Approaching Cold Front Brings Scattered Showers
September 16, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Back to School Splash This Afternoon In Molino
September 16, 2012
Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino will host a “Back to School Splash” today from 2-6 p.m.
There will be waterslides, a moon walk and more for children of all ages at the free event. A family cookout at 5 p.m. will conclude the afternoon of fun. Everyone is welcome.
The event will take place at the church, located on Highway 29 just south of Highway 97. For more information, call (850) 587-2489.
Thousands Worth Of Equipment Stolen From Disabled Adult Employer
September 16, 2012
About $4,000 in equipment was stolen last weekend from ARC Gateway’s manufacturing division, which provides a variety of employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities from assembly, concrete manufacturing and subcontract maintenance work for the I-10 welcome station and weigh stations.
Items stolen consisted mainly of landscaping equipment including a lawn mower, trimmers, edgers, blower, lawn batteries, a compressor and a variety of tools.
“It’s disheartening to have something like this happen when our people are so eager to work and so willing to share what they have,” said Donna Fassett, executive director for the agency. “It is a hardship for the crew as they are without their regular tools and they miss their personal items that were taken as well.”
ARC Gateway offers a variety of products and services to provide people with developmental disabilities with job training, meaningful work, and the opportunity to earn their own income. In addition to providing work for disabled persons, businesses that partner with ARC Gateway are also helping to provide the agency with revenue that sustains programs for more than 850 children and adults in our community.
To help ARC Gateway, visit click here for their website and look for the “Donate” button.
Weekend Gardening: Irresistible Hummingbird Plants
September 16, 2012
This time of year, it’s nice to be able to sit outside on the cooler afternoons and enjoy the antics of the hummingbirds.
For many people, attracting hummers is as easy as hanging a feeder. But, that is not always successful because many hummingbirds are not accustomed to using feeders. I know from experience how frustrating it can be to put out a feeder and never see a hummingbird.
Numerous people have found that planting a garden full of hummingbird-attracting plants, in addition to maintaining feeders, is a more reliable method for successfully attracting hummingbirds.
One plant that is sure to attract the hummingbirds and the “oohs and ahhs” of fellow gardeners is the pagoda plant. The flowers grow in pyramid shaped clusters which are tiered, like a Japanese pagoda, thus its common name. This sizeable floral display sitting atop large leaves makes this such a visually-striking plant.
The red-orange flowers are funnel shaped and tubular, making it irresistible to the hummingbirds. Each slender, tubular flower is about a half-inch long with five small lobes, these usually being slightly paler than the tube.
Butterflies are the main pollinators. As they extend their long, thin proboscides into the flower tubes pollen adheres to their bodies from the long protruding stamens. Flowers of cultivated plants are usually sterile and typically do not produce fruits.
The pagoda flower is one of about 150 species of Clerodendrum, a large genus which is native to Africa and Asia. Known botanically as Clerodendrum paniculatum, it was first described in 1767 by the ‘father’ of modern biological nomenclature – the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus. The species epithet refers to the large ‘paniculate’ clusters of flowers (inflorescences).
The leaves of the pagoda plant are bright green, rounded to heart-like in shape and can get very large. The shrub has an open branching habit and can grow up to eight feet tall. Their ability to produce root suckers allows pagoda flowers to spread vegetatively and they can form clonal stands of several plants together. Although an aggressive plant, it is not as invasive as other species of Clerodendrum.
It grows best in partial sun to light shade and prefers a moist, but well-drained soil. It does well with minimal fertilizer and requires little care. Insects may occasionally chew on the foliage, but this plant really has no major insect or disease problems. Plants grow rapidly and send up shoots that might need removal during the growing season.
The one shortcoming of this plant is that it is tender and will die back with a freeze. While it has returned reliably over several years in Northwest Florida, some years it takes a very long time to reappear the following summer. Be sure to remove the freeze-damaged foliage, or cut back to the ground entirely, only after you see new shoots begin to appear in the spring. This is one plant that I would suggest that you remove some rooted underground shoots and pot up to overwinter in a protected location.
Be patient if you don’t see hummingbirds the first year. Remember, a hummingbird garden is an invitation to these delightful creatures, not a command performance. The longer you stick with it the more likely they are to show up.
Theresa Friday is the Environmental Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
First Responders Throw Baby Shower For Widow Of Firefighter, Paramedic
September 16, 2012
Area fire departments and ambulance services held a baby shower Saturday in Century for the widow of one of their own.
