Local Students Attend Arkansas Leadership Forum
June 19, 2011
Three local students recently attended the 55th annual National National Leadership Forum at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
The North Escambia area students attending were Elizabeth Wright, Northview High ; Mary Andre, Tate High and Caleb Curl, West Florida High.
The delegates were sponsored by the Pensacola Civitan Club, along with local businesses and individuals. The students were instructed in the values and qualities of leadership and how our country has developed its leaders. They also addressed contemporary issues facing young leaders in high school.
The event was attended by 300 students from five states.
Sherrill Soloist In Berry College Performance
June 19, 2011
Kate Elizabeth Sherrill of Walnut Hill recently performed as a soloist in the Berry College Concert Choir’s spring oratorio.
Sherrill was featured with guest soloist, internationally renowned baritone, Elias Mokole, in Anotonin Dvorak’s Te Deum, Opus 103.
She also performed in the Berry College theater department’s spring production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, a modern remake of the ancient Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice. Sherrill played the title role.
Sherrill is a senior vocal performance major with a minor in theater. She is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill of Walnut Hill and the granddaughter of Dean Graham of Atmore.
Pictured: Kate Sherill of Walnut Hill following her performance in Eurydice in which she was dipped in the “river of forgetfulness”. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lanell M. Cook
June 19, 2011
Lanell M. Cook, 77 of Flomaton, died Friday June 17, 2011, in Pensacola. She was a homemaker, born in Atmore on November 11, 1933, to the late Connie and Doris Barrington Murph.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Calvin O. Cook.
She is survived by two sons Marvin Dunn of Loxley, Calvin Cook, Jr. and wife, Katherine Chappell Cook of Atlanta; one daughter, Connie Lewis and husband Steve of Flomaton; seven sisters; two brothers and seven grandchildren.
Services will be Monday June 20, 2011, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore with Bro. Jeff Edwards officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Level Cemetery in Atmore.
Family will receive friends Monday June 20, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of all arrangements.
For The Birds And Bees: It’s National Pollinator Week
June 19, 2011
This week goes to the birds and the bees – and to all of the other pollinators that keep our world growing and productive. June 20-26 is National Pollinator Week, and its intent is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators to plants, animals, and humans.
As pollinators gather nectar and pollen for their survival, they are responsible for the reproduction (the production of fruits, seeds, nuts, etc.) of 70 percent of all flowering plants and two-thirds of crop plants. This ecological service is worth $14.6 billion annually in the United States, quite a chunk of change for this diverse batch of insects, birds and mammals.
Unfortunately, many of the world’s pollinators are at risk. Studies have shown that about a third of the nation’s managed honeybee colonies are lost each year, a trend that has held steady for the past five years. Pesticides and other toxins have also reduced the number of butterflies and other crucial pollinators.
But it’s not all gloom. An army of agencies and nonprofit groups have assembled to help restore and protect pollinator populations. And there are things you can do in your very own yard to help pollinators flourish.
First, you can incorporate pollinator friendly plants into your landscape. A diverse planting of mostly native plants is typically best. By diverse, we mean use of flowers with different shapes, colors and times of bloom. Natives include beardtongue, coreopsis, black-eyed susan, native sunflowers, purple coneflower, beebalm, tropical sage, and milkweed.
You can also provide nesting sites for bees, called bee blocks. To make a bee block, start with preservative free lumber and drill holes 3/32 to 3/8 inches in diameter. Holes should be spaced 3/4 inches apart, and they should only be open at one end.
Avoid using pesticides. While pesticides kill those pesky bugs, they take out a lot of beneficial bugs, too. Explore non-pesticide options when protecting yourself and your plants. Planting certain plants can ward off unwanted bugs or attract those good bugs to ward them off for you.
You can also promote pollinator habitat in your community. Greenspaces like parks and golf courses can provide valuable habitat for pollinators. As urbanization continues to deplete natural lands, these green spaces can serve as sanctuaries for pollinators. Encourage your local leaders and golf course owners to use landscaping and pesticide management best suited for pollinators.
Roadsides are another resource for helping pollinators. American roadsides have 10 million acres of land that could be ideal habitat. Ask your local and state highway officials to plant or allow native vegetation to colonize roadsides, creating an aesthetically pleasing vista for motorists as well as helping pollinators.
USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recognize the importance of pollinators. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack designated this week as National Pollinator Week as a way to honor pollinators, “which provide significant environmental benefits necessary for maintaining healthy, biodiverse ecosystems,” Secretary Vilsack wrote in his proclamation. The NRCS promotes pollinator habitat in its cost-share programs, which gives landowners incentives to establish nectar corridors and pollinator nesting habitat.
