Book Sale Today At Jay Library
May 21, 2011
A used book sale to benefit the Jay Library Summer Children’s Programs is going on today at the Jay Library. The sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Jay Library is located at 5259 Booker Lane in Jay.
Books will be sold at bargain prices, with prices ranging from 25 cents to $4. Cash only will be accepted—no checks or credit cards. Organizers said there will be great bargains to benefit the library.
Armed Forces, Memorial Day Parade Today
May 21, 2011
A combined Armed Forces Day/Memorial day Parade will be held Saturday morning in Atmore.
Area veterans and groups — including the Northview High School NJROTC Color Guard, Ernest Ward Middle School and the Flomaton High School Band — will march in the parade from the Atmore City Hall to the Atmore YMCA. The parade will depart the Atmore City Hall at 10:30 a.m. and travel down Main Street to Craig Street before ending at the YMCA. A program will follow in front of the YMCA at about 11 a.m.
Atmore will also dedicate their new Veterans Monument in front of the Atmore City Hall on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
Farmer’s Market Today In Cantonment
May 21, 2011
A Cantonment farmer’s market will return Saturday morning, offering a wide variety of produce, meats, plants and other products.
The second Market at Saint Monica’s will be held from 8 a.m. until noon at the church, located at 699 South Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Vendors scheduled to take part in the event include:
- Sandy Bay Creations – Handcrafted Jewelry & Knitted Creations
- Ladybug Acres Natural Growers — Plants, Herbs & Things
- The Farm at Enoch’s Walk – Free Range Eggs, Jelly & More
- C & D Mill – Stone Ground Cornmeal & Grits
- Mike Kelly – Mayhaw Berries & Jelly
- Blue Gate Coop – Baked Goods & Fresh Salsas
- Hasting’s Farm – Grass Fed Beef
- Jennifer Kizer Photography – Creative Photography
- Reed & Davis – Yellow Squash, Cucumbers,Tomatoes, Green Beans & Red Potatoes
- Bill Putters – Plants
- Nancy Argabrite – Fresh Yard Eggs & Vegetables
- Green Cedars Farm – Pastured Poultry Eggs, orders for Thanksgiving poultry, lamb & pork
- Philip J. Etheridge Farms — Red potatoes, green beans, yellow squash, zucchini, peppers
For more information, visit www.st-monicas.org/market.html.
Pictured: Scenes from the first Market at Saint Monica’s in Cantonment on May 7. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Great For The Kids: Free Open House At Turtle Point
May 21, 2011
There is an open house today at the Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton.
From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Turtle Point will be open for a day filled with animals, crafts, and wonderful shopping. Admission is free.
The 3,000 square foot facility offers a touch tank for children and other hands-on exhibits. It boasts an extensive collection of wildlife specimens including many Alabama birds, nests, and eggs; a butterfly and living bee exhibit; live alligators, turtles, snakes, amphibians, and fish of the East Gulf Coastal Plain geophysical region. Also, plant lovers will find six teaching gardens and a glorious wetland nature trail.
Bird watchers are encouraged to hike the nature trail boardwalk and enjoy the red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, great egret, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, yellow-shafted flicker, yellow bellied sap sucker, eastern bluebird, wren, killdeer, green heron, barred owl, screech owl, and many other native birds and wildlife.
Turtle Point’s goal is to provide hands-on environmental education to students and adults in the South Alabama and Northwest Florida. Turtle Point is located at 20959 Highway 31 in Flomaton, near Hurricane Park and Flomaton High School. For more information, call (251) 296-3401.
Weekend Weather
May 21, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 92. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 91. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Santa Rosa Deputies Must Pass Physical Agility Test
May 21, 2011
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office unveiled a new obstacle course Friday that every sworn officer and detention deputy must be able to complete acceptably.
All sworn law enforcement and detention deputies in Santa Rosa County are required to participate in the obstacle course testing this year. For personnel hired after January 1, 2010, it is mandatory to pass the test within 8 minutes and 30 seconds. All members hired prior to that date do not have a “pass” or “fail” for the test at this time. They will be required to pass the test within a year. If they cannot pass the test, they will be required to be medically evaluated to determine if they are fit for duty.
The course was unveiled Friday morning with Sheriff Wendell Hall running the course in about seven minutes
Pictured: A new obstacle course that deputies in Santa Rosa County will be retired to complete under a maximum time. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gardening: It’s Not Necessary To Kill Every Insect
May 21, 2011
Many people think “the only good bug is a dead bug.” Their typical treatment strategy is to “nuke” the lawn using a broad-spectrum insecticide and kill every insect in sight. Unfortunately, this strategy could be making your problems worse.
There are documented cases of outbreaks of Southern chinch bugs on heavily insecticide treated lawns, but not on neighboring untreated lawns. Why? Because healthy lawns are inhabited by a multitude of beneficial insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates that feed on plant debris, fungi, and other insects.
Almost all turfgrass pests have one or more natural enemies that can be important in suppressing their population.
In order to have a healthy and successful lawn, learn to use an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. IPM is the combined use of cultural, biological and chemical methods for effective, economical pest control with little risk to human health or the environment.
To practice IPM, it’s imperative to know which insects are helpful, harmful or harmless.
Ground beetles
There are many species of predatory ground beetles. Some are rather ferocious looking, resulting in some very worried homeowners. These beetles can range in size from ¼ – 1½ inches and can be black or multicolored. Their antennae are inserted between the eyes. Ground beetles usually are very quick moving and can “seek and destroy” their prey. These insects can be very helpful in controlling a pest insect population.
