoy a few ornamental, flowering cherry trees.
One species that does well in Northwest Florida is Prunus campanulata or the Taiwan cherry. The Taiwan cherry grows to 20 to 25 feet and spreads nearly as wide as it matures. Single, drooping rose-type flowers appear in late winter and will last for about ten days.
For other recommendations on flowering trees to add to your landscape, contact your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.