Northern Santa Rosa Comm. Salter Receives National Defense Award
July 23, 2011
Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner Don Salter, who represents most of the northern portion of the county, has received a national defense award.
Salter was selected as the recipient of the Association of Defense Communities’ 2011 Defense Community Award- Active Base Community Leader.
The ADC Awards Program is a unique national program which recognizes outstanding quality projects and initiatives in communities with active and realigning or closing installations, the individuals that lead them and members from the military and private sector and recognizes outstanding achievements in the field. The program recognizes innovative plans and projects, distinguished public officials and lay contributors, and ADC members. The program is the centerpiece of ADC’s efforts to identify and promote best practices.
According to the ADC, Commissioner Salter was selected for the Active Base Community Leadership Award in recognition of his long-standing efforts in support of Northwest Florida’s military. Under his guidance, he has helped to protect Naval Air Station Whiting Field from encroachment while strengthening ties among the region’s installations, local leaders and businesses for more than 20 years.
Weekend Gardening: Seeing Spots On Your Crape Myrtles Can Be A Problem
July 23, 2011
As the heat and humidity increases in Northwest Florida, expect to see some diseases appear in the landscape. One problem that is popping up on crape myrtles is Cercospora leaf spot. While not a deadly problem, it can greatly detract from the beauty of crape myrtles.
The initial symptom on crape myrtles is the appearance of tan to dark brown spots randomly scattered on yellow to red discolored leaves. The spots develop first on the lower leaves and progress upward in the canopy. Spots will continue to develop from mid-summer through fall. The color change is due to the production of a toxin by the fungal pathogen.
Infected leaves will drop prematurely and serve as a source to spread the pathogen causing further disease development. As the summer progresses, many infected trees will have dropped all but the newest leaves.
Older varieties of crape myrtles are more susceptible to this disease than newer varieties. The crape myrtle varieties most tolerant to Cercospora leaf spot are Natchez, Muskogee, Basham’s Party Pink, Sioux and Tonto.
Long term, this disease is not detrimental to a tree, although it will slow down growth on younger plants. Plants growing in conditions that are not ideal will be more affected by the leaf spot disease.
The best control is selecting a planting site with good air circulation so that the foliage will dry quickly. Thinning interior branches will also promote air flow.
The use of fungicides to control this disease has not been very effective because they would have to be applied repeatedly on a regular basis throughout the growing season. If used, fungicide applications should be started in early summer when the spots are first noticed and continued at one to two week intervals when the weather is warm and wet. Consult your local Extension office for fungicide recommendations.
As always, be sure to read and follow all label directions. Fungicides can be classified by how they work on the fungus or how they work on the plant. Products that work in a similar way on fungi have the same mode of action (also referred to as chemical family or class).
Contact fungicides are sprayed onto plants and act as a protective barrier from pathogen infection. They prevent infections from occurring when applied before symptoms are visible, but infections that have already occurred will continue to develop.
Systemic fungicides move into the plant, but movement inside the plant is limited. The vast majority of fungicides only move upward in the plant vasculature, but not down. Some fungicides only move locally into the plant part treated. Some systemic products exhibit curative action, which means the disease is stopped during its development. For managing fungicide resistance, products with different modes of action should be used in rotations.
Since this disease will result in early defoliation or the loss of leaves, it is critical to practice good sanitation. Raking and destroying fallen leaves should be a routine practice in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
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.
Flood Advisory Issued For Escambia And Santa Rosa
July 22, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for Escambia County and western Santa Rosa County.
At 11:04 a.m., National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a series of showers and thunderstorms moving northward at 5 to 10 mph over the advisory area. These showers and thunderstorms have produced 2 to 4 inches of rainfall locally over the past couple of hours and an additional rainfall of 2 to 3 inches is possible through early afternoon.
This will result in minor flooding of poor drainage and low lying areas and ponding of water on roadways.
Milton Man Arrested In Two Jay Pharmacy Burglaries
July 22, 2011
A Milton man has been arrested for two failed pharmacy burglaries in Jay.
Michael Wayne Lassiter, 26, admitted to Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies that he was involved in the crimes and was charged with burglary and felony criminal mischief. He is also being held on multiple other charges, including dealing in stolen property and making a false statement.
The first burglary occurred at the Jay Pharmacy located at 14088 Alabama Street. During that incident, a double pane window was broken in an attempt to gain entry. Lassiter were only able to break the outer pane of glass, causing approximately $1000.00 in damage. Lassiter then fled the scene without gaining access to the pharmacy.
The second incident occurred at Dura-Med Pharmacy located at 3877 Highway 4 in Jay. During that incident, the front glass door was shattered using a brick, which allowed the Lassiter to gain entry into the pharmacy. Although Lassiter was able to gain entry into the pharmacy, he was unable to access any medications due to roll-down security doors leading to the pharmacy.
Scott Haines, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said deputies had leads concerning Lassiter’s alleged involvement and interviewed him at the Santa Rosa County Jail after he was arrested on unrelated charges. During this interview, Lassiter admitted to entering the Dura-Med Pharmacy and cutting his hand in the process on the broken glass. Lassiter also admitted to breaking the outer window pane of the Jay Pharmacy in an attempt to break in. Lassiter is currently being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail on a $108,000 bond.
Pictured top: A burglary suspect seen on the security footage at Dura-Med Pharmacy in Jay late Sunday night. Pictured bottom inset: Pharmacist Cecil Phillips shows where the burglary suspect tried to enter a drive-thru window at Jay Pharmacy. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Print School Supply Lists
July 22, 2011
School starts Monday, August 22 in Escambia County. Here are the school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in the county.
