Freeze Warning Tonight
February 16, 2013
A freeze warning is in effect for the entire North Escambia area tonight. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Washington’s Birthday: A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
- Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Ernest Ward Holds Valentine’s Dance, Names Court (With Photo Gallery)
February 16, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
Eighth grader Morgan Myrick was named queen, and Jacob Weaver was named king. From the seventh grade, Anna Nelson was named maiden, and Logan Calloway was named knight. Sixth grade maiden was Shelby Bashore and sixth grade knight was Brandon Santos.
For a photo gallery with the complete court, click here.
Other sixth grade court members were: Ashtyn Carnley, Catherine Casey, Nikoal Creamer, Madison Sherouse, Zachary Hilton, Tanner Levins, Cameron Long and Noah Moore. Seventh grade members included: Abby Hammond, Celeste North, Olivia Reber, Tori Smith, Korbin Bryan, Eli Deese, Triston Long and Trevor Singleton. Additional eighth grade court members were: Autumn Albritton, Peighton Dortch, Lenora Hall, Daysha Kite, Dustin Bethea, Dillon Clary, Desmone Knight and Luke Ward.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School Valentine’s Court sixth grade Knight Brandon Santos and Maiden Shelby Bashore, Queen Morgan Myrick and King Jacob Weaver, seventh grade Maiden Anna Nelson and Knight Logan Calloway. Pictured below: Queen Morgan Myrick and King Jacob Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Cop Found Not Guilty Of Battery
February 16, 2013
A Pensacola Police officer has been found not guilty of battery.
Officer Christopher Geraci was fired last year after the department said a routine review of his patrol vehicle’s camera revealed he used unnecessary force in making a recent arrest. He was also charged with battery.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. August 2 when Geraci responded to a hit and run crash at D and Cervantes streets. The driver – identified as Abbi Bonds, 29, of Pensacola – was found with the car in the 1100 block of North C Street. The car had heavy front end damage and was disabled.
The Pensacola Police Department said a verbal exchange followed between Geraci and Bonds, Geraci approached Bonds and grabbed her by her left arm. He then forcibly slung her into the side of the car, then grabbed the back of her head and forced it into the top of the vehicle while placing her in handcuffs, police said.
But a jury this week cleared Geraci of the battery charge. He pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of an accident.
Escambia Man Gets 25 Years For Burglary, Choking Police Dog
February 16, 2013
An Escambia County man is headed to state prison on burglary related charges.
Marcus Lawaun Bryant was sentenced by Judge Gary Bergosh to 25 years in state prison with a minimum mandatory sentence of three years. Bryant plead straight up to the court to burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, burglary of an occupied dwelling, attempted burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, burglary of an unoccupied structure, dealing in stolen property, grand theft, petit theft, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, resisting officer without violence, criminal mischief, and battery upon a police dog.
On April 15, 2012, Victim Jill Jones called the Pensacola Police Department to report that her home had been burglarized and she saw Defendant Bryant in possession of her bicycle a short distance from her home. Officer David Rogers and his police dog, Darek, arrived at the scene, they saw Defendant Bryant on the bicycle, but when he attempted to flee the area, Bryant wrecked the bicycle. At that time, Officer Rogers and K-9 Darek struggled with Defendant Bryant and Bryant grabbed K-9 Darek by the neck and tried to choke him.
Bryant was taken into custody and charged with burglary, theft, causing harm to a police animal and resisting an officer. He had other outstanding warrants for burglaries, grand theft, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and dealing in stolen property. He had taken over $30,000 worth of jewelry from several homes in the area. He pawned many of the items to various pawn shops in Pensacola.
EREC Sends Area Juniors On Tallahassee Youth Tour
February 16, 2013
Ten area high school juniors were guests of Escambia River Electric Cooperative last week in Tallahassee as they learned more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives.
Participants were Garrett Peirce from Central High School; Kayne Caraway, Kayla Flowers, Dakota Mack, Chassity McCranie, Tate Upton and Dylan Wolfe from Jay High School; and Taylor Brook, Shelena Dukes and Victoria Wright from Northview High School.
While in Tallahassee, the students met with nearly 120 other high school juniors from electric cooperatives throughout the state of Florida. EREC delegates enjoyed visiting the Challenger Museum and viewing the IMAX movie, Space Junk (3D). The group took part in a mock session in the Florida Supreme Court and participated in a mock session in the House chambers where various members of the Legislature addressed the group.
The Youth Tour program provided students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact
with other students from co-ops throughout the state.
“It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group,” according to Sabrina Owens, EREC’s marketing director.
EREC Youth Tour delegates with Representative Clay Ingram. (L-R) Garrett Peirce, Dylan Wolfe, Chassity McCranie, Victoria Wright, Dakota Mack, Representative Clay Ingram, Tate Upton, Kayla Flowers, Kayne Caraway, Taylor Brook and Shelena Dukes. Pictured inset: Tate Upton enjoys the batting cage at Tallahassee’s Fun Station. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The group with Sen. Greg Evers. Pictured bottom: Taylor Brook, Victoria Wright, and Shelena Dukes look for clues to the scavenger hunt in the Challenger Learning Center.
Firefighters: Retirement Of Florida Public Employees In Jeopardy
February 16, 2013
A proposal to change the retirement benefits of public employees, such as teachers and firefighters, is gaining momentum in the Florida House of Representatives.
House Bill 7011 would force all public employees hired by agencies participating in the Florida retirement system after next January into a 401(k)-style plan, instead of the current pension plan.
Gary Rainey, president of Florida Professional Firefighters, says lawmakers are pushing this through without understanding all the consequences.