Pollinators on the Web
For information on NRCS programs, visit www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov.
For information on pollinators, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/pollinators .
For a copy of NRCS’ “Be Kind to Pollinators” brochure, call 1-888-526-3227.
For information on National Pollinator Week, visit www.pollinator.org.
Some other helpful sites are www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/ and www.abfnet.org.
Joshua McElhaney is a District Conservationist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). He works in the Molino (Escambia County) Field office. For additional details contact the Escambia County, FL USDA NRCS office at (850) 587-5404 ext. 3. Located at 151 Hwy 97, Molino (Escambia County Farm Bureau Building).
Florida Weekly Gov’t Roundup: Worries About Drug Test Problems, Granny Dumping
June 19, 2011
Florida health care officials hit the road this week to hold hearings about the new Medicaid overhaul — and got an earful about “granny dumping” and endangered mom-and-pop pharmacies.
The Agency for Health Care Administration, which held 10 hearings from Pensacola to Fort Myers, can do little about many of the objections. In passing the overhaul, lawmakers required that seniors enroll in managed-care plans and decided against giving special treatment to independent drug stores.
But the hearings are a prelude to AHCA seeking all-important approval of the overhaul from the Obama administration. The objections could offer fuel for opponents who want the federal government to reject the Legislature’s plan.
Gov. Rick Scott, meanwhile, accomplished a priority this week when he signed a bill combining agencies into the new Department of Economic Opportunity. The bill includes dismantling the Department of Community Affairs, a move that is already starting to ripple through growth decisions.
But word also got out this week that Scott has delayed moving forward with a plan to require drug testing for state employees. He decided not to implement the plan while the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida challenges its constitutionality in federal court.
MEDICAID ROAD SHOW:
AHCA faces an Aug. 1 deadline for submitting a detailed proposal to the federal government to carry out the Medicaid overhaul, which calls for almost all beneficiaries to enroll in managed-care plans by October 2014.
That short time frame sent agency officials barreling across the state this week to hold public hearings. They held as many as four in one day — hitting Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Gardens on Thursday.
Hundreds of people turned out for the hearings, with many critical of the overhaul. During a hearing Monday, Pensacola resident Julia Pearsall warned of glitches in moving to the managed-care system.
“What happens in the short run can be a matter of life and death to the recipients,” said Pearsall, who has long worked on social-service issues.
It was also clear from the hearings that some of the opposition was well-organized. Community pharmacy operators, for instance, turned out en masse because of concerns that HMOs will use mail-order pharmacies to fill prescriptions for Medicaid beneficiaries.
“With unemployment and the economy the way it is, it seems illogical to put more stress on independent business,” said David Enfinger, of A&E Pharmacy in Pensacola.
Another common refrain came from people opposed to requiring seniors to enroll in managed care. An oft-repeated sound bite: The overhaul will lead to “granny dumping,” with HMOs trying to keep seniors out of nursing homes.
Managed-care industry officials, however, argued that they will improve the care of Medicaid beneficiaries.
“We’re not managed costs,” said William McHugh, president of Amerigroup Florida. “We’re managed care.”
JOBS AND BODILY FLUIDS:
Florida got a glimmer of good news Friday, with the announcement that May’s unemployment rate was 10.6 percent — down 0.2 percent from April.
But Gov. Rick Scott made the biggest jobs-related news, when he signed a bill to create a new economic-development agency and acknowledged putting off drug tests for state workers.
The new Department of Economic Opportunity will merge agencies such as the Agency for Workforce Innovation and the remnants of the Department of Community Affairs.
Scott said the bureaucratic changes are intended to help create jobs. Dismantling the Department of Community Affairs, for example, largely eliminates state oversight of local growth decisions, removing a potential roadblock to development.
“The bill I signed today provides us flexibility to seize opportunities created by developing markets and effectively respond to the changing needs of the businesses that grow our economy,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
State workers, meanwhile, got at least a temporary reprieve from Scott’s drive to start requiring drug tests. Scott issued an executive order in March calling for the tests but put them on hold amid an ACLU lawsuit.
Scott and his staff denied that he was backing away from the tests. “We’re going forward with it,” the governor said. “We’re going forward, it’s just a process.”
But ACLU officials described the decision as a “retreat” and said the executive order is a violation of state employees’ rights.