Spiders
While they are not insects, spiders are surprisingly common and active in grass areas and are very efficient predators. Many species of spiders are beneficial in the garden or lawn, feeding on a wide range of immature insects and mites.
Ants
Some species of ants are carnivorous, seeking out insects and other soft bodied organisms with which to provision the nest. In addition, ant activity often can help in the general breakdown of organic matter and the formation of soil.
Pyramid ants are beneficial ants that nest in sandy soils. Their nests have a single entrance that is surrounded by a crater shaped mound. These pale orange to dark brown slender ants are only about 1/8 inch in length. They are not aggressive and typically will not sting people. They are considered beneficial because they eat pest insects.
Centipedes and Millipedes
Centipedes and millipedes are commonly seen in yards and occasionally enter homes. Neither centipedes nor millipedes damage furnishings, home, or food. Their only importance is that of annoying or frightening individuals.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that pest insects are only one of many potential causes for thin or brown grass. Diseases, nematodes, drought, and nutritional disorders can also be damaging. Correct identification of the problem can save money and prevent unnecessary pesticide applications.
Beneficial insects are very sensitive to insecticides, so whenever a general insecticide is applied to control a pest species, the material will usually have a detrimental effect on the beneficial organisms. Consider using alternate methods of pest management, biological control agents (if available and suitable) or providing optimum cultural conditions so that the lawn can tolerate higher levels of pest activity without visible loss of vigor. If an insecticide application is deemed necessary, make spot treatments rather than broad scale applications if at all possible.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years In Prison For Violent Robbery
May 21, 2011
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for the violent robbery of a fast food manager.
Devin Dejuan Middleton was sentenced Friday by Judge Michael Allen to 15 years state prison followed by five years probation for each count concurrently for two counts of robbery without a weapon while wearing a mask. Middleton was found guilty by an Escambia County jury on April 7.
The conviction stems from a robbery occurring June 29, 2010, at the Burger King on Brent Lane. Middleton waited in the parking lot for the manager to come to her car with the bank deposit. When she did, he jumped from his car wearing a black ski mask, snatched her car door open, punched her repeatedly in the face and took over $2,000 from her, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Middleton got back into the vehicle, then immediately jumped back out and returned to beat her again while demanding she give him her car keys.
Middleton faced a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Unemployment Numbers Improve
May 21, 2011
The latest job numbers released Friday showed a continued decline in the number of unemployed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped out of the double digits for the first time in may months– from 10.3 percent in March to 9.8 percent in April. That represented 792 people no longer seeking employment over the month period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 13,611 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.3 percent.
Santa Rosa County also recorded a half point drop in unemployment— from 9.1 percent in March to 8.6 percent in April. Santa Rosa County gained 415 jobs during the period, with a total of 6,065 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 10.1 percent in March to 10.5 percent in April. Escambia, Alabama, lost 73 during them month-long period, with 1,534 still out of work.
Florida
The number of jobless Floridians fell below 1 million for first time since October 2009 as the state’s jobless rate in April fell to 10.8 percent, the Agency for Workforce Innovation reported Friday. Marking the seventh straight month of job growth, the April figure was down 0.3 percent from March and more than a full point lower than the 12 percent rate from April 2010.
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 9.3 percent in April, was up slightly from March’s rate of 9.2 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 9.8 percent.
Atmore Babe Ruth: Wins For Poarch Creek LA Girls
May 20, 2011
Here are highlights from recent Atmore Babe Ruth softball games:
Poarch Creek LA Girls vs. Atmore Rotary Club Lions 13 – 7
Age Group 6 – 9
LA Girls
Coach Tim Ramer
A’Precious Brooks – 1 hit, 2 runs
Jayln Carlton – 2 runs
Calista Custard – 1 run
Kayla Lee – 1 run
Cassidy Murphy – 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 rbis
Jasmine Norman – 2 runs
Raevan Ramer – 1 hit, 1 run, 1 rbi
Taylor Respress – 1 hit, 1 run, 1 rbi
Bailey Spann – 1 hit, 1 run
Game Highlights – Raevan Ramer, pitcher, recorded four strikeouts. Cassidy Murphy led the team offensively with 2 hits, 2 rbis and scoring 2 runs. Bailey Spann was impassable at catcher throwing out two of the four attempted stolen bases.
Lions
Coach Delisha Crenshaw
TyQaja Brown – 1 run
Corteyia Martin – 1 run
India Crenshaw – 1 run
Ty’Asia Hall – 1 run
Adrianna Parker – 1 run
Ke’Aunyala Mitchell – 1 run
Trinity White – 1 run
Game Highlights – None submitted
Poarch Creek LA Girls vs Atmore David’s Catfish Marlins 10 – 2
Age Group 6 – 9
LA Girls
Coach Tim Ramer
A’Precious Brooks – 1 hit, 1 run
Jayln Carlton – 1 hit, 1 run, 1 rbi
Calista Custard – 1 run
Cassidy Murphy – 2 runs
Jasmine Norman – 1 run
Raevan Ramer – 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 rbis
Taylor Respress – 1 hit, 1 run
Bailey Spann – 1 run, 1 rbi
Game Highlights – Raevan Ramer, pitcher, recorded 6 strikeouts while only giving up 1 hit. Taylor Respress was like a vacuum at short stop recording 5 outs. Jayln Carlton was unstoppable, leading the team in stolen bases.
Marlins
Coach Jessica Schwartz
Breanna McGowan – 1 run
Madison Simmons – 1 run
Olivia Simmons – 1 hit
Game Highlights – Skyler Riley caught a pop fly for an out. Olivia Simmons had a good hit. Maddie Presley did a great job playing catcher.