More Rain Tonight, Sunday
July 16, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 87. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 96. East wind around 5 mph becoming south.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Despite Rain, Burn Ban Still In Place
July 16, 2011
Despite our recent wet weather, a burn ban remains in effect in Escambia County.
The burn ban issued last month prohibits all open outdoor burning, including trash and debris burning, campfires, bonfires, fireworks and all other similar fires. The Town of Century and the City of Pensacola are included in the burn ban.
Sonya Daniel, public information office for Escambia County, said Friday that the burn ban is still in place. She said the need for the burn ban will be reviewed on Monday by the county’s fire chief.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Super Bowl Champ At Park Dedication Tonight
July 16, 2011
Two-time Super Bowl champion Anthony Pleasant will be in Century tonight as the town dedicates the sports facility that bears his name.
The Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex will be dedicated at 6 p.m. The celebration will include free hot dogs and soft drinks.
The 22 -acre park was named after Century native Pleasant (pictured), a former pro football player selected in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. During his 14 year NFL career, Pleasant played for the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. He played a total of 202 NFL games and racked up 58 sacks and two interceptions.
The 1986 Century High School graduate earned two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots. Pleasant is currently the defensive line coach for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
Anthony Pleasant Park is located off Highway 4 just east of North Century Boulevard; turn right after crossing the railroad tracks.
Pictured : Anthony Pleasant, courtesy Kansas City Chiefs.
Football: NWE, Cantonment Registration
July 16, 2011
Football season is approaching fast, and registration is set for two local leagues.
NWE Football Registration
Registration for Northwest Escambia football will continue every Saturday through July from 10 a.m. until noon at the Ernest Ward field. Participants are encouraged to sign up early. The first practice for NWE is August 8. For more information, contact Charles at (850) 327-4603.
Cantonment Football Registration
Football and cheerleading registration for the Cantonment Cowboys will be held each Saturday through July 30 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information, call (850) 292-1775.
District 5 Commissioner White Schedules Town Hall Meeting
July 16, 2011
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday, August 2
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Escambia County Extension Office Auditorium at 3740 Stefani Road.
The meeting will begin with comments from the commissioner and proceed into an open forum. The public is encouraged to attend for the opportunity to ask questions and share comments.
Pesticide Applicator Training Course Offered
July 16, 2011
Escambia County Extension and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) will present a restricted use pesticide training course for those individuals wishing to obtain or renew their pesticide applicator license.
The course includes topics on the principles of pest control, pesticide labeling and formulations, harmful effects and emergency response, worker protection standards, application equipment, calibration, formulation, area calculations, Florida Law and Regulations, etc. This course counts for continuing education units.
Two sessions will be offered as follows:
- General Standards CORE: Tuesday, July 19, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
- Private Applicator Agricuture Pest Control: Wednesday, July 20, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The course will be offered at the Escambia County Extension Office located at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment. A $10 fee, payable at the door, covers lunch and materials.
For more information, or to register, please contact Libbie Johnson, Escambia County Agriculture Extension agent, at (850) 475-5230, or email libbiej@ufl.edu.
James Alton Robbins
July 16, 2011
Mr. James Alton Robbins, 80, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Pensacola.
Mr. Robbins was born in Walnut Hill on April 9, 1931, and resided in Bratt. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served from 1949 – 1960. He retired from Monsanto in 1971 and started his construction business where he worked for several years before retiring. Alton was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many years of fishing with his son, Matt and good friend, Barney. He also loved to play the guitar and gospel singing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mae Robbins; two brothers, William T. Robbins, and Harrell Robbins; and a sister, Louree Battaglia.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Lucille Robbins of Bratt; his son, Matt and Margo Robbins of Bratt; two grandchildren, Harmony Bell of Mobile and Sheldon Robbins of Bratt; two great-grandchildren, Logan Bell and Mackenzie Bell; a brother, Bill and Bernice Robbins of Pensacola; a sister, Charlene and J.D. Warrick of Jay; a special niece, Arlene Delafoasa of Atmore; a sister-in-law, Glennie Robbins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 17, 2011, at 3:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Theron Collinsworth, the Rev. Ted Bridges and the Rev. Ronald Hall officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, July 17, 2011, from 2:00 p.m.. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be his nephews, Mike Robbins, Alan Robbins, Ray Hood, Greg Robbins, Brian Robbins and Phillip Robbins.
Honorary pallbearers will be Barney Cash, Clark Hall, Lindy Phillips, Jason Stabler, W.T. Gilley and Leslie Barnes.