“Frankly, I don’t think they really care, for the most part,” he said. “The fact that nine Republicans on the committee would vote to do this without having the first numbers saying this is going to cost an exorbitant amount of money, or it’s going to save us money.”
Other states, including New Hampshire and Nevada, considered a similar plan recently, Rainey said, but abandoned it after they realized it would cost the state more instead of saving money. Part of the problem, he said, is that phasing out the pension plan also would reduce the money being paid into the plan for existing workers, and force the state and local municipalities to foot the bill.
Closing the current pension plan would also end benefits such as life insurance or death benefits if employees are hurt or killed in the line of duty. Rainey said death benefits of a newly hired firefighter killed in the line of duty under the 401(k) plan could offer his or her family less than $1,000.
“Not providing any type of disability or death benefit or survivor benefits for families is unconscionable by anyone who is proposing to do this,” he said.
According to the Florida Retirement Security Coalition, no tax increase is needed to fund the current system, which is 86 percent funded. If lawmakers move to the 401(k) plan, the coalition said, tax increases may be necessary.
Opponents of the current pension plan insist that it places a demand on the state budget.
By Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service – FL
Flood Warning For Escambia River Extended Until Thursday
February 16, 2013
The flood warning for the Escambia River near Century has been extended until Thursday morning.
Saturday morning, the stage was 18.0 feet. Minor flooding was occurring and forecast to continue. Flood stage is 17 feet. The river will continue to rise to 18.2 feet on Tuesday morning. The Escambia River will continue to fall below flood stage early Thursday morning. Some flooding of the lowlands in the area will continue until the river level drops below 13 feet.
Weekend Gardening: Best Time to Prune is Now
February 16, 2013
Now until buds break is the best time to prune, according to the UF/IF Extension Service.
Why Prune?
- Control plant size or form
- Remove damage (mechanical, disease, etc.)
- Prevent potential damage (overlapping branches, poor crotch angles, diseases, etc.
- Stimulate new growth (rejuvenate old plants, fill bare areas, increase flowering, etc.)
When to prune:
- Corrective pruning due to injury or dead tissue should be done as soon as evident.
- Avoid pruning from August 15 until plants are dormant.
- Most pruning should be done during the dormant season or immediately after flowering.
Rules of thumb – The “May Rule”:
- May defined if the plant blooms before May 1, prune immediately after flowering has ended (flowers produced on old wood or last year’s growth: Azaleas, Forsythia, etc.)
- If the plant blooms after May 1, prune during the dormant season (flowers produced on new growth: Crape Myrtles, Lilac Chaste tree, etc.).
- As with any rule there are exceptions: Oak leaf Hydrangea.
General rules of Pruning:Eddie Hand Pruners
- Local in affect (usually within 6” of cut).
- Cuts should be made ¼” above a bud or to a crotch (Lateral branch).
- Cuts should be made at angles.
Pruning Equipment: (Make sure blades are sharp)
- Hand Snips (for small branches)
- Loppers (branches > 0.75” in diameter)
- Pruning Saw (limbs > 1.5” in diameter)
- Shears (for a more formal look)
- Pruning Knife (for clean-up)
Safe Pruning Principles:
- Keep equipment clean and in good repair.
- Appropriate, properly fitted safety equipment for job (eye and ear protection, no loose fitting clothes, etc.)
- Keep equipment within your control zone. Don’t over extend, know the limitations of your equipment and yourself.
- Know your surroundings (overhead utilities, other workers, etc.).
- Be able to identify Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and other skin irritants.
Quick Tips to Remember:
- Pruning: Remove dead wood and seed pods annually during the dormant season.
- Size control should be done by cultivar selection, not by pruning.
- To promote a second set of flowers, prune away faded or spent flowers throughout the season.
Plea Deal In Gulf Oil Spill Approved
February 16, 2013
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation said it will manage the distribution of $150 million in settlement funds from Transocean Deepwater, Inc. for environmental restoration following a judge’s acceptance of a plea agreement.
The money comes from a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve certain criminal charges against Transocean as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Transocean funds will be paid over a two-year period.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation also will administer nearly $2.4 billion from a recently approved plea agreement between BP and the Justice Department. BP will pay those funds over a five-year period.
Funds from both settlements will be used for natural resource restoration projects in the five Gulf States, including Florida. Louisiana will get half, with Florida and the other three states splitting the rest.
By The News Service of Florida
Softball Wins For Tate, Pine Forest, Northview; WFHS Downs Tate In Baseball
February 16, 2013
Here is a look at baseball and softball results from around the area Friday night:
SOFTBALL
Tate 12, Navarre 4
The Tate Lady Aggies soundly defeated Navarre Friday night in Navarre, 12-4. The Lady Aggies will be on the road Thursday, February 21 against Pace and Tuesday, February 26 against Milton. The Lady Aggies will host Pine Forest on February 28.
Pine Forest 9, Washington 3
The Lady Eagles of Pine Forest High School beat Washington Friday night, 9-3. The Lady Eagles will travel to Jay on Saturday. The freshmen take the mound at 2 p.m. followed by the JV at 4 p.m. and the varsity at 6 p.m.
Northview 4, Chipley 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs opened district play with a 4-3 win over Chipley Friday night in Chipley. The Lady Chiefs will be on the road Thursday, February 21 at Baker; and Friday, February 22 at Holmes County. The next home game for the Northview Lady Chiefs will be Monday, February 25 as they host Escambia Academy in Bratt.
BASEBALL
West Florida 1, Tate 0
The West Florida Jaguars slipped past the Tate Aggies Friday night 1-0. The Aggies will host Navarre on Thursday, February 21 and travel to Washington on February 22. West Florida will head to Gulf Breeze on Tuesday, February 21 before hosting Panama City Rutherford on Friday, February 24.