Century’s Abundant Life Outreach Receives Fox 10 ‘Extra Mile’ Award
May 28, 2011
A Century church was recognized by a Mobile TV station Friday night for their efforts to feed the hungry in Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida. The Abundant Life Outreach, part of the Abundant Life Assembly of God, was presented with the Chris Myers Nissan Extra Mile Award by WALA Fox 10. The award was received on behalf of the ministry by (L-R) Betty Thomas, Scott Thomas and Robin Sutton. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Give The Gift Of Life: Blood Drives Today In Walnut Hill, Molino
May 28, 2011
The Northwest Florida Blood Center will hold three blood drives in the North Escambia area in the near future, including two on Saturday.
There will be a blood drive at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. this Saturday, May 28.
There will also be a blood drive this Saturday, May 28, from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Fran’s Country Grill in Molino.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt Student Ministry will sponsor a Community Blood Drive on Sunday, June 5 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the church. Call the church office in advance at (850) 327-6529 from 8 a.m. until noon daily to schedule a time to donate or just stop by on June 5.
Portion Of Alger Road Remains Closed
May 28, 2011
A portion of Alger Road in Century scheduled to reopen Friday will now remain closed until next week.
Alger Road about 300 feet northwest of North Century Boulevard is closed for a culvert replacement. The road is now scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m next Tuesday afternoon.
Sunny Holiday Weekend
May 28, 2011
Here is your official holiday weekend forecast
- Tonight: Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Memorial Day: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Weekend Gardening: Outwit and Outlast Those Troublesome Armadillos
May 28, 2011
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.
Molino Singers In Barnes And Noble Program Today
May 28, 2011
Singers from Molino Park Elementary will be part of special Memorial Day program today at Barnes and Noble in Pensacola.
The Molino Park students, along with local singers/songwriters Sheila Allen and Ginny Cruz will perform “America the Beautiful” and “Stand Up America” during the program.
In conjunction with Pensacola’s celebration of 100 years of Naval Aviation, Barnes & Noble and Reading is Fundamental (RIF) are hosting the Memorial Day celebration to honor past, present and future armed service members.
Hill Goodspeed, a historian from the National Naval Aviation Museum, will speak and sign his books, “One Hundred Years of U.S. Navy Air Power” and “U.S. Naval Aviation.” Other featured speakers are Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas; retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Gary Cooper; Phyllis Pia of the USO and Joan Platz, USNA Class 81 & the co-president of the US Naval Academy Parents Club. The main program will start at 1:00 p.m. The celebration will also feature a special story time with local Marines at 11:00 a.m.
Other planned events include a performance of Taps, a color guard display by the Young Marines of Pensacola, recognition of veterans during an in-store performance of the armed forces theme songs.
The Barnes and Noble Café will host a coffee drive for service members stationed overseas. A portion of the proceeds from RIF’s sales will be donated back to the group in support of local initiatives to turn children into lifelong readers. RIF is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit children’s literacy organization.
Barnes and Noble is located at 1200 Airport Boulevard.
FHP Out In Force For Long Holiday Weekend
May 28, 2011
The Florida Highway Patrol will be out in full force during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which began Friday afternoon and extends through midnight Monday.
“All too often innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences due to the careless disregard for human life by dangerous drivers,” said FHP Director, Colonel David Brierton. “We are intensifying enforcement during the holiday weekend. No one wants their weekend, much less their life, ruined by a crash.”
Florida’s safety belt law requires all front seat passengers to buckle up. Occupants under the age of 18 must fasten their safety belts regardless of where they sit in a vehicle. Troopers who stop motorists for noncompliance will not issue warnings.
All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will patrol interstates and other major state roads throughout the four-day holiday period. FHP Auxiliary and Reserve troopers will volunteer to augment the Patrol’s forces during the holiday enforcement period, too. The strategy aims to increase the Patrol’s presence throughout Florida in an effort to deter traffic violations and to enhance services to motorists who break down while traveling or who need other assistance.
Drivers can dial *FHP (*347) from their cell phone to contact FHP to report an aggressive driver or to request roadside assistance.
Pictured above: A Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulls out into Highway 29 at Fran’s Diner in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Rita Moye Hall
May 28, 2011
Rita Moye Hall, our loving mother left us to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 26, 2011. She was born on May 3, 1935, in Brewton. Mrs. Hall attended and graduated from Flomaton High School. She has resided for the past 22 years in Cantonment.
Preceding her in death was her husband, David Hall; her mother, Geneva Kreamer; her father, Rayburn Moye; her brother, John David Moye; and two great grandchildren Tyler Harbison and Thomas Williams III.
Survivors include her daughters, Shirley and Bill Byerly, Sarita Redmond, and Sonya and Robert Harbison; her sisters, Mabry Moye and Monica Kraemer; her brother; James Moye; five grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, May 30, 2011, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Pine Rest Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ray Moye, Chris Moye, Steve Harbison, David McAuley, David Johnson and Warren Harbison. Honorary pallbearers will be Keith Moye and Keith Davis.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Two People Injured In Friday Morning Santa Rosa Wreck
May 27, 2011
Two people were injured in a north Santa Rosa County wreck Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Malory S. Collins, 28, of Lithonia, GA, was traveling south on Highway 87 near Oglesby Road in Allentown when he swerved to avoid a disabled vehicle on the side of the roadway. However, the FHP said evidence showed Collins had driven onto the west shoulder prior to swerving around the disabled vehicle.
Collins left the roadway and struck a ditch, cable box and a tree. Collins and a passenger, 27-year old Tirrell R. Coleman of Atlanta received minor injuries in the crash.
Collins was cited for careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
New Florida Budget Includes $7.7 Million To Resurface Highway 29
May 27, 2011
The almost $70 billion budget signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott includes over $7.7 million to resurface Highway 29 in North Escambia from Pine Barren Road north through Century to the Alabama state line.
The budget for the 15.5 mile project is $7,709,279. Bids are expected to be let in the coming months.
At one point earlier this year, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were handing out three or four accident report forms a day to Highway 29 drivers with busted windshields. Some area residents are on windshield number two or three since the pavement began to deteriorate and “the rocks” began to appear over a year ago on the stretch of Highway 29.
Back in February, a Florida Department of Transportation Geotechnical Foundation Investigation crew performed pavement tests on the roadway, and high-powered blowers have been used since in an effort to remove the loose rocks from the crumbling highway.
Pictured above: The new Florida budget signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott includes $7.7 million to resurface a portion of Highway 29. Pictured below: The Florida Department of Transportation has been using this high-power blower to remove rocks from the deteriorating highway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