“We are pleased that this new order has delayed subjecting thousands of state employees to demeaning, invasive and illegal tests of their bodily fluids,” ACLU legal director Randall Marshall said. “But it does not change our constitutional challenge.”
2012 AND BEYOND:
The 2012 legislative session is still seven months away, but a battle is already building about redistricting.
After supporting 2010 constitutional amendments that created new redistricting standards, several groups this week called on lawmakers to speed up the once-a-decade process of drawing new political lines. The process is scheduled to start in January, though the groups fear that will lead to chaos in candidate qualifying for the 2012 elections.
Also, the groups — including the state NAACP, the League of Women Voters of Florida, Hispanic advocacy group Democracia and Common Cause Florida – asked the House to drop out of a lawsuit that challenges one of the amendments.
“Please let us know that you will do your duty, abide by your oaths to enforce the Florida Constitution, and comply with the Fair Districts amendments,” the groups said in a letter to legislative leaders dated Tuesday.
Republican leaders, who have long opposed the amendments, said they think many of the complaints are politically motivated and aimed at helping Democrats.
“While I would hope that is not the case, how else can we interpret their suggestion that members of the public have less time to speak and to offer input prior to the maps being drawn,” said House Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who is scheduled to become speaker after the 2012 elections.
Democrats, meanwhile, also have longer-term political concerns as they try to figure out who might be a good gubernatorial candidate in 2014. Among the possibilities: unsuccessful 2010 nominee Alex Sink, Sen. Jeremy Ring of Margate, former Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach — and maybe even former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who is a man without a party.
“”Never underestimate Charlie Crist’s ability to shake things up,” Democratic campaign operative Steve Schale said.
KID STUFF:
It was a rough week for some students, both young and old.
The Florida Department of Education directed numerous school districts to investigate suspicious test scores on FCAT and end-of-course exams because of high numbers of erased answers. The districts are Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Flagler, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Orange, Palm Beach, Polk and Seminole.
Meanwhile, college students will get hit in the wallet again, as state universities looks to plug budget deficits. All of the state’s universities are expected to seek 15 percent increases next year in undergraduate tuition.
But on the bright side, Florida kids got a high-profile backer this week, when First Lady Ann Scott became the state’s new Chief Child Advocate.
Roy Miller, president of the Children’s Campaign, an advocacy and watchdog group, said he would have preferred to see a full-time child advocate along with the First Lady. But he also expressed optimism.
“We understand the importance of pillow talk to helping children, and we’re looking forward to working with her,” he said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Agency for Health Care Administration held hearings throughout the state, as it prepares to submit a detailed Medicaid overhaul to the federal government.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “There are members of my community, of the African-American community, who are sick and tired of a bleached Parole Commission,” said Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, after Scott and the Cabinet decided against reappointing Cassandra Jenkins to the Parole Commission, leaving it with no African-Americans.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
New Unemployment Numbers Show More Out Of Work
June 18, 2011
The latest job numbers released Friday showed an increase in the number of unemployed in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment remained steady below double digits — at 9.9 percent in May and April. While the rounded percentage held steady over the month period, there were 91 jobs lost, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 13,852 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.2 percent.
Santa Rosa County recorded an increase— from 8.5 percent in April to 8.7 percent in May. Santa Rosa County lost 188 jobs during the period, with a total of 6,192 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 9.1 percent.
Escambia County, Alabama, had an increase in unemployment — from 10.5 percent in April to 11.3 percent in May. Escambia, Alabama, lost 126 jobs during them month-long period, with 1,534 still out of work.
Florida
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May 2011 is 10.6 percent, the lowest since August 2009 when it was also 10.6 percent. This represents 980,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,249,000. The state’s unemployment rate is down 0.2 percentage point from the April 2011 rate of 10.8 percent and is 0.7 percentage point lower than the May 2010 rate of 11.3 percent.
Total employment increased to 8.2 million, up by 14,900 from March and 39,200 more than April 2010.
“This is the fourth straight month of decline in Florida’s unemployment rate and the lowest rate in more than a year and a half – very encouraging for Florida’s employers and job seekers,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo, in a statement.
Alabama
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 9.6 percent in May, was up from April’s rate of 9.3 percent and was slightly above the year-ago rate of 9.5 percent. Alabama officials blame the increase in unemployment on the deadly tornadoes that hit the state.
Weekend Weather
June 18, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Search Continues For Suspect In Century Shooting
June 18, 2011
The investigation is continuing into a double shooting one week ago in Century that injured a 31-year old woman and her 16-year old boyfriend. So far, there have been no arrests in the case.