July Gardening Tips
July 16, 2011
The heat, humidity and frequent rains of July are great for tropical plants. Gardeners, however, take a bit of a beating. Remember to keep the sunscreen, insect repellant and iced tea handy as you venture out into your garden to perform some needed summer maintenance.
A midsummer application of fertilizer is usually required, especially on annual flowers, lawns, shrub beds and vegetable gardens. This is a supplemental application, so don’t overdo it. A 15-0-15 slow-release fertilizer is a good general purpose landscape fertilizer for most plants.
Major pruning jobs should have been done earlier, but there is still some maintenance pruning that should be done. Deadhead, or clip old flowers, from summer flowering shrubs as soon as they fade to help insure an extended season of bloom. Crape myrtles, hibiscus, hydrangeas and althea are examples of shrubs that will bloom repeatedly if light, selective pruning is done.
Flowering annuals also respond well to deadheading. Snip off old flowers and flower spikes before they have an opportunity to form seed. Allowing annual flowers to set seed can shorten their blooming season considerably.
Inspect your lawn and shrub plantings frequently in order to identify pest problems as early as possible. The most severe damage from pest insects normally begins in July. Be on the lookout for chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass; spittlebugs in centipede grass; sod webworm in all lawns-especially new ones; lacebug and caterpillars on azaleas; whiteflies on gardenia and spider mites on lots of different types of shrubs.
Sod webworms often attack lawns in the summer. They eat the grass blades producing areas that look as if they have been mowed too short. Close inspection will reveal that the blades have not been cleanly cut as with a mower blade but have been chewed along their edges and tips. These caterpillars feed at night and rest during the day down among the runners and in the thatch.
Once an insect pest is found, evaluate the damage and determine if control is necessary. If it is, choose the least toxic option. If only a few caterpillars are found, hand picking might be the choice. Aphids and spider mites can often be controlled by spraying with an insecticidal soap solution. Chemical insecticides are sometimes required. Before choosing one be sure that the insect pest has been properly identified and that the insecticide is labeled for that purpose For vegetable gardeners that have problems with nematodes, soil borne diseases and extensive weed problems, July is a great time to try soil solarization.
Prepare the soil as you normally would for a vegetable garden including adding organic matter. Moisten the area and cover with clear plastic, not black plastic. Clear plastic will produce the highest temperatures. Be sure to weigh down the edges of the plastic so that it doesn’t blow up. Allow the soil to bake in the sun for four to six weeks. The sun will raise the soil temperature high enough to kill many soil borne problems.
Tip of the Week: The nice thing about tomatoes is that you have the option of harvesting when the fruit is green if needed. Tomatoes will ripen indoors at room temperature. To ensure even ripening, place the tomato with the stem up. The ideal time to harvest tomatoes is when they are fully colored but still firm.
In general, it is best to harvest vegetables early in the mornings while the moisture content is higher. The overall quality will quickly diminish as vegetables are exposed to hotter temperatures later in the day.
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.
Old Time Fiddler’s Convention Is Saturday
July 16, 2011
The 32nd South Alabama Annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention will be held Saturday afternoon and evening in Atmore.
The event beings at 2 p.m. (you can arrive any time during the afternoon) at Escambia County High School on South Presley Street with fiddlers, vocal groups, bands, guitars and much more musical entertainment. BBQ plates and other snacks and treats will be available.
Almost $2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, including $1,000 to the best fiddler.
Tickets are $9 at the door with children under 12 admitted free.
Proceeds benefit the Atmore Rotary Club’s Academic All-Star scholarship program that annually recognizes students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy.
Pictured: A performance during last year’s South Alabama Annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘A Terribly Sad Day In Pensacola’: Toddler Killed, Man Injured In Shooting
July 15, 2011
A 19-month old toddler was shot and killed Friday afternoon in Pensacola in an incident that also left a 21-year old man in the hospital with a gunshot wound.
“It’s a terribly sad day in Pensacola when the actions of some people result in the death of an innocent child,” Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons said.
Police said 19 month-old Tyquaris Moultrie was killed and his uncle, 21 year-old Vincent Dennis, was injured in the shooting just after 2 p.m. at Pensacola Village. The police chief said an altercation over drugs is believed to have led to multiple shots being fired into an apartment.
Witnesses said three to four males ran from the scene after the shooting. Simmons said officers are pursuing leads on suspects.
“We have all available manpower working on this case, and are not going to rest until we take those who are responsible into custody,” said Simmons.
Moultrie was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital where he died a short time later. Dennis also was taken to a local hospital for treatment.