(High schools typically do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
North Escambia Area Schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ransom Middle
Complete Escambia County Lists:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Bellview Elementary
- Beulah Elementary
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Cook Elementary
- Cordova Park Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elementary
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- McMillan Pre-K
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Suter Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- Weis Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Brown Barge Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Warrington Middle
- Woodham Middle
- Workman Middle
5-Month Old Left Alone In Hot Car; Flomaton Woman Arrested
July 22, 2011
A Flomaton woman was arrested Thursday after a 5-month old baby was left unattended about 20 minutes in a hot car in Pensacola.
The baby was treated and released from a local hospital before being taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services before being turned over to its grandparents.
Jessica Burnham, age 20 of Vanhoosen Road, has been charged with child neglect without great harm — a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine.
Pensacola Police Department Officer Jud Fillingim said Burnham went to LabCorp on North Ninth Avenue to have some blood work done. Initially, she took the baby inside, but returned to the car with the baby after being told it could not go into the blood drawing area.
Burnham told LabCorp employees she had someone in the car and would take the baby to them while her blood was drawn. A witness told police she saw Burnham place the baby in a car seat, enter the vehicle and drive it to a partially shaded area of the parking lot.
Fillingim said Burnham told officers she turned on the air conditioning while she went back inside LabCorp. The female witness said approximately 20 minutes passed, no one was with the baby in the vehicle, and she was worried about the baby’s safety so she notified a LabCorp employee.
The employee and witness went to the car, found the doors unlocked, the windows up and the car’s air conditioner blowing hot air.
Fillingim said the women took the baby, who was sweating profusely and hot to the touch, inside and called for an ambulance. The female baby was taken to a local hospital for observation.
$2,345 – Total Cost To Replace Community Center A/C Unit Stripped Of Copper
July 22, 2011
The final tally is in on the cost to replace an air conditioning unit stripped of copper at the Byrneville Community Center.
Escambia County’s material and labor cost to replace the unit was $2,345.43, according to Brandi Ziglar, a spokesperson for the county.
The theft at the county-owned facility was reported July 11. Someone destroyed one of three air conditioning units, stripping out the copper coils. Officials said the thief cut the power to the air handling unit before stripping the copper. The air handling units are located behind a privacy fence, just feet from the community center’s playground.
Meanwhile, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation into the theft.
Anyone with information about the crime should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured above and below: Crime scene investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office retrieve fingerprints from air conditioning units at the Byrneville Community Center the morning of July 11. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School Sales Tax Holidays Returning In Florida And Alabama
July 22, 2011
Back to school sales tax holidays are coming up in both Florida and Alabama next month.
In Florida, the sales tax holiday will be August 12-14 with no state or local sales tax on clothing, footwear and some accessories selling for $75 or less or certain school supplies for $15 or less. Click here for a list of exempt items in Florida. (To download and print a school supply list for an Escambia County school, click here.)
While it’s a sales tax cut for the careful shopper, retailers say it’s actually a big tax collection increase for the state. Many consumers actually increase their purchases of non-covered items during that period, which often coincides with sales.
Alabama’s sales tax holiday will be August 5-7. However, in Escambia County, AL, Atmore and Brewton will not be participating. In Atmore and Brewton, shoppers will save the state’s four percent tax, but still pay the county and city tax rate. Flomaton will participate, with back to school purchases in Flomaton exempt from the state and city tax, but not the one percent county tax. Click here for a list of exempt items in Alabama.
Sheriff Candidate To Kick Off Campaign Saturday In North Escambia
July 22, 2011
One of three candidates that has prefiled to run for sheriff in Escambia County will officially begin his campaign Saturday with a North Escambia event.
Republican John Powell will hold a campaign kickoff free fish fry at the Barrineau Park Community Center on Barrineau Park School Road beginning at 11 a.m.
Powell conducted an unsuccessful run as a Democrat against Ron McNesby in 2004. He served as the police chief in Dothan, Alabama, until being appointed Director of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco in August 2009 by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Incumbent Sheriff David Morgan filed his paperwork in May announcing that he will run again as a Republican. He held a campaign kickoff event two weeks ago at a Pensacola Boulevard motel.
Bill Chavers, who was originally Morgan’s chief deputy before being demoted about year later, prefiled as an independent candidate back in February, 2010.
Northview To Host August 26 Preseason Fall Classic Game
July 22, 2011
Ready for some football? It’s only just over a month away for Chiefs fans. A preseason Fall Classic has been added to the Northview High School football schedule, and a couple of special football dates have also been marked for the season.
The Northview Chiefs will host a Fall Classic in Bratt on August 26 against Bay High School at 7 p.m., two weeks before the regular season begins with two games on the road for the Chiefs.
The school has also announced that October 21 will be Senior Night against Freeport, and November 4 will be homecoming against Baker.
The following is the 2011 varsity football schedule for the Northview Chiefs. All games are at 7 p.m.
Sept 2 — OPEN
Sept 9 — at Marianna
Sept 16 — at Chipley
Sept 23 — at South Walton
Sept 30 — Gulf Breeze
Oct 7 — at Jay
Oct 14 — OPEN
Oct 21 — Freeport
Oct 28 — at Vernon
Nov 4 — Baker
Nov 10 — at West Florida
Pictured: Jay’s Allen Perry is tackled by Northview’s Corry Baggett the Chiefs defeated the Royals last fall. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.