Lt. Nathan Berry was a member of the Century Fire Department and the Friendship Fire Department, and he was a paramedic supervisor with Lifeguard EMS in Santa Rosa County and a former paramedic with Atmore Ambulance. Berry, 22, was killed in an off-duty traffic accident south of Jay in June.
Saturday afternoon, a baby shower was held for his widow, Tiffany (Hanks) Berry, formerly of Bratt, unborn son Mason, and 17-month old daughter Anna Claire.
Members of local fire departments, as well as Lifeguard and Atmore ambulance services, and members of the community gave the family gifts and donations to let them know that they are not alone and will not be forgotten.
Pictured top and below: A baby shower was held Saturday at the Century Fire Station for the widow of a firefighter and paramedic. Photos by Melissa Moye for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Northview NJROTC, Cheerleaders, Band And Dance Team
September 16, 2012
For a game summary and action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay’s Dobson Win Semper Fi Run, Cantonment Marine Second
September 16, 2012
Matt Dobson of Jay won the 29th Annual Semper Fi 5K Charity Run Saturday morning in Pensacola, edging out Marine David Hanes of Cantonment by five seconds.
Dobson, 43, finished the course, which was in reality a shortened 2.6 miles rather than a standard 3.1 mile 5K, in 13:32, just ahead of Hanes’ 13:37.
Proceeds from the race — about $25,000 — benefited several local charities, including Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Escambia Westgate School, the Miracle League of Pensacola, New Horizons of Northwest Florida, and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.
For a complete list of run finishers, click here (pdf).
Top North Escambia are finishers, ranked by place, were:
1 - Matt Dobson , Jay – 13:32
2 - David Hanes , Cantonment – 13:37
91 - Jason Beck , Cantonment – 19:31
121 - Michael Leblanc , Cantonment – 20:18
176 - Paul Jones , Cantonment – 20:58
211 - Mark Hornbrook , Cantonment – 21:30
248 - Devan Huston , Cantonment – 22:01
249 - Don Huston , Cantonment – 22:01
261 - Donna Hassebrock , Molino – 22:14
293 - Rayna Phillips , Cantonment – 22:57
305 - Scott Adams , Cantonment – 23:17
379 - Hugh Long , Atmore – 24:30:00
418 - Vincent Joiner , Cantonment – 25:08
455 - David Frederick , Cantonment – 25:46
522 - Shannon Phillips , Cantonment – 27:44
530 - Robert Boyero , Cantonment – 27:56
564 - Rob Bath , Molino – 28:51
565 - Dale Crabtee , Cantonment – 28:51
569 - Lauren Rhodes , Cantonment – 29:00
613 - Frederick Strawitch III , McDavid – 30:36
678 - Ann Jones , Cantonment – 32:50
686 - MacEe Anders , Jay – 33:02:00
754 - Brandy Hendrix , Cantonment – 42:52
755 - Joann Martin , Jay – 43:26:00
759 - Missy Chambers , Cantonment – 46:54
769 - Rodney Rmitchell , Cantonment – 51:45
Births: Amber Magdalene “Maggy” Dunsford, Angie Elaina “Lainey” Dunsford
September 16, 2012
Ashley Dunsford of Byrneville announces the birth of her twin daughters, Amber Magdalene “Maggy” and Angie Elaina “Lainey” Dunsford. They were born September 1, 2012, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Maggy was seven pounds, six ounces and Lainey was five pounds, 10½ s ounces. Their proud grandfather is Danny Dunsford from Flomaton, and great grandparents Bill and Angie Weaver of Byrneville.
Birth: Bentley Myles Dudney
September 16, 2012
Adam and Monica (Hammac) Dudney, along with big sister Madalyn, are proud to announce the birth of Bentley Myles Dudney.
Bentley was born on May 14, 2012, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola at 6:07 p.m. He weighed eight pounds, eight ounces and was 21 inches long.
Proud grandparents are Bubba and Robbie Hammac of Bluff Springs and Doug and Denise Dudney of Berrydale.
Deputy’s Foot Run Over
September 15, 2012
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy’s foot was run over Friday night as he attempted to take suspects into custody on outstanding warrants.
The incident happened on West State Street in West Pensacola. Three suspects took off after running over the deputy’s foot, with a brief chase ending near West Fairfield Drive.
The deputy, whose name has not been released, was not seriously injured and was able to drive himself to the hospital. Three suspects were taken into custody; their names also have not been released.