The shooting happened about 8:30 last Saturday night, June 11, in the 7500 block of Jefferson Avenue in Century. Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were told by a 31-year-old female victim that she and her 16-year-old boyfriend were shot as they were sitting in a vehicle in front of a residence.
The victims said that another vehicle, possibly a dark colored Hyundai, pulled in behind them and blocked them in. One of the occupants then exited the suspect vehicle and began shooting, injuring both the male and female.
The suspect was described as a black male of medium height with a thin build and wearing a red ball cap.
The victims left the area and drove to the 9500 block of Ivey Street to call 911. The male victim was transported by private vehicle to Jay Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The female victim was transported by ambulance after being questioned by deputies. Her injuries were also non-life threatening.
Investigators are also looking at the relationship between the 31-year old woman and 16-year old boy, according to Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Weekend Gardening: Watering Wisdom
June 18, 2011
Dry weather is persisting across much of the South. Below normal rainfall and record-breaking heat is taking a toll on local landscapes. Because of Florida’s sandy soils, drought-sensitive plants may experience water stress after only a few days without rain or irrigation. Because water is a valuable resource, it’s crucial that irrigation be delivered properly to ensure plant health and conserve water.
How often we need to water varies, depending on such factors as temperature, rainfall, humidity, season, plants and light intensity. Proper watering is a function of applying the right amount of water at the appropriate times. It is important to get water to plant roots efficiently and effectively and to keep the moisture in the root zone area.
Irrigation Frequency
Many gardeners tend to water lightly every day during dry weather. Light frequent watering doesn’t get the water deep into the soil. Because roots only grow where there is adequate moisture, this practice results in a shallow root system.
Shallow-rooted plants are unable to tap reserves of water deeper in the soil and are prone to drought stress in even brief dry periods. Eventually, your plants become dependent on you to water them constantly.
Established trees and shrubs typically do not require frequent irrigation. For established plants, apply enough irrigation to wet the soil at least 8 to 12 inches deep rather than light amounts that wet only the surface. Deep watering provides water to a larger portion of the root system. A thorough watering should not be necessary for established landscape plants more often than once a week.
University of Florida guidelines call for watering lawns on an “as needed” basis. Lawns that are in need of water will show specific signs. These signs include the leaf blades folding in half, the grass showing a blue gray tint or your footprints remaining visible long after being made.
How Much To Water
To irrigate thoroughly, enough water should be applied to penetrate about 8 to 10 inches into the soil. Applying ½ to ¾ of an inch of water to medium-textured soils generally will accomplish this.
To figure out how long to leave your sprinkler on to apply the recommended amount of water, first, place several empty cans in the spray pattern of the sprinkler. Turn on the sprinkler and check the time. When about a ½ inch of water has accumulated in most of the cans, check the time again. That’s how long it takes your sprinkler to apply a ½ inch of water – and about how long you should leave it on to thoroughly irrigate an area.
The best check of how thoroughly an area has been watered is to go back about 15 minutes after watering and dig into the soil with a trowel. Find out if the water penetrated deep into the soil. Check several places. This procedure also works to calibrate an installed irrigation system or hose-end sprinklers.
In some situations, such as on slopes and heavy clay soils, the water may need to be added more slowly to reduce runoff. It takes water longer to penetrate heavy clay soils than light sandy soils. Run the sprinkler on for 10 to 15 minutes and off for 15 to 20 minutes until you’ve applied a ½ inch of water.
When to Water
Water early in the morning. Less water is lost to evaporation and wind drift in the morning because of cooler temperatures and less wind.
Final Thought
In the long run, organic matter in landscape beds helps to maintain soil moisture. For best results, mulch all landscape beds twice a year. Pine straw and pine bark are excellent mulches along with hardwood mulch.
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.
Two Farmers Markets Today
June 18, 2011
There are two farmer’s markets going on in the North Escambia area this morning, offering a variety of fresh produce and other local products.
The Market at Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church at 699 County Road 95-A South in Cantonment is taking place from 8 a.m. until noon. Today, the market features A&N Blueberries, Blue Gate Coop, BBG’s Country Corner, C&D Mill, The Farm and Enoch’s Walk, Heiden’s Honey & Whole Wheat Bread, Kelly’s Mayhaw Berries & Jelly, Ladybug Acres Natural Growers, Po Man’s Pickins, Patty Putters Crafts and more.
The Atmore Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Market in the Park, today FNB & Trust Park downtown (the small park between the bank and Highway 31). Local growers will sell their produce and more. There will be live music from 9:30-11 a